Talking points

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

US envoy in Taiwan for trade talks

US Assistant Secretary of State for Economic and Business Affairs Jose Fernandez concludes a three-day visit to Taiwan during which he met President Ma Ying-jeou (left). According to the official China News Agency, Ma told Fernandez he hoped Taiwan and the United States would resume the long-stalled talks under the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement and put bilateral trade negotiations back on track. Once the negotiations were resumed, the next step for Taiwan would be to create a better environment to take part in the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement, Ma said.

Study of social networking role in protests

The Community Development Initiative, a non-governmental organisation, will announce a study of the role played by social networking sites in mobilising demonstrations. In one recent example, the social networking website Facebook was used by the student pressure group Scholarism to mobilise participants for a protest last month against the controversial national education curriculum. The protest won support from parents, with tens of thousands joining last month's rally.

Vietnam puts three bloggers on trial

Three prominent bloggers accused of 'conducting propaganda against the state' are due to appear in a Hanoi court. The trial of Ta Phong Tan (left), Nguyen Van Hai, known as Dieu Cay, and Phan Thanh Hai, known as Anhbasg, will be closely watched by human rights activists and diplomats. US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, on a visit to Hanoi last month, said she remained concerned about Vietnam's lack of online freedom and the jailing of journalists, bloggers, lawyers and dissidents for peaceful expression.

Computer fairs prepare for annual joust

The organisers of two rival fairs that in August each year offer bargain prices for computers and other electronic gadgets hold news conferences. The rivalry dates back to 2010 when the Computer Mall Festival was first held in Sham Shui Po, in direct competition with the Hong Kong Computer and Communications Festival at Wan Chai's Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Ghana plans three days of mourning

Three days of funeral ceremonies are planned for the late President John Atta Mills of Ghana, who died suddenly on July 24. The funeral on Friday in Accra is likely to be attended by leaders from across Africa as well as US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, who is on a tour of Africa and arrived in South Africa yesterday.

Analysts expect depressing Cathay Pacific report

Cathay Pacific is scheduled to report its interim first-half results. Although considered to be arguably one of the best-run airlines in the world, Hong Kong's flag carrier is unlikely to have escaped unscathed from a challenging six months and could see its net profit dip into the red, according to analysts quoted this week. The airline is forecast to barely break even and could dip into a marginal loss, compared with a net profit of HK$2.8 billion last year.