Arsenal have agreed a deal worth up to £67.5m for Eberechi Eze and look poised to sensationally hijack Tottenham’s move for the England forward.
It is understood that Mikel Arteta’s side made an approach to Crystal Palace over Eze after Kai Havertz sustained a knee injury during Arsenal’s win against Manchester United on Sunday. Arsenal are continuing to assess the injury but fear that the German forward could be absent for an extended period, even if the early indications are that it is not extremely serious.
But the uncertainty prompted Arsenal to accelerate their interest in Eze, with sources indicating that they have remained in constant contact with the 27‑year‑old’s representatives all summer.
Tottenham had looked in pole position to sign him after stepping up their interest over the weekend and are believed to have agreed a deal worth close to his release clause of £68m, which expired last week.
Yet with Arteta keen to add to his attacking reinforcements as they attempt to become champions for the first time since 2004, it is understood that the sporting director, Andrea Berta, and vice-chairman, Tim Lewis, contacted Palace on Wednesday to gazump their north London rivals.
Eze, who has made no secret of his desire to test himself at the highest level by playing for a club in the Champions League, has indicated he would prefer to join the club that released him at the age of 13 rather than their north London rivals.
Arsenal are believed to have agreed a deal with the Palace chair, Steve Parish, in which they will pay a large chunk of the initial £60m fee up front, with another £7.5m in bonuses. QPR, from whom Palace signed him in 2020 for £19.5m, are due a 15% sell-on fee of any profit they make. Personal terms are not expected to be an issue.
It is understood that Eze will play for Palace in the first leg of Crystal Palace’s Conference League playoff on Thursday and have an opportunity to bid farewell to the supporters after scoring the winning goal in the FA Cup final in May. He is then expected to complete his medical and become Arsenal’s seventh summer signing.
Kai Havertz sustained a knee injury during Arsenal’s win against Manchester United on Sunday. Photograph: Conor Molloy/ProSports/Shutterstock
Oliver Glasner, the Palace manager, praised Eze’s attitude as speculation has mounted over his future, with doubts over whether he would feature against Chelsea in their opening Premier League game when he had a free‑kick disallowed by the video assistant referee. “I’m still disappointed that this goal was disallowed and he will show a great performance tomorrow,” Glasner said.
Havertz, who played 31 minutes as a substitute at Old Trafford on Sunday, did not take part in an open training session at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday morning. His absence would leave Arteta with the new signing Viktor Gyökeres as the only available recognised striker in his squad, with Gabriel Jesus not expected to return from a knee injury in the near future. Mikel Merino filled in when Havertz missed 18 matches last season after sustaining a hamstring injury in February, and the Spain midfielder scored seven goals from then until May. Arteta expressed his desire that Havertz could play alongside Gyökeres in pre-season.
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“Kai can play in different positions, as well,” he said. “I think it elevates the quality in the squad, the goal threat that we have in the team, the options that we have to change and provide oppositions with a lot of problems.”
Arsenal have already spent almost £200m this summer and are still hoping to move on a number of fringe players before the end of the transfer window. Jakub Kiwior and Oleksandr Zinchenko both have interest from Porto, with Italian clubs having also been linked to the Poland defender.
Kiwior is understood to prefer to move overseas despite interest from other Premier League clubs after he deputised for the injured Gabriel Magalhães last season. Arsenal are in talks with Stuttgart over a move for Fábio Vieira, while Reiss Nelson could rejoin Fulham after spending last season on loan in west London. Eze’s potential arrival could also mean they step up attempts to sell Leandro Trossard.
Is life on Saturn’s moon Enceladus, Jupiter’s moon Europa, Mars possible? A recent study has revealed that cosmic rays may help life on the aforementioned places. A team of researchers led by Dimitra Atri from New York University Abu Dhabi has introduced a groundbreaking concept known as the “radiolytic habitable zone.” Unlike the traditional habitable zone that depends on starlight and surface temperatures, this new framework focuses on regions beneath the surface of celestial bodies where cosmic rays can generate enough energy to potentially support life. The findings were published in the International Journal of Astrobiology.
The study explores how cosmic radiation could drive chemical reactions that release energy underground, creating conditions favorable for microbial life. By calculating the potential for life at different depths, the team has expanded the search for habitability to locations previously overlooked, such as subsurface environments on Mars, Jupiter’s moon Europa, and Saturn’s moon Enceladus. This new approach broadens the scope of astrobiological research and opens up exciting possibilities for discovering life beyond Earth.
Building on their recent theoretical work, Dimitra Atri and his research team are preparing to test their “radiolytic habitable zone” hypothesis in the lab. Using a planetary simulation chamber capable of mimicking the extreme conditions of alien environments—adjusting temperature, pressure, and atmospheric composition—they aim to determine whether cosmic rays could truly generate enough energy to sustain microbial life beneath the surface of planets and moons. If the lab results support their theory, it could guide future missions in the search for extraterrestrial life on Mars, Europa, and Enceladus. Atri’s calculations suggest that the most promising location for microbial life on Mars lies between one and two meters underground. Conveniently, this is within the drilling range of the European Space Agency’s Rosalind Franklin ExoMars rover, scheduled to launch no earlier than 2028. Equipped with a drill capable of reaching two meters deep, the rover may be perfectly positioned to explore these subsurface zones and test the radiolytic life theory in the field.
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Q1. What is Saturn’s moon? A1. Saturn’s moon is Enceladus.Q2. What is Jupiter’s moon? A2. Jupiter’s moon is Europa.
Royal fans react to Prince William’s true feelings about Meghan Markle
Royal fans have expressed their views over reports Prince William’s mistrust of Meghan Markle is derailing peace with Prince Harry.
Royal expert Ingrid Seward told Fox News Digital, per the New York Post, that Prince William has “taken a firm stance” in keeping his distance amid Meghan and Harry’s tell-alls in recent years.
Commenting on the New York Post report, one royal fan said, “Meghan isn’t the only problem, Harry has made quite a mess of his relationships with his family by constantly taking jabs at them publicly, advising the world of private conversations in his book and in interviews. To make it seem like mistrust in her is the only reason holding anyone in the royal family from reconciliation is ridiculous.”
Another said, “William is completely correct to mistrust her!!! Harry is a mess with that woman. He literally lost his mind since she came into his life.”
The third said, “It’s not just her, Harry has betrayed his family big time!”
“William is 100% correct. She is poison and neither she nor Harry can be trusted at all not to divulge every detail. He can’t feel guilty. It’s Harry’s doing. Goodbye,” the fourth reacted.
Australia’s teenage batting sensation Sam Konstas has voiced his excitement about joining forces with Pakistan’s Shadab Khan in the upcoming Big Bash League (BBL) season, describing the all-rounder’s arrival as a game-changer for the Sydney Thunder.
Konstas, who has just inked a new four-year deal with the Sydney Thunder, said the squad is shaping up to be one of the most balanced in the tournament, and that Shadab Khan may be the missing ingredient to get them over the line this year. “With Shadab Khan in the side, I feel we can put on some outstanding performances this year,” the 19-year-old said, outlining his ambition to step up as a consistent match-winner.
The Pakistani all-rounder was selected 12th overall by the Thunder in this year’s BBL draft. While he has plenty of experience in the Australian league after stints with the Sydney Sixers, Hobart Hurricanes, and Brisbane Heat, this will be his first time taking the field for the Thunder since the 2022/23 season.
Shadab is currently undergoing rehab following shoulder surgery but is expected to be fit enough to take part in the competition, which will serve as a crucial testing ground ahead of next year’s T20 World Cup.
Konstas, meanwhile, made headlines last year when he smashed the fastest fifty in the Thunder’s history on debut. In just five BBL outings, the youngster has already showcased glimpses of star potential.
With Shadab’s experience and Konstas’ youthful energy, the Thunder are aiming to build a side that blends flair with stability—one that can challenge for top honours in the new season.
The ITA reports that a sample collected during an in-competition testing mission on 22 June 2025 from Nihad Fozail Oglu Nihad, a mixed martial arts athlete from Azerbaijan, has returned an AAF¹ for the prohibited substance meldonium.
Meldonium is prohibited under the 2025 WADA Prohibited List as S4. Hormone and Metabolic Modulators. It is also prohibited at all times (in- and out-of-competition) and classified as a non-specified substance. Meldonium may enhance sports performance by improving endurance and recovery through increased oxygen uptake and energy metabolism.
The athlete has been informed of the case and has the right to request the analysis of the B-sample.
If the B-sample analysis is requested and confirms the result of the A-sample, the case will be considered as a confirmed anti-doping rule violation. If the B-sample analysis is not requested, the case will also go ahead as a confirmed anti-doping rule violation. The athlete will have the opportunity to present his explanations for the result.
Further, in accordance with the World Anti-Doping Code and Article 7.4.1 of the GAMMA Anti-Doping Rules, a mandatory provisional suspension has been imposed on the athlete. The athlete has the right to challenge the provisional suspension and ask for its lifting.
Pursuant to the GAMMA’s delegation of its anti-doping program to the ITA, the prosecution of the case is being handled entirely by the ITA. Given that the case is underway, there will be no further comments made.
A new United Arab Emirates-based startup is offering up to $20 million for hacking tools that could help governments break into any smartphone with a text message.
Advanced Security Solutions launched this month and is now offering some of the highest prices, at least public ones, in the whole zero-day market. Zero-days are flaws in software that are unknown to the affected developer at the time of their discovery. These tools can be highly valuable for hackers, especially those working for law enforcement and intelligence agencies.
Apart from the highest bounty of $20 million, which applies to any mobile operating system, the company also offers bounties for exploits in various software: $15 million for the same type of zero-days for Android devices and for iPhones; $10 million for Windows; $5 million for Chrome; $1 million for Apple’s Safari and Microsoft Edge browsers, among others.
It’s unclear who is behind the company, and its customers.
“We empower government agencies, intelligence services, and law enforcement to operate with precision in the digital battlefield,” reads the company’s website. “We maintain continuous cooperation with over 25 governments and intelligence agencies worldwide. Our clients consistently return for new services, reflecting the trust and strategic value we provide in high-stakes operational contexts, including counterterrorism and narcotics control.”
The website also says that while the company is new, “it is staffed exclusively by professionals with over 20 years of operational experience in elite intelligence units and private military contractors.”
Advanced Security Solutions did not respond to a series of questions, including who funds, owns, and runs the company, who the customers are, as well as whether the company has any self-imposed ethical or legal restrictions on which governments to sell to.
Contact Us
Do you have more information about Advanced Security Solutions, or other zero-day providers? From a non-work device, you can contact Lorenzo Franceschi-Bicchierai securely on Signal at +1 917 257 1382, or via Telegram and Keybase @lorenzofb, or email. You also can contact TechCrunch via SecureDrop.
A security researcher with experience in the world of zero-days told TechCrunch that the prices offered by Advanced Security Solutions are approximately in line with the current market.
“Normally these advertised prices are in the ball park,” the person told TechCrunch on the condition of anonymity to speak candidly about the zero-day industry. The person added that the $20 million bounty “is low depending on how unscrupulous you are.”
The researcher also warned that, personally, he wouldn’t deal with a company that doesn’t disclose who is behind it, such as in this case. “I don’t think you should sell bugs to anyone who’s trying to hide who they are,” he said.
The market for zero-days has expanded considerably in the last 10 years, both in terms of the number of companies participating in it, as well as the prices offered.
In 2015, Zerodium, a broker that much like Advanced Security Solutions also acquires zero-days from researchers and resells them to governments, was among the first-ever companies to publicize their price list. At the time, the company founded by veteran exploit broker Chaouki Bekrar offered up to $1 million for tools to hack iPhones. Then, three years later, came Crowdfense offering $3 million for the same type of zero-days.
A screenshot of the bounties offered by Advanced Security Solutions for zero-days in operating systems.Image Credits:TechCrunch
More recently, the prices of zero-days have skyrocketed, in part because there is higher demand and also because it’s getting more difficult to hack modern devices and software, thanks to big tech companies improving their security.
Last year, Crowdfense published its new price list, which offered up to $7 million for zero-days to break into iPhones, and $5 million for the same type of exploits for Android. Customers can also buy zero-days for specific apps, especially messaging apps like WhatsApp (up to $8 million) and Telegram (up to $4 million).
For its part, Advanced Security Solutions says it offers $2 million for Telegram, Signal, and WhatsApp zero-days.
Russian zero-day company Operation Zero was an outlier in the market, offering up to $20 million for the same type of exploits that Advanced Security Solutions is looking for. Operation Zero is in a unique position because it says it works only with the Russian government, and for many researchers in the U.S. and Europe, it’s illegal to sell their hacking tools to Russia, which means Operation Zero may have a harder time finding what it looks for.
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If you are in Cologne this week, you will find the place overtaken by cheerful nerds, as Gamescom, the world’s biggest gaming event, descends upon the city once again. (I first went in 2009 – before that it used to be held in Leipzig, a city home to a famous absinthe bar; perhaps this is why my memories of it are somewhat hazy.) Over 300,000 people are expected to visit the Koelnmesse to play upcoming games and enjoy each other’s company, to the extent that it’s possible to enjoy anyone’s company in a giant crowded convention hall with woefully insufficient food options.
The event began, as is now tradition, with a showcase of games (pdf) whose publishers could afford the hundreds of thousands of euros necessary to show a trailer on an official livestream. (There was also a live performance of a piece of music from Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, the big, weird French hit of the year so far, as a welcome interlude.) As ever, I am here to spare you from watching a full two hours of trailers and pick out the most interesting stuff. Without further ado:
Ghost in the machine … Ghost of Yōtei. Photograph: Sony/Sucker Punch
The big hitters
Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 was the big opener: our reporter Alyssa Mercante got a full introduction to its futuristic military paranoia, which you can read about later this week. PlayStation is being pretty quiet in general at the moment, but Sony and Sucker Punch’s Japanese historical action game Ghost of Yōtei made an appearance and is looking honestly splendid – after Assassin’s Creed Shadows’ very successful take on feudal Japan earlier this year, samurai appreciators are truly being spoiled this year. It’ll be getting some extra multiplayer content in 2026.
Capcom’s Resident Evil Requiem, meanwhile, came out with an upsetting new demo in which its young protagonist, Grace, follows her mother around a darkened apartment complex full of supernatural murderers; attenders will be able to play it, too. And there was a first look at the next game from the developers of Black Myth: Wukong, the huge Chinese folklore-based hit from last year, featuring a ghost-catching god riding on a gigantic, unsettlingly realistic-looking tiger. It’s called Black Myth: Zhong Kui.
For me, though, the biggest news was new footage of Hollow Knight: Silksong, the mysterious sequel to one of my favourite games of all time. We haven’t seen anything at all of this game since 2022. It is still due to launch this year, and I am wildly jealous of anyone who gets to play the demo on the show floor.
The Dark Knight returns … Lego Batman. Photograph: TT Games
Unexpected announcements
World of Tanks – a game that is exactly what it sounds like – has been around for ever, and to be honest I remain as baffled by it today as I was in the early 2010s, when its immense popularity in Europe and Russia made it one of the biggest games in the world. Its forthcoming 2.0 update is a huge presence at the show, but its developer Wargaming also has a brand new game coming out … which also very prominently features tanks. Heat is the OTT cartoonish counterpart to World of Tanks’ historical battlefields, and it does look rather fun.
We also saw a new game from Ron Gilbert, creator of Monkey Island (and Maniac Mansion, for the real OGs). It’s not a pixel art adventure game like his previous work. Instead, Death By Scrolling is a shooter where you’re stuck in purgatory trying to avoid the Grim Reaper. There’s a distinct Vampire Survivors look to this.
Most gladdeningly, though, there’s a new Lego Batman game that looks genuinely delightful. It’s called Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight, and it takes you on the whole Bruce Wayne journey from origin to Gotham hero, drawing on everything from the Nolan shows and comics to the beloved Arkham Batman games.
Dish the details … World Of Warcraft Midnight expansion. Photograph: Blizzard
Old games getting new stuff
A couple of notable announcements from a seemingly endless stream of updates to existing games. Venerable online role-playing game World of Warcraft is huge in Germany, so Gamescom is a good place for it to debut its new Midnight expansion: it’s playable on the show floor, and Blizzard is running several developer panels dishing more details. Cult of the Lamb, a deceptively cute game about a resurrected sacrificial lamb who murders demon heretics while building his own devoted following, is also getting a “full-length” new chapter called Woolhaven.
‘Truly horrifying’ … Silent Hill f. Photograph: Konami
Modern updates to cult-classic series from the 00s
There’s a huge trend this year for resurrecting fondly remembered but not particularly bestselling game properties from a couple of decades ago, perhaps powered by the huge success of remasters such as Capcom’s Resident Evil re-runs. Ninja Gaiden 4 is looking exactly as violent and challenging as you’d want if you suffered through the original games on Xbox. Silent Hill f, meanwhile, which our reporter Tom Regan recently played in Japan, looks truly horrifying, with its traumatised schoolgirls, unnatural convulsing skinless monsters and eerily deserted smalltown Japanese setting. And it’s not officially a new Dead Space game, but Bloober Team’s new sci-fi horror Cronos: The New Dawn looks like the Dead Space spiritual successor we truly deserve.
Lastly: this one is a sequel to a game from the 90s, but nonetheless, fingers crossed for Vampire: The Masquerade Bloodlines 2, which has been in development hell for an absolute age. It’s out 21 October, and its first-person vamp fighting looked potentially exciting.
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We’ve got a couple of reporters on the ground in Germany, so look out for more from Gamescom very soon. In the meantime, here is a very useful Steam event page showing pretty much every game that’s playable at the show (or that debuted a trailer), which is an extremely good idea – it makes it much easier to wishlist and keep track of the ones that catch your eye.
What to play
Herd mentality … Herdling. Photograph: Steam
I have just started playing Herdling, in which you are an alpine shepherd guiding a herd of strange creatures out of a grimy city and back to their natural mountain habitat. The creatures themselves are rather sombre things, awkward fluffy mammoths with curly horns and dolorous eyes. It reminds me of The Last Guardian, except instead of trying to guide just one obstinate flying cat-giant through a crumbling ruin, there are several creature-friends to wrangle, of various sizes (the little ones are more lively). I’m finding it a little awkward to play, because the animals have minds of their own, and I must admit that the crushing sense of responsibility that I feel for them is making my slightly worried about what lies ahead; I’ve been here before with these emotionally manipulative indie games.
Available on: PS5, Xbox, Switch, PC Estimated playtime: 4-6 hours
What to read
‘There aren’t many rappers right for a video game, but 50 Cent was one of them’ … 50 Cent: Bulletproof. Photograph: Vivendi Universal Games
Thomas Hobbs investigates the making of 50 Cent: Blood on the Sand, the faintly ludicrous but memorable 2005 shooter starring the rapper himself – who the development team never even met: “This was a game about these dudes from the hood, and yet here was this white guy from the north-west of England writing all their in-game dialogue.”
Every now and then, someone writes in to ask why we don’t cover smartphone games much on the Guardian; the truth is that despite the many millions of people who play games on their phones, very few seem to want to read about them. Longtime games journalist Maddy Myers probes this interesting discrepancy over at MobileGamer.
Someone has gone to the trouble of recreating several of the excellent songs from Netflix mega-hit KPop Demon Hunters within Animal Crossing (via Kotaku). I get such a kick out of the effort put into this beautifully pointless creativity.
What to click
Question Block
No question this week as we’re down to the wire reporting from Gamescom – but please, if you’ve got a question about anything to do with video games, or anything else to say about the newsletter, hit reply or email us on pushingbuttons@theguardian.com. I apply myself with equal rigour to serious AND silly inquiries.
Blizzard Entertainment unveiled the next World of Warcraft expansion, Midnight, during Gamescom Opening Night Live 2025.
Midnight revisits Quel’Thalas, the Blood Elf homeland introduced in The Burning Crusade, with a refreshed Silvermoon City, Eversong Woods, and surrounding regions.
The expansion begins with the assault of Xal’atath, who targets the Sunwell on the Isle of Quel’Danas. Players join Blood Elf leader Lor’themar Theron to defend the sacred site, marking a significant overhaul of the area. Midnight launches with four zones: a reworked Eversong Woods, an expanded Zul’Aman converted from a raid into a full zone, and two new regions, Harandar and Voidstorm.
Midnight departs from recent expansions by opening with three raids at launch. These include The Voidspire with six bosses, The Dreamrift with one, and March on Quel’Danas featuring two encounters.
Eight dungeons will also be available, including an updated version of Magister’s Terrace, alongside seven new delves and a new PvP battleground. A new activity called Prey will see players hunt powerful targets across zones, with the possibility of ambushes.
The expansion adds the Haranir as a new allied race, a mid-range Demon Hunter specialisation, and expands Demon Hunter availability to Void Elves. Adjustments to the new player experience include story mode raids for Dragonflight and simplified skyriding, with the removal of the vigor bar.
One of Midnight’s most notable additions is player housing. Blizzard confirmed players will be able to create customisable homes with 3D placement tools, dyeable furniture, and decor items obtained from different activities. Both private and public neighbourhoods will be available, removing competition for plots.
World of Warcraft: Midnight is set to launch in 2026, with further details expected throughout Gamescom.
The Outer Worlds 2, an upcoming sequel, is about to deepen the role-playing roots by offering players a journey through the Halcyon colony. It promises to be defined by allies or unique companions that a gamer chooses. While not many specifics are revealed by Obsidian Entertainment, here is what’s available about the six unique companions that are deeply integrated into the main narrative and influence a gamer’s fate as well as the conclusion of the story.
Complete roster of confirmed The Outer Worlds 2 Companions
The six companions, as confirmed by Obsidian Entertainment, who would be joining the crew, hail from the major faction that’s vying for power and control of the colony. They immediately establish the dynamic of the conflicting ideologies aboard a player’s ship. The Outer Worlds companion list, with a bit of details about these joining Companions is mentioned below.
The Outer Worlds 2 – Companions Trailer
Niles. A dedicated agent of the Earth Directorate. Niles The Outer Worlds 2 personal journey includes a loyalty crisis.
VAL. A companion of Niles is an AutoMech support drone. VAL is a technical member of the faction who offers essential defensive capabilities and healing in combat.
Marisol. She is a mathematician with a hidden past (seasoned assassin). She represents the Order of the Ascendant (science-driven). Her skills keep her focused on controlling the crowd, torpifying her enemies on the battlefield.
Aza. She is a stark contrast to The Glorious Dawn’s devotee. The Glorious Dawn is a cult Aza The Outer Worlds 2 worships mysterious Rifts. Aza’s story, on the other hand, presents moral challenges—attempting to steer her towards a different path or just indulging in violent faith.
Inez. Hailing from Auntie’s Choice, a corporate conglomerate, Inez The Outer Worlds 2 is a combat media and bio-experiment victim. These experiments grafted animal parts onto humans.
Tristran. He is an Arbiter for the isolationist Protectorate faction. He is said to serve as jury, judge and executioner. He is a heavily armored specialist whose questline challenges his entire justice concept.
Companions and their personal quests
Every companion in The Outer Worlds 2 is a direct representative of their faction. The faction heavily influences the quests they bring to players and their personal story arcs, too. It means that to recruit a companion is a political act. It aligns a player with the goals of the group, making relationships not a side activity but a pillar of the experience. To say, Niles has his loyalty to Earth Directorate, while the questline of Aza forces players to either enable or just reform her cult.Players’ influence over the companion is the direct proxy for the ideology of the faction. Whether it is reinforcing their beliefs or just successfully challenging them, the influence would paint a thematic picture of the playthrough. The entire system promises reactivity’s layers, where the companions’ treatment does not just impact personal ending but also the entire Halcyon colony’s fate itself.The Outer Worlds 2 release date is set for October 26, 2025.
