London – November 02, 2026 -- Children can now wear Minions on their wrists: imoo has launched the Smartwatch X10 Minions Limited Edition, which pairs the characters with 360° video calling, front and rear cameras, 20m water resistance and an SOS emergency function.

Hong Kong – October 31, 2026 -- OlloBot's OlloNi SS1, a home companion robot built to bond with people rather than just complete tasks, was named an Honoree in the Best in Home & Entertainment category of the IFA Innovation Awards at IFA Berlin 2026, the brand's European debut.

OlloNi SS1 reacts to touch, sound and facial expressions

OlloNi SS1 runs on OlloBot's proprietary EmpathCore emotional engine and Affinilog interaction system. Together, they let the robot respond dynamically to touch, sound and facial expressions.

Canary Islands – October 30, 2026 -- STARMUS VIII, the eighth edition of the science-and-music festival, ran for six days from 17 to 22 October 2026 across Tenerife and La Palma in Spain's Canary Islands.

Musicians and scientists share the same stage

The programme paired music with science. Sir Brian May played his Red Special guitar, and Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman performed. Nobel Prize-winning scientists presented their discoveries.

FORT LAUDERDALE – October 30, 2026 -- Atlas Ocean Voyages has announced its 2027 Epicurean Expeditions lineup. Food Network champion Crista Luedtke and Food & Wine Contributing Editor Anthony Giglio join as guest experts on Mediterranean and European sailings aboard World Traveller, World Navigator and World Voyager.

BOSTON – October 30, 2026 -- When the clocks fall back on the night of Sunday, November 1, Americans will sleep only about 11 minutes longer than on a typical Saturday, according to new Withings data, and by the following weekend they sleep less than usual.

Withings data shows the bonus hour mostly disappears

Withings analyzed 237,480 nights of sleep data from US users aged 18 and over, covering the autumn clock changes of 2023, 2024 and 2025. On the night itself, sleep was also more broken than usual, with slightly more frequent wake-ups.

Munich – October 29, 2026 -- Home buyers in the euro area should not expect cheaper or pricier mortgages right away: the European Central Bank (ECB) held its key interest rate at 2.5 percent, and ten-year building loan rates recently stood at around 4.4 percent.

Mortgage rates follow capital markets, not the ECB directly

Building loan rates track long-term capital market rates more closely than the ECB's key rate. Expected central bank moves can therefore already be priced into loan terms before the ECB announces a decision.

LISBON – October 29, 2026 -- A seven-day cycling trip through Portugal's Alentejo region has won Gold in the Tour Operators, Overall category at the 2026 Travel Weekly Magellan Awards. Operator Live Love Ride also took Silver in Tour Operators, Service, for its "Alentejo Cycling Experience: A Boutique Slow Travel Journey in Portugal."

LONDON – October 29, 2026 -- Pet owners moving between the US and Europe can now book Vicuna Air flights through December 5, 2027, with Brussels as the airline's European hub.

First Brussels flights carried more than 14 pets

Vicuna Air flew its first continental European services on October 7 and 9, between New York and Brussels. Two of the animals leaving New York were rabbits in Biscuit Class. They travelled in the cabin without their owners, accompanied by a Vicuna Concierge for the whole journey.

Schwalbach am Taunus – October 29, 2026 -- Pampers baby wipes are alcohol-free, and the Aqua Soft Touch, 99 % Water Wipes and Sensitive variants are also fragrance-free. The company says it checks ingredients, production and finished products for safety and skin compatibility, and adds checks by outside organizations.

NEW YORK – October 28, 2026 -- Two episodes of NBC's 1st Look Presents: Extra Mile Club are now streaming on Peacock. In them, two luxury travel advisors compete to design a Belgium getaway for Bravo personality Bozoma "Boz" Saint John and her fiancé, Keely Watson.