Talking points

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

Trailwalker steps off with press conference

This year marks the 30th anniversary of Trailwalker and the organiser, Oxfam Hong Kong, holds the event's official press conference today. In attendance will be different generations of Oxfam Trailwalker participants who will share their memories of the gruelling but exhilarating team endurance challenge, and explain what has driven them to compete year after year. A record 1,200 teams will participate in this year's Trailwalker, which will be held on November 18-20.

James Murdoch faces new grilling in Westminster

James Murdoch may have embarrassing questions to answer on his return to Westminster to testify before a parliamentary committee investigating the phone-hacking scandal that has engulfed News Corp. Documents released since his first round of testimony in July have cast doubt on his version of events. Murdoch, the company's deputy chief operating officer and the younger son of its chairman, Rupert Murdoch, was a deft witness in July. Now he faces defending himself against mounting evidence that top executives at News International, the company's British newspaper arm, knew a full three years ago that hacking was pervasive at News of the World, the tabloid the company shut down in July, and that the executives discussed it with Murdoch at the time.

Hu heads to Asia-Pacific summit in Hawaii

President Hu Jintao sets off for the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation summit in Hawaii. Officials said Hu would elaborate on China's views about the economic situation in the Asia-Pacific region and the world at large. China said US goals of establishing regional free trade and an environmental policy at the summit were too ambitious for some developing nations. US trade representative Ron Kirk said the US would 'push the envelope' to promote trade in renewable energy technology.

Indian, Pakistani leaders to meet on summit sidelines

The leaders of India and Pakistan will meet on the sidelines of a regional summit this week, as the nuclear-armed rivals seek to push a tentative rapprochement in their fractious relationship. Talks between Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh (left) and Pakistani counterpart Yousaf Raza Gilani (right) will take place at the summit of the South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation nations, which opens today in the Maldives.

Health Ministry faces difficult questions

Chinese media are likely to grill the spokesman for the Ministry of Health in Beijing today over a series of recent public health incidents, including a Foshan hospital mistakenly declaring a premature baby as dead and disposing of it in a toilet, and the proliferation of recycled cooking oil by restaurants and food producers.

Bank of England reviews interest rates

The Bank of England reviews interest rates and the need for further intervention to prop up the economy during its monthly meeting. The National Institute for Economic Research last week warned that the British economy would grow less than previously forecast and gave a 50 per cent chance of another recession.