Lawmakers have voted down a government proposal to introduce a framework recognising same-sex partnerships in Hong Kong. The veto marked the first time a government bill failed to pass in the current legislative term. The government said it's disappointed, but will respect the outcome. The Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office said safeguarding the rights of same-sex couples is an extremely complex issue, while the bill being vetoed showed that Legco is not a "rubber stamp". Elvis Yu reports:

Thousands of officials and business leaders from Belt and Road economies gathered in Wan Chai for the 10th edition of the Belt and Road summit. Chief Executive John Lee says Hong Kong is the ideal hub in the Belt and Road Initiative, as trade with member economies soar in the past decade. Chloe Feng reports:

Speaking at the same event, Vice Commerce Minister Yan Dong said Beijing is studying the feasibility of setting up a free trade zone between Hong Kong, Macau and the mainland. Here's Chloe Feng:

The government says it will explore more ways for the public to report illegal workers, including via social media platforms Xiaohongshu and WeChat. Secretary for Security Chris Tang says while he's satisfied with the existing reporting mechanism, there may be extra options. Elvis Yu has the details.

The Federation of Trade Unions has called on the government to do more to combat illegal workers, saying they distort the labour market here and undermine local employment. Lawmaker Joephy Chan told Hailey Yip urged authorities to step up intelligence gathering to boost law enforcement efficiency:

The government says it does not have a timetable for the Kau Yi Chau project. As Sophie Hui reports, the development minister says reclamation work off Lantau will not be carried out within the term of the current government.

The Transport Department says there could be a 10-year exemption period in some cases for owners of vehicles that have not been licensed for at least two years. The move is part of the new rules aimed at stopping the practice of abandoning unwanted cars. Raymond Yeung reports.

The Hong Kong Medical Association is calling on people to get jabbed against seasonal flu. There's been a rise in the number of flu cases over the past few weeks, and experts say there's a need to guard against it. The co-chairperson of the association's advisory committee on communicable diseases, Dr Joseph Tsang, spoke to Natasha Ho:

There's been a sharp drop in the suicide rate in the under-15 age group, according to the latest data from the University of Hong Kong's Jockey Club Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention. The figures for last year were released on Tuesday, which was World Suicide Prevention Day. The centre's director, Professor Paul Yip, spoke to Natasha Ho about the main points in the data:

There is shock and outrage in the United States, after conservative activist Charlie Kirk was fatally shot in the state of Utah. Kirk was speaking at a campus event. US President Donald Trump mourned his death, saying "no one understood or had the heart of the youth in the United States of America better than Charlie". RTHK's Washington correspondent, Simon Marks, told Ben Tse how Kirk became a key ally of the president at just age 31:

French police have clashed with so-called 'Block Everything' protesters, as the country's president Emmanuel Macron installs a new prime minister. The government has announced hundreds of arrests, as demonstrations against Macron, budget cuts and other complaints spread to big cities and small towns. Jamie Clarke reports:

Poland is warning that Russia and Europe are inching towards an "open conflict" after Warsaw shot down what it said were Russian drones in Polish airspace. Russia denied targeting Poland, while US President Donald Trump called out the Kremlin for "violating" the Nato ally's territory as Moscow unleashed its latest attack on Ukraine. Jamie Clarke reports:

China has urged its citizens in Nepal to pay attention to safety, after anti-corruption protests in the Himalayan country claimed at least 19 lives. The streets of Nepal's capital Kathmandu are deserted after a curfew was imposed. Armed soldiers guarded the parliament building that was set ablaze by protesters, as Lau Hon-ting reports.

China, Russia and Mongolia have held a joint border defence exercise to strengthen protection along their frontiers. The drill on Monday and Tuesday was staged in an area where the three countries meet. Sophie Hui reports.

China has condemned Israel for its strikes on Doha, and expressed concern that they could escalate the crisis in the Middle East. The Foreign Ministry in Beijing added that the strikes violated Qatar's territorial sovereignty. Russia echoed China's reaction to the air strikes that target Hamas officials in the Qatari capital. Other countries also condemned Israel. US President Donald Trump said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took the decision to launch the attack. Azam Khan reports:

Consumer prices on the mainland fell in August, but factory-gate deflation eased -- suggesting that efforts to rein in excessive competition are starting to bear fruit. Aaron Tam reports.