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Eiffel Tower chief to quit after female staff replaced by men during religious visit The company that runs the Eiffel Tower said the removal of female staff during the visit earlier this month was "unacceptable". www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/crn8e069v7p7o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss

Man City guilty of all serious financial breach charges: Premier League Manchester City say they are 'disappointed and surprised' by the verdict and will appeal. www.aljazeera.com/sports/2026/9/29/man-city-guilty-of-all-serious-financial-breach-charges-premier-league?traffic_source=rss

Spain announces ban on evictions after protests over 87-year-old woman's removal from flat The ban is part of a number of proposals that must be approved in parliament within 30 days. www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwm2qmjgy93do?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss

Dare to try: A visibly rewarding creative journey into Disney [The content of this article has been produced by our advertising partner.] Inside Chloe Tong Tsam-yu’s sketchbook is a world of her own making, populated by characters with distinct personalities and stories to tell. A Creative Advertising and Media Design student at Hong Kong Metropolitan University (HKMU), she grew up immersed in adventure and fantasy, from Disney classics to fictional worlds… www.scmp.com/presented/news/hong-kong/education/topics/hkmu-disney-magic/article/3369005/dare-try-visibly-rewarding-creative-journey-disney?utm_source=rss_feed

Cyclist likely bitten by several dogs and died from throat injuries, source says A young cyclist who died after a suspected canine attack in Hong Kong earlier this month was likely bitten on the neck by several dogs, but government forensic pathologists fear it may ultimately be impossible to determine which exact animals were involved, the South China Morning Post has learned. The SCMP has learned that the victim was Fairview Park resident Eva Chu, who was found on Pok Wai… www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3369246/cyclist-likely-bitten-several-dogs-and-died-throat-injuries-source-says?utm_source=rss_feed

US consumer confidence sinks to 12-year low over inflation, stagnant wages Americans’ confidence in the economy sank to the lowest level in more than a decade this month as prices remain elevated and wages stagnate amid the ongoing Iran war. The Conference Board said Tuesday that its consumer confidence index tumbled 6.7 points to 81.9 in September, down from 88.6 in August. That is the lowest reading in the board’s survey since April 2014 and below the lowest level… www.scmp.com/news/us/economy-trade-business/article/3369245/us-consumer-confidence-sinks-12-year-low-over-inflation-stagnant-wages?utm_source=rss_feed

Nigerian dances non-stop for seven days in world record bid Crowds cheered on Ben Dancer as completed his challenge and he has now gone to hospital for a check-up www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cq8r6z2gjzd1o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss

Israel’s Gaza air strike kills Hamas commander behind October 7, 2023 attack An Israeli air strike killed the head of Hamas’ armed wing in north Gaza on Tuesday, officials on both sides said, with the militant group describing him as a leader of the October 7, 2023 attack that precipitated war in the Palestinian enclave. Israel’s government said its military had targeted and killed Izz al-Din Al-Beik, ‌who they said was involved in planning attacks and recruiting. Hamas… www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3369244/israels-gaza-air-strike-kills-hamas-commander-behind-october-7-2023-attack?utm_source=rss_feed

Indian firm building $15bn Trump-announced steel mill has deep Russia ties Russian cash helped Essar, the firm behind the steel factory, manage major debts. Now the group's investing in the US. www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/9/29/indian-firm-building-15bn-trump-announced-steel-mill-has-deep-russia-ties?traffic_source=rss

Legal aid chief denies stricter vetting as aid for policy challenges hits decade low Hong Kong authorities approved only two legal aid applications for judicial review challenges against government policies and decisions last year, the fewest in the past decade, although its director has dismissed claims of tightened scrutiny or diminished access to justice. The Legal Aid Department received 110 applications concerning judicial reviews of government policies and related… www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3369239/legal-aid-chief-denies-stricter-vetting-aid-policy-challenges-hits-decade-low?utm_source=rss_feed

US Navy launches drone command that could reshape Taiwan war planning The US Navy has set up a dedicated command to turn its growing array of aerial, surface and underwater drones into an integrated fighting force – a capability US commanders have linked to disrupting a PLA attack on Taiwan. The Robotic and Autonomous Systems Warfighting Development Centre, formally established on September 24 in Virginia, will develop doctrine and tactics for unmanned systems,… www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3369223/us-navy-launches-drone-command-could-reshape-taiwan-war-planning?utm_source=rss_feed

How years of thin investment have stalled Germany’s rail network as China’s speeds ahead Wang Xixi still remembers her first experience with Germany’s trains 21 years ago. It left her with a question: how could a railway be so empty, clean and punctual, and still make money? The carriages were bright, the toilets almost spotless and the fittings modern. During four years as a student in Bavaria, travelling on a regional rail pass, she barely remembers a delay. At the time, China’s… www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3369202/how-years-thin-investment-have-stalled-germanys-rail-network-chinas-speeds-ahead?utm_source=rss_feed

China’s generative AI user base crosses 700 million, covering over half the population China’s generative artificial intelligence user base surpassed 700 million at the end of June, accounting for more than half of the population as wide AI adoption pushes the technology’s penetration rate to a record high in the country. The user base data, released Tuesday by the China Internet Network Information Centre, represents an increase of 16 per cent from the end of 2025, when China had… www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3369231/chinas-generative-ai-user-base-crosses-700-million-covering-over-half-population?utm_source=rss_feed

Hong Kong police receive 1,503 reports of suspicious iPhone charges worth HK$30m Hong Kong police have received more than 1,500 reports of suspicious credit card transactions involving Apple’s new iPhone 18 Pro series, totalling more than HK$30 million (US$3.82 million). In an update on the case, which has drawn public attention, the force said the number of reports had risen to 1,503 as of Tuesday, from about 1,200 two weeks earlier. It added that all the transactions had… www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3369236/hong-kong-police-receive-1503-reports-suspicious-iphone-charges-worth-hk30m?utm_source=rss_feed

Sell family jewels for latest iPhone? In India, craze dials up debate Tens of thousands of people thronged Apple stores in India this month to snap up the newest iPhone models – the 18 Pro and Pro Max – but the frenzy has kicked off public debate in the country about affordability and consumer debt. The iPhone 18 Pro starts at 164,900 rupees (US$1,700) and goes up to 179,000 rupees, while the iPhone 18 Pro Max starts at 179,900 rupees and maxes out at 329,900… www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3369235/sell-family-jewels-latest-iphone-india-craze-dials-debate?utm_source=rss_feed

Hong Kong firms lag mainland China on AI adoption amid legacy-system burden: Accenture Hong Kong businesses are lagging behind their mainland Chinese peers in adopting artificial intelligence, as entrenched legacy systems and a risk-averse corporate mindset slow the city’s digital transition, according to a senior executive at consultancy Accenture. Only 10 per cent of Hong Kong firms surveyed by Accenture had integrated generative AI across multiple business functions, compared… www.scmp.com/tech/policy/article/3369205/hong-kong-firms-lag-mainland-china-ai-adoption-amid-legacy-system-burden-accenture?utm_source=rss_feed

US and China need shared risk vocabulary to manage AI threats: Beijing-linked think tank Beijing and Washington should first develop a common language around AI risks rather than seek to resolve their broader technology rivalry, a leading Chinese think tank has advised. The call from the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations (CICIR), affiliated with the Ministry of State Security, comes days after Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump agreed to… www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3369172/us-and-china-need-shared-risk-vocabulary-manage-ai-threats-beijing-linked-think-tank?utm_source=rss_feed

Can Tajikistan’s economic boom survive its debt gamble? Rapid growth masks Tajikistan’s reliance on remittances and risky state debt. www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2026/9/29/can-tajikistans-economic-boom-survive-its-debt-gamble?traffic_source=rss

India-Europe trade corridor gets Trump’s backing, but can IMEC survive war? US President Donald Trump’s recent endorsement of a trade corridor connecting India to Europe via the Middle East has renewed focus on the three-year-old project, but analysts warn it must expand to withstand ongoing geopolitical conflicts. The India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) was first unveiled at the G20 summit in 2023 as an alternative to existing routes and China’s Belt and… www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3369219/india-europe-trade-corridor-gets-trumps-backing-can-imec-survive-war?utm_source=rss_feed

Xi urges universities to help drive China’s tech and innovation ambitions President Xi Jinping has urged a major university to harness its interdisciplinary strengths in the humanities, sciences, engineering and medicine to support China’s national strategy, as Beijing looks to higher education institutions to help advance hi-tech development. Xi made the remarks in a letter released on Tuesday congratulating Sichuan University on its 130th anniversary and responding… www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3369194/xi-urges-universities-help-drive-chinas-tech-and-innovation-ambitions?utm_source=rss_feed