EPP

AI agents are increasingly handling tasks traditionally performed by human travel agents, such as planning itineraries and booking trips. The shift revives debate about whether automated assistants can replicate the personalised service that human agents once provided, and what it means for the travel industry's workforce as conversational AI tools gain mainstream adoption among travellers.

Hong Kong is stepping up efforts to strengthen economic and professional links with Central Asia. The Hong Kong Trade Development Council, together with the city's Department of Justice, led the Collaborate2Win campaign across Xinjiang, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, promoting Hong Kong's financial, legal and professional services as it seeks new markets and partners in the region.

Sepp Schauer, the actor who plays Werner Saalfeld in the German soap opera 'Sturm der Liebe', is at the centre of his character's departure storyline. According to TV magazine Hörzu, Werner blackmails Christoph over shares in the Fürstenhof hotel before leaving the show. Viewers are discussing the dramatic exit plot as the long-running star prepares to say farewell.

Giuseppe Conte says he is willing to help identify a third candidate to lead the centre-left, but claims his proposal was rejected. Matteo Renzi, meanwhile, has opened the door to supporting Conte, saying he would back him if he wins a primary contest. The exchanges underline ongoing jockeying over leadership of Italy's centre-left ahead of coming political tests.

Republican Representative Tony Gonzales of Texas has announced he is stepping down from Congress. ABC News reported the announcement, which adds to the list of departures from the House. Gonzales has represented a Texas border district since 2021 and was known at times for breaking with his party. Details on his reasons and timing were not immediately provided.

Reports from several US news outlets say some of country music's top young performers are stepping back from live touring and stage appearances. The coverage indicates the withdrawals have a shared explanation, though the syndicated headlines do not specify which artists are involved or the exact reasons driving the decisions.

Searches around Beppe Fenoglio, the Italian writer and partisan author of works such as 'Il partigiano Johnny', have risen in Italy. The interest coincides with coverage of the fifth season of the Rai programme 'Una giornata particolare', which from 8 September features episodes touching figures including Hitler and Raphael, prompting discussion of historical and literary subjects.

Plans to soften Europe's 2035 combustion engine phase-out are causing conflict in the EU Parliament. The conservative EPP wants to further weaken the requirements for new cars from 2035 and is seeking majorities for the change. A vote in the transport committee has been postponed, with reports indicating negotiations are ongoing.

A fighter announced stepping into the ring alone against three opponents in an event billed for October 3rd. The announcement has drawn large attention online, with viewers reacting to the unusual handicap format and debating how a single competitor could hold his own against multiple opponents in one fight.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said the far-right Alternative for Germany party is backed by Russia, intensifying his criticism of the opposition. The AfD won two regional elections last month and leads in all major national polls, making it the country's most popular party ahead of Merz's coalition. Merz's sharper rhetoric signals growing alarm in Berlin over the party's rise and its ties to Moscow.

Mary Louise Weller, the American actress and model best known for playing Mandy Pepperidge in the 1978 comedy classic Animal House, has died one day before her 80th birthday. She also appeared in television series including Starsky & Hutch, Fantasy Island, B.J. and the Bear and Supertrain.

Peppino Mazzullo, the Italian actor who voiced Topo Gigio, the beloved mouse puppet that charmed American audiences on 'The Ed Sullivan Show,' has died at the age of 100. Tributes and obituaries are celebrating his role in bringing the internationally famous character to life for generations of viewers.

Dr. Schlepp appears in a Wellness 101 segment on KTVH focused on sports medicine, covering how athletes and active people can prevent and treat injuries. The health feature offers practical guidance from a sports medicine perspective as part of the station's ongoing wellness programming.

Tepper Sports & Entertainment, the organisation owned by David Tepper that runs the Carolina Panthers and Charlotte FC, has announced Trane Technologies as its new Cornerstone Partner. The deal was confirmed across the Panthers', Charlotte FC's and local media outlets' channels, marking a significant multi-team sponsorship for the HVAC company in Charlotte sport.

Alabama Finance Director Bill Poole is leaving his post, with Doryan Carlton named as his successor. Poole, a former state legislator, has led the state's finances since 2021. The announcement sets up a leadership change in the department responsible for the state budget as Alabama prepares its next fiscal plans.

Researchers report discovering sheeppox viral DNA preserved in the parchment of medieval gospel manuscripts, showing that DNA can survive in animal-skin writing material for well over a thousand years. The finding highlights how ancient manuscripts can serve as archives of long-lost pathogens, offering virologists and historians a new window into the diseases circulating among medieval livestock and the people who handled them.

Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer spoke about the Crimson Tide's preparations for their upcoming game against Mississippi State, including how the team is getting ready for the atmosphere at MS State. Comments from DeBoer were carried by ESPN and Southeastern Conference outlets as anticipation builds for the SEC matchup.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company in Chicago is staging a production of Suzan-Lori Parks' Pulitzer Prize-winning play Topdog/Underdog, and a new review is drawing attention to its treatment of identity and reversals of fortune. Critics are weighing how the two-hander about brothers Lincoln and Booth lands on the Steppenwolf stage, with early commentary focusing on the play's themes of family, fate and self-invention.

A poem titled 'Stepping on Ashgroves' published on the personal site Subspace Wagon is being shared across poetry and writing communities, with tags pointing to disabled artists and themes of ableism and literature. Readers in the PoetryCommunity and WritingCommunity tags are circulating the link alongside hashtags for creative writing, libraries and the humanities.

An iOS calendar app called Fantastical has reportedly chosen to integrate with Googlebooks rather than launch an Android version, prompting questions about whether more apps will become exclusive to one platform. The move highlights how developers weigh platform priorities, with observers debating whether such exclusives will become more common going forward.

Suzan-Lori Parks' Pulitzer Prize-winning play Topdog/Underdog is being staged at Steppenwolf Theatre Company in Chicago, and a new review of the production has drawn attention among theatre followers. The Talkin' Broadway review assesses the company's take on the two-hander about brothers Lincoln and Booth. Chicago theatre audiences are discussing the revival and how the production measures up to the play's acclaimed history.

The Board of Peace is reportedly refusing to scale back its Gaza plan despite the approach of Israeli elections. According to a Jerusalem Post report, the body remains committed to its proposals for the territory even as Israeli political campaigning could shift the plan's reception and implementation prospects.