Lawmakers have endorsed legislation allowing non-locally trained dentists to practise in Hong Kong. This comes amid a shortage of dentists here, as Kelly Yu reports.

The president of the Dental Association says he expects the new arrangement to be attractive to some non-local dentists as wages in Hong Kong are generally higher than nearby countries or regions. Dr Spencer Chan also told Priscilla Ng that it's important to ensure the standard of dentists:

Many non-Chinese permanent residents turned up at China Travel Service Centres across Hong Kong on the first day of in-person appointments on Wednesday for new mainland travel permits. They welcomed the card, which they said makes it easier for them to go across the border. Georgina Lee reports.

Chief Executive John Lee says the government is working on securing a Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership membership for Hong Kong. He said the SAR can provide members of the partnership, also known as RCEP, with high-quality professional services. Anne Chan has the details.

Mainland customs officials have stopped a man trying to cross the border from Hong Kong to Shenzhen while smuggling more than a hundred live snakes stuffed inside his pants. Frank Yung reports.

The Hong Kong Taxi Council and lawmakers have called on the government to mandate the installation of surveillance cameras inside taxis to improve service quality. It comes as a survey revealed a slight uptick in terms of satisfaction with taxi services. Anne Chan reports.

Ryan Wong, who chairs the Hong Kong Taxi Council, says the upcoming fare hike will be able to improve the service quality of cabs. From July 14, there will be a HK$2 increase in flagfalls. Wong told Raymond Yeung by raising fares, more quality drivers will be willing to join the sector:

The ICAC says it's investigating suspected corruption involving frontline staff from the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department. Eight people were arrested, and they've since been released pending further investigation. Todd Harding reports:

Researchers at the Polytechnic University have developed a new type of smart sweatsuit that helps remove sweat faster. The garment, called "iActive", has a small device known as an "artificial sweat gland” installed on the back. The gadget uses low-voltage electricity to help remove the sweat. Professor Shou Dahua, who led the research, told Elvis Yu the idea was inspired by how trees transport water through their roots.

Human resource experts say companies are looking at providing staff with training as one way to retain talent. A survey conducted by the Institute of Human Resource Management found firms plan to allocate 4.3 percent of their annual budget for employee training and development - the highest rate since 2019. The chairman of the institute's learning and development committee, Chester Tsang, told Charlie Chun that the budget allocated by companies towards employee training will continue to increase.

Official data has shown that consumer prices in China edged up in June. But the figures fell short of expectations. Jacqueline Guico reports.

Beijing has launched a formal probe into European Union practices during its anti-subsidy investigation into Chinese firms. As Hailey Yip reports, the exercise will last at least six months.

A union representing tens of thousands of workers at Samsung Electronics in South Korea says it would extend a three-day strike indefinitely in a bid to force management to negotiate. The strike is the biggest labour action in the tech giant's history and steps up pressure on the chipmaker's management. Hailey Yip reports.

The Palestinian group Hamas has warned that ceasefire efforts could collapse as Israel stepped up its offensive in Gaza. At least 29 Palestinians were reported killed in an Israeli attack on a school in the south of the coastal strip. Jacqueline Guico has the details.

As many countries in the northern hemisphere grapple with scorching heatwaves, it's quite the opposite in the southern side of the planet. Chile has been hit with a powerful cold front, and its government says it will do more to help outdoor workers and street sleepers ride out the biting conditions. Vanessa Cheng reports.

From now until September 29, visitors to Buckingham Palace in London will get to stand behind the famous balcony on which the British royal family often appear. Jacqueline Guico reports.

A towering Stegosaurus dinosaur fossil will go up for auction in New York next week, with renowned auction house Sotheby's saying that it's the largest and most complete Stegosaurus ever found. As Vanessa Cheng reports, it's expected to fetch around US$6 million.

Many Hong Kong students learn piano and violin at a young age, but did you know that percussion is also popular here? This week on Broad Strokes, we'll tell you about an annual festival dedicated to this family of instruments. We'll also check out a sound art exhibition curated by a local percussive arts group... and a display of contemporary Chinese art from one of the world's largest collections. Find out more in our weekly arts and culture-inspired podcast, presented by Ben Tse and Jacqueline Guico.