Greenvale Energy (GRV:AU) has announced Commencement of Henbury Field Program
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Rapid Critical Metals (RLL:AU) has announced RCM to Acquire Webbs Consol Silver Project from Lode Res.
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Investor Insight
Basin Energy offers uranium and rare earth exposure through high conviction exploration projects within tier-1 jurisdictions.
The group’s primary focus is the testing of district scale uranium and rare earth potential at the Sybella Barkly project, located directly west of the prolific mining town of Mount Isa, in northwest Queensland. These projects are deemed prospective for roll-front uranium, shear hosted hard rock uranium, sediment/ionic clay hosted rare earth elements and for hard rock rare earths. Evidence in support of this comes from the direct proximity and geological analogies to both ASX Paladin Energy’s Valhalla uranium deposit and its uranium source, the Sybella Batholith and for rare earth potential adjacent to ASX Red Metal’s Sybella Discovery.
The company also provides strategic exposure to three projects in Canada’s Athabasca Basin, the heartland of uranium exploration, where it is partnered with TSXV CanAlaska uranium and has a strategic early mover position in the emerging energy metals districts of Sweden and Finland ranked 6 and 1, respectively on the Fraser index in 2024.
With a technically driven exploration focus for uranium and rare earth minerals within tier-one jurisdictions, Basin Energy is well-positioned to capitalize on the global push for clean energy.
Overview
District Scale Uranium and Rare Earths Opportunity – Queensland Australia
Basin holds 5,958 sq km of exploration tenure in the Mount Isa district of northwest Queensland. The projects provide compelling walk-up drill targets that can be rapidly and cost-effectively tested using air core and reverse circulation (RC) drilling.
The drill-ready, district scale opportunity includes:
- Paleochannel roll front uranium
- Sediment and ionic clay hosted rare earth elements
- Hard rock, granite hosted rare earth elements
In addition to these three district-scale targets, the project area contains multiple shear-hosted Valhalla-style uranium targets defined for immediate assessment.
Project location map
The primary model is based on mineralisation sourced from the various granites of the Sybella Batholith, a large north-south trending igneous body containing zones enriched in rare earth elements. This includes the Red Metal (ASX:RDM) giant Sybella Discovery. Several granites from the Sybella are also uranium rich, potentially being the source of Paladin Energy’s (ASX:PDN) Valhalla deposits.
The projects cover an extensive portion of the Sybella Batholith, deemed prospective for granite-hosted REEs, as well as a significant landholding west of the Sybella, known as the Barkly Tablelands. The Barkly Tablelands are regarded as prospective for sediment-hosted mineralisation and was surveyed with airborne electromagnetics (AEM) by Summit Resources in February 2007, prior to its acquisition by Paladin Energy. Whilst numerous targets were identified, no drilling was completed at the time. Importantly, past exploration focused mainly on base metals, phosphate and water bores, meaning the uranium and rare earth potential remains virtually untouched.
Prospective target concepts
Paleochannel Roll-Front Uranium Potential – District Scale Target 1
The Summit Resources AEM survey identified an extensive network of paleochannels within the Barkly Tablelands, fed from the uranium-rich Sybella Batholith. This network trends south beyond the limits of existing survey data, suggesting even further potential remains to be identified.
Historical drilling in the area noted geological features typically associated with uranium deposits, such as redox fronts, sandstone channels and impermeable cap rocks. However, no uranium assays were conducted at the time.
Given the Sybella granites are considered the potential source of Paladin’s nearby Valhalla uranium deposits, Basin believes significant uranium will have also been transported into these paleochannels through erosion and chemical leaching processes. Previous work by Summit Resources and Furgo has already prioritised several high-potential targets. Basin plans to complete a first pass aircore drilling program to delineate this potential in Q4 2025.
Ternary radiometrics and AEM conductivity depth slice (paleochannels are projected to surface)
Sediment and Ionic Clay Hosted REE Potential – District Scale Target 2
Surface and auger geochemistry sampling across the Barkly Tablelands has confirmed significant REE enrichment, with multiple results exceeding 600 ppm TREO. The sediments are directly sourced from the Sybella Batholith with the highest of these values located directly down drainage catchments linked to Red Metals Sybella Discovery.
Sediment-hosted REEs and target zones
Previous AEM surveys also revealed a broad conductive layer within the Barkly Tablelands sediments, approximately 12 metres thick at shallow depths between 20-32 metres, and covering a footprint of over 1,000 sq km. This layer is interpreted to represent a clay-rich unit capable of hosting ionic clay REE deposits.
AEM outlining laterally extensive conductive sediment target
Granite Hosted REE Potential – District Scale Target 3
The various granites that make up the Sybella contain zones of enriched REEs, including the Red Metal (ASX:RDM) owned Sybella Discovery.
Basin’s ground includes several prospects (Newsmans Bore, Eight Mile and Threeways) where a shallow proof of concept auger drilling program returned highly encouraging results in 2023.
The most encouraging results from the auger drilling at Newmans Bore reported at over 0.5 m at >1000 ppm TREO, including:
- SYAH23-020 – 5.0 m @ 1,951 ppm TREO with 578 ppm Nd+Pr oxide combined (including 3 m @ 705 ppm) from 4 m to end of hole
- SYAH23-006 – 2.5 m @ 1,343 ppm TREO with 248 ppm Nd+Pr oxide combined from 5 m to end of hole
- SYAH23-018 – 0.5 m @ 1,996 ppm TREO with 465 ppm Nd+Pr oxide combined from 2 m to end of hole
- SYAH23-131 – 2.6 m @ 1,535 ppm TREO with 329 ppm Nd+Pr oxide combined from 3 m to end of hole
These results are very significant, as mineralisation continued to the end of hole and closely mirrors the geochemical patterns seen by Red Metal prior to their Sybella discovery.
Auger drilling completed by NeoDys, with highlights from Newmans Bore
Red Metals Discovery REE anomaly
Red Metal utilised RC drilling beneath this anomaly and identified broad zones of rare earth anomalism, which led to the Sybella discovery. NeoDys’ auger drilling across Basin’s project has outlined similar levels and scale of rare earth anomalism, demonstrating strong potential for comparable discoveries. See figure below.
Stylised section of NeoDys Newmans Bore auger drilling
The next phase for Basin will be to conduct deeper RC drilling to test potential continuity of these anomalies. Drilling is proposed for Q4 2025.
Hard Rock Shear-Hosted Uranium Valhalla Style Targets
In addition to the three district scale targets, Basin also sees strong potential for Valhalla-style shear zone uranium mineralisation within the North section of the license. Airborne radiometric data highlights several anomalies crossing both the Sybella granite and the Cromwell metabasalt, features consistent with the alternation patterns seen at other uranium deposits in the region. The scale and geological setting of these radiometric anomalies draws comparison to Paladin Energy’s Mount Isa (Valhalla) project, which contains 148.4 Mlbs of U3O8 at 728 ppm, and a combined 116 Mlbs within the Valhalla, Odin and Skal resources located just 7 km east of Basin’s license
Filtered airborne radiometric data (isolating high-U, low-K rocks) highlighting several potential Valhalla-style shear zone targets in the Cromwell Metabasalt and the adjacent Sybella Batholith
Company Highlights
- Strategic exposure to district-scale opportunities with the potential to transform into world-class discoveries, delivering exceptional leverage on exploration success
- Drill-ready Queensland projects positioned for rapid advancement, leveraging low-cost exploration techniques to deliver high-impact results.
- Pure uranium exposure to the Athabasca Basin through partnership with CanAlaska Uranium, fresh off discovery success at West McArthur.
- Early mover position in the Nordics ready to capitalise as Sweden reverses its uranium mining moratorium (effective Jan 1, 2026), unlocking access to Europe’s largest uranium endowment and elevating Nordic exploration upside.
- Exposure to uranium (supply shortfall + nuclear demand growth) and rare earths (critical to EVs and renewables, with limited global supply), both sectors positioned for sustained upside.
- Exploration leverage in globally ranked, mining-friendly jurisdictions Finland, Saskatchewan, Sweden, and Queensland minimizing geopolitical risk while maximizing discovery upside.
- Experienced Team: Leadership includes veterans of uranium discovery and development, with direct experience in Athabasca Basin and international uranium markets.
Key Projects
Strategic Global Uranium Exposure
Basin holds interests in three projects, in partnership with TSX-V CanAlaska within the heartland of the world class Athabasca Basin uranium district. The company’s primary focus here is on the Geikie project where early drilling has identified a significant alteration system with analogies to major basement hosted uranium deposits of the district such as Nexgen energy’s prolific Arrow discovery. The company is actively seeking partnerships for the Marshall and North Millennium projects, which are prospective for unconformity style mineralisation with walk up drill ready targets.
Canada – Athabasca Basin
Geikie Project
The Geikie Project spans 351 sq km on the eastern margin of the Athabasca Basin and benefits from excellent access, with Highway 905 just 10 km to the east.
This underexplored region is considered highly prospective for shallow, basement-hosted uranium mineralisation. Historically overlooked in past exploration campaigns, the area has seen renewed interest following recent basement-style uranium discoveries elsewhere in the district.
Project Highlights:
- Drilling Results & Exploration Potential
- Uranium intersected in 6 of 16 holes including 0.27 percent U₃O₈ over 0.5 m at Aero Lake and 263 ppm U₃O₈ over 9 m at Preston Creek
- Pathfinder elements (notably lead isotope anomalies) were identified in 10 of 16 holes
- Structural & Geological Highlights
- Large-scale structural corridors identified—capable of transporting and hosting high-grade uranium
- Extensive hydrothermal alteration confirms a robust, active fluid system
- Uranium assays validate the mineralised system
- Targeting & Exploration Potential: Multiple near-surface drill targets defined using geological data from 2023–2024 drilling and integrated airborne and ground geophysical datasets.
- High-resolution airborne gravity surveys have successfully mapped basement-hosted alteration systems, identified intense gravity lows aligned with structural corridors and enhanced targeting confidence on the outer edge of the Athabasca Basin.
In 2025, Basin Energy addedtwo new claims to the Geikie uranium project, consisting of 22.3 sq km, bringing the total project area to 373.1 sq km. Mineral claims MC00022218 and MC00022219 are contiguous to the Preston Creek prospect, where 2024 drilling outlined a large-scale hydrothermal system within a complex structural corridor with uranium anomalism.
Scandinavia – Sweden and Finland
Basin has secured 100 percent ownership of multiple reservations and licences across Sweden and Finland, prospective for uranium and critical green energy metals. This portfolio targets shear-hosted and intrusive-related mineralisation and consists of five exploration licenses within Sweden and five reservations in Finland. In 2025, Basin Energy announced theapproval for the Trollberget project application located in Northern Sweden, between the Björkberget and Rävaberget projects within the Arvidsjaur-Arjeplog uranium district. The project added 116 sq km of exploration land, increasing Basin Energy’s total holding to 219 sq km within this highly prospective uranium and green energy metals district.
Exploration Updates: Virka & Björkberget
- Structural Relogging Completed
- Detailed relogging of 48 historical drillholes completed across the Virka and Björkberget projects.
- Björkberget: Structural data now available for 28 priority holes; 137 samples submitted for multi-element analysis, with an additional 71 samples prepared for shipment.
- Virka: All historical core relogged; samples are awaiting shipment for lab preparation.
- Key mineralising structural trends identified in core, with associated alteration and mineral assemblages (pending results) to inform future drill targeting.
- High-Grade Surface Results Confirmed
Pulp re-analysis by fusion XRF of two surface samples initially above detection limits (>2.95 percent U₃O₈) confirmed exceptionally high uranium grades:- BJK004: >5.9 percent U₃O₈ from a granite boulder with visible yellow oxide staining at the base of an outcrop
- BJK008: 5.4 percent U₃O₈ from a rhyolitic/fine-grained granite boulder with visible mineralisation and yellow oxide staining
These results reinforce the high-grade uranium potential of Basin’s Scandinavian portfolio and will directly guide the next phase of drill targeting.
Management Team
Blake Steele – Non-executive Chairman
Blake Steele is an experienced metals and mining industry executive and director with extensive knowledge across public companies and capital markets. He was formerly president and chief executive officer of Azarga Uranium (Azarga), a US-focused integrated uranium exploration and development company. He led Azarga into an advanced stage multi- asset business, which was ultimately acquired by enCore Energy (TSXV:EU) for C$200 million in February 2022.
Pete Moorhouse – Managing Director
Pete Moorhouse has 18 years of mining and exploration geology experience with extensive experience in the junior uranium sector, having spent over 10 years with ASX-listed uranium explorer and developer Alligator Energy (ASX:AGE). He holds significant competencies in evaluating, exploring, resource drilling and feasibility studies across many global uranium and resource projects.
Cory Belyk – Non-executive Director
Cory Belyk holds 30 years’ experience in exploration and mining operations, project evaluation, business development and extensive global uranium experience most recently employed by Cameco in the Athabasca Basin. He was a member of the exploration management team that discovered Fox Lake & West McArthur uranium deposits. Currently CEO/VP of Canadian Athabasca uranium explorer and project generator, CanAlaska (TSXV:CVV).
Matthew O’Kane – Non-Executive Director
Matgthew O’Kane is an experienced executive and company director with over 25 years’ experience in the mining and mineral exploration, commodities, and automotive sectors. He has held senior leadership roles in Australia, Asia and North America, in both developed and emerging markets, from start-up companies through to multinational corporations. He has served on the Board of mining and mineral exploration companies in Canada, Hong Kong and Australia. He was a member of the Board of Azarga Uranium from 2013 until its sale to Encore Energy in February of 2022. He is currently a director of two ASX listed exploration and development companies.
Ben Donovan – Company Secretary
Ben Donovan has over 22 years of experience in the provision of corporate advisory and company secretary services. He holds extensive experience in ASX listing rules compliance and corporate governance and has served as a Senior Adviser to the ASX for nearly 3 years Currently CoSec to several ASX listed resource companies including M3 Mining (ASX:M3M), Magnetic Resources (ASX:MAU) and Legacy Iron Ore (ASX:LCY).
Odile Maufrais – Exploration Manager
Odile Maufrais is an exploration geologist with over 14 years of experience and has an extensive understanding of the uranium exploration and mining industry, having worked at ORANO, one of the largest global uranium producers, for 12 years on various assignments in Canada, Niger, and France. Maufrais has significant Athabasca Basin-specific experience, being involved in over 15 greenfield and brownfield uranium exploration projects located throughout the Basin. Her most recent roles for ORANO comprised leading various uranium exploration campaigns and being an active member of the ORANO research and development team, which involved working on trialing and implementing cost-effective and streamlined drilling techniques within the Athabasca Basin. She also played a key role in the update of the National Instrument 43-101 compliant mineral resource estimate for the Midwest Main and Midwest A deposits. Maufrais holds a Master of Science from Montpellier II University, France.
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Demetre Daskalakis, an official at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), resigned this week, claiming the Trump administration’s policies ignore science. However, his own leadership during the Biden-era monkeypox response was criticized for putting optics over public health.
Amid the Trump administration’s efforts to push out CDC Director Susan Monarez, a handful of other top CDC officials, including Daskalakis, resigned in protest of the Trump administration’s policies. Daskalakis wrote in his resignation letter that was posted to social media that the health policies put forward by Secretary Robert F. Kennedy do not ‘reflect scientific reality.’ He also accused the Trump administration of attempting to ‘erase transgender populations,’ while also using the term ‘pregnant people’ to describe women who are about to give birth.
But flashback to 2022 and 2023, after the monkeypox virus had spread across several countries and made its way into the U.S., during which Daskalakis was among the Biden administration’s top advisers who spearheaded the national response to the disease outbreak.
Government communications from that time period, uncovered by watchdog group the Oversight Project, show that officials were aware that the disease was spreading among the gay community. However, those communications, and other records, show the administration appeared to be more concerned with protecting the stigma targeting the gay community, than they were with implementing measures that would provide the best mitigation response.
‘A common theme was public health officials identifying locations where outbreaks occurred, to include bathhouses and saunas,’ according to the Oversight Project. ‘Officials never broached consideration of shutting down these locations. This draws a stark contrast to the public health guidance and shutdowns of gathering places during COVID, to include gyms and skate parks.’
In 2023, after the monkeypox outbreak had taken hold in the U.S., Daskalakis went on national television to let the country know that his team was ‘making sure [they] got the word out in a way that supports people’s joy, as opposed to calling them risky.’
‘You know, one person’s idea of risk, is another person’s idea of a great festival or Friday night, for that matter. So, we have to sort of embrace that with joy and make sure that folks know how to keep themselves safe,’ the Biden monkeypox coordinator added.
Meanwhile, during the outbreak, Daskalkis posted a tweet from gay sex app Grindr that stated ‘Dr. Daskalakis could jab me any day,’ with a sticker of a flattered cat.
In other social media posts from around the same time, Daskalkis can be seen using male models wearing leather bondage straps to make an entrance at an HIV prevention summit.
While in his role at the White House leading the monkeypox response, Daskalkis also reportedly ran an STD screening operation from an after-hours sex club in New York City. When asked about the operation in an interview, Daskalakis described it as ‘exciting’ and added there was ‘not much sleep time.’ Later in the interview, he added: ‘I’d already kind of been the bathhouse HIV testing doctor.’
Fox News Digital reached out to Daskalakis about the juxtaposition between his criticism of Kennedy’s policies not reflecting ‘scientific reality,’ and his role in the Biden administration’s approach to monkeypox, but did not receive an immediate response.
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Lawmakers could soon have Jeffrey Epstein’s infamous ‘birthday book,’ which could potentially give insight into the disgraced late financier’s social ties.
Rep. Robert Garcia, D-Calif., who serves as the ranking member of the House Oversight Committee, told MSNBC on Friday that Epstein’s estate ‘is actually going to actually now get us that book and a bunch of other documents that they have that’s not actually been reported yet.’ He added that the lawmakers expect to receive the book and the documents on Sept. 8.
Garcia also told MSNBC that ‘many of the victims’ of Epstein would speak to lawmakers on Capitol Hill next week to ‘highlight their stories.’ He did not name the lawmakers or accusers expected to meet.
The release date is confirmed in the subpoena signed by House Oversight Committee Chairman Rep. James Comer, R-Ky. The specific deadline listed in the subpoena is Sept. 8 at 12 p.m.
‘The Committee on Oversight and Government Reform is reviewing the possible mismanagement of the federal government’s investigation of Mr. Jeffrey Epstein and Ms. Ghislaine Maxwell, the circumstances and subsequent investigations of Mr. Epstein’s death, the operation of sex-trafficking rings and ways for the federal government to effectively combat them, and potential violations of ethics rules related to elected officials,’ Comer stated in a cover letter that accompanied the subpoena.
‘Recent reporting indicates the estate of Mr. Epstein has access to documents relevant to the Committee’s investigation, including the alleged ‘birthday book’ prepared for Mr. Epstein by Ms. Maxwell… It is imperative that Congress conduct oversight of the federal government’s enforcement of sex trafficking laws generally and specifically its handling of the investigation and prosecution of Mr. Epstein and Ms. Maxwell,’ Comer added.
READ THE LETTER BELOW. APP USERS CLICK HERE:
House Oversight Democrats released a statement Monday supporting the subpoena for the book and calling on former U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida and Trump Labor Secretary Alex Acosta to testify before Congress. He is expected to appear for a closed-door transcribed interview next month.
With a federal probe of the case under way, lawmakers have sought the testimony of several former high-ranking officials, such as former Attorney General Bill Barr. While Barr testified before lawmakers, Democrats, such as Reps. Suhas Subramanyam, D-Va., and Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, were not pleased with Republicans’ questions.
Comer, who argued those accusations were baseless, implored Democrats not to politicize a bipartisan investigation. Divisions deepened after Comer said Barr had no knowledge of, nor did he believe there were any implications of wrongdoing on President Donald Trump’s part related to Epstein.
Garcia disagreed. Though he did not attend the deposition, he said in a statement that Barr did not clear Trump.
Fox News Digital’s Elizabeth Elkind contributed to this report.
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For Dyan Cannon, age is more than just a number.
The ‘Heaven Can Wait’ actress, 88, attempted to go inside the White House this week, but as she and her friends documented in a video shared on social media, the Secret Service refused to let her enter because of an age discrepancy on her passport.
Cannon, along with fellow actresses Kym Douglas and Tracey Bregman and TV personality and chef Christine Avanti-Fischer, traveled to Washington, D.C., together recently. The group hosts a new podcast, ‘God’s Table.’
They went out to do some sightseeing, but there was a hiccup in their plans.
‘We are lined up for a great tour, and we have these Secret Service guys and all of the federal agents. We can’t get in because someone lied about their age,’ Douglas, who filmed the video, explained.
Cannon laughed throughout the explanation as Bregman and Avanti-Fischer teased her.
‘Listen,’ Cannon said. ‘Years ago, here’s the thing, I lied about my age on my passport.’
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‘Who doesn’t, Dyan?’ Douglas joked.
Avanti-Fischer remarked, ‘If we get in, it’s going to be a miracle of God.’
The video was originally shared by Douglas on her Instagram story Thursday, but Cannon reposted it to her own page, writing in her caption, ‘And I’d do it again.’
She added, ‘It’s nobody’s business what the number is they’ve pinned on me ….right girls? Right guys? it’s just a blinkin number… no matter what number they put next to me there’s one thing that never changes …I WUV WU’
Bregman commented on the post, writing, ‘Hilarious. Love you so but seriously, how can I change my age.’
Cannon has been a force in the entertainment industry for decades. She got her start in show business by appearing in various TV shows in the 1950s, and, in 1962, she appeared in her first Broadway show.
Her breakthrough role came in 1969, when she appeared in ‘Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice,’ a role that earned her her first Academy Award nomination.
She was later nominated for the award for best live action short film for 1976’s ‘Number One,’ which she produced. This nod made her the first woman nominated for an Oscar for her work in front of and behind the camera.
Cannon has also had a storied love life, which included marrying legendary actor Cary Grant in 1965. The couple welcomed one daughter, Jennifer, before divorcing in 1968.
She got married a second time in 1985 to real estate investor Stanley Fimberg, but the couple split in 1991. She also had what she once called a ‘love affair’ with Johnny Carson.
Earlier this year, she told People that ‘of course’ she’s still dating.
She told the outlet she was seeing ‘somebody very special,’ then clarified that she was actually seeing ‘several special [people]. … I have friends with benefits, yes.’
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The Israel Defense Forces said on Saturday that it had killed the Houthi prime minister and several other senior officials in a strike in Yemen.
‘Houthi Prime Minister, Ahmed Al-Rahawi, along with additional senior officials of the Houthi terrorist regime were eliminated during an IDF strike in Sanaa, Yemen,’ the IDF said in a social media post.
The IDF said it had targeted a Houthi site where officials responsible ‘for the use of force, the military buildup of the Houthi terror regime, and the advancement of terror actions against Israel. The IDF will continue to target all threats against Israeli civilians.’
The airstrike was conducted by the Israeli Air Force Thursday using intelligence gathered by the IDF.
‘The strike was made possible by seizing an intelligence opportunity and completing a rapid operational cycle, which took place within a few hours,’ the IDF said.
A Houthi statement confirmed Al-Rahawi’s death.
It was Israel’s second strike against the Houthis in Yemen in a week.
On Sunday, Israel hit Yemen’s capital in response to missiles fired by the Houthis. The attack killed six people and wounded 86 others, according to Reuters, which cited a Houthi Health Ministry spokesperson.
‘As we warned the Houthis in Yemen: ‘After the plague of darkness comes the plague of the death,’’ said Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz, who was in the IDF central command during the attack. ‘Whoever raises a hand against Israel, their hand will be cut off.’
The IDF previously said the Houthis were operating under Iran’s direction to harm Israel and its allies. The IDF also blamed the Houthis for ‘undermining regional stability and disrupting global freedom of navigation.’
The strikes Thursday were launched after Israel intercepted two drones from Yemen and happened during a speech by Houthi leader Abdul-Malik Badreddin al-Houthi, according to YNet. Additionally, the Israeli outlet reported that the speech went on without interruption.
The conflict between Israel and the Houthis has gone on for nearly two years.
The Iran-backed terror force threatened to strike Israel just days after Hamas’ Oct. 7 massacre. Within weeks of Hamas’ attacks, the Houthis shot missiles and drones at Israel that were intercepted by U.S. forces aboard the USS Carney.
The Houthis have continued to attack Israel in support to Hamas.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., is demanding that Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. resign after multiple senior officials at the Center for Disease Control and Prevention departed the agency.
The Trump administration announced the removal of CDC Director Susan Monarez earlier this week, less than a month after she was confirmed, after she refused Kennedy’s directives to adopt new limitations on the availability of some vaccines, including for approvals for COVID-19 vaccines.
Four other senior CDC officials resigned in protest after Monarez’s ouster, pointing, in part, to anti-vaccine policies pushed by Kennedy. Hundreds of workers at the agency also walked out of the CDC’s headquarters in Atlanta in support of their former colleagues.
In response to the departures, Sanders wrote in an op-ed for The New York Times that Kennedy is ‘endangering the health of the American people now and into the future’ and accused the secretary of firing Monarez because she refused ‘to act as a rubber stamp for his dangerous policies.’
‘Despite the overwhelming opposition of the medical community, Secretary Kennedy has continued his longstanding crusade against vaccines and his advocacy of conspiracy theories that have been rejected repeatedly by scientific experts,’ Sanders wrote in the piece published Saturday.
‘It is absurd to have to say this in 2025, but vaccines are safe and effective,’ he added. ‘That, of course, is not just my view. Far more important, it is the overwhelming consensus of the medical and scientific communities.’
Sanders also noted that vaccines for diseases like polio and COVID-19 have saved hundreds of millions of lives around the world.
Sanders, the ranking member of the Senate’s health committee, opposed Kennedy’s confirmation earlier this year. The secretary was sworn in back in February. Deputy HHS Secretary Jim O’Neill was selected to be the acting director of the CDC after Monarez’s termination.
The Trump administration has defended Monarez’s ouster, with White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt saying Thursday the president has the ‘authority to fire those who are not aligned with his mission.’
‘The president and Secretary Kennedy are committed to restoring trust and transparency and credibility to the CDC by ensuring their leadership and their decisions are more public-facing, more accountable, strengthening our public health system and restoring it to its core mission of protecting Americans from communicable diseases, investing in innovation to prevent, detect and respond to future threats,’ Leavitt told reporters.
Sanders earlier this week called for an investigation into Monarez’s ouster, criticizing the move as ‘reckless’ and ‘dangerous.’
In the op-ed, he wrote that Kennedy ‘has profited from and built a career on sowing mistrust in vaccines,’ adding that the secretary is now ‘using his authority to launch a full-blown war on science, on public health and on truth itself.’
He also said it will become harder for Americans to obtain ‘lifesaving vaccines’ with Kennedy leading HHS.
‘The danger here is that diseases that have been virtually wiped out because of safe and effective vaccines will resurface and cause enormous harm,’ Sanders wrote, stressing that the U.S. needs to be better prepared in the case of another pandemic.
‘Secretary Kennedy is putting Americans’ lives in danger, and he must resign,’ Sanders wrote. ‘In his place, President Trump must listen to doctors and scientists and nominate a health secretary and a C.D.C. director who will protect the health and well-being of the American people, not carry out dangerous policies based on conspiracy theories.’
Fox News Digital reached out to HHS for comment.
Reuters contributed to this report.
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Dr. Sohan Dasgupta, appointed earlier this year as the political head of the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), told Fox News Digital he is stepping down after a four-month sprint, declaring his mission to preserve and reposition the U.S. agency as a strategic foreign policy tool as ‘accomplished.’
Created by Congress in 2004, MCC delivers five-year infrastructure and energy compacts to developing nations that meet strict governance standards. Unlike traditional aid, its investments are structured to drive long-term economic growth and open markets for U.S. companies.
Since its creation under President George W. Bush, MCC has often been grouped with other U.S. aid programs.
Career staff have long emphasized development goals like poverty reduction, education, and infrastructure, but unlike USAID, MCC was established as a corporate body with a fiduciary duty to ensure effectiveness.
A White House official, speaking on background to Fox News Digital, argued the agency too often presented itself as aid rather than investment before President Donald Trump took office.
Dasgupta pushed staff to adopt a different lens, pressing them to evaluate projects based on the return on investment for the United States, the degree of strategic alignment with partner countries, and whether MCC compacts could be used to strengthen U.S. leverage in negotiations.
A Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) report this spring argued that MCC is not a traditional aid agency but an ‘investment’ tool uniquely suited for an ‘America First’ agenda.
The authors warned shuttering it would hand China ‘diplomatic and economic wins’ while leaving half-built projects abroad, and noted Trump-era partner selections, from Nepal to Côte d’Ivoire to the Pacific Islands, were strategically chosen to counter Chinese influence.
‘The United States and the world are safer, stronger, and more prosperous with the MCC model than without it,’ the report concluded.
MCC’s current portfolio under Trump includes some of its largest-ever compacts: a $500 million deal in Nepal funding nearly 200 miles of transmission lines, a $480 million compact in Sierra Leone expanding electricity access and a $202 million program in Kosovo focused on grid-scale battery storage. Other investments include $536 million in Côte d’Ivoire, $537 million in Mozambique and a water compact in Mongolia.
Dasgupta told Fox News Digital that his role was to press MCC staff to think in terms of U.S. national security and economic benefits. ‘Reforming MCC into a vital national security and foreign policy asset’ was how he described his ‘mission accomplished’ moment.
A May 9 email from the White House Liaison to MCC staff, obtained by Fox News Digital, shows Dasgupta was appointed as a Schedule C Senior Advisor ‘assuming political leadership for the agency.’
MCC’s Fiscal Year 2026 Candidate Country Report, released this month, lists Kosovo, Nepal, Sierra Leone, Côte d’Ivoire, Mozambique, Mongolia, Solomon Islands, Fiji and Tonga among its eligible partner nations.
‘Service has many forms. My goal was to carry out particular projects and missions, then make way for others,’ Dasgupta said.
On China, he added: ‘Critical minerals and rare earth elements are a vital part of American strength … MCC has really understood that.’
Kosovo’s ambassador to the U.S., Ilir Dugolli, praised Dasgupta’s responsiveness. ‘We worked closely soon after he arrived at MCC … I respect him enormously for the way he handled his portfolio and how professional he was,’ Dugolli told Fox News Digital.
On energy security, Dugolli said: ‘Kosovo fully aligns with U.S. foreign policy … Batteries are extremely important, especially after last year’s terrorist attack on the Iber-Lepenc canal. The compact is the single most critical investment for our country’s energy security and economic resilience.’
Dasgupta’s departure also comes as the Trump administration pursues cuts to traditional U.S. foreign aid programs and seeks to reframe America’s global engagement under its ‘America First’ policy.
While agencies such as USAID have faced reductions and restructuring, Dasgupta argues the MCC has been preserved as a leaner, investment-driven tool aligned with the administration’s emphasis on strategic deals and competition with China.
Analysts estimate China controls about 70% of global rare earth mining and nearly 90% of processing capacity, according to the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies.
Between 2023 and 2025, China imposed export restrictions on strategic minerals, according to CSIS. Dasgupta argues MCC’s work in allied nations can help diversify supply chains and strengthen resilience, though MCC has not publicly described critical minerals as a formal focus of its work.
‘Quick wins’ like Kosovo’s battery project and Nepal’s power lines, Dasgupta said, show how American aid can advance prosperity abroad while reinforcing security at home.
With his departure, MCC continues compacts in dozens of countries worldwide.
The MCC did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
This post appeared first on FOX NEWS
Here’s a quick recap of the crypto landscape for Friday (August 29) 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$108,292, a 3.2 percent decrease in 24 hours. It opened at its highest valuation of the day, US$110,473. Its lowest valuation today was US$108,107.
Bitcoin price performance, August 29, 2025.
Chart via TradingView.
Bitcoin’s slip below the US$110,000 threshold stoked fears of a broader crypto market correction on Friday as liquidations doubled, the US Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation gauge showed persistent price pressures, and Bitcoin flashed a potential risk pattern. Analysts warned the token could be edging toward bear market territory.
According to analyst Rekt Capital, BTC needs to regain US$114,000 as support to prevent an extended correction period.
Adding to volatility, a long-dormant Bitcoin whale that resurfaced this month — after buying US$2.5 billion in Ethereum — shifted another US$1.1 billion on Friday.
Ether (ETH) was priced at US$4,345.17, down by 2.3 percent over the past 24 hours. Its highest valuation today was US$4,389.08, and its lowest was US$4,279.96.
Altcoin price update
- Solana (SOL) was priced at US$203.21, down by 3.5 percent over 24 hours. Its lowest valuation on Friday was US$201.61, and its highest valuation was US$211.02.
- XRP was trading for US$2.82, down by 4.4 percent in the past 24 hours. Its lowest valuation of the day was US$2.80, and its highest was US$2.87.
- SUI (Sui) was trading for US$3.26, down by 4.8 percent in the past 24 hours. Its lowest valuation of the day was US$3.22, and its highest level of the day was US$3.35.
- Cardano (ADA) was priced at US$0.8204, down by 3.1 percent. Its lowest valuation for Friday was US$0.8131, and its highest valuation was US$0.8314.
Today’s crypto news to know
Stablecoins cross US$283 billion threshold record
The stablecoin market reached a new milestone on Friday as total supply climbing to $282.8 billion, according to data from DefiLlama. That marks a 128 percent increase since January, driven by stronger demand for dollar-pegged tokens and fresh regulatory clarity in the US. The surge also follows passage of the GENIUS Act, which sets out federal guidelines for stablecoin issuers and has been billed as a growth catalyst within the sector.
Analysts say stablecoins now serve as a “distribution channel” for US dollars, powering cross-border payments and on-chain settlement systems.
Trump-linked miner American Bitcoin targets September Nasdaq listing
American Bitcoin, a mining company backed by Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr., is preparing to list on Nasdaq in September following its merger with Gryphon Digital Mining, Reuters reported.
The firm is majority owned by Hut 8 Mining (TSX:HUT,NASAQ:HUT), which controls 80 percent of the business, while the Trump brothers are expected to collectively hold about 19 percent. The company has already raised $220 million to expand its operations and accumulate Bitcoin, adding 215 BTC to its balance sheet as of June.
With Bitcoin trading near US$112,000 this week, that stash is valued at roughly US$24 million.
CEO Asher Genoot said American Bitcoin aims to become one of the largest US mining firms, with backing from high-profile investors including Gemini founders Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss.
Hut 8’s own share price has rallied 29 percent this year. If listed today, American Bitcoin would rank among the top 30 public companies holding Bitcoin in the US.
Eric Trump hails US-China leadership in Bitcoin
Speaking at the BTC Asia conference in Hong Kong, Eric Trump praised China’s influence on the digital asset industry and said the US and Beijing were “leading the way” in shaping Bitcoin’s future.
He credited the Middle East as another fast-moving hub for crypto adoption, while stressing Bitcoin’s ability to unite people across borders and cultures.
The younger Trump also added that his father’s administration had accelerated digital asset policy faster in seven months than the prior decade managed. He described America as “winning the digital revolution” with support from Wall Street institutions, sovereign wealth funds, and retirement investors.
Asked whether Bitcoin would be on the agenda in an upcoming US-China trade meeting, he suggested broader topics would dominate but said he “would certainly love to talk about bitcoin.”
21Shares files for SEI-tracking ETF
Crypto asset manager 21Shares has submitted an S-1 registration statement to the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for an exchange-traded fund (ETF) that would track the price of SEI.
The proposed ETF would utilize CF Benchmarks, a crypto price index provider, to track SEI’s price using data from multiple crypto exchanges. Coinbase Custody Trust Company is slated to act as the SEI custodian.
SEI is the native token of the SEI network, a layer-1 blockchain launched in 2023. The network specializes in trading infrastructure for decentralized exchanges and marketplaces, using the SEI token for network gas fees and governance participation. 21Shares is also exploring the possibility of staking SEI to generate additional returns, though the firm noted in its filing that it is still investigating potential ‘undue legal, regulatory or tax risk’ associated with this practice.
In an X post, 21Shares said the ETF filing is a “key milestone in our vision to expand exchange-traded access to the SEI Network.” US digital asset investment firm Canary Capital also applied for an SEI ETF in April.
Bloomberg’s James Seyffart has listed all 92 crypto ETPs filings and applications awaiting SEC decisions.
US Department of Commerce to publish economic data onchain
The US Department of Commerce (DOC) announced on Wednesday (August 27) that it will begin publishing official economic data on at least nine public blockchains.
Its stated goal is to make vital information immutable and tamper-proof.
In a significant move for the industry that further underscores the potential of decentralized technology to improve governmental operations, the department is collaborating with blockchain data providers Chainlink and Pyth Network to serve as a bridge across various networks, including Bitcoin, Ethereum and Avalanche.
Chainlink will supply data feeds from the Bureau of Economic Analysis, while Pyth will publish GDP data. The DOC will also publish the Personal Consumption Expenditures Price Index and Real Final Sales to Private Domestic Purchasers.
Reports also indicate that exchanges like Coinbase Global (NASDAQ:COIN), Gemini and Kraken helped facilitate the process by assisting with the transactions required to publish the data on-chain.
Aave protocol’s total value locked surges past US$40 billion
While the DOC’s announcement is a major positive for the entire crypto space, the Aave protocol has seen a remarkable surge in its total value locked, exceeding US$40 billion. This comes after the lending platform launched the Horizon RWA Market on Tuesday (August 26), the first real-world application of its ongoing V4 upgrade strategy.
Crypto intelligence platform Nansen also noted the surge in transaction volume on Avalanche this week, with over 11.9 million transactions recorded across over 181,300 active addresses, an increase of 66 percent.
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