Talking Points
Our editors will be looking ahead today to these developing stories ...
An envoy sent by Palestinian Authority president Mahmoud Abbas holds talks in Beijing to brief officials about the fiercest fighting in years between Israel and Hamas militants. In another sign of China's growing influence in the Middle East, envoy Bassam al-Salhi arrived in the capital yesterday for a three-day visit. He will discuss the situation in Gaza, Sino-Palestinian relations and the Palestinian Authority's request for full UN recognition.
Americans will shop until they drop on the day they call "Black Friday". The first day after the Thanksgiving holiday marks the beginning in earnest of the pre-Christmas shopping season and is so-called because it is the day retailers traditionally start to turn a profit for the year. Stores will compete to offer bargains, while analysts will closely watch the ringing of the tills for signs of the struggling US economy heating up.
The world's highest-altitude airport for civil aviation opens for business in Daocheng county, Garze, Sichuan province. At an elevation of 4,410 metres, the airport is expected to help boost tourism in the county, home to about 30,000 people, as getting there by road is difficult. The title has previously been claimed by airports in Tibet.
Manchester United commemorate manager Alex Ferguson's 26th year in charge at Old Trafford by unveiling a statue of the legendary Scottish boss. The statue, designed by sculptor Philip Jackson, is unveiled on the day before United take on Queens Park Rangers - the team they faced in Ferguson's first game in charge on November 22, 1986. The Red Devils have since claimed 12 Premier League titles, two European Cups, five FA Cups and four League Cups.
Hong Kong launches the largest ever roadshow for its arts and culture sector in Taiwan as a belated response to the island's annual culture festival in the city. The event, Hong Kong Week 2012 - Culture & Creativity @ Taipei, runs until December 2 and will feature a series of performances involving nine local arts groups. The HK$8 million roadshow will open with a performance by the Hong Kong Repertory Theatre of the musical drama .
A doctor convicted of molesting three nurses at a public hospital in a case his lawyer said had "far-reaching consequences for the profession" is sentenced at Kowloon City Court. Dr Allan So Cheuk-wai was convicted of three counts of indecent assault and two of committing an act of outraging public decency. So has been suspended from his job at Queen Elizabeth Hospital.
