Talking points

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

Obama focuses on Asia for Japanese PM's visit

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda (left) meets President Barack Obama at the White House, starting two weeks of intense US diplomacy on Asia. The push comes as the US seeks to rekindle friendly ties with Japan and India while managing an often fractious relationship with China. Washington has repeatedly said it has no strategy to contain China, but it has been shoring up relations with neighbouring countries, many of which are nervous about Beijing's rise. Obama's talks with Noda will be followed by a gala dinner thrown by Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, who will fly out immediately afterwards for major talks in Beijing and then head to Bangladesh and India.

Pan-democrats raise issues with C.Y. Leung

Representatives of pan-democrats are expected to meet chief executive-elect Leung Chun-ying and to raise with him enactment of the national security law, restructuring of the cabinet and the pace of democratisation. Another topic may be whether Leung will lead a government committee to fight poverty. Failed chief executive candidate Henry Tang Ying-yen has been criticised for poor performance when head of the Commission on Poverty.

PLA ships throw open the gangplanks

Two People's Liberation Army warships open to the public for three days. Some 6,000 tickets have been distributed to visit the destroyer Haikou and the frigate Yuncheng, berthed at the PLA barracks on Stonecutter's Island. The ships are part of a Chinese task force returning home from its escort mission in the Gulf of Aden. The ships were invited to help mark the 15th anniversary of the handover.

Transport systems brace for a rush

Mainland transport systems are bracing for another peak travel period tomorrow as the three-day Labour Day holiday ends. On Saturday, the Beijing subway alone handled a record 8.39 million trips.

Zambian foreign minister visits China

Zambian Foreign Minister Given Lubinda arrives tomorrow for a five-day visit to China during which he will meet his opposite number, Yang Jiechi . After his election in September last year, Zambian President Michaal Sata told Beijing he welcomed Chinese companies investing in Africa's biggest copper producer, but only if they obeyed the law.

Thai web editor faces verdict on lese-majeste charge

A Thai web editor facing decades behind bars over remarks about the monarchy posted by others on her website said she still hoped today's closely watched verdict by a Bangkok court would be an acquittal. Chiranuch Premchaiporn faces up to 20 years in prison in a case that has shone a spotlight on Thailand's lese-majeste and computer laws. The editor of the popular Prachatai news website, she denies not removing quickly enough 10 online posts perceived as critical to the monarchy in 2008. 'I don't think I'm guilty; I think I did the right thing. Fighting this is the way to prove that I'm right,' she said. Her case has received widespread international attention, because of the length of the potential sentence and the fact the accusations relate to other people's comments that she says she removed as quickly as possible.