News

After days of speculation, it is now official: Electronic Arts (EA) has been acquired in a $55 bn deal by a consortium led by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), along with Silver Lake and Affinity Partners.

Founded in 1982, EA is one of the gaming industry’s largest publishers, known for blockbuster franchises like FIFA/FC, Madden NFL, and The Sims. The acquisition marks one of the biggest buyouts in gaming history.

EA CEO Andrew Wilson praised the move as recognition of the company’s legacy, promising to «push the boundaries of entertainment, sports, and technology.» Investors responded swiftly, with EA’s...

The number of cryptocurrency millionaires worldwide has soared to 241,700, according to the Crypto Wealth Report 2025 by Henley & Partners, marking a 40% increase in just one year.

The surge is driven by a sharp rise in Bitcoin millionaires, now at 145,100, up 70% year-on-year, alongside a total crypto market valuation of USD 3.3 trillion as of June 2025, a 45% jump from 2024.

At the very top of the crypto wealth pyramid, 450 centi-millionaires hold portfolios exceeding USD 100 mln, while the number of crypto billionaires has climbed to 36.

Analysts link the boom to accelerating...

A private dining room run by a Michelin-starred chef, a spa designed exclusively for your pets, or a lift that takes both you and your supercar straight to your penthouse suite. These are not scenes from a futuristic film, but real offerings in the booming world of branded residences — homes conceived and curated by the world’s biggest luxury labels.

For those who want their lifestyle to reflect the same prestige as their wardrobe, fashion houses, carmakers, jewellers, and even entertainment giants are entering the market. Residences by Porsche, Dolce & Gabbana and Disney are joining the ranks of traditional...

The 5th edition of Uzbek Arbitration Week (UzAW) opened in Tashkent with a message that resonated well beyond Central Asia: Uzbekistan is serious about becoming a global hub for international dispute resolution. The event brought together practitioners, in-house counsel, academics and policymakers from across the region and further afield, signalling the country’s growing integration into the international arbitration community.

Abdel Wahab’s call for reform and vision

The keynote was delivered by Mohamed Abdel Wahab, chair of the international commercial and investment arbitration group at Zulficar & Partners and Chair of the ICC Governing Body for Dispute Resolution Services...

Uzbekistan is making its debut at the prestigious Miss Earth 2025 pageant, and leading the charge is none other than Shaxrizada Madaminova — a rising star in the world of modeling and beauty contests. The 21-year-old Ferghana native, who won the Miss Asia 2024 title in Lebanon, is set to represent her country on the global stage at the Silver Anniversary Edition of Miss Earth, held on November 5 at Okada Manila in the Philippines.

From Ferghana to the World

Born in 2004, Shaxrizada began her modeling journey in 2020 and quickly rose to prominence through international competitions...

Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has announced it will partially restart manufacturing in the coming days, nearly a month after production was halted by a major cyberattack.

The luxury carmaker suspended operations on 31 August, disrupting assembly lines at its plants in Solihull and Halewood, and forcing thousands of staff and suppliers into temporary standstill. The attack also froze payments across the supply chain, affecting hundreds of small firms reliant on JLR contracts.

The news follows a government move to back a £1.5 bn loan guarantee for the automaker, amid warnings from MPs that some suppliers had only «a week...

Former MI5 director general Baroness Eliza Manningham-Buller has warned that Britain may already be engaged in a form of war with Russia, pointing to cyberattacks, espionage and covert operations on UK soil.

Speaking on the Lord Speaker’s Corner podcast, Manningham-Buller said she agreed with the assessment of Fiona Hill, a former adviser to U.S. president Donald Trump, who has argued that Britain is effectively at war with Moscow.

«Fiona Hill may be right in saying we’re already at war with Russia,» Manningham-Buller said. «It’s a different sort of war, but the hostility, the cyberattacks, the...

Sony’s PlayStation 5 has received another temporary price cut in the UK, dropping to around £330, a level some players call «an amazing deal» and potentially the cheapest effective entry point for a PlayStation console when adjusted for inflation. Despite a gloomy narrative around this generation, readers point to a packed release slate, citing Silent Hill f and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, as proof there’s plenty to play without the cost or hassle of a gaming PC.

On the Nintendo side, the Switch 2 continues to puzzle fans. Beyond well-aired launch hardware complaints, readers are surprised by the lack...

Manny Machado homered and Jackson Merrill drove in three runs as the San Diego Padres completed their regular season with a commanding 12-4 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks on September 28, fine-tuning ahead of the National League playoffs.

J.P. Sears (9-11) threw 5 2/3 innings for the win, reaching a season-high 113 pitches. He allowed two runs on seven hits and three walks while striking out four. The victory sealed back-to-back 90-win seasons for San Diego (90-72) for the first time in club history.

Arizona’s Brandon Pfaadt (13-9) was hit hard, surrendering eight runs – seven earned – on...

Uzbekistan’s Cabinet of Ministers has approved a national Save Food programme aimed at reducing food disposal and cutting waste, Lex.uz reports.

Under the new rules, goods approaching their expiry dates will be placed on special shelves near shop entrances. Their prices will gradually fall every ten days until the final sale date. The Tax Committee and Ministry of Health will monitor compliance.

From January 1, 2026, catering establishments will also be required to install grease traps, air filters and odour catchers when cooking on open flames. These requirements will be included in urban planning regulations and become conditions for...

From January to August 2025 Uzbekistan hosted 7.4 mln visitors, according to data from the National Statistics Agency. This figure is 2.4 mln higher than during the same period in 2024, marking a 49.1% increase.

Neighbouring states accounted for the bulk of arrivals. Kyrgyzstan led with 2.1 mln travellers, followed by Kazakhstan with 1.7 mln and Tajikistan with 1.6 mln. Beyond Central Asia, Uzbekistan welcomed 663,000 visitors from Russia, 304,000 from Afghanistan, 243,000 from Turkmenistan, 135,000 from China and 113,000 from Turkey.

The most common reason for travel was family visits, with 5.1 mln people arriving to see relatives...

ITV’s I’m a Celebrity is stirring up an ‘influencer war’ after reports that a well-known social media personality has signed up for the next series.

The long-running show, hosted by Ant and Dec, is finalising its cast of campmates, with early speculation pointing to a mix of soap actors and a breakfast TV favourite.

Angry Ginge Heads Into the Jungle

According to The Express, YouTube and TikTok creator Angry Ginge — real name Morgan Burtwhistle — is expected to head into the Australian jungle. The 23-year-old began posting online in 2021 and has since built a large following.

Pop sensation Selena Gomez and music producer Benny Blanco are officially husband and wife. The couple exchanged vows on September 27 in a dreamy, intimate ceremony held at a private estate in Santa Barbara, California, surrounded by close friends, family, and a constellation of celebrity guests.

A Fairytale Wedding

Gomez, 33, stunned in a custom Ralph Lauren halterneck lace gown with a dramatic open back, while Blanco, 37, looked dashing in a classic black tuxedo. The bride later changed into a second dress for the reception, and her bridal jewelry featuring platinum and diamond pieces from Tiffany...

Moldova’s pro-European ruling party secured a commanding victory over its Russia-leaning opponent in a parliamentary election seen as pivotal for the country’s future, Reuters reports. The result, announced on September 29, strengthens Chisinau’s push to join the European Union and distance itself from Moscow.

President Maia Sandu’s Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS) won 50.1% of the vote, according to near-final results from the electoral commission. Its main rival, the Patriotic Bloc, trailed with 24.2%. Polls had predicted a close contest, but the outcome spares the country from coalition bargaining and provides a mandate to pursue EU membership by...

From January to August this year, about 58,500 new companies were registered in Uzbekistan, according to figures from the National Statistics Agency. The figure is 1.1% higher than in the same period last year.

Tashkent recorded the largest number of new enterprises, with nearly 12,800 companies established in the capital. The Tashkent region ranked second with 5,800 firms, followed by Khorezm region where more than 5,200 businesses were set up.

The lowest number was registered in Syrdarya region, where fewer than 1,500 new companies were created.

Kursiv also reports that as of September 1, 2025, Uzbekistan had nearly...

The plane carrying the Real Madrid football team landed at Almaty airport, Kazinform reports.

Fans gathered at the terminal, forming a live corridor to greet the squad.

According to the Telegram channel NEHabar, a large crowd also gathered outside the Intercontinental Hotel.

Yet supporters’ hopes of seeing their heroes up close were dashed, as the players did not come out to meet them and went directly to the hotel.

Football fans who tried to rush towards the team were stopped by police officers.

Photographs of the arriving squad later appeared on X.

The club’s official account shared a video...

Afghanistan’s Taliban authorities released a United States national on September 28, following a visit by Washington’s hostage envoy Adam Boehler, the US government confirmed.

The detainee, identified as Amir Amiri, had been held since December 2024. His release was brokered by Qatar and he was en route to Doha on Sunday evening.

Boehler’s visit came a week after US President Donald Trump demanded that the Taliban return control of Bagram air base to American forces, warning that «bad things» would happen to Afghanistan if it refused.

Fifth Release This Year

Amiri is the fifth US citizen freed by...

YouTube megastar MrBeast (Jimmy Donaldson) has once again ignited the internet, this time quite literally, with his latest viral video titled “Would You Risk Dying For $500,000?”. The stunt, which features a contestant navigating a house engulfed in flames to win a half-million-dollar prize, has drawn both awe and outrage across social media platforms.

In the video, the contestant faces a series of fiery obstacles, including cannon stunts, rings of fire, and explosive traps, all while attempting to grab as much cash as possible before escaping the inferno. The challenge is billed as «the craziest we’ve ever filmed».

However...

A former US Marine rammed a pickup truck into a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints building in Michigan, opened fire on worshippers and set the church ablaze during a packed Sunday service before being shot dead by police.

The attack left at least four people dead and eight others wounded. Authorities were combing through the burned ruins of the Grand Blanc Township church, near Flint, for more victims after two bodies were discovered in the debris.

A Coordinated and Violent Assault

Police Chief William Renye said the assault began around 10:25 a.m. when the man crashed...

Thousands gathered in Tel Aviv on September 27 demanding a deal to end the war in Gaza, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu prepares for talks with US President Donald Trump in Washington. Demonstrators rallied at Hostage Square, holding banners urging the government to secure the release of captives still held in the enclave.

The call for an agreement came amid another wave of Israeli strikes that killed at least 92 people across Gaza, according to local authorities. In Tel Aviv, relatives of hostages said time was running out.

«The only thing that can stop...

King Charles has reportedly decided that Prince Andrew and his former wife, Sarah Ferguson, will not be invited to the Royal Family’s Christmas celebrations this year. The decision follows renewed scrutiny over their ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Media reports claim the King wishes to keep the Duke and Duchess of York at a distance after revelations that Ferguson privately apologized to Epstein for disowning him in public. Insiders also suggest the couple has been asked to remain «invisible» at future royal gatherings to avoid further embarrassment for the monarchy.

Andrew and Ferguson, who divorced in...

The UK’s National Health Service (NHS) has advised patients to be cautious when using omeprazole, a medicine widely prescribed for heartburn, acid reflux, and indigestion. The warning highlights the potential risks linked to extended use without medical supervision.

Omeprazole belongs to a group of drugs known as proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), which reduce the production of stomach acid by blocking enzymes in the stomach lining. These medicines are commonly prescribed to treat conditions such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), stomach ulcers, and Helicobacter pylori infections, often in combination with antibiotics.

According to NHS data, more than 73 mln prescriptions...

Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation has confirmed an additional admission round for master’s programs in the 2025/2026 academic year. The decision aims to expand opportunities for applicants who did not secure a place during the main admission process.

The number of available seats will be determined by each university, taking into account its resources, teaching staff, and technical capacity. Final parameters for the intake will be coordinated with the ministry.

Applicants can submit their documents directly to the admissions office or to the graduate department of their chosen institution.

Tuition fees for students accepted through this...

A long-haul Singapore Airlines service from Frankfurt to Singapore was diverted back to its departure point after the crew detected a technical fault during flight. The incident took place on September 25.

Flight SQ325 had been in the air for nearly four hours when the Airbus A380, flying at 31,000 feet over Azerbaijan, initiated a return to Germany. It landed safely at Frankfurt at 6:51 a.m. local time on September 26, following almost nine hours of flying time.

The airline confirmed that all passengers disembarked without incident. The flight was cancelled, with travelers receiving hotel accommodation, meal vouchers, and...