Berlin – November 02, 2026 -- Anyone insured in Germany can learn how to use the electronic patient record (ePA) in an online event on December 3, 2026, from 4:00 p.m. to 5:45 p.m.

The digital health agency gematik is hosting the session together with several health insurers. It is aimed at insured people and covers how the ePA works, what benefits it already offers, and which new functions are planned.

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.

Munich/Hamburg – October 31, 2026 -- Men aged 45 and older in Germany can get a prostate cancer screening once a year, and statutory health insurers cover it. AstraZeneca and MSD Sharp & Dohme are using Movember, the international men's health awareness month built around the mustache, to push that message through their "Nichts verpassen" ("Miss nothing") campaign.

Berlin – October 30, 2026 -- Only 8.5 percent of Germans, roughly one in twelve, say they have done enough to protect their home against burglary, even as darker evenings arrive. That is the finding of a representative survey by ring, conducted by the polling institute YouGov.

82 percent feel safe, but 63 percent did nothing new this year

In the darker autumn and winter months, 82 percent of respondents feel safe or very safe at home. Only 3 percent feel unsafe.

Berlin – October 29, 2026 -- WELT TV will air the roughly 43-minute documentary "Vantara - Sein Herz für Tiere" ("Vantara - A Heart for Animals") for the first time on Sunday, 1 November 2026, at 14:50. The film goes inside an Indian rescue center where injured and formerly captive wildlife get a second chance.

One of its stories centers on the elephant Leelavati. She was left tied up when a circus tent caught fire, and burning debris fell on her body. She suffered severe burns but survived, and she now receives medical care at Vantara.

Berlin – October 28, 2026 -- A four-part documentary podcast called "Die Party ist vorbei" ("The Party Is Over") examines how safe sex-positive parties really are. All episodes arrive in ARD Sounds on Thursday, November 5, 2026.

Berlin – October 28, 2026 -- Ex-smokers gain an average of 4 to 5 kilograms in the first year after quitting, and the cause is metabolic rather than a lack of willpower.

Two effects disappear when the last cigarette goes out

Nicotine stimulates the sympathetic nervous system, which raises energy use. While smoking, the daily basal metabolic rate is estimated to be about 7 to 15 percent higher, equal to roughly 100 to 250 extra kilocalories per day. After quitting, resting energy use drops back to normal.

Berlin – October 28, 2026 -- Leaving fallen leaves in your garden this autumn protects soil and roots, produces free humus and gives hedgehogs, insects and birds a place to overwinter, according to German environmental group BUND. Its garden expert Corinna Hölzel urges homeowners to put the leaf blower away.

Berlin – October 28, 2026 -- Well-insulated homes can trap moist air once the heating season starts and windows get shut, according to Jay Buis, an expert at Luftentfeuchtershop. A tightly insulated house keeps heat inside, but it also lets less air escape on its own. Ventilating less on top of that can lead to moisture problems.