Talking points

The countdown to the annual Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference session continues with the top advisory body holding a press conference in Beijing today. The political advisory body's outgoing session met for the last time yesterday and adopted draft lists of candidates to serve in key positions for the new session's plenary meeting, which begins tomorrow.

Representatives from 177 governments around the world will consider 70 proposals to tighten efforts to stamp out the trade in endangered species at a conference starting today in Bangkok. A sharp rise has been recorded in the illegal trade of products such as ivory and rhino horns, with up to 30,000 African elephants poached for their ivory last year. The meeting of the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species runs until March 14.