Talking Points
Our editors will be looking ahead today to these developing stories ...
China's leadership team revealed
The 18th national party congress reaches its conclusion with the release of the names of the top cadres who will lead China as members of the Politburo Standing Committee. The final list will be closely watched in an attempt to assess which faction is in the ascendancy and what the prospects are for reform in the world's most populous nation.
Obama surveys Sandy damage
United States President Barack Obama will see at first hand the devastation caused by the deadly superstorm Sandy on a visit to New York. Obama had hoped to visit the city earlier, but was told to stay away by Mayor Michael Bloomberg amid concern that the heavy security required for his visit would divert attention from the rescue effort.
More bad economic news for Europe
Third-quarter provisional gross domestic product figures are expected to confirm anecdotal evidence that the euro-zone economy has largely stalled. Economists expect eye-wateringly bad news for Italy, where the GDP data may show a 2.9 per cent contraction (up from 2.6 per cent in the June quarter), and a 1.6 per cent contraction for Spain, unchanged from the previous quarter. France's economy is expected to have flatlined and Germany's to have grown by about 0.4 per cent.
H&M's new collection on sale
Hong Kong's lovers of affordable fashion have been counting down the days to the launch of the latest collection at H&M. The retailer has followed up collaborations with the likes of designer Karl Lagerfeld with a line designed by avant-garde Belgian label Maison Martin Margiela. Shoppers were last night queuing outside the store in Central in the hope of netting a bargain.
Asean leaders meet in Cambodia
Leaders from across the region gather in Phnom Penh for the annual summit of Asean and its partner countries. The meeting marks the end of Cambodia's year chairing the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, and is expected to see further discussion on competing territorial claims in the South China Sea.
US lawmakers probe Libya deaths
US lawmakers will hold a hearing looking into the security issues raised by the fatal attack on the US consulate in Benghazi, Libya, on September 11. The hearing by the Senate intelligence committee has been overshadowed by the abrupt resignation of CIA chief David Petraeus after the revelation that he had an affair with his biographer. After doubts whether he would appear, Petraeus yesterday told the committee he would do so, on a date yet to be determined.