Talking points

Our editors will be looking ahead today to these developing stories ...

Activists keep up the pressure over dissident's death

Civil and human rights groups angered by the death of dissident Li Wangyang will hold their second rally in a week tomorrow in protest at what they suspect was his murder. The Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China and the League of Social Democrats say they will also demand an explanation from President Hu Jintao when he visits the city for the 15th anniversary of the handover on July 1. Li, jailed for more than 22 years after the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown, was found dead on Wednesday hanging from a hospital window with a sheet around his neck. Authorities say he committed suicide.

World aviation leaders gather in Beijing

Delegates begin arriving in Beijing for the International Air Transport Association's 68th annual general meeting, which starts on Monday. It will gather 'some 650 leaders of the global aviation industry for two days of intense discussions on the industry's most important issues', organisers say.

Law forum debates mainlanders' HK births

The law faculty of the University of Hong Kong holds a symposium on legal measures to deal with the issue of mainlanders coming to Hong Kong to give birth. Among those expected to attend are lawmaker Alan Leong Kah-kit (left) and HKU law professors. Speakers will examine the underlying rationale and social cost of the phenomenon. Chief executive-elect Leung Chun-ying has indicated he will adopt legal measures instead of administrative ones to deal with the influx.

French voters to choose parliamentarians

France gears up to vote in the opening round of a parliamentary election tomorrow, with President Francois Hollande's Socialists and their left-wing allies expected to emerge with a clear majority following his victory last month over Nicolas Sarkozy. Polls show the Socialists and others on the left more than 10 points ahead of parties grouped around the right-wing UMP. The election will also test Marine Le Pen's far-right National Front, after she won 18 per cent of votes in the first round of the presidential election.

All the world's a stage for Tony Awards

The Tony Awards, the American theatre world's answer to the Oscars (officially known as the Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Theatre), will be presented in New York tomorrow at a ceremony televised live around the world. Among those fancied for an award are Follies, by Stephen Sondheim, for best musical, Clybourne Park for best play, Philip Seymour Hoffman (left) as best actor in a play (in Death of a Salesman) and Tracie Bennett as best actress in a play (End of the Rainbow).

Government ministers join Croatian gay pride march

Government ministers in Croatia will join a gay pride march in the Adriatic city of Split despite threats of violence, saying it is a test of democracy. Police failed last year to protect the marchers, who were pelted with eggs and rocks. Nationalist and war veteran groups have warned organisers against this year's march, calling it a 'shameful provocation by sick people'.