Art & Culture

New York – September 18, 2026 -- Hublot and artist Jeff Koons have launched a joint collection anchored by the MP-14 Origin, a $limited-edition 30-piece watch built to mechanically evoke the birth of the universe, alongside a second model called the Classic Fusion Balloon Dog.

The MP-14 Origin introduces Hublot's first automatic central tourbillon, a technical first for the manufacture, housed inside a 44mm octagonal case made of sapphire and titanium.

The sapphire case alone takes 534 hours to machine

The transparent octagonal box is paired with a titanium case back and Hublot's signature "ears" at 3 and 9 o'clock. Beneath a sapphire dome coated by hand in translucent blue varnish, concentric white-gold rings set with baguette-cut diamonds and blue sapphires form orbital layers converging on the hidden central tourbillon.

New York – September 18, 2026 -- FOX Nation will premiere its new dating series, Chris Harrison's The Vow, on November 11, with new episodes released weekly on Wednesdays through a December 9 season finale.

Chris Harrison returns to the genre he helped define

The six-episode series marks host Chris Harrison's return to relationship television. It follows 30-year-old bachelor Jace Cates as he pursues a relationship with ten women through curated dates and compatibility challenges designed to test shared values, faith, communication and long-term goals.

New York – September 18, 2026 -- Hublot has unveiled the Classic Fusion Balloon Dog by Jeff Koons, a limited-edition watch collaboration inspired by the artist's iconic mirrored balloon sculptures. The 42mm timepiece comes in three editions -- mirror-polished stainless steel, red anodized aluminum, and blue anodized aluminum -- with each edition capped at 200 pieces.

The watch reworks the traditionally flat, sleek Classic Fusion case into a design that mimics inflated volume, as though shaped by air pressure. Domed sapphire crystal, rounded titanium screw heads, a convex 'puffy' dial, and a padded metallic leather strap all contribute to the illusion of an inflatable object rendered in metal.

Ta' Qali, Malta – September 18, 2026 -- The Thunderpick World Championship 2026 Finals will run Oct. 14 to 18 at BLAST Studios Malta, with eight Counter-Strike 2 teams competing for a $1 million USD prize pool.

Defending champions FURIA headline a field stacked with top-20 talent

2025 champions FURIA, ranked #8 globally, return to defend their title. Seven of the eight qualified teams sit inside the Global VRS top 20.

The full lineup includes Legacy (#3), Brazil's top-ranked team; Falcons (#4), a star-heavy European roster; FURIA (#8); BETBOOM (#9), a Russian squad known for upsets; 9z (#10), one of South America's strongest sides; Aurora (#12), a European org built around international talent; PARIVISION (#17), a rising European team; and Virtus.pro, which enters at #30 after winning the TWC closed qualifier.

Seoul – September 18, 2026 -- Netmarble has opened a new server called "ZERO" for its dark fantasy MMORPG RAVEN2, giving new and returning players an easier path into the game while rolling out a separate rewards event for existing servers.

ZERO server removes growth and combat pressure for newcomers

ZERO went live on September 15 (UTC +0) with a distinct ruleset designed to ease growth burdens, monetization pressure, PK stress, and competition barriers. The server features increased equipment drop rates and EXP gains, adjusted combat balance, and a simplified progression system that excludes Mythic-grade Summons and Awakenings. A new Farming Crystals feature lets players earn Crystals, a core in-game currency, simply through hunting and regular gameplay.

Rabat – September 18, 2026 -- Jinhua, a city in China's Zhejiang province, brought live opera performances, ceramic demonstrations and traditional tea ceremonies to Morocco's capital in early September as part of the 2026 Jinhua Culture and Tourism "Into Africa" program. The event, held at the China Cultural Center in Rabat under the theme "The Enduring Charm of Wuzhou: A Cultural Journey Through Porcelain and Tea," gave Moroccan audiences a hands-on introduction to Jinhua's history and tourism offerings.

Young performers staged a classic Wu Opera piece

Zhu Shuojing and Ouyang Mingju, performers from the Zhejiang Wu Opera Art Research Institute, presented The Heavenly Maiden Scattering Flowers, drawing enthusiastic applause from the audience.

New York – September 18, 2026 -- Giggles, the fast-growing social video app, has relaunched with a ground-up redesign that swaps its old trading mechanics for a new points system called Aura and a set of collectible "trend cards."

Aura replaces trading with a simple rewards system

Users earn Aura by participating on the app and spend it on interactions and creator rewards. Aura carries no cash value, marking a clear departure from the trading economy the app was previously known for. Trend cards, meanwhile, are digital collectibles earned with Aura that mark viral moments and celebrate creators, memes, and content that define the platform.

The app remains focused on short-form video across five categories

Giggles still functions as a short-form video platform where users create, watch, and share content across comedy, food, sports, music, and memes.

Miami – September 18, 2026 -- Norwegian Cruise Line has unveiled the entertainment lineup for its new ship, Norwegian Aura, set to debut in May 2027, headlined by an original stage production titled "Whitney: A Celebration of Whitney Houston."

The show is built with the singer's estate and her music publisher

Developed in partnership with The Estate of Whitney E. Houston and Primary Wave Music, the 45-minute production reimagines Houston's catalog through contemporary arrangements and live performance. Houston sold more than 220 million records worldwide, scored seven consecutive No. 1 Billboard Hot 100 hits and won six Grammy Awards. The show will feature hits including "It's Not Right, But It's OK," "I Will Always Love You," and "I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)," a track certified nine-times platinum by the RIAA and named Best Pop Song of All Time by Billboard in 2023.

Shenzhen – September 18, 2026 -- ugee has launched the ArtPlay Pad, a children's drawing tablet that converts 2D sketches into 3D models and physical objects, available starting September 15, 2026, through the company's official shop.

EMR pen technology aims to replicate pencil-on-paper friction

Unlike most kids' tablets that rely on capacitive pens, the ArtPlay Pad uses professional-grade EMR (Electro-Magnetic Resonance) technology with 16K pressure sensitivity, paired with a paper-like anti-glare display and full palm rejection. Amy Yuan, ugee's Global Brand Director, said the goal was to solve three problems: the slick, unresponsive feel of glass screens, the gap between flat drawing and 3D thinking, and eye strain from prolonged screen use.

Las Vegas – September 18, 2026 -- Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino is marking the first anniversary of Universal Horror Unleashed with two new overnight packages that pair a stay in its year-round Halloween Suite with tickets to the horror attraction at AREA15.

The Ultra Spooky package bundles transportation, drinks and a prize pack

The Halloween Suite Ultra Spooky Hotel Package includes a two-night stay in the Halloween Suite, two tickets to Universal Horror Unleashed, round-trip transportation between Westgate and AREA15, a specialty cocktail at Velvet Bar, an exclusive Halloween prize pack and surprise seasonal amenities. Guests can book it by calling 702-732-5631.

A simpler Suite & Ticket option is also available

A second option, the Halloween Suite & Ticket Package, offers a two-night stay in the Halloween Suite plus two tickets to Universal Horror Unleashed, bookable online.