ZHANGJIAGANG – – November 01, 2026 -- The 2026 Yangtze River Culture Festival is open to visitors through November 29, with rail itineraries to smaller Yangtze River Delta cities, RV camping exchanges along the river and a cultural market on the program.

Thirteen village leaders open the festival with river water

The festival opened on October 30 in Yonglian Village, Nanfeng Town, Zhangjiagang, Suzhou, in Jiangsu Province. Thirteen village Party secretaries each brought water from the stretch of the Yangtze flowing through their hometowns. Joined by guests, they used the water in the opening ceremony.

Two exhibitions also opened at the Yonglian Art Museum that day, including Art Without Borders: A Joint Exhibition of Works from Community Collaborative Art Museums.

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.

At IFA, OlloBot built an open, home-inspired space under the theme "Touch. Feel. Bond." so visitors could interact with the robot directly. OlloNi SS1 also appeared in IFA's "Robots on the Runway" showcase, where its emotional engine let it react to its surroundings in real time.

SEOUL – – October 31, 2026 -- South Korean skincare brand Chaeyun is preparing two new products for November 2026: a whitening cream and a gel for acne-prone skin. Its operator, SAMILBIO, plans to let visitors test them in person at two November events.

Two November events let shoppers try the products first

SAMILBIO will first appear at the Hoseo University Industry-Academia Cooperation Festival on November 4, running from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The company will introduce its products and business ideas there. The venue and exhibition layout will be finalized after confirmation.

It will then join the 2026 SME Innovation Week (K-INNO WEEK) on November 18–20 at Cheongju OSCO. At that event, the focus will be cosmetics experience exhibits and product consultations.

Dubai – October 31, 2026 -- Anyone worldwide can now vote for the cities and urban developments they believe best embody the future of urban life, after New7Wonders opened public voting for the 7 Wonders of Future Cities on World Cities Day.

New Clark City hosts the switch-on

The launch ceremony took place in the Philippines. It was hosted and organised by New Clark City, an Official Participant in the campaign and one of the country's flagship urban development projects. City leaders, media and invited guests watched as the campaign website changed from a presentation format into the worldwide voting platform.

Jean-Paul de la Fuente, Director of New7Wonders and Chairman of the campaign, led the switch-on. He described the moment as the start of "a global conversation about the future of our cities."

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.

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in German men

The Robert Koch Institute's cancer registry data identifies prostate cancer as the most frequent cancer among men in Germany. The earlier it is found, the better the odds of successful treatment.

Former handball internationals were both diagnosed at 47

Twins Michael and Uli Roth, former Germany handball internationals, each developed prostate cancer at 47. Their message this Movember is to see a urologist early.

New York – October 31, 2026 -- SiriusXM starts its holiday music season on Monday, November 2, with 25 handcrafted seasonal channels in cars and on the SiriusXM app. Eligible customers can get their first three months of SiriusXM for free.

Personality and brand channels anchor the lineup

Jimmy Fallon's Holiday Seasoning Radio runs on channel 14 and the app from November 2 through December 27. It mixes his favorite festive songs with stories, fan dedications and appearances from famous friends. The playlist includes tracks from his Christmas album, Holiday Seasoning, alongside Paul McCartney, Dolly Parton, Frank Sinatra and Ariana Grande.

Avondale – October 31, 2026 -- Toyota has won the NASCAR Cup Series Manufacturers' Championship for the fourth time, powered by 18 race wins so far this season. It is the brand's highest single-season win total since 2019.

Tyler Gibbs, president of TRD, U.S.A., credited the work of team members at TRD and at partner teams 23XI Racing, Joe Gibbs Racing and LEGACY MOTOR CLUB. He called the title a product of "teamwork, effort and passion" across the organization.

Reddick opened the year with Toyota's first Daytona 500 win since 2020

23XI Racing's Tyler Reddick began the season by winning the Daytona 500, then added five more wins. Denny Hamlin earned the most points for Toyota, with four wins and the No. 1 seed in the post-season for the first time in his career.

Plano, Texas – October 31, 2026 -- Toyota is showing five Woodland concept vehicles at the 2026 SEMA Show, built on the RAV4, Grand Highlander, Sienna, bZ and Crown Signia and equipped for trips beyond the pavement.

CALTY Design Research gives all five a shared look

CALTY Design Research built the Woodland identity around exploration with everyday usability. The common equipment list includes lift kits, large over-fenders, satin-black wheels, All-Terrain tires, roof racks and cross bars. Roofs and hoods get two-tone paint.

Horizon Blue paint borrows from Toyota's 1960s palette

Each model wears Horizon Blue, inspired by colors Toyota used in the 1960s on the Stout, Crown and Corona.

Kuala Lumpur – October 31, 2026 -- Zoo Negara Malaysia, the national zoo in Hulu Kelang, Ampang, has hosted 331 group events for 30,390 participants and has an air-conditioned multipurpose hall and a 12,000-square-foot picnic field for gatherings. The tally earned the zoo an ASEAN Records title.

The record covers 331 events in under four years

ASEAN Records recognised the zoo for the "Highest Number of Participants in Group Events Hosted by a Zoo's Founding Zoological Society." The count runs from 1 January 2023 to 30 September 2026. The zoo is managed by the Malaysian Zoological Society.

Open-air areas and an indoor hall host the groups

Beyond its wildlife exhibits, the zoo offers facilities for organised gatherings, corporate family days and recreational events. Open-air recreational areas, the 12,000-square-foot picnic field and the air-conditioned multipurpose hall provide the space for them.

LOS ANGELES – October 31, 2026 -- Filmmaker Barry Sonnenfeld will host the Children's Institute (CII) 120th Anniversary Cape & Gown Gala on Sunday, November 8, in Beverly Hills, with John Mayer performing and Jamie Lee Curtis receiving a new award.

Jamie Lee Curtis receives the inaugural Reiner award

Curtis will accept the first Michele & Rob Reiner Champion for Change Award, presented by Jake Reiner. Seven-time Grammy winner John Mayer will perform, and comedian and author Chelsea Handler will also appear.

Sonnenfeld introduced Rob Reiner to Michele in 1988

CII president and CEO Martine Singer, Michele Reiner's sister, said Sonnenfeld introduced Rob to Michele in 1988 and stayed close to the couple with his wife Susan. Her pitch for him as host was short: "Also, he's hilarious."