Our editors will be looking ahead today to these developing stories ...
High hopes for euro in Brussels summit
The European Union holds its final summit for the year, in Brussels, and hopes and expectations are mounting for a major breakthrough, although EU officials are cautious about the outlook. French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Dr Angela Merkel (pictured) are pushing for EU treaty changes to be agreed at the summit to ensure tighter fiscal discipline by debt-hit euro-zone nations to reassure nervous markets. Commentators in the financial media have been warning readers that the single currency risks collapse if no deal is reached.
EU embrace widens to include Croatia
European Union governments sign an accession treaty to bring Croatia into the 27-state bloc in July 2013, with a sense of relief that it may be the last Balkan state to join for years. It will be a momentous occasion for the former Yugoslav republic, but for the EU the milestone may be overshadowed by its debt crisis. Fortunately, the new southern member state of 4.3 million people - which will increase the EU's population by less than 1 per cent - will not be a heavy burden on the EU's troubled finances.
Officials spell out city's ban on idling engines
Environmental officials will unveil details of the ban on motorists idling engines, which will come into force next week. Traffic wardens will be responsible for enforcing the law. Drivers will be given a three-minute period of grace to switch off their engines, before facing a fixed penalty of HK$320. Waiting taxis and the first two minibuses in a rank are exempt.
