Retail sales dropped more than 11 percent in May compared with the same month last year. The latest figure extends the losing streak to three months. Data released by the Census and Statistics Department yesterday showed that sales slid to HK$30.5 billion. But as Vanessa Cheng reports, the drop was better than a 14.7 percent fall in April.

The chief executive says Beijing's decision to triple the duty-free allowance for mainland visitors came after much work. As Damon Pang reports, John Lee has urged Hong Kong to capitalise on the measure which took effect on Monday.

Hong Kong officials will travel to Sichuan to discuss arrangements to bring two pandas to the SAR. Vanessa Cheng reports.

The chief executive also said a permit that enables non-Chinese permanent residents of Hong Kong to visit the mainland without a visa is proving to be very popular. Damon Pang reports.

Kowloon City district councillor Rizwan Ullah says the new mainland travel card announced by mainland authorities is good news for the ethnic minority community in Hong Kong. Ullah also told Carol Musgrave that the new arrangement encourages some to expand their business in the Greater Bay Area.

The government's investment promotion agency says there has been a sharp increase in the number of companies it has helped to establish or expand in Hong Kong in the first half of the year. As Anne Chan reports, nearly half were from the mainland, and one in five dealt with innovation and technology.

The head of Hong Kong Disneyland Resort says he is confident about the park's outlook, citing an increase in visitors and upcoming attractions featuring Marvel comic characters. Kelly Yu has the story.

Environmental groups have urged the Town Planning Board to reject a government plan to convert a fish-pond area in the New Territories into a technology hub. They say it would damage hundreds of hectares of the wetland area. Charlie Chun with more.

Daphne Chan will be one of four fencing athletes to represent the SAR at this year's Olympics. As a newcomer to the Games, she looks up to veteran fencers on the team for advice and motivation. Hailey Yip has more:

Bodies of those killed in a stampede at a Hindu religious gathering yesterday were transported to hospital as the death toll reached at least 116 people. As Todd Harding reports, the stampede occurred about 200 kilometres southeast of the capital, New Delhi.

The United Nations said the war in Gaza has created a "maelstrom of human misery". It said military activity inside Gaza severely impacted humanitarian operations and hampered the UN's ability to deliver on its mandate. Vanessa Cheng has more.

US President Joe Biden’s press secretary Karine Jean Pierre has described his performance during last week's debate against Donald Trump as a “bad night”. It comes as Biden has been urged to be open about health.

US President Joe Biden has urged Americans to vote against his rival Donald Trump in November's election. This came after the US Supreme Court delivered a ruling which Biden said sets a dangerous precedent. Chloe Feng reports.

More than 200 centrist and left-wing candidates have pulled out of France's legislative election run-off, in a move President Emmanuel Macron hopes will block the far right from winning power. More from Todd Harding:

While Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet took over the reins from his father in August last year, Hun Sen is still seen very much as the man in charge after spending nearly 38 years leading the country. But Cambodia is broke, says our correspondent in Phnom Penh, Luke Hunt, and human smuggling activities there are upsetting other governments in the region. He spoke to Annemarie Evans: