Talking points
Our editors will be looking ahead today to these developing stories ...
In Canterbury, England, Justin Welby is enthroned as the new Archbishop of Canterbury and head of the Anglican Church. Welby, who became leader of the world's 80 million Anglicans last month, has been continuing a "journey in prayer" covering five cities and six cathedrals in his province of Canterbury, which covers southern England. The former oil executive took over as Archbishop of Canterbury from Rowan Williams.
Taiwan's Ministry of the Interior issues an entry permit to fugitive Chang An-lo, who fled to the mainland 16 years ago and was once one of the island's top-10 most wanted fugitives. Chang, also known as "White Wolf", was a former leader of the island's triad the Bamboo Union. Local media said Chang, now 66, decided to end his exile last year, but it was only early this month the Taiwan authorities approved his application for travelling papers.
As the build-up continues for this weekend's Hong Kong Sevens tournament, the Hong Kong Rugby Football Union announces the launch of the first ever "Schools of Rugby" programme in the city. The Confucius Hall Secondary School in So Kon Po, Causeway Bay, confirmed it will become the city's first School of Rugby, with the programme commencing in August 2013.
PetroChina, the mainland's largest oil and gas producer and one of the largest oil companies in the world, reports last year's results. Analysts are tipping a 6 per cent decline in net profit to 125 billion yuan (HK$156 billion) for the past year. In the first half of 2012, the company's turnover rose 9.9 per cent, but net profit decreased by 6 per cent due to a range of factors.
In Turkey Kurds celebrate New Year, or Newroz, amid renewed peace talks between the country's secret services and the jailed Kurdish leader Abdullah Ocalan, who is expected to call a ceasefire this week as hopes grow for peace with Ankara. Earlier in the week crowds gathered in the city's Kazlicesme Square to demand freedom for Ocalan, the leader of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) who has been in prison since 1999. According to a draft peace plan, Ocalan is set to call for rebel fighters to lay down arms by August.
Commissioner for Narcotics Erika Hui announces the Central Registry of Drug Abuse figures on Hong Kong's drug situation in 2012 as well as announcing the findings of the 2011-2012 Survey of Drug Use Among Students.
