China's top official on Hong Kong affairs has stressed that safeguarding national security goes hand in hand with development as he laid out Beijing’s expectations for Hong Kong and Macau to make pragmatic contributions to the overall development of the Greater Bay Area. Damon Pang reports.

Cathay Pacific has said it was unlikely that meals it provided had caused food poisoning among passengers travelling on its Nepal-to-Hong Kong route this week. The carrier's apologised to affected passengers, and stressed it takes food hygiene very seriously. As Frank Yung reports, the Centre for Health Protection said it's investigating the suspected food poisoning case, which has affected at least 36 people.

Senior officials of the West Kowloon arts hub say they will retain some managing rights of its housing development when it's completed. As Frank Yung reports, they vowed to incorporate arts and culture elements into the residential project.

The Urban Renewal Authority has been given a warning letter for breaching data protection laws. This comes after the Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data completed an investigation, as Damon Pang reports.

People who want to report illegal public housing use have been told that they must gather information on their own, and comply with the law. As Elvis Yu reports, the advice from housing chief Winnie Ho comes days before a reward scheme begins.

Scientists have found new evidence of an ‘extremely rare’ type of otter in waters north of Lantau – where they were previously believed to have been locally extinct since the 1960s. Conservationists didn't directly spot the Eurasian Otter – thought to be one of the rarest mammals in Hong Kong – but instead confirmed their presence in the area via genetic tests on a one-dollar-coin-sized pile of dried faeces found on East Brother Island. So why were they looking for otters there? Jianhuan Yang, conservation manager of fauna conservation department at the Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden, told Hailey Yip that they were tipped off by local fishermen. But he also said that their numbers have dwindled in Asia.

The government says it's changing the way it collects plastic to avoid a duplication of resources. Currently under a pilot scheme, three contractors gather plastic in Eastern, Kwun Tong, and Sha Tin districts, while community recycling network 'GREEN@COMMUNITY' collects other recyclables from the same estates. But from January 19, the green facility will take over all plastic collection works across Hong Kong's 18 districts. To discuss the changes, Yau Wing-kwong, founder of the Environmental Association which operates GREEN@COMMUNITY in Tai Po Market spoke to Ben Tse.

Consulting firm EY has called on the government to roll out more tax concessions despite Hong Kong's budget deficit. Although the firm is expecting the city's deficit to hit HK$98 billion for this financial year, it said the incentives are needed to give the local economy a much-needed boost. Paul Ho is the consultancy's financial services tax leader for Hong Kong. He spoke to Anne Chan.

An academic from the University of Hong Kong's business school says the government should issue bonds and use its fiscal reserves to reduce the nearly HK$100 billion fiscal deficit. Sophie Hui reports.

A joint research report published by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council and United Overseas Bank finds that the SAR has been successful in carving out a role as a super connector between the Greater Bay Area and economies in the Southeast Asian bloc Asean. Natasha Ho reports.

Firefighters have begun making progress in their battle against the deadly wildfires in Los Angeles. They’re being helped by the fact that the ferocious winds, which had been driving the fast-moving flames, are expected to slow down. The weather forecast could provide an opportunity for firefighters to make progress in reining in blazes that have killed five people, ravaged communities from the Pacific Coast to Pasadena and caused thousands of people to frantically flee their homes. Jamie Clarke has more.

Lebanon’s parliament has elected a new head of state. It ends a more than two-year vacuum in the post. The new president had been backed by several national political parties, as well as the likes of the United States, France, and Saudi Arabia. Lebanon’s next government will face daunting challenges, chief amongst them the implementation of the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah, as well as seeking funds for the country’s reconstruction. On top of that, Lebanon is in its sixth year of an economic and financial crisis, as Jamie Clarke reports.

Venezuelans in the capital city of Caracas say there is an atmosphere of tension and uncertainty in the country, with the beginning of President Nicolas Maduro’s third term imminent. Maduro is set to be inaugurated for a third presidential term today, following a contentious election that has garnered both domestic and international criticism. Anti-government protestors have taken to the streets in a last-ditch attempt to block Maduro from clinging to power. There has also been a first public appearance in months from the leader of the opposition, albeit an ill-fated one – as Jamie Clarke reports.

From an adorable robot puppy that soothes dementia patients to an in-toilet gadget for testing urine, tech at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas is catering to seniors and those who need a helping hand around the world. One of the innovations on display is an emotional support robot. It's maker says it can provide genuine empathy and hold natural conversations with those feeling isolation, anxiety, and depressed. Natale Ching reports.