Source:
https://scmp.com/article/980396/talking-points

Talking points

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

Verdict on domestic helper's right of abode

Evangeline Banao Vallejos, a Filipino domestic helper who has lived in Hong Kong for 25 years, will find out the Court of First Instance's decision on her fight to become a permanent resident. Challenging an immigration law that says domestic helpers cannot be 'ordinarily resident' in Hong Kong, even if they have lived here for the required seven years, the case is the first of three before the High Court. But whichever way the court rules, either Vallejos or the government are expected to appeal against the decision if they lose, setting up an eventual showdown in the city's highest court.

First look at revised design for Kowloon arts hub

British architect Norman Foster and executives of the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority will unveil a revised design layout for the 42-hectare arts hub. A big question is whether the latest design, which incorporates elements from two earlier rival architect teams, will push the project over the HK$21.6 billion budget. The ceremony will also see Michael Suen Ming-yeung replacing Henry Tang Ying-yen, who resigned yesterday as chairman of the authority as well as chief secretary.

Ministry to outline mainland grain harvest

Vice-agriculture minister Chen Xiaohua is briefing the press today on the grain harvest and other agricultural issues. Senior officials from the state economic planner said earlier this month that the mainland was on course for a bumper harvest for the eighth year running, helping to boost supply and stabilise prices. But researchers with the State Council's think tank cautioned such growth may not be sustainable and the harvest would probably be reduced next year.

US set to avert government shutdown - again

The United States House of Representatives is expected to pass a short-term funding bill to avert a government shutdown as members of both parties drew fire for creating another high-stakes political drama. Leaders in the Democratic-led Senate reached a bipartisan deal on Monday, ending a stalemate over whether emergency relief had to be offset with spending cuts. The battle marked the third time this year that the sharply divided Congress pushed the US government to the brink.

Merkel faces key vote on eurozone crisis

German Chancellor Dr Angela Merkel faces a crunch vote today that threatens to both weaken her politically and undermine her ability to manage the euro zone debt crisis. MPs in the lower house of parliament will decide on expanding a rescue fund for debt-mired Greece and other faltering countries. Although the bill is expected to pass, Merkel may have to face the humiliation of garnering the opposition's support after some members of her governing centre-right coalition threatened to defect.

Last hurrah for all-male elections in Saudi Arabia

Saudi men are to vote today in municipal elections, the last all-male affair in the Muslim kingdom after a royal decree this week giving women the right to cast ballots four years from now. Some 5,324 candidates will compete for 816 seats in the elections - only the second in Saudi Arabia's history. The election comes just four days after Saudi Arabia's absolute monarch Abdullah granted women the right to vote and run in the next municipal elections.