Chief Executive John Lee has announced that he will set up and lead a high-level committee to fast-track the development of the Northern Metropolis. He outlined his plans for the mega infrastructure project when he delivered his fourth policy address at the Legislative Council on Wednesday. Lee also vowed to introduce dedicated legislation to speed up its development and draw up preferential policy packages to attract enterprises to Hong Kong. Frank Yung with our top story.

A think tank researcher says a slew of policies announced in the Chief Executive's Policy Address to streamline administrative procedures in developing the Northern Metropolis can help private developers alleviate financial burdens and share some of the risks. Ryan Ip, vice-president of Our Hong Kong Foundation, also hailed John Lee's decision to set up a high-level committee to fast-track the mega project. He spoke to Frank Yung:

The administration is to set up a new accountability system for heads of government departments. As Wendy Wong reports, the government will also enhance the appraisal system for civil servants.

The chief executive is to set up an AI Efficacy Enhancement Team to boost the efficiency of government work. As Elvis Yu reports, John Lee also vowed to step up efforts to make artificial intelligence a key industry for Hong Kong’s future development.

The chief executive is to set up an AI Efficacy Enhancement Team to boost the efficiency of government work. This is part of efforts to spearhead the promotion and adoption of artificial intelligence in the city. The Director of Centre for Innovation and Technology at Chinese University, William Wong, says he hopes the new team can help reduce bureaucratic inefficiencies. Professor Wong, who's also a lawmaker, spoke to Elvis Yu:

Meanwhile, the chief executive says his government's switch from a non-interventionist stance on childbirth policy to a multi-pronged approach in 2023 has led to "a significant increase" in the number of newborns. Azam Khan with the story.

The government is to roll out a series of measures to enable people to climb up the housing ladder. The move will enable more public housing tenants to buy government-subsidised flats, while those who have already purchased such units can switch to the private property market. As Wendy Wong reports, the chief executive says the measures are possible because the supply of public housing is increasing.

John Lee says Hong Kong is aiming to transform itself into an international education hub by raising the quota for non-local students at universities. The government also plans to develop universities of applied sciences and speed up the construction of a university town in the Northern Metropolis. Chloe Feng has the story.

Six more community living rooms will be set up as part of John Lee's poverty alleviation efforts. The chief executive also pledged to inject hundreds of millions of dollars to support primary school pupils from disadvantaged communities. Natale Ching with the details.

John Lee has announced a series of measures to help about 360,000 small and medium-sized enterprises cope with Hong Kong's economic restructuring. Sophie Hui reports.

The chief executive has announced a new licensing system which will allow dogs to enter designated food premises, with the aim of tapping into a growing consumer trend. The regime could come into effect starting in the middle of next year. Restaurants will need to display signs notifying diners. Economist and Lingnan University professor Lui Hon-kwong told Hailey Yip that success hinges on public acceptance:

US President Donald Trump has begun his historic state visit to Great Britain. The focus on Thursday will be on geopolitics and trade in a meeting between he and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Before that, Britain has laid out what it said was the largest ceremonial welcome for a state visit in living memory. But the sentiment was different on the streets of the capital, where protesters voiced their dismay at Trump's arrival. Jamie Clarke reports:

Business news...The US Federal Reserve has cut its key interest rate by a quarter-point and hinted it will do so twice more this year. Many see the reduction as a reflection of the US central bank's growing concerns about the health of the labour market. The long-anticipated rate cut is the first by the Fed since December - as Jamie Clarke reports:

In football...Paris Saint-Germain have picked up right where they left off from last season. They began their Champions League title defence in dominant fashion, thrashing Italian side Atalanta 4-0. Meanwhile, Virgil van Dijk was the hero for Liverpool. The Dutchman scored the winner deep into stoppage time to lift the Reds over Atletico Madrid at Anfield. Todd Harding has more:

Over to Japan, where Hong Kong side Eastern suffered a 3-1 defeat in their AFC Champions League Two opener in Osaka. For more on that match-up, here's RTHK's Asian football correspondent, Chris KL Lau: