Talking points

The 10-day annual session of China's top political advisory body ends in Beijing today. Even though Chinese leaders repeatedly made public calls for advisers to speak out, some members of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference said their advisory role was "weak" and they were more like an "accessory" to the national legislature, the National People's Congress, which closes later this week.

Hong Kong airline Cathay Pacific will unveil its 2013 annual results at a press conference this afternoon. The event will be hosted by the airline's chairman, Christopher Pratt. Attributable profit in the first six months of last year was HK$24 million. This compared with a loss of HK$929 million in the first half of 2012. The airline reported at the time improved passenger traffic but weak demand in major air cargo markets.