Singapore – September 07, 2026 -- Travel booking platform Trip.com reports that custom tour bookings surged over 600% year-on-year globally, as travelers increasingly seek fully tailored itineraries over standard packages.

The company's data shows global searches for first and business class flights climbed 99% year-on-year in the first half of 2026, while 5-star hotel searches rose 57% over the same period. The strongest demand for custom tours is coming from Mainland China, Hong Kong SAR and Singapore.

Concerts and live events are driving cross-border bookings

According to Trip.com Group data, 63% of Asia Pacific travelers have already crossed borders to attend a concert, and 66% say they would be willing to do so. In response, the company launched packages bundling concert tickets, accommodation, transport and local attractions, which saw triple-digit growth in 2025.

Berlin – September 07, 2026 -- Ascentiz is showing off what it calls the world's first modular exoskeleton platform at IFA 2026, letting users swap hip and knee assistance modules on the same wearable frame.

The company's H and K modules attach to a shared base called the Exo-Belt, which houses the battery, controller, and control algorithms. Users can click in the H module, the K module, or both at once, switching between them manually in seconds using a MOLLE quick-release system.

Plano, Texas – September 07, 2026 -- Lexus has unveiled the redesigned 2027 NX compact crossover, confirming the lineup will be 100% electrified with buyers choosing between a hybrid-electric (HEV) or plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrain. The model is expected to reach global markets by late 2026.

Four trims arrive in each powertrain option

The NX range will offer four versions across both HEV and PHEV setups: Premium, Premium+, F SPORT and Luxury.

The PHEV battery delivers more range and faster charging

The NX 450h+ uses a newly developed lithium-ion battery with an 8% power increase and 30% more capacity than its predecessor. Lexus estimates certain PHEV versions will achieve more than 40 miles of electric-only range, though official EPA ratings will be released closer to launch. DC fast-charging and a fast-charge port cover now come standard on PHEV models.

Munich – September 07, 2026 -- Huawei unveiled a new lineup of flagship devices spanning smartwatches, tablets, smartphones and earbuds at its "Chase the Wild" launch event held September 2 at SHOWPALAST Munich.

The HUAWEI WATCH GT 7 Series adds turn detection and ski mapping for over 3,000 resorts

The GT 7 comes in 46mm and 41mm sizes with eight color options, while the GT 7 Pro offers three colorways with a nano-tech ceramic bezel and titanium alloy frame. Both models include a new EasyCross strap. The series introduces wrist-based turn detection and G-Force detection, an indoor snow sports mode, and cycling tools like climb route planning and sharp-turn warnings. A new Health Insights feature adds Physical Readiness scoring for clearer wellness feedback.

Beijing – September 07, 2026 -- Chinese outdoor footwear brand CGX has unveiled two new obstacle racing shoes, the R1010 and R1020, debuting them on the opening day of the UIPM 2026 Obstacle World Championships in Beijing, running September 2-6. The Chinese Modern Pentathlon Obstacle Race Team wore the shoes in international competition for the first time as part of the event.

The championships, part of UIPM's Race Across China series, feature athletes racing 100m, 400m and 3km formats plus relay and team events. Obstacle Racing is set to debut as an Olympic sport within the reimagined Modern Pentathlon at the Los Angeles 2028 Games.

Each shoe targets a different race distance

The R1020 is built for the explosive demands of the 100m format, prioritizing fast starts, grip and quick transitions between obstacles. The R1010 is designed for 400m and 3km racing, balancing obstacle handling with cushioning and propulsion for longer efforts.

Berlin – September 07, 2026 -- LG Electronics is unveiling an expanded AI Home ecosystem at IFA 2026, showing how connected appliances, TVs and home hubs can automate daily chores and cut energy use for European households. The showcase, set up in Hall 18 at Messe Berlin, centers on the LG ThinQ ON home hub and the ThinQ AI platform.

A text-chat AI agent makes its public debut.

ThinQ Claw, a new text-based AI agent integrated with ThinQ ON, recommends actions based on household conditions and daily routines using natural-language interaction. LG is also extending AI Home beyond private residences with ThinQ Pro, a business-facing tool for centralized control of appliances and HVAC systems in commercial spaces. A Home Energy Management System powered by Homey -- the smart home platform LG acquired from Athom in 2024 -- coordinates energy generation, storage and consumption across a home.

Seoul – September 07, 2026 -- Tickets for the K-Royal Culture Festival Fall 2026 go on sale starting noon on Sept. 4 through the Ticketlink website, opening access to five days of performances, exhibitions and historical reenactments across four royal palaces and Jongmyo Shrine in Seoul.

The festival, hosted by the Royal Palaces and Tombs Center of the Korea Heritage Service and organized by the Korea Heritage Agency, runs Oct. 7-11 at Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung, Deoksugung and Changgyeonggung Palaces. The spring 2026 edition drew roughly 725,000 visitors, a record for the event.

Llantrisant – September 07, 2026 -- The Royal Mint has launched two commemorative 50 pence coins marking 60 years of Star Trek, with the first design going on sale September 3 and priced at £19.95.

The first coin features the Vulcan salute alongside the phrases "Live Long & Prosper" and "Star Trek 60"

It marks the first time an image from the original Star Trek series has appeared on a UK 50p coin. A second coin, arriving in November, depicts four starships spanning different eras of the franchise -- the U.S.S. Voyager NCC-74656, the U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701, the Enterprise NCC-1701-D, and a Klingon Bird of Prey -- paired with the inscription "Star Trek 60."

Dongguan – September 07, 2026 -- The City University of Hong Kong (Dongguan) held its opening ceremony for the 2026 academic year on September 2, 2026, welcoming more than 1,300 students in its third student cohort since the university's official founding in 2024.

The campus awarded its first master's degrees just months earlier

The September ceremony came only months after CityUHK (Dongguan) conferred master's degrees on its first graduating class in June 2026, marking a rapid academic build-out for the young campus in China's Greater Bay Area.

Polaris, Ohio – September 07, 2026 -- Supercharged Entertainment broke ground on its fourth U.S. location at 9300 Lyra Drive in Polaris, Ohio, with the 125,000-square-foot venue set to open in Summer 2027.

The complex spans 16 acres near Topgolf and Smash Park

Supercharged Entertainment Polaris will mirror the design of the company's New Jersey location, which opened in Edison in December 2022. The site sits within the Polaris Centers of Commerce, alongside existing shopping and dining destinations.

Two karting tracks combine into an 80,000-square-foot Supertrack

The venue will house what the company calls the world's largest indoor, multi-level, temperature-controlled karting track, featuring 25 total elevation changes across two designs. The all-electric karts produce zero emissions on the climate-controlled course.