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Israel’s war inflicted ‘life-threatening danger’ on pregnant women and girls in Gaza, Human Rights Watch says

Israel has inflicted “serious and sometimes life-threatening danger” on pregnant and postpartum women and girls in Gaza over 15 months of bombardment and siege, according to a new Human Rights Watch report.

The 50-page report, “‘Five Babies in One Incubator’: Violations of Pregnant Women’s Rights Amid Israel’s Assault on Gaza,” was published by the US-based advocacy group on Tuesday.

It details attacks on medical facilities and healthcare workers in Gaza that “directly harmed women and girls during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period” and says the war has increased the risk of miscarriage, preterm birth, stillbirth, postpartum hemorrhage and underweight newborns.

HRW accused Israel of enforcing an unlawful blockade, a near-total ban on water, food and electricity, starvation as a method of war, attacks on the medical system, and repeated forcible transfer – violating the right to follow-up and postnatal care for pregnant women and girls, and their children.

Israel is “obligated to use all the resources at its disposal to ensure that everyone in Gaza, including pregnant women and girls and their children, are able to enjoy their human right to health,” the report said. “This includes ensuring the full restoration of Gaza’s healthcare system so that all patients, including pregnant women and babies, have access to quality medical care.”

HRW repeated allegations that Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, which Israel strongly denies. Israel has also been taken to the UN’s top court, the International Court of Justice, on allegations of genocide.

Israel’s onslaught since the Hamas-led October 7 attacks has wiped out entire families, decimated the medical system, and supplies, spawning starvation, disease and displacement.

At least 47,306 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, according to the Ministry of Health there. Of those, 12,316 were women and another 808 were babies under aged one, Gaza’s Government Media Office (GMO) reported on January 24. Although a fragile ceasefire began last week, the survival challenges facing new and expecting mothers in the enclave remains dire.

Babies dying ‘in front of us’

More than 1,054 health workers and medical professionals have been killed, including at least six pediatricians and five obstetrician-gynecologists, HRW said, citing the health ministry in Gaza.

As of January, emergency obstetric and newborn care is available at seven out of 18 partially functioning hospitals in Gaza, four out of 11 field hospitals, and one community health center, according to HRW.

The rate of miscarriage in Gaza has increased by 300% since October 7, 2023, the International Planned Parenthood Federation said in July. Two Palestinian women told HRW their fetuses died after they were injured by explosive weapons attacks that also killed their partners.

Even for those who make it to a medical facility, hospitals offer little respite. Women can be “rushed out” within hours of childbirth because staff are overwhelmed by scores of patients injured by bombardment, according to HRW.

“I did not get complete and sufficient privacy during my birth. I was very afraid of bleeding,” said Musa. “I faced great difficulty in giving birth due to fear of the shelling next to the hospital.

“My husband was informed that I had to leave immediately … It was a very difficult moment, and the cleanliness in the hospital was non-existent.”

For pregnant women in Gaza, the stress of trying to survive attacks coupled with food and water shortages could weaken the immune system, harm the fetus, and lead to preterm birth, HRW said. Dr Adnan Radi, a medic at Al Awda Hospital, in northern Gaza, told the agency that most of the babies delivered by staff have severely low birthweight and are dying of perinatal asphyxia.

“We try to intubate the babies. Sometimes it has helped, but the picture is very gloomy,” Dr. Radi said in the HRW report, adding that “in the last month I can remember more than six babies with low birthweight dying in front of me.”

‘I started begging that God would take the baby’

In sprawling displacement camps, parents say they cannot find enough food, clean water, warmth or sanitation facilities. Instead, caregivers resort to feeding babies with infant formula made from dirty water, compounding the risk of dehydration, hepatitis A and skin infections according to HRW.

Pregnant and breastfeeding women sharing toilets in crowded spaces are especially vulnerable to infections including UTIs, which can lead to preterm labor, low birth weight, and stillbirths, according to Al Shurafa, a program officer for MAP.

“Women may feel uncomfortable or self-conscious breastfeeding in such conditions,” said Al Shurafa. “This lack of privacy can lead to stress and anxiety, which in turn affects the mother’s ability to relax and establish a successful breastfeeding routine.”

More than 48,000 pregnant women are experiencing emergency or catastrophic food insecurity, the UN’s reproductive rights agency said in December.

At least 56 children have starved to death, according to Zahir Al-Wahidi, the director of Information Systems at Gaza’s health ministry. Eight infants and newborns have reportedly died from hypothermia, the UN’s children’s agency said in January.

Raed Radwan, holds his newborn baby Maria, in Rafah, southern Gaza, on February 28. His wife, Mayas Sufyan Musa, told CNN the fear of Israeli attacks compounded the stress of her birth.
Raed Radwan, holds his newborn baby Maria, in Rafah, southern Gaza, on February 28. His wife, Mayas Sufyan Musa, told CNN the fear of Israeli attacks compounded the stress of her birth.
Courtesy Raed Redwan

“The severity and ferocity of the suffering was concentrated in physical displacement,” she said. “I was afraid that we would be exposed to direct shelling or missile fragments, and from the rain and cold and the flooding of the tents.”

Israa Mazen Diab al-Ghul, 30, a pregnant woman displaced in Nuseirat, central Gaza, told HRW that in early 2024, she and her relatives had nothing to drink but sea water for two days. “I vomited, and I was worried it would kill the baby … I started begging that God would take the baby, so I wouldn’t need to give birth during this war.”

Communications disruptions impede womens’ access to hotlines and online information, while power cuts disrupt ultrasounds, and blood and urine tests, HRW said.

“Everything is scarce,” said Rahaf Umm Khaled, 21, who is four months pregnant. “I want the war to end completely. I want to give birth to my child in good health, and I want us to return to our homes safely and soundly.”

This post appeared first on cnn.com
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Latin American leaders are learning how to handle Trump. Colombia’s president showed how not to do it

A simmering diplomatic stand-off over deportation flights spilled onto social media Sunday, threatening the once close relationship between the United States and Colombia and further exposing the anxiety many feel in Latin America toward a second Trump presidency.

Angered by how deportees were being returned with their hands bound aboard military flights, Colombian President Gustavo Petro turned back two of the flights that were already in the air and heading to the South American nation, catching the Trump administration by surprise.

In several posts on X, he announced he was blocking US military deportation flights. Petro later directed a post at US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, warning, “I will never allow Colombians to be brought in handcuffs on flights. Marco, if officials from the Foreign Ministry allowed this, it would never be under my direction.” It was a bold position – and one he would soon be forced to back down from.

The sudden rift between the United States and Colombia, which has long been a major recipient of US military aid and until now had accepted deportation flights, immediately galvanized a region struggling over how to respond to the new US president.

Trump has vowed to deport scores of immigrants back to Latin American nations, carry out cross border attacks on Mexican drug cartels, increase economic sanctions on leftist governments in Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela, and seize control of the Panama Canal.

Some regional leaders were quick to cheer the Colombian on. “Our support to President Gustavo Petro in his worthy defense of the rights of Colombians and his response to the discriminatory treatment and blackmail with which they intend to pressure his people and Our America,” Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel wrote on X.

For Colombia – a country that has received billions of dollars in aid from the US to fight drug trafficking and militant groups over the years – to openly defy the US would have sent a powerful signal across the hemisphere. And it could have complicated the Trump administration’s efforts to force other countries to fall in line behind their campaign to accept the deportations, which are deeply unpopular in the region. By successfully pushing back, Petro could have opened the door for other regional leaders to do the same.

Already dealing with corruption scandals and worsening violence as two Colombian militant groups battle each other and the government, Petro may have thought that picking a public fight with the Trump administration would provide a welcome distraction.

But the former guerrilla-turned-Colombia’s first leftist president apparently misjudged how vociferously the new US administration would respond.

Petro did not follow Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum’s declaration that “it’s always important to keep a cool head” when dealing with Trump’s threats.

Instead, Petro tried to go insult for insult with Trump, writing in lengthy posts on X to the US president that he must consider Colombians to be “inferior” and that “I don’t shake hands with white slavers.”

Short-lived escalation

There is little patience for Petro in the new Republican administration, say experts.

“Donald Trump and the people around him, including Rubio, don’t like Gustavo Petro,” said Adam Isacson, the director of defense oversight for the Washington Office on Latin America think tank. “So he was like a perfect foil, somebody they could use to make an example of for every other country in the region that they want to threaten if they get in the way of deportation.”

The US is Colombia’s largest trading partner. As the Trump administration struck back with 25% tariffs among other things, Petro backed down later that day – and hopes that he would become the new standard bearer for an anti-Trump, Latin American left suddenly evaporated.

Washington’s threat of economic tit-for-tat and canceled visa services spooked not only Colombians but other countries in the region who saw even more clearly after Sunday how central arm-twisting will be to Trump’s foreign policy.

Many across the region were surprised that Petro – after initiating a diplomatic incident– had folded so quickly. Still, the possibility remained that a summit of leaders at the leftist regional CELAC body scheduled for Thursday could revive a unified anti-Trump bloc to push back against the deportations.

The dust-up between Colombia and the US showed once again that because of sheer proximity, Latin America will likely bear the brunt of many Trump policies and the wrath of US officials when regional leaders attempt to speak out.

However bitter the fallout from the incident, the heavy-handed US pressure campaign appeared to have achieved the desired result for the Trump administration – at least for the moment.

On Monday, Colombia announced it was sending its own military planes to pick up the migrants that were supposed to have arrived the day before.

This post appeared first on cnn.com
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Strategy Update and Cost Restructure

Livium Ltd (ASX: LIT) (‘Livium’ or the ‘Company’) wishes to provide a strategic update in response to progress that had been made to shift our various technologies to important inflection points for growth. Livium’s strategy is now focussed on strategic partnering initiatives which will facilitate the ongoing growth and development of the Company’s technologies. With a more focussed set of actions, a review of the business has been undertaken to explore options to reduce costs.

HIGHLIGHTS

  • Strategic focus on scaling Envirostream, the Battery Recycling division, due to the potential of increased recycling volumes and cashflows over the years ahead
    • Battery Recycling: Continued safe operations, growing volumes and operating profits, and seek partners to scale operations in line with the expected waste outlook
  • Livium is well advanced on the near-term commercialisation pathways of its other technologies:
    • Battery Materials: Defined pathway for development of an Australian LFP demonstration plant with funding to be secured directly into VSPC from strategic partners
    • Lithium Chemicals: Complete JDA activities with MinRes, including assessment of alternate commercialisation pathways and selection of the preferred lithium product
  • Restructuring of the organisation and cost reductions being undertaken with estimated annual ongoing savings of A$1.5m

Comment regarding the strategic update from Livium CEO and Managing Director, Simon Linge

‘We have advanced our strategy to inflection points, with the next phases of growth for each division requiring strategic partners to underpin their growth and development. With a focus on strategic growth partners, we have reviewed our resourcing and made the decision to restructure our organisation and reduce costs.

Livium remains committed to delivering returns for shareholders. Whilst organisational changes may impact our ability to react to opportunities, right sizing the organisation assists in resetting the Company’s cost base to become sustainable over this critical period.’

NEAR TERM PLANS

The following activities have been identified as key to delivering value in the near term:

  • Battery Recycling: Continued safe operations, growing end-of-life volumes, and seeking partners to scale operations in line with the expected waste outlook and to expand into related services
  • Battery Materials: Secure funding for an Australian LFP demonstration plant from government and private strategic partners, who will invest directly into VSPC
  • Lithium Chemicals: Complete JDA activities with MinRes, including assessment of alternate commercialisation pathways and selection of the preferred lithium product
  • Corporate: Complete implementation of organisation restructure and other cost saving initiatives.

BATTERY RECYCLING GROWTH OUTLOOK

The Battery Recycling division generates revenue today, is the largest recycler of lithium-ion batteries in the country, draws on our technical expertise to provide value-added services and has strong commercial relationships. Strategic focus is being placed on Battery Recycling, through Envirostream, due to the potential of increased recycling volumes over the coming years.

During CY2024, Envirostream successfully increased volumes of EV’ andESS2 with most of the volume being received under exclusive customer arrangements. Over CY2024, Envirostream collected 736k tonnes of large format batteries and it is estimated that there are five times these volumes available today which are increasingly expected to be recycled due to consumer demand and government regulation. In their Battery Market Analysis, B-cycle show how EV and ESS batteries are expected to dominate3.

Focusing on only EV / ESS for the balance of the decade demonstrates the near-term opportunity for Envirostream collections growth relative to current performance.

The near-term outlook for Envirostream is positive, enabling increases of volumes collected and processed, and providing an opportunity to expand our service offerings in line with market requirements.

To accommodate expectations of market growth, the business intends to explore deploying growth capital to improve operating efficiencies and expand capacity. The company has appointed advisors to coordinate discussions around partnership and growth funding options, which includes both strategic partners and other financiers.

Click here for the full ASX Release

This post appeared first on investingnews.com
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Top Altcoins to Watch in 2025: An Investor’s Guide

Altcoins are a hot topic in 2025 amidst regulatory shifts and political changes, and investors interested in crypto should take time to learn about the broader altcoin ecosystem and top altcoins to watch.

Read on for a look at altcoin trends and the top altcoins to watch in 2025, as well as tips for investing in altcoins to diversify your portfolio.

In this article

    What are altcoins and are they a good investment?

    The term altcoins refers to alternative cryptocurrencies, meaning all cryptos other than Bitcoin. Opinions on whether or not Ethereum is still considered an altcoin vary.

    In terms of whether altcoins are a good investment, exposure to altcoins can give investors access to potential profit opportunities beyond the market’s two top cryptocurrencies, as well as the wide variety of utilities altcoins cover.

    However, just like investing in traditional markets, investing in cryptocurrencies has its risks. Cryptocurrencies are known for their volatility, experiencing pronounced swings in response to both positive and negative developments, and this can be more pronounced for altcoins with lower market caps. Read on to learn more about the forecast for altcoins this year and how to evaluate them to decide which to invest in.

    Forecast for altcoin prices in 2025

    Crypto is in a bull market that is likely to continue this year, with tailwinds including the potential approvals of altcoin ETFs and a crypto-friendly administration in the US.

    “(But) when you look at the overall picture, I think (the market) is going to be very positive in 2025. You’re going to have altcoins that have runs. You’re going to have altcoins that are going to have triple-digit percentage gains this year.”

    As for what markets could like like quarter to quarter, he anticipates a strong first quarter in 2025, particularly February and March. Through Q2 and Q3 of the year he expects increased volatility, followed by another rise in late Q3 and Q4.

    However, he expects this is the last year of this bull market and we could see a potential market downturn early next year. This would align with the typical four-year cycle observed in the crypto space.

    “A lot of this is also dependent on a very big macroeconomic factor, which is global money supply,” Utkarsh continued. “We have all this other stuff happening, wars and pandemics and this and all these other things, but that one piece, in my opinion, I feel out influences any other factor driving these markets.”

    A December 2024 Haver analysis of money supply in major economies, including the US, Eurozone and Japan, indicated positive growth over the preceding 12 months, a period during which labor markets remained strong and inflation lessened.

    A positive macroeconomic climate encourages investors to take on more risk, which benefits the cryptocurrency market. New capital entering the crypto space often flows into Bitcoin first, and subsequent price increases then draw attention to and boost interest in altcoins.

    “I think we’re very close to the true definition of alt season, (which) is when 75 percent of the top 50 coins have outperformed Bitcoin in the last 90 days,” Utkarsh explained. “While we’re not there yet, we’re seeing what we see every cycle: the large caps are going off.”

    SOL, XRP and SUI are three notable examples of altcoins that have seen triple digit gains in the last year.

    At US$234 at the time of writing, SOL, the token of the Solana blockchain, is up 150 percent year-over-year. Sui, which unlocked 64.19 million SUI tokens worth approximately US$338.8 million on January 1, 2025, has also had an impressive run, up 184 percent over the same time period. Lastly, Ripple’s token XRP has seen massive annual gains of over 460 percent, with the majority of those gains coming since November 2024.

    Institutions have applied to list exchange-traded funds (ETFs) for all three of those cryptos, and many market watchers expect them to launch in 2025.

    “I actually see the potential for multiple ETFs to be filed. Not just for XRP and Solana, but also for combination ETFs, like Bitcoin and Ethereum, or a combination of a few together. Maybe not completely new ones, but the existing ones packaged together,” Utkarsh said.

    Meanwhile, Bitcoin’s dominance is shrinking, with its market share down to 57 percent from 60 percent in November 2024.

    Despite the significant potential rewards, Utkarsh urges investors to be mindful of the risk. “One thing I tell people is that when you’re at the height of the bull market, to achieve triple-digit gains we will have double-digit drawdowns.”

    The price swings observed in Bitcoin following President Trump’s election in November, which included both substantial gains and sharp declines, illustrate the potential for rapid changes in market sentiment and value.

    Altcoin trends and uses in 2025

    Utkarsh explained how early altcoin performance often foreshadows the dominant trends of a crypto cycle and discussed a variety of narratives he is seeing in the altcoin space.

    Projects like Render, ICP, Near Protocol and Fetch.ai operate within the artificial intelligence (AI) narrative and are poised for growth thanks to surging demand for AI infrastructure and data processing.

    “I feel another narrative that’s poised for massive growth is tokenization,” Utkarsh said, “and (a strong) player in that (space) is Ondo Finance.”

    Ondo Finance provides the infrastructure for tokenizing real-world assets. BlackRock utilized that infrastructure to launch BUIDL, a tokenized money market that gives investors access to tokenized short-term US government bonds.

    “The gaming narrative is also interesting because I think there’s a lot of initial coin offerings (ICOs) that are coming in this space,” Utkarsh continued. “One of the strong gaming players is IMX, (the token of a company called) Immutable X.”

    Immutable X is a platform built on top of the Ethereum blockchain. The platform makes creating and trading non-fungible tokens (NFTs) easier, faster and cheaper with a technology called zk-rollups to bundle transactions together. IMX is used for things such as paying fees on the platform.

    During the discussion, Utkarsh emphasized the importance of utility as well as marketing within the crypto space, highlighting that its relevance spans various sectors of the market.

    “There’s so many companies that have massive utility potential, but they’re just not being utilized in that way,” he said. ‘But I think when you’re in an asset class that’s still fairly early, it is so important for founders and leadership to understand market dynamics and not just geek out on the technology. The companies that I feel are going to make it in this cycle are the ones that already have done a big push from a marketing standpoint.”

    To illustrate this point, Utkarsh compared Render, a decentralized graphic processing unit rendering network, to Aethir, a less well-known but potentially more powerful competitor. Utkarsh also observed that meme coins are demonstrating genuine utility within the gaming community.

    “In fact, we’re even invested in a gaming company right now, (Hexagon Studios), that’s about to go ICO, and they’re launching a meme coin that can be used within games. It’s not just a coin for trying to make money, they’re actually using the coin for some utility to do in-game purchases and all that stuff, but making it a little bit fun.’

    While Utkarsh expressed optimism that the narrative around meme coins could shift, he emphasized that they are still an inherently risky investment, often associated with fleeting internet trends and speculation. This was evidenced by US President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump’s meme coins, launched on January 17 and 19, that raked in billions within hours only to reverse course. Crypto watchers have criticized the projects for holding the majority of tokens in one wallet.

    How to choose altcoins for your crypto portfolio

    Investors are likely wondering how to find the next big altcoin. Utkarsh advises utilizing data-driven metrics — such as token unlocks, sector performance, partnerships, news events, and economic data releases — to identify promising altcoin investment opportunities.

    He also explained that investors should keep their risk tolerance in mind when considering the market cap of a coin. Larger-cap coins tend to be more suitable for longer-term holding, while mid-cap and low-cap coins might offer greater potential for shorter-term gains but higher risk of losses as well.

    As for how to build a crypto portfolio, diversification is important for mitigating risk and maximizing the potential for returns.

    “If we take microcaps out of the equation, I think by putting about 50 percent in large cap, 30, maybe even 35 percent in mid-cap, and potentially 15 to 20 percent in low cap, that could be a healthy balance,” Utkarsh said. “If you want growth, I don’t feel that you should be in about like 15 different companies; that being said, I don’t think you should be in like two companies either.”

    Top altcoins to watch in 2025

    So, which altcoins are the best in 2025? This list of altcoins to consider investing in includes crypto with strong fundamentals, real-world utility, active communities and innovative technology that could benefit various industries.

    This list of top altcoins is arranged by market cap. Market cap and total value locked (TVL) — which refers to the overall value of assets deposited in a DeFi protocol — were gathered from CoinGecko and DefiLlama, respectively, on January 27, 2024.

    1. Ripple (XRP)

    Market cap: US$174.56 billion
    Total value locked: US$77.45 million
    Price: US$3.02

    While Ripple has a smaller DeFi ecosystem compared to other blockchains like Ethereum or Solana, its strength lies in its focus on cross-border payments and institutional adoption. This positions Ripple as a key player in traditional finance, with the potential for increased demand and value appreciation driven by factors outside of the DeFi space.

    There is wide speculation that the new US Trump administration will result in a favorable resolution of Ripple’s lengthy legal battles with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). CEO Brad Garlinghouse and Chief Legal Officer Stuart Alderoty met with President-elect Donald Trump for dinner on January 7. While details of the meeting weren’t revealed, the news sent interest in its token, XRP, up 2.63 percent as the rest of the crypto market pulled back.

    Additionally, at least seven financial institutions have applied to the SEC to offer XRP ETFs focused exclusively on the token, while several others have applied for diversified crypto ETFs with a basket of coins, including XRP.

    2. Solana (SOL)

    Market cap: US$113.8 billion
    Total value locked: US$12.73 billion
    Price: US$234.08

    Known for its high transaction speed and low fees, Solana has been a major player in the NFT and DeFi space. It’s often seen as a competitor to Ethereum, surpassing Ethereum in terms of trading volume since Q4 2024. This surge has been attributed to the rise of meme coins on the Solana blockchain, such as Doge on Solana (SDOGE), a wrapped version of the original Dogecoin (DOGE).

    The value of its token SOL has increased by over 200 percent year-over-year. Institutions that have applied to the SEC for SOL ETFs include VanEck, 21Shares, and Cboe Global Markets.

    3. Cardano (ADA)

    Market cap: US$33.37 billion
    Total value locked: US$563.81 million
    Price: US$0.93

    Cardano is a proof-of-stake blockchain that prioritizes a methodical, research-based approach to development, with a focus on security and scalability for smart contracts and dApps.

    Analysts such as Peter Brandt and Altcoin Sherpa predicted earlier in January that ADA could be headed for a bull rally based on a double-bottom pattern formed year-over-year that demonstrates a long period of price stability and accumulation, an indication of underlying support from buyers.

    At least three financial institutions have filed for Cardano ETFs in 2025.

    4. Chainlink (LINK)

    Market cap: US$15.27 billion
    Total value locked: US$1 billion
    Price: US$23.88

    Chainlink is a decentralized oracle network that provides real-world data to smart contracts across various blockchains, enabling DeFi applications and other use cases requiring secure external data. In November 2024, Trump’s World Liberty Financial adopted Chainlink’s technology, a partnership that allowed World Liberty to offer more reliable and secure services.

    Later, Cointelegraph reported on January 20 that Trump had purchased US$4.7 million worth of LINK as part of an over US$50 million cryptocurrency spending spree. The news sent LINK’s price above US$25.00 for the first time since December 12. Trump’s interest in Chainlink could indicate a growing recognition of the potential and value of decentralized oracle networks within the crypto industry.

    5. Avalanche (AVAX)

    Market cap: US$13.99 billion
    Total value locked: US$1.43 billion
    Price: US$34.01

    Avalanche is a layer-1 blockchain that aims to address the scalability limitations of older blockchains like Ethereum. It boasts high throughput and fast transaction speeds, making it suitable for demanding applications like decentralized exchanges and gaming. Its token AVAX is used to pay transaction fees, and users can participate in securing the network by staking AVAX tokens.

    Analysts at InvestingHaven predict that AVAX could reach prices between US$29.02 and US$95.11 in 2025, citing its Fibonacci retracement level as a critical indicator for a potential long-term reversal. While no ETFs have been filed specifically for AVAX yet, its growing ecosystem and focus on subnets could position it for increased adoption and potential price appreciation in the coming years.

    6. Sui (SUI)

    Market cap: US$11.84 billion
    Total value locked: US$1.74 billion
    Price: US$3.94

    Sui is a layer-1 blockchain that uses an object-centric data model and the Move programming language, a design that improves the efficiency and security of smart contract development and execution.

    Despite its relatively recent ICO launch in May 2023, SUI has exhibited remarkable growth, with its value increasing by over 180 percent year-over-year at the time of this writing. One analyst, @CryptoELITES, shared his price predictions on January 22, including a high of US$40 by the end of this bull run.

    7. Litecoin (LTC)

    Market cap: US$8.62 billion
    Total value locked: US$3.3 million
    Price: US$114.33

    Litecoin is one of the oldest and most established altcoins. It offers faster transaction speeds and lower fees compared to Bitcoin, making it a viable option for everyday transactions. It is often referred to as the silver to Bitcoin’s gold.

    Canary Capital filed to offer a spot Litecoin ETF in October 2024, and provided the SEC with an updated application on January 16. Bloomberg ETF analyst Eric Balchunas predicts that Litecoin could be the next coin approved for a spot ETF.

    8. Aave (AAVE)

    Market cap: US$4.57 billion
    Total value locked: US$21.29 billion
    Price: US$303.92

    Aave is a decentralized lending and borrowing protocol that allows users to earn interest on their crypto assets or borrow against their holdings. It was named the number two lending platform by BeinCrypto due to its broad multichain accessibility and low annual percentage yield.

    Aave received a significant sum of US$6.9 million from Trump’s World Liberty Financial on January 22 during a crypto buy-up that also included LINK, TRON, USDC, ETH and wrapped Bitcoin (wBTC), a token on the Ethereum blockchain that’s backed by Bitcoin.

    9. Algorand (ALGO)

    Market cap: US$3.2 billion
    Total value locked: US$145.9 million
    Price: US$0.38

    Algorand is a proof-of-stake blockchain platform that is gaining traction in various sectors, including DeFi, NFTs and supply chain management. Algorand’s focus on sustainability, its strong technical foundation and its growing ecosystem make it a contender in the blockchain space. As of writing, ALGO is up over 11 percent month-over-month and over 8 percent over the past 14 days.

    On January 3, the Algorand Foundation shared its latest update, rolling out a staking program that will reward validators with 10 ALGO per block.

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

    This post appeared first on investingnews.com
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    Chemphys Placement Participation Funds Received

    Galan Lithium Limited (ASX: GLN) (Galan or the Company) is pleased to advise that it has received proceeds from Latam Resources Pty Limited (Latam), an Affiliate of Chengdu Chemphys Chemical Industry Co., Ltd (Chemphys) in relation to the share placement (Placement) announced by the Company on 10 September 2024 and subsequently approved by shareholders at the Galan Annual General Meeting held on 15 November 2024. Chemphys agreed to subscribe for US$3 million worth of shares under the terms of the Placement.

    Funds received from Latam will be applied by Galan towards ongoing Phase 1 operations at Hombre Muerto West (HMW), as parties continue to work towards finalising an offtake prepayment facility targeted financial close during the first quarter of 2025.

    Click here for the full ASX Release

    This post appeared first on investingnews.com
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    Growth-Focused Gold Explorer: Torque Metals and Aston Minerals Unite in Strategic Merger

    Torque Metals Limited (“Torque”) (ASX: TOR) and Aston Minerals Limited (“Aston”) (ASX:ASO) are pleased to announce they have entered into a binding scheme implementation deed to facilitate a merger whereby Torque will acquire 100% of Aston in an all-scrip transaction (“Merger”).

    HIGHLIGHTS

    • The Merger will see Torque and Aston shareholders each own 50% of the merged entity1.
    • Combined business to have 1.75Moz in gold resources across two exploration projects, with a dominant land position, and pro-forma cash of over $5 million to drive ongoing gold exploration activities2.
      • Paris Gold Project: 250,000oz @ 3.1 g/t Au3, Western Australia Goldfields, ~1,200km²
      • Edleston Gold Project: 1.5Moz @ 1.0 g/t Au4, Ontario, Canada. Abitibi Greenstone Belt, ~310km²
    • Entities related to Tolga Kumova and Evan Cranston to collectively invest $1.0 million into Torque at $0.05 per share unconditionally (Placement).
    • Evan Cranston has been appointed to the Board of Torque as a Non-Executive Director, and upon completion of the Merger, Tolga Kumova will be invited to join the Board of Torque, with Cristian Moreno and Andrew Woskett to remain in their respective roles of Managing Director and Chairman.
    • Torque will offer 1 Torque share for every 5.2 Aston shares, representing an offer price of $0.01 per Aston share5.
    • Directors of Aston unanimously recommend that all shareholders and option holders vote in favour of Torque’s offer, in the absence of a Superior Proposal.
    • The merged entity will benefit from a strong cash position, a refreshed Board to drive the next phase of exploration growth, and the ability to drive gold exploration across two emerging gold assets, being the Paris Gold Project in Western Australia and the Edleston Gold Project in Ontario, Canada.

    TRANSACTION SUMMARY

    Torque Metals Limited (ASX: TOR) (“Torque”) and Aston Minerals Limited (ASX: ASO) (“Aston”) are pleased to announce a merger of equals, creating a well-funded, growth-focused gold exploration company with projects located in two Tier-1 mining jurisdictions: the Western Australian Goldfields and Ontario, Canada.

    The companies have entered into a scheme implementation deed (“Scheme Implementation Deed” or “Scheme”) pursuant to which they have agreed to a merger to be conducted by way of a Scheme of Arrangement under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) (“Corporations Act”), whereby Torque will acquire 100% of the fully paid ordinary shares in Aston and 100% of the unlisted Aston options (“Proposed Merger”).

    Commenting on the Proposed Merger, Torque Managing Director, Cristian Moreno, said:

    “We are pleased to announce the proposed merger between Aston and Torque, creating a dynamic growth-focused gold explorer with a dominant position in two leading mining jurisdictions. This strategic transaction unites our strengths, consolidating a substantial gold resource of 1.75 million ounces (Moz) across two highly prospective exploration projects. Torque will command an extensive landholding in two premier mining jurisdictions and leverage current cash reserves exceeding $5 million to fund ongoing exploration activities.

    “As Torque already owns the Paris Gold Project, located in the heart of the Western Australian Goldfields, the merger enhances the strategic potential of this asset and aligns with Torque’s broader growth objectives. With a resource of 250,000 ounces at an impressive grade of 3.1 g/t gold, the project spans a substantial ~1,200km² tenement package, positioning it as a cornerstone of our portfolio. Complementing this, Aston’s Edleston Gold Project in Ontario, Canada, is situated in the renowned Abitibi Greenstone Belt and contributes a significant resource of 1.5 million ounces at 1.0 g/t gold. This project’s ~310km² landholding offers additional high-grade exploration opportunities, further solidifying our growth potential.

    “A key advantage of this merger is the injection of $4 million cash on a pre-costs basis from Aston into Torque Metals. This strategic funding approach ensures that the company is well-capitalised to advance exploration efforts in the current robust gold price environment.

    “We also welcome a $1 million strategic investment from Tolga and Evan, who have recognised the considerable exploration upside to be unlocked at our expansive Paris Gold Project area. Their involvement will bring valuable insights and leadership to Torque Metals, and I look forward to collaborating with them on the Board of Torque following completion of the merger.”

    Commenting on the proposed merger, Aston Managing Director and Chairman, Russell Bradford, said:

    ‘The proposed merger with Torque Metals marks an exciting milestone, and I am particularly impressed by the scale potential of the Paris Gold Project. This project boasts a dominant land package in the highly productive Western Australia Goldfields, with an outstanding resource grade of 3.1 g/t gold and significant potential to expand into a major high-grade deposit.

    “Its strategic location, surrounded by prominent producers and explorers such as Goldfields, Westgold, Northern Star, Vault Minerals, and Astral Resources, underscores the quality and opportunity this project represents. To have a project of this calibre in such a prime jurisdiction is truly remarkable.

    “I commend Torque Metals’ management for their exceptional work in advancing the Paris Gold Project to this stage. With the significant cash injection from this merger, I have complete confidence in their ability for Torque to uncover gold ounces and deliver outstanding value for the shareholders of Torque and Aston.’

    Click here for the full ASX Release

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    Vale Launches Strategic Review of Thompson Nickel Operations Amid Market Challenges

    Vale (NYSE:VALE) announced on Thursday (January 23) that its subsidiary, Vale Base Metals, has initiated a strategic review that will involve evaluating its mining and exploration assets in Thompson, Manitoba.

    The company will look at a range of options for the properties, including a potential sale.

    The Thompson Nickel Belt has been producing nickel since 1956. Spanning 135 kilometers, the belt includes two operational underground mines, an adjacent mill and significant exploration opportunities.

    During the 12 month period ended in Q3 2024, the Thompson assets put out 10,500 metric tons of finished nickel.

    The strategic review is intended to optimize Vale Base Metals’ asset portfolio and strengthen the competitiveness of its nickel operations. The company expects the review to conclude in the second half of 2025.

    Nickel market struggling with oversupply

    Nickel prices entered 2025 in the US$15,000 to US$15,200 per metric ton range.

    The metal struggled to gain momentum last year, with increased output from Indonesia and limited growth in demand from key sectors such as stainless steel and electric vehicle batteries.

    Ewa Manthey, commodities strategist at ING, noted that the market surplus is unlikely to ease in the near term.

    China’s recent steps to support its economy, which include a US$1.4 trillion investment plan over the next five years, may influence nickel demand indirectly. However, analysts caution that measures introduced in 2024 had limited effects on China’s housing and manufacturing sectors, which are key drivers of stainless steel consumption.

    Indonesia, the world’s top nickel producer, continues to play a central role in the market surplus. Its expanding nickel output, supported by significant Chinese investment, has solidified its dominance in the industry.

    However, there are indications that Indonesia may consider curtailing production to stabilize prices. Reports suggest that the Indonesian government is evaluating deeper cuts to nickel-mining quotas.

    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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    Nvidia loses nearly $600 billion in market value after Chinese AI startup bursts onto scene

    Shares of chipmaker Nvidia plunged Monday, for its worst day since the global market sell-off in March 2020 triggered by the coronavirus pandemic.

    The plunge came amid a global tech stock sell-off over fears about America’s leadership in the AI sector. Those fears were largely sparked by advances claimed by a Chinese artificial intelligence startup.

    Shares of the chipmaker, one of the primary beneficiaries of the artificial intelligence boom in tech stocks, plummeted as much as 18%. That pushed Nvidia’s market value below $3 trillion. Still, shares of the firm are up more than 480% over the last two years.

    The drop accounted for nearly $600 billion in lost market value though. It is the biggest market value drop in U.S. stock market history, according to Bloomberg. And nearly double the second worst drop in history, also seen by Nvidia shareholders in September 2024, when the company shed $279 billion in value.

    For some perspective, the amount of market value lost by Nvidia on Monday is more than the entire market value of Exxon Mobil, Costco, Home Depot or Bank of America.

    Due to the AI-fueled surge in mega-cap tech stocks, Nvidia catapulted into the top five most valuable companies in the world in 2023. The surge didn’t stop there, with the company soaring past Alphabet, Microsoft and the most valuable company in the world: Apple. At its most recent peak, Nvidia reached a towering $3.7 trillion.

    With Monday’s losses, Apple has retaken the title of world’s most valuable company and Nvidia’s value sank to around $2.9 trillion.

    Nvidia’s drop was also a drag on the Dow Jones Industrial Average, which finished the day higher but began the day in the red. Nvidia joined the prestigious 30-stock index in November, replacing rival chipmaker Intel. The Nasdaq Composite, which more closely tracks publicly traded tech companies, slid around 3%.

    The global sell-off in tech stocks also meant the S&P Technology sector fell into the red for the year so far, the only sector lower over that time.

    This post appeared first on NBC NEWS
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    Ecstatic House Republicans cry unity after Trump speech in Miami: ‘Made politics fun again’

    DORAL, Fla. — House Republicans brimmed with optimism after President Donald Trump’s speech at their annual retreat on Monday evening, where the new commander in chief detailed his policy goals for a busy first 100 days of the new administration.

    Trump’s speech, which ran just over an hour, covered a wide range of issues, from post-election unity to his wishlist for Republicans’ conservative policy overhaul via the budget reconciliation process.

    ‘It was fun, you know? I mean, if you’re a Republican, Trump made politics fun again,’ House Appropriations Committee Chair Tom Cole, R-Okla., told Fox News Digital. ‘I mean, it’s been an extraordinary week. There’s a blizzard of executive orders and actions. It’s actually pushed Congress on some action.’

    Rep. Mike Haridopolos, R-Fla., a first-term member of Congress, was buoyant when approached by Fox News Digital on the first night of his first House GOP issues conference, an annual Republican event.

    ‘This is exactly why we ran for office, to turn around this country as quickly as possible. And that the president was in full form tonight. And I’m so excited to be a part of this change,’ Haridopolos said. ‘You could feel the energy in the room, and I think people are very excited to get this agenda through, and more importantly see the results.’

    It comes as Republicans negotiate on how to use their razor-thin majorities in the House and Senate to pass massive conservative policy changes through budget reconciliation.

    By reducing the threshold for Senate passage from 60 votes to a 51-seat simple majority, reconciliation allows a party in control of both congressional chambers to enact sweeping changes, provided they’re relevant to budgetary and fiscal policy.

    There has been some disagreement for weeks over how to package the GOP’s priorities, however. Senate Republicans have pushed for breaking the package up into two bills in order to score early victories on border security and energy policy while leaving the more complex issue of tax reform for a second bill.

    House Republican leaders, however, are concerned that the heavy political lift that passing a reconciliation bill entails would mean lawmakers run out of time before they can extend Trump’s 2017 tax cuts, which expire at the end of this year.

    Trump, who previously said he favors ‘one big beautiful bill,’ was noncommittal on the strategy during his speech. 

    ‘Whether it’s one bill, two bills, I don’t care,’ he said.

    He was more specific about what policies he wanted to see passed, however, including more funding for border security, permanently extending his 2017 tax cuts and ending taxation for tips, Social Security benefits and overtime pay. Trump also has vowed to end green energy policies in favor of bolstering the fossil fuel sector.

    Cole said he was concerned about the increase in federal spending that some of Trump’s specific policy goals would entail, but he conceded the president was likely speaking in generalities. 

    ‘I think Trump, when he thinks about these things, he’s thinking about just the average person and what a burden it is on them,’ Cole said.

    Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., one of three House Republicans who won in a district that voted for former Vice President Kamala Harris in November, praised Trump’s speech as ‘unifying’ but shared concerns with Trump’s broad-brush approach.

    ‘I thought that message is pretty unifying. I do. I think sometimes the execution gets all messy,’ Bacon said. 

    ‘While I was in there, I had a businessman from Omaha that does wind energy, and he’s worried about what that means. So I think it … could be a little more targeted. Sometimes I think people on the periphery are scared that their business will be impacted.’

    But National Republican Congressional Committee Chair Richard Hudson, R-N.C., who is tasked with leading Republicans through the 2026 midterm elections, said leaders would hash out specifics as needed while crediting Trump with bringing the GOP together.

    ‘We’ll see how the details shake out in these couple of days. But what I thought was great is he kept coming back to his theme: If all Republicans stick together, we can be successful. And I thought that was a good message for all members,’ Hudson said.

    Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, R-N.Y., said she was ‘very happy to hear’ Trump call for a lower tax rate for new domestic manufacturing, particularly in relation to pharmaceuticals.

    It’s an issue she hopes Republicans will tackle in their reconciliation process.

    ‘It was important that President Trump stressed unity as we enter the timeframe for drafting and passing reconciliation, extending the tax package,’ Malliotakis said. 

    And Rep. Nathaniel Moran, R-Texas, also praised Trump’s speech while dismissing concerns about his lack of commitment toward a one- or two-reconciliation bill strategy.

    ‘He’s a results-oriented guy, and we all know that. And what we need to do is whatever is necessary to get the results for the American people and put his policies in place,’ Moran said.

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    Health experts prep Dem lawmakers on anti-vaccine arguments ahead of RFK Jr’s confirmation hearings

    A group of Democratic senators previewed several anti-vaccine arguments during a roundtable discussion, including a claim that vaccines cause autism, several days before Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s scheduled confirmation hearings later this week.

    Even though Kennedy’s name was ‘not supposed’ to come up during the hearing, according to at least one of the health experts present at the discussion, his nomination to be the next secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) was invoked frequently by lawmakers seeking answers about how to combat anti-vaccine claims and so-called ‘misinformation,’ including arguments about vaccines that Kennedy has promoted in the past.

    One claim the senators asked the public health experts at the roundtable about was whether vaccines cause autism, a claim Kennedy has discussed publicly in interviews.

    ‘This is something that I hear a concern about quite a lot,’ Sen. Angela Alsobrooks, D-Md., asked the panel. ‘What, if any information, can you give us to help us push back against that?’ 

    The doctors on the panel explained the lack of robust studies proving this link while highlighting the wide breadth of studies that have shown no links between vaccines and autism.

    ‘Academic researchers, pediatricians, scientists took that concern seriously enough to spend tens of millions of dollars to answer the question,’ said Dr. Paul Offit, a pediatrician with an expertise in virology and immunology. ‘The more impactful part of your question is how do you get that information out there, because frankly, once you’ve scared people it’s hard to unscare them.’ 

    Offitt added that since there is no clear cause of autism, it makes it harder to refute claims from Kennedy and others. Dr. Joshua Sharfstein of Johns Hopkins pointed lawmakers to preeminent medical authorities within the U.S., such as the National Academy of Sciences, as places they could go for evidence that vaccines do not cause autism.

    The Democratic group of lawmakers, led by Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., who caucuses with Democrats, asked questions about, and learned ways to refute, other anti-vaccine claims, such as whether vaccine manufacturers are immune from being held accountable for vaccine injuries.

    The experts pointed out the presence of a National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program that allows certain vaccine injury victims to receive compensation from the government, but they suggested that if Kennedy upended the current system and opened up more companies to liability, it could potentially put vaccine manufacturers out of business.

    ‘Am I right that the HHS secretary has some discretion about removing vaccines from that list [and opening them up to civil litigation] if they were to choose?’ asked Sen. Time Kaine, D-Va. ‘Because if that were the case, I would obviously worry about – that would be one worry I would have and a set of questions I might like to ask people nominated for positions within HHS.’

    Other questions from lawmakers that the health experts helped answer included queries about how to distinguish between vaccine side effects versus vaccine complications, how to combat claims that vaccines are not studied enough, questions about how the government monitors the safety of vaccines, questions about how undermining vaccine efficacy can impact public health and more. 

    Kennedy will face tough questions about his stance on vaccines this week during his confirmation hearings in front of both the Senate Committee on Finance and the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP).

    The chair of the Senate’s HELP committee, Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., called Kennedy ‘wrong’ on vaccines during an interview earlier this month. 

    Democrats, meanwhile, have been more pointed about their criticism. During the roundtable discussion with public health experts, Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., called Kennedy ‘dangerous’ and ‘unqualified’ for the position of HHS secretary. 

    ‘The bird flu, if it explodes, we’re going to need to have some confidence, especially in those people who should be vaccinated, that they can trust the government when they say that it’s safe, they can trust the medical community, and I’m just very afraid of Robert F. Kennedy’s candidacy,’ Markey said. 

    ‘Say goodbye to your smile and say hello to polio,’ Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., said after news of Kennedy’s nomination to head HHS. ‘This is a man who wants to stop kids from getting their polio and measles shots. He’s actually welcoming a return to polio, a disease we nearly eradicated.’

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