Germany

Cologne – September 12, 2026 -- Subway has secured a Guinness World Record for the "Largest Inflatable Sculpture of a Potato," unveiling a 9.5-meter-long, 6.6-meter-wide and 4.9-meter-tall potato installation in Cologne's MediaPark. Guinness World Records adjudicator Lena Kuhlmann measured and certified the structure, confirming no larger potato sculpture has ever been built.

The oversized spud, lit from the outside and decorated in Subway's signature branding, is walk-through and open to the public. It marks the launch of the chain's new Baked Potato, now added to the Subway menu in Germany for the first time.

A food truck hands out free Baked Potatoes next to the giant spud

Visitors to the MediaPark can pick up a free, freshly prepared Baked Potato from a food truck parked beside the record-breaking sculpture. A sauce and topping station lets guests customize their potato to taste.

Berlin – September 12, 2026 -- Neakasa's Riko smart wet-meal feeder has been named an IFA 2026 Innovation Award Honoree at IFA Berlin, recognized for automating fresh wet-meal preparation for cats.

Riko grinds and mixes food on demand instead of storing pre-made meals

Unlike standard automatic feeders that hold prepared wet food, Riko stores freeze-dried food in dry form and grinds and mixes it with water at each scheduled feeding time. Owners can adjust the water-to-food ratio from 1:1 to 5:1, set more than 20 meals per day, and choose portions between 1 and 15 grams.

Regenstauf – September 12, 2026 -- German taxpayers can now deduct up to 6,600 euros in political party donations from their taxes, double the previous limit, following a 2025 tax law change that takes effect as state and local elections approach in Saxony-Anhalt, Berlin, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and Lower Saxony.

Berlin – September 12, 2026 -- TCL picked up more than 30 awards at IFA 2026 in Berlin, including seven IFA Innovation Award Honoree titles and five Global Product Technology Innovation Awards, alongside recognitions from Android Authority, TechRadar, Tom's Guide and What Hi-Fi?.

The X11L TV wins top honors from two major outlets

The TCL X11L SQD-Mini LED television took home the IFA Breakthrough 2026 Award from Android Authority and the Best in Show Award from Tom's Guide, both citing its next-generation SQD-Mini LED display technology. The TCL C8L SQD-Mini LED TV separately earned an IFA Innovation Awards Honoree title for its display engineering and design. The TCL X3 Series OLED gaming monitor also received Honoree status for its high contrast, refresh rates and design.

Berlin – September 10, 2026 -- MERACH has unveiled the UltraWalk W60 Plus, its new flagship walking pad, at IFA Berlin 2026, marking the treadmill's first launch in Europe. Shoppers can pre-order the device through September 20, 2026 at an early-bird price of €379.99, down from its €459.99 list price.

The company designed the W60 Plus for people who spend long hours at a desk and want to add movement without carving out separate workout time. It targets home offices and living rooms where space and noise are constraints.

A brushless motor targets 15,000 hours of use

The treadmill runs on a brushless motor rated for 3.5 HP peak output, built with an integrated Hall sensor for precise, consistent speed control even at slower walking paces. MERACH states the motor is engineered to last up to 15,000 operating hours.

Groß-Bieberau – September 11, 2026 -- Homeowners selling property in Germany now face buyers who scrutinize energy efficiency and renovation costs as closely as location and square footage. SENGER Immobilien & Energieberatung, based in Groß-Bieberau, combines over 30 years of real estate brokerage experience with certified energy consulting across the Darmstadt-Dieburg district, Rhein-Main region, Odenwald and Bergstrasse areas.

Owners get valuation and energy audits from a single provider

The firm handles everything from initial property analysis and market valuation to final handover, according to the company. Florian Senger personally guides owners through the sales process, working to highlight each property's specific strengths.

Cologne – September 11, 2026 -- German broadcaster WDR has produced a second batch of 1,000 free "Maus" school-start packages for first-grade classrooms in North Rhine-Westphalia after the initial run sold out within days.

The free kits, tied to the long-running children's show Die Sendung mit der Maus, are designed to ease the transition into elementary school and introduce young children to responsible media use.

Demand exhausted two full print runs in days

The first 1,000 packages were claimed by teachers almost immediately after launch. WDR responded by printing 1,000 more, but those were also fully requested by educators shortly after.

WDR Director General Dr. Katrin Vernau said the response shows strong demand for reliable, child-friendly educational materials, and that the broadcaster plans to expand the program further in 2027.

Munich – September 11, 2026 -- Italian restaurant chain L'Osteria is putting fresh black truffle on its pizza menu for the first time, launching the dish as part of a limited-time "Mamma Mia" promotion running September 12 to 20.

The Pizza Tartufo, topped with freshly shaved black truffle, costs 11.95 euros in participating restaurants across Germany, Austria, the Netherlands and France. The same pizza is priced at 345 Czech koruna in the Czech Republic and 22.90 Swiss francs in Switzerland. Availability is limited to stock on hand.

Truffle moves from fine dining to casual pizza tables

John Schlüter, CMO of L'Osteria, said truffle is typically associated with white tablecloths and multi-course tasting menus. He said the chain wanted to bring freshly shaved black truffle to its pizzas without turning it into something complicated, aiming instead to give guests an accessible special moment.

Hamburg – September 11, 2026 -- Philips has unveiled the Lumea IPL 9900 Pro, a new at-home hair removal device priced at €799.99, now available on philips.de and through retailers.

Live audio feedback guides users through treatments

The device pairs with the Lumea IPL app, which tracks movement in real time during leg and arm treatments. It delivers live audio cues to help users maintain correct technique, while step-by-step visual guidance for legs ensures no area is missed.

Results can last up to five years with monthly upkeep

Philips reports hair reduction of more than 80% on legs after just two treatments. After an initial treatment phase, users need only one monthly touch-up session to maintain smooth skin for up to five years, according to the company.

Cologne – September 11, 2026 -- Rescue dogs got a shot at new homes at a Bark Date event held on September 6 at Beethovenpark in Cologne, where TV presenter Laura Wontorra and dog expert Jochen Bendel helped connect shelter animals with potential adopters.

Bark Date lets people meet rescue dogs on neutral ground instead of in a shelter

The initiative brings together dogs from animal welfare groups and prospective adopters on dog-friendly meadows rather than in traditional shelter settings, allowing animals to show their personality in a relaxed environment before any adoption decision is made.

Around 350 animal welfare associations and more than 1,000 active foster homes now work with Bark Date. Since the initiative launched, over 4,000 dogs have been presented and more than 1,000 have been successfully placed in new homes.