Talking points
Our editors will be looking ahead today to these developing stories ...
Christians around the world celebrate Good Friday, with all eyes on Rome, where Pope Francis will re-enact the final hours of Jesus' life with the traditional Way of the Cross procession at the Colosseum. In the Philippines, about a dozen Catholics re-enact Christ's crucifixion in an annual ritual that attracts tourists but is frowned upon by the Catholic Church.
President Xi Jinping arrives in Brazzaville, the capital of the Republic of Congo on the last step of his first international tour. Xi's trip to the resource-rich nation is seen as further evidence of China's attempts to build partnerships in the developing world. Non-governmental organisation Global Witness said last year that Chinese demand was responsible for a huge increase in illegal logging in the nation.
Visitors to Ocean Park have their first opportunity to meet Cleo, the baby bottlenose dolphin born in the park's research facility last August. The facility is one of eight backstage areas of the park being opened up for a series of backstage tours, running until May 5. A donation of at least HK$30 to the Ocean Park Conservation Foundation is needed to gain one of the 20 places on each guided tour.
Rock prodigy Yuto Miyazawa is in Hong Kong for a special performance at New Town Plaza in Sha Tin. The 13-year-old Japanese boy, reputed to be the world's youngest professional guitarist, has appeared at venues including New York's Madison Square Garden since he became famous in 2008. He's also shared the stage with rock legends including Black Sabbath frontman Ozzy Osbourne.
Argentina's economy faces a crunch day. The US Court of Appeals deadline arrives for Buenos Aires to put forward a repayment plan for debt on which it defaulted in 2001. President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner has condemned the companies bringing the legal action, who rejected debt swap deals in 2005 and 2010, as "vulture funds", but her government is expected to put forward a deal.
A Karachi court hears a petition against Pakistan's former president Pervez Musharraf, in which he is accused of failing to provide adequate security to slain former prime minister Benazir Bhutto and being involved in the mysterious death of a tribal leader. Musharraf returned to Pakistan earlier this week after more than four years in exile, defying a Taliban death threat and vowing to "save" the country at the risk of his life. He was granted "protective bail" to facilitate his return in the face of the court action.
