Talking points

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

Appeal begins for Asia's sacked football chief

Mohamed Bin Hammam (left), the former president of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), begins an appeal against his sacking and lifetime ban for corruption by Fifa. The two-day hearing at the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne, Switzerland, will be closely watched in Kuala Lumpur, where the AFC has been under the interim stewardship of Zhang Jilong. If Bin Hammam wins, he'll probably be reinstated; if he loses, his football career is over - and the AFC will face leadership elections at an emergency congress or its next scheduled meeting, in May next year. The result of Bin Hammam's appeal is not expected to be released until later this month.

Pakistan expels Osama bin Laden's family

Members of Osama bin Laden's family are expected to be deported from Pakistan, 11 months after the US raid that killed the Al-Qaeda kingpin. The family of the September 11, 2001, mastermind was detained after he was killed by US forces in Abbottabad, north of Islamabad, in May. The 12 surviving members were due to complete a short sentence of detention for illegally entering Pakistan. Their lawyer said the family - three widows, eight children and one grandchild - would probably go to Saudi Arabia, with Bin Laden's favourite wife sent on to her native Yemen with their five children.

Lawmakers vote on Tsang and 'Long Hair'

Lawmakers are expected to vote on a motion by the Civic Party's Tanya Chan (left) that the council has no confidence in Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen because of his acceptance of favours from tycoon friends. Lawmakers will also vote on whether to remove fellow legislator 'Long-Hair' Leung Kwok-hung, who was jailed last month for disrupting a public forum, and whether to censure Kam Nai-wai for his alleged mishandling of the dismissal of a female aide in 2009.

Palau sends home Chinese fishing crews

All 25 Chinese fishermen charged with illegal fishing in Palau last month are expected to return home. The fishermen were detained on March 31 after authorities fired shots at one of their two boats, killing a crew member. The dead fisherman's body will be sent home on the plane carrying his crew. State news agency Xinhua has reported that the men were released under an out-of-court settlement approved by a Palau judge last week.

Exhibition opening more robotic than usual

For the first time in its 40 years, Geneva's annual International Exhibition of Inventions will be opened by a robot, organisers say. Some 789 exhibitors showing 1,000 inventions are expected from 46 countries at the five-day event, which is forecast to draw 60,000 visitors.

Results of survey on island incinerator

The Islands District Association announces results of a survey commissioned from City University on plans to build a HK$15 billion waste incinerator on Shek Kwu Chau. The plan, yet to secure government funding, has been denounced by environmental activists and residents of neighbouring islands, but environment minister Edward Yau Tang-wah (left) has said its construction is 'inevitable'. Legco's environmental affairs panel votes on the project on Friday.