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.