Talking points
Our editors will be looking ahead today to these developing stories ...
Wukan goes to vote for its own village committee
Residents of Wukan, the protest-hit southern Guangdong village, will vote in their first democratic elections for a village committee. The seven-member committee, including a village chief and two deputies, will have real power over local finances and the sale and apportioning of farmland. Wukan has enjoyed rare freedoms granted in December to defuse a row over land sales, after residents expelled their previous, appointed authorities and barricaded themselves against the outside world for 10 days (pictured).
Democrats to march against CE election
The Civil Human Rights Front, which has called a protest march against the 'small-circle' chief executive election, is expecting between 3,000 and 5,000 participants. Pan-democrat candidate Albert Ho Chun-yan is expected to appear. The march will start at 3pm from Victoria Park to the government offices in Admiralty along a route through Central suggested by the police that is almost two kilometres longer than the one organisers preferred. The organisers fear the longer route may mean chaos as people get tired. Police say they are prepared and have adequate manpower.
Candidates to debate green policy
For the first time, all three candidates for chief executive will be on the same stage at the same time when they debate environmental policies and issues at a forum staged at City University by more than 20 green groups. Albert Ho Chun-yan (pictured) and the two front runners, Leung Chun-ying and Henry Tang Ying-yen, will face questions from the audience after discussing election pledges on issues like air pollution, climate change and energy, development and conservation and waste management. More than 400 people are expected to attend the forum and they will be asked to rate the candidates after the debate.
New life for Wan Chai's old wine glasses
In an attempt to encourage glass recycling, the Hong Kong Dumper Truck Drivers Association says it will offer a wine glass recovered from the garbage of Wan Chai's bars for every three glass containers handed in by members of the public at the first session of its wine-glass exchange, to be held at the recycling station in Luard Road, near Southorn Playground.
Russia votes, Putin sure of victory
Russia holds its presidential election tomorrow. Voting will take place from 8am to 8pm local time across Russia, which spans 10 time zones. The first polling stations open in the Far East at midnight Moscow time today and the last close in Kaliningrad tomorrow evening. Results will trickle in as soon as the last stations close. Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (pictured) is all but certain to regain the presidency and make President Dmitry Medvedev prime minister.
Obama to address pro-Israeli lobby
US President Barack Obama will address the American Israel Public Affairs Committee in Washington, the biggest pro-Israel lobby group in the US. The speech will gain unusual attention as it will take place a day before Obama meets Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is on a tour of Canada and the United States. The speech will be keenly watched before the leaders meet on Monday, amid concerns about Iran's nuclear capabilities.
