CHICAGO, Oct. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Machine Tool Bids (MTB), a leading online marketplace specializing in metalworking machinery auctions, has announced its upcoming October 28 Open CNC & Fabrication Auction, featuring 61 lots of CNC machining, fabrication, EDM, laser cutting, and other industrial equipment sourced from facilities across North America. Lots will begin closing Wednesday, October 28, at 11:00 AM Central Time.

MTB's Open Auctions provide manufacturers, machine shops, and equipment buyers with a consistent opportunity to source quality used machinery from trusted industry brands. This month's auction features a diverse selection of equipment from Mazak, Haas, Mitsubishi, BLM, Bystronic, Amada, and more.

Featured equipment includes:

- 2018 BLM LT5 Tube Laser

- 2016 Mitsubishi EA28VM Advance EDM Sinker

- 2014 Mazak VCU 500C 3X Vertical Machining Center

- 2008 Mazak Variaxis 500-5X II 5-Axis Machining Center

- 2008 Mazak QTN 450II CNC Lathe

- 2019 Haas VF-2SS Vertical Machining Center

- 2005 Bystronic 150 Ton Hydraulic Press Brake

- 2019 Desktop Metal Studio System 1 Metal 3D Printing Setup

- 2015 Excetek W350G & W500G Wire EDM Machines

- Amada Apelio II-357 CO2 Laser

- 2014 Kasto KastoWIN A 5.6 Horizontal Band Saw

MTB's Open Auctions bring together equipment from multiple sellers across North America, providing buyers with access to a broad range of machinery through one convenient bidding platform.

With Open Auctions held on the first and third Wednesday of every month, in addition to specialized single-facility auctions, MTB provides buyers with a consistent source of quality used metalworking equipment while helping sellers turn surplus machinery into cash in weeks, not months.

Beyond its consistent auction schedule, MTB continues to enhance the buying experience through technology and buyer incentives. MTB offers what it describes as the industry's only auction rewards program, featuring exclusive benefits for first-time buyers and an industry first loyalty program for return customers each time they buy through MTB auctions. The company has also introduced Chip, an AI-powered chatbot designed to provide immediate assistance and streamline communication with the MTB team, making it easier for buyers to get the information they need throughout the auction process.

Auction Details

- Date: Wednesday, October 28, 2026

- Lots Begin Closing: 11:00 AM Central Time

- Equipment Locations: US, Canada

- Auction Link: https://auctions.machinetoolbids.com/Event/Details/5496129/

SOURCE Machine Tool Bids

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Insiders may stand to receive substantial financial benefits not available to ordinary shareholders.

The proposed transactions may contain terms that could limit superior competing offers.

Shareholders are encouraged to contact the firm to discuss their rights and options at no cost or obligation. We would handle any matter on a contingent fee basis, whereby you would not be responsible for out-of-pocket payment of our legal fees or expenses.

NEW YORK, Oct. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Halper Sadeh LLC, an investor rights law firm, is investigating the following companies for potential violations of the federal securities laws and/or breaches of fiduciary duties to shareholders relating to:

Bowman Consulting Group Ltd. (NASDAQ: BWMN)'s sale to Bernhard Capital Partners for $43.00 in cash per share. If you are a Bowman shareholder, click here to learn more about your rights and options.

Penske Automotive Group, Inc. (NYSE: PAG)'s sale to Penske Corporation and Mitsui & Co., Ltd. for $212.00 per share in cash. If you are a Penske shareholder, click here to learn more about your rights and options.

CCC Intelligent Solutions Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: CCC)'s sale to affiliates of GTCR and Elliott Investment Management L.P. for $7.75 in cash per share. If you are a CCC Intelligent shareholder, click here to learn more about your legal rights and options.

Personalis, Inc. (NASDAQ: PSNL)'s sale to Tempus AI, Inc. for $16.25 per share. If you are a Personalis shareholder, click here to learn more about your legal rights and options.

On behalf of shareholders, Halper Sadeh LLC may seek increased consideration, additional disclosures and information, or other relief and benefits.

Halper Sadeh LLC represents investors all over the world who have fallen victim to securities fraud and corporate misconduct. Our attorneys have been instrumental in implementing corporate reforms and recovering millions of dollars on behalf of defrauded investors.

Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

Contact Information:

Halper Sadeh LLC

Daniel Sadeh, Esq.

Zachary Halper, Esq.

One World Trade Center

85th Floor

New York, NY 10007

(212) 763-0060

[email protected]

[email protected] 

https://www.halpersadeh.com

SOURCE Halper Sadeh LLP

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The Los Angeles-based precious metals company has served nearly 150,000 customers since its founding in 1997.

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Lear Capital has surpassed $5 billion in precious metals transactions over the course of its history, the Los Angeles-based company reported. The figure covers gold and silver purchases, sales, and individual retirement account rollovers completed for nearly 150,000 customers since the company's founding in 1997.

The milestone reflects nearly three decades of business spanning direct precious metals sales and self-directed precious metals IRAs. Lear Capital works with first-time buyers and long-term customers, offering gold, silver, platinum, and palladium.

Customers purchase physical metals for personal holding or for tax-advantaged retirement accounts, with IRA metals held in Delaware Depository. In support of its retail business, , the company publishes market research and educational materials for customers evaluating gold and silver, and provides support for purchases, sales, and IRA rollovers.

"Reaching $5 billion in transactions is an important milestone, but what it really represents is the trust thousands of customers have placed in Lear Capital over the years," said John Ohanesian, Chief Executive Officer of Lear Capital. "Since 1997, our focus has been on helping people understand their options, whether they're buying precious metals for the first time or have owned gold and silver for years. That means providing clear information, transparent pricing, and access to knowledgeable representatives who are there when our customers need them."

More information about Lear Capital's products and services is available at www.learcapital.com or by calling 800-576-9355.

About Lear Capital

Founded in 1997, Lear Capital is a Los Angeles-based precious metals company that helps investors diversify their portfolios with physical gold and silver, including precious metals individual retirement accounts. The company reports more than $5 billion in precious metals transactions over its history and provides pricing, education, and support to both first-time buyers and experienced investors. More information is available at www.learcapital.com.

Media Contact:

Debora Lima, [email protected]

SOURCE Lear Capital

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Sovereignty, resilience and openness will decide who leads the next decade of satellite communications

By Brian Jakins, SVP Global Sales & Market Development, ST Engineering iDirect

In the past few weeks, I have sat with multiple customers across Asia, LATAM and the Middle East who all have different missions and different budgets, but the same question: “With all this capacity in the sky, why is it still so hard to get what we need?”

That question captures where our industry stands in 2026.

We have never had more. Mega-constellations are launching at a pace few predicted a decade ago. Europe’s IRIS² has moved into production. Amazon Leo is scaling up. According to the GSMA, more than 120 mobile operators are now partnering with satellite players, and dozens already have live satellite services. GEO, MEO and LEO capacity is more abundant than at any point in our history.

Customers are not asking for more connectivity. But they are asking for less complexity.

The opportunity in front of us is not another network. It is making all of them work together for the customer, without the customer having to think about it. Four shifts make that urgent.

1. Sovereignty has moved from the defence ministry to the cabinet table

For years, sovereignty was a defence conversation. Not anymore. Geopolitics has pushed every government to ask a harder question about the infrastructure its economy, energy, transport and public services run on: who controls it when it matters most?

As Viasat’s Mark Dankberg put it at SatShow this year, a company in space can now deliver connectivity into your country “whether you want it or not.” That reality is reshaping procurement from Brussels to Riyadh to Jakarta.

But sovereignty done badly becomes isolation, and isolation becomes obsolescence. Nations still want global innovation, multiple suppliers and the freedom to adopt new capability as it arrives. The winning model is control without lock-in — sovereign operations, data governance and security, built on open, multi-vendor foundations.

Sovereignty should not limit choice or the flexibility to leverage innovation.

2. Multi-orbit is a resilience strategy, not an architecture diagram

The “which orbit wins” debate is over. The answer is all of them and, for resilience, none of them alone. LEO brings latency, GEO brings efficient wide-area reach, MEO sits powerfully in between. No customer wants all their eggs in one basket.

The value isn’t having access to several networks. It is orchestrating them intelligently and in real time, matching each application to the right resource, based on available capacity, and all occurring so seamlessly that the end user never notices a decision was made.

That is what customers mean by resilience. Not a backup link. Continuity.

3. Satellite is becoming part of the mobile network

Direct-to-device and 5G non-terrestrial networks are the biggest change to our addressable market in a generation. For the first time, satellite is becoming part of the mobile network rather than an alternative to it.

That convergence raises the bar. Satellite must speak the operator’s language: standards-based, cloud-native, integrated with the mobile core and able to roam across networks and orbits. The revenue will take time to prove, and we should be honest about that. But the direction is set, and the companies that bridge telco and satcom will shape what comes next.

4. Automation must earn trust

More orbits, more networks and more partners mean more decisions than any operations team can make by hand. AI and automation are essential: faster provisioning, earlier detection of problems, smarter use of capacity.

But we cannot automate away accountability. In government and critical infrastructure especially, operators must understand the decisions being made, set the policies that guide them and retain oversight. Automation and governance must advance together.

The goal isn’t automation for its own sake. It is better outcomes and freeing people to apply judgement where it matters most.

The real choice: walled gardens or open ecosystems

Our industry is dividing into two models. Vertically integrated players own everything from the rocket to the terminal, and they have set a pace the rest of us must respect. The alternative is an open ecosystem: interoperable networks, standards-based interfaces, multi-vendor choice and seamless roaming across operators and orbits.

I believe the open model wins where it matters most for governments that cannot accept dependence on a single provider, for operators protecting investments while modernising at their own pace, and for customers who don’t want to swap one form of lock-in for another.

But only if we actually deliver it. That means partnering more, standardising faster, and moving at a pace closer to software than to the five-to-seven-year cycles our industry is used to.

Where this takes us

Satellite is no longer a niche. Governments depend on it. Mobile operators are building it into their networks. Ships, aircraft, energy assets and remote communities rely on it every day.

The future is multi-orbit, multi-vendor and increasingly woven into terrestrial networks. The companies that thrive won’t be the ones with the most satellites. They will be the ones that make every connection work together securely, resiliently and simply.

After more than two decades in this industry, I have never seen a bigger opportunity. Our job is to turn the complexity we have created into the one thing customers have always wanted: connectivity they can trust and never have to think about.

What are you hearing from your customers? Is the market moving towards open ecosystems, or towards walled gardens?

Today’s MLB Betting Trends:

The following MLB betting trends are a collection of analytical data, betting systems and strength ratings featured on VSiN and qualified for the MLB games of Tuesday, October 27, 2026. This report is meant to emulate the process that Steve Makinen and other members of the VSiN Analytics team undergo when handicapping each day’s MLB board.

AJ’s Angles

These are the top MLB betting trends and systems for today’s games, handpicked by VSiN Analyst AJ Makinen.

* World Series Game 4s have been the most clearly dominated by the road teams, 15-6 since 2004 (+10.58 units, 50.4% ROI)

System Match (PLAY): MILWAUKEE (-125 at TB)

* Since the start of the 2026 season, small favorite teams in the -111 to -126 line range with a SM Bullpen Rating edge have gone 270-187 for +49.33 units (ROI: 10.8%).

System Match (PLAY): MILWAUKEE (-125 at TB)

Trends and Systems for the MLB Postseason

Notable Postseason Team Trends (since 2015)

* TAMPA BAY: 23-20-1 to the Under for +0.90 units

* MILWAUKEE: 26-14-1 to the Under for +10.50 units

Trends Match (PLAY UNDER): MIL-TB (o/u at 7)

Overall MLB Postseason Trends

Line Angles

Since 2001, shorter road favorites of less than -140 have gone 61-68 for -23.09 units (ROI: -17.9%)

System Match (FADE): MILWAUKEE (-125 at TB)

Coming off wins/losses

Home teams coming off a World Series loss have been terrible bounce-back options, going 69-73 SU (-23.55 units, ROI: -16.6%) since 2016.

System Match (FADE): TAMPA BAY (+104 vs MIL)

Stats from last game trends

MLB postseason teams coming off a same-series game in which they scored eight or more runs are on a 61-55 SU (+2.03 units, ROI: 1.8%) surge and 63-53 on run lines (+10.17 units, ROI: 8.8%) since 2014.

System Match (PLAY): MILWAUKEE

Trends based on regular-season records

In the last six playoff seasons following a full regular season (excluding 2020), MLB teams that won 100 games or more are on a slide of 29-34 SU (-17.37 units, ROI: -27.6%) and 23-40 on run lines (-18.00 units, ROI: -28.6%) in playoff games.

System Match (FADE): MILWAUKEE

Totals angles

The last four MLB postseasons have been very good for Over bettors, as that side of the total has gone 120-113-3, and Overs returning +21.22 units, an ROI of 9.1%. Total odds are usually heavily shaded toward Unders in recent postseasons.

System Match (PLAY OVER): MIL-TB (o/u at 7)

Nine Top MLB World Series Betting Systems

Over the last 20+ years of World Series action, several nice betting systems have emerged. You know you’re going to bet the games, why not arm yourself with key data that has won recently.

WORLD SERIES system #1:

Home-field advantage hasn’t meant a lot in recent World Series action, with hosts on a 23-35 slide in the last 58 opportunities dating back to 2016 (-22.66 units, -39.1% ROI).

System Match (FADE): TAMPA BAY (+104 vs MIL)

WORLD SERIES system #5:

World Series teams have struggled putting back-to-back wins together recently, going 13-26 in the game following up a WS win (-18.91 units, -48.5% ROI)

System Match (FADE): MILWAUKEE (-125 at TB)

WORLD SERIES system #7:

WORLD SERIES Game 4s have been the most clearly dominated by the road teams, 15-6 since 2004 (+10.58 units, 50.4% ROI)

System Match (PLAY): MILWAUKEE (-125 at TB)

WORLD SERIES system #8:

Incredibly, since the start of the 2014 WS, teams that scored two or fewer runs in the prior game are on an incredible 25-14 surge. (+11.63 units, 29.8% ROI)

System Match (PLAY): TAMPA BAY (+104 vs MIL)

MLB Bullpen Systems

The following systems and qualifying plays are from the weekly update series on handicapping MLB teams using Steve Makinen’s bullpen strength ratings.

STARTER/BULLPEN CORRELATION SYSTEMS

Better bullpen small favorite teams in the -111 to -126 range are thriving in 2026

In the 2026 regular season, small favorite teams in the -111 to -126 line range with a SM Bullpen Rating edge fared quite well. Last season this was about a -6% ROI angle. However, there is some foundation to the system in that with teams this closely matched together by the oddsmakers, it can often be good bullpen performance that separates the teams. For 2026, these teams finished 266-187 for +45.33 units, an ROI of +10% (4-0, +4.00 units in the playoffs).

System Match (PLAY): MILWAUKEE (-125 at TB)

MLB Extreme Stats Systems

The following systems and qualifying plays are from the article titled MLB Extreme Stats Systems, detailing betting systems for teams based upon noteworthy stats they accumulated in their previous game

Home teams off blowout losses are solid bets to rebound versus that same opponent

Teams playing at home against the same team after a blowout loss of seven runs or more have been solid wagers over the last 7+ seasons, going 486-464 (51.2%) for +18.47 units of profit. This represents an ROI of 1.9%.

System Match (PLAY): TAMPA BAY (+104 vs MIL)

“9” is a MAGIC RUN NUMBER for fading a team in the next game

Since 2018, doesn’t matter if the team is playing at home or on the road; if they scored nine runs or more in the previous game, they are posting a winning record at 2,257-2,140 (51.2%), but oddsmaker overpricing has resulted in a loss of -282.60 units. This represents an ROI of -6.4%, which is significant in the grand scheme of baseball daily betting.

System Match (FADE): MILWAUKEE (-125 at TB)

Unusually poor pitching performances provide motivation for hosts

Home teams coming off unusually bad team pitching performances where they allowed 16 hits or more in a game are on a run of 368-323 (53.3%) for +27.44 units and an ROI of 4% since the start of the 2018 season.

System Match (PLAY): TAMPA BAY (+104 vs MIL)

MLB Team Strength Systems

The following handicapping information details betting systems for teams based on various team strength indicators or line scenarios.

MLB Team Strength Betting System #5:

In MLB games occurring in August or later between teams that have >= 0.580 winning percentage, smaller favorites in the -111 to -175 line range have gone 60-30 SU for +18.85 units (ROI: 20.9%) in the last five seasons.

System Match (PLAY): MILWAUKEE (-125 at TB)

MLB Streak Systems

The following systems and qualifying plays detail different systems for betting teams on winning or losing streaks.

Winning Streak Betting System #10:

Oddly, teams that score the most runs per game are the best to fade to see their four-game winning streak reach five. Teams scoring 5.0 or more runs per game and riding a four-game winning streak are just 176-177 (-74.98 units, ROI: -21.2%) in the next contest since the start of the 2021 season.

System Match (FADE): MILWAUKEE (-125 at TB)

Team/Pitcher Situational MLB Betting Trend Spots

The following situational MLB betting trends and qualifying plays look at how today’s teams and starting pitchers have performed in similar spots.

(957) MILWAUKEE (113-60) at (958) TAMPA BAY (105-69)

Trend: Current MIL batters have a .316 batting average and .830 OPS in 38 ABs versus starter Griffin Jax in his career

Trend: MIL is the most profitable team in the MLB in night games this season (76-36 record, +29.42 units)

Trends Match (PLAY): MILWAUKEE (-125 at TB)

Top Head-to-Head Series MLB Betting Trends

Trend: Home teams are 12-5 (70.6%, +5.31 units) run in the last 17 of Rays-Brewers interleague series

— The ROI on this trend is 31.2%

Trend Match (PLAY): TAMPA BAY (+104 vs MIL)

Strategies Using MLB DraftKings Betting Splits Data

Here are the systems and qualifying plays for Game 3 as of 10:45 a.m. ET on Tuesday. These can and will change, so continue to track and qualify the systems up until first pitch for best usage.

DK MLB Betting Splits system #6: Majority handle bettors have been at their worst overall in interleague games since the start of 2023, going 1074-957 (52.9%) but for -215.64 units and an ROI of -10.6%. This is over two full percentage points worse for return on a huge sample of games and an indication that bettors have trouble gauging the strengths/motivations of the teams when playing unfamiliar opponents.

System Match (FADE): MILWAUKEE (-125 at TB)

DK MLB Betting Splits system #9: Majority handle bettors have endured three consecutive poor playoff seasons in 2023-2025, with a combined record of 64-64 (50%) for -19.84 units and an ROI of -15.5% (21-16, -0.51 units in 2026).

System Match (FADE): MILWAUKEE (-125 at TB)

China Everythings neuester Dokumentarfilm: Vom tödlichen Fallstrick zum lebenswichtigen Feuchtgebiet

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Beijing, China (ots)

Vor neunzig Jahren war das Songpan-Grasland eine tödliche Falle.

Heute ist das Gebiet Teil des Zoige-Feuchtgebiets-Nationalnaturreservats in der nordwestlichen chinesischen Provinz Sichuan und trägt dazu bei, die Wasserversorgung im Oberlauf des Gelben Flusses zu sichern.

Der neueste Dokumentarfilm von China Everything zeigt diese bemerkenswerte ökologische Transformation des Songpan-Graslands. Klicken Sie auf den Trailer und erfahren Sie mehr darüber.

Pressekontakt:

Chen Guang

E-Mail: italorome087@gmail.com

Original-Content von: China Everything, übermittelt durch news aktuell

Bund deutscher Baumschulen (BdB) e.V.

BdB begrüßt Engagement der ENA für praxistaugliche Pflanzengesundheitsvorschriften

Berlin (ots)

Der Bund deutscher Baumschulen (BdB) e. V. begrüßt die europäischen Bemühungen um praxistaugliche Pflanzengesundheitsvorschriften im Handel mit Norwegen. Der europäische Baumschulverband European Nurserystock Association (ENA) hat sich gemeinsam mit seinen Mitgliedsverbänden intensiv mit den von Norwegen geplanten Änderungen des Pflanzengesundheitsrechts auseinandergesetzt.

Die geplante norwegische Neuregelung orientiert sich grundsätzlich stärker am europäischen Pflanzengesundheitssystem. Gleichzeitig hätten einzelne Bestimmungen den Handel mit Baumschulgehölzen aus der EU erheblich erschweren können. Insbesondere neue Anforderungen an Erde und Kultursubstrate bei Pflanzen zum Anpflanzen hätten große Teile des Baumschulhandels betroffen. Für im Freiland produzierte Gehölze, die üblicherweise mit Erdballen gehandelt werden, wären die Vorgaben praktisch besonders problematisch gewesen. Auch der Re-Export von Pflanzen über andere EU-Mitgliedstaaten ist ein zentraler Punkt.

Die Europäische Union hat diese Bedenken gegenüber Norwegen offiziell aufgegriffen. In ihrer Stellungnahme zum norwegischen Regelungsentwurf fordert sie unter anderem, die besonderen Bedingungen des EU-Binnenmarktes beim Re-Export anzuerkennen und die geplanten Anforderungen an Erde und Kultursubstrate für Pflanzen aus EU-Mitgliedstaaten anzupassen. Zudem fordert die EU eine Übergangsfrist von mindestens sechs Monaten nach Veröffentlichung der endgültigen Regelungen.

"Das ist ein gutes Beispiel dafür, wie wichtig eine starke europäische Interessenvertretung für unsere Branche ist. Über die ENA bringen die nationalen Baumschulverbände ihre fachliche und praktische Expertise gemeinsam ein. Entscheidend ist, dass Pflanzengesundheit und ein funktionierender europäischer Warenverkehr zusammengedacht werden", erklärt BdB-Hauptgeschäftsführer Markus Guhl.

Aus Sicht des BdB ist insbesondere wichtig, unnötige zusätzliche Handelshemmnisse zwischen der EU und Norwegen zu vermeiden. Auch bei der phytosanitären Zertifizierung setzt sich die EU für eine praxisgerechte Lösung ein. Sie weist ausdrücklich darauf hin, dass das bestehende EU-System mit harmonisierten Pflanzengesundheitsvorschriften, Pflanzenpässen und Pre-Export-Zertifikaten die notwendigen Garantien und die Rückverfolgbarkeit sicherstellt. Dieses System sei zugleich der einzige praktikable Ansatz, um elektronische Pflanzengesundheitszeugnisse (ePhyto) zu erleichtern.

"Für unsere Betriebe kommt es darauf an, dass bewährte Handelswege erhalten bleiben und nicht durch zusätzliche bürokratische Anforderungen erschwert werden. Dass die Anliegen der europäischen Baumschulwirtschaft auf EU-Ebene Gehör finden, ist deshalb ein wichtiger Erfolg der gemeinsamen Verbandsarbeit", so Guhl.

Der BdB wird den weiteren Prozess gemeinsam mit seinen europäischen Partnerverbänden in der ENA begleiten.

Pressekontakt:

Jana Zielsdorf

Leiterin Öffentlichkeitsarbeit

Tel.: 030-240 86 99-24

zielsdorf@gruen-ist-leben.de

www.gruen-ist-leben.de

Original-Content von: Bund deutscher Baumschulen (BdB) e.V., übermittelt durch news aktuell

Now streaming on Peacock, the competition follows Global Travel Collection advisors as they create exclusive, personalized experiences across Belgium for Bozoma "Boz" Saint John and Keely Watson

NEW YORK, Oct. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- What does it take to turn a great vacation into an extraordinary one? For two Global Travel Collection (GTC) luxury travel advisors, the answer unfolds on national television as they compete to design unforgettable experiences across Belgium for Bravo personality Bozoma "Boz" Saint John and her fiancé, Keely Watson.

In two episodes of NBC's 1st Look Presents: Extra Mile Club, now streaming on Peacock, GTC advisors June Kleier and Julie Shotmeyer put their expertise, creativity and insider connections to the test. Their challenge: create a personalized luxury getaway that reflects the couple's interests and personalities. The prize? The opportunity to win their future travel business.

The competition offers viewers a behind-the-scenes look at what sets a great travel advisor apart. Beyond booking flights and hotels, luxury advisors use their destination knowledge, trusted relationships and understanding of their clients to unlock experiences that can be difficult to discover or arrange independently. From private cultural encounters and exclusive access to thoughtfully curated itineraries, the result is a trip designed around the traveler rather than a standard itinerary.

"Brussels is one of those rare cities where luxury and authenticity meet," said Kleier. "What I love most is how the city reveals itself through experiences, private tastings with master chocolatiers, behind-the-scenes access to Art Nouveau landmarks, and neighborhoods like Sablon and Marolles that feel wonderfully personal when explored with the right guidance. Brussels rewards curiosity, and that's where a great advisor makes all the difference."

June's approach blends thoughtful storytelling with deep destination knowledge, creating itineraries that feel immersive, elegant and tailored to each traveler's personality. Julie brings a second-act perspective to luxury travel after a career as a first-grade teacher, pairing meticulous planning with the warmth of someone who treats every trip she designs as if it were her own.

"The places everyone knows are only the beginning," said Shotmeyer. "A great advisor knows which experiences are really worth your time, where to stay, what to reserve before you arrive and the places you might never find on your own. That insider knowledge is what turns a few days in Belgium into a memorable trip."

The episodes take viewers across Belgium, including Brussels, where filming took place at Corinthia Brussels, the restored former Grand Hotel Astoria. Along the way, Kleier and Shotmeyer demonstrate how two advisors can approach the same destination in entirely different ways, using their expertise and connections to create experiences tailored to their clients.

While the competition centers on a celebrity couple, the expertise on display extends far beyond the television screen. Whether planning a milestone celebration, a family vacation or a once-in-a-lifetime getaway, a skilled travel advisor can help travelers discover exceptional experiences, navigate the details and make the most of their time away.

"Travel advisors don't just book trips, they understand their clients and turn that knowledge into experiences that feel completely personal," said Angie Licea, President of Global Travel Collection. "Watching June and Julie compete gives viewers a glimpse of the expertise that goes into creating an exceptional trip."

Both episodes of 1st Look Presents: Extra Mile Club are now streaming on Peacock. Full episodes are also available to watch on YouTube on the @1stlooktv channel.

To discover how a Global Travel Collection advisor can create personalized travel experiences, visit GlobalTravelCollection.com.

About Global Travel Collection

Global Travel Collection (GTC), part of Internova Travel Group, is the most influential collection of international luxury travel advisors. More than 1,500 GTC advisors are industry leaders in providing premium travel services to leisure travelers, corporate executives and the entertainment industry. GTC's combined global reach and leverage translate into value, recognition and preferential treatment for its world traveler clients.

CONTACT:

Marisa Carstens

Global Travel Collection

[email protected]

SOURCE Global Travel Collection

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Teachers can enter now through Jan. 17 for a chance to be among 15 educators selected for a special celebration at Walt Disney World Resort April 29-May 2, 2027, in honor of Teacher Appreciation Week.

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla., Oct. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Disney Imagination Campus is inviting K-12 educators nationwide to enter the 2027 Teachers Sweepstakes for a chance to be among 15 winners selected for a special celebration at Walt Disney World Resort ahead of Teacher Appreciation Week. The Muppets will join the celebration, bringing their signature creativity and fun to an experience designed to recognize the educators who inspire the next generation of students every day.

The 2027 Teachers Sweepstakes runs now through Jan. 17, 2027. Winning teachers will be randomly selected to participate in the celebration from April 29 through May 2, 2027, which includes a four-day, three-night stay at Walt Disney World Resort, opportunities to experience Disney Imagination Campus, connect with fellow educators and enjoy the resort with their traveling companions.

Teachers will also have time to explore the four theme parks at Walt Disney World Resort â Magic Kingdom Park, EPCOT, Disney's Hollywood Studios and Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park â and discover the creativity, storytelling and imagination found throughout the destination.

The celebration includes:

- An exclusive look at Disney Imagination Campus: Step into the student role and experience workshops that blend imagination with real-world application, offering a behind-the-scenes look at how Disney approaches learning and creativity.

- Connect with educators from across the country: Network with fellow teachers, exchange ideas and make connections with educators who share a passion for inspiring students.

- A special nighttime experience: Winning teachers and their traveling companions will enjoy a special evening created just for the celebration.

- Four theme parks to explore: Discover Magic Kingdom Park, EPCOT, Disney's Hollywood Studios and Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park, where the magic of Disney becomes a living laboratory for creativity, storytelling and imagination.

Teachers can learn more and enter the 2027 Teachers Sweepstakes presented by Disney Imagination Campus and The Muppets here.

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. A PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. Open only to legal residents of the 50 US, DC and PR, 21 years of age and older, who are teachers. Void where prohibited by law. Sweepstakes begins at 12:00 pm ET on 10/1/26 and ends at 11:59:59 pm ET on 1/17/27. Subject to full Official Rules including all eligibility details, regions, prizes, limits, and odds, seerules.com/imagination26sweeps. Sponsor: Disney Destinations, LLC, 1375 East Buena Vista Drive, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830.

SOURCE Walt Disney World Resort

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vivo x Kolder Creative: New Smartphone Filmmaking Masterclass Featuring vivo X500 Pro Max

SHENZHEN, China, Oct. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Following the global launch of the vivo X500 Series, Kolder Creative has released a smartphone filmmaking masterclass featuring the X500 Pro Max. The ten-video course builds on vivo's creative partnership with filmmaker Sam Kolder and follows the creation of a single vertical Reel from filming to final export. Through demonstrations of the X500 Pro Max's imaging capabilities and insights into Kolder's creative decisions, the masterclass aims to help more creators use smartphones for cinematic storytelling.

Putting Creative Possibility into Practice

Co-engineered with ZEISS, the newly launched vivo X500 Series combines an advanced ZEISS Telephoto Lens System with cinematic video capabilities, giving creators the flexibility to capture different perspectives and shape their visual stories. In the masterclass, Kolder uses the X500 Pro Max to demonstrate how camera settings, framing, and editing choices contribute to a finished film.

The collaboration reflects vivo's user-oriented approach to innovation and its mission to create value through technology. Through practical filmmaking education, vivo helps creators learn to use its imaging tools and develop their own approach to visual storytelling.

"We believe smartphones should be a first choice for creative expression, not a second-best option for professional filmmaking. Together with Sam Kolder, we want to challenge that perception and give more creators the freedom to tell their stories," said Yu Meng, Vice President and Head of Imaging at vivo. "By combining the imaging capabilities of the vivo X500 Series with practical filmmaking education through Kolder Creative, we aim to help creators focus less on the complexity of their equipment and more on the people and moments they want to capture."

A Filmmaker's Perspective, Shared Step by Step

Known for cinematic travel and adventure films defined by distinctive transitions and immersive storytelling, Sam Kolder shares the techniques and thinking behind his work through Kolder Creative. The platform offers learners a closer look at his filmmaking process, connecting technical instruction with practical creative experience.

The masterclass extends Kolder's collaboration with vivo following "The Garden Route", a cinematic short film shot entirely on vivo X300 Ultra. Through practical instruction, he shares the creative decisions behind his filmmaking, helping aspiring creators understand how individual shots come together to tell a cohesive story.

Across one introductory video and nine lessons, Kolder guides learners through creating a vertical Reel, a short-form social media video. The course covers native camera controls, composition, footage selection, editing, sound design, color grading, and export. Each stage builds on the same project, showing how individual techniques contribute to the finished film.

"The technology has finally caught up in the world of film. A phone now does what used to take a bag of gear," said Sam Kolder. "This course is an inside look at how I turn mobile footage into a cinematic film, start to finish, so people can see every decision along the way."

Building a Reel with Intention

Using vivo's native camera app, Kolder explains how technical choices support the story he wants to tell. He demonstrates Log recording for greater flexibility in color grading, shows how frame rate and shutter settings affect the appearance of movement, and explains how neutral-density (ND) filters help control exposure. Practical comparisons show the effect of each choice and when creators might use it.

Kolder also explores the composition within the vertical 9:16 frame. Using examples from the project, he shows how close-ups, medium shots, and wider views add variety and form complete sequences. He starts with a broad story direction while remaining open to unexpected moments during filming and new possibilities during editing.

In DaVinci Resolve, a video-editing and color-grading application, learners see how he organizes and selects footage and builds a narrative around voiceover and music. Matching movement between shots creates fluid connections, while sound design adds atmosphere and presence. Color grading follows an approachable workflow using look-up tables (LUTs) and adjustment nodes that allow shots to be refined.

To support hands-on learning, the course includes the Reel's final soundtrack and offers a 50% discount to Filmkid LUTs, which Kolder uses in his grading demonstrations, and a 50% discount to LUTs by Bryn North, a fellow filmmaker and Kolder collaborator. Together with guidance on exporting vertical social video, the masterclass gives learners a complete workflow in which they can apply to their own stories.

Cinematic Tools Built Around the Creative Process

vivo X500 Pro Max brings together imaging capabilities that support the creative principles explored throughout the masterclass. Its 200 MP ZEISS APO Telephoto Camera gives creators tighter framing options, complementing the course's emphasis on capturing varied shot sizes and building complete sequences from different perspectives.

For creators working with color in post-production, Cinematic Pro Log Video on the ZEISS TrueDynamic Main Camera provides a flexible foundation. A dedicated Log curve, specifically tuned to the camera's 17 EV ultra-high dynamic range, preserves rich highlight and shadow detail and subtle tonal gradation, giving creators greater scope to shape the final image through the LUT-and-node workflow demonstrated in the course. DaVinci Resolve natively supports vivo Log and vivo Wide Gamut, enabling a more seamless integration into professional color-grading workflows and refine color, contrast, and tonal expression in post-production.

Multi-Focal 4K 120 fps recording and the main camera's native 4K 240 fps recording expand the possibilities for capturing movement and creating slow-motion footage. A 7800 mAh BlueVolt Battery and 90W FlashCharge support the demands of filming on location, helping creators stay ready as scenes unfold and conditions change.

Through the masterclass, vivo and Kolder Creative show how a smartphone can serve as the primary camera for a complete filmmaking project. By explaining the technical process and creative decisions behind a finished Reel, the collaboration helps learners approach their own projects with greater intention and confidence.

The ten-video vivo x Kolder Creative smartphone filmmaking masterclass is available from November 9, 2026 via https://www.koldercreative.com/.

About vivo

vivo is a technology company that creates great products based on a user-oriented value, with smart devices and intelligent services as its core. The company aims to build a bridge between humans and the digital world. Through unique creativity, vivo provides users with an increasingly convenient mobile and digital life. Following the company's core values, which include Benfen*, user-orientation, design-driven value, continuous learning and team spirit, vivo has implemented a sustainable development strategy with the vision of developing into a healthier, more sustainable world-class corporation.

While bringing together and developing the best local talents to deliver excellence, vivo is supported by a network of R&D centers in Shenzhen, Dongguan, Nanjing, Beijing, Hangzhou, Shanghai, Xi'an and more cities, focusing on the development of state-of-the-art consumer technologies, including 5G, artificial intelligence, industrial design, imaging system and other up-and-coming technologies. vivo has also set up an intelligent manufacturing network (including those authorized by vivo), with an annual production capacity of nearly 200 million smartphones. As of now, vivo has branched out its sales network across more than 60 countries and regions, and is loved by nearly 600 million users worldwide.

*"Benfen" is a term describing the attitude on doing the right things and doing things right â which is the ideal description of vivo's mission to create value for society.

Stay informed of latest vivo news at https://www.vivo.com/en/about-vivo/news

SOURCE vivo

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