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Will Victor Wembanyama play in NBA Cup final? Spurs’ plans for center

The San Antonio Spurs shocked the basketball world on Dec. 13, taking down the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA Cup semifinals. Now, they are just one win away from earning the NBA Cup title and earning an additional $530,933 each.

Of course, that’s easier said than done, and their opponent in the championship game, the New York Knicks, are no push-over. The Spurs know they can’t take it easy against the Knicks; they’ll have to pull out all the stops once again in order to emerge victorious. But could that actually mean keeping their best player out of the starting lineup?

Spurs center Victor Wembanyama played limited minutes during the semifinal victory over the Thunder. Now, head coach Mitch Johnson has expressed that the team is considering employing a similar strategy in the NBA Cup final.

‘It’ll be something that Victor and I will continue to talk through,’ Johnson said Monday, Dec. 15, according to ESPN. ‘It’s hard. He wants to play. He wants to start. He wants to finish. … We still have to think about what’s best for the team, unfortunately. That decision can’t be made in a vacuum, even though it’s a very impactful and influential decision.’

How did Wembanyama do in the semifinal game?

Wembanyama returned from a 12-game absence on Saturday to participate in the semifinal against Oklahoma City. Wembanyama came off the bench for the first time in his career. Still, the third-year pro played 21 minutes and racked up 15 of his 22 points in the fourth quarter. The rest of the Spurs compiled just 18 points combined in the fourth.

‘I trust in Mitch 100 percent. They had the perfect plan,’ Spurs guard Devin Vassell told ESPN. ‘I know they talked about it over and over, and we executed it. As soon as Vic came in, he had the impact that we needed.’

Despite the success, the Spurs might limit Wembanyama again, promoting his long-term health above winning the NBA Cup.

‘It’s going to be a mix of different opinions,’ Wembanyama said Monday, according to ESPN. ‘But I’m ready. Even I will have my own opinion [about what to do]. It will also be based on my thoughts and the thoughts of the staff. But basically, we’re going to discuss it.’

Will Wembanyama be limited to 21 minutes again?

Head coach Mitch Johnson says that the team cannot afford to be ‘uninentional’ with Wembanyama’s minutes right now. Having learned from Wembanyama’s past injury struggles, the team has already worked on finding a path for Wemby to play as many minutes as possible with as little stress on his body as possible as well.

Although Johnson never offered a plan for Wemby Monday, it stands to reason that his minutes will be dictated by the flow of the game. On Saturday, Wembanyama did not check-in until the start of the second quarter. He only played seven minutes in the first half, before tallying nearly 13.5 minutes in the second half. The Spurs were trailing by 11 before Wembanyama came in and were still trailing at the start of the third quarter. Should the Spurs struggle to keep pace with New York, it’s likely that Wembanyama’s minutes could increase as the game wears on.

Wembanyama’s on/off court splits

Wembanyama’s presence can be felt on the floor. This year, when Wembanyama is on the court, opponents are averaging 105.4 points per 100 possessions, compared to 120.6 when Wembanyama is on the bench.

The Spurs have managed a stellar 9-3 record without Wembanyama this year, but it’s obvious that the team would rather have the DPOY frontrunner manning the glass tomorrow.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

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Which NFL teams are already eliminated from playoff contention?

The NFL’s playoff races are quickly heating up as December football kicks into high gear.

Yet there’s a flip side to the best teams jockeying for postseason position − quite a few other clubs have been and will continue to be officially eliminated from playoff consideration. Heading into Week 15, nine of the league’s 32 teams already knew their seasons would conclude with their Week 18 games. Others joined their ranks Sunday, as the reigning AFC champion Kansas City Chiefs did for the first time since 2014.

Here’s a look at which clubs are already playing out the string, and which ones could soon be doing exactly that:

Which NFL teams have been eliminated from playoff contention?

These are the teams that have already seen their postseason chances for 2025 extinguished:

 New York Giants (2-12, eliminated in Week 12)

 Arizona Cardinals (3-11, eliminated in Week 13)

 New Orleans Saints (4-10, eliminated in Week 13)

 Tennessee Titans (2-12, eliminated in Week 13)

 Las Vegas Raiders (2-12, eliminated in Week 13)

 Washington Commanders (4-10, eliminated in Week 14)

 Atlanta Falcons (5-9, eliminated in Week 14)

 New York Jets (3-11, eliminated in Week 14)

 Cleveland Browns (3-11, eliminated in Week 14)

 Cincinnati Bengals (4-10, eliminated in Week 15)

 Minnesota Vikings (6-8, eliminated in Week 15)

 Kansas City Chiefs (6-8, eliminated in Week 15)

 Miami Dolphins (6-8, eliminated in Week 15)

NFL teams outside projected playoff bracket but not yet eliminated going into Week 16

 Baltimore Ravens (7-7, 47% chance to make playoffs, per NFL’s Next Gen Stats)

 Dallas Cowboys (6-7-1, 1%)

 Carolina Panthers (7-7, 23%)

 Indianapolis Colts (8-6, 17%)

 Detroit Lions (8-6, 41%)

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

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Braves bring back shortstop on one-year, $20 million contract

Ha-Seong Kim and the Atlanta Braves each got what they wanted: Kim received an extra $4 million after turning down his 2026 player option, and the Braves get Kim back to play shortstop.

Kim and the Braves agreed to a one-year, $20 million contract Dec. 16, reuniting after Kim played well enough in a one-month audition in Atlanta that he felt confident enough to opt out of a $16 million guarantee.

The Braves clearly wanted to retain him, even if they got just a 24-game glance at Kim in September, a period in which he hit five home runs and offered the promise of production at shortstop that’s been missing since Dansby Swanson signed with the Chicago Cubs after the 2022 season.

Kim, 30, was a versatile and valuable infielder for the Padres, notching a career high in home runs (17), WAR (5.3) and on-base percentage (.351) in 2023. But a shoulder injury dampened his outlook for free agency a year ago and the Tampa Bay Rays signed him to a one-year deal with a player option.

But Kim managed to play in just 24 games for the Rays and after they placed him on waivers — wary of being on the hook for the $16 million 2026 option — the Braves pounced.

His reacquisition continues a busy winter for the Braves, who signed All-Star reliever Robert Suarez and re-upped closer Raisel Iglesias, and added outfielder Mike Yastrzemski to a two-year, $23 million deal.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

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Key USMNT player suffers knee injury, could jeopardize his World Cup

Tyler Adams, a U.S. men’s national team midfield mainstay, sustained a knee injury Monday, Dec. 15 that could severely impact his availability heading into a World Cup year.

Adams, playing for Bournemouth in a Premier League match at Manchester United, got hurt in the second minute during a challenge with Matheus Cunha and exited the game.

After the contest ended in a 4-4 draw, Bournemouth coach Andoni Iraola said of Adams, ‘He’s the worst news from the game, definitely. The knee twisted, I think the MCL. We’ll have to check and see if it is a small sprain or bigger.

‘To lose a player like Tyler for us is massive, especially when you don’t have Lewis Cook (who is suspended). Alex (Scott) has to play in that holding midfield position, and he has done it really well, but it’s bad news for us because Tyler is massive for us.’

Adams, 26, was just days removed from being honored for scoring the Premier League’s goal of the month. He lobbed a shot from the center circle over the head of Sunderland goalkeeper Robin Roefs and into the net in Bournemouth’s 3-2 road loss Nov. 29.

The tally was just Adams’ second in three seasons with Bournemouth and four seasons in the Premier League. He played for Leeds United in 2022-23.

Adams was the captain on the USMNT at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where the squad lost to the Netherlands in the round of 16. He has been in and out of the U.S. team in the current World Cup cycle due to injuries, but he is viewed as a near-lock to start in a holding midfield role if healthy next summer when the World Cup is played in North America.

The full U.S. team is next scheduled to assemble for friendlies against Belgium on March 28 and against Portugal on March 31, both in Atlanta. The USMNT kicks off World Cup play against Paraguay on June 12 at Inglewood, California.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

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Silver Price Forecast: Top Trends for Silver in 2026

The silver price reached heights not seen in more than 40 years in 2025, posting new all-time highs in the fourth quarter amid a supply deficit, expanding industrial use and rising safe-haven demand.

The white metal reached its highest point for the year in mid-December, breaking through US$64 per ounce following an interest rate cut from the US Federal Reserve. With investors looking for non-interest bearing assets in which to store and grow their wealth, the world’s metals exchanges are having a hard time keeping their silver inventories stocked.

What will 2026 hold for silver? As the new year approaches, investors are closely watching how changes in monetary policy and global uncertainty could impact the precious metal, along with supply and demand trends in the space.

Here’s what experts see coming for silver in 2026.

Silver’s persistent structural supply deficit

In its ‘2025/2026 Precious Metals Investment’ report, Metal Focus forecasts a fifth straight year of a silver supply deficit for 2025, coming in at 63.4 million ounces. And while that figure is expected to retract to 30.5 million ounces in 2026, the firm is confident that the deficit will continue to be a factor for silver this coming year.

Essentially, silver is in an entrenched structural deficit tied to a multi-year mine supply shortfall that can’t keep up with both rising industrial use and strong investment demand. Aboveground silver stocks are running dry, with silver mine production has decreased over the past decade, especially in the silver-mining hubs of Central and South America.

Even with silver at never-seen-before prices, it could be years before any sort of balance returns to the market.

“If the silver that you produce is a small portion of your stream of revenues, you’re not that motivated to try to produce more silver,” he explained. In fact, Krauth said a higher silver price could result in less silver coming to market as miners switch to processing lower-grade material that was once uneconomical and might even contain less silver.

On the exploration side, it takes 10 to 15 years to bring a silver deposit through discovery and into production.

“The reaction time to higher prices is actually really, really slow. I think we’re going to see these shortages and tightness persist,” Krauth added.

Industrial demand for silver from cleantech and AI

Industrial demand was another major catalyst for higher silver prices in 2025, and is expected to remain a strong tailwind for the silver market next year and beyond.

In a December report titled ‘Silver, the Next Generation Metal,’ the Silver Institute explains that heavy demand for silver through 2030 is coming from the cleantech sector — mainly from the solar and electric vehicle (EV) segments — and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and data centers. Silver’s critical role in these economically important industries led the US government to include silver on its list of critical minerals this year.

A staunch believer in solar as a major pillar of the silver market, Krauth advised that it is “dangerous to underestimate” the level of demand yet to come from the industry. This is especially true if investors consider the projected growth of AI data centers in the US alone, and the amount of energy needed to power their operations.

“I think about 80 percent of data centers are located in the US, and their demand for electricity is expected to grow by 22 percent over the next decade. AI alone, on top of data center demand for electricity, is expected to grow by 31 percent over the next decade,” he said, adding that over the past year data centers in the US have chosen solar energy five times more than nuclear options for powering their operations.

Safe-haven investment demand magnifying silver scarcity

As a precious metal, silver tracks gold. Lower interest rates, a return to quantitative easing by the Fed, a weaker US dollar, rising inflation, increased geopolitical uncertainty — all of these factors that benefit its sister metal are also highly supportive of the silver price. And as an affordable alternative to gold, silver is attracting significant retail and institutional investment, including massive exchange-traded fund (ETF) inflows.

Ole Hansen, head of commodity strategy at Saxo Bank, posted to X on December 10:

‘Meanwhile, inflows into silver-backed ETFs have reached around 130 million ounces this year, lifting total holdings to roughly 844 million ounces—an 18% increase.’

Safe-haven investment appeal for silver is expected to grow further in 2026. Concerns over the Fed’s independence and the very real likelihood that Chair Jerome Powell will be replaced in May with someone more amenable to the Trump White House’s low interest rate demands are big factors boosting demand for silver as a portfolio hedge.

Substantial demand for silver as a safe-haven investment has already led to mint shortages in silver bars and coins and tight inventories in futures markets, primarily in London, New York and Shanghai.

For example, Bloomberg reported in late November that silver inventories at the Shanghai Futures Exchange had hit their lowest level since 2015. These shortages are resulting in rising lease rates and borrowing costs, which points to genuine challenges with delivery of physical metal rather than mere speculative positioning.

In India, where gold jewelry is traditionally a form of wealth preservation, there’s strong demand for silver jewelry as buyers look for a more affordable option with the gold price now over US$4,300 per ounce.

Demand for silver bars and silver ETFs is also on the rise in India, already the world’s largest consumer of the white metal. The nation imports 80 percent of its silver demand.

Silver price forecast for 2026

Silver’s notoriety as a highly volatile metal — it’s not called ‘the devil’s metal’ for nothing — and its recent jaw-dropping rally, has many precious metals analysts hesitating to define a clear price target for 2026.

Although the case for much higher silver prices is a strong one, there are risks that could jeopardize the metal’s upward momentum. For example, Mind Money’s Khandoshko suggested that a global economic slowdown or sudden liquidity corrections could apply downward pressure on the silver price.

“For 2026, I’d be watching industrial demand trends, Indian imports, ETF flows and any widening price gaps between trading hubs,” she advised. “I’d also pay close attention to sentiment around large unhedged short positions. If trust in paper contracts weakens again, we could see another structural shift in pricing.”

Krauth also cautioned investors to remember that silver is “famously volatile” and while “it’s been fun because the volatility has been to the upside … don’t be surprised if you get some kind of rapid drawdowns.” He views US$50 as the new floor for silver, and gave what he deems a “conservative” forecast of silver in the US$70 range for 2026.

This is in line with Citigroup’s (NYSE:C) prediction that silver will continue to outperform gold and reach upwards of US$70 for 2026, especially if its industrial side fundamentals remain in place.

Chambers referred to silver as the “fast horse” of the precious metals. While industrial demand is important, he believes retail investment demand is the real “juggernaut” for the silver price in the coming year.

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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LaFleur Minerals Announces LIFE and Flow-Through Unit Offerings

LaFleur Minerals Inc. (CSE: LFLR,OTC:LFLRF) (FSE: 3WK0) (‘LaFleur Minerals’ or the ‘Company’ or ‘Issuer’) is pleased to announce a non-brokered private placement offering of up to 6,000,000 units of the Company (the ‘Units’) at a price of $0.50 per Unit gross proceeds of up to $3,000,000 (the ‘LIFE Offering’). Each Unit will consist of one (1) common share in the capital of the Company (each a ‘Common Share’) and one (1) Common Share purchase warrant (a ‘Warrant’) granting the holder the right to purchase one (1) additional Common Share of the Company (a ‘Warrant Share’) at a price of $0.75 at any time on or before 24 months from the Closing Date (defined below). The Warrants will be subject to an accelerated expiry upon thirty (30) business days’ notice from the Company in the event the closing price of the Common Shares on the Canadian Securities Exchange (the ‘CSE’) is equal to or above a price of $0.90 for fourteen (14) consecutive trading days any time after closing of the Offering.

The gross proceeds from the LIFE Offering will be used for the commissioning and restart of gold production operations at the Company’s wholly-owned Beacon Gold Mine and Mill, as well as work at the Company’s Swanson Gold Project in Quebec and for and general working capital purposes.

The Units will be offered for sale pursuant to the listed issuer financing exemption under Part 5A of National Instrument 45-106 – Prospectus Exemptions, as amended by CSA Coordinated Blanket Order 45-935 – Exemptions from Certain Conditions of the Listed Issuer Financing Exemption, to purchasers resident in Canada, excluding Quebec, and other qualifying jurisdictions.

The securities offered under the LIFE Offering will not be subject to a hold period in accordance with applicable Canadian securities laws. There is an offering document (the ‘Offering Document‘) related to the LIFE Offering that can be accessed under the Issuer’s profile at www.sedarplus.ca and at the Company’s website at www.lafleurminerals.com. Prospective investors should read this Offering Document before making an investment decision.

Flow-Through (FT) Offering

The Company also intends to offer up to 2,500,000 flow-through units of the Company (the ‘FT Units‘) at a price of $0.60 per FT Unit for gross proceeds of up to $1,500,000 (the ‘FT Offering‘). Each FT Unit will consist of one (1) Common Share to be issued as a ‘flow-through share’ within the meaning of the Income Tax Act (Canada) and the Taxation Act (Québec) (each, a ‘FT Share‘) and one (1) Warrant which shall have the same terms as the Warrants included in the Units to be issued in the LIFE Offering.

The gross proceeds from the issuance and sale of the FT Units will be used on the Company’s Swanson Gold Project to incur ‘Canadian Exploration Expenses’ as such term is defined under subsection 66.1(6) of the Income Tax Act (Canada) and will qualify as ‘flow-through mining expenditures’ as defined in subsection 127(9) of the Income Tax Act (Canada) (or would so qualify if the references to ‘before 2026’ in paragraph (a) of the definition of ‘flow-through mining expenditure’ in subsection 127(9) of the Tax Act were read as ‘before 2027’ and the references in paragraphs (c) and (d) of that definition to ‘before April 2025’ were read as ‘before April 2026’). The qualifying expenditures will be incurred on or before December 31, 2026, and will be renounced to the subscribers with an effective date no later than December 31, 2025, in an aggregate amount not less than the gross proceeds raised from the issuance of the FT Shares.

All securities issued in connection with the FT Offering will be subject to a statutory hold period of four months and one day following the date of issuance in accordance with applicable Canadian securities laws.

The Company has also agreed to pay qualified finders and brokers a cash commission of 7.0% of the aggregate gross proceeds of the LIFE Offering and FT Offering and such number of broker warrants (the ‘Broker Warrants‘) as is equal to 7.0% of the number of Units sold under the LIFE Offering and FT Offering. Each Broker Warrant will entitle the holder to purchase one Common Share at an exercise price equal to the Offering Price for a period of 24 months following the Closing Date.

The closing of the LIFE Offering and FT Offering is expected to occur on or about December 31, 2025 (the ‘Closing Date‘), or such other earlier or later date as the Company may determine.

The Company continues to progress in the closing of its previously announced brokered private placement of gold-linked convertible notes, as announced on November 5, 2025, a financing that aims to raise up to C$7 million to fund the restart of the company’s Beacon Gold Mill in Val d’Or, Quebec.

This news release is not an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy the securities in the United States or in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to qualification or registration under the securities laws of such jurisdiction. The securities referred to in this news release have not been, nor will they be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the ‘U.S. Securities Act’), and such securities may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons absent an exemption from registration under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable U.S. state securities laws. ‘United States’ and ‘U.S. person’ are as defined in Regulation S under the U.S Securities Act.

About LaFleur Minerals Inc.

LaFleur Minerals Inc. (CSE: LFLR,OTC:LFLRF) (FSE: 3WK0) is focused on the development of district-scale gold projects in the Abitibi Gold Belt near Val-d’Or, Québec. Our mission is to advance mining projects with a laser focus on our resource-stage Swanson Gold Deposit and the Beacon Gold Mill, which have significant potential to deliver long-term value. The Swanson Gold Project is approximately 18,304 hectares (183 km2) in size and includes several prospects rich in gold and critical metals previously held by Monarch Mining, Abcourt Mines, and Globex Mining. LaFleur has recently consolidated a large land package along a major structural break that hosts the Swanson, Bartec, and Jolin gold deposits and several other showings which make up the Swanson Gold Project. The Swanson Gold Project is easily accessible by road allowing direct access to several nearby gold mills, further enhancing its development potential. Lafleur Mineral’s fully refurbished and permitted Beacon Gold Mill is capable of processing over 750 tonnes per day and is being considered for processing mineralized material at Swanson and for custom milling operations for other nearby gold projects.

ON BEHALF OF LaFleur Minerals INC.

Paul Ténière, M.Sc., P.Geo.
Chief Executive Officer
E: info@lafleurminerals.com

LaFleur Minerals Inc.
1500-1055 West Georgia Street
Vancouver, BC V6E 4N7

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

Cautionary Statement Regarding ‘Forward-Looking’ Information

This news release includes certain statements that may be deemed ‘forward-looking statements’. All statements in this new release, other than statements of historical facts, that address events or developments that the Company expects to occur, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words ‘expects’, ‘plans’, ‘anticipates’, ‘believes’, ‘intends’, ‘estimates’, ‘projects’, ‘potential’ and similar expressions, or that events or conditions ‘will’, ‘would’, ‘may’, ‘could’ or ‘should’ occur. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, without limitation, statements related to the closing of the LIFE Offering and the FT Offering, and the anticipated use of proceeds from the LIFE Offering and the FT Offering. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include market prices, continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company’s management on the date the statements are made. Except as required by applicable securities laws, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management’s beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change.

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

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/278189

News Provided by Newsfile via QuoteMedia

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Rare Earths Oxide Produced from Halleck Creek Ore-Major Technical Breakthrough

American Rare Earths (ASX: ARR | OTCQX: ARRNF | ADR: AMRRY) (“ARR” or the “Company”) has successfully completed another critical stage in its mineral processing program by producing a mixed rare earths oxide (“MREO”) using the updated preliminary PFS mineral processing flowsheet.

Highlights

  • Rare earth oxides were produced from Halleck Creek ore using the updated preliminary Pre-Feasibility Study (“PFS”) mineral processing flowsheet1
  • A Mixed Rare Earth Oxalate and Mixed Rare Earth Oxide was created from purified leachate solution using the material from the impurity removal testing2
  • This is the most significant technical milestone achieved for the Project to date

MREO from Halleck Creek (“the Project”) was produced using the material – a pregnant leach solution (“PLS”) – from the impurity removal testing campaign3. This was achieved through precipitating a mixed rare earth oxalate and then creating MREO powder (see Figure 1). This major technical milestone confirms that rare earths can be extracted into metallic oxides from Halleck Creek ore using the updated preliminary PFS mineral processing flowsheet currently being finalized for the upcoming PFS. Solvent extraction computer simulation is now underway, using the results of these tests.

SGS in Lakefield, Ontario, Canada created the MREO from the Halleck Creek PLS through a two- step process. The first step consists of precipitating the metals in solution using oxalic acid to create a mixed rare earth oxalate. Oxalic acid is highly selective in precipitating rare earth elements (“REE”) from PLS while other elements stay in solution. SGS performed three precipitation tests using variable oxalic acid addition rates. The second step, called calcining, involved SGS heating the combined mixed rare earth oxalates to 1,000oC to oxidize the material into a MREO. A beneficial effect of calcining is that it oxidizes the cerium, converting it from Ce3+ to Ce4+. Ce4+ is not soluble in the reagent which will be used to dissolve REEs from the MREO for solvent extraction.

Click here for the full ASX Release

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Trump Weighs Executive Order to Loosen Federal Cannabis Restrictions

US President Donald Trump is reportedly weighing a major shift in federal drug policy that would relax decades-old restrictions on cannabis, potentially injecting new life into the industry.

Six people familiar with the discussions told the Washington Post that Trump is preparing an executive order directing federal agencies to pursue the reclassification of cannabis from a Schedule I substance to Schedule III.

The effort, still under internal review, was the focus of a December 10 phone call between Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson, several of the sources said. Joining the call were cannabis industry executives, Secretary of Health Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Mehmet Oz, administrator for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

The people spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the meeting publicly.

Johnson reportedly expressed skepticism and laid out several studies and data points opposing rescheduling, but by the end of the call, Trump appeared inclined to proceed. However, the sources emphasized that no final decision has been made and that he could still change course; this was later confirmed by another White House official.

Reclassification would shift cannabis from Schedule I status — reserved for substances deemed to have high potential for abuse and no accepted medical use — to Schedule III, which includes Tylenol with codeine and certain steroids.

The shift would not legalize recreational use under federal law, but would remove some of the most onerous constraints faced by medical researchers and by companies operating legally in dozens of states.

“This would be the biggest reform in federal cannabis policy since marijuana was made a Schedule I drug in the 1970s,” said Shane Pennington, a DC attorney who represents companies involved in rescheduling litigation.

He noted that while Trump cannot unilaterally change the drug schedule, he can instruct the Department of Justice to bypass a pending administrative hearing and finalize the rule.

The political backdrop has shifted sharply in recent years. Cannabis is legal for medical use in most states and for recreational use in 24, and has become a multibillion-dollar industry. Both Democrats and Republicans have expressed interest in rescheduling even as broader legalization remains deeply contested at the federal level.

For cannabis businesses, reclassification would be economically transformative.

Current tax rules prohibit companies that sell Schedule I substances from deducting ordinary business expenses, a barrier that industry representatives have long described as crushing.

“This monumental change will have a massive, positive effect on thousands of state-legal cannabis businesses around the country,” said Brian Vicente, founding partner at Vicente. “Rescheduling releases cannabis businesses from the crippling tax burden they have been shackled with and allows these businesses to grow and prosper.”

Policy advocates say the move would eliminate a central pillar of the federal government’s 50 year prohibition regime, while also highlighting how much work remains.

“This is the beginning of a new era of public health policy,” said Shawn Hauser, also a partner at Vicente.

She called the directive “a long-overdue acknowledgment of marijuana’s medical value and safety,” while warning that rescheduling alone will not resolve broader regulatory inconsistencies or criminal justice disparities.

Trump, who said in August that he was “looking at reclassification,” inherited a stalled proposal originally launched by then-President Joe Biden that recommended moving cannabis to Schedule III.

Rescheduling’s origins trace back to October 2022, when Biden instructed the Department of Health and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to review whether the current classification for cannabis is scientifically justified.

Health officials concluded in 2023 that it is not, prompting the DEA to propose shifting cannabis to Schedule III in early 2024. The proposed rule has been frozen since March 2025.

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

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Top 5 Gold News Stories of 2025

2025 was a watershed year for gold, which set new highs as its safe-haven appeal increased.

As global uncertainty intensified, the metal began to receive mainstream attention as a standout asset.

With the year set to mark one of gold’s strongest annual performances in decades, it’s a fitting moment to look back and revisit our most popular gold news stories of 2025.

Read on to see what caught our audience’s attention over the last 12 months.

1. Germany, Italy Face Pressure to Repatriate US$245 Billion in Gold as Trust in US Custody Wavers

Publish date: June 24, 2025

In June, growing distrust in US custodianship of foreign gold reserves and political uncertainty linked to the Trump administration put pressure on Germany and Italy to repatriate their foreign bullion.

At the time, both countries collectively held more than US$245 billion in gold reserves at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, and local political leaders were raising concerns that the US had become a less neutral custodian.

German taxpayer advocates warned that increasing political influence over the US Federal Reserve could jeopardize access to foreign-owned bullion. Similar concerns surfaced in Italy, where critics argued that continuing to store gold abroad posed a strategic risk during a period of heightened geopolitical tension.

Germany repatriated 674 metric tons of gold from 2013 to 2017, but 37 percent of its reserves remain in New York.

2. What Does the GDX Index Change Mean for Gold Investors?

Publish date: September 19, 2025

In September, the world’s largest gold-mining stock exchange-traded fund (ETF) — the US$20.5 billion VanEck Gold Miners ETF (ARCA:GDX) — underwent a major structural overhaul.

VanEck transitioned GDX from the NYSE Arca Gold Miners Index to the MarketVector Global Gold Miners Index, ending a benchmark relationship in place since 2004.

The switch adopted free-float market-cap rules that exclude locked-up or government-held shares, aligning the fund with index standards commonly used in broader equity markets.

3. Barrick’s Bristow Steps Down Following Hemlo Sale and Mali Challenges

Publish date: September 29, 2025

Barrick Mining (TSX:ABX,NYSE:B) went through a major leadership transition this year after CEO Mark Bristow unexpectedly left the company following nearly seven years at the helm.

Bristow, who had led the company since the 2019 merger with Randgold Resources, stepped down amid strategic disagreements with Barrick Chair John Thornton and a year marked by operational challenges, including ongoing legal and political challenges in Mali, where its Loulo-Gounkoto complex is located.

Bristow’s departure also came shortly after Barrick finalized a US$1.09 billion sale of its Hemlo mine in Ontario, formally marking its exit from primary Canadian gold production to concentrate on higher-margin international operations.

Chief Operating Officer Mark Hill assumed interim CEO responsibilities as the board initiated a global search for a successor. Hill previously oversaw Barrick’s Latin America and Asia-Pacific operations, and played a key role in the company’s initial decision to explore the Fourmile gold project in Nevada.

4. Mali Enforces Gold Seizure at Barrick’s Loulo-Gounkoto Mine

Publish date: January 13, 2025

Barrick’s tensions with Mali’s military government intensified at the start of 2025 after authorities seized gold shipments from the firm’s Loulo-Gounkoto mine, which accounts for roughly 14 percent of its annual production.

At the time, officials claimed Barrick owed more than US$500 million in unpaid taxes and state dividends under a revised mining code implemented in 2023. Detentions and legal threats against local staff heightened the conflict further, and the government reportedly intercepted approximately 3 metric tons of bullion.

The year-long dispute reached a conclusion on November 24, when Barrick confirmed a settlement with the Malian government that restores full control over the Loulo-Gounkoto mine.

Under the terms, the company was to pay 244 billion CFA francs (US$430 million), with 144 billion CFA francs due within six days of signing and an additional 50 billion CFA francs applied through VAT credit offsets.

In exchange, Mali was to drop all charges against Barrick, lift state control of Loulo-Gounkoto, release four detained employees and renew the company’s mining permit for another decade.

The agreement also requires Barrick to comply with Mali’s 2023 mining code — the same legislation that triggered the original confrontation.

5. Navigating Uncertainty: How Trump’s Tariffs Are Affecting the Gold Market

Publish date: August 27, 2025

US trade policy sparked gold market turbulence after confusion surrounding import tariffs, including whether Swiss-refined 1 kilogram and 100 ounce bars would be subject to rates near 39 percent. Traders rushed to secure physical imports amid the uncertainty, widening spreads between New York futures and London spot benchmarks.

The volatility eased only after US officials clarified their position.

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

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

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Texas A&M volleyball shows no fear, shocks world by upsetting Nebraska

The No. 1-ranked Nebraska volleyball team had not been tested in months. Until Sunday.

No. 3-seeded Texas A&M did what 33 other teams could not ― defeat a proverbial giant. The Aggies did it in the biggest match of their program’s history, the NCAA tournament regional final, and punched a ticket to their first Final Four. The Aggies beat the top-seed Cornhuskers 3-2  (25-22, 25-22, 20-25, 35-37, 15-13) at the Bob Devaney Sports Center in Lincoln, Nebraska.

‘I’m not scared of them,’ Aggies head coach Jamie Morrison said before the match. ‘They’re a really good volleyball team, but we’ve talked the entire season and made an identity of making people uncomfortable, leaning in and imparting our will on the people that we’re playing.’

Imposing their will is putting it lightly. The Aggies had an answer for everything the Cornhuskers threw at them.

The Aggies went up 2-0 before Nebraska showed some fight, tying the match 2-2 behind huge pushes from Harper Murray and Rebekah Allick. Middle blocker Andi Jackson, who typically unravels opposing teams, was neutralized for most of the day with six kills and .045 hitting percentage.

After fighting through 10 fourth-set points, Nebraska forced a fifth set. Still, it was no match for the Aggies, who went on to win behind three players with double-digit kills. Kyndal Stowers led the Aggies with 25 kills and 16 digs plus two blocks. Logan Lednicky had 24 kills and six blocks.

‘We’re the grittiest team in the country by far,’ Lednicky said after the win.

‘I mean a lot of us are seniors. We’ve been doing this for a really long time,’ Lednicky added. ‘And I think all the newbies, too, they came in, ready to work, ready to grind, and we’re just such a special group of girls … It’s just amazing.’

Lednicky is one of nine seniors on Texas A&M’s roster. From the top down, Morrison’s team is loaded with talent that helped contribute to the Aggies’ massive upset. Ifenna Cos-Okpalla, one of the best middle blockers in the country, started a 10-0 run in the first set to help the Aggies capture the frame and the momentum for the match. She also had six kills on .600 hitting, two aces, six digs and eight blocks. Morgan Perkins, in tandem with Cos-Okpolla, added five kills on .333 hitting and nine blocks. Outside hitter Emily Hellmuth was also critical down the stretch with 13 kills, two aces and four blocks.

After the Aggies’ historic win against Nebraska, Morrison shared that he’s been building up the program for the last three seasons and the victory Sunday is a testament to the players and staff.

‘I’m so proud of these driven human beings,’ Morrison said. ‘This whole group of human beings that we have as a part of our game.’

The Aggies head coach also shared that his group of seniors meant ‘everything to him and that Texas A&M ‘was building something that’s gonna last.’

The last time the Cornhuskers dropped a set was September, and the last time they had been down two sets was Aug. 31 against Kentucky, which has already punched its ticket to the Final Four. The Huskers won 3-2 back then, but could not pull off the reverse sweep on Sunday.

Murray, who had a career high 25 kills on .255 hitting plus three aces and nine digs, didn’t have enough to get the Huskers out of trouble, even with help from Allick. The middle blocker, who was explosive in the fourth set, added 15 kills on .480 hitting plus four blocks.

After the match, Nebraska head coach Dani Busboom Kelly somberly reflected on the Cornhuskers’ undefeated season coming to an end.

‘We played with a ton of joy. I think we maxed out,’ Busboom Kelly said. ‘We didn’t make the Final Four. We’re not winning a national championship.’

Busboom Kelly, who is in her first season as head coach, was still proud of her team and its 33-1 record. They left it all on the floor.

‘We can look back and have no regrets,’ she said.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

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