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Preliminary data of Butembo Copper prospect, with near surface high-grade copper oxidized ore with grades of up to 18%

African Discovery Group (OTC:AFDG) (“AFDG” or the “Company”) has entered into a term sheet to acquire the Butembo Copper exploration license in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) by acquiring 100% of the shares of SOCIETE GRABIN MINING SAS (the “Transaction”). The Butembo Copper project is a greenfield exploration project located in the North Kivu province of the Democratic Republic of Congo. 40km south of the provincial capital of Beni. The project is located 33km west of the Ugandan border with verified road and rail access to the port of Mombasa.

The area is generally underexplored relative to the well-known copper belts of the Katanga copper belt to the south – however the Mesoproterozoic Kibalian greenstone belt is known for its tungsten-tin-gold occurrences, and it hosts the well-known Kilembe Mine nearby which has produced substantial quantities of both copper and cobalt

According to Rio Tinto, African deposits make up eight out of the 10 highest grade deposits discovered since 1990. The recent discovery of the Butembo copper deposit has underscored the need for further exploration work in areas peripheral to the Katanga Copper Belt.It is important to note that the artisanal pits initially targeted and extracted alluvial gold in the surficial gravels that overly the schists hosting the copper mineralization.The implication is that Butembo is prospective for both gold and copper.

The Butembo discovery is a near surface high-grade copper oxidized ore with measured grades of up to 18% with depth and lateral extension potential of over 5km along strike. The project is located at the base of the Ruwenzori mountains and borders Virunga National Park. There is extensive artisanal activity for both copper and gold and by extension a thriving small scale minerals industry exists in Butembo going back years. Regolith clay samples to the north have tested positively for copper – this is interpreted as a positive indicator of a northern extension to Butembo.

The artisanal and first phase exploration pits around the flood plain of the Talehya River, which runs through the concession, have been tested over an initial 500m of strike length – and the results have been positive with one of these analyses reporting the 18% Cu mentioned above as well as 16.3% in another exploration pit.

The deposit is in the vicinity of the historic Kilembe copper mine (4 million tons) across the border in Uganda whose sulphide mineralization occurs within biotite schists thought to have formed by hydrothermal fluids during early tectonic cycles that were trapped in structurally favorable impermeable locations. This offers a unique insight into the potential geological controls of the Butembo deposit. Mineralization is structurally controlled, occurring along northeast-trending shear zones and folds that facilitated hydrothermal fluid flow. The primary ore minerals include chalcopyrite, pyrite, and linnaeite, forming massive sulfide lenses and disseminated zones.

The Butembo deposit holds a strategically advantageous location, benefiting from proximity to regional infrastructure, which includes electrical power being available within reach of the project boundary. The site is located close to the Ugandan border, offering access to the East African transport corridor. This includes road and rail connections through Uganda to the port of Mombasa, Kenya—providing a viable export route for future development.

The combination of surface high-grade mineralization, artisanal activity, infrastructure access, and strategic location positions the Butembo Copper Project as a high-potential target for early-stage exploration and resource delineation.

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Locksley Resources LimitedAssessment and Evaluation of DeepSolv Program Expansion

Perth, Australia (ABN Newswire) – Locksley Resources Ltd (ASX:LKY,OTC:LKYRF) (FRA:X5L) (OTCMKTS:LKYRF) is pleased to advise that a senior Locksley team has completed a visit to Rice University in Houston, Texas, to formally evaluate the Company’s research collaboration with Rice.

Highlights

– Given increased industry interest in DeepSolv(TM), the Company has requested the expansion & acceleration of the Rice technology program

– The expansion would include the following components:

o Testing of multiple antimony feedstocks at different processing stages, direct ore, post DMS and high-grade concentrates

o Testing of antimony feedstock from multiple sources including the Mojave Project, EV Resources and additional other 3rd party samples

– Meetings held with Professor Pulickel Ajayan, Rice Executive Vice President for Research, and Technology Transfer Office

– Dedicated project workshop with the Ajayan research team to discuss technical programs

– Locksley in discussions with an additional mining group regarding the opportunity of evaluation the DeepSolv(TM) technology

– Locksley is focused upon providing Antimony processing independence to the USA and the opportunity presented by the $1.5bn+ domestic market

During the visit, the Locksley team met with Professor Pulickel Ajayan and members of his laboratory, senior Rice administrators including the Executive Vice President for Research and the Office of Technology Transfer and representatives from Rice Public Affairs. These discussions were followed by a dedicated project workshop with the Ajayan group, providing the foundation for the joint technical program under the collaboration.

The work program, formally launched through this visit, will focus on two parallel thrusts:

1. The development of DeepSolv(TM) product, for the extraction and refining of antimony feedstocks

2. The evaluation of antimony-based materials for advanced energy storage applications

As previously announced, Locksley has secured an agreement with EV Resources for the supply of external antimony ore, which will be incorporated alongside feedstock from the Mojave Project to support the development of DeepSolv(TM). In addition, DeepSolv(TM) continues to gain industry momentum, with discussions now underway with an additional potential user for the treatment of antimony ore. Given the growing industry interest in DeepSolv(TM) the Company is actively evaluating options to expand and accelerate the Rice technology program.

Locksley views the Rice partnership as a cornerstone of its U.S. strategy, providing access to world class expertise and positioning the Company to advance both upstream and downstream opportunities in antimony and rare earths.

Locksley’s Chairman Patrick Burke, commented:

‘This visit marks an important milestone in Locksley’s mine-to-market strategy to onshore the supply of antimony and rare earths into the United States. By formally commencing our collaboration with Rice University and incorporating additional ore supply secured through our agreement with EV Resources, we have laid the foundation for a practical and accelerated testwork program. These initiatives position Locksley at the centre of developing a secure domestic supply chain, aligned with U.S. government priorities. We look forward to working closely with Professor Ajayan and his team as we move rapidly toward delivering tangible results.’

*To view images and figures, please visit:
https://abnnewswire.net/lnk/U3C84R75

About Locksley Resources Limited:

Locksley Resources Limited (ASX:LKY,OTC:LKYRF) (FRA:X5L) (OTCMKTS:LKYRF) is an ASX listed explorer focused on critical minerals in the United States of America. The Company is actively advancing exploration across two key assets: the Mojave Project in California, targeting rare earth elements (REEs) and antimony. Locksley Resources aims to generate shareholder value through strategic exploration, discovery and development in this highly prospective mineral region.

Mojave Project

Located in the Mojave Desert, California, the Mojave Project comprises over 250 claims across two contiguous prospect areas, namely, the North Block/Northeast Block and the El Campo Prospect. The North Block directly abuts claims held by MP Materials, while El Campo lies along strike of the Mountain Pass Mine and is enveloped by MP Materials’ claims, highlighting the strong geological continuity and exploration potential of the project area.

In addition to rare earths, the Mojave Project hosts the historic ‘Desert Antimony Mine’, which last operated in 1937. Despite the United States currently having no domestic antimony production, demand for the metal remains high due to its essential role in defense systems, semiconductors, and metal alloys. With significant surface sample results, the Desert Mine prospect represents one of the highest-grade known antimony occurrences in the U.S.

Locksley’s North American position is further strengthened by rising geopolitical urgency to diversify supply chains away from China, the global leader in both REE & antimony production. With its maiden drilling program planned, the Mojave Project is uniquely positioned to align with U.S. strategic objectives around critical mineral independence and economic security.

Tottenham Project

Locksley’s Australian portfolio comprises the advanced Tottenham Copper-Gold Project in New South Wales, focused on VMS-style mineralisation

Source:
Locksley Resources Limited

Contact:
Locksley Resources Limited
T: +61 8 9481 0389
E: info@locksleyresources.com.au

News Provided by ABN Newswire via QuoteMedia

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

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Rua Gold

Investor Insight

Rua Gold offers a compelling investment opportunity driven by its highly promising gold assets in New Zealand’s historic gold-producing regions, and supported by the government’s renewed focus on fast tracking economic growth.

Overview

Rua Gold (TSXV:RUA,OTC:NZAUF,WKN:A4010V,OTCQB:NZAUF) is a gold exploration company focused on two prolific, historic gold-producing regions in New Zealand: Hauraki Goldfield and Reefton Goldfield. Both these regions boast of previous high-grade gold production, with more than 15 million ounces (Moz) produced in the Hauraki district and over 2 Moz in the Reefton Goldfield. New Zealand is a tier 1 mining jurisdiction with highly prospective geology, and a skilled workforce. The new government of New Zealand has committed to promoting economic growth through mining- and business-friendly policies, such as the Fast Track Approval Bill, which proposes quicker approval timelines for a range of projects, including mining.

Rua Gold solidified its position as the dominant Reefton Goldfield explorer with the acquisition of Reefton Resources, a 100 percent owned subsidiary of Siren Gold (ASX:SNG). The completion of the transaction expands Rua Gold’s tenement package to cover over 95 percent of the Reefton Goldfield.

New Zealand’s critical minerals list includes both gold and antimony, enhancing the significance of Rua Gold’s ongoing exploration campaign which revealed promising antimony potential. Rua Gold sits on the majority of New Zealand’s known antimony inventory, a strategic advantage that positions the Reefton Project to contribute substantial economic value while strengthening New Zealand’s critical mineral supply.

Rua Gold benefits from a team of professionals boasting extensive expertise in geology and mining. The company’s board of directors is led by Oliver Lennox-King (Fronteer, Roxgold), who has a successful track record developing projects and companies.

Company Highlights

  • Rua Gold is a gold exploration company advancing two highly prospective land packages in New Zealand’s historic gold districts – the Hauraki Goldfield and the Reefton Goldfield.
  • Premiere Mining Jurisdiction: New Zealand is recognized as a tier 1 mining jurisdiction, underpinned by proven high grade geology and a long history of gold production. The country hosts orogenic deposits (+9 Moz), epithermal sources (+15 Moz), and alluvial deposits (+22 Moz).
  • Key Assets: The company’s portfolio includes the Reefton Goldfield on New Zealand’s South Island and the Glamorgan property on the North Island.
  • Supportive Government Policy: The new government has prioritized economic growth, highlighted by the Fast Track Approval Bill, which enables mining permits to be granted in less than 6 months, the fastest permitting timeline in the world.
  • High-Quality Prospects: Rua Gold’s projects feature both orogenic and epithermal gold systems with historical production grades ranging from 16 to 50 g/t gold.
  • Exploration Programs: The company is fully permitted and financed, with multiple near-term catalysts. Active exploration is underway, including drilling programs at the Reefton district properties.
  • Leadership Team: Rua Gold is led by a seasoned board and management team with deep regional knowledge and a strong track record of discovery success. With financing and permits secured, the company is well-positioned to unlock value and drive growth.

Key Projects

Reefton Goldfield

Rua Gold holds six project areas at the Reefton Goldfield: Northern, Capleston, Murray Creek, Ajax, Crushington, and Southern. The Reefton district has a rich history of gold production with over 2 Moz of gold recovered at 24.5 g/t. Among the noteworthy findings from recent years of exploration is the greenfield discovery of the Pactolus quartz vein. Assays have unveiled significant high-grade gold concentrations in this vein.

Rua Gold’s systematic exploration has highlighted the potential for the rejuvenation of this district in renewed opportunities around the historic high-grade gold deposits. Rua Gold completed an extensive assessment of the historical mines situated within the company’s tenements in the Reefton Goldfield, yielding five targets in the Murray Creek area.

Rua Gold has expanded its Reefton exploration program with a third drill rig and a planned 4,000 m of diamond drilling at Auld Creek in the coming months. The company is targeting a resource of >300,000 oz AuEq by the end of 2025 and positioning to enter New Zealand’s proposed fast-track permitting process. At Glamorgan, access agreements are underway, with surface work scheduled for Q3 2025 and drilling expected to begin in Q4 2025. Rua Gold is fully funded to execute this growth strategy, with a cash balance of US$14 million as of June 30, 2025.

Drilling at Auld Creek has returned high-grade intercepts, including 17 m @ 9.8 g/t AuEq (with 10 m @ 15.3 g/t AuEq) and 8 m @ 8.9 g/t AuEq (with 5 m @ 11.1 g/t AuEq). These results extend the vertical extent of the Fraternal shoot from 160 m to 300 m and strike length from 350 m to 620 m, with mineralization remaining open in all directions. Surface geochemistry suggests the system may continue for more than 2.5 km, underscoring significant potential for resource growth.

Glamorgan Project

The Glamorgan project comprises over 4,600 hectares in the Hauraki district on New Zealand’s North Island. Hauraki boasts of a substantial presence of high-grade gold and silver mining, with approximately 50 epithermal deposits mined since the 1860s. These deposits have yielded over 15 Moz of gold and 60 Moz of silver. Glamorgan has a 3.8 km zone displaying indications of gold mineralization, backed by soil and rock samples, suggesting the presence of an epithermal gold mineralized system at the property.

Glamorgan is located 2.8 kms north of Oceana Gold’s recent significant discovery at Wharekirauponga. The company has applied for a minimum impact access agreement with the New Zealand Department of Conservation. Once granted, the company will commence an exploration program that includes soil sampling, magnetic and resistivity geophysical surveys, and geological mapping.

Rua Gold completed the first phase of surface exploration on its Glamorgan epithermal gold prospect which identified two significant soil anomalies over 4 kms in length. Rua Gold also completed the second phase of surface exploration at its Glamorgan Project, an epithermal gold system located in the Hauraki Goldfield on New Zealand’s North Island.

The Hauraki Goldfield is a prolific epithermal gold province that has produced more than 15 million ounces of gold from over 50 historic mines. The Glamorgan Project sits adjacent to OceanaGold’s Wharekirauponga deposit, which hosts Indicated Mineral Resources of 1.4 Moz at 17.9 g/t Au and is expected to commence construction in the second half of 2025.

Management Team

Oliver Lennox-King – Non-executive Chairman

Oliver Lennox-King boasts a distinguished and extensive career within the mineral resource sector, encompassing a broad experience in financing, research, and marketing. Since 1992, he has occupied senior executive and board roles in various junior exploration and mining enterprises. Most recently, Lennox-King was the chairman of Roxgold from 2012 until July 2021, when it was sold for $1.2 billion to Fortuna. In addition to Roxgold, he also served as chairman of other notable firms, including Pangea Goldfields, Aurora Uranium, and Fronteer Gold.

Robert Eckford – CEO and Director

Robert Eckford is a certified professional accountant with significant expertise in mergers and acquisitions, accounting, finance, and commercial management within the mining sector. Most recently, he was co-founder and head of finance for Aris Mining, and prior to that, he had worked with international mining companies, including Barrick Gold, Yamana Gold, and Leagold Mining.

Simon Henderson – COO and Director

Simon Henderson is an exploration specialist and has over 40 years of experience, most of which is in New Zealand. He was part of the discovery team for several significant gold finds in New Zealand, such as Wharekirauponga. He maintains robust connections with key local stakeholders and the country’s permitting authorities.

Zeenat Lokhandwala – CFO and Corporate Secretary

Zeenat Lokhandwala brings over a decade of expertise in mergers and acquisitions, finance, accounting and taxation. She is the former CFO of Great Bear Royalties and director of finance at Great Bear Resources.

Brian Rodan – Director

Brian Rodan has more than 43 years of experience who is currently serving as Fellow of the Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy. Rodan is the founding director of Dacian Gold (ASX:DCN)

Mario Vetro – Director

Mario Vetro has extensive experience structuring and providing guidance to resource companies. He is the co-founder of K92 Mining and the proprietor of Commodity Partners.

Paul Criddle – Director

Paul Criddle has extensive experience constructing and overseeing gold mines in Australia and West Africa. He was formerly a chief operating officer for West Africa at Fortuna and also served as the COO for Azimuth and Perseus. He was previously the managing director at Matador Mining.

Tyron Breytenbach – Director

Tyron Breytenbach is a geologist with operational and capital markets experience. He is currently the CEO of Lithium Africa Resources. Previously, he was senior vice-president of Capital Markets at Aris Mining and served as managing director at Cormark Securities. Before transitioning to capital markets, Breytenbach spent a decade in the mining sector as a geologist, focusing on orogenic and epithermal gold deposits and specializing in resource estimation. He earned his BSc (Honours) degree from Rand Afrikaans University in South Africa and is a designated professional geologist in Ontario.

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

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Nearly 200,000 BMWs recalled over potential fire risk

The owners of nearly 200,000 BMWs should park their vehicles outside because they risk catching fire while parked or being driven, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced Friday.

The vehicle models affected include 2019-22 Z4; 2019-21 330I; 2020-22 X3; 2020-22 X4; 2020-22 530I; 2021-22 430I standard and convertible; 2022 230I; and roughly 1,500 20-2022 Toyota Supra vehicles manufactured by BMW, NHTSA said in a news release.

The federal agency said the vehicles’ engine starter relay may corrode, “causing the relay to overheat and short circuit, which may cause a fire.”

“Owners should park outside and away from buildings and other vehicles until they either confirm their vehicle is not subject to the recall or have their vehicle remedied,” NHTSA said.

BMW did not immediately return a request for comment.

NHTSA said the German automaker will be conducting a phased recall due to parts availability. Interim notification letters to owners are scheduled to be mailed on Nov. 14, with a second notice to be sent as remedy parts are available, the agency added.

Vehicle identification numbers for affected vehicles will be searchable on NHTSA.gov starting Nov. 14, the agency said.

Beginning on that date, car owners can visit NHTSA.gov/recalls and enter their license plate number or 17-digit VIN to see if their vehicle is under recall. They can also call NHTSA’s Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236.

NHTSA also advised owners of the BMWs to call the company with any questions.

The German automaker recalled more than 1 million cars and SUVs in 2017 over similar issues. The recall was expanded to another 185,000 vehicles in 2019.

This post appeared first on NBC NEWS

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Crypto Market Update: Bitcoin Tops $112,000 Amid Crypto Sector Jitters

Here’s a quick recap of the crypto landscape for Monday (September 29) as of 9:00 p.m. UTC.

Get the latest insights on Bitcoin, Ether and altcoins, along with a round-up of key cryptocurrency market news.

Bitcoin and Ether price update

After opening on Monday at its lowest valuation of the day, US$112,168, Bitcoin (BTC) reached a high of US$114,336, a 3.6 percent increase in 24 hours. The cryptocurrency dipped below US$110,000 last week, but its Sunday (September 28) night rebound liquidated roughly US$250 million in short positions.

Bitcoin price performance, September 29, 2025.

Chart via TradingView.

Despite the rally, some market participants aren’t convinced the bull market is back in full force. Crypto investor and entrepreneur Ted Pillows noted that Bitcoin’s pump is “mostly due to short positions getting closed.”

Meanwhile, bulls argue that Bitcoin usually follows gold’s price moves with a three to four month delay, suggesting a strong rally could come in October or November.

Targets mentioned range from US$150,000 to as high as US$300,000 over the next few months.

Ether (ETH) is also performing well, up 3.8 percent over 24 hours to US$4,190.47. Like Bitcoin, Ether opened at its lowest daily valuation, US$4,112.40, before peaking at US$4,202.65.

Supply reduction, increased DEX activity and seasonal bullish trends could set the stage for an Ether price pump in October, with predictions pointing toward US$4,300 or higher.

A looming US government shutdown could increase short-term volatility in the cryptocurrency market this week due to delayed economic data and regulatory uncertainties.

Decisions on 16 crypto exchange-traded funds (ETFs) — including those tied to Solana, XRP, Litecoin and Dogecoin — are expected from the US Securities and Exchange Commission throughout October.

Altcoin price update

  • Solana (SOL) was priced at US$212.91, an increase of 3.3 percent over the last 24 hours and its highest valuation of the day. SOL opened at US$206.31, its lowest valuation of the day, and trended upward.
  • XRP was trading for US$2.90, up by 2.5 percent over the last 24 hours. Its lowest valuation of the day was US$2.85, while its highest was US$2.91.

ETF data and derivatives trends

The Fear & Greed Index currently reads 39, indicating fear amongst market participants.

Bitcoin dominance in the crypto market is at 56.66 percent, showing a slight fall week-over-week.

Last week, the cumulative net flow for spot Bitcoin ETFs was predominantly negative, with several days of outflows. According to data from the week of September 22 to September 26, spot Bitcoin ETFs had outflows on four days, with September 24 being the only day of inflows at US$241 million. The inflows were led by BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (NASDAQ:IBIT) and the ARK 21Shares Bitcoin ETF (BATS:ARKB).

Overall, the weekly trend showed significant withdrawal pressures despite the one day inflow exception. Cumulative total inflows for spot Bitcoin ETFs stood at US$56.78 billion as of September 26.

On the derivatives side, CoinGlass data shows Bitcoin futures open interest at US$82.89 billion, an increase of 6.73 percent over 24 hours and a rise of 0.32 percent over four hours. Open interest for Ether futures is at US$56.04 billion, up 2.71 percent over 24 hours and a 0.06 percent boost over four hours.

Bitcoin leveraged positions have resulted in liquidations totaling US$5.61 million in four hours. Ether saw significantly greater liquidations, amounting to US$9.53 million. Bitcoin’s max pain price is US$114,000.

The Ether funding rate is positive, signaling bullish sentiment and more demand for long positions, while the Bitcoin funding rate is in the red, signaling bearish sentiment.

Today’s crypto news to know

SWIFT to debut blockchain to facilitate cross-border payments

According to a Monday announcement, the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT) is developing a blockchain in collaboration with over 30 financial institutions and Consensys.

The initial focus is on developing infrastructure for “real-time 24/7 cross-border payments.” SWIFT CEO Javier Pérez-Tass made the announcement at SWIFT’s annual Sibos conference, held in Frankfurt, Germany, on Monday:

“We provide powerful and effective rails today and are moving at a rapid pace with our community to create the infrastructure stack of the future. Through this initial ledger concept we are paving the way for financial institutions to take the payments experience to the next level with Swift’s proven and trusted platform at the centre of the industry’s digital transformation.’

SWIFT will consider feedback on its design from financial institutions from 16 countries.

Polkadot users show support for potential stablecoin

Bryan Chen, co-founder of Polkadot and chief technology officer of its Acala blockchain, introduced a proposal on Sunday to develop a native stablecoin for the Polkadot network.

The stablecoin (pUSD) would be algorithmic and backed by Polkadot tokens, and would use the pUSD ticker. It would also include an optional savings module, allowing holders to lock their stablecoins and earn interest from stability fees. It will utilize the Honzon protocol on the Acala network. The aim is to reduce reliance on USDt and USDC.

The proposal is gathering support among users. The ballot will close in 24 days.

Qatar financial group adopts Kinexys

One of the largest financial institutions in the Middle East, Qatar’s QNB Group, has switched to JPMorgan Chase’s (NYSE:JPM) blockchain platform for US dollar corporate payments processing.

By adopting JPMorgan’s Kinexys Digital Payments system, QNB can now process US dollar-based payments for its business clients in Qatar in minutes and 24/7, the companies said in a statement.

Kazakhstan debuts crypto fund

Kazakhstan, in partnership with Binance, has launched a state-backed crypto reserve called the Alem Crypto Fund, according to an announcement on the country’s government website.

The fund, established by the Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development and managed by Qazaqstan Venture Group, aims for long-term digital asset investments and strategic reserves. Its initial asset is BNB, Binance’s utility token. The announcement does not specify the amount of BNB purchased or future investments.

Securities Disclosure: I, Meagen Seatter, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

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Video game maker Electronic Arts to be acquired for $52.5 billion

Electronic Arts, maker of video games like “Madden NFL,” “Battlefield,” and “The Sims,” is being acquired for $52.5 billion in what could become the largest-ever buyout funded by private-equity firms.

The private equity firm Silver Lake Partners, Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund PIF, and Affinity Partners will pay EA’s stockholders $210 per share. Affinity Partners is run by President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner.

PIF, which was already the largest insider stakeholder in Electronic Arts, will be rolling over its existing 9.9% stake in the company.

The commitment to the massive deal is inline with recent activity by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, wrote Andrew Marok of Raymond James.

“The Saudi PIF has been a very active player in the video gaming market since 2022, taking minority stakes in most scaled public video gaming publishers, and also outright purchases of companies like ESL, FACEIT, and Scopely,” he wrote. “The PIF has made its intentions to scale its gaming arm, Savvy Gaming Group, clear, and the EA deal would represent the biggest such move to date by some distance.”

Electronic Arts would be taken private and its headquarters will remain in Redwood City, California.

The total value of the deal eclipses the $32 billion price paid to take Texas utility TXU private in 2007.

If the transaction closes as anticipated, it will end EA’s 36-year history as a publicly traded company that began with its shares ending its first day of trading at a split-adjusted 52 cents.

The IPO came seven years after EA was founded by former Apple employee William “Trip” Hawkins, who began playing analog versions of baseball and football made by “Strat-O-Matic” as a teenager during the 1960s.

CEO Andrew Wilson has led the company since 2013 and he will remain in that role, the firms said Monday.

“Electronic Arts is an extraordinary company with a world-class management team and a bold vision for the future,” said Kushner, who serves as CEO of Affinity Partners. “I’ve admired their ability to create iconic, lasting experiences, and as someone who grew up playing their games — and now enjoys them with his kids — I couldn’t be more excited about what’s ahead.”

This marks the second high-profile deal involving Silver Lake and a technology company with a legion of loyal fans in recent weeks. Silver Lake is also part of a newly formed joint venture spearheaded by Oracle involved in a deal to take over the U.S. oversight of TikTok’s social video platform, although all the details of that complex transaction haven’t been divulged yet.

Silver Lake has also previously bought out two other well-known technology companies, the now-defunct video calling service Skype in a $1.9 billion deal completed in 2009, and a $24.9 billion buyout of personal computer maker Dell in 2013. After Dell restructured its operations as a private company, it returned to the stock market with publicly traded shares in 2018.

By going private, EA will be able to reprogram its operations without being subjected to the investment pressures and scrutiny that sometimes compel publicly held companies to make short-sighted decisions aimed at meeting quarterly financial targets. Although its video games still have a fervent following, EA’s annual revenues have been stagnant during the past three fiscal years, hovering from $7.4 billion to $7.6 billion.

Meanwhile, one of its biggest rivals Activision Blizzard was snapped up by technology powerhouse Microsoft for nearly $69 billion in 2023, while the competition from mobile video game makers such as Epic Games has intensified.

After being taken private, formerly public companies often undergo extensive cost-cutting that includes layoffs, although there has been no indication that will be the case with EA. After jettisoning about 5% of its workforce in 2024, EA ended March with 14,500 employees and then laid off several hundred people in May.

The deal is expected to close in the first quarter of 2027. It still needs approval from EA shareholders.

EA’s stock rose more than 5% before the opening bell.

This post appeared first on NBC NEWS

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Early fantasy football rankings for Week 5: PPR and non-PPR

Week 4 of the 2025 fantasy football season kept up the trend of being predictably chaotic.

With two Monday Night Football games pending, the top two quarterbacks are Dak Prescott and Matthew Stafford. The top six at running back include names like Kenneth Gainwell (RB3), Justice Hill (RB4) and Woody Marks (RB6). At wideout, the top 10 featured Drake London and Justin Jefferson for the first time all season. As usual, the tight end leaderboard was pure mayhem. Jake Tonges (TE5), Tommy Tremble (TE6), AJ Barner (TE8), Hunter Long (TE9) and Mitchell Evans (TE10) all finished inside the top 10.

Week 5 is now upon us.

Here’s an early look at Week 5 fantasy football rankings. Toggle between standard, half PPR (point per reception) and full PPR to see where players rank in your league’s format. Scroll to the bottom to view the complete rankings.

Our team at USA TODAY Sports has you covered with plenty of content to help with your Week 3 waiver wire and roster decisions. Looking for up-to-date player news? We’ve got it. Don’t forget to check out the rest of our content:

Waiver wire: 5 players to add | 5 players to drop

Analysis: 8 buy low, sell high candidates | Week 4 winners and losers

Please note: These rankings will change significantly as the week goes on. Check back on Sunday morning for final updates.

(The risers and sleepers sections will focus on players available in at least 40% of Yahoo leagues. All snap and target data from PFF.)

Week 5 fantasy football quarterback rankings: Risers and sleepers

  • Giants QB Jaxon Dart (23% rostered) – With two MNF games pending, Dart currently ranks as the QB9 on the week. Despite the Malik Nabers injury, Dart is still an intriguing add due to what he did on the ground. The rookie led all quarterbacks in rush attempts and finished with 54 yards and a score. If he maintains that kind of rushing usage, he’ll have one of the safer floors at the position.
  • Texans QB CJ Stroud (55%) – Stroud currently ranks as the QB13 on the week, which would be his second-best finish since Week 4 of last season. That’s just sad. The 23-year-old could be on the streaming radar in Week 5, as he’s taking on a depleted Ravens defense that has allowed the third-most fantasy points to quarterbacks this season.
  • Rams QB Matthew Stafford (42%) – After racking up 375 yards and three tuddies against the Colts, Stafford currently ranks as the QB2 on the week. Week 5 is probably one to keep the veteran on the bench (he hasn’t ranked higher than QB17 against the 49ers since 2021), but he gets the Ravens and Jaguars after that.

Week 5 fantasy football running back rankings: Risers and sleepers

  • Texans RB Woody Marks (31%) – Marks being available in a nice 69% of leagues is baffling, but that sure will change this week. The rookie took over the Houston backfield and garnered 22 opportunities (17 carries and 5 targets). He turned that into 119 total yards and 2 touchdowns. Nick Chubb likely will maintain a share of the backfield going forward, but Marks should be treated as a top 20 back until further notice.
  • Steelers RB Kenneth Gainwell (23%) – With Jaylen Warren being a surprise inactive in Dublin, Gainwell took full advantage. The 26-year-old played 77% of the snaps and received 78% of the backfield opportunities, resulting in 134 total yards and two trips to the end zone. The Steelers have a bye in Week 5, but Gainwell likely earned himself a more substantial role when they return in Week 6.
  • Saints RB Kendre Miller (5%) – Miller is in the same boat as Trey Benson was with the Cardinals prior to James Conner’s injury. He’s getting enough usage to have some standalone value during bye weeks, and he’s an injury away from having RB2 value. Miller has amassed 9 and 11 touches over the last two weeks while playing 27% and 31% of snaps, respectively.
  • Titans RB Tyjae Spears (32%) – The Titans are expected to open the practice window for Spears to return from IR, which makes him a worthwhile add in most leagues. Tony Pollard hasn’t been particularly efficient this season, and he hasn’t added much value as a pass-catcher. Spears should have immediate flex appeal in deep PPR leagues.

Week 5 fantasy football wide receiver rankings: Risers and sleepers

  • Packers WR Romeo Doubs (39%) – With Jayden Reed out, it was once again Doubs who led the way in Week 4. The 25-year-old led all Green Bay wideouts in snaps (75), routes (42), and targets (8). He turned that volume into 58 yards and three touchdowns, currently ranking as the WR3 on the week. Doubs will be a high-upside flex option when Green Bay returns from their bye in Week 6.
  • Browns WR Isaiah Bond (0%) – With Cedric Tillman set to be out ‘multiple weeks’ due to a hamstring injury, undrafted rookie Isaiah Bond has officially entered the fantasy picture. Bond had a 71% route rate in Week 4, and his snap share (55%) received a bump when Tillman went down. The 21-year-old caught three of his six targets for 58 yards and a touchdown and is worth adding for those in need of receiver depth.
  • Giants WR Darius Slayton (2%) – While Slayton already had a high snap share prior to Nabers’ injury, his target share should increase considerably going forward. Nabers sported a 29% target share so far this season. In 2024, Slayton racked up 22 targets (29% share) in the two games Nabers was sidelined.
  • Giants WR Wan’Dale Robinson (49%) – Robinson should also be a major beneficiary of the Nabers injury. The 24-year-old played a majority of snaps in two-receiver sets after the injury, according to PFF, which should significantly raise his fantasy value going forward. In last year’s two-game sample with Nabers inactive, Robinson garnered 20 targets (27% share).
  • Titans WR Elic Ayomanor (31%) – The rookie didn’t produce much in Week 4, but he still led all Titans wideouts in snaps (41), routes (27), and targets (5). To date, Ayomanor has seen three of the five end zone targets for Tennessee. Given his role and the fact that it usually takes rookies some time to acclimate, Ayomanor is worth rostering in most medium-sized leagues or deeper.

Week 5 fantasy football tight end rankings: Risers and sleepers

  • 49ers TE Jake Tonges (2%) – With most of San Francisco’s skill position group banged up heading into Thursday Night Football, Tonges could be a sneaky stream. The 26-year-old made the most of his five targets against the Jaguars, turning them into 58 yards and a touchdown.
  • Jaguars TE Brenton Strange (28%) – While his performances haven’t been all that inspiring, Strange has done enough to remain a fringe TE1 option in PPR formats. The Penn State product has totaled between 9.9 and 12.1 PPR points in three of his four games this season, which is enough to make him the TE14. If the Jaguars start using Strange in the red zone, he’d become a set-and-forget start in most formats.
  • Giants TE Theo Johnson (5%) – After Nabers went down, it was Johnson who was tied with Wan’Dale Robinson for the largest target share on the team at 31%. The 24-year-old turned his five targets into three receptions for 17 yards and a touchdown. He’s an intriguing speculative add at fantasy’s most depressing position.

Week 5 fantasy football rankings: PPR and non-PPR

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ESPN host Paul Finebaum might run for US Senate in Alabama

It would appear that Mr. Finebaum might want to go to Washington.

Paul Finebaum, ESPN host and dean of college football radio, said in an interview with Outkick published Sept. 29 that he is interested in running for a U.S. Senate seat in Alabama that will be contested in the 2026 mid-term elections.

“The biggest issue is the direction of ‘Where are we going [as a country]?’ And I don’t like some of that,” Finebaum said. 

He added that he would like to make a decision within the next 30 to 45 days.

“I’ve been made aware that the qualifying deadline is in January. That’s ideal. I’d love to get to the end of the season. I don’t know if that’s realistic,” Finebaum said. The deadline to jump into the primary race is Jan. 23, 2026, according to Ballotpedia.

Finebaum would not be the first Alabama college sports figure linked to the seat of former Auburn head football coach Tommy Tuberville. Former Auburn head basketball coach Bruce Pearl said in his retirement announcement that he considered a run for the seat but decided against it.

“Many of you know that I thought and prayed about maybe running for United States Senate,” Pearl said. “That would have required leaving Auburn, and instead, the university has given me an opportunity to stay here and be Auburn’s senator.”

Finebaum told Outkick that Pearl’s announcement that he would not jump into the race opened the door to considering it.

“I ended up talking to someone… who made it clear that there was a desire for me to be involved. And this person… was compelling and compassionate in the approach to me, and I started thinking about this,” he said.

Charlie Kirk’s murder inspired Finebaum’s Senate aspirations

Finebaum pointed to the killing of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk on Sept. 10 as an inspiration to consider jumping into the political arena.

“It’s hard to describe, not being involved in politics, how that affected me and affected tens of millions of people all over this country. And it was an awakening,” Finebaum said.

Outkick, the conservative sports outlet, reported that Finebaum has been hesitant to discuss his politics due to ESPN policy and not to alienate his audience.

The host of “The Paul Finebaum Show” said that he recently moved back to Alabama, where his career began as a reporter and columnist for the Birmingham Post-Herald, after relocating from North Carolina, and he would run as a Republican. He added that he would run if asked by President Donald Trump.

“Impossible to tell him no. There’s no way I could,” Finebaum said.

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Dolphins fans celebrate ‘MNF’ vs Jets with another plane banner

For a second straight Miami Dolphins home game, air traffic over Hard Rock Stadium was conspicuously busy.

The Dolphins are hosting their second home game of the season on Monday night in a prime-time clash with the New York Jets. And Dolphins fans are sponsoring a second plane banner to fly over the team’s home stadium this season to voice their frustrations.

‘Help wanted: new coach, new GM, new QB,’ read the banner flying over Hard Rock Stadium on Monday night.

Two weeks prior, ahead of the Dolphins’ home opener against the New England Patriots, a plane flew over the stadium with a different banner that read, ‘Fire (Dolphins general manager Chris) Grier. Fire (Dolphins head coach Mike) McDaniel.’

Monday night’s banner notably added a new subject of Dolphin fan frustration: quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.

Through three games, Tagovailoa has thrown four interceptions and fumbled twice while failing to record more than 200 passing yards in two out of his three outings. That’s led to a ranking of 31st of 34 NFL quarterbacks with a minimum of 64 plays in expected points added per play (-0.84), a PFF grade (52.9) that ranks 34th of 38 quarterbacks and a QBR (35.2) ranked 29th of 33.

The only quarterbacks with consistently worse or similar rankings in each category this season are Tennessee Titans rookie quarterback Cam Ward and the Cleveland Browns’ 40-year-old, veteran gunslinger Joe Flacco.

Meanwhile, Grier has been the team’s head executive since 2016, making him the third-longest-tenured GM in the team’s history. Miami holds a 75-76 record since he took over and are 0-3 in the playoffs.

McDaniel joined Miami as its head coach in 2022. He’s led the team to a 28-26 record since, including two playoff appearances in 2022 and 2023. Both ended with losses in the wild-card round.

The Dolphins lost their Week 1 game against the Indianapolis Colts, 33-8, hosted the New England Patriots in a 33-27 home opener loss in Week 2 and fell to the Buffalo Bills, 31-21, in Week 3’s ‘Thursday Night Football’ game.

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