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Mikaela Shiffrin, Lindsey Vonn not only US women with medal potential

SUN VALLEY, Idaho — Mikaela Shiffrin is no longer the only U.S. woman making herself at home on the podium.

The U.S. women last week wrapped up their most successful season in more than a decade. Five different women made World Cup podiums, while four women got medals at the world championships.

“It’s a pretty special time to be part of the women’s U.S. ski team, tech or speed. We just continue to build off each other,” Paula Moltzan, who was the bronze medalist in two World Cup races and also finished third in the giant slalom at the world championships, said after wrapping up the World Cup finals.

“Hopefully we’re able to carry that momentum into the first couple races of the season and then yeah, carry it into the Olympics.”

For the last four decades, the Americans have always had a dominant female skier. Sometimes the dominant female skier. Tamara McKinney. Picabo Street. Lindsey Vonn. Shiffrin. But it was often a two-woman show at the end of Vonn’s career — the first iteration — and, during her five-year hiatus, up to Shiffrin to carry the load.

No more.

When Lauren Macuga won the super-G in St. Anton, Austria, it was the first time a U.S. woman not named Shiffrin or Vonn had been atop a World Cup podium since 2013, when Alice McKennis won the downhill, also in St. Anton. Breezy’s Johnson’s gold in the downhill at the world championships was the first win in an individual event at worlds by someone other than Shiffrin or Vonn since Hilary Lindh, also in the downhill, in 1997.

And Vonn’s silver medal in the super-G at the World Cup finals made her the fifth different U.S. woman to make a World Cup podium this season, the most since there were seven in 2012-13.

In addition to Moltzan and Vonn’s World Cup success, Shiffrin had four wins and a third-place finish in slalom, despite missing two months after a crash at Killington, Vermont, left her with a deep gash in her obliques. Macuga, who is 22, had a downhill silver in addition to her super-G win. Johnson won a bronze medal in the downhill.

“We always hope that we get these new generations coming in,” said Vonn, who came out of retirement in November after having a partial knee replacement. “And I think we’ve been waiting a little while for someone like Lauren Macuga to come along, and it’s great to see that because she’s so young. She’s going to keep going for a long time and we really need that.

“We’ve got to see that new group coming up and I think we have that. Especially on the technical side, we really have a strong group,” Vonn added. “It’s great to see because it’s the kind of thing that we need to keep stimulating ski racing in the U.S.”

While ski racing is expensive — athletes spend five months traversing Europe and North America in the World Cup season, and preseason training camps are often in the southern hemisphere — that alone doesn’t explain the depth challenge the Americans have had.

Training together as a team but then competing against one another in races is a challenge that doesn’t suit all athletes. But this group has found a way to make it work.

It doesn’t mean they care any less or are any less competitive. They’ve simply found a way to maximize the benefits of being part of a team, feeding off one another rather than feeding on one another.

“Finding the balance between being a supportive teammate and a fierce competitor is hard,” Shiffrin said. “I just feel like this group of women has been able to strike that balance in a really unique way that’s different from anything I’ve ever experienced or been able to witness. And that’s pretty cool going into next season.”

The atmosphere is also helping the women who didn’t make the podium. Nina O’Brien had her best season with four top-10 finishes — one more than in her previous seasons combined. Jacqueline Wiles had two top-10 finishes in the downhill. AJ Hurt was in the top 20 in both of her individual events at the world championships, giant slalom (13) and slalom (19).

“It’s been so much fun,” O’Brien said. “Our team has been pushing each other and it feels like every race, somebody is shining, which is really cool.”

The U.S. women, coming in hot to the Olympic year.

Follow USA TODAY Sports columnist Nancy Armour on social media @nrarmour.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

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5 Mins Read

College Football Playoff should follow March Madness blueprint to thrive

They’re making this more difficult than it is, which falls in line of late with just about all things college football.

So while we soak in the majesty of the three-week event that is March Madness, it’s time to reassess the postseason football clunker rolled out last season by the smartest men and women in college sports. 

Something, everyone, must be done about the College Football Playoff.

It’s time to introduce the CFP for Dummies plan.

“We’re only one year into the new playoff format,” said Oklahoma athletic director Joe Castiglione. “I don’t know that you make drastic decisions based off one year.”

While I’m all about not being trapped as a prisoner of the moment, there’s something so reassuring about the simplicity of the NCAA basketball tournament that can’t be ignored.

Everyone has a chance to play in it, and the highest seeds get more favorable draws. That’s it, period.

Hence, the CFP for Dummies plan.

But as we move toward the new CFP contract in 2026, and a likely increase to at least 14 teams, they’re reinventing the wheel again. And by “they” I mean the Big Ten and SEC — the insatiable beasts running college sports.

They’ve got grievances, and they want to be heard.

They want more guaranteed admission to the CFP, and they’re not sure they like the idea of a selection committee — which doesn’t exactly use strength of schedule as the determining factor. 

They’re talking about turning Championship Week into play-in week, but each of the Power conferences have different ideas about how to pull it off.

They’re still not sure about campus games, or if more are needed. And the seeding thing is an absolute mess. 

This isn’t rocket science. Simple is better.

Follow the lead of the NCAA tournament, and begin the 2026 season with a clear and unmistakeable path to the national championship. Here’s how it happens: 

SPRING POWER RANKINGS: Big Ten | SEC | ACC | Big 12

LOOKING AHEAD: Our way-too-early college football Top 25 for 2025

Commit to the selection committee

This begins and ends with clear and unambiguous metrics from disinterested sources. Translation: computer nerds!

The NCAA tournament uses NET, KenPom, BPI, KPI and – tada! – strength of record (see: record in relation to schedule difficulty) to decide selections for the 68-team field. I refuse to believe the highly qualified mathematicians running these programs can’t easily translate their formulas to college football.

The human committee will still have the ultimate say, and there will undoubtedly be questionable decisions (hello, Indiana). But at least there’s transparency.

Commit to a 20-team field

How did we jump all the way to 20, you ask? It’s less postseason games, in totality, than what the power conferences are currently discussing.

The need for new revenue streams has led the power conferences to the idea of play-in games. More games for television means more money from the CFP contract. 

More money from the CFP contract means less of a financial hit when universities begin spending as much as $20 million-23 million annually on de facto pay for play, beginning July 1.

By moving to 20 teams, championship week doesn’t change, and conference championships aren’t minimized because the winner of the four power conference championships receives a spot in the playoff. 

The other 16 teams are at-large selections, much like the NCAA tournament. But here’s the catch: just because you’re a power conference champion doesn’t mean you avoid a play-in game.

Commit to a basketball bracket

After championship weekend, the selection committee releases its field of 20, and the bottom eight teams will compete in play-in games at campus sites. The winners then move to the round of 16, where the CFP is seeded just like the NCAA tournament: No. 1 vs. No. 16, No .2 vs. No. 15, and so on.

The round of 16 is played on campus, and the seven remaining games – quarterfinals, semifinals and championship game – will be neutral sites through the bowl system.

If this system were in place for the 2024 season, the SEC would’ve had seven of the 20 teams, and the Big Ten five. The Big 12 and ACC would’ve had three teams each, and the final two spots would’ve been committed to Boise State and Notre Dame.

The play-in games: Illinois (20) at Miami (13), Missouri (19) at Mississippi (14), Iowa State (18) at South Carolina (15), and Brigham Young (17) at Clemson (16). The four winners move to spots 13-16 in the playoff, based on their end of season CFP ranking. 

It is here where I need to stress that the Big Ten and SEC are pushing a 14- or 16-team format for 2026 that includes four automatic qualifications for their respective conferences, and two each for the Big 12 and ACC.

In the CFP for Dummies plan, everyone increases their access. And, more to the point, their ability to earn.

Don’t believe it? Check out this empirical evidence of teams per conference (with current conference alignment) beginning with the first CFP after the Covid season. 

2023: SEC (7), Big Ten (6), ACC (3), Big 12 (2).

2022: Big Ten (7), SEC (6), Big 12 (3), ACC (2).

2021: Big 12 (6), Big Ten (5), SEC (4), ACC (4).   

A simple plan for a simple process. 

Welcome, everyone, to The CFP for Dummies plan.

Matt Hayes is the senior national college football writer for USA TODAY Sports Network. Follow him on X at @MattHayesCFB.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

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5 Mins Read

Final Four X-factors: What unheralded players could have star turn?

There’s no shortage of star power in the NCAA men’s tournament Final Four. But who could be the unsung hero that steps up to help his team win a national championship?

With all four No. 1 seeds in San Antonio, Texas, it’s hard to ignore the big names that will be taking the court. Duke’s Cooper Flagg, Florida’s Walter Clayton or Auburn’s Johni Broome could very well lead their teams toward cutting down the nets at the Alamodome on Monday. But playing against the best of the best, they can’t do it all on their own. More than likely, a role player will emerge and provide the critical lift toward success on the sport’s biggest stage.

Here is one player on each Final Four team that could be the key person for each squad to advance to the national championship game and perhaps win it all.

Thomas Haugh, Florida

Walter Clayton Jr. provided the heroics in the comeback win over Texas Tech, but it wouldn’t have been possible without the contributions from Thomas Haugh. The sophomore tied career-highs with 20 points and 11 rebounds in the win over the Red Raiders.

Haugh has become one of the best players coming off the bench in the NCAA Tournament. He averaged 9.4 prior to the tournament started, but he’s been in double figures in three of the last four games. At 6-foot-9-inches, Haugh is also keep to why Florida is one of the best rebounding teams in the country. He’s gotten at least three offensive rebounds in every tournament game this season, allowing the Gators to capitalize on second-chance opportunities.

He showed off his 3-point shooting skills when he went 4-for-6 from deep against Texas Tech, and if he stays hot, Auburn will have its hands full trying to guard all of Florida’s shot makers. He put up 16 points and nine rebounds in the first meeting against the Tigers earlier this season, and he could have another productive night against the SEC foe.

Dylan Cardwell, Auburn

All eyes will be on whether Broome will be healthy enough for Auburn, but regardless of his status, there will be pressure on Cardwell to deliver for the Tigers.

Cardwell won’t wow anyone in points − averaging just 4.9 per game − but he is able to control the paint. He has contributed 27 rebounds in four tournament games, which is important with Florida one of the best rebounding teams in the country. The Gators are especially skilled on the offensive glass, so Cardwell will be critical to limiting second-chance points. He has excellent size and presence around the rim that could really stop the flow of opposing offenses by making sure other big men don’t get a rhythm. The fifth-year senior is a true leader on the court for the Tigers, and his toughness will set the tone for Auburn in the Final Four.

Auburn lost its lone meeting against Florida, but Cardwell was extremely productive in that game with a game-high 12 rebounds. If Cardwell can do that again, it sets up the offense for a potentially big night.

Khaman Maluach, Duke

Big-game experience is helpful, and Maluach played on the biggest stage at the 2024 Paris Olympics. The South Sudan native was a heralded international recruit and he’s lived up to the hype.

It took time for Malauach to get adjusted to the college game at the start of the season, but he’s blossomed into a solid post player, as if his 7-foot-2-inch frame wasn’t already helping him enough. In the tournament, Maluach has commanded the interior with 11.5 points and 6.3 rebounds per game. What’s even more impressive is his efficiency; he’s 20-for-23 (86.7%) from the field in the tournament with mostly dunks and other short-range baskets.

Duke is facing a top defense in Houston and will take any easy bucket it can get. Maluach can be the guy to throw down powerful slams for big momentum shifts, and he has an opportunity to own the boards against a team that doesn’t really have a premier rebounder. His effectiveness is tough to match, and the Cougars will have their hands dealing with his size and avoiding foul trouble.

Milos Uzan, Houston

Defense is what Houston is known for, but it’s somehow flown under the radar the Cougars are fifth in the country in 3-point shooting percentage. One of the biggest contributors to that is Uzan.

The junior guard is the best 3-point shooter for Houston at 44.5%, and it was on full display in the Sweet 16 matchup when he made a season-high six shots from behind the arc on nine attempts for a 22-point night. He didn’t make a 3-pointer in the Elite Eight against Tennessee in what was a quiet day for Uzan, but it wasn’t entirely needed given the Cougars dominated the Volunteers.

Houston will do its best to shut down Duke, but the Blue Devils are certainly going to find ways for the offense to score. That means the Cougars are going to need to find their own points, and they can do that with the three-ball from Uzan. If he’s able to replicate any of the big shots from the Purdue matchup, then Houston should like its chances of keeping up with the premier offense in the country.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

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Alex Ovechkin goal chase: How to watch Capitals vs. Hurricanes

Wednesday’s Washington Capitals-Carolina Hurricanes game is more than another chance for Alex Ovechkin to pull closer to Wayne Gretzky’s goal record.

It also is important to the NHL playoff standings.

The Hurricanes will clinch a playoff spot if they beat the visiting Capitals. Washington (105 points) can move 13 points ahead of Carolina (94) with a regulation victory and pull closer to a division title. The Capitals can also pass the idle Winnipeg Jets for best record in the league.

The Capitals will be playing their second road game in two nights after beating the Boston Bruins 4-3 Tuesday to end a three-game losing streak.

Ovechkin scored his 891st goal in that game and needs four more in the Capitals’ eight remaining games to break Gretzky’s record this season.

Here’s what to know about Wednesday’s game between the Capitals and Hurricanes:

When is Alex Ovechkin’s next game? Capitals vs. Hurricanes start time

The Capitals play the Hurricanes at 7 p.m. ET Wednesday at Lenovo Center in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Where to watch Capitals vs. Hurricanes game

The game is being aired by TNT and truTV. The truTV broadcast will feature an OviCast. An isolated camera will be on Ovechkin for the duration of the game. The alternate telecast will display Ovechkin’s live stats, his historical numbers and on-ice audio from the NHL on TNT broadcast.

How to stream Capitals vs. Hurricanes game

The game can be streamed on Max and Sling. Max will have the OviCast.

Capitals vs. Hurricanes date, start time, where to watch

  • Game Day: Wednesday, April 2, 2025
  • Game Time: 7 p.m. ET
  • Location: Lenovo Center (Raleigh, North Carolina)
  • TV Channel: TBS, truTV
  • Live Stream: Sling TV – Watch Now!

Alex Ovechkin goals vs. Hurricanes

Ovechkin has 51 goals in 91 career regular-season games against the Hurricanes, including one in an earlier meeting this season. He has scored 31 goals at Lenovo Center.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

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Cygnus secures another two years to increase its stake in Pontax

Pontax Lithium Project, James Bay, Canada

Cygnus Metals Limited (ASX: CY5, TSXV: CYG, OTCQB: CYGGF) is pleased to announce that it has negotiated a two-year extension to its two-stage earn-in with Stria Lithium Inc (‘Stria’) for the Pontax Lithium Project in James Bay, Quebec (‘Pontax’).

In July 2023, Cygnus announced that it had earned 51 per cent of Pontax under the first stage of the earn-in by spending C$4 million on the project and issuing 9,129,825 fully paid ordinary shares in Cygnus (‘Shares’) to Stria.

As a demonstration of the co-operation between Stria and Cygnus, the parties have now agreed that Cygnus has an additional 24 months to satisfy the second stage of the earn-in and earn an additional 19% interest in Pontax, bringing its total interest to 70%.

The extension means that Cygnus has until October 2027 to expend an additional C$2 million on exploration at the project and make a cash payment to Stria of C$3 million, enhancing the likelihood of successful exploration outcomes at Pontax.

As consideration for the extension and subject to TSXV approval, Cygnus will shortly issue 300,000 Shares to Stria utilising the Company’s available Listing Rule 7.1 capacity at a deemed price of A$0.105 per Share (based on the ASX closing price on 1 April 2025). These Shares will be subject to voluntary escrow for a period of 12 months from issue.

This announcement has been authorised for release by the Board of Directors of Cygnus.

David Southam
Executive Chairman
T: +61 8 6118 1627
E: info@cygnusmetals.com

About Cygnus Metals

Cygnus Metals Limited (ASX: CY5, TSXV: CYG, OTCQB: CYGGF) is a diversified critical minerals exploration and development company with projects in Quebec, Canada and Western Australia. The Company is dedicated to advancing its Chibougamau Copper-Gold Project in Quebec with an aggressive exploration program to drive resource growth and develop a hub-and-spoke operation model with its centralised processing facility. In addition, Cygnus has quality lithium assets with significant exploration upside in the world-class James Bay district in Quebec, and REE and base metal projects in Western Australia. The Cygnus team has a proven track record of turning exploration success into production enterprises and creating shareholder value.

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.

News Provided by GlobeNewswire via QuoteMedia

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

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9 Mins Read

Cartier Resources Announces Subscription Agreement for Flow-Through Units Under Its Previously Announced Brokered Offering and Adjustments Further to Tax Measures Unveiled by the Quebec Minister of Finance

THIS NEWS RELEASE IS NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES.

Cartier Resources Inc. (TSX-V: ECR) (‘ Cartier ‘ or the ‘ Corporation ‘) announces the execution, on March 31, 2025, of an amending agreement (the ‘ Amending Agreement ‘) further to the engagement letter dated March 20, 2025 between Paradigm Capital Inc. (the ‘ Agent ‘) and the Corporation (the ‘ Engagement Letter ‘) with respect to its previously announced ‘best efforts’ private placement offering of securities of Cartier (the ‘ Offering ‘).

The Amending Agreement was concluded to address potential impacts of several tax measures unveiled on March 25, 2025 by the Minister of Finance (Québec) in connection with his 2025-2026 budget (the ‘ 2025 Québec Budget ‘).

The Offering will continue to raise aggregate gross proceeds for the Corporation of up to approximately $7,300,160 (subject to a potential increase thereof for additional gross proceeds of up to $1,095,024 in accordance with the exercise of the Agent’s Option, as further described below).

The Offering remains a combination of: (a) units of the Corporation issued on a charitable flow-through basis that will qualify as ‘flow-through shares’ within the meaning of subsection 66(15) of the Income Tax Act (Canada) (the ‘ Tax Act ‘) and section 359.1 of the Québec Tax Act (the ‘ Premium FT Units ‘) for gross proceeds of approximately $5,000,200; and (b) units of the Corporation (the ‘ Hard Dollar Units ‘) and, together with the Premium FT Units, the ‘ Offered Securities ‘) at $0.13 per Hard Dollar Unit for gross proceeds of $2,299,960. Each Premium FT Unit consists of one common share in the capital of the Corporation (each a ‘ Common Share ‘) and one common share purchase warrant (each a ‘ Premium FT Warrant ‘), with each such Common Share and Premium FT Warrant qualifying as a ‘flow-through share’ within the meaning of subsection 66(15) of the Tax Act and section 359.1 of the Québec Tax Act. Each Hard Dollar Unit consists of one Common Share of the Corporation and one common share purchase warrant (each a ‘ Hard Dollar Warrant ‘), and for certainty, each such Common Share and Hard Dollar Warrant will not qualify as a ‘flow-through share’.

Under the Engagement Letter, the subscription price of the Premium FT Units (the ‘ FT Subscription Price ‘) was set on March 20, 2025 at $0.23 per FT Unit, based on certain tax benefits then available under the Quebec Tax Act and the Tax Act, including, but not limited to, the Québec Capital Gain Exemption and Québec Additional Deductions (each as defined herein).

The 2025 Québec Budget introduced major changes to the flow-through share regime under the Taxation Act (Québec) (the ‘ Québec Tax Act ‘), including the following measures (collectively, the ‘ 2025 Québec Budget Amendments ‘):

(a) abolition of the capital gains exemption in respect of the disposition of certain ‘resource property’ (within the meaning of the Québec Tax Act) (the ‘ Québec Capital Gain Exemption ‘); and
(b) abolition of both (i) the additional 10% deduction under the Québec Tax Act in respect of certain exploration expenses incurred in Québec and (iii) the additional 10% deduction under the Québec Tax Act in respect of certain surface mining exploration expenses incurred in Québec (collectively, the ‘ Québec Additional Deductions ‘).

However, the 2025 Québec Budget provides that the abolition of the Québec Additional Deductions will not apply to flow-through shares issued after March 25, 2025 if they are issued following a public announcement made no later than March 25, 2025 (which is the case of the Offering), provided furthermore that a report of exempt distribution is filed with the Autorité des marchés financiers no later than May 31, 2025 (the ‘ Grandfathering Exception ‘).

Considering the potential impacts of the 2025 Québec Budget Amendments as announced on March 25, 2025, the Corporation, on March 31, 2025, (a) entered into the Amending Agreement; and (b) entered into a subscription and renunciation agreement with PearTree Securities Inc. (‘ PearTree ‘), on behalf of certain disclosed principals (the ‘ Subscription and Renunciation Agreement ‘).

Pursuant to the Subscription and Renunciation Agreement, a mechanism was introduced to allow for the adjustment of the FT Subscription Price to $0.205 or $0.182 from $0.23 (i.e. the price initially agreed upon on March 20, 2025 under the Engagement Letter) depending on whether the Québec Capital Gain Exemption and/or Québec Additional Deductions are determined on the Closing Date (as defined herein) to be available in respect of the Offering, based on any written statements that are issued by the Minister of Finance (Québec) to clarify the scope of the 2025 Québec Budget Amendments and the Grandfathering Exception. Under the Subscription and Renunciation Agreement, corresponding adjustments would also be made to the number of Premium FT Units issued so as to retain approximately the same aggregate gross subscription proceeds.

All of the other material terms of the Offering remain unchanged, including the following:

  • The gross proceeds from the sale of the Premium FT Units will be used by the Corporation to incur eligible ‘Canadian exploration expenses’ that qualify as ‘flow-through mining expenditures’ (as both terms are defined in the Tax Act) (the ‘ Qualifying Expenditures ‘) related to the projects of the Corporation in Québec. The Qualifying Expenditures will be renounced in favour of the subscribers of the Premium FT Units with an effective date no later than December 31, 2025 and in an aggregate amount of not less than the total amount of the gross proceeds raised from the issuance of the Premium FT Units.
  • Each Premium FT Warrant and Hard Dollar Warrant will entitle the holder thereof to acquire one Common Share of the Corporation (each a ‘ Warrant Share ‘) on a non-flow-through basis at an exercise price of $0.18 for a period of 5 years following the Closing Date (as herein defined).
  • The Corporation will grant the Agent an option (the ‘ Agent’s Option ‘), exercisable up to 48 hours prior to the Closing Date (as herein defined), to sell that number of Offered Securities for additional gross proceeds of up to $1,095,024.

The Offering is being made by way of private placement in Canada. The Offered Securities will be subject to a four month and one day hold period under applicable securities laws in Canada. The Offering is expected to close on or about April 14, 2025 (the ‘ Closing Date ‘), subject to the satisfaction or waiver of customary closing conditions, including the conditional listing approval of the TSX-V.

About Cartier Resources Inc.

Cartier Resources Inc., founded in 2006, is an exploration company based in Val-d’Or. The Corporation’s projects are all located in Québec, which consistently ranks among the world’s top mining jurisdictions. Cartier is advancing the development of its flagship Cadillac project, consisting of the Chimo Mine and East Cadillac properties, and its other projects. The Corporation has corporate and institutional support, including Agnico Eagle and Québec investment funds.

This news release does not constitute an offer of securities for sale in the United States. The securities offered have not been, and will not be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and such securities may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration in the United States or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements in the United States.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains ‘forward-looking information’ within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities legislation that is based on expectations, estimates, projections, and interpretations as at the date of this news release. Any statement that involves discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, interpretations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance including in respect of the use of proceeds of the Offering, closing of the Offering and the tax treatment of the flow through shares (often but not always using phrases such as ‘expects’ or ‘does not expect’, ‘is expected’, ‘interpreted’, ‘management’s view’, ‘anticipates’ or ‘does not anticipate’, ‘plans’, ‘budget’, ‘scheduled’, ‘forecasts’, ‘estimates’, ‘believes’ or ‘intends’ or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results ‘may’ or ‘could’, ‘would’, ‘might’ or ‘will’ be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking information and are intended to identify forward-looking information. This forward-looking information is based on reasonable assumptions and estimates of management of the Corporation, at the time it was made, involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Corporation to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Although the forward-looking information contained in this news release is based upon what management believes, or believed at the time, to be reasonable assumptions, the parties cannot assure shareholders and prospective purchasers of securities that actual results will be consistent with such forward-looking information, as there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended, and neither the Corporation nor any other person assumes responsibility for the accuracy and completeness of any such forward-looking information. The Corporation does not undertake, and assumes no obligation, to update or revise any such forward-looking statements or forward-looking information contained herein to reflect new events or circumstances, except as may be required by law.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein.

For more information, contact:

Philippe Cloutier, P. Geo.
President and CEO
Phone: 819-856-0512
Email: philippe.cloutier@ressourcescartier.com
www.ressourcescartier.com

News Provided by GlobeNewswire via QuoteMedia

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

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Top 5 Small-cap Biotech Stocks of 2025

The NASDAQ Biotechnology Index (INDEXNASDAQ:NBI) is still trading at three-year highs, despite current market volatility, in response to breakthrough innovations and increased deals involving biotech stocks listed on the NASDAQ.

After dropping to a low of 3,637.05 in October 2023, the index climbed to a nearly three year peak of 4,954.813 on September 19, 2024. While the index had pulled back to 4,243.7 as of March 31, 2025, further growth could be in store in the future.

According to a Towards Healthcare analyst report, the global biotech market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 12.5 percent from now to 2034, reaching a valuation of US$5.036 trillion.

Driving that growth will be favorable government policies, investment in the sector, increased demand for synthetic biology and a rise in chronic disorders such as cancer, heart disease and hypertension.

The top NASDAQ biotech stocks have seen sizeable share price increases over the past year. For those interested in investing in biotech companies, the best-performing small-cap biotech stocks are outlined below.

Data was gathered on March 31, 2025, using TradingView’s stock screener. Small-cap biotech stocks with market caps between US$50 million and US$500 million at that time were considered for this list.

1. Bright Minds Biosciences (NASDAQ:DRUG)

Company Profile

Year-over-year gain: 2,942.02 percent
Market cap: US$254.99 million
Share price: US$36.20

Bright Minds Biosciences is developing novel treatments for pain and neuropsychiatric disorders such as epilepsy, post-traumatic stress disorder and difficult-to-treat depression.The company’s platform includes serotonin agonists designed to provide powerful therapeutic benefits while minimizing side effects.

Bright Minds is currently in Phase 2 clinical trials for BMB-101, a highly selective 5-HT2C receptor agonist, in adult patients with classic absence epilepsy and developmental epileptic encephalopathy.

Bright Minds’ share price rocketed upward in the fourth quarter of last year, shooting up from US$2.49 to US$38.49 in one day on October 15. The company issued a press release at the time, stating it was ‘unaware of any material changes in the company’s operations’ that would have contributed to such a rally.

The outperformance appears to be related to the October 14 news that Danish pharma company H. Lundbeck was to acquire Longboard Pharma, a company developing a 5-HT2C receptor agonist, for US$60 per share.

A few days later, Bright Minds announced a non-brokered private placement of US$35 million, which sent shares up to US$47.21 on October 18.

That same month, the company shared its collaboration with Firefly Neuroscience (NASDAQ:AIFF) to use Firefly’s Brain Network Analytics technology platform to provide a full analysis of the electroencephalogram data from Bright Minds’ BMB-101 Phase 2 clinical trial. This follows the pair’s previous successful collaboration to analyze data from Bright Minds’ first-in-human Phase 1 study of BMB-101.

In March 2025, Bright Minds expanded its Scientific Advisory Board with the addition of five experts in epilepsy research.

Bright Minds’ share price reached US$55.77, its peak for the past year, on November 6.

2. Monopar Therapeutics (NASDAQ:MNPR)

Company Profile

Year-over-year gain: 924.54 percent
Market cap: US$220.3 million
Share price: US$36.10

Clinical-stage biotech Monopar Therapeutics’ main drug candidate is its late-stage ALXN-1840 for Wilson disease. Its pipeline also includes radiopharma programs such as Phase 1-stage MNPR-101-Zr for imaging advanced cancers, as well as Phase 1a-stage MNPR-101-Lu and late preclinical-stage MNPR-101-Ac225 for the treatment of advanced cancers.

Shares in Monopar spiked by more than 600 percent on October 24, 2024, to US$32.66 following its news release detailing its exclusive worldwide licensing agreement with Alexion, AstraZeneca’s (NASDAQ:AZN) Rare Disease unit, for ALXN-1840, a drug candidate for Wilson disease that met its primary endpoints in its Phase 3 clinical trial. Going forward, Monopar will be responsible for all future global development and commercialization activities.

Further positive news flow in December continued to drive the company’s stock value. Early in the month, the company shared that the first patient was dosed with MNPR-101-Lu in its Phase 1a trial for the radiopharmaceutical. A few weeks later, Monopar announced the launch of a US$40 million concurrent public offering and private placement. After having fallen back to the US$22 range, shares in the company climbed to US$30.68 on December 17, 2024.

Positive sentiment in the company and the biotech market would later drive the stock up to its yearly high of US$51.89 on February 10, 2025. Monopar released its Q4 and full-year 2024 results on March 31.

3. Candel Therapeutics (NASDAQ:CADL)

Company Profile

Year-over-year gain: 268.3 percent
Market cap: US$262.39 million
Share price: US$5.64

Candel Therapeutics is a biotech company focused on developing oncology treatments. The company’s pipeline includes two clinical-stage multimodal biological immunotherapy platforms.

Candel’s lead product candidate, CAN-2409, is in a Phase 2 clinical trial in non-small cell lung cancer and borderline resectable pancreatic cancer, as well as Phase 2 and 3 trials for localized, non-metastatic prostate cancer.

The company had a number wins with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2024. In February and May, respectively, Candel’s CAN-3110 received regulatory approval for fast-track designation and orphan drug designation for the treatment of recurrent high-grade glioma.

The agency also granted Candel orphan drug designation for CAN-2409 for the treatment of pancreatic cancer in April 2024. Positive interim data for the trial on pancreatic cancer released that month, sent the company’s share price spiking upward. It ultimately climbed to its 2024 high point of US$14.00 on May 15, 2024.

So far in 2025, Candel’s share price has traded as high as US$12.21 on February 20. In its January corporate update, the company shared its goals for the year, including aiming for Q4 for reporting overall survival data in patients with recurrent high-grade glioma from its ongoing phase 1b trial that is evaluating multiple doses of CAN-3110.

4. Tiziana Life Sciences (NASDAQ:TLSA)

Company Profile

Year-over-year gain: 154.76 percent
Market cap: US$119.51 million
Share price: US$1.08

Tiziana Life Sciences is a clinical-stage biopharma which is developing therapies for autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, degenerative diseases, and cancer-related to the liver. Its pipeline of candidates is built on its patent drug delivery technology that provides a possible alternative to intravenous (IV) delivery. Tiziana’s lead candidate is intranasal foralumab, which it says is the only fully human anti-CD3 mAb currently in clinical development.

On May 31, 2024, shares in Tiziana broke above US$1 after a series of positive news flow for the company. This included positive clinical results from its intermediate sized Expanded Access Program for non-active secondary progressive multiple sclerosis patients, which demonstrated multiple improvements in foralumab-treated patients, as well as its submission of an orphan drug designation application to the FDA for intranasal foralumab for the treatment of non-active secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (na-SPMS).

While Tiazana’s share price slid back down below US$1 per share by mid-June 2024, news that the FDA granted fast track designation to Tiziana intranasal foralumab for the treatment of na-SPMS gave it a much needed boost to the upside. By August 12, the stock’s value had risen to US$1.45 per share.

Tiziana Life Sciences shares reached a yearly peak of US$1.69 on March 7, 2025, after the company filed its investigational new drug application to the FDA for a phase 2 clinical trial in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), which is supported by the ALS Association.

5. Benitec Biopharma (NASDAQ:BNTC)

Company Profile

Year-over-year gain: 149.71 percent
Market cap: US$331.43 million
Share price: US$13.01

California-based Benitec Biopharma is advancing novel genetic medicines via its proprietary “Silence and Replace” DNA-directed RNA interference platform. The company is currently focused on developing therapeutics for chronic and life-threatening conditions, including oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy (OPMD).

Its drug candidate BB-301 was granted orphan drug designation by the FDA and the European Medicines Agency. Benitec is well funded to advance its BB-301 clinical development program through the end of 2025.

Benitec’s share price benefited from its first bump of the past year, after the company released its fiscal year Q3 2024 update in mid-May highlighting its achievements over the quarter. This included the closing of a US$40 million private placement. Benitec’s stock value hit US$10.47 per share on May 20, 2024.

Later in the fall, the company reported positive data from two patients with OPMD treated with low-dose BB-301 in phase 1b/2a study, showing the clinical trial is meeting key safety and efficacy endpoints. Shares hit another high of US$11.22 on October 17, 2024.

Benitec’s share price hit US$16.79, its highest yearly value to date, on March 20, 2025, a day after the company released positive interim clinical results for three patients with OPMD treated with BB-301 in phase 1b/2a study.

“The sixth and final Subject of Cohort 1 will be treated with BB-301 in the second calendar quarter of this year, and we are highly optimistic about the potential for continued benefit in Subjects enrolled in the ongoing clinical study,” said Jerel A. Banks, Benitec Executive Chairman and CEO.

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

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

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StrategX Announces Executive Change

StrategX Elements Corp. (CSE: STGX) (‘StrategX’ or the ‘Company’) announces that Gary Wong has stepped down from his role as the Company’s Vice President of Exploration. While Gary is transitioning from this position, he will continue to contribute to other capacities, bringing his expertise and leadership to key projects. The Board would like to thank Gary for his efforts and contributions over the past two years.

About StrategX
StrategX is an exploration company focused on discovering critical metals in northern Canada. With projects on the East Arm of the Great Slave Lake (Northwest Territories) and the Melville Peninsula (Nunavut), the Company is pioneering new district-scale discoveries in these underexplored regions. By integrating historical data with modern exploration techniques, StrategX provides investors with a unique opportunity to participate in discovering essential metals crucial to electrification, global green energy, and supply chain security.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors

Darren G. Bahrey
CEO, President & Director

For further information, please contact:

StrategX Elements Corp.
info@strategXcorp.com
Phone: 604.379.5515

For further information about the Company, please visit our website at www.strategXcorp.com.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its regulation services accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Disclaimer for Forward-Looking Information
All statements included in this press release that address activities, events, or developments that the Company expects, believes, or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve numerous assumptions made by the Company based on its experience, perception of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other factors it believes are appropriate in the circumstances. In addition, these statements involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties that contribute to the possibility that the predictions, forecasts, projections, and other forward-looking statements will prove inaccurate, certain of which are beyond the Company’s control. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Except as required by law, the Company does not intend to revise or update these forward-looking statements after the date hereof or revise them to reflect the occurrence of future unanticipated events.

Not for distribution to United States newswire services or for dissemination in the United States.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/247050

News Provided by Newsfile via QuoteMedia

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

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Elon Musk says backlash against his DOGE government cuts is hurting Tesla stock

Tesla CEO Elon Musk said Sunday that his involvement in the Trump administration could be hurting the automaker’s stock price.

Speaking at a town hall event in Wisconsin, Musk said his role with the so-called Department of Government Efficiency — which is pushing for widespread government job cuts — is creating backlash against his electric car company and hurting the stock.

“What they’re trying to do is put massive pressure on me, and Tesla I guess, to … stop doing this,” Musk said, according to Bloomberg News. “My Tesla stock and the stock of everyone who holds Tesla has gone, went roughly in half. I mean it’s a big deal.”

Elon Musk at a Cabinet meeting at the White House on March 24.Win McNamee / Getty Images

Shares of Tesla entered Monday already down more than 34% year to date, and the stock has been cut nearly in half from its peak in December. Shares were down an additional 6% in premarket trading Monday.

Tesla’s stock is trading at a little more than half of its highest level from December.

The drop for the stock could be a “buying opportunity” for the long term, said Musk, who was in Wisconsin ahead of a state supreme court election there. Musk has campaigned for the conservative candidate and spent more than $12 million on the race, in addition to giving $1 million each to two voters at Sunday’s rally for signing a petition against “activist judges.”

The slumping stock isn’t the only sign of public anger with Musk for his political work. Protesters demonstrated at Tesla dealerships over the weekend, and there have been reports of vandalism against vehicles and dealers across the country.

Musk’s role in politics is not limited to DOGE. He publicly campaigned with Trump in 2024 and has been a regular presence at the White House since the new administration took over in January. He also regularly comments on many different political topics on X, the social media company he owns.

The CEO’s rising political profile comes amid signs that Tesla’s core business is slowing. The automaker’s vehicle deliveries declined in 2024, and preliminary data has shown that sales are down again early this year, especially in Europe. In a note to clients Sunday, investment firm Stifel trimmed its price target on the stock and lowered its sales projections for Tesla.

Musk’s political dealings may not be the only reason for Tesla’s struggles. Other U.S. auto stocks have also labored in recent weeks, partly because of threats of higher tariffs on imported goods into the U.S. and retaliation from overseas trading partners, adding uncertainty to an industry whose supply chains are tightly woven among the U.S., Canada and Mexico.

This post appeared first on NBC NEWS

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