Talking points

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

Easy win expected for NZ's ruling party

New Zealand's ruling National Party is expected to win an outright majority in today's elections, according to the final two opinion polls held before the vote, ensuring Prime Minister John Key gets a free hand to push through asset sales and welfare reform. The polls showed support for the centre-right party, led by the former foreign exchange dealer, was little changed and holding at 50 per cent or higher. A poll of the five most significant polls puts Key's party on 51.5 per cent, with the centre-left Labour party a distant second on 26.7 per cent.

Go, go, go for cheerleading champs

Teams of cheerleaders from around the world, including Japan, Germany and Venezuela, begin competing in the 6th Cheerleading World Championships, which start today at the Hong Kong Coliseum in Hung Hom. More than 800 competitors from 20 countries and cities will perform in the biennial event.

Nasa's rover set for Martian adventure

Nasa plans to launch its Mars rover Curiosity on what will be the most ambitious 570-million-kilometre, one-way mission yet to the Red Planet. After years of delays and cost overruns, the US space agency believes the 23-month US$2.5 billion Mars Science Laboratory mission will provide crucial scientific information and an unprecedented level of knowledge of the planet's terrain. First among the mission's many objectives is, in Nasa's words, 'to assess whether the landing area has ever had or still has environmental conditions favourable to microbial life'.

China to open up about US solar cell dispute

The China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Machinery and Electronic Products and several local manufacturers will meet the press within the next few days to discuss the escalating trade dispute between China and the US over solar cells. The Ministry of Commerce announced an investigation into US state support for renewable power after the US Commerce Department began one into alleged anti-dumping and countervailing duties for Chinese-made solar cells.

Summit to debate a new era's news media

Editors, publishers and executives from print, broadcast, digital and mobile media will arrive in Hong Kong for the Global Editors Network News World Summit, to be held over four days from tomorrow. Key speakers will include WikiLeaks co-founder Julian Assange ('by Skype or videolink'), former Al Jazeera director-general Wadah Khanfar and internet activist Joichi Ito. Hong Kong-based delegates will include South China Morning Post acting editor-in-chief Cliff Buddle, Caixin Weekly's managing editor Li Xin and Jimmy Lai Chee-ying, founder of Apple Daily.

City's Egyptians support Tahrir Square protest

Egyptians living in Hong Kong will hold a protest outside their country's consulate, in Sino Plaza, on Gloucester Road, in solidarity with the pro-democracy protests in Tahrir Square, Cairo. The protesters will demonstrate against the ruling military council's 'brutality' and urge them to step down.