The Legislative Council House Committee will hold a special meeting Thursday to review a bill on the redeveloped Huanggang Port. The bill had its first and second readings in Legco Wednesday, and Secretary for Security Chris Tang held four briefings with lawmakers, to help them better understand relevant documents and facilitate the legislative process. Wallis Wang reports.

Lawmakers have approved a total smoking ban at construction sites. It will come into effect Friday and won't have a grace period. Here's Wallis Wang.

A significant number of top performers in this year's university-entrance exam are setting their sights on a future in medicine. They made their intentions known after the results of the Diploma of Secondary Education exam were released Wednesday. Tina Lo reports.

St Paul's Co-educational College led the pack in this year's DSE exam results, producing five top scorers. Among them is Wong Yik-ka, who credited his dream of becoming a doctor as the driving force behind his rigorous study routine. The youngster says his ambition is deeply personal, having witnessed his loved ones battle cancer. Wong spoke to Belle Yip about how he prepared for the exams:

The Consumer Council has found that nearly 60 percent of ready-to-wear reading glasses it tested did not come with clear indications. Janice Lo has the details.

The Consumer Council says people should not just consider price and benefits when selecting an insurance plan for their pets. The watchdog looked at 24 plans and found that since its previous study, the coverage of some had new elements. Professor Lam Hon-ming, a member of the council's Research and Testing Committee, told Janice Lo that many items are often not included in the basic coverage.

The annual book fair opened Wednesday amid fanfare, and many visitors said they were planning to spend hundreds to more than a thousand dollars. This year's fair at the Convention and Exhibition Centre features more than 770 exhibitors and over 600 events. Swara Kamble talked to some of those who went there on day one, asking them what drew them there.

Besides book sellers and publishers, foreign missions are also looking to showcase their cultures at the book fair. There's a "World of Art and Culture" zone in this year's fair in collaboration with a number of consulates-general here in Hong Kong, featuring more than 200 books and exhibits from around the world. Alejandro Vélez, Vice Consul of Cultural Affairs at the Consulate General of Mexico, spoke to Swara Kamble:

The world's second-largest economy is on track to meet its full-year growth target, with the latest figures showing a 4.7 percent increase in the mainland economy in the first half of the year and a 4.3 percent growth in the second quarter. Le Xia, chief economist for Asia at BBVA Research, said the weaker performance in the three months ending June came as the impact of the country's consumption-related subsidies faded while external uncertainties persisted. He spoke to Chloe Feng.

Outgoing UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has pledged his "wholehearted support" to his successor, as he prepares to hand over to PM-in-waiting Andy Burnham. Facing his last weekly grilling from MPs in parliament, Starmer said he wanted to see the next leader of his centre-left Labour party succeed.
Our UK correspondent Gavin Grey told Ben Tse says there was none of the usual bickering seen at the weekly session:

The United States and Iran have launched strikes for a fifth consecutive day as they seek to assert control of the Strait of Hormuz. Raymond Yeung has more:

Air pollution in the Canadian city of Toronto has been rated as the highest of any major city in the world -- mostly as a result of wildfires raging in the region. Authorities have urged people to stay indoors, while city officials have closed pools, cancelled summer camp programmes, and closed down a fan festival ahead of the England-Argentina World Cup semi-final. Cecil Wong has details

The United Nations says the cost of a healthy diet has increased 25 percent in the past five years, putting it out of reach for one-third of the global population. Cecil Wong reports:

In sport...and the stage for the World Cup final is set. Argentina will face Spain in the title match of the showpiece tournament, after the reigning champions rallied to stun England 2-1 in a thrilling contest in Atlanta. Robert Kemp has more: