Investors and securities firms across China are readying themselves for Tuesday's re-opening of the mainland stock markets. They have been closed since October 1 for the National Day break. The day before the holiday began, there was frantic buying of mainland stocks following the largest raft of stimulus measures by Beijing since the pandemic. Robert Kemp reports:

The Hong Kong Productivity Council has come up with a string of measures to support the city's small and medium-sized enterprises. SMEs are the backbone of Hong Kong's economy, making up 98 percent of all companies here and hiring nearly half of the private sector workforce. The measures include one-on-one consultations to help owners seek appropriate government funding. Karen Fung, the council's chief marketing officer, told Kimmy Lau about some of the challenges facing SMEs:

The Federation of Trade Unions has suggested the government help young people buy flats by setting up a savings scheme. The FTU says the proposal will assist people aged between 21 and 40 by requiring them to contribute 20 percent of their income to government bonds or funds each month. After eight years, the principal and interests will then be converted to a down-payment for a flat built under the scheme. Even though asset and income tests will take place during application, party member Bill Tang told Janice Lo that they will still be eligible as long as their total assets are below the limit for subsidised home applicants during the same year as the flat selection:

Lawmakers have called on the government to improve water transport options in Kowloon East. They proposed introducing a water taxi service connecting it with eastern Hong Kong Island. But as Elvis Yu reports, officials were doubtful over the idea:

A man has been sentenced to 16 months in jail for inciting to kill former Chief Executive Carrie Lam four years ago. Frank Yung reports:

10 former employees of a residential home in Prince Edward have been given jail terms ranging from six months to five years and four months for child abuse. As Elvis Yu reports, two others were ordered to perform 180 hours of community service:

The DAB party is calling on the government to consider measures to ease parents' financial burden, especially if it wants to boost the city's birthrate. It is suggesting HK$2,000 worth of healthcare vouchers for children every year, and setting up a quota system for children's appointments in a bid to reduce waiting times for public health facilities. DAB lawmaker, Nixie Lam, told Janice Wong that when she wanted to check an issue with her baby's eyes, the waiting time was almost one year, and she had to spend thousands for a private doctor:

A Pakistani separatist group has claimed responsibility for a late-night bombing that targeted a convoy with Chinese nationals outside the country’s largest airport. Two workers from China were killed and eight people wounded. The attack by the Baloch Liberation Army in the southern port city of Karachi was the latest deadly assault on the Chinese in Pakistan. It came a week before Islamabad is to host a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, a security grouping founded by China and Russia. RTHK's South Asia correspondent, Murali Krishnan, told Aaron Tam that the separatist group regularly targeted Chinese nationals:

The armed wing of the Palestinian group, Hamas, has warned of more attacks against Israel. It comes as pro-Israeli and pro-Palestinian demonstrations took place around the world on Monday to mark the first anniversary of the Gaza conflict. The militant group said the fate of the remaining hostages it was holding in Gaza was hanging by a thread. Jamie Clarke reports:

Many historical sites in the Gaza Strip have become ruins after suffering devastating Israeli attacks over the past year since the outbreak of Israel's war in Gaza. Azam Khan reports:

Two grisly killings involving teenagers have shaken the French city of Marseille. Last week, a 15-year-old boy was stabbed 50 times and burned alive. Then, while seeking revenge over that attack, a 14-year-old murdered a taxi driver. RTHK's Europe correspondent, Gavin Grey, told Tony Sabine that the city's drug lords had been remorseless in recruiting youngsters to carry out their dirty work:

At least five people have died due to suspected heatstroke at an Indian Air Force show in the southern city of Chennai. Police said 1.5 million people attended the event, during which the maximum temperature reached 35 degrees. Natale Ching reports:

A British man has set out on an ambitious challenge to run the distance of 30 marathons in 30 days in 30 different countries. His aim is to raise awareness and funds for research into motor neurone disease. Jamie Clarke reports:

A spacecraft has blasted off from Florida to investigate the scene of a cosmic crash. The European Space Agency’s craft rocketed away on a journey to an asteroid rammed by Nasa two years ago. The mission is considered a dress rehearsal for the day a killer space rock threatens Earth. Jamie Clarke reports:

A local movie featuring the now-demolished Kowloon Walled City has put Hong Kong cinema under the international spotlight, according to Chief Executive John Lee. As Kelly Yu reports, Lee also said the film had sparked public interest in the SAR's history:

Panda fever is in full swing in Hong Kong, thanks to the arrival last month of two giant pandas, gifted by Beijing, and the birth of twin cubs here the month before. The SAR now has a record six pandas and the question is how can Hong Kong cash in on this? There have been calls for the city to develop a so-called “panda economy”. It is something Chengdu, the panda capital of China, has done. In this episode of “China Perspectives”, Frank Yung finds out how these beloved national treasures can drum up business for the local economy: