Our editors will be looking ahead today to these developing stories ...
Beijing sends envoy to Damascus for talks
Vice-Foreign Minister Zhai Jun (left) is in Syria to push for a peaceful end to a conflict that is rapidly escalating into civil war. Earlier in his career, Zhai was based in West Asia and North Africa, and should be familiar with the region's issues. In recent weeks, Russia and China have attracted criticism in the diplomatic community for vetoing a United Nations Security Council resolution calling on Syria's President Bashar al-Assad to step down.
Tang leaves media up in the air over forum
Henry Tang Ying-yen, who is embroiled in a furore over illegal structures at his home in Kowloon Tong, has been invited by the Hong Kong Journalists Association to attend a forum on the chief executive election. Last night Tang had yet to accept the invitation. Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen, whose term expires in June, can expect questions from the media for his views on the scandal involving his former right-hand man when he attends a function this evening at the Foreign Correspondents' Club.
Japan-China friendship groups visit Beijing
A delegation representing seven Japan-China friendship organisations is expected to meet President Hu Jintao to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the normalisation of bilateral ties. Beijing earlier denied reports that the meeting had been cancelled after Japan had laid claim to some uninhabited islands in the East China Sea, near the disputed Diaoyu Islands, which in Japan are known as the Senkaku Islands.