Talking points
Our editors will be looking ahead today to these developing stories ...
Tony Chan makes final bid to appeal probate verdict
Self-styled fung shui master Tony Chan Chun-chuen makes an application to the Court of Final Appeal to hear his appeal against the Nina Wang Kung Yu-sum probate verdict. The move follows the unanimous rejection by the Court of Appeal in April of his application for permission to appeal, which reaffirmed the finding by the Court of First Instance that a will he claimed bequeathed him the entire estate of the late Chinachem tycoon was a forgery.
Wal-Mart stores to reopen - with complaints offices
The 13 Wal-Mart stores shut down for labelling regular pork as organic meat are due to reopen, the Chongqing Business Daily reports. Each will have a consumer rights protection office, staffed by Wal-Mart employees and officials from the municipal consumer rights committee, where customers will be able to file complaints if they encounter problems while shopping.
Mental health law among drafts to go before NPCSC
The 23rd session of the 11th National People's Congress Standing Committee opens in Beijing and runs until Saturday. Several draft laws will be reviewed by national lawmakers for the first time, the most notable being the draft of the country's first mental health law. The draft, published in June, aims to improve protection of the rights of mental patients and would ban compulsory mental health check-ups. Under it, mental health examinations would only be done at the voluntary discretion of the patient or their guardian.
US, North Korea open second round of direct talks
Representatives of the United States and North Korea meet in Geneva for their second round of direct talks aimed at reviving long-stalled nuclear disarmament negotiations. While analysts expect no breakthrough at the two-day meeting, they see engagement between the parties as a positive step and a way to stop Pyongyang from making rash moves. The US and North Korea had their first round of direct talks in New York in July, which ended with Washington demanding a firm commitment from Pyongyang to disarm. But just days later, Pyongyang called for an early resumption of six-party nuclear talks without conditions. Those negotiations, which also involved South Korea, China, Russia and Japan, began in 2003.
Islamists tipped to do well in Tunisian elections
Islamists are expected to do well in Tunisia's first democratic election, nine months after the ousting of autocratic leader Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali in a popular uprising that set off protest movements around the Arab world. With full results expected today, the Ennahda party will almost certainly win a share of power after the vote, which will set a democratic standard for other Arab countries where uprisings have triggered political change or governments have tried to rush reforms to stave off unrest. Yesterday's vote was for an assembly that will draft a constitution to replace the one Ben Ali manipulated to hold onto power. It will also appoint an interim government and set elections for a president and parliament.
3.4pc rise in Australian wholesale prices expected
The Australian producer price index is tipped to show wholesale prices up 3.4 per cent year-on-year in the third quarter, maybe too high for the central bank, which reviews rates next week. CPI figures are also due this week.
