Talking points

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

Ani-Com festival beckons with comics and costumes

The 13th Ani-Com and Games fair kicks off at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai. Fans will be scouring the large exhibition area for the many limited-edition figures on sale. Cosplay players dressed in the costumes of comic characters will be wandering the venue and taking part in competitions.

Height of mourning for rail-crash dead

It is the seventh day since the deadly Wenzhou high-speed train crash, which in Chinese tradition is usually the height of mourning for the deceased. Premier Wen Jiabao yesterday offered comforting words to victims' families and pledged to give the public the truth of the tragedy, but to what extent lower-level officials can deliver on Wen's pledge remains to be seen.

Government regulates philately market

The State Post Bureau plans to step up its regulation of the mainland's philately market from August 1. Under a newly amended regulation effective from Monday, all trading exchanges for philatelic products will require a government licence to operate. The mainland's postage stamp market has been recovering since its collapse during the 1997 Asian financial crisis.

Egyptian Islamists aim for a million marchers

Islamist groups in Egypt mount a 'million-man march' in Tahrir Square entitled 'Sharia and Identity' to protect the 'revolution'. This comes as liberal groups are getting concerned about a big win for the well-organised Islamists, especially the Muslim Brotherhood. No date has been set for parliamentary elections, but they are expected before the end of the year, followed by a presidential vote.

US interests in South China Sea in spotlight

The US-China Economic and Security Review Commission holds a briefing on 'China's actions in the South China Sea and implications for US interests'. In the past year, China has had run-ins at sea with Japan, Vietnam and the Philippines. The incidents - boat crashes and charges of territorial incursions - have been minor, but the diplomatic reactions often heated.

Tablet challenger Samsung announces earnings

Consumer electronics giant Samsung Electronics announces second-quarter results. Asia's most valuable technology company is the main challenger to Apple's supremacy in the tablet computer market. Apple sold 14 million iPads in the first half of this year, compared with analysts' sales estimates of about 7.5 million units for the Galaxy Tab over 2011.

AIA gives first interim result since IPO

AIA briefs investors on its first interim result since its initial public offering last year, when it raised HK$159.1 billion in what was then Hong Kong's largest IPO, breaking the US$16.1 billion record set by Industrial and Commercial Bank of China for the H-share portion of its float in 2006.