Our editors will be looking ahead today to these developing stories ...
Freddie still a champion, 20 years on
Freddie Mercury, the larger-than-life frontman of Queen, died 20 years ago today but his star has only burned brighter in the two decades since. The British rock group, marking their 40th anniversary this year, are among the world's biggest-selling artists - with most of their sales coming in the years since Mercury's death. Among the reasons is the arrival of a new generation of artists citing Queen among their influences, including Lady Gaga, Robbie Williams, Foo Fighters and Muse. Mercury had been living with HIV for several years and died at the age of 45 of Aids-related pneumonia.
Abbas and Hamas in bid to revive reconciliation
Palestinian Authority president Mahmoud Abbas and Hamas chief Khaled Meshaal meet in Cairo in a bid to cement a reconciliation deal stalled for more than six months. Fatah and Hamas, which respectively control the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, signed a surprise agreement in May to end their long-standing bitter rivalry, but it has yet to be implemented. It calls for the immediate formation of an interim government to pave the way for presidential and parliamentary elections within a year. But the two sides have so far failed to agree on the composition of the caretaker government and, in particular, who will head it.
Heavy hitters to meet Italy's new PM
Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti (pictured) will meet German Chancellor Dr Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy to discuss the euro-zone crisis. The meeting is part of the new Italian leader's whirlwind first week, which began with a phone conversation with US President Barack Obama and a cabinet meeting during which he pledged speedy new measures to combat the country's debt crisis. Monti is under enormous pressure to boost Italy's stagnant growth and bring down debt which, at 120 per cent of GDP, is among the highest in the euro zone.
