Talking points

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

C.Y. Leung attends DAB camp in Shenzhen

Chief executive-elect Leung Chun-ying (left) attends a 'road map camp' held by the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong, the Beijing-loyalist party that gave him all its votes in the election. He is expected to speak on his ideals for government and especially on efforts to heal the divisions that emerged during the bruising chief executive campaign. The camp is being held at Kylin Villa, Shenzhen.

Iran returns to talks on nuclear plans after 15 months

A delegation led by Assistant Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu attends talks on Iran's nuclear programme between Tehran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany. The talks are expected to focus on Tehran's promised 'initiatives', but there is little hope in the West of a breakthrough. What Tehran will bring to the table remained unclear this week, but the fact that the talks were starting again after a 15-month break is seen as a crucial opportunity to lower tensions. One senior European diplomat pointed to a lack of 'positive signals' from Tehran that compromises will be made to finally ease Western fears surrounding Iran's nuclear activities - that they are aimed at developing nuclear weapons.

CPPCC chief Jia Qinglin sets off on goodwill visits

China's top political adviser, Jia Qinglin (pictured meeting Thailand's Princess Sirindhorn in Beijing this week), pays official goodwill visits to New Zealand, Brunei and Thailand from today until April 25. Jia, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, was invited by the governments of New Zealand and Brunei and the senate of the Thai National Assembly.

Israeli police prepare for airport showdown

Hundreds of Israeli police have been deployed around Ben Gurion International Airport in anticipation of the arrival this weekend of activists, mainly from European countries, in a protest campaign called 'Welcome to Palestine'. The visitors are expected to openly declare their intent to visit the West Bank. In previous years, activists have been held in custody pending deportation, but not charged with any offence.

West Kowloon jurors face questions in open hearing

A Legco select committee investigating the role of chief executive-elect Leung Chun-ying in adjudicating entries for a West Kowloon Cultural District design competition conducts an open hearing. Fellow jurors in the competition 10 years ago - Nicholas Brooke, Selina Chow Liang Shuk-yee, Chang Hsin-kang and Patrick Lau Sau-shing- are expected to testify. Leung's failure to declare a link to one of the entrants has given rise to concerns that he may have had a conflict of interest.

Dalai Lama visits Hawaii at invitation of eBay founder

The Dalai Lama (left) visits Honolulu, the capital of the US state of Hawaii, this weekend and will meet native Hawaiian leaders. US media have reported that his trip is being funded by a grant made by eBay founder Pierre Omidyar and his wife, Pam, to the Hawaii Community Foundation, and that the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader is visiting Hawaii at the couple's invitation.