Berlin – November 09, 2026 -- Patients in Germany could soon find it easier to prove they were harmed by a medical error: 65 percent of people surveyed by forsa for the AOK Federal Association say the hurdles for proving causation are too high, and only 14 percent consider them appropriate.

The Bundestag's health committee is due to discuss a Green Party draft to develop the Patient Rights Act on Wednesday, 11 November. The AOK Federal Association largely backs the draft and has published its own position paper that goes further.

BELGRADE – November 09, 2026 -- Anyone aged 18 or over by 15 April 2027 who can commit at least 15 days can still apply to volunteer at Expo 2027 Belgrade, and first-timers are welcome. More than 19,000 people from 154 countries have already applied to the Expo Playmakers programme, just over six months before the opening.

More than a third of applicants come from abroad

Over 7,100 applications arrived from outside Serbia, which is more than a third of the total. They came from Russia, China, Germany, Italy and other countries.

Digital, pavilion, protocol and sports roles draw the most interest

Candidates have shown the strongest interest in supporting the digital team and the pavilions of international participants. Protocol and the sports programme are also popular.

Stuttgart – November 09, 2026 -- Many German households stuck in old internet contracts can switch to a cheaper plan on one month's notice, and the new provider handles the paperwork, according to consumer portal DSLWEB. Black Friday peaks on November 27, 2026, and more providers are already launching Black Week deals.

Many old contracts can be cancelled at any time

Since the 2021 reform of Germany's Telecommunications Act (TKG), internet contracts no longer renew automatically for another year once the minimum term, usually two years, has ended. They continue indefinitely instead and can be cancelled at any time with one month's notice.

The end date of a contract is listed in the customer account or the contract documents. Many providers also let customers sign the new contract now and schedule the switch for the end of the old term.

Munich – November 09, 2026 -- People with cancer and their relatives in Germany can call a free, confidential expert hotline on 0800 2030040, Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. The service, called "Halt bei Krebs," is run by GSK and staffed by medical professionals.

Medical staff explain diagnoses, therapies and side effects

The hotline is aimed in particular at people with multiple myeloma, myelofibrosis, ovarian cancer or uterine cancer, and at their families. Staff explain the disease, its treatment, symptoms and side effects, and help callers relate that information to their own situation.

The aim is to help patients understand their illness, prepare for doctor appointments and make informed decisions together with their treatment team. On request, the team also points callers to self-help groups and associations. Email support and the service's website supplement the hotline.

GWANGJU, South Korea – November 09, 2026 -- Travelers looking for everyday Korean life beyond the usual sights can wander the alleys of Gwangju's Dongmyeong-dong, a district of restaurants, cafes, workshops and local brand stores that ranks first with American visitors.

Americans top foreign foot traffic in the district

Among the six main countries measured in this year's glocal commercial districts, Americans made up the largest share of foreign foot traffic in Dongmyeong-dong. The source compares the area to Williamsburg in Brooklyn, New York, where distinctive cafes, independent brands and artists' creative spaces sit side by side.

Los Angeles – November 09, 2026 -- The Palisades and Eaton fires, both ignited on Jan. 7, have damaged or destroyed more than 12,000 structures in Los Angeles County. By Jan. 14, the two blazes had killed 25 people, and the Palisades Fire was 17% contained while the Eaton Fire was 35% contained.

Two fires started within eight hours

A multi-day red flag warning took effect Jan. 7 for parts of Los Angeles and Ventura counties, with severe drought and strong Santa Ana winds in the forecast. At 10:20 a.m., an AlertCalifornia camera spotted smoke in the Pacific Palisades. Mandatory evacuation orders followed by noon, and Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency when the fire reached 1,200 acres. At 6:18 p.m., Cal Fire reported the Eaton Fire in Altadena, and by 7:30 p.m. high winds had grounded firefighting aircraft.

San José del Cabo – November 08, 2026 -- Segway Powersports will race two Super Villain UTVs in the SCORE Baja 1000 starting November 13, the brand's first appearance at the off-road endurance event.

The 59th Baja 1000 stays entirely in Baja California Sur

The race begins in San José del Cabo, Baja California Sur, Mexico, and is the final round of the 2026 SCORE World Desert Championship. For the first time in the event's history, the whole course runs within Baja California Sur. The nearly 1,000-mile route crosses desert, mountain and coastal terrain before returning to its starting point.

Jacob Zuccone and Justin He are among the drivers representing Segway Powersports.

Japan – November 08, 2026 -- Visitors in Japan can now see Hokusai folding screens that normally never leave Washington, DC, in a Digital × Hokusai exhibition organized by NTT East that uses high-resolution digital replicas and immersive projection.

A will keeps the originals in Washington

Charles Lang Freer (1854–1919) made his fortune in the US railway industry. Through his friendship with the painter James McNeill Whistler, he developed a deep interest in Asian art. His Hokusai paintings are said to be the finest collection in the world.

After his death, the collection went to the Smithsonian Institution. In 1923 the National Museum of Asian Art (NMAA) opened as the first national art museum and the first Asian art museum in the United States. Under Freer's will, his works can be shown only at the NMAA, so chances to see them are limited.

MILAN – November 08, 2026 -- ASMAX previewed RoamX at EICMA 2026 (Hall 6, Booth H08), a motorcycle intercom headset it calls the world's first with a built-in screen. Launch is targeted for 2027.

RoamX combines a display, 32-rider Mesh and an AI assistant

RoamX runs on a new-generation chip and took more than two years of engineering. It integrates a display, Mesh communication for up to 32 riders and an enhanced AI voice assistant. ASMAX showed functional prototypes at the booth.

The ASMAX S2 brings Mesh to a lower price point

For riders who don't need the flagship, the ASMAX S2 offers Mesh communication as an entry into connected group riding. ASMAX says it wants to lower the barrier to Mesh technology so more riders can use it.

BEIJING – November 08, 2026 -- Visitors to the Global Panda Partners Conference 2026 in Sichuan Province could sample seven new Wuliangye-based cocktails, taste a low-alcohol baijiu called "Love at First Sight" and see panda-shaped bottles between November 2 and 4.

A bamboo-framed space mixes brewing heritage with panda branding

At the conference's Panda Cultural and Creative Marketplace, baijiu maker Wuliangye built a "harmony and coexistence"-themed space framed by green bamboo. It combined the company's brewing heritage, core products and panda cultural IP. Displays included the classic Wuliangye series, the 8th generation of Wuliangye, panda-shaped bottles and a golden panda commemorative liquor. LED screens traced the brand's history through different dynasties.