Talking points

Our editors will be looking ahead today to these developing stories ...

Group meets police on national education protest

An alliance of teachers, pupils and parents meets police at North Point police station to discuss plans for a rally on Sunday against the national education curriculum. The government says national education is intended to foster a sense of national pride and belonging, but the National Education Concern Group says it is brainwashing. A rally organiser, Eva Chan Sik-chee (left), said more than 10,000 people were expected to march on the government headquarters. The subject is due to become compulsory in primary schools in 2015 and secondary schools in 2016.

Patient, 17, goes on trial for hospital doctor's murder

In a case highlighting the tense relationship between patients and staff at mainland hospitals, a 17-year-old suspect goes on trial in Harbin for the murder of doctor Wang Hao. In March, Li Mengnan allegedly stabbed Wang and three other doctors at Harbin Medical University's First Affiliated Hospital after being told to get treatment for his tuberculosis before he could be admitted for spinal inflammation. Wang, 28, had recently won a place in a doctoral programme run by the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

LME shareholders vote on HKEx takeover offer

Shareholders of the London Metal Exchange vote tomorrow on Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing's ?1.4 billion (HK$17 billion) takeover offer. The LME, the world's largest market for base metals, and HKEx announced on June 15 that they had agreed on the acquisition, which will give LME members a gateway to China, the world's biggest metals buyer. HKEx has been criticised for making far too generous an offer, which values the LME at 181 times its earnings last year.

US-China forum focuses on human rights

American and Chinese diplomats meet in Washington today and tomorrow for the 17th round of their human rights dialogue. The US side is led by the assistant secretary for democracy, human rights and labour, Michael Posner, and the Chinese side by Chen Xu, the Foreign Ministry's director general for international organisations and conferences. Chinese state media say the countries 'disagree on many topics, such as the recent situation in Syria, but agree that the promotion of human rights is an important target for both'.

Japan restarts second nuclear reactor

The Ohi nuclear power plant in central Japan's Fukui prefecture restarts a second reactor, following the restarting of one earlier this month. After last year's tsunami-induced nuclear disaster at Fukushima, the government shut down 50 nuclear reactors for maintenance and inspection. Despite widespread public fear and opposition, Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda has called for the reactors to be restarted in anticipation of summer power shortages. Before Fukushima, nuclear power supplied a third of Japan's electricity.

Athlete arrivals peak at Heathrow

London's Heathrow airport expects its busiest day of athletes and coaches arriving ahead of Friday's Olympic opening ceremony, with 1,262 due to land. The airport dealt with a record 236,955 passenger arrivals on Monday last week, surpassing the 233,562 handled on July 31 last year. London's busiest airport sees an average of 190,000 passengers a day.