Talking points
Our editors will be looking ahead today to these developing stories ...
As India prepares for Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, workers in the country's firecracker industry say illegal Chinese imports are flooding the market and threatening their jobs. Diwali is marked each year with the deafening sound of celebratory firecrackers, but those who make them in the southern state of Tamil Nadu fear their monopoly is being challenged. However, this is unlikely to dampen the fun for millions over the next five days.
The Philippine central bank holds is policy meeting today, with analysts forecasting no increase the benchmark interest rate of 4 per cent, a figure reached after a second straight rise last month amid creeping inflation. However, with consumer prices showing signs of stabilising, a pause in the current tightening cycle seems likely, according to commercial bank projections.
Vice-Premier Ma Kai will attend the 15th Western China International Fair which starts today in Chengdu, Sichuan province. While in Chengdu, Ma will also deliver a keynote speech at the 7th Western China International Cooperation Forum, which is being attended by Czech President Milos Zeman. The fair brings together more than 4,000 exhibitors from 72 countries and last year realised trade deals amounting to 107 billion yuan (HK$135 billion).
The World Energy Council today hosts a summit of energy leaders in Cartagena, Colombia. The South American country's president, Juan Manuel Santos, will co-host the event, to be attended by 26 energy ministers as well as more than 100 company chiefs. The leaders will discuss the way ahead towards solving global and Latin American energy challenges.
Taiwanese actress Chu Chih-ying will be vying for the best actress award at the 27th Tokyo International Film Festival for her role in the Malaysian youth drama . Directed by Malaysia's rising star Edmund Yeo, the film will be among the 15 films vying for the Tokyo Grand Prix, the festival's top award, as well as the Special Jury Prize and awards for best director, actor, actress and other categories.
Sotheby's Hong Kong will today preview The Roots of Pleasure, a selling exhibition featuring 28 works of the acclaimed contemporary ink artist Li Jin, including his first sculptures in bronze and fibreglass along with his iconic ink paintings of everyday life. Li Jin was born in the northern city of Tianjin and trained at the Tianjin Academy of Fine Arts. The exhibition opens tomorrow in Admiralty.
