Talking points
Our editors will be looking ahead today to these developing stories ...
Full final day for director of Hong Kong affairs
Wang Guangya, the director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, has a full schedule on the last day of his three-day visit to Hong Kong. He's to see community facilities in Tin Shui Wai, the Heung Yee Kuk headquarters in Shek Mun, Sha Tin, and the International Commerce Centre in West Kowloon. He'll join more than a dozen permanent secretaries for lunch and hold a press conference in the afternoon - the city's first to be hosted by the top central government official in charge of Hong Kong affairs since the handover. Then he goes to Macau, the last stop of his trip.
Another increase in mainland inflation expected
China's consumer price index data due to be released this afternoon is expected to show annual inflation accelerated to 5.5 per cent in May, up from 5.3 per cent in April, putting further pressure on the central government's efforts to slow the economy while avoiding a hard landing.
Hu Jintao on way to anti-terror summit
President Hu Jintao, who is now visiting Kazakhstan, will attend the Shanghai Co-operation Organisation Summit tomorrow. Anti-terrorism will be the theme for the summit. Beijing warned earlier of signs that terrorists belonging to the East Turkestan independence movement have sneaked back into China through Central Asia.
Party celebrates its history through literature
Senior officials of the Central Party Literature Research Centre will hold a press conference today on compiling literature about the Communist Party, including publications on its history. This year is the 90th anniversary of the Chinese Communist Party.
First big debate for Republican presidential hopefuls
Seven United States Republican presidential contenders meet face to face in their first major debate as the fight for the party's 2012 nomination enters a new phase. The nationally televised forum in New Hampshire will feature most of the top-tier contenders in the Republican battle for the right to challenge President Barack Obama, including Mitt Romney, Michelle Bachmann, Newt Gingrich, Tim Pawlenty, Ron Paul, Rich Santorum and Herman Cain. Obama's former ambassador to Beijing, Jon Huntsman, raised some eyebrows by deciding to skip the evening's fray.
Cabinet vote on Fukushima compensation cash
The Japanese cabinet is expected to approve the Tokyo Electric Power Co compensation bill, which will allow the government to help Tepco compensate victims of the nuclear crisis at the Fukushima Daiichi plant caused by Japan's March 11 earthquake and tsunami (left). Payouts are expected to run into the tens of billions of US dollars. The assistance could help Tepco avoid bankruptcy, but the government insists it isn't meant as a bailout.
