Talking points

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

Regina Ip tests water for chief executive bid

The New People's Party plans a special meeting this evening to discuss whether to support its party chairwoman, Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee, in a run for chief executive. The session follows the decision on Sunday by Rita Fan Hsu Lai-tai, a member of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, to rule herself out of a run for the top job. Ip, a former security secretary, said she would consult party members to determine whether she had enough support to join the race.

Mayor meets press after Guangdong rape, riot

Guangzhou Mayor Wan Qingliang will meet the media on the sidelines of the International Consultative Conference on the Economic Development of Guangdong. After a recent rape case in Shenzhen and a riot in Zengcheng , the provincial government last week announced it would expand its auxiliary police and freeze new police-assistant squads, which have come under heavy criticism from the public. In the rape case, the alleged assailant was an ex-convict who had worked as an assistant to police.

Taiwanese panel to rule on James Soong candidacy

Taiwan's Central Election Commission will announce whether People First Party presidential candidate James Soong Chu-yu is qualified to run in the election in January. A run by Soong could tip the balance of support between President Ma Ying-jeou and the main opposition challenger, Dr Tsai Ing-wen. The latest poll by United Daily News shows Ma leads Tsai by 6 percentage points, but if Soong were to join the race, Ma would tie with Tsai. The commission will decide whether the 460,000 signatures for Soong's presidential petition are valid and surpass the 355,589-signature threshold to qualify to stand for election.

Sales figures, corporate survey gauge US economy

US retail sales figures and the Empire State manufacturing survey from the New York Federal Reserve tonight are expected to provide insights into how the economy is faring. Consumer spending accounts for more than two-thirds of the world's biggest economy, while the Empire State survey gives a clue to the outlook for corporate profits.

Arab League meets Syrian opposition leaders

Officials from the Arab League meet representatives of Syrian groups opposed to the regime of President Bashar al-Assad in Cairo after the league suspended Syria over its violent crackdown on eight months of protests. The 22-member bloc's rare, near-unanimous vote - only Lebanon, Yemen and Syria did not back suspension - put Damascus in direct confrontation with other Arab powers, including Qatar and Saudi Arabia, who were pushing for the suspension. The vote constituted a major boost for the Syrian opposition. Arab League secretary general Nabil Elaraby said it was, however, too soon for the Cairo-based body to consider recognising the Syrian opposition as the legitimate authority following the Assad administration's suspension from the league on Saturday.