Talking points

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

Wen shares views with British prime minister

Premier Wen Jiabao meets his British counterpart David Cameron today in the annual UK-China Summit on the last day of his three-day visit to Britain, after which the two leaders will hold a press conference at which they are expected to announce business deals across a range of sectors. But the highlight of today's activities seems to be Wen's delivering a speech at the venerable Royal Society in London.

Personal tax law set to cause lively debate

The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress - China's top legislature - resumes its bi-monthly session today, and all eyes will be on its deliberation of the controversial amendment to the Personal Income Tax Law. The public remains divided on the amendment, which proposes an increase in the threshold for income tax from 2,000 yuan (HK$2,402) per month to 3,000 yuan. Many suggest that the threshold be further increased to 5,000 yuan to achieve fairer income distribution.

Figures tipped to reflect mainland's cooling off

The mainland's industrial profits for May are expected to show that growth is continuing to slow, reflecting central government efforts to stem inflation in the world's second-largest economy.

Australia-New Zealand flights back in the air

Australian airlines will resume flights to and from New Zealand from today, five days after they were suspended, as volcanic ash plumes from eruptions in Chile finally move away. Forecasters said the bulk of the ash from Chile's Puyehue volcano, which returned to disrupt air travel in the region for a second time after looping the globe, was now mostly south of Australia and dispersing.

Berlusconi's friends in court on procurement charges

Three close associates of Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi - show business agent Lele Mora, television journalist Emilio Fede and regional councillor Nicole Minetti - are due to appear in court accused of procuring young girls for sex parties that are alleged to have taken place at Berlusconi's villa near Milan.

Senior Khmer Rouge members face genocide tribunal

The most senior surviving members of Cambodia's brutal Khmer Rouge regime - former president Khieu Samphan, 'Brother Number Two' Nuon Chea, ex-foreign minister Ieng Sary and his wife, Ieng Thirith, a former social affairs minister - appear before an international-led tribunal in Phnom Penh to face charges of genocide.

Gay sex blackmail co-conspirator trial continues

Hearings continue at the District Court in the case against Li Dora Kay, accused of being a co-conspirator in the blackmail of a member of a religious group over gay sex acts. Li, 59, faces charges of scheming with Cheung Ka-wo, a former doctoral student at Chinese University, to extort more than HK$6.3 million from the victim, who was a senior member of the religious group. A court order prevents the media from naming the group.