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Syntholene Energy Corp Strengthens Advisory Board with Former COO of Icelandair Jens Thordarson

Investing 5 Mins Read

Mr. Thordarson brings two decades of expertise in operations, infrastructure development, and large-scale business transformation in the aviation industry

Syntholene Energy Corp. (TSXV: ESAF,OTC:SYNTF) (OTCQB: SYNTF) (FSE: 3DD0) (‘Syntholene’ or the ‘Company’) announces the nomination of Jens Thordarson, former Chief Operating Officer of Icelandair, to its Advisory Board. With nearly two decades of leadership experience in the aviation industry, Mr. Thordarson brings expertise in operations, infrastructure development, and large-scale business transformation, critical elements as Syntholene advances its synthetic fuel solutions for global transportation and logistics.

Mr. Thordarson held multiple executive roles at Icelandair over his 17-year tenure, including Chief Operating Officer and Vice President of Technical Operations. In these roles, he spearheaded large-scale operational improvements, optimized fleet management, and integrated advanced technologies to enhance efficiency and sustainability in one of the world’s most demanding industries. Currently, he serves as CEO of GeoSalmo, a company focused on sustainable aquaculture, further reinforcing his commitment to innovative and environmentally responsible industries. Mr. Thordarson also serves as the Honorary Consul of Ireland in Iceland, encouraging tourism, trade, and foreign affairs between the two nations.

‘Jens’ leadership in aviation and operations, combined with his strategic network in the nation of Iceland, makes him an ideal contributor to Syntholene’s Advisory Board,’ said Dan Sutton, Chief Executive Officer of Syntholene Energy Corp. ‘As we work to bring sustainable synthetic fuels to Icelandic and European markets, his insights into politics, regulatory landscape, and infrastructure readiness will be instrumental in driving our commercialization strategy.’

Syntholene Energy Corp. is at the forefront of developing sustainable synthetic fuels designed to seamlessly integrate with existing energy infrastructure while significantly reducing carbon emissions. The nomination of Mr. Thordarson reinforces the Company’s commitment to drawing expertise from industries where fuel efficiency, innovation, and operational scale are paramount.

‘I am excited to join Syntholene’s Advisory Board and contribute my experience in aviation, operations, and strategic growth,’ said Mr. Thordarson. ‘The transition to sustainable fuels is essential for industries like aviation, and Syntholene’s technology represents a major step forward, taking a fundamentally different and more disciplined approach to the challenge. I look forward to working with the team as they move toward scale.’

About Syntholene

Syntholene is actively commercializing its novel Hybrid Thermal Production System for low-cost clean fuel synthesis. The target output is ultrapure synthetic jet fuel, manufactured at 70% lower cost than the nearest competing technology today. The company’s mission is to deliver the world’s first truly high-performance, low-cost, and carbon-neutral synthetic fuel at an industrial scale, unlocking the potential to produce clean synthetic fuel at lower cost than fossil fuels, for the first time.

Syntholene’s power-to-liquid strategy harnesses thermal energy to power proprietary integrations of hydrogen production and fuel synthesis. Syntholene has secured 20MW of dedicated energy to support the Company’s upcoming demonstration facility and commercial scale-up.

Founded by experienced operators across advanced energy infrastructure, nuclear technology, low-emissions steel refining, process engineering, and capital markets, Syntholene aims to be the first team to deliver a scalable modular production platform for cost-competitive synthetic fuel, thus accelerating the commercialization of carbon-neutral eFuels across global markets.

For further information, please contact:
Dan Sutton, CEO
comms@syntholene.com
www.syntholene.com

Investor Relations
KIN Communications Inc.
604-684-6730
ESAF@kincommunications.com

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. The use of any of the words ‘expect’, ‘anticipate’, ‘aims’, ‘continue’, ‘estimate’, ‘objective’, ‘may’, ‘will’, ‘project’, ‘should’, ‘believe’, ‘plans’, ‘intends’ and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking information or statements. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, including but not limited to statements regarding the completion of the definitive agreement, successful implementation of the test facility, commercial scalability, technical and economic viability, anticipated geothermal power availability, anticipated benefit of eFuel, and future commercial opportunities, are forward-looking statements.

The forward-looking statements and information are based on certain key expectations and assumptions made by the Company, including without limitation the assumption that the Company will be able to execute its business plan, that the eFuel will have its expected benefits, that there will be market adoption, and that the Company will be able to access financing as needed to fund its business plan. Although the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which such forward-looking statements and information are based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements and information because the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Since forward-looking statements and information address future events and conditions, by their very nature, they involve inherent risks and uncertainties.

Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors and risks, including, without limitation, Syntholene’s ability to meet production targets, realize projected economic benefits, overcome technical challenges, secure financing, maintain regulatory compliance, manage geopolitical risks, and successfully negotiate definitive terms. Syntholene does not undertake any obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable securities laws.

Readers are advised to exercise caution and not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/282796

News Provided by TMX Newsfile via QuoteMedia

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

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Investing

Crypto Market Update: Bitcoin Price Slide Drives Half-Trillion Crypto Wipeout

Investing 5 Mins Read

Here’s a quick recap of the crypto landscape for Wednesday (February 4) as of 9:00 p.m. UTC.

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

Bitcoin and Ether price update

Bitcoin (BTC) was priced at US$73,420.53, down by 3.9 percent over 24 hours.

Bitcoin price performance, February 4, 2026.

Chart via TradingView.

Expectations of tighter monetary policy and unresolved regulatory tensions are also weighing on investors.

Meanwhile, XS.com’s Samer Hasn is observing positive sentiment marked by long-term investors and new Bitcoin addresses accumulating at current low prices, despite speculative money leaving. He views the downtrend as a buying opportunity while the broader market anticipates crucial economic data and earnings from Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOGL).

Ether (ETH) was priced at US$2,164.80, down by 5.7 percent over the last 24 hours.

Altcoin price update

  • XRP (XRP) was priced at US$1.54, down by 4.7 over 24 hours.
  • Solana (SOL) was trading at US$93.04, down by 7.7 percent over 24 hours.

Today’s crypto news to know

Bitcoin-led selloff wipes nearly US$500 billion from crypto market

A sharp crypto selloff has erased nearly half a trillion dollars in market value in less than a week, with Bitcoin leading the decline, according to a Bloomberg report.

The total market cap for crypto has fallen by about US$467.6 billion since January 29.

Meanwhile, Bitcoin slid to its lowest level since US President Donald Trump’s re-election in early November 2024, briefly touching US$72,877 in US trading before clawing back to around US$75,900.

The pullback comes despite a more crypto-friendly White House and growing institutional adoption, reflecting how fragile sentiment remains after months of heavy leverage.

More than US$700 million in bullish and bearish bets were liquidated in the past 24 hours alone, taking total liquidations since January 29 to over US$6.6 billion, according to CoinGlass data.

Burry warns Bitcoin slide could trigger cascading financial stress

In a Substack post published on Monday (February 2), Michael Burry speculated that Bitcoin’s recent sharp decline could be something beyond a normal bear market, framing it as a uniquely dangerous setup that could trigger cascading financial turmoil across leveraged portfolios, as well as the entire crypto market and metals.

As Bitcoin is deeply embedded into leveraged structures, further price drops could force more selling. He outlined several ‘sickening scenarios,’ including 15 to 20 percent hits for large institutional holders like Strategy (NASDAQ:MSTR), a company he predicts could see major losses if Bitcoin were to fall to US$60,000.

If the cryptocurrency were to dip toward US$50,000, Burry said miners could dump reserves to avoid bankruptcy, dragging minerals and tokenized metal futures into a collapse. Burry sees Bitcoin as a purely speculative asset that has failed to act as a reliable debasement hedge like gold, so its drawdown exposes broader balance sheet fragility driven not just by price moves, but also by over‑levered positions, aggressive artificial intelligence and cloud CAPEX accounting and weak capital discipline that will only become apparent when liquidity tightens.

Strategy’s Bitcoin bet goes underwater

Michael Saylor doubled down on his Bitcoin conviction this week even as Strategy’s vast holdings slipped below their average purchase price. Bitcoin’s drop under roughly US$76,000 has pushed the firm’s estimated cost basis into negative territory, leaving it about US$630 million underwater on paper, according to market estimates cited by critics.

The company has accumulated more than 712,000 BTC since 2020 using a mix of share issuance and convertible debt, a strategy that paid off during the bull market, but now faces renewed scrutiny.

Bitcoin critics, including Peter Schiff, argue that Strategy’s aggressive buying helped fuel the earlier rally and that slowing purchases are now exacerbating the decline. Saylor has rejected that view, posting on X that volatility is “Satoshi’s gift to the faithful” and reiterating his rule to “Buy Bitcoin.”

TRM Labs hits US$1 billion valuation

Blockchain intelligence firm TRM Labs has reached a US$1 billion valuation after closing a US$70 million Series C funding round that was led by Blockchain Capital and included backing from Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS), Bessemer Venture Partners, Brevan Howard, Thoma Bravo and Citi Ventures.

Co-founder Esteban Castaño said the company was built around the belief that widespread crypto adoption would inevitably require sophisticated risk and compliance tools.

TRM gained traction with law enforcement agencies and financial institutions by tracking activity across multiple blockchains, an early strategic choice that helped it compete with more established rivals.

Bessent reasserts government Bitcoin stance

During testimony before the House Financial Services Committee during a mandatory oversight hearing on the annual report of the Financial Stability Oversight Council, US Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent reasserted his stance that Bitcoin is an asset of the US government, not a liability, and that the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve built from forfeited coins is a legitimate balance sheet asset that the treasury is treating as part of the nation’s financial toolkit.

Bessent noted that roughly US$500 million in seized Bitcoin retained by the government has appreciated to over US$15 billion while in custody, underscoring Bitcoin’s role as a high‑growth strategic asset on the federal balance sheet.

He reiterated that the US is not planning to buy more Bitcoin on the open market, but will continue to accumulate it in budget‑neutral ways to build the reserve, such as through forfeitures and seizures.

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

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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TomaGold Borehole EM Survey Confirms Berrigan Deep Zone

Investing 8 Mins Read

Survey also validates significant mineralization and unlocks new targets

Highlights

  • Direct correlation with mineralization : The modeled geophysical plates explain the presence of semi-massive to massive sulfides intersected in holes TOM-25-009 to TOM-25-015.
  • Priority target BER-14C : Identification of a major 160 x 300 m plate, open at depth and to the northeast , suggesting the presence of a significant massive sulfide lens near drill hole TOM-25-014.
  • Confirmation of Berrigan Deep : The TOM-25-015 drill hole perfectly intersects the southeast extension of the BER-14C plate, validating the continuity of the mineralized system at a depth of over 450 metres .

TomaGold Corporation (TSXV: LOT,OTC:TOGOF; OTCPK: TOGOF) (‘ TomaGold ‘ or the ‘ Company ‘) is pleased to announce the interpretation results of the borehole electromagnetic (BHEM) survey completed on its Berrigan Mine project, located in the Chibougamau mining camp.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260205830419/en/

Figure 1: TomaGold’s borehole EM survey confirms Berrigan Deep Zone

The survey, conducted by Abitibi Geophysics, modeled ten conductive plates of varying orientation and size that not only corroborate the high-grade intersections already announced, but also indicate significant extension potential, particularly with the discovery of the Berrigan Deep zone.

David Grondin, President and CEO of TomaGold, stated: ‘The geophysics confirm what our drill cores indicated: Berrigan Mine sits on a large-scale mineralized system. The BER-14C plate, in particular, extends the mineralization signature of holes TOM-25-014 and TOM-25-015 with a vector pointing to an even more conductive zone to the northeast.’

Technical analysis of the plates

The survey uses Terrascope PRO5U transmitters (up to 15 kW) powered by a Wildcat generator to transmit a bipolar signal in a 530 x 560 m surface loop with a current of 30 A. The borehole measurements are taken at frequencies of 5 Hz and 1 Hz using a GPS-synchronized DigiAtlantis triaxial probe, which captures the components of the magnetic field. Finally, the data is processed and modeled using specialized Maxwell and Oasis Montaj software, with the conductive plates shown in green in Figure 1.

Table 1: Comparative analyses Drilling/BHEM

Sector / Drill hole

Intersection (base interval)

Geophysical plate

Conductance (S)

Plate dimensions (m)

Berrigan Deep (TOM-25-015)

1.98% Zn, 0.82 Au g/t and 3.21 Ag g/t over 98.50 m

BER-14C

5000

160×300

West Extension (TOM-25-014)

4.55% Zn, 4.94 Au g/t and 56.44 Ag g/t over 2.10 m

TOM-25-014_B

5000

85×90

Main Zone (TOM-25-009)

1.40% Zn, 1.12 Au g/t and 7.55 Ag g/t over 48.05 m

TOM-25-009_C

4000

40×40

North Zone (TOM-25-012/13)

Results pending

TOM-25-12+13_A

1900

70×220

Source: Rapport technique d’Abitibi Géophysique (25QC084-BT TomaGold, Berrigan, BHEM, 2026)

Note: TomaGold has reverted to reporting elemental assay results rather than metal equivalent grades. The mineralization style encountered at Berrigan Mine differs from typical sulphide deposits in the surrounding area, including Scott Lake, Lemoine and Mattagami, as well as outside the immediate region such as Normétal, Rouyn-Noranda and Timmins. As a result, metallurgical recovery assumptions remain uncertain at this stage and cannot currently support the use of metal equivalent calculations.

Next Steps

TomaGold plans to:

  1. Drill three new holes (TOM-26-016 to TOM-26-018) to test the northeast and depth extensions of the BER-14C conductive plate.
  2. Conduct additional follow-up drilling to extend holes TOM-25-010, 011, and 013 with the goal of reaching modeled targets, and drill a corner hole from hole TOM-25-015.
  3. Conduct a low-frequency surface electromagnetic (EM) survey to better define the thickness, continuity, and lateral extent of the mineralized system.

About the Berrigan Mine Project
The Berrigan Mine property consists of 16 claims totalling 483 hectares located 4 km north-northwest of the town of Chibougamau. TomaGold has an option to acquire 100% of the property from Chibougamau Independent Mines Inc.

The property has been the subject of more than one historical estimate. Met-Chem Canada Inc. prepared the most recent of these in April 2001 in a report titled: ‘Pre-feasibility study: Etude Conceptuelle, Projects Berrigan and Tortigny’ by Chuinard et al. In the report, a resource estimate completed using polygonal estimation techniques stated 1.39 Mt grading 3.17% Zn and 1.77 g/t Au on the main Berrigan Mine zone. No resource classifications were given for the resource (GM61359).

The mineral resource estimate presented above is historical in nature and was not prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 standards. Accordingly, the reader is cautioned not to rely on this estimate, as the Company is not treating the estimate as a current mineral resource. The qualified person has not done sufficient work to make the resource current. Substantial data compilation, verification, and, potentially, additional drilling and resampling would be required by a qualified person before the historical estimate could be classified as a current mineral resource. There can be no assurance that any portion of the historical mineral resource will ultimately be confirmed or demonstrated to be economically viable. For further information regarding the Berrigan Mine Project, please consult the press release dated September 13, 2023 .

Technical Disclosure
The drilling program was managed by Explo-Logik of Val-d’Or, Québec. Drill core was split in half, with one half submitted to AGAT Laboratories at Val-d’Or for analysis. Gold was analyzed by fire assay (50 g) with atomic absorption finish, while base metals were analyzed by four-acid digestion with ICP-OES finish. Samples with gold grades greater than 10 g/t are reprocessed using metallic screening with a 106 µm cutoff. The processed material is split and analyzed by fire assay with ICP-OES finish to extinction. A separate split is prepared to independently analyze mineralized intervals with a target grade greater than 1.00% Cu-Zn using a Na₂O₂ fusion with ICP-OES or ICP-MS finish. Sample preparation duplicates, certified reference standards, and blanks are inserted into the sample stream.

The technical content of this press release has been reviewed and approved by Jean Lafleur, P.Geo., Vice President of Exploration of the Company, and Suzie Tremblay, P.Geo., Vice President of Operations at Explo-Logik Inc. and a consultant to TomaGold, each acting as a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101.

About TomaGold
TomaGold Corp. (TSXV: LOT,OTC:TOGOF, OTCPK: TOGOF) is a Canadian junior mining company focused on the acquisition, exploration, and development of high-potential precious and base metal projects, with a primary focus on gold and copper in Québec and Ontario. The Company’s core assets are located in the Chibougamau Mining Camp in northern Québec, where it owns the Obalski gold-copper-silver project and holds options to acquire 12 additional properties, including the Berrigan Mine, Radar, David, and Dufault projects. TomaGold also holds a 24.5% joint venture interest in the Baird gold property near the Red Lake Mining Camp in Ontario. In addition, the Company has lithium and rare earth element (REE) projects in the James Bay region, strategically positioned near significant recent discoveries.

Follow TomaGold:

WhatsApp: https://www.whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb79qG6LdQeiiErI1e27
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/tomagold-corporation
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TomaGoldCorporation
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tomagoldcorp
X: https://x.com/tomagoldcorp

Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Information
This news release includes certain statements that may be deemed ‘forward-looking statements’. All statements in this news 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. 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 the potential results of exploration and drilling activities, 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, opinions, or other factors should change.

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

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260205830419/en/

David Grondin
President and Chief Executive Officer
(514) 583-3490
www.tomagoldcorp.com

News Provided by Business Wire via QuoteMedia

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

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Sport

Mascot shove earns NBA player a one-game suspension

Sport 1 Min Read

Los Angeles Lakers big man Jaxson Hayes was handed a one-game suspension by the NBA ‘for pushing a Washington Wizards mascot during pregame introductions,’ the league said in a statement on Wednesday, Feb. 4.

Hayes shoved the Wizards’ mascot, G-Wiz, during pregame introductions before the Jan. 30 game in Washington. The mascot had been running with a giant flag when Hayes, 25, made contact, sending the mascot careening into cheerleaders running onto the court, video of the incident shows.

The Lakers will be without Hayes for Thursday night’s game against the Philadelphia 76ers.

The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.

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Sport

The seven biggest college football signing day winners and losers

Sport 5 Mins Read
  • USC, LSU, Oregon, and Texas Tech are highlighted as winners of the recent college football recruiting cycle.
  • Penn State, Baylor, and Auburn are listed as losers, facing challenges from coaching changes and decommitments.
  • The transfer portal and NIL era have significantly changed roster management, making it difficult to retain recruiting classes.

Signing a great college football recruiting class is one thing. Keeping that class together for multiple years of development is another.

Based on how roster management has changed in the portal and NIL era, Bowl Subdivision programs will struggle to keep half of their signees in any given class on campus for the duration of their college eligibility.

In fact, a 50% hit rate would be superb. More than 4,000 players entered the portal this winter, representing about a quarter of the FBS.

But even as Indiana bucks history to win a championship behind a transfer-heavy roster, the key to success in the Power Four is to use transfers to augment a roster largely built and developed through traditional recruiting.

With this year’s recruiting cycle complete, let’s break down the biggest winner and losers from the second national signing day:

Winners

Southern California

USC signed the nation’s third-largest class with 35 traditional signees. Leading the way are a pair of five-star recruits in edge rusher Luke Wafle and tight end Mark Bowman. While over half of the class hails from California, the Trojans also inked two of the top four prospects out of Texas and two of the top eight prospects from Ohio. There are multiple freshmen in this group capable of adding immediate depth or even grabbing starting roles from the start, which should help USC climb the ladder in the Big Ten and compete for a College Football Playoff berth in 2026.

LSU

The Tigers’ transfer haul featured some of the best prospects in the portal in quarterback Sam Leavitt, offensive tackle Jordan Seaton and edge rusher Princewill Umanmielen. That’s only increased the hype heading into Lane Kiffin’s debut. The past month has also seen LSU add bodies up front via a pair of junior college linemen in Adrian Lamb and Jakolby Jones, completing a rapid overhaul of the offensive front. Lamb chose the Tigers over offers from SEC rivals Alabama, Auburn and South Carolina.

Oregon

No team signed more five stars than the Ducks’ quartet of offensive lineman Immanuel Iheanacho, tight end Kendre’ Harrison, pass rusher Anthony Jones and wide receiver Jalen Lott. All four should find early playing time; Iheanacho is expected to start and Lott should land in a supporting role behind established starters Dakorien Moore and Evan Stewart. The second signing period included two new additions in running back Brandon Smith and three-star defensive lineman Anthony Jones. Smith joins fellow four-star recruit Tradarian Ball in adding even more juice to an already impressive backfield while Jones will help replenish a defensive front that lost significant depth to the transfer portal.

Texas Tech

While known more for dominating the transfer portal, Texas Tech also signed the top-rated recruiting class in the Big 12, led by a pair of key signings – five-star edge rusher LaDamion Guyton and offensive tackle Felix Ojo. While Ojo should land on the two-deep as a freshman, Guyton is destined for a meaty role given the Red Raiders’ offseason losses on the defensive front – though Guyton won’t arrive in Lubbock until after the spring, shortening his adjustment period before the start of the regular season. Another newcomer capable of stepping right into the mix is wide receiver Chase Campbell, a key local recruit who joins a crowded but somewhat unproven rotation.

Losers

Penn State

James Franklin’s firing, Matt Campbell’s arrival and Franklin’s move to Virginia Tech combined to keep this transition class near the bottom of the Big Ten. And signing a smaller group isn’t a huge deal given the Nittany Lions’ transfer haul, which includes some high-profile carryovers from Iowa State in quarterback Rocco Becht and safety Marcus Neal. Campbell also pulled off a late recruiting coup in defensive lineman Elijah Reeder, who blossomed into one of the top edge rushers in this cycle. But the class is still short on star power with just a pair of four stars and no recruit who seems assured of playing a major role in 2026.

Baylor

Baylor was one of the big losers of the early signing period after losing offensive tackle Kole Seaton to Oklahoma State, four-star receiver Jordan Clay to Washington, four-star defensive lineman Jamarion Carlton to Texas and four-star defensive backs Jamarion Vincent and Jordan Deck to Michigan. That left the Bears around the top 70 nationally and near the bottom of the Big 12. They rallied to add two in-state recruits this past month in running back HD Davis and linebacker Jahiem Porter, but both are developmental prospects who combined for just one additional Power Four scholarship offer.

Auburn

Auburn and new coach Alex Golesh did sign five four-star recruits, more than five teams in the SEC. Leading the way is local edge rusher Jaquez Wilkes, who stuck to his commitment through the coaching change despite offers from many of the top programs in the Power Four. But the Tigers also suffered a rash of high-profile decommitments, losing safety Bralan Womack to Mississippi State, wide receiver Jase Matthews to Mississippi, edge rusher Hezekiah Harris to Tennessee and receiver Devin Carter to Florida State.

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Who are top remaining free agents after Artemi Panarin deal?

Sport 3 Mins Read

Forward Artemi Panarin is off the trade market and the free agent market.

The New York Rangers traded Panarin on Wednesday. Feb. 4 to the Los Angeles Kings, who signed the high-scoring winger to a two-year contract extension averaging $11 million a year. The Rangers received prospect forward Liam Greentree and conditional third- (2026) and fourth-round (2028) picks.

Panarin, 34, was the latest player to come off a list of what had been an impressive unrestricted free agent class. Kirill Kaprizov signed a record extension and has been joined by Connor McDavid, Jack Eichel, Kyle Connor, Martin Necas and Adrian Kempe.

Here are some of the top remaining pending unrestricted free agents:

Top remaining free agents

10. Anders Lee, New York Islanders

He has been the Islanders’ captain since 2018 and is good for 20-plus goals. He had 29 last season. Current cap hit: $7 million.

9. Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals

The NHL’s all-time leading goal scorer is 40. He’ll either re-sign with Washington or retire. He hasn’t indicated his plans. Current cap hit: $9 million.

8. Kiefer Sherwood, San Jose Sharks

He was the runaway leader in hits last season and is in second place this season. He also has 17 goals and was traded by the Canucks this season. Current cap hit: $1.5 million

7. John Carlson, Washington Capitals

Carlson is the Capitals’ all-time leader in scoring among defensemen and is a key to their power play. He’s the one who sets up Ovechkin’s one-timers. Current cap hit: $8 million.

6. Sergei Bobrovsky, Florida Panthers

The goalie has won back-to-back Stanley Cup titles and two Vezina Trophies. He’ll be 38 next season. Current cap hit: $10 million.

5. Evgeni Malkin, Pittsburgh Penguins

The 39-year-old has expressed an interest in playing more and he’s making a case with 43 points in his first 40 games. He missed some time with an injury but has won three Stanley Cup titles in his storied career. Current cap hit: $6.1 million.

4. Darren Raddysh, Tampa Bay Lightning

The defenseman is having a breakout season with 17 goals and 51 points while filling in during Victor Hedman’s two injuries. Current cap hit: $975,000.

3. Rasmus Andersson, Vegas Golden Knights

The defenseman was traded to the Golden Knights this season by the Flames. He can provide offense with a 50- and a 49-point season. Current cap hit: $4.55 million.

2. Nick Schmaltz, Utah Mammoth

The forward keeps improving every year. The winger usually gets 20-plus goals and 60-plus points, and he’s already at 22 goals and 51 points this season. Current cap hit: $5.85 million.

1. Alex Tuch, Buffalo Sabres

The forward can score (two 36-goal seasons) and also kills penalties. He wants to stay in Buffalo and new general manager Jarmo Kekalainen wants to keep him. Current cap hit: $4.75 million.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

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Warriors land Kristaps Porzingis in trade with Hawks: Details

Sport 3 Mins Read

The Golden State Warriors’ trade saga with Jonathan Kuminga is officially ending as the team is dealing the 23-year-old forward and guard Buddy Hield to the Atlanta Hawks for Kristaps Porzingis, ESPN reports.

In another deal, the Warriors are sending Trayce Jackson-Davis to Toronto for a second-round pick, per ESPN.

Kuminga had been in a tumultuous relationship with the Warriors and head coach Steve Kerr over playing time and production dating back to last season. He’s played in just two games since Dec. 18, currently out with an injury.

While Kuminga gets a fresh start in Atlanta, Porzingis gets another in the Bay Area. Availability continues to be a persistent problem for Porzingis, who has appeared in just 17 games for the Hawks following his offseason trade by the Celtics. But if he can get back on the court he can provide needed size and additional scoring as a stretch 5 to Golden State.

This deal also seemingly ends the idea that Giannis Antetokounmpo could land in San Francisco ahead of the trade deadline, with ESPN saying the Warriors have ‘moved on.’

Kristaps Porzingis stats

Here are Porzingis’ average statistics for the 2025-26 regular season.

  • Games played: 17
  • Minutes: 24.3
  • Points: 17.1
  • Rebounds: 5.1
  • Assists: 2.7
  • Steals: 0.5
  • Blocks: 1.3
  • Field goal %: .457
  • 3-point field goal %: .360
  • Free throw %: .840

Kristaps Porzingis contract details

Porzingis is set to be a free agent after the season. He’s currently sporting a cap hit of $30.7 million.

How old is Kristaps Porzingis?

Porzingis is 30 years old. The Warriors will be the sixth different team the fourth pick of the 2015 NBA Draft has played on.

Jonathan Kuminga stats

Here are Kuminga’s average statistics for the 2025-26 regular season.

  • Games played: 20
  • Minutes: 23.8
  • Points: 12.1
  • Rebounds: 5.9
  • Assists: 2.5
  • Steals: 0.4
  • Blocks: 0.3
  • Field goal %: .454
  • 3-point field goal %: .321
  • Free throw %: .742

Jonathan Kuminga contract details

Kuminga has one year remaining after this season via a club option after signing a two-year, $46.8 million deal with the Warriors on Sept. 30, 2025.

How old is Jonathan Kuminga?

Kuminga is 23 years old. He was drafted by the Warriors with the No. 7 overall pick of the 2021 NBA Draft. He’ll be 24 in October.

Jonathan Kuminga highlights

Buddy Hield contract details

Hield is under contract for next season and holds a player option for 2027-28. He carries a modest cap hit that maxes out at $10.1 million in the final year if he opts in.

How old is Buddy Hield?

Hield is 33 years old. He was the sixth overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft. The Hawks will be his sixth NBA team.

Buddy Hield stats

Here are Hield’s average statistics for the 2025-26 regular season.

  • Games played: 44
  • Minutes: 17.5
  • Points: 8.0
  • Rebounds: 2.5
  • Assists: 1.5
  • Steals: 0.8
  • Blocks: 0.2
  • Field goal %: .433
  • 3-point field goal %: .344
  • Free throw %: .794
This post appeared first on USA TODAY

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Sport

Ex-NFL player’s death may be linked to 3 California slayings

Sport 4 Mins Read

The death of former NFL defensive tackle Kevin Johnson could be connected to three other murder cases of homeless people in the same area of Los Angeles, authorities said on Tuesday, Feb. 3.

Johnson, 55, was found dead shortly before 8 a.m. local time on Wednesday, Jan. 21, at a homeless encampment about 10 miles east of Los Angeles International Airport, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. At the time, the sheriff’s department said deputies located an unconscious man, later identified as Johnson, suffering from blunt force trauma.

He was pronounced dead at the scene, and his death was ruled a homicide, the sheriff’s department said. On Thursday, Jan. 22, the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner said Johnson’s cause of death was ‘blunt head trauma and stab wounds.’

In an update on Feb. 3, the sheriff’s department said its Homicide Bureau was investigating a ‘series of homicide cases’ that occurred in the same general location, specifically the ‘1300 block of East 120th Street in the unincorporated area of Los Angeles.’

Four people were killed in the area from October 2025 to January 2026, according to the sheriff’s department. All four victims were unhoused and living in homeless encampments in the area.

‘At this time, investigators are working to determine whether these cases are related,’ the sheriff’s department said in a statement. ‘One of the victims was Kevin Johnson, a former NFL player who played during the 1990’s.’

The sheriff’s department is asking for the public’s assistance in the investigation and has urged anyone with information related to the incidents to contact the Homicide Bureau or the Los Angeles Regional Crime Stoppers.

Who was Kevin Johnson?

Born in Los Angeles, Johnson began his football career at Los Angeles Harbor College and Texas Southern University before being drafted by the New England Patriots in the fourth round of the 1993 NFL Draft.

After the Patriots released Johnson that August, the defensive tackle made brief stops in Minnesota and Oakland as a practice squad member and training camp participant before the Philadelphia Eagles claimed him off waivers in August 1995.

He played two seasons for the Eagles, appearing in 23 games and starting six of them in the regular season. He also appeared in two playoff games in 1995.

After he missed a practice, the Eagles suspended and then released Johnson in 1996, according to Pro Football Reference and the Philadelphia Inquirer. He signed with the Oakland Raiders the following April and appeared in 15 games, tallying seven tackles.

In 1998, the Raiders released Johnson and he then played four years in the Arena Football League, winning an ArenaBowl with the Orlando Predators that same year.

Violence against people who are homeless

The deaths of Johnson and the three other unhoused victims mark the latest incident of violence against people who are homeless in the United States. A 2024 report from the National Coalition for the Homeless revealed that the non-profit organization documented nearly 2,000 incidents of violence against people who were homeless over a period of 23 years.

‘At least 588 of unhoused victims lost their lives in violent attacks during this period,’ the report states. ‘These crimes appear to have been motivated by a perpetrator’s bias against people experiencing homelessness, and to have been facilitated by a perpetrator’s ability to target homeless people with relative ease.’

The report noted that many incidents remain underreported and are ‘likely even more gruesome than available reports imply.’ In 2019, the Bureau of Justice Statistics found that less than half — about 44% — of violent incidents against people experiencing homelessness are reported to police, according to the report.

In recent years, multiple incidents across the country have made national headlines. In June 2025, a man was arrested for stabbing 11 people at an Oregon homeless shelter. In October 2024, authorities in Minnesota said three people were killed, and three others were injured in back-to-back shootings at two separate homeless encampments.

Similar incidents also occurred in 2023 and 2022, including ‘serial’ killings of three homeless men in Los Angeles, three men who were stabbed while they slept in New York City, and a string of shootings in New York City and Washington, DC.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

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Investing

Japan Advances Rare Earths Ambitions with World’s First Seabed Trial

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Japan announced that it has successfully retrieved mineral-rich seabed sediment from nearly 6,000 meters below the ocean’s surface near the remote island of Minamitorishima.

Officials say the technical milestone could help reduce the country’s dependence on China.

The work was carried out by deep-sea drilling vessel Chikyu, which collected the sediment as part of a government-backed test program aimed at assessing the feasibility of mining rare-earths-bearing mud from the deep ocean.

According to Japan’s Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology, Chikyu departed last month for Minamitorishima — about 1,950 kilometers southeast of Tokyo — and arrived at the test site on January 17.

The first batch of sediment was recovered on February 1.

“It is a first step toward industrialization of domestically produced rare earth in Japan,” Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said in a statement posted on X. “We will make efforts toward achieving resilient supply chains for rare earths and other critical minerals to avoid overdependence on a particular country.”

Rare earths are essential in the high-performance magnets used in electric vehicles, wind turbines, electronics and defense systems. China currently dominates global production and processing of heavy rare earths, giving Beijing significant influence over prices and supply, a vulnerability that has increasingly worried world governments.

Japan’s latest test comes amid heightened geopolitical tension in the region.

Tokyo has grown more concerned about potential supply disruptions after China recently suspended exports of certain dual-use goods to Japan. While rare earths were not explicitly named, the move raised fears that Beijing could use its control over critical minerals as leverage as it has in the past.

Japanese researchers first identified rare-earth-rich mud deposits around Minamitorishima in the 2010s. Since then, the government has funded research, development and feasibility studies under its Strategic Innovation Promotion Program, focusing on whether those resources could support a domestic supply chain.

The current trial is designed to test not only the ability to retrieve sediment from extreme depths, but also the logistics of deep-sea mining. Officials cautioned that the work is still at an early stage. Details such as the concentration of rare earth elements in the retrieved mud and the overall recovery rates are still being analyzed. Moving toward commercial production would require demonstrating the entire process, from seabed extraction to separation and refining.

Japan plans to continue testing through mid-February. If the trials are successful, larger-scale demonstrations could follow, potentially including the construction of a dedicated processing facility on Minamitorishima later this decade.

US targets rare earths security with Project Vault

While Japan pushes deeper into rare earths supply diversification, developments in the US underscore how deeply critical minerals policies are shaping markets on both sides of the Pacific.

On Monday (February 2), the Trump administration rolled out Project Vault, a roughly US$12 billion strategic critical minerals reserve aimed at reducing US dependence on China for rare earths and other essential metals.

The initiative, anchored by a US$10 billion loan from the US Export‑Import Bank and about US$2 billion in private capital, is designed to stockpile strategic materials like rare earths, cobalt and lithium.

The program’s backers say the reserve will function much like America’s Strategic Petroleum Reserve, offering a buffer against global supply disruptions and insulating manufacturers from price shocks that have plagued markets during recent US-China trade tensions. Analysts say the effort signals an ongoing shift toward industrial policy that treats critical minerals as strategic assets, even as completion details and long‑term execution remain uncertain.

The financial markets responded quickly. Shares of Australian rare earths producer Lynas Rare Earths (ASX:LYC,OTCQX:LYSDY) rallied more than 3 percent on Tuesday (February 3), closing at AU$15.25, reflecting renewed investor interest tied to the policy news and the broader rare earth narrative.

Lynas’ recent movements come against a backdrop of broader gains in non‑Chinese mineral producers, as investors reposition around supply chain security and government policy support.

Rare earths stocks more generally saw upticks in the US market after the country’s critical minerals plan came into focus, with producers like MP Materials (NYSE:MP) and USA Rare Earth (NASDAQ:USAR) gaining on reports of increased government engagement in critical mineral sourcing.

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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