Berlin – October 05, 2026 -- Four U.S. college students arrived in Berlin last week as the first recipients of the Knowledge Without Borders: Democracy and Memory Fellowship, a program funded through a $55,000 gift from Karen Collias, Ph.D., founder of Knowledge Without Borders (KWB).

The scholarship, administered by the Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE), covers four first-generation, Pell-eligible undergraduates participating in CIEE's Berlin Open Campus program for the semester.

Berlin – September 28, 2026 -- At IFA 2026 in Berlin, stylus maker Metapen skipped the usual spec-sheet pitch and let visitors simply pick up its pens and start writing.

A young visitor tests a stylus without instructions

At the Metapen booth, a girl picked up one of the company's styluses and began drawing on a screen while her family watched. No tutorial was given -- she started creating immediately.

Berlin – September 23, 2026 -- RingConn's Gen 3 smart ring picked up seven awards at IFA 2026 in Berlin, including the IFA Innovation Award in the Beauty Tech & Well-being category, as the wearable maker showcased the device at multiple booths near the show's north entrance.

Berlin – September 23, 2026 -- Morphy Richards closed out IFA Berlin 2026 with two award wins, including recognition for a hose-free portable air conditioner and a dehumidifier honored for design.

The British small appliance brand, marking its 90th anniversary this year, presented its "Smart Ideas" product philosophy at the trade show, spanning both kitchen appliances and home air treatment devices.

Berlin – September 20, 2026 -- Sexual wellness technology company Lovense debuted at IFA Berlin 2026, marking its first appearance at the European consumer electronics show after years of exhibiting at CES in the United States.

Berlin -- Birkenstock opened one of its largest stores in Europe on September 16, 2026, at Münzstraße 20 in Berlin-Mitte, occupying roughly 125 square meters. The German footwear maker, tracing its shoemaking tradition back to 1774, designed the location to blend that heritage with Berlin's creative scene.

Bonn – September 15, 2026 -- Verpoorten Eierpunsch, the warm eggnog punch long associated with German Christmas markets, will be sold in supermarkets for the first time starting October 2026. The product will arrive in the classic 0.7-liter Verpoorten bottle, expanding beyond its previous availability through the company's own online shop.

For more than a decade, the creamy winter drink has been served at over 250 Christmas markets across Germany. The retail launch responds to what the company describes as a frequently requested consumer demand.

Bonn – September 15, 2026 -- The "WDR 2 Weihnachtswunder" charity campaign is returning for its fifth year, with the aid alliance Aktion Deutschland Hilft and German radio station WDR 2 launching a donation drive to fight world hunger.

Koblenz – September 15, 2026 -- Florian Sondershausen traded ten-to-fifteen-hour shifts in a Michelin-starred kitchen for full-time trading on global financial markets, eventually co-founding Haag Sondershausen Consulting GmbH to teach others what he learned along the way.

Sondershausen started earning money outside traditional jobs early: at 13 he bought Yu-Gi-Oh! cards cheaply and resold them on eBay, later working as a professional online gamer. Those digital ventures gave him an early feel for markets outside the classroom.

Berlin – September 15, 2026 -- As mornings and evenings turn cooler, heating technicians are urging households to run three quick checks before switching on their systems for the season, according to the Deutscher Verband Flüssiggas e.V. (German LPG Association).