Talking Points
Our editors will be looking ahead today to these developing stories ...
The spotlight turns to all things eco-friendly with the four-day Eco Expo Asia opening at AsiaWorld-Expo. This year's theme is "Green tech for a low carbon economy", and 270 exhibitors from 14 countries are showing the latest in green technology. Green groups will also be keen to hear the keynote speech by the undersecretary for the environment, Christine Loh King-wai, at a forum amid the controversy over plans to build a man-made beach in Tai Po.
Moro Islamic Liberation Front leader Al Haj Murad Ebrahim meets the media at his southern headquarters after agreeing a preliminary peace deal with the Philippine government to end 40 years of bitter hostility and armed conflict. Murad, who became the first chief of the rebel group to visit the presidential palace, has agreed to give up the campaign for a separate Muslim homeland in return for increased autonomy from Manila.
A well-loved local god welcomes visitors to his newly upgraded home in Sha Tin this weekend. Che Kung, or General Che, was a military commander of the Southern Song dynasty (AD1127 to 1279), whose ability to suppress uprisings and plagues led to him being revered as a god. A temple fair, including Cantonese opera performances, will show off the temple's HK$20 million facelift.
Ukrainian voters go to the polls tomorrow to decide a tight contest between the opposition and the party of President Viktor Yanukovych. The campaign has been marked by Western prodding of the authorities over jailed opposition leader and ex-prime minister Yuliya Tymoshenko. But the opposition has rallied in the closing stages around the intriguing candidacy of heavyweight boxer Vitali Klitschko, who campaigns against corruption with his aptly named UDAR (Punch) group.
Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard releases a White Paper on Australia in the Asian Century, setting out how Canberra will respond to the rise of China and the emergence of new powers in Asia. A team of experts has been working on the paper for more than a year and it is expected to set out how Australians can benefit, especially economically, from a better relationship with a dynamic region that has a rapidly growing middle class.
Fans of sumo usually have to head to Japan to see top-class action but, for the first time, Hong Kong is hosting the sport's world championships. A temporary ring has been set up at Southorn Stadium in Wan Chai to welcome weighty stars from around the world - both men and women - in the International Sumo Federation tournament.
