KiKA's September Lineup: Maja Turns 50, New Shows Land on kika.de

Erfurt, Germany -- September 01, 2026 -- Families looking for new children's programming this fall can find a fresh batch of shows from Germany's public children's channel KiKA, starting with a 50th-anniversary re-release of "Die Biene Maja" now streaming on kika.de. The lineup for September 2026 also includes the new preschool series "Karlchen" launching September 2, the desert adventure film "Prinzen der Wüste" arriving September 6, a live AI-education event called "Check die KI" on September 15, and new episodes of "Rabbit Academy - Die Häschenschule" from September 16. All titles are available on kika.de, the KiKA app, and the Kikaninchen app.

GIGABYTE's AORUS INFINITY Rig Turns Heads at Gamescom 2026

TAIPEI -- September 01, 2026 -- Gamers walking through Gamescom 2026 got their hands on GIGABYTE's newest AORUS INFINITY lineup, testing everything from an AI-optimized gaming laptop to OLED monitors with 0.03-millisecond response times. GIGABYTE wrapped up the event reporting strong turnout at its showcase, where flagship desktops, laptops, monitors, and peripherals were set up for live play. The Taiwan-based computer maker used the gathering to demonstrate how its latest engineering choices translate into faster, smoother gameplay for everyday PC builders.

The centerpiece was the AORUS INFINITY Series, a matched set of components meant to work as one system rather than separate parts bolted together.

Platt College's Class of 2026 Crosses the Stage in Ontario

ONTARIO, Calif. -- September 01, 2026 -- Platt College graduates from campuses across Southern California crossed the stage on Saturday, August 29, at the Ontario Convention Center, marking the 20th consecutive year the college has held its commencement at that venue. The Class of 2026 included students earning associate and bachelor's degrees along with diplomas in fields such as healthcare, technology, business, legal services, and design. Family, friends, faculty, and staff filled the venue to watch graduates from Platt's Alhambra, Anaheim, Ontario, and Riverside campuses finish programs many completed while juggling jobs and family responsibilities.

Padel Meets Primetime: Stars Battle for Cup at Arena Oberhausen

Unterföhring -- September 01, 2026 -- German viewers can watch Olympic beach volleyball champion Laura Ludwig and former ATP tour winner Tommy Haas trade padel shots on live television when ProSieben broadcasts the "Promi Padel WM" from Arena Oberhausen on Saturday, November 21, 2026. The show starts at 8:15 p.m. and streams simultaneously on Joyn. Tickets for the live event went on sale immediately after the announcement.

Ten two-person celebrity teams will compete for the PadelCity Cup, a trophy first awarded last year when Christoph Kramer and Marc Rzatkowski took the title. This time the roster includes "Sports Creator of the Year" Paula Enzweiler, podcaster Tommi Schmitt, TV host Matthias Opdenhövel and singer Sasha, joining Ludwig and Haas on the court.

Germany's Inflation Rate Hits 2.9% in August as Energy Costs Surge

WIESBADEN -- September 01, 2026 -- German shoppers faced a preliminary annual inflation rate of 2.9 percent in August 2026, the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) reported, as rising energy costs pushed up everyday bills faster than in previous months. Consumer prices climbed 0.2 percent compared with July 2026, according to the office's initial calculations. The figures, drawn from both the national Consumer Price Index and the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices, matched each other for the month.

Energy Bills Climb Fastest

Energy prices rose 10.5 percent compared with August 2025, Destatis reported, up sharply from an 8.3 percent annual increase in July and a 3.4 percent rise in June. The acceleration marks the third straight month of faster energy price growth, according to the preliminary data.

HomeLink Turns 75: Free 3-Month Trial and Bigger Payout Guarantee

Bamberg, Germany -- September 01, 2026 -- HomeLink, the home-swap travel network marking its 75th year, is letting new members try the platform free for three months while more than doubling its cancellation guarantee fund from 2,000 to 5,000 euros. The organization connects 60,000 members across 70 countries who trade homes instead of booking hotels, and families can save up to 4,000 euros on accommodation depending on destination and length of stay. The changes apply to HomeLink Deutschland, the German nonprofit branch of the network founded in 1953.

During the free trial, prospective members can list their own home, browse listings from other members and start conversations with potential swap partners. A paid membership only kicks in once two households actually agree to a swap, according to HomeLink.

Germany's Dating Pool Skews Male Under 30, Female After 65

WIESBADEN -- September 01, 2026 -- Germans in their twenties face starkly different dating odds depending on their age, according to new population data released by the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis). At the end of 2025, there were only 912 women for every 1,000 men aged 18 to 29 nationwide, the sharpest gender gap of any age group. That imbalance flips dramatically later in life: among people 65 and older, there were 1,260 women for every 1,000 men.

The pattern holds for younger age brackets too. Among those under 18, there were 947 women per 1,000 men, and among 30- to 49-year-olds, 969 women per 1,000 men. Destatis attributed part of the gap to biology -- about 5% more boys than girls are born each year -- and part to migration patterns, since somewhat more men than women have moved to Germany.

Yarbo's M Series Yard Robot Makes First Public Debut at IFA 2026

BERLIN -- September 01, 2026 -- Yarbo will show off the finished version of its M Series yard robot at IFA 2026, running September 4 to 8 in Berlin, marking the machine's move from a CES prototype to a product homeowners can actually buy. The compact, modular robot handles mowing, snow clearing and leaf collection on standard residential yards, complementing the larger Y Series built for bigger properties. Visitors can see the M Series firsthand at two exhibition spaces, indoors and outdoors, during the show.

Compact Chassis Handles Slopes, Steps and Wet Grass

The M Series trims down Yarbo's footprint compared with earlier models, a design choice the company said lowers the barrier to yard automation for smaller properties. Its tracked chassis grips wet grass, dirt, stone pavers and mixed surfaces, and the robot can climb slopes up to roughly 35 degrees, or a 70% grade, and step over edges around 2 inches high.