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New Harvard Study Links Lithium Deficiency to Alzheimer’s

Investing 4 Mins Read

Lithium, a naturally occurring trace element in the brain, may be able to unlock a key medical mystery: why some people develop Alzheimer’s disease and others don’t, despite similar brain changes.

In a recently published study, scientists at Harvard Medical School state that lithium not only exists in the human brain at biologically meaningful levels, but also appears to protect against neurodegeneration.

Additionally, their work shows that lithium supports the function of all major brain cell types.

The decade-long study drew on mouse experiments and analyses of human brain and blood samples across the spectrum of cognitive health. The Harvard team discovered that as amyloid beta, the sticky protein associated with Alzheimer’s, begins to accumulate, it binds to lithium and depletes its availability in the brain. This drop in lithium impairs neurons, glial cells and other brain structures, accelerating memory loss and disease progression.

“The idea that lithium deficiency could be a cause of Alzheimer’s disease is new and suggests a different therapeutic approach,” said Bruce Yankner, who is the senior author of the study.

Yankner, a professor of genetics and neurology at Harvard Medical School who in the 1990s was the first to show that amyloid beta is toxic to nerve cells, said the new findings open the door to treatments that address the disease in its entirety, rather than targeting single features like amyloid plaques or tau tangles.

To explore this possibility, researchers screened for lithium compounds that could evade capture by amyloid beta.

They identified lithium orotate as the most promising candidate. In mice, the compound reversed Alzheimer’s-like brain changes, prevented cell damage and restored memory, even in animals with advanced disease.

Crucially, the effective dose was about one-thousandth of that used in psychiatric treatments, avoiding the toxicity risk that has hampered lithium’s clinical use in older patients.

“You have to be careful about extrapolating from mouse models, and you never know until you try it in a controlled human clinical trial,” Yankner cautioned. “But so far the results are very encouraging.”

The path to these findings began with access to an unusually rich source of brain tissue.

Working with the Rush Memory and Aging Project in Chicago, the team examined postmortem samples from thousands of donors, from cognitively healthy individuals to those with mild cognitive impairment and full-blown Alzheimer’s.

Using advanced mass spectrometry, they measured trace levels of about 30 metals. Lithium stood out as the only one whose levels dropped sharply at the earliest stages of memory loss.

The pattern matched earlier population studies linking higher environmental lithium levels, including in drinking water, to lower dementia rates. But unlike those correlations, the Harvard team directly measured brain lithium and established a normal range for healthy individuals who had never taken lithium as medication.

“Lithium turns out to be like other nutrients we get from the environment, such as iron and vitamin C,” Yankner said. “It’s the first time anyone’s shown that lithium exists at a natural level that’s biologically meaningful without giving it as a drug.”

To test whether this deficiency was more than an association, the researchers fed healthy mice a lithium-restricted diet, lowering brain lithium to levels seen in Alzheimer’s patients.

The animals developed brain inflammation, lost connections between neurons and showed cognitive decline; however, replenishing them with lithium orotate reversed these changes. What’s more, mice given the compound from early adulthood were protected from developing Alzheimer’s-like symptoms altogether.

The findings raise several possibilities. Measuring lithium levels in blood could become a tool for early screening, identifying people at risk before symptoms emerge. Furthermore, amyloid-evading lithium compounds could be tested as preventive or therapeutic agents, potentially altering the disease course more fundamentally than existing drugs.

For now, researchers stress that no one should self-medicate with lithium supplements.

The team emphasized that the safety and efficacy of lithium orotate in humans remain unproven, and clinical trials will be needed to determine whether the dramatic benefits seen in mice translate to people.

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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Crypto Market Update: Bullish Targets Upsized US$4.82 Billion IPO Valuation

Investing 6 Mins Read

Here’s a quick recap of the crypto landscape for Monday (August 11) as of 9:00 p.m. UTC.

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

Bitcoin and Ethereum price update

Bitcoin (BTC) was priced at US$118,815, down by 0.1 percent over the last 24 hours and its lowest valuation on Monday. Its highest price for the day was US$120,693.

Bitcoin price performance, August 11, 2025.

Chart via TradingView.

Analyst Omkar Godbole offered a cautious outlook, pointing to lower trading volumes for Bitcoin despite similar prices in July and a Coinbase Global (NASDAQ:COIN) discount suggesting weak US institutional demand.

Ethereum (ETH) has outperformed after a weekend rally.

Ethereum broke past US$4,300 on Monday as FG Nexus announced the acquisition of 47,331 ETH, worth about US$200 million. Meanwhile, data from Etherscan shows rising daily transaction counts over the past several weeks.

Creator coins like ZRO and PUMP also saw gains after announcements like Coinbase’s new DEX feature and LayerZero’s acquisition. Bondex CEO Ignacio Palomera called these developments an evolution in how creators can monetize their content. US consumer price index data on Tuesday (August 12) could fuel or dampen the crypto rally.

Altcoin price update

  • Solana (SOL) was priced at US$176.39, down by 3.6 percent over 24 hours and its lowest valuation for the day. Its highest price was US$180.86.
  • XRP was trading for US$3.16, down 1.7 percent in the past 24 hours and at its lowest valuation of the day. Its highest was US$3.22.
  • Sui (SUI) was trading at US$3.69, down by 5 percent over the past 24 hours, and its lowest valuation of the day. Its highest level was US$3.77.
  • Cardano (ADA) was trading at US$0.783, down by 3 percent over 24 hours and its lowest valuation on Monday. Its highest was US$0.8008.

Today’s crypto news to know

Bullish aims for US$4.82 billion valuation in upsized IPO

Bullish has increased the size of its planned initial public offering (IPO), targeting a valuation of up to US$4.82 billion. It plans to raise as much as US$990 million by selling 30 million shares priced between US$32 and US$33 each, a higher range than its previous filing, but still below its US$9 billion target in a failed 2021 SPAC merger.

The cryptocurrency exchange said it will convert a significant portion of its IPO proceeds into US-dollar-backed stablecoins through partnerships with token issuers. BlackRock-managed funds and Cathie Wood’s ARK Investment have shown interest in purchasing up to US$200 million worth of shares.

Bullish is expected to price the offering on Tuesday and debut on the NYSE under the ticker “FLY” the next day.

Tether and Rumble propose joint acquisition of Northern Data

Tether and Rumble (NASDAQ:RUM) have proposed to jointly acquire all shares of artificial intelligence infrastructure company Northern Data, according to a press release issued on Monday.

According to the proposed terms, USDt issuer Tether, already Northern Data’s largest shareholder, would support the transaction, which would see each Northern Data shareholder receive 2.319 newly issued Class A Rumble shares for each Northern Data share offered, leading to roughly 33.3 percent of Rumble ownership being transferred to Northern Data shareholders. The final exchange ratio may be adjusted for the potential sale of Peak Mining and a related debt reduction, which would increase the exchange ratio.

Subject to definitive documentation, Tether would also significantly increase its investment in Rumble, becoming a key customer with a multi-year GPU purchase commitment.

Chainlink to partner with ICE

Blockchain oracle platform Chainlink announced a partnership with US-based Fortune 500 company Intercontinental Exchange (NYSE:ICE) on Monday to bring foreign exchange and precious metals data onchain.

The collaboration will unite Intercontinental’s consolidated feed, an aggregator of market data from over 300 global exchanges and marketplaces, with Chainlink Data Streams’ derived data sets, which provide market information to power tokenization for over 2,000 decentralized applications and major financial institutions.

This partnership is the latest move to further integrate traditional market infrastructure with blockchain systems.

El Salvador targets wealthy investors with new Bitcoin banking law

El Salvador has approved a new investment banking law designed to attract institutional and high-net-worth crypto investors. Licensed investment banks with at least US$50 million in capital will be able to provide Bitcoin and other digital asset services, but only to clients meeting “sophisticated investor” criteria.

Requirements include at least US$250,000 in liquid assets and advanced financial knowledge.

The banks will be allowed to issue bonds, structure public-private projects and offer digital asset products. Lawmakers say the changes aim to position the country as a regional financial hub and draw in foreign private capital.

The move comes as President Nayib Bukele consolidates political power through constitutional reforms extending presidential terms and removing term limits.

Blue Origin to accept crypto payments for space flights

According to a Monday press release, Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin has partnered with payment processing company Shift4 Payments (NYSE:FOUR) to allow customers to buy tickets to outer space using crypto and stablecoins.

Trips will take place on Blue Origin’s New Shepard reusable rockets, and direct payments will now be accepted from popular wallets from the likes of MetaMask and Coinbase.

“Our mission has always been to revolutionize commerce by simplifying the transaction process, and we’re thrilled to now extend that vision beyond Earth,” said Taylor Lauber, CEO of Shift4.

“This partnership will enable adventurous travelers to book the adventure of a lifetime, no matter their preferred payment method — all with a simple, frictionless experience,’ he added. Blue Origin has flown more than 75 passengers past the Kármán Line, the boundary separating Earth’s atmosphere and space.

“We believe crypto and stablecoins are going to become an increasingly popular way for consumers to pay, particularly for high-end purchases, as both the consumer and merchant benefit financially from these transactions,” commented Alex Wilson, head of crypto at Shift4.

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

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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Nuvau Launches Follow up Drilling to Bracemac Footwall Gold Discovery in Matagami

Investing 10 Mins Read

Nuvau Minerals Inc. (TSXV: NMC) has begun its minimum 1,500 m drill program aimed at testing continuity and extensions to the orogenic gold system discovered last month. The discovery was made with the first hole drilled of an inaugural gold-focused exploration program, in the footwall of the Bracemac-McLeod Mine approximately 200 m below surface. The follow-up program is being drilled immediately north east of this base metal mine, which was in production until mid 2022.

The Matagami Property is in the northern Abitibi Region of Quebec, one of the world’s most prolific gold endowed districts. This northern part of the Abitibi region includes Canada’s largest gold producing mine with the country’s largest gold mineral reserves: the Detour Lake Mine owned by Agnico Eagle Mines Limited. Hecla Mining Company’s Casa Berardi Mine, which has produced over 3 million ounces of gold, is located to the southwest of the Matagami Property (see Figure 1 below).

While the Abitibi’s first recorded gold discovery was 119 years ago in Rouyn-Noranda, the Matagami Property remains one of the largest areas in the region that has not been subject to a gold focused exploration program. Previous owners were concentrating on defining and developing multiple VMS deposits into multiple mines that produced extensive copper and zinc for more than 60 years. This was one of the primary opportunities Nuvau identified when it entered into the agreement to acquire the Property from Glencore. The Company recently began compiling gold related historic data, as well as launching several gold-focused initiatives (including till sampling) aimed at defining initial targets for drilling.

Figure 1: Matagami property location

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/11236/262123_8f984e3ef4857b89_001full.jpg

Nuvau’s current gold-focused exploration program has identified three initial priority targets:

  1. Bracemac Footwall Discovery
  2. Gold-in-Till Anomaly Target
  3. Thunder Mine (1988) Target

The map below shows the location of these three targets (Figure 2). The vast majority of this 1,300 km2 land pack remains open for gold exploration.

Figure 2: Current gold targets

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/11236/262123_8f984e3ef4857b89_002full.jpg

1. Bracemac Footwall Discovery

The recent discovery of gold mineralization in the footwall of the Bracemac Mine is located only 25 m from the access ramp of this permitted mine. The steeply dipping, strong shear zone structure with quartz veining mineralized with pyrite and locally visible gold was intersected at a depth of approximately 200 m. The visible gold was observed over approximately 0.5 m of core and assays are still pending on the discovery hole, BRCG-25-001.

Although located within the immediate footwall of the past-producing Bracemac-McLeod mine, the mineralized structure occurs in a late intrusive that truncated the mine host rock units (see Figure 3). The intrusive has seen very little drilling as the stratigraphy was not of interest for VMS exploration.

The follow up drill program is now underway to continue to step-out both up and down dip, and along strike, to test continuity of mineralization within the structural corridor as well as providing critical data on the dip and strike of the vein.

Figure 3: Past producing Bracemac-McLeod Mine and relative position of gold target drilled (left); schematic of the stratigraphy (right)

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/11236/262123_figure3.jpg

Figure 4: Visible gold found in more than 30 gold chips identified in logging the core

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/11236/262123_8f984e3ef4857b89_005full.jpg

2. Gold-in-Till Anomaly Target

As part of Nuvau’s target generative exploration program, an overburden (till) drilling program was launched in 2023. This program resulted in the discovery of significant gold-in-till mineralization that was announced on March 4, 2025.

From the 2023 sonic drill program, hole PD-23-030s produced a notable gold grain anomaly detected at a depth of between 29.26 to 29.87 m in the overburden and featured more than 2,000 gold grains per 10 kg of material. In addition, a near-contiguous sample with 295 gold grains per 10 kg of material between 31.12 to 32.00 m was also encountered with the interval between consisting of a large locally derived boulder. Based on the almost pristine nature of the gold grains, and their close proximity to the bottom of the hole, the source is expected to be relatively close to this hole. (See images of gold grains below in Figure 5.)

To assist in defining targets in this area, a detailed drone MAG survey was completed. The limited rock outcrops were also mapped recently and together with the MAG data, a drill program is being designed for later this year. The objective of this drill program will be to gain a better understanding of the local geological structures and to test for the potential source of the extensive gold grains.

Figure 5: Mosaic of backscattered electron images of gold grain

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/11236/262123_figure5.jpg

Notice the delicate textures and silicate attachments. LEFT: Image of 230 gold grains found in sample 155320186, hole PD-23-030s, RIGHT: Image of 112 gold grains found in adjacent sample 155320187.

3. Thunder Mine (1988) Target

The Thunder Mine property was acquired by Nuvau in 2023 for its potential for both base metal and gold mineralization. In 1988, Thunderwood Exploration Ltd. drilled a series of holes as follow-up to a 1959 hole that intersected copper mineralization (see Figure 6).

This follow-up program identified multiple gold-bearing structures; however, no subsequent follow-up work was completed. Highlight intercepts from the available public domain report include the following:

  • DT-14-88: 209.00 – 209.80 m (0.80 m) @ 26.40 g/t Au.
  • DT-10-88: 205.00 – 206.00 m (1.00 m) @ 78.16 g/t Au.
  • DT-18-88: 100.80 – 107.30 m (6.50 m) @ 1.55 g/t Au, incl.: 0.30 m @ 4.89 g/t Au.
  • DT-19-88: 226.00 – 231.00 m (5.0 m) @ 2.27 g/t Au, Incl.: 0.50 m @ 10.39 g/t Au.
  • DT-20-88: 136.80 – 137.10 m (0.30 m) @ 10.37 g/t Au and 204.50 – 205.00 m (0.50 m) @ 6.48 g/t Au.
  • DT-21-88: 310.50 – 319.90 m (9.40 m) @ 4.02 g/t Au, incl.: 0.70 m @ 42.03 g/t Au and 0.70 m @ 7.30 g/t Au.

These results been extracted from historical information, and are not compliant with NI 43-101. The original results are available via GESTIM, GM 48216, and GM 08790 at the following links:

    Thunder mine drilling is planned as part of Nuvau’s winter drilling program in Q1 2026.

    Figure 6: Thunder Mine Past drilling

    To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
    https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/11236/262123_8f984e3ef4857b89_012full.jpg

    About Nuvau Minerals Inc.
    Nuvau is a Canadian mining company focused on the Abitibi Region of mine-friendly Québec. Nuvau’s principal asset is the Matagami Property that is host to significant existing processing infrastructure and multiple mineral deposits and is being acquired from Glencore.

    Qualified Person and Quality Assurance
    Bastien Fresia P. Geo. (Qc), Technical Services Director of Nuvau and a ‘qualified person’ as is defined by National Instrument 43-101, has verified the scientific and technical data disclosed in this news release, and has otherwise reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information in this news release.

    Drill core samples are sawn by staff technicians to create half core splits. One split is retained in the drill core box for archival purposes with a sample tag affixed at each sample interval and the other split is placed in a labelled plastic bag along with a corresponding sample number tag and placed in the shipment queue.

    Quality control samples including blind certified reference material (‘CRM’), blank material, and core duplicates are inserted at a frequency of 1 in every 20 samples and sample batches of up to 60 samples were then shipped directly by Nuvau personnel to the ALS Canada Ltd. preparation laboratory in Rouyn-Noranda, Québec.

    All submitted core samples are crushed in full to 95 % passing less than 2 mm (ALS code CRU-32). A 1000-gram sample was then riffled split from the crushed material and pulverized to 90 % passing 75 μm (SPL-22 and PUL-32a). Pulps are shipped from the preparation laboratory to ALS Canada Ltd.’s analytical lab in North Vancouver, British Columbia, for assay.

    Lead, silver, copper and zinc analyses were determined by ore grade four acid digestion with an inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (‘ICP-AES’) or atomic absorption spectroscopy (‘AAS’) finish (ALS codes Pb-OG62, Ag-OG62, Cu-OG62 and ZnOG62), whereas gold was determined by 50 g fire assay analysis with an AAS finish (code Au-AA23).

    ALS Canada Ltd. is an accredited, independent commercial analytical firm registered to ISO/IEC 17025:2017 and ISO 9001:2015.

    For further information please contact:
    Nuvau Minerals Inc.
    Peter van Alphen
    President and CEO
    Telephone: 416-525-6023
    Email: pvanalphen@nuvauminerals.com

    Cautionary Statements
    This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, ‘forward-looking statements’) within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Any statements that are contained in this news release that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as ‘may’, ‘should’, ‘anticipate’, ‘will’, ‘estimates’, ‘believes’, ‘intends’ ‘expects’ and similar expressions which are intended to identify forward-looking statements. More particularly and without limitation, this news release contains forward-looking statements concerning drill results relating to the Matagami Property, the results of the PEA, the potential of the Matagami Property, the timing and commencement of any production, the restart of the Bracemac-McLeod Mine, the completion of the earn-in of the Matagami Property and the timing and completion of any technical studies, feasibility studies or economic analyses. Forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain, and the actual performance may be affected by a number of material factors, assumptions and expectations, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, including expectations and assumptions concerning the Company and the Matagami Property. Readers are cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of any forward-looking statements may prove to be incorrect. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. Readers are further cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, as such information, although considered reasonable by the management of the Company at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated.

    The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release, and are expressly qualified by the foregoing cautionary statement. Except as expressly required by securities law, neither the Company nor Nuvau undertakes any obligation to update publicly or to revise any of the included forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

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

    To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/262123

    News Provided by Newsfile via QuoteMedia

    This post appeared first on investingnews.com

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    Scott Hanson open to hosting college football version of NFL RedZone

    Sport 2 Mins Read

    College football fans have held out hope for an NFL-like RedZone since it was announced ESPN would acquire the NFL Network and the RedZone Channel on Aug. 5.

    NFL RedZone brings football fans seven hours of uninterrupted coverage of redzone attempts and scores across the NFL every Sunday during the NFL regular season. NFL RedZone has been a wild success for the NFL Network, with Scott Hanson bringing in viewers each week.

    Hanson suggested he would be open to hosting a College RedZone.

    ‘As for College Football RedZone, which is the big one people are talking about, if Bob Iger (Disney CEO), Jimmy Pitaro (ESPN chairman), Burke Magnus (ESPN president of content) want to him me up, I love college,’ Hanson said on the ‘Rich Eisen Show’ on Monday, Aug. 11. ‘I love college every bit much as I love pros.’

    While college football fans may drool over what a full day of college football ― usually starting at noon Eastern and ending after midnight on Saturdays ― would look like, Hanson went on to throw water on his idea due to various logistics.

    ‘There’s a lot of dynamics,’ Hanson said. ‘If you were to do college football redzone, first of all, ESPN doesn’t have rights to every contract. Second of all, the kickoffs are not all synchronized. Yeah, you get a good batch kicking off at noon Eastern, but they are not all synchronized; they come at different times. The games go throughout the day.

    ‘But here’s the other thing, if your favorite team is the New York Giants, fine, you know the New York Giants. You can probably still name the other 31 starting quarterbacks in the NFL. If your favorite team is the Alabama Crimson Tide, you know the Alabama Crimson Tide, but you cannot name me 30 other quarterbacks in college football.

    ‘You might be able to name the rest of the SEC, maybe, or some of the bigger opponents. So, college is not as accessible to the frontal lobe of the American sports fans as it is in the NFL.’

    This post appeared first on USA TODAY

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    Golden State Valkyries unveil new mascot, Violet the raven

    Sport 3 Mins Read

    It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s … Violet the raven.

    The Golden State Valkyries unveiled (or should we say unhatched) their new mascot on Birdwatchers Night at Chase Center during Monday night’s game against the Connecticut Sun. Violet confidently strutted onto the court in front of a sold-out crowd at halftime to ‘Best Friend’ by Bay-area artist Saweetie.

    Violet donned a white and black cheerleader outfit that featured the Valkyries’ logo on the front and her name on the back as she executed a perfect cartwheel to much applause. Violet’s outfit was complete with a pair of yellow glasses, striped socks and a pair of white sneakers.

    ‘heyyyyy besties,’ Violet wrote on her new social media account.

    WHAT IS A VALKYRIE? Everything to know about Golden State Valkyries WNBA expansion team

    Violet just so happens to be named after the team’s official color, Valkyrie Violet, which ‘symbolizes power, ambition, nobility, and women’s empowerment, much like purple has been used symbolically in modern history,’ the team previously announced.

    ‘Something’s hatching’

    Golden State hinted at Violet’s arrival and dropped Easter Eggs leading up to Monday’s announcement on Birdwatchers Night. A mysterious violet egg was first spotted outside of the Chase Center on Aug. 7 and a wildlife expert hired by the team predicted there’s a ‘bird species’ inside. Violet feathers also turned up near the egg.

    ‘I got called by the Valkyries to come and take a look at this big egg that showed up on campus. It’s a violet color which we don’t usually see and it’s got very bright gold speckles on it,’ wildlife management expert Kenny Elvin said in a video shared on social media. ‘It’s far larger than anything else that I’ve seen before. …

    ‘There are violet feathers. I don’t know any birds that are quite that color. We’ll see as it evolves. This egg could hatch very soon.’

    Elvin was on to something. The Valkyries brought the egg inside Chase Center for closer inspection and even built a nest for the egg to feel at home. Each fan in attendance for the Valkyries’ matchup against the Connecticut Sun even received a pair of Valkyries Binoculars to spot the egg’s hatching.

    Leading up to tipoff on Monday, the Valkyries released a video showing the mysterious violet feathers all over Chase Center as forward Monique Billings warmed up, another clue hinting at Violet’s color and origin.

    Violet is sure to have a cult following. The Valkyries, the league’s first expansion team since 2008, have sold out every game at Chase Center this season.

    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.

    This post appeared first on USA TODAY

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    Young NASCAR star ‘grateful to be walking’ after scary fall celebrating win

    Sport 3 Mins Read

    NASCAR driver Connor Zilisch, who broke his collarbone while celebrating his Xfinity Series victory at Watkins Glen International on Saturday, Aug. 9, is “grateful to be walking,” after his scary fall.

    The 19-year-old driver had taken the checkered flag in Saturday’s race at the New York road course and was climbing out through the window to celebrate on the roof his car when one foot got caught in the window netting. Zilisch stumbled then took a hard fall to the pavement.

    “The last thing I remember is thinking, I don’t know why, but I thought I was going to break my femur,” Zilisch said Monday, Aug. 11, on the Door Bumper Clear podcast. ‘My leg was stuck. I thought I was going to get caught in the headrest and just, I thought I was done.”

    Zilisch blacked out momentarily before on-track medical personnel rushed to his aid and whisked him away in an ambulance.

    On the podcast, Zilisch revealed the first things he remembered saying to the medical personnel when he came to before they put him on stretcher with a neck brace.

    “I was talking to the medics like, ‘I’m good. I’m good. My shoulder hurts a little but that’s it,’” he recalled. “I was like, ‘Why am I on a stretcher right now? I feel fine.’ I didn’t realize what had happened.”

    Zilisch was back at Watkins Glen the next day for the NASCAR Cup Series, though only as a spectator. Trackhouse Racing withdrew the car they planned to have him drive in Sunday’s race, which was eventually won by Trackhouse driver Shane Van Gisbergen.

    Speaking to NBC Sports reporter Marty Snider during the Cup race, Zilisch expressed his relief and appreciation.

    “So, glad it wasn’t any worse, and the collar bone was the extent of the injuries,’ he said. … Hopefully, my young bones will heal fast, and I’ll be able to get back in it as soon as possible.”

    What’s next for NASCAR driver Connor Zilisch

    Zilisch said surgery might be his best option for a quick return to racing, and he has a window because the Xfinity Series is off Aug. 15-16, while both the Craftsman Truck and Cup series race at Richmond Raceway that weekend.

    Zilisch, who drives in the Xfinity Series for JR Motorsports – the team co-owned by siblings Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Kelley Earnhardt Miller – won his sixth race of the season at Watkins Glen and is likely to be one of the favorites for the 2025 Xfinity Series championship. But the first thing on the agenda is healing and recovery.

    “I think it might be something that I might have to get surgery for. But in this case, I think surgery is something that speeds up the process, so you can get plates and screws and get it reconstructed back together,’ Zilisch said Monday on the Door Bumper Clear podcast.

    “Shane [van Gisbergen] talked about it. He had an injury in 2021 and broke his collarbone — he had plates, screws, everything done and he was racing back the next weekend. Thankfully, the collarbone is a relatively quick bone to fix and heal.”

    The Xfinity Series returns to racing on Aug. 22 at Daytona International Speedway, a track known for big crashes. Zilisch is the Xfinity points leader and has already missed one race this season due to a back injury.

    This post appeared first on USA TODAY

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    Sean McVay says Rams will be cautious with Matthew Stafford

    Sport 3 Mins Read

    The Los Angeles Rams quarterback has been sidelined for the entirety of training camp thus far with a back injury. Stafford received an epidural to relieve the pain from an aggravated disc in his back, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport on Aug. 6.

    Stafford went through a workout on Saturday, throwing 60 passes without limitations. Head coach Sean McVay was optimistic about the 37-year-old quarterback, revealing the team planned to have him in training camp practice on Monday.

    That was short-lived, however, as Stafford appeared at practice in street clothes.

    McVay said, via the team’s website, that Stafford ‘didn’t feel good enough’ to participate, adding that they would take a cautious approach.

    The Rams coach said that Stafford ‘had a great workout’ and ‘felt good’ on Saturday, ‘but then you come into today (Monday), it doesn’t feel great, and so didn’t think it was the right decision to be able to push him.’

    With the Rams’ season opener less than a month away, the clock is ticking on Stafford’s ability to be ready in time for Week 1 – even if the veteran figures to require less practice at this stage of his career.

    McVay continued to emphasize the importance of being smart in their approach to the injury, stating that they’ll continue to take it one day at a time.

    ‘More than anything, I feel for a guy that I really care about that wants to be out there more than anything else,’ McVay said. ‘We’re going to be smart. But he didn’t feel good enough, and we didn’t think it was the right thing to do based on how he woke up feeling today.’

    As for the possibility of surgery, McVay said that wasn’t a conversation they’ve had, adding that it hasn’t come up. He was also non-committal about Stafford’s status if there was a regular season game this week, saying he didn’t know if the quarterback could play, but added, ‘I think he still probably would be able to play just based on how he feels.’

    There are still a few weeks to sort everything out, but for now, it’s Jimmy Garoppolo who continues to get the first-team reps in practice.

    As for the Rams, they’ll want Stafford atop the depth chart when they battle the Houston Texans in Week 1. Based on McVay’s comments, however, don’t expect L.A. to rush him back.

    This post appeared first on USA TODAY

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    Sport

    Shohei Ohtani sued, accused of wrecking $240M Hawaii real estate deal

    Sport 3 Mins Read

    Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani and his agent are being sued by a Hawaii real estate investor and a broker, alleging that both men got them terminated from a $240 million housing development on Hawaii’s Hapuna Coast that they brought him in to endorse.

    The lawsuit was filed in Hawaii Circuit Court on Aug. 8 and obtained by USA TODAY Sports. It says that Ohtani’s agent, Nez Balelo, wanted assurances from Kevin J. Hayes Sr. — a developer who has been in business for 40 years — and real estate broker Tomoko Matsumoto before they demanded their business partner, Kingsbarn Realty Capital, a company based in Las Vegas, remove both from the real estate deal.

    Ohtani is referred to in the lawsuit, in which some portions are redacted, as ‘Otani.’ The developers say in the lawsuit that they spent more than a decade trying to work on the deal before signing Ohtani to an endorsement deal in 2023.

    ‘This case is about abuse of power. Defendants used threats and baseless legal claims to force a business partner to betray its contractual obligations and strip Plaintiffs of the very project they conceived and built. Defendants must be held accountable for their actions, not shielded by fame or behind-the-scenes agents acting with impunity,’ the lawsuit says. “Defendants must be held accountable for their actions, not shielded by fame or behind-the-scenes agents acting with impunity. Plaintiffs bring this suit to expose Defendants’ misconduct and to ensure that the rules of contract, fair dealing, and accountability apply equally to all — celebrity or not.”

    Ohtani and Balelo are accused in the lawsuit of ‘tortious interference and unjust enrichment, who used their ‘celebrity leverage to destabilize and ultimately dismantle Plaintiffs’ role in the project’ and attempted to sabotage a second business venture.

    Ohtani is listed in a 2024 press release for the Vista at Mauna Kea Resort project, aimed at appealing to Japanese and U.S. high-end buyers, that says he will be the first resident on the property. ‘To me, Hawaii is a beautiful blend of Pacific Ocean cultures,’ Ohtani says in the release. ‘Here, I found my own paradise at Mauna Kea Resort: Two perfect beaches, two amazing golf courses, and so much more. I selected my homesite and am building my winter home here. This is a special place – a place I will soon call home.’

    Ohtani is in his second season with the Dodgers, after signing a 10-year, $700-million contract, helping Los Angeles win the World Series last year. He is a five-time All-Star and three-time Most Valuable Player, who is hitting .284 with 42 home runs and 78 RBI for the NL West leaders in 2025.

    This post appeared first on USA TODAY

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    Investing

    Crypto Market Update: Trump Orders 401(k) Crypto Review, ETH Treasury Vehicle Files to Raise Billions

    Investing 6 Mins Read

    Here’s a quick recap of the crypto landscape for Friday (August 8) as of 9:00 p.m. UTC.

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

    Bitcoin and Ethereum price update

    Bitcoin (BTC) was priced at US$116,454, down by 0.8 percent over the last 24 hours. Its lowest valuation on Friday was US$115,979, while its highest valuation was US$117,038.

    Bitcoin price performance, August 8, 2025.

    Chart via TradingView.

    An executive order from the Trump administration about the addition of cryptocurrency investment options to federally regulated 401(k) retirement plans could trigger an influx of new capital and drive up Bitcoin’s price.

    Separately, over US$1 billion in Bitcoin call options are set to activate if Bitcoin hits US$200,000 on December 26, when US$8.8 billion in options are set to expire; however, experts believe the presence of these call options reflects strategic positioning rather than a widespread belief in a year-end surge to that level. Cointelegraph analyst Marcel Pechman notes that pro traders are using far-out-of-the-money calls in structured strategies like diagonal spreads and inverse butterflies to manage risk and seek asymmetric upside, not as direct bets on extreme price targets.

    Ethereum (ETH) was priced at US$4,053, up by 4.9 percent over the past 24 hours and its highest valuation of the day. Its lowest valuation on Friday was US$3,910 at the start of trading.

    Altcoin price update

    • Solana (SOL) was priced at US$178.05, up by 3.8 percent over 24 hours. Its lowest valuation on Friday was US$174.86, and its highest was US$179.36.
    • XRP was trading for US$3.30, up by 6.6 percent in the past 24 hours. Its lowest valuation of the day was US$3.22, and its highest price was US$3.35.
    • Sui (SUI) was trading at US$3.85, up 3.1 percent over the past 24 hours. Its lowest valuation of the day was US$3.73, and its highest was US$3.86.
    • Cardano (ADA) was trading at US$0.7964, up by 4.2 percent over 24 hours. Its lowest valuation on Friday was US$0.7787, and its highest was US$0.8022.

    Today’s crypto news to know

    Trump order opens door for crypto and private equity in 401(k)s

    US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order directing the Department of Labor to review its fiduciary rules for retirement plans, potentially clearing the way for assets like cryptocurrencies, private equity and real estate to be included in 401(k)s. While no laws have changed, the move signals a potential shift from the Biden era.

    The Employee Retirement Income Security Act still requires fiduciaries to choose “prudent” investments, meaning employers will need to justify the inclusion of volatile or opaque assets. Legal experts say the order could influence how federal agencies interpret the rules, but it won’t override decades of court precedents on fiduciary duty.

    For now, employers remain cautious due to the risk of lawsuits over imprudent or overly expensive options. Crypto in 401(k)s remains rare, though large firms like BlackRock are already exploring target-date funds with alternative assets.

    SEC and Ripple dismiss appeals, ending lawsuit

    Ripple and the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) have dismissed their respective appeals, effectively ending a five-year lawsuit, as per a brief filing on Thursday (August 7) with the Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.

    “Following the Commission’s vote today, the SEC and Ripple formally filed directly with the Second Circuit to dismiss their appeals,” Ripple’s chief legal officer, Stuart Alderoty, wrote on X.

    The SEC sued Ripple in 2020 for selling XRP as an unregistered security. A July 2023 ruling by Judge Analisa Torres found XRP was not a security when sold on public exchanges, but was when sold to institutional investors.

    The SEC appealed, and Ripple cross appealed. However, this past April, both parties filed a joint motion to pause their appeals, hinting at a settlement. They settled in May, asking Torres to dissolve the injunction and lower the US$125 million fine. She denied that in June, stating that Ripple must still follow federal securities laws.

    Following the announcement, open interest in XRP grew by over 15 percent in 24 hours and futures volumes rose by over 233 percent, according to Coinglass data.

    Parataxis to go public via SPAC merger

    Bitcoin asset manager Parataxis announced its plan to go public by merging with a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) called SilverBox Corp. IV on Wednesday (August 6).

    The deal aims to raise up to US$640 million to “support acceleration of digital asset purchases and support long-term strategy.’ It implies a total pro forma equity value of up to US$800 million for the combined company, assuming the US$10 share price and no redemptions. The new public company will be named Parataxis Holdings and will trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol “PRTX.”

    The company’s goal is to launch a yield-enhanced Bitcoin treasury strategy in the US and South Korea. The deal also includes an equity line of credit to raise additional funds. This will allow it to continue accumulating Bitcoin.

    The company has already allocated US$31 million for an initial Bitcoin purchase.

    Fundamental Global files to raise funds for ETH accumulation

    Fundamental Global (NASDAQ:FGF), a new Ethereum treasury vehicle, has filed to raise US$5 billion, signaling the potential emergence of a new mega whale in the Ethereum market.

    According to a Friday press release, the company aims to use the majority of the proceeds from a potential US$4 billion common stock offering to acquire a 10 percent stake in the Ethereum network.

    “This US$5 billion shelf filing represents a significant step in our capital raising capabilities and positions us to move with speed and scale when capital deployment opportunities arise,” said CEO and Chairman Kyle Cerminara.

    “We believe this framework will enable us to capitalize on ETH accumulation opportunities and support our target of a 10 percent stake in the Ethereum Network,’ he added.

    Binance partners with Spain’s BBVA to bolster asset security

    Binance is teaming up with Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (BBVA), Spain’s second largest bank, to give customers the option of storing their assets with a regulated custodian rather than directly on the exchange.

    The arrangement is designed to reassure investors after Binance’s US$4.3 billion fine from US regulators in 2023 over anti-money laundering failures. With BBVA acting as an independent custodian, customer funds would remain secure even if Binance faced hacking, insolvency or further regulatory action.

    The partnership leverages BBVA’s strong reputation for compliance and innovation, aiming to encourage more cautious investors to engage with crypto. The move also follows leadership changes at Binance, including founder Changpeng Zhao’s resignation and brief prison sentence, as the company works to repair its image.

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

    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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