News

Worldwide spending on Japanese anime reached a record $28.2bn in 2025, rising 15.8% from the previous year as demand grew both in Japan and overseas.

International consumers accounted for 57.1% of the market, spending $16.1bn on Japanese animation and related products, according to preliminary figures from the Association of Japanese Animations (AJA).

The industry recorded its fastest annual growth, surpassing the 15.7% increase registered in 2024. Overseas sales rose 17.2%, while spending within Japan climbed 14.1% to $12.1bn.

Read more: Naruto franchise announces shadow rising manga and Ninku crossover

Domestic...

United Airlines is looking into flights to Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan after sending its network planning chief to both countries, according to chief executive Scott Kirby.

Speaking on the Cheeky Pint podcast, published on 27 October, United Airlines CEO Kirby revealed that Patrick Quayle, the executive responsible for developing United’s network, visited both countries this year.

Kirby described the trip while explaining how United finds opportunities beyond established tourist destinations. He cited its successful service to Nuuk, Greenland, as an example of an unconventional route paying off.

However, this scenario is where the geography and economy of transcontinental flights...

Instagram has announced its 2026 Rings award winners, with Manchester City striker Erling Haaland joining a group of musicians, designers and digital creators recognised for their originality.

The winners, revealed on October 29, include an American food educator, an Indian football freestyler, a Mexican music trio and a Portuguese fashion influencer.

Instagram launched Rings in 2025 to recognise creators in entertainment, fashion, sport and other fields for their originality and cultural influence, rather than follower counts.

This year’s winners were selected by a 14-member judging panel that included Donatella Versace, A$AP Rocky, filmmaker Chloé Zhao

Uzbek grandmaster Javokhir Sindarov won the 2026 Clutch Chess: Champions Showdown in St. Louis, United States, earning $168,000 in prize money and bonuses just weeks before his World Chess Championship match.

The 20-year-old finished the three-day tournament on October 29 with 20.5 points, overtaking India’s Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa on the final day after entering the last round of matches 2.5 points behind the leader.

Praggnanandhaa finished second with 19 points, followed by Americans Fabiano Caruana with 16.5 and Hikaru Nakamura with 12.

Javokhir Sindarov plays incredible chess to take down Praggnanandhaa and take...

Israel’s Arab parties have won 19 parliamentary seats in the country’s most consequential elections over the past years. The all-time electoral record, which is almost double their current 10 seats, is enough to help Benjamin Netanyahu’s rivals replace him — but it comes with a giant asterisk. 

The completed count gives Netanyahu’s Likud 27 seats, with approximately 20.5% of valid votes, ahead of former military chief Gadi Eisenkot’s Yashar, which won 21 seats and 16.1%. The Arab-led Joint List secured 11 seats with 8.8%, while another Arab party, Ra’am, took eight with 5.9%, according to the published...

Finnish smartphone manufacturer HMD, the company behind Nokia-branded phones, has introduced an updated version of its Pulse Pro smartphone, offering a faster processor, smoother display and increased storage for approximately $150.

The device has appeared in a Thai retailer’s catalogue, with a listed price of 4,990 baht.

The biggest upgrade is the MediaTek Helio G99 processor, which replaces the Unisoc T606 used in the original model. The new chip is expected to deliver improved performance for everyday applications and mobile gaming.

HMD Pulse Pro (2nd Edition), spot in TH retailer – 120Hz display...

K-pop group Blackpink has become the first girl group to receive South Korea’s Okgwan Order of Cultural Merit, recognising its contribution to spreading Korean popular culture internationally.

The four-member group received the honour at the 17th Korea Popular Culture and Arts Awards, held at the National Theater of Korea in Seoul on October 29, according to YG Entertainment.

BLACKPINK makes HERSTORY today as the FIRST K-POP GROUP to receive the Okgwan (Jade Crown) Order of Cultural Merit, with all four members being honored at the 2026 Korea Popular Culture and Arts Awards...

British actor Patrick Stewart, who brought Captain Jean-Luc Picard to life in Star Trek: The Next Generation and portrayed Professor Charles Xavier in the X-Men franchise, has died at the age of 86, ending a career that spanned more than six decades across theatre, film and television.

Stewart became one of the most recognisable British actors in Hollywood, combining his Shakespearean training with leading roles in two of science fiction’s biggest franchises. His portrayal of Picard helped define modern Star Trek, while his performance as Professor X introduced him to another generation of viewers.

The actor...

Cryptocurrency exchange Binance has reported a major security breach affecting approximately $6.3bn in digital assets, prompting the company to suspend deposits and withdrawals while investigators trace unauthorised transactions.

According to Binance’s official statement, the attacker used the compromised device to access an internal service and submit unauthorised withdrawal transactions. The company said it had found no evidence that attackers had leaked the private keys used to access cryptocurrency wallets.

The exchange estimates the incident’s total impact at $6.3bn, although the final amount stolen has not been confirmed.

Read more: AI-discovered software...

Sacha Baron Cohen has expressed regret to the Kazakh people for the infamous Borat, admitting that the character he created — a fictional journalist — does not reflect the essence of Kazakhstan or its people. The character’s nationality would shift depending on the sponsoring broadcaster, he added.

«I want to apologise to the people of Kazakhstan,» Cohen said during his Happy Sad Confused interview with American entertainment journalist and podcaster Josh Horowitz, describing it as his first apology. The episode was released on 26 October.

Cohen mixed the apology with a joke...

JYP Entertainment, the South Korean agency behind K-pop group Stray Kids and TWICE, has denied receiving a valid takeover proposal from Japanese investment group Nexroc, which announced plans to acquire up to 50% of the company.

The dispute escalated on October 29 after Nexroc claimed it had notified JYP about its acquisition plans before making them public. However, the agency said it automatically blocked the email as spam and that it had never formally reviewed a proposal.

Read more: TWICE’s Jihyo leaves JYP after 21 years, launches own agency

South...

American actress Barbara Barrie built a six-decade career across Hollywood, Broadway and television, earning an Oscar nomination for Breaking Away, a Tony nomination for Stephen Sondheim’s Company and recognition for her role in the sitcom Barney Miller.

Born in Chicago in 1931, Barrie became known for portraying complex, often unconventional women. Her work ranged from the 1964 interracial marriage drama One Potato, Two Potato, which won her the Best Actress award at Cannes, to popular television comedies and Broadway productions.

Barrie died on October 28 at the age of 95 at her Manhattan home. Her daughter...

Apple could capture nearly 30% of the global foldable smartphone market in 2027, putting its first foldable iPhone within reach of market leader Samsung, according to a new forecast by research firm TrendForce.

The company’s iPhone Duo, which went on sale on 23 October, has attracted strong initial demand, with delivery estimates for some orders extending into January 2027.

In its 28 October report, TrendForce projected that Apple would account for 29.8% of global foldable smartphone shipments next year, compared with Samsung’s expected 31.9% share. Huawei is forecast to rank third with 21.3%.

Apple is also...

The 19-year-old Tajik racer has become the first driver from Central Asia to test a Formula 3.5 car, according to his account, setting multiple records during his debut in China. Kursiv Uzbekistan tells what it’s like to get behind the wheel of a racing car no one in the region has driven before.

Bezhan Abdulloev made his Formula 3.5 testing debut on 24 October at Zhuhai International Circuit in China. Driving a former Red Bull Racing car operated by Champ Motorsport, he recorded a fastest lap of 1:29.947 and finished the day more than 6.5 seconds ahead of the...

Ali G has grown older without growing wiser. In Ali G: Who Iz I?, Sacha Baron Cohen plays a tracksuit-clad wannabe rapper who heads to America to revive his career while his pregnant girlfriend prepares for their baby. His recent return on Prime Video revives a disturbing question: who are the viewers laughing at? 

Ali G’s original gag was to get important people to answer stupid questions. The fictional Staines-based interviewer first showed up on British television in 1998, accosting politicians and experts who had no idea they were being pranked. 

Much of the comedy came...

Global coffee prices are expected to decline through 2028 as production reaches record levels, according to the World Bank‘s October 2026 Commodity Markets Outlook.

The bank forecasts Arabica prices will fall by 13% in 2026, followed by declines of 2% in 2027 and 3% in 2028. Robusta prices are expected to decline by 21% this year before stabilising over the next two years.

Global coffee production is projected to reach a record 190 million 60-kilogram bags in the 2026–2027 growing season, up 6% from the previous season.

Read more: USDA: Uzbekistan...

Players will be able to explore much of the GTA 6 open world relatively early in the game, without having to complete lengthy story missions to unlock new areas, Rockstar Games has confirmed.

The upcoming title will allow players to travel freely across Leonida, the fictional US state inspired by Florida, with more buildings to enter and activities to discover than in previous instalments.

Rockstar says GTA 6’s map is so massive that players won’t fully experience it through the main story 🎮 “We don’t have time to take you everywhere" (via @gameinformer) https://t.co/Ksezm7kZ7F

— Culture Crave...

At least seven people have died and hundreds of homes have been damaged or destroyed after Cyclone Arnab struck India’s southeastern coast, bringing powerful winds, torrential rain and widespread flooding.

The storm hit Andhra Pradesh on October 28, with winds reaching 135 kilometres per hour and gusts of up to 150 kilometres per hour, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

Seven deaths have been reported across the state’s coastal districts, although authorities have not yet established a final toll. Earlier, India’s National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) confirmed...

Air monitoring stations in the Uzbek capital have registered 193 on the US AQI scale as of 11am on 29 October, putting it in the unhealthy category for everyone. Here’s what the readings mean for your commute, your children’s outdoor play and your morning workout.

Tashkent has been ranked as one of the top five most polluted cities in the world, trailing only Lahore, Pakistan, Delhi, India, and Cairo, Egypt. Guidance for the current pollution category suggests limiting prolonged or strenuous outdoor activity. 

Air...

Nepal has advised tourists to stop high-altitude trekking between 29 and 31 October because of heavy rain, snowstorms and possible avalanches. Travellers who are already in potentially dangerous areas have been asked to remain in safe locations until the situation improves.

The Trekking Agencies’ Association of Nepal has urged particular caution around the Thorong La, Larkya La, Kang La and Cho La passes. Higher and more exposed routes in the Everest, Manaslu, Langtang, Makalu and Kanchenjunga regions also require extra caution.

The weather alert identifies the Koshi, Madhesh, Bagmati, Gandaki and Lumbini provinces. Rain, thunderstorms and strong winds could also...

Apple‘s first touchscreen MacBook Pro has drawn mixed reactions from technology reviewers, who praised its OLED display and lighter design but questioned whether the upgrades justify its $400 price premium.

Unveiled on 28 October, the new MacBook Pro with ProLED XDR display starts at $2,899 for the 14-inch model and $3,399 for the 16-inch version. Both retain the M5 Pro and M5 Max processors already available in Apple’s standard MacBook Pro lineup.

Tech reviewers Marques Brownlee, known as MKBHD, and AppleInsider raised several concerns after examining the laptops, particularly regarding the usefulness...

Lando Norris‘ racing team, LN4 Fusion, will make its Formula 2 debut in 2027, less than two months after the Formula 1 world champion launched the project.

Formula 2 confirmed the team’s entry on October 28 as part of its selection process for the 2027–2029 seasons. LN4 Fusion will take the place of AIX Racing, leaving the championship with 11 teams and 22 drivers.

11 teams have been selected to compete in the 2027–2029 FIA Formula 2 seasons! 10 teams return for the next three-year cycle, with newcomers LN4 Fusion completing the line-up...

Iran has said that last week’s online swipe at the US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, which triggered a diplomatic pushback from Tashkent, was aimed at Washington alone and did not in any way contest Samarkand’s Uzbek heritage.

«Some of our colleagues at our embassies published their posts as messages addressed to the US side,» Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said at a press conference earlier on Wednesday.

The diplomat stopped short of offering a public apology, reiterating instead that Tehran «valued our relations with Uzbekistan.»

«We are confident that our shared heritage, found in...

At least 10 people have died, and several others were injured, after two high-speed passenger trains collided near Toledo in central Spain on Wednesday, 28 October, forcing authorities to suspend rail services between Madrid and the southern region of Andalusia.

The collision occurred shortly after 9 a.m. local time between Los Yébenes and Urda, about 100 kilometres south of Madrid. A Renfe AVE train travelling from Madrid to Seville struck the rear of a stationary Iryo train, according to the Spanish broadcaster Cadena SER.

🇪🇸 Horrifying footage from inside a high-speed train that...