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Jack Hughes received a hero’s welcome Wednesday in a ceremony held before he took the ice for the New Jersey Devils again.

Hughes, the 24-year-old top pick of the 2019 NHL Draft, on Sunday scored the overtime winner to give the United States its first gold medal in men’s hockey since 1980. It’s been a whirlwind few days, which included a trip to Washington, D.C., and plenty of controversy, but all that melted away as he was feted at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.

The Devils honored all their players who participated in the Olympics, but a special spot was reserved for their American star. After taking a brief skate with Tage Thompson of the visiting Buffalo Sabres, who was also on Team USA, an emotional Hughes grabbed the mic and thanked the fans.

Watch full ceremony honoring Jack Hughes

Hughes, who was greeted by chants of ‘USA,’ gave brief remarks before the game.

‘I’m so proud and I’m so happy that the men’s and women’s USA hockey teams brought gold medals back to the United States of America,’ Hughes said.

‘You guys are making me emotional,’ Hughes continued. ‘But, I’m so proud to represent the New Jersey Devils organization. And I’m so, so proud to represent the great state of New Jersey. So proud.

‘From the bottom of my heart — all my teammates, USA teammates — we just want to thank you guys for all the love and the support. We feel it. Thank you.’

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12 Mins Read

Top 10 Copper-producing Companies

Copper miners with productive assets have much to gain as supply and demand tighten.

The price of copper reached new all-time highs in 2026 on both the COMEX in the United States and the London Metals Exchange (LME) in the United Kingdom.

In 2025, the copper price on the COMEX surged during the third quarter as it climbed to US$5.94 per pound after the White House announced tariffs on the red metal in late August. However, prices moderated in August after refined products were excluded. However, as the quarter ended, supply and demand fundamentals took over, pushing the price back to historic highs, reaching US$11,067.50 per metric ton on the LME on October 29.

Since that time, the price has maintained momentum, and on January 29, the copper price reached record highs of US$6.61 per pound on the COMEX and US$14,572.54 per metric ton on the LME.

Copper is one of the most important resources for the energy transition, but demand for the red metal is outpacing mining supply. While construction and electrical grids have long been major markets for copper, today the rise in demand for electric vehicles, EV charging infrastructure and energy storage applications are emerging drivers of copper consumption.

Another trend driving future copper demand is the rapid urbanization in the Global South, as rural populations migrate to cities, putting pressure on electricity grids.

Due to the challenges associated with finding, developing, permitting and mining copper deposits, the higher demand is being met by slow growth of new supply. Mines that are in operation tend to be quite large and operate for decades as copper producers concentrate on mine expansions and brownfield projects aimed at extending mine lifetimes.

Given those factors, investors should keep an eye on the world’s top copper miners and their operations.

This list of the 10 largest copper-mining companies in the world is ranked by attributable copper production for 2024.

1. BHP (ASX:BHP,NYSE:BHP,LSE:BHP)

Copper production: 1.5 million metric tons

BHP is one of the world’s largest mining companies, and its global portfolio of assets includes significant copper mining operations in Chile, Australia and Peru.

According to the company’s quarterly operational review data, the mining giant’s attributable copper production totaled 1.5 million metric tons across the calendar year 2024.

Its most significant copper asset is the Escondida mine, the world’s largest copper mine. BHP holds a 57.5 percent stake in the Chilean operation, which produced 1.24 million metric tons of copper in 2024, of which 713,805 was attributable to BHP. Its other Chilean copper operation is its wholly owned Pampa Norte mine, which produced 313,600 metric tons of copper in 2024.

BHP also owns the Olympic Dam polymetallic mine, the largest mine in Australia. The South Australian mine hosts one of the world’s largest copper deposits as well as the largest uranium deposit. In 2023, BHP expanded its portfolio in the state with its acquisition of OZ Minerals and its Prominent Hill and Carrapateena copper operations.

In January, BHP announced its acquisition of Filo Mining and its Filo del Sol project located Argentina. As part of the announcement, BHP said it had formed a joint venture company with Lundin Mining Corporation (TSX:LUN,OTC Pink:LUNMF) to combine Filo del Sol with Lundin’s Josemaria project in the Vicuna mining district, with each company owning a 50 percent stake.

2. Codelco

Copper production: 1.44 million metric tons

The Chilean state-owned Codelco is the world’s third-largest producer with copper production of 1.44 million metric tons in 2024. According to its 2024 annual report, its copper output increased 1.2 percent from 1.42 million metric tons in 2023.

Its largest asset is the Chuquicamata mine located in Northern Chile, between 2017 and 2021 annual production was in the 700 million to 850 million pound range. However, lower grades in recent years have led to production falling below 600 million pounds. In 2024, Chuquicamata increased slightly to 637 million pounds.

The mine transitioned from an open pit to an underground mine beginning in 2019. In its operational report for the quarter ending September 30, the company stated that Phase 1 of its continuity infrastructure project had reached 85 percent completion. It added that feasibility studies were underway for potential expansion of the current mine level, as were prefeasibility studies assessing ‘the development of a potential deeper mine level.’

The company’s other significant Chilean mines include El Teniente, Quebrada Blanca and Andina.

3. Freeport-McMoRan (NYSE:FCX)

Copper production: 1.26 million metric tons

Freeport-McMoRan is consistently ranked among the world’s top copper producers, and its share of copper production from its mines totaled 1.26 million metric tons of copper in 2024. The company reported producing 4.21 billion pounds, or 1.9 million metric tons, of the red metal, calculated on a 100 percent basis for all operations except its Morenci joint venture.

The largest contributor to its output is the Grasberg copper-gold mine in Indonesia. The mine itself is a joint venture between Freeport and state-owned Indonesia Asahan Aluminum, with the entities holding interests of 48.76 percent and 51.24 percent respectively. According to MDO, copper output for the mine in 2024 totaled 1.8 billion pounds.

Grasberg has undergone a transition from an open pit to an underground block cave, and expansion work continues at the site. As of the close of 2024, the mine had 469 open drawbells.

In September, the main Grasberg Block Cave suffered an ingress of wet material that killed seven workers and forced the closure of the operation. While Freeport stated that unaffected portions of Grasberg would open by the end of 2025, the Grasberg Block Cave would see a phased restart beginning in the second quarter of 2026, and increasing through the end of the year and into 2027.

Additionally, Freeport holds a 55 percent stake in the Cerro Verde copper-molybdenum complex in Peru. The mine routinely produces between 800 million and 1 billion pounds of copper and is expected to be in operation until 2052.

Its largest US based operation is its 72 percent owned Morenci mine in Arizona, which produced 700 million pounds in 2024. It also owns the Safford and Sierrita mines in the same state.

4. Glencore (LSE:GLEN,OTC Pink:GLCNF)

Copper production: 951,600 metric tons

Mining major Glencore copper production dipped by 6 percent in 2024 to 951,600 metric tons from the 1.01 million metric tons produced in 2023. The company’s 2024 annual report attributed the decline to lower planned production at its Antapaccay and Collahuasi mines due to factors including lower grades, water constraints and geotechnical challenges.

Located along Chile’s coast, Collahuasi is the company’s largest operation, a 44/44/12 joint operation between Glencore, Anglo American (LSE:AAL,OTCQX:NGLOY) and Japan’s Mitsui & Co. (OTC Pink:MITSF,TSE:8031). The mine produced 558,600 metric tons of copper in 2024.

The partners are working to build a large-scale desalination plant designed to help overcome water shortage issues. In Glencore’s third-quarter production report, it indicated that water restrictions at Collahuasi have eased since the staged commissioning started, with further improvements through Q4. Once open, it will provide 1,050 liters of desalinated water per second to the mine via a 194 kilometer pipeline.

Other significant copper-producing assets in the company’s portfolio include Antamina in Peru, Mount Isa in Australia and the Katanga Complex in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

5. Southern Copper (NYSE:SCCO)

Copper production: 883,462 metric tons

A majority-owned, indirect subsidiary of Grupo Mexico (OTC Pink:GMBXF), Southern Copper recorded 883,462 metric tons of total copper production for 2024, a 6.9 percent increase over 2023. In the company’s 2024 results, the company attributed the increase to higher production across all operations, with a 10.7 percent increase from its Peruvian assets and a 4.3 percent increase from Mexican production.

The company operates major copper mines in Peru and Mexico and has exploration projects in Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, Mexico and Peru.

Its largest copper-producing asset is the Buenavista mine in Northern Mexico, which sits atop one of the world’s largest porphyry copper deposits. According to MDO, the site produces approximately 700 billion to 750 billion pounds of copper per year.

Its other copper operations include the Cuajone and Toquepala mines in Peru and the La Caridad mine in Mexico.

6. Anglo American (LSE:AAL,OTCQX:NGLOY)

Copper production: 772,700 metric tons

British miner Anglo American reported a 6.5 percent decrease in copper production to 772,700 metric tons from 826,200 metric tons in 2023.

The company attributed the decline to lower recovery and grades at the Collahuasi and Los Bronces operations in Chile, noting that the planned closure of the Los Bronces processing plant also impacted production. The company holds a 44 percent stake in Collahuasi and 50 percent in Los Bronces.

In addition to Collahuasi, the company also owns a 60 percent stake in the Quellaveco mine in Peru, with Mitsubishi owning the remaining 40 percent. The open pit mine started operating in 2022 and, according to MDO, produced 675 million pounds of copper in 2024.

It also owns a 50 percent stake in the El Soldado mine in Chile, which it operates in partnership with Mitsui, which holds a 30 percent stake, and Mitsubishi Materials (OTC Pink:MIMTF), which holds the remaining 20 percent. Data from MDO shows that the mine produced 48,200 metric tons of copper in 2024.

On September 9, Anglo American announced plans to combine with Canadian mining giant Teck Resources (TSX:TECK.A,TECK.B,NYSE:TECK) in a ‘merger of equals’ to form Anglo Teck, which would be headquartered in Canada. The merged company would focus on critical minerals and become a top-five global copper producer.

7. KGHM Polska Miedz (FWB:KGHA.F)

Copper production: 729,700 metric tons

Poland’s KGHM Polska Miedz has operations in Europe, North America and South America, and says that it controls over 40 million metric tons of copper ore resources worldwide. In 2024, KGHM produced 729,700 metric tons of copper, a slight increase from the 710,900 metric tons of copper produced in 2023.

According to MDO, KGHM’s largest operation is the Polkowice-Sieroszowice mine in Western Poland. The mine has been in operation since 1968 and produces approximately 430 million to 440 million pounds of copper annually.

The company’s Polish operations also include the Rudna mine, which produced 338 million pounds of copper last year, and the Lubin mine, which produced 156 million pounds.

Other options under the KGHM banner include the Robinson mine in Nevada, United States, and the 55 percent owned Sierra Gorda mine in Chile.

8. CMOC Group (OTC Pink:CMCLF,HKEX:3993)

Copper production: ~502,600 metric tons

CMOC Group is a new addition to the top 10 after its copper production jumped significantly in 2024, with its share of production from its joint venture copper-cobalt mines in the Democratic Republic of the Congo totaling approximately 502,600 metric tons. On a 100 percent basis, the company reported annual copper production of 650,161 metric tons.

The majority of CMOC’s copper production came from its Tenke Fungurume copper-cobalt mine, an 80/20 joint venture with the state-owned mining firm Gecamines. According to MDO data, the mine has experienced significant growth over the past few years, ramping up from 400 million pounds of copper in 2020 to 618 million pounds in 2023. In 2024, Tenke Fungurume’s copper production soared to 992 million pounds, or 450,138 metric tons.

Its other DRC mine is Kisanfu, a 71/24/5 joint venture with Chinese battery manufacturer Contemporary Amperex Technology (SZSE:300750) and the DRC government. The mine produced 200,013 metric tons of copper cathode in 2024, up substantially from 114,000 in 2023.

9. Antofagasta (LSE:ANTO,OTC Pink:ANFGF)

Copper production: 448,800 metric tons

Antofagasta’s share of copper production from its four joint venture operations in Chile totaled 448,800 metric tons in 2024.

The company’s largest operation is its 60 percent owned Los Pelambres mine, a joint venture with Mitsubishi. According to MDO, Los Pelambres’ copper production totaled 320,000 metric tons in 2024, up from 300,000 the previous year.

Its Centinela mine is another significant producer, with 224,000 metric tons of copper mined in 2024. The company is constructing a second concentrator at Centinela that, once it comes online in 2027, should add 144,000 metric tons of copper production annually and extend Centinela’s mine life by 15 years to 2051.

The company’s other Chilean joint ventures are the Antucoya and Zaldivar mines.

10. Teck Resources (TSX:TECK.A,TECK.B,NYSE:TECK)

Copper production: 358,910 metric tons

Rounding out the top 10 is Canada’s Teck Resources, which increased consolidated copper production by 50 percent in 2024, reaching 446,000 metric tons. On an attributable basis, the copper company’s production totaled 358,910 metric tons in 2024.

Much of the gain came from the ramp-up of the Quebrada Blanca mine in Chile. The mine started production in 2023 and produced just 122 million pounds of copper that year. 2024 saw a significant advancement, with the mine producing 458 million pounds of the red metal.

Teck holds a 60 percent ownership stake in the mine, while Japan’s Sumitomo (OTC Pink:SSUMF,TSE:8053) controls a 30 percent stake and Chile’s state-run Codelco owns the final 10 percent.

Teck also owns the Highland Valley mine in British Columbia, Canada. The mine is one of the largest open pit mines in Canada and produced 226 million pounds of copper in 2024.

Other copper operations in the Teck portfolio include Antamina in Peru and Carmen de Andacollo in Chile.

On September 8, Teck announced a planned merger of equals with Anglo American to focus on critical minerals and copper production. The combined company is set to be called Anglo Teck and will be headquartered in Canada. The merger is expected to take 12 to 18 months to be completed.

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

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4 Mins Read

1911 Gold Announces Option Grant

1911 Gold Corporation (‘1911 Gold’ or the ‘Company’) (TSXV: AUMB,OTC:AUMBF) (OTCQX: AUMBF) (FRA: 2KY) announces that, pursuant to the Company’s long-term incentive plan (the ‘LTIP’), it has granted stock options (the ‘Options’) to Suzette Ramcharan, an employee of the Company who provides investor relation services, to purchase 500,000 shares of the Company (the ‘Shares’) at a price of $1.15 per Share until February 25, 2031. The Options will vest ¼ three months after the date of the grant; ¼ six months after the date of the grant; ¼ nine months after the date of the grant; and ¼ twelve months after the date of the grant. The foregoing Options are subject to acceptance by the TSX Venture Exchange.

About 1911 Gold Corporation

1911 Gold is an advanced gold explorer and developer focused on its 100%-owned True North Gold Project in the Archean Rice Lake Greenstone Belt in Manitoba, Canada. The Company controls a large, highly prospective ~62,000-hectare land package with numerous past-producing gold operations within trucking distance of the fully built and permitted True North mine and mill complex. 1911 Gold is positioning itself to restart operations in 2027 and offers a unique, near-term production story with significant exploration upside. The strategy is to build a district-scale gold mining operation around a centralized, and readily expandable infrastructure to support a socially and environmentally responsible, long-term mining operation with little development risk and a growing mineral resource base.

1911 Gold’s True North complex and the exploration land package are located within and among the First Nation communities of the Hollow Water First Nation and the Black River First Nation. 1911 Gold looks forward to maintaining open, cooperative, and respectful communications with all of our local communities and stakeholders to foster mutually beneficial working relationships.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Shaun Heinrichs
President and CEO

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

This news release contains forward-looking information or forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws (collectively, ‘forward-looking statements‘). Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words and phrases such as ‘plans’, ‘expects’ or ‘does not expect’, ‘is expected’, ‘budget’, ‘scheduled’, ‘estimates’, ‘forecasts’, ‘intends’, ‘anticipates’ or ‘does not anticipate’, or ‘believes’, or that describe a ‘goal’, or variations of such words and phrases, or statements that certain actions, events or results ‘may’, ‘could’, ‘would’, ‘might’ or ‘will’ be taken, occur or be achieved.

All forward-looking statements reflect the Company’s beliefs and assumptions based on information available at the time the statements were made. Actual results or events may differ from those predicted in these forward-looking statements. All of the Company’s forward-looking statements are qualified by the assumptions that are stated or inherent in such forward-looking statements, including the assumptions listed below. Although the Company believes that these assumptions are reasonable, this list is not exhaustive of factors that may affect any of the forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, future events, conditions, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, predictions, projections, forecasts, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, the terms of the Options, the ability of the Company to receive necessary regulatory approvals for the grant of the Options, and the planned restart of mining operations in 2027, and the timing of such event.

Although 1911 Gold has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

All forward-looking statements contained in this news release are given as of the date hereof. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE 1911 Gold Corporation

View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/February2026/25/c5296.html

News Provided by Canada Newswire via QuoteMedia

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1 Min Read

Clem Chambers: I Sold My Gold and Silver, What I’m Buying Next

Clem Chambers, CEO of aNewFN.com, explains why he sold his gold and silver, and where he’s looking next, mentioning the copper and oil sectors.

He also speaks about the importance of staying positive as an investor: ‘The media negativity is the most wealth-crushing thing you can fall for. So be positive. Work hard at it. Be on the front foot. Look for opportunities. Think hard about it. Study. You will do so well.’

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

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

2 Mins Read

Domestic Metals: Investing in America’s Copper Future to Meet Critical Metal Demand

Dubbed a “central bottleneck of the electrified future,” copper demand is expected to far exceed supply. A recent outlook from S&P Global projects the market could face a shortfall of up to 10 million metric tons by 2040.

Against this backdrop, Domestic Metals (TSXV:DMCU) offers a timely opportunity for investors. Listed on TSX Venture Exchange, OTCQB and Frankfurt Stock Exchange, the company is advancing its flagship Smart Creek Project in Montana, targeting discovery of a porphyry system and a carbonate replacement deposit (CRD).

Smart Creek’s potential is further bolstered by its proximity to significant discoveries like Ivanhoe Electric’s (NYSEAmerican:IE,TSX:IE) Hog Heaven project, which announced the intersection of a porphyry copper-gold-molybdenum system within a large, deep anomaly.

Company Highlights

Exceptional Surface Grades: The 2025 field campaign returned high-grade samples, highlighted by 102 g/t gold, 23.1 percent copper, and 3,810 g/t silver.
World-Class Team: Dr. Peter Megaw, a globally recognized authority on Carbonate Replacement Deposits (CRDs) and discoverer of MAG Silver’s Juanicipio, has joined the team to guide exploration, together with President & CEO Gordon Neal who has had a successful track record building MAG Silver and New Pacific Metals
Mining-Friendly Jurisdiction: Operations are focused in Montana, USA, a mining-friendly state ranked 6th in 2024 by the Fraser Institute for investment attractiveness, with a legacy of massive production at the nearby Butte Mine.

This Domestic Metals profile is part of a paid investor education campaign.*

Click here to connect with Domestic Metals (TSXV:DMCU) to receive an Investor Presentation

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7 Mins Read

Precious Metals Price Update: Gold, Silver, PGMs Boosted by Geopolitical and Trade Tensions

Precious metals are recovering their safe-haven demand appeal this week.

Gold, silver and platinum are up this week, all still down from the all-time highs recorded in January. Escalating geopolitical tensions and US trade policy shifts are once again at center stage in this sector of the commodities market.

Let’s take a look at what’s got the precious metals moving over the past week.

Gold price

After dropping as low as US$4,400 per ounce on February 2, this past week gold has taken another run well above the key psychological US$5,000 mark; albeit still hundreds of dollars away from its record high of close to US$5,600 reached on January 28.

After trading in a tight range of US$4,985 to US$5,000 for much of Thursday (February 19), the price of gold managed to rise as high as US$5,107 on Friday. That upward climb continued on Monday (February 23) to an intraday high of US$5,248 — a level gold hasn’t seen in a month.

The yellow metal lost that steam by Tuesday’s close with the precious metal trading back down at US$5,143. By Wednesday morning, gold was once again making a run at the US$5,200 level to reach an intraday high of US$5,217.58 at 9:10 a.m. PST. However, it couldn’t hang on for long, sinking back down to US$5,166.25 as of 1:40pm PST on profit-taking and a stronger dollar.

Gold price chart, February 18, 2026 to February 25, 2026.

Here are the primary drivers for gold this past week:

Dips this week were brought on by slight downward pressure due to profit-taking and a stronger US dollar.

In other gold news, JPMorgan Chase (NYSE:JPM) raised its gold forecast to US$6,300 by the end of 2026, citing a ‘reserve currency paradigm shift’ as countries diversify away from the dollar, and ‘significant investor diversification’.

Looking at major events in the gold mining sector, Kinross Gold’s (TSX:K,NYSE:KGC) Great Bear development in the Red Lake district of Ontario, Canada, has been designated for a reduced permitting timeline under the provincial government’s One Project, One Process (1P1P) framework. 1P1P is a streamlined approval system aimed at reducing government review times by 50 percent. The high-grade, combined open-pit and underground operation is expected to produce more than 500,000 ounces of gold annually during its peak years.

Silver price

The price of silver is still well below its all-time high of more than US$120 per ounce it reached on January 29, 2026. For the most part, the white metal continued to track the same trends as gold this week.

Like gold, silver traded sideways Thursday (February 19) in the US$77.50 to US$78.50 range, and then surged the following day to an intraday high of US$84.61.

For most of Monday (February 23), silver continued higher but at a much slower pace, to reach as high as US$88.96. Tuesday brought another day of tight trading in the US$86.70 to US$88.10; however, by Wednesday morning the silver price had managed to break through the US$90 level on the same safe-haven demand forces pushing gold prices higher this week.

The price of silver hit an intraday high of US$91.15 at 11:55am PST before sliding back down below US$89 in the afternoon session.

Silver price chart, February 18, 2026 to February 25, 2026.

Silver may still not be back into the triple digits, but its showing strong support despite a slump in artificial intelligence (AI) tech stocks. Silver, the most electrically and thermally conductive metal on the planet, is considered a key material for AI tech, particularly in data centers and high-performance computing. Silver is also in a structural supply deficit which continues to provide upward pressure on silver prices

In silver mining news, Lundin Gold (TSX:LUG,OTCQX:LUGDF) announced a US$670 million silver stream deal with LunR Royalties (TSXV:LUNR) on its Fruta del Norte mine.

Platinum price

Platinum continues to be one of the top performing metals, reaching a 12-year high in recent weeks. This past week it has gained more than 8 percent. Sideways trading on Thursday (February 19) turned into an upward climb on Friday with prices for platinum rising from a low of US$2,060.10 to a high of US$2,117.40 per ounce.

The first few days of this new week were marked by volatility with wider price swings. The platinum price reached a three week high of US$2,226.30 in late day trading Tuesday. The jump was driven by a combination of geopolitical tensions, trade uncertainty, and structural supply constraints.

Platinum continued its ascent in overnight trading, reaching as high as US$2,360.50 in early morning trading, and managed to finish off the day just below the US$2,300 level.

Platinum price chart, February 18, 2026 to February 25, 2026.

Platinum prices are benefitting from renewed tariff jitters, geopolitical safe-haven demand, and persistent supply tightness from major producer South Africa.

The emerging hydrogen economy is also adding to demand for the metal on top of robust demand from the auto sector. Consumers are shifting back toward internal combustion engine and diesel vehicles as hurdles to EV adoption remain challenging. This is highly supportive of demand for platinum as its primary use is in automotive catalysts.

On the supply side, global platinum reserves remain critically low, especially as the world’s biggest producer South Africa continues to be plagued by power shortages and operational disruptions.

In platinum mining news, Valterra Platinum declared a dividend of 45 rand a share for a total 2025 payout of 12 billion rand (US$757 million) after its net income more than doubled to 15.4 billion rand. Bloomberg reported that the size of the dividend “smashed analyst expectations as earnings jumped last year on soaring metals prices”.

Palladium price

Palladium has been the black sheep of the precious metals family for the past few years, remaining well below its March 2022 all-time record of US$3,440.76 per ounce.

On Thursday (February 19), unlike its sister metals, palladium rallied 4.8 percent to an intraday high of US$1,767.50. The metal closed out last week with another nearly 3.9 percent gain to US$1,836.

On Monday, palladium lost some of that ground to close out the day at US$1,820. After dipping to a low of US$1,763 in early morning trading on Tuesday, the price of the metal regained those losses and more by the end of the trading day reaching as high as US$1,843.

Wednesday (February 25) morning brought a spike in palladium prices to US$1,935 as the metal went along for the same ride as platinum, before falling back to the US$1,860 level in afternoon trading.

Palladium price chart, February 18, 2026 to February 25, 2026.

As is the case with platinum, demand for palladium is getting support from the auto sector. Rising prices for platinum are leading automakers to make the swap to palladium.

The US Department of Commerce’s preliminary statement of support for anti-dumping duties of approximately 133 percent on unwrought Russian palladium imports is still shaping the outlook for palladium on the supply side. This follows a petition from Sibanye-Stillwater (NYSE:SBSW) over allegations that Russian metal is being sold in the US at less than fair value. A final decision is expected in the case by June of this year.

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

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6 Mins Read

Will the Eagles trade AJ Brown? Here are 4 landing spots for him

Where will A.J. Brown play in 2026?

When Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni and general manager Howie Roseman spoke to reporters at the NFL scouting combine on Feb. 24, they did not shut down trade speculation surrounding the Pro Bowl wide receiver. Neither of them expressed any certainty that Brown would be with Philadelphia by the start of the 2026 season.

‘Will A.J. be here next season?’ Sirianni said. ‘I think we’re still in a spot, like, I can’t guarantee how anything is going to play out into next season. I’m thinking I’m going to be the coach next season but you can’t guarantee anything past tomorrow.’

Several times throughout the 2025 season, Brown publicly expressed his frustrations with the Eagles and how they used him in their offense. During a video gaming livestream, Brown called his situation in Philadelphia a ‘(expletive)-show’, and during the Eagles’ wild-card game clash with the 49ers, cameras caught him jawing with Sirianni on the sideline.

‘I think you go into the league year listening to offers for everything and anything,’ Roseman said at the NFL combine. ”Without getting into specifics on any player, we’re always listening and we’re always kind of open.’

Brown has played in 62 games over four seasons with the Eagles, catching 339 passes for 5,034 yards and 32 touchdowns. He won a Super Bowl with Philadelphia last year, and his 5,034 receiving yards as an Eagle rank ninth all-time in franchise history.

In 2025, Brown caught 78 passes for 1,003 yards and seven touchdowns in 15 games.

If the Eagles do end up trading Brown, these four landing spots make a lot of sense:

AJ Brown landing spots

New England Patriots

Outside of the struggles the Patriots had with their offensive line to end their Super Bowl run, the wide receiver position appeared to be one of the weakest points on their roster. Veteran Stefon Diggs led New England with his 1,013 yards in 2025, but he was streaky – some weeks he’d cross over 100 yards in a game before multi-game stretches with fewer than 50 yards. Diggs also wasn’t a big red-zone target for the Patriots, catching just four touchdowns in his first year in New England.

Trading for Brown would give Patriots quarterback Drake Maye a younger, bona fide No. 1 receiver to throw to in 2026. Diggs, Kayshon Boutte, Mack Hollins and DeMario Douglas made up a solid receiving corps in 2025, but Brown would push that unit over the top as a true WR1.

A move like this would also reunite Brown with head coach Mike Vrabel, who was Brown’s first head coach in the NFL during both of their time with the Tennessee Titans. Brown said in a recent appearance on Rob Gronkowski and Julian Edelman’s podcast, ‘Dudes on Dudes,’ that he appreciated Vrabel for holding him accountable during his early years in the league.

‘When I say he holds every single player accountable from top to bottom, I don’t care who it is, like that’s who he is,’ Brown said. ‘And it makes the team come together because nobody is bigger than the team.’

Buffalo Bills

As with the Patriots, one of the Bills’ greatest roster weaknesses is at wide receiver. Since Diggs left Buffalo after the 2023 season, the Bills have not had a receiver cross the 1,000-yard mark. Khalil Shakir has led Bills receivers in both of the last two seasons, but he failed to crest 750 yards in 2025. And no Buffalo receiver had more than five touchdowns.

In 2025, the Bills started leaning especially heavily on running back James Cook, who finished the year with 309 rush attempts for 1,621 yards and 12 touchdowns. Even though former offensive coordinator Joe Brady took a promotion to become the team’s head coach, the Bills’ offense can’t rely on Cook having another season like that with the excessive taxation on his legs from 2025.

Enter Brown, the high-ceiling receiver that would give the Bills their first true WR1 since Diggs left Buffalo after 2023. Adding a receiver like that would help push Buffalo’s offense forward and allow them to deploy a similar strategy to the 2024 Super Bowl-champion Eagles: complement a strong run game with a dynamic passing game, all surrounding a talented, dual-threat quarterback.

Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens have taken swing after swing at drafting a lead receiver in the first round for the last two decades. Travis Taylor in 2000, Mark Clayton in 2005, Breshad Perriman in 2015, Hollywood Brown in 2019, Rashod Bateman in 2021 and Zay Flowers in 2023. Only Flowers, the Ravens’ most recent attempt, has made a Pro Bowl.

Flowers is coming off of the most productive season of his career so far with 86 catches for 1,211 yards, five touchdowns and a second straight Pro Bowl nod. The Boston College product is a dynamic player who excels at creating separation with his route-running and generating yards after the catch. However, Flowers’ 5-foot-9, 182-pound frame has limited his contested-catch ability, something that would give Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson another tool to work with.

If Baltimore traded for Brown, it would have one of the strongest 1-2 punches at wide receiver in the NFL. Brown would be the bigger-bodied, No. 1 wide receiver option who’s good for 100+ catches, 1,000+ yards and at least five touchdowns per season. Flowers would be the dynamic No. 2 receiver that can work all three levels of the field by streaking open downfield, creating easy separation over the middle or generating yards after the catch on short throws.

Los Angeles Chargers

The Chargers’ plan in the offseason should be building up their trenches in free agency and the draft. But Los Angeles, a team with $81.8 million in cap space, also has the room to take big swings on offensive playmakers like Brown.

None of the Chargers’ leading trio of receivers in 2025 – Keenan Allen, Quentin Johnston and Ladd McConkey – had more than 800 yards. None of them established themselves as the team’s true No. 1 option, either. McConkey led Los Angeles with 789 yards, Allen led with 122 targets and 81 catches, and Johnston led the Chargers with eight touchdown catches in a breakout season.

Now, Allen is hitting free agency ahead of his age-34 season, and the Chargers have brought in Mike McDaniel to be their new offensive coordinator. Adding a wide receiver like Brown to Los Angeles’ roster would give quarterback Justin Herbert a true No. 1 target, while McConkey and Johnston provide dynamic secondary and tertiary options. McDaniel’s offense was at its best in Miami when it had two outstanding wide receivers and a promising young running back to scheme around. With Brown, McConkey and Johnston catching passes and second-year back Omarion Hampton leading the run game, the Chargers’ offense could really break out with a more complex, multi-dimensional look in 2026.

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2 Mins Read

Explaining the fall out after Trump’s invitations to USA hockey teams

Many in the United States will no doubt have their eyes glued to President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address on Tuesday.

After their gold medal triumph over Canada at the Milan Olympics, the United States men’s hockey team will also be closely watched to see whether its players will make it to Washington, D.C. The president invited them to attend, and tour the White House, in a call to the locker room after the victory.

The women’s hockey team, which also won a gold medal with a victory over Canada, was also invited to attend the State of the Union but declined President Donald Trump’s invitation citing ‘timing and previously scheduled academic and professional commitments.’

‘They were honored to be included and are grateful for the acknowledgment,’ a USA Hockey spokesperson said.

The fallout of the invitations

Social media was in an uproar following the men’s hockey team’s victory, when Trump spoke to the team by phone to congratulate them while they were celebrating in the locker room. The video showed FBI director Kash Patel chugging beer and celebrating with the hockey players.

Patel called Trump and put him on speakerphone to talk to the players.

“What would really be cool, and we’ll do the White House next time, we’ll just have some fun, we have medals for you guys. And we have to, I must tell you, we’re gonna have to bring the women’s team, you do know that?” Trump said on the call.

Then Trump seemed to slight the women’s hockey team, saying, “I must tell you we’re going to have to bring the women, too; you do know that. Believe me, I probably would be impeached, OK?”

The men’s hockey team’s laughed at the comment, leading to outrage on social media.

The men’s hockey team accepted the president’s invitation on Sunday but it’s unknown how many will attend the address.

There is a petition on Move On asking the men’s hockey team to apologize to women’s team and skip the State of the Union.

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4 Mins Read

Internet ablaze after Trump’s comment on women’s hockey team

The Olympic gold medal-winning United States women’s hockey team is receiving support online after it declined an invite by the White House to attend the State of the Union address on Tuesday, Feb. 24.

The winning team, which beat Canada for the gold at the 2026 Winter Olympics, cited ‘timing and previously scheduled academic and professional commitments’ as the reason behind their decline.

However, the team’s declining of the invite also came after a controversial phone call from President Donald Trump to the U.S. Men’s Hockey Team after they also beat Canada for a gold medal on Sunday, Feb. 22.

During the call, Trump invited the men’s team to the State of the Union and a White House visit, and offered to transport them on a military plane. He also said on the call, ‘I must tell you, we’re going to have to bring the women’s team, you do know that?’

The president added, jokingly, ‘I do believe I probably would be impeached’ if he didn’t invite the women’s team.

The phone call sparked discussion on social media with some upset about the president’s comments and laughter among the men, while others wanted to refocus on unity and country. See reactions.

Internet, celebrities support women’s hockey team for skipping White House

His wife, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, also supported the team’s decision to skip the event, writing: ‘Clearly they prefer arenas where women are actually respected!’

Actor Sophia Bush brought in a ‘Heated Rivalry reference,’ writing ‘our boyfriends would NEVER.’

‘@usahockey (obviously the women) you deserve better and you earned the world! We love you!’ Bush said in an Instagram post.

Some social media users not only expressed distaste over the president’s remarks but were also annoyed at the men’s team for laughing at the joke.

Jack Hughes: ‘People are so negative’

Hockey player Jack Hughes, who scored the game-winning goal against Canada, meanwhile, is seemingly unfazed by the criticism, telling the Daily Mail at a victory party in Miami: ‘Everything is so political.’

‘They’ve got busy schedules, too,’ Hughes told the media outlet. ‘Everyone is giving us backlash for all the social media stuff today. People are so negative out there, and they are just trying to find a reason to put people down and make something out of almost nothing.’

Hughes added his team wholly supported the women’s team and ‘everyone in that locker room knows how much we support them, how proud we are of them, and we know the same way we feel about them, they feel about us.’

‘We’re athletes,’ Hughes added. ‘We’re so proud to represent the U.S., and when you get the chance to go to the White House and meet the president, we’re proud to be Americans and that’s so patriotic.’

Olympic mom Ellen Hughes reacts to Trump’s comment

‘These players, both the men and women, can bring so much unity to a group and to a country,’ Hughes commented during an appearance on ‘Today’ Feb. 24. ‘People that cheered on that don’t watch hockey, people that have politics on one side or on the other side, and that’s all both the men’s team and the women’s team care about.’

Hughes added the ‘synergy’ between the two squads is ‘what it’s all about.’

‘If you could see what we see from the inside, and the men and women sharing, you know, dorm rooms and halls and flex floors and the camaraderie and the synergy and the way the women cheered on the men and the way the men cheered on the women — that’s what it’s all about,’ she said. ‘And the other things they cannot control. They care about humanity. They care about unity and they care about the country.’

Flavor Flav invites women’s team to Vegas

American rapper Flavor Flav, meanwhile, invited the women’s hockey team to Las Vegas for ‘some nice dinners and shows and good times’ to celebrate their achievement. It is not yet clear if the women’s team have accepted his offer, though a post on the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer’s Instagram said the team had accepted it. Several brands, including Alaska Airlines and Stubhub, also offered to help with the celebrations.

Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at sshafiq@usatodayco.com and follow her on X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7.

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2 Mins Read

49ers ‘struggling’ to find contract solution with star LT

The San Francisco 49ers racked up 13 wins in 2025 but finished third in their own division. They’re looking to improve and catch up to the Los Angeles Rams and Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks in 2026.

They’ll have to do it after settling a reported contract dispute with their star offensive lineman.

San Francisco and left tackle Trent Williams are ‘struggling to find a contractual solution’ for 2026, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Williams, 37, is entering the final year of his current extension and is carrying a nearly $39 million cap hit for 2026.

Williams is the second-highest paid left tackle in the NFL by average annual value (AAV) behind only the Los Angeles Chargers’ Rashawn Slater, per OverTheCap.

Williams signed a new extension late in the 2024 offseason after the 49ers reached Super Bowl 58 following a holdout. He played in 10 games that season but returned healthy for 2025 and made his 12th career Pro Bowl.

The five-time All-Pro left tackle is entering his age-38 season in 2026.

San Francisco currently has $41.2 million in cap space for 2026 per OverTheCap, 11th-most in the NFL for the upcoming season. His cap number of $38.84 million is the second-highest on the team entering 2026 behind edge rusher Nick Bosa ($41.61 million).

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