Talking points

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

C.Y. Leung attends Legco hearing over West Kowloon

Chief executive candidate Leung Chun-ying (left) attends a Legislative Council select committee hearing on his involvement 10 years ago in the jury deliberating on designs for the West Kowloon Cultural District. Leung's role as a juror despite his links to one of the entrants has given rise to concerns that he may have had a conflict of interest.

Briefing on potential land supply underground

The deputy secretary for development (works), Enoch Lam Tin-sing, chairs a briefing on developing caverns to improve land supply. Also attending will be the principal assistant secretary for development (works), Liu Chun-san, the chief geotechnical engineer (planning) at the Civil Engineering and Development Department, Samuel Ng Kwok-choi, and the chief engineer (sewage project) at the Drainage Services Department, Lai Cheuk-ho. Options under consideration by the government to boost land supply for residential and commercial developments include a proposal to construct artificial islands, a suggestion that has angered some conservationists.

Romney stands in Obama's home state

Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney has yet another chance to prove he is his party's inevitable candidate when he stands in the primary in Illinois, President Barack Obama's home state. More politically moderate than the Southern states in which Romney has struggled to attract support from conservatives, the state is also likely to be key in the November vote.

Feuding leaders give Iranian New Year messages

Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (left) give a televised addresses marking Nowruz, also known as the Iranian New Year. The speeches are likely to be monitored for signs of the skirmish between the two leaders that was exposed last week when Ahmadinejad was summoned to parliament to face an hour of questioning from hardline opponents loyal to Khamenei.

Verdicts due for alleged Qingdao gangsters

Qingdao Intermediate People's Court delivers its verdicts in a high-profile case involving what is alleged to be the port city's biggest organised crime gang. Nie Lei, the gang's 44-year-old alleged mastermind, and 31 of his closest allies have been tried on multiple charges, including causing deliberate injury, organising a sex trade, gambling and gun-running. The case involves 129 suspects, and the remaining accused have stood trial on other, relatively lesser charges elsewhere in Qingdao.

Observatory hosts weather report on equinox

Today is the northern hemisphere's vernal equinox, when the sun stands directly over the equator at midday, marking the official first day of spring. According to the Hong Kong Observatory's online charts, the sun will rise at 6.27am and set at 6.34pm. The equinox coincides with a media briefing to be given by the director of the Observatory, Shun Chi-ming (left), who will discuss weather issues for the coming year, including projections for the amount of rainfall and the number of typhoons the city can expect.