A public consultation on the upcoming Policy Address will be launched on Monday. The exercise will run alongside the ongoing consultation for the SAR’s first five-year plan. Wallis Wang reports.

Chief Secretary Eric Chan says the city's newly unveiled blueprint for digital education development in primary and secondary schools will offer clear guidance in the age of artificial intelligence. Chloe Feng reports.

A researcher says the new cross-boundary banking arrangement for social welfare payments is a breakthrough in financial system integration between Hong Kong and the mainland. The assessment came after the chief executive announced that from next month, Hong Kong retirees living in Fujian and Guangdong will be allowed to claim their social welfare payments directly through their mainland bank accounts. Charlie Chun reports.

Danish logistics giant, DSV -- which has 14 locations of operation in Hong Kong -- said it may consider further expanding into the Northern Metropolis. The remarks came after Chief Executive John Lee announced the city had welcomed 413 global companies to set up shop or expand in the SAR in the first six months of the year, an increase of 10 percent year-on-year. Nina Barton, director of sustainability for Asia Pacific at DSV noted that the company is using Hong Kong as its regional headquarters to drive innovation in high-end logistics and decarbonisation. She spoke to Chloe Feng.

A representative from an American cross-border payment company said that he believes Hong Kong is well-placed for fintech firms to thrive, adding that more payment companies are setting up shop in the SAR. Sean Abbott, Director of Apac Banking and Infrastructure at Payoneer, noted that the firm based its decision to make Hong Kong its Asian regional hub because of the city's developing fintech ecosystem. He spoke to Chloe Feng.

An independent committee investigating the deadly Tai Po fire has heard that the unique architectural design of Wang Fuk Court created a dangerous "chimney effect” that significantly accelerated the blaze. Hailey Yip has the details.

The Department of Justice has said its efforts to match Hong Kong's professional services providers with mainland firms wishing to expand internationally have been well received, with more law firms now actively sharing success stories. Raymond Yeung reports.

Over 3,000 restaurants and merchants will be offering promotional discounts on July 1 as part of the celebration for the 29th anniversary of the HKSAR's establishment. Maurice Kong, Chairman of the Institute of Dining Professionals, says the offers will be successful in attracting Hong Kong residents to spend locally. He spoke to Eugenia Ma.

Two villages in the New Territories have been chosen for a pilot project to boost tourism in rural areas. The villagers will be able to convert their houses into restaurants, shops and guest houses. Linda So, director of the Northern Metropolis Co-ordination Office, told RTHK's Backchat programme why Yin Kong and Ho Sheung Heung were selected.

Lawmaker Andrew Lam, chairman of the Legislative Council's Panel on Development, spoke on the same programme about measures that will be introduced for village house conversions.

Sources have said that a woman has been arrested on suspicion of being linked to an injured juvenile crocodile that was rescued on Wednesday. As Charlie Chun reports, officers found multiple other endangered animals when they entered her home.

The death toll from two powerful earthquakes in Venezuela stands at at least 188, with at least two Chinese nationals among the victims. More more than 1,500 have been injured, and thousands more remain missing. Desperate locals have been battling to rescue loved ones trapped alive beneath the rubble of collapsed buildings, as Jamie Clarke reports.

A strong earthquake has shaken northeastern Japan, injuring at least four people. No major damage has been reported in the 7.2-magnitude tremor. Janice Lo reports.

Switzerland and Britain have just recorded their hottest June temperatures, while the Netherlands has issued its first-ever red alert for extreme heat. Much of Western Europe is in the grip of a deadly early summer heatwave that has already claimed dozens of lives and is putting severe strain on the region’s agriculture. Jamie Clarke has the story.

Ecuador and Ivory Coast are both through to the knockout stage after securing victories in their final group stage matches. Ecuador overcame already-qualified Germany 2-1, while Ivory Coast booked their first-ever knockout stage appearance by cruising past Curacao. Nazvi Careem has more.