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Sanrio ends spy drama deal after Chinese backlash over torture scene
- Sanrio ends its *Vivant* tie-up after criticism in China.
- The row centres on a scene depicting torture by Chinese agents.
- China brought Sanrio 781 million yuan in first-half revenue.
New reporting adds that the backlash against Sanrio follows Chinese brands dropping footballer Kylian Mbappé over a joking remark about Mao Zedong. Sanrio has apologised and ended its commercial association with the Japanese spy drama *Vivant*, after Chinese state media and social media users condemned its portrayal of…
British woman dies attempting to rescue granddaughter from rough Menorca sea
- A British grandmother drowned trying to rescue her granddaughter in Menorca.
- Strong northern winds and currents swept the girl towards rocks.
- The beach’s lifeguard service had ended earlier in October.
A 70-year-old British woman drowned at Cavalleria Beach in Menorca while trying to rescue her 10-year-old granddaughter, who had been swept towards rocks in strong currents. The incident happened on the family’s last day of holiday and highlights the danger of entering the sea in rough conditions. The…
Mondelēz takes vegan chocolate maker to court over O’bar design
- Mondelēz is suing Catherine’s Originals over the O’bar’s shape.
- The vegan chocolatier says its design has its own identity.
- The case follows an earlier Toblerone dispute with Poundland.
Toblerone owner Mondelēz has sued British vegan chocolate maker Catherine’s Originals in London’s High Court, alleging that its O’bar copies Toblerone’s distinctive shape and infringes its trademarks. The case matters because it tests how far a company can protect a well-known product design when a smaller rival says…
Alaska senator accuses rival of using namesakes to confuse voters
- Sullivan says a same-name candidate could confuse Alaska voters.
- Peltola’s campaign and the DSCC deny the allegations.
- Federal prosecutors are investigating how the second candidate got on the ballot.
Republican Senator Dan Sullivan accused Democratic challenger Mary Peltola’s campaign of running a “secret scheme” to confuse Alaska voters by recruiting candidates who share his name. The dispute has become a flashpoint in the Senate race, with Sullivan and President Donald Trump alleging election fraud, while Peltola’s campaign…
Labour MPs press leadership to let Fahnbulleh decide Rosebank’s fate
- Labour MPs want Fahnbulleh to decide Rosebank’s fate without ministerial interference.
- Approval could conflict with Labour’s environmental commitments, MPs argue.
- Rosebank’s forecast tax revenues are about £500m by the end of this parliament.
Labour backbenchers are urging the party leadership not to intervene if Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh decides to refuse environmental permission for the Rosebank oilfield. They say approval could undermine Labour’s environmental commitments and have raised concerns about pressure from senior ministers, including Chancellor John Healey. Fahnbulleh’s aides say…
Hollywood Sign neighbours seek action over tourist traffic and fire risks
- About 100 residents have complained to the city over tourist crowds.
- They fear blocked roads could hinder wildfire evacuations and emergency response.
- They seek city action, not financial compensation.
Residents near the Hollywood Sign have filed a legal complaint against Los Angeles, Mayor Karen Bass and Councilmember Nithya Raman, saying crowds of tourists create fire and safety risks. They argue that traffic on the area’s narrow roads could trap residents and obstruct emergency crews during a wildfire.…
No Man’s Sky Unveils Forsaken Update, Here Are The Full Patch Notes
- Update 7.10 adds the spooky Forsaken theme.
- Mementos can be traded for new gear and ship parts.
- Seamless warping and a minimal HUD expand player options.
Hello Games has announced No Man’s Sky update 7.10, titled “Forsaken”, adding a spooky trading and exploration theme alongside new features and quality-of-life changes. The update gives players more ways to customise ships and multi-tools, take on missions, and travel between star systems, while offering a reduced HUD…
Google’s Gemini 4 Carbon looks like a diamond in the rough
- Google has launched its stronger Gemini 4 Carbon model.
- Introductory prices match Argon before doubling.
- Selected cybersecurity defenders will get access this week.
Google has announced Gemini 4 Carbon, a stronger version of its Argon model, just two weeks after Argon’s launch. Google says Carbon is particularly capable at cybersecurity and long-running tasks, and its early benchmark results strengthen the company’s position against Anthropic and OpenAI. Carbon initially costs $2 per…
Photographer prosecuted after attempting to take home road-killed deer
- A roadside deer carcass led to a prosecution.
- Guy Carpenter was charged under the Deer Act 1991.
- The case raises questions about how the law is applied.
Photographer Guy Carpenter was prosecuted after trying to take home a deer killed by a vehicle on the roadside near Barnard Castle. The case highlights how a law intended to prevent deer poaching can also apply to someone who did not kill the animal and believed the landowner…
Rubin Observatory data reveal large candidate for sixth dwarf planet
- Rubin Observatory data revealed a strong dwarf-planet candidate.
- 2026 ED138 orbits about 46 astronomical units from the Sun.
- It may be 600 to 1,500 kilometres wide.
A scientist analysing pre-operation data from the Rubin Observatory has identified 2026 ED138, a strong candidate for the Solar System’s sixth known dwarf planet. The discovery matters because the distant object may be unusually large and could be the smallest dwarf planet yet observed. The object orbits about…
Josh Hogan and Ned Beckley Dominate 2026 Screen Music Awards
- Josh Hogan and Ned Beckley won all four of their nominated awards.
- Their work on *Tales from Outer Suburbia* earned four honours.
- Speakers raised concerns about AI training and copyright reform.
Josh Hogan and Ned Beckley won all four categories they were nominated for at the 2026 Screen Music Awards in Brisbane, recognising their work on the ABC children’s series *Tales from Outer Suburbia*. Their success came as the Australian screen music community used the ceremony to highlight concerns…
Madame Blanc investigates a mayor’s murder in first Christmas special
- *Madame Blanc* opens the year’s Christmas specials.
- Martin Lewis discusses the Budget on ITV1.
- Manchester City face Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League.
The article previews Thursday evening’s television, led by the first Christmas special of the year: a festive episode of the cosy crime drama *Madame Blanc*. Its detective, Jean, is drawn into investigating the mayor’s murder on Christmas Eve, disrupting her wedding plans. Other programmes include Martin Lewis discussing…
How did a fishmonger who starred in an adult movie make Rocky? The film about Sylvester Stallone’s amazing triumph
- Stallone wrote and starred in *Rocky* despite financial and career struggles.
- Anthony Ippolito pursued the role of Stallone for years.
- *I Play Rocky* revisits the film’s unlikely creation.
The article recounts how Sylvester Stallone’s struggles shaped the making of *Rocky*, and introduces *I Play Rocky*, a film about that process. Actor Anthony Ippolito, who plays Stallone, pursued the role for years with unsolicited audition tapes and is now being tipped as an Oscar contender. Stallone wrote…
‘The Lowdown’s Martha Plimpton Reveals What To Expect From Her Sheriff in Season 2
- Martha Plimpton joins Season 2 as Sheriff Vela Thorne.
- A raw milk encounter puts Lee Raybon on her radar.
- Plimpton shaped Vela’s look to reflect her political status.
In Season 2, Episode 4 of *The Lowdown*, Martha Plimpton makes her debut as Sheriff Vela Thorne, a local political figure linked to the corruption journalist Lee Raybon is investigating. Their encounter at a hog contest, involving raw milk, puts Lee on the sheriff’s radar and introduces a…
‘Merry Berry Love’ Producers Nippon TV & CJ ENM Talk Korea-Japan Collaboration To Boost J-Drama – TIFFCOM
- Nippon TV and CJ ENM joined forces on *Merry Berry Love*.
- Disney+ reported strong early viewing for the series.
- The companies plan to pursue further joint productions.
Nippon TV and CJ ENM are using their first drama partnership, *Merry Berry Love*, to show how Japanese and Korean production expertise can combine to reach international audiences. The series’ early Disney+ performance has added momentum to a wider trend of cross-border drama collaborations. The ten-part romance stars…
▶Budget brings pensioner help and tax rises as Israel election remains deadlocked
Healey’s first Budget offers some relief for households while taxing banks, betting shops and some savers. Israel’s election remains unresolved, Apple has unveiled a touchscreen MacBook Pro, and the games ratings board is getting a new president.
15 Years Later, the Most Near-Perfect Fast and Furious Movie Is Getting From Netflix
- *Fast Five* leaves Netflix on 1 November.
- The 2011 film shifted the franchise towards a Rio heist.
- Its vault-dragging car chase remains a defining set piece.
Netflix will remove *Fast Five* from its catalogue on 1 November, giving viewers a short window to revisit the 2011 film. The article argues that it remains the strongest *Fast & Furious* instalment because it shifted the series from street racing to a heist while keeping its central…
‘South Park’ Parodies ‘GTA VI’ Hype With Dog Poop Gameplay
- South Park satirises GTA VI hype with dog-poo gameplay.
- The game is due out on 19 November.
- The episode also references the US midterm elections.
South Park has mocked excitement for Grand Theft Auto VI with a scene in which a character attacks a non-player character using dog poo. The episode presents the feature as an example of the game’s supposedly advanced graphics and world-building, poking fun at the anticipation surrounding its release.…
Forget ‘Sicario,’ Taylor Sheridan’s Western Is a Masterpiece From Start to Finish
- *Hell or High Water* is argued to be Sheridan’s finest film.
- Two brothers rob the bank threatening their family ranch.
- Jeff Bridges’s Texas Ranger brings personal stakes to the chase.
Taylor Sheridan’s 2016 film *Hell or High Water* is presented as a stronger showcase of his writing than *Sicario*, the hit that first brought him wider attention. Its portrait of two brothers driven to rob banks to save their family ranch combines crime suspense with questions about economic…
Pentagon removes senior planner as Trump weighs post-midterm Iran strikes
- Hegseth removed the Joint Chiefs’ top military planner.
- No successor has been named.
- Trump is weighing possible strikes on Iran after the midterms.
Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has removed Army Lt Gen Brett Sylvia from his role leading strategy, plans and policy on the Joint Chiefs of Staff, leaving the Pentagon’s top military planning post without a named successor. The departure comes as President Donald Trump considers renewed strikes on Iran…