Latest from Al Wakeel
Yahoo
15 minutes ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Juli Inkster wanted a tune-up for Senior Open. She nearly set an LPGA record
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Juli Inkster went to The Standard Portland Classic to face some competition ahead of the U.S. Senior Women's Open. The 65-year-old Hall of Famer nearly wound up setting an LPGA record. Inkster opened with a 69 and was poised to become the oldest player in LPGA history to make a 36-hole cut until consecutive bogeys on her back nine led to a 74. She was at 1-under 143, and it was looking unlikely for her to be among the top 65 and ties to make the weekend. JoAnne Carner was 64 when she made the cut in the 2004 Chick Fil-A Charity Championship. 'I frigging love JoAnne Carner,' Inkster said. "Yeah, just kind of means that I have a passion for the game. I love the game. You know, I'm really happy I played this week. Kind of when I signed up was kind of like, `What are you doing?' 'I was free, I was out there with Hannah Green and Stacy (Lewis) and had a great time,' she said. 'Just love watching the young kids swing. It's so impressive. I think the game is in a really good shape and happy to be here.' Inkster was competing at an LPGA event for the first time since 2022. She was asked what it was like when players recognized her. 'Most of them think I am Joanne Carner,' Inkster said. She was disappointed at her finish, especially the way she struggled off the tee toward the end. Along with the two bogeys, she said she played the final two par 5s sloppily. Still, there were few regrets. The U.S. Senior Women's Open is next week at San Diego Country Club. 'I think it was really good for me to play, whether I win or lose next week, whatever,' Inkster said. 'I'm glad I put myself out there.' ___ AP golf:
Yahoo
15 minutes ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Fresh clashes erupt in Serbian capital after days of unrest
Thousands of anti-government protesters again clashed with police in Serbia's capital on Friday, as days of unrest fuelled fears of a worsening crackdown on a months-long push for early elections. After a tense stand-off between right-wing government loyalists and the larger crowd of protesters, fireworks, tear gas, and stun grenades erupted among the anti-graft demonstrators, according to an AFP journalist in the crowd. It sparked a series of clashes with riot police in central Belgrade on Friday, and marks the fourth straight night of violence between police and rival groups in the Balkan nation. Almost daily protests -- some drawing hundreds of thousands -- have gripped Serbia since November, after a railway station roof collapse crushed 16 people to death. The tragedy became a symbol of deep-rooted corruption in the Balkan nation, as frustrated demands for a transparent investigation grew into calls for early elections. The mostly peaceful demonstrations escalated this week as large groups of pro-government supporters, many masked and some armed with batons and fireworks, attacked protesters. "I don't want to live in a country of police repression," 46-year-old Zeljko from Belgrade told AFP, as he stood with protesters outside government buildings before the violence. A hundred metres away, dozens of government supporters, dressed in black T-shirts, aimed green lasers at the crowd, an apparent attempt to provoke the larger group. "They beat the people and protect criminals with crowbars. I came to say we won't accept that," Zeljko said, referring to alleged police violence against protesters. Dozens have been arrested at rallies around the country in recent days, after violence between the groups ended in the ransacking of the ruling party's offices in the northern city of Novi Sad. While opposition MPs and activists have accused pro-government "thugs" of brutal attacks, sharing images of graphic injuries sustained at the rallies. Several videos shared online showed police striking unarmed protesters with batons. In one video from Thursday night, around 20 officers surround and beat a man while he is on the ground. Police have rejected allegations of excessive force, instead accusing demonstrators of attacking their members, with over 120 officers injured in violence over the past few nights. "All those who have spent these past days spreading lies about police brutality should comment on these figures," Interior Minister Ivica Dacic told journalists on Friday. Similarly, President Aleksandar Vucic has denied that his supporters are behind the violence, instead blaming the anti-corruption movement, which he routinely labels "terrorists". But protesters told AFP they felt police were unfairly protecting Vucic's supporters while targeting the student-led movement for arrest. "We are completely powerless because the police are working with the criminals," said 52-year-old Nevena. "They've hijacked the state and we're trying to take it back." While the protests have so far led to the resignation of the prime minister and the collapse of his cabinet, Vucic remains at the helm of a reshuffled government. oz/al/dc
Yahoo
15 minutes ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Quetzal Copper Corp. Provides Update on Acquisition of Silverco Mining Corp. and Bridge Loan Financing
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - August 15, 2025) - Quetzal Copper Corp. (TSXV: Q) ("Quetzal") is pleased to announce that, further to its news release dated June 26, 2025, it has entered into a definitive amalgamation agreement (the "Amalgamation Agreement") with Silverco Mining Corp. ("Silverco"), an arm's length party, pursuant to which Quetzal will acquire all of the issued and outstanding shares of Silverco (the "RTO"). RTO Particulars and the Definitive Agreement On August 13, 2025, Quetzal, Silverco and a newly-formed subsidiary of Quetzal ("Quetzal Subco") incorporated under the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia) (the "BCBCA"), entered into the Amalgamation Agreement, which provides for, among other things, a three-cornered amalgamation (the "Amalgamation") pursuant to which (i) Quetzal Subco will amalgamate with Silverco under the BCBCA to form one corporation, and (ii) the securityholders of Silverco will receive securities of Quetzal in exchange for their securities of Silverco at an exchange ratio of 1.88 common shares of Quetzal (the "Quetzal Shares") for each outstanding share of Silverco (subject to adjustments in accordance with the Amalgamation Agreement). Pursuant to the Amalgamation, Quetzal will issue a total of 31,727,854 Quetzal Shares at a deemed price of $1.60 per share. A copy of the Amalgamation Agreement will be available electronically on SEDAR+ ( under Quetzal's issuer profile in due course. Completion of the RTO will result in the reverse takeover of Quetzal by Silverco pursuant to the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSX-V") (with the resulting entity being the "Resulting Issuer"). As part of the RTO, and subject to any required shareholder and regulatory approvals, Quetzal will: (i) change its name to "Silverco Mining Ltd." or such other name as may be requested by Silverco; (ii) reconstitute the board of directors and management of the Resulting Issuer; (iii) adopt a new equity compensation plan; and (iv) consolidate the Quetzal Shares on a 100:1 basis (the "Consolidation"). The completion of the RTO is subject to the satisfaction of various conditions, including but not limited to satisfactory completion of due diligence by Quetzal and Silverco, the approval of the RTO by the Quetzal shareholders, the approval of the listing of the Resulting Issuer Shares on the TSX-V, and other conditions customary for a transaction of this nature. The RTO cannot close until the required approvals are obtained. There can be no assurance that the RTO will be completed as proposed or at all. In connection with closing of the RTO, Quetzal will sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of all of its existing mineral properties and associated obligations, with the purchaser indemnifying Quetzal against any pre-existing liabilities associated with such properties. Quetzal intends to call an annual and special meeting of its shareholders to approve various corporate actions and seek approval of the RTO. The Amalgamation Agreement was negotiated at arm's length between representatives of Quetzal and Silverco. The board of directors of each of Quetzal and Silverco determined that the RTO is fair to the shareholders of Quetzal and Silverco, respectively. The Quetzal Shares will remain halted pending further filings with the TSX-V. There are no finder's fees or commissions payable in respect of the RTO. Proposed Management Team and Board of Directors of the Resulting Issuer The Board of Directors of the Resulting Issuer is expected to include Mark Ayranto, Gary Brown, Tim Sorensen and Gregg Bush. Management of the Resulting Issuer is expected to include Mark Ayranto (President, Chief Executive Officer and Director), Sean Fallis (Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary) and Nico Harvey as Vice President Project Development. The following are biographies of the currently proposed directors and senior officers of the Resulting Issuer: Mark Ayranto, President, Chief Executive Officer and Director Mark Ayranto is an accomplished mining executive with a demonstrated history of success in building and leading high-performing mining organizations. With deep experience spanning exploration, mine development, finance, and operations, Mark is uniquely positioned to drive growth and value creation at Silverco. As Chief Operating Officer at Victoria Gold, he was instrumental in advancing the Eagle Gold Mine from exploration through construction and operations, contributing to a dramatic increase in market capitalization from $8 million to over $1 billion at its peak. This team accomplishment was recognized with the AME's 2021 EA Scholz Award for excellence in mine development, of which Mr. Ayranto was a key member. Mark is the founder and former chair of Banyan Gold. He also served as President of the Yukon Chamber of Mines and Chair of the Yukon Mineral Advisory Board. He holds degrees from Dalhousie and Royal Roads University. Sean Fallis, Chief Financial Officer Mr. Fallis has over 20 years of finance experience including more than ten years with public mining companies whose principal assets were in Latin America. He was recently part of the team tasked with turning around the performance of Sierra Wireless, Inc., which resulted in the sale of Sierra Wireless to Semtech Corporation for $1.8 billion. In addition to core finance functions, Mr. Fallis has led functions including corporate development, investor relations, information technology and global facilities. Mr. Fallis holds the Chartered Professional Accountant designation and has a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from Simon Fraser University. Nico Harvey, Vice President Project Development Nico Harvey is an accomplished mining engineer with over a decade of operational and technical expertise in the mining industry. As Vice President Project Development, Mr. Harvey leads the advancement and development of Silverco's full project portfolio. Holding a Mining Engineering degree from the University of British Columbia, he has extensive experience in gold, copper, and coal operations, spanning large-scale open pit and underground environments. Having progressed through increasingly senior technical and operational roles, Nico has a proven track record in optimizing operational performance, performing due diligence evaluations, delivering technical projects, and promoting sustainable development. Gary Brown, Director Mr. Brown brings over 35 years of experience as a finance professional, most recently as the Chief Financial Officer of Wheaton Precious Metals Corp. ("Wheaton"), a position he held for almost 17 years prior to his retirement on March 31, 2025. At Wheaton, Mr. Brown played an integral role in the company's financial growth, strategic direction, and risk management, all contributing to Wheaton's industry-leading success in the precious metal streaming business. Prior to Wheaton, Mr. Brown held senior financial roles at Westcoast Energy Inc., CAE Inc., Creo Inc., and TIR Systems Ltd. and holds professional designations as both a Chartered Professional Accountant and a Chartered Financial Analyst, having earned a Masters Degree in Accounting at the University of Waterloo. Tim Sorenson, Director Tim Sorensen brings over 25 years of experience in institutional equity sales with a specialized focus on the mining sector. Over the course of his career, he has played a direct role in raising more than $5 billion in capital for mining companies, supporting exploration, development, and production-stage projects worldwide. He currently serves as CEO of TSCG Capital, a mining-focused merchant bank providing strategic advisory and financing solutions to resource companies. In addition, he is Managing Partner at Velocity Capital Partners, a subsidiary of Velocity Trade Capital which is an independent fx, commodity and equity brokerage firm headquartered in Toronto. Mr. Sorensen is recognized for his deep industry relationships, capital markets expertise, and strategic insight into mining trends, making him a valuable asset to the board and a trusted advisor within the mining investment community. Gregg Bush, Director Gregg Bush is a Metallurgical Engineer with more than 40 years of experience in feasibility, mine development, operations, international M&A, permitting, alternative infrastructure projects supporting mine development and project engineering. He is fluent in Spanish and has experience in operations based in Chile, the US, Mexico and Canada. Gregg has held positions as Chief Operating Officer for Capstone Mining, where he oversaw operating and organic growth projects for the corporation, and as COO of Minefinders, where he was responsible for the construction and commissioning of the Dolores project in Chihuahua. Prior to joining Minefinders, Gregg spent 17 years with Placer Dome and Barrick in North and South America. Mr. Bush started his career as a metallurgist with Chino Mines Company, a Division of Kennecott Copper. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Metallurgical Engineering from the University of Texas at El Paso. Bridge Loan In addition, Quetzal has entered into a $500,000 debt financing arrangement ("Bridge Loan Financing") with two arms-length third parties. Proceeds from the Bridge Loan Financing will be used for general working capital purposes and for closing and other costs related to the Transaction. Prior to closing of the Transaction, settlement of the Bridge Loan Financing will be made in Quetzal Shares at a deemed price equal to $1.60 (on a post-Consolidation basis). Additional Information The full particulars of the RTO, the material properties of the Resulting Issuer, and the Resulting Issuer will be described in the management information circular of Quetzal (the "Circular"), which will contain the information required pursuant to listing statement requirements under the policies of the TSX-V. A copy of the Circular will be available electronically on SEDAR+ ( under Quetzal's issuer profile in due course. Investors are cautioned that, except as disclosed in the Circular to be prepared in connection with the RTO, any information released or received with respect to the RTO may not be accurate or complete and should not be relied upon. Trading in the securities of Quetzal should be considered highly speculative. Silverco Mining Corp."Mark Ayranto"Mark AyrantoCEO Quetzal Copper Corp. "Matthew Badiali"Matthew BadialiCEO & DirectorPhone: (888) 227-6821 Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains statements that constitute "forward-looking statements." Such forward looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause Quetzal's, Silverco's and the Resulting Issuer's actual results, performance or achievements, or developments to differ materially from the anticipated results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "intends," "estimates," "projects," "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will," "would," "may," "could" or "should" occur. Forward-looking statements in this document include, among others, statements relating to expectations regarding the completion of the RTO (including all required approvals), the listing on the TSX-V, the business plans of the Resulting Issuer, the composition of management and the board of the Resulting Issuer and other statements that are not historical facts. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or other future events, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors and risks include, among others: that there is no assurance that the parties hereto will obtain the requisite director, shareholder and regulatory approvals for the RTO, and there is no assurance that the RTO will be completed as anticipated, or at all; following completion of the RTO, the Resulting Issuer may require additional financing from time to time in order to continue its operations which may not be available when needed or on acceptable terms and conditions acceptable; compliance with extensive government regulation; domestic and foreign laws and regulations could adversely affect the Resulting Issuer's business and results of operations; and the stock markets have experienced volatility that often has been unrelated to the performance of companies and these fluctuations may adversely affect the price of the Resulting Issuer's securities, regardless of its operating performance. The forward-looking information contained in this news release represents the expectations of Quetzal and Silverco as of the date of this news release and, accordingly, is subject to change after such date. Readers should not place undue importance on forward-looking information and should not rely upon this information as of any other date. Neither Quetzal nor Silverco undertakes obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available. Completion of the transaction is subject to a number of conditions, including but not limited to, TSX-V acceptance and if applicable, disinterested shareholder approval. Where applicable, the transaction cannot close until the required shareholder approval is obtained. There can be no assurance that the transaction will be completed as proposed or at all. Investors are cautioned that, except as disclosed in the management information circular or filing statement to be prepared in connection with the transaction, any information released or received with respect to the transaction may not be accurate or complete and should not be relied upon. Trading in the securities of Quetzal should be considered highly speculative. The TSX Venture Exchange Inc. has in no way passed upon the merits of the proposed transaction and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
15 minutes ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump Says Talks With Putin ‘Productive' But ‘No Deal' Yet
(Bloomberg) — US President Donald Trump called his meeting with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin 'extremely productive' but indicated that a deal to end the war had still not been finalized, adding that he would speak to NATO allies and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. The US-Canadian Road Safety Gap Is Getting Wider Festivals and Parades Are Canceled Amid US Immigration Anxiety A Photographer's Pipe Dream: Capturing New York's Vast Water System To Head Off Severe Storm Surges, Nova Scotia Invests in 'Living Shorelines' Five Years After Black Lives Matter, Brussels' Colonial Statues Remain 'There's no deal until there's a deal,' Trump said Friday in Anchorage, Alaska as he stood alongside Putin for a joint event. Putin spoke first at the event, casting the conversations as useful and said they were held 'in a constructive atmosphere.' He talked of unspecified agreements with Trump, and suggested that Ukraine was only one of multiple issues discussed, pointing to the potential for increased trade and business cooperation as well as work in the Arctic and in space exploration. The event followed the longest ever face-to-face meeting between the two leaders. But despite their extended conversation neither leader provided clear details on their discussion or on where they found common ground, a move that will likely intensify anxiety in European capitals and in Kyiv about an agreement that sidelines their input. 'We had a very productive meeting. There were many, many points that we agreed on — most of them I would say — a couple of big ones that we haven't quite gotten there but we've made some headway,' Trump said, adding that he would discuss the summit's developments with Zelenskiy and allies in NATO. 'I'm going to start making a few phone calls and tell them what happened, but we had an extremely productive meeting and many points were agreed to,' he said. Trump did not specify which points he saw as potentially contentious or that might prove sticking points with Kyiv and allies. 'There are just a very few that are left. Some are not that significant; one is probably the most significant,' he said. 'We didn't get there but we have a very good chance of getting there.' Trump and Putin ended the event, which had been originally billed as a joint press conference, without fielding any questions from reporters. Few Specifics Ahead of the talks European allies expressed anxiety that Trump might concede too much to Putin or strike a broad deal that involves exchanges of territory without the consent of Kyiv. While Trump and Putin did not detail any agreements that might cement those fears, those worries are likely to intensify. Samuel Charap, a senior political scientist at the global policy think tank RAND, described the event as 'a lot of upbeat vibes with very little by way of specifics,' in an interview. 'It sounds like there were specifics discussed, based on what Trump said,' Charap added. 'Neither of them gave away any substance. It was a very disciplined press conference for Trump. He stuck to his message, which was clearly agreed that they would not reveal any details.' The press event, with Trump standing side-by-side with a leader who has been an international pariah since launching a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 capped a stunning day. While Trump had downplayed expectations for the summit in its run-up, even insisting aboard Air Force One en route to the meeting that he would 'walk away' if the talks did not go well, he spoke with Putin for more than two-and-a-half hours — a session longer than their 2018 summit discussions in Helsinki. Putin said it was important for countries to 'turn the page.' He also closed by indicating in English that Trump should meet him 'next time in Moscow,' a suggestion the US president did not immediately reject. 'Oh, that's an interesting one. I'll get a little heat on that one, but I could see it possibly happening,' Trump said. Friday's summit opened with a highly-choreographed spectacle that saw Trump greet Putin on American soil, the Russian leader's first visit to the US in nearly a decade. The two met on the tarmac, with Trump clapping as Putin approached and welcoming him with a warm handshake and a pat on the arm. A flyover that included a B-2 bomber offered a show of force by the US but Trump was also seen putting his hand on Putin's back and engaging in friendly conversation before the two departed in the president's own limousine to the summit site. That ride allowed Putin to speak directly to Trump without aides present, giving him valuable time with the US leader, even though the White House had sought to highlight how plans for a one-on-one meeting between the two had been scrapped for a three-on-three with other officials present. Ahead of the summit, Trump had sought to reassure allies that he would not negotiate the swap of territories at the summit and kept the door open to security guarantees for Europe. 'I've got to let Ukraine make that decision,' Trump said of land swaps. 'I'm not here to negotiate for Ukraine. I'm here to get them at the table.' For Putin, Friday offered a chance to reset relations between Washington and Moscow and suggests that his charm offensive ahead of the summit may pay dividends. The Russian leader is also eager to divide the US from Europe and seek sanctions relief for an economy at home that may be on the verge of slipping into a recession. The Russian president had offered only maximalist demands for territory and refused calls to halt the fighting, frustrating Trump's vow to quickly end the war. Putin sees little incentive to stop the fighting, confident that his military holds a dominant position on the battlefield as it slowly advances in a brutal, grinding war. —With assistance from Derek Wallbank, Eric Martin and Josh Wingrove. (Updates with additional Trump, Putin remarks, details throughout.) Americans Are Getting Priced Out of Homeownership at Record Rates What Declining Cardboard Box Sales Tell Us About the US Economy Bessent on Tariffs, Deficits and Embracing Trump's Economic Plan Twitter's Ex-CEO Is Moving Past His Elon Musk Drama and Starting an AI Company Dubai's Housing Boom Is Stoking Fears of Another Crash ©2025 Bloomberg L.P. Sign in to access your portfolio
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15 minutes ago
- Sport
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Report: NFL initially proposed double-digit Rashee Rice suspension, open to a settlement
This season is up in the air for Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice, who is awaiting punishment for his involvement in a multi-car crash in Dallas last year. But earlier in the process, the NFL initially proposed an lengthy punishment, suggesting that Rice be suspended for double-digit games, per NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. In July, Rice pled guilty to two felony charges related to the crash, and was sentenced to five years probation and 30 days in jail. The sentencing gave the NFL the opening to hand down an additional punishment, with a multi-game suspension expected. Per Pelissero, Rice's representation — including the NFLPA, his agents and his attorney — argued against the NFL's proposal, asking for a much shorter suspension that better reflects the precedent for a case like this. A hearing to determine Rice's suspension has been set for Sept. 30, likely making the receiver available for the start of the season. But Pelissero also reported that it was still possible for a settlement to be reached before the start of the season. If a settlement is reached, Rice may be able to sit out at the start of the season, rather than let the hearing stretch on into appeals and threaten the receiver's long-term availability. A double-digit suspension would be an unexpectedly harsh punishment for Rice in terms of this incident, keeping him off the field for more than half of the 2025 season. To put things in perspective, former Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker was suspended for the first 10 weeks of the 2025 season for a pattern of sexual misconduct with massage therapists in the Baltimore area; in 2022, Deshaun Watson was suspended 11 games for a similar conduct policy violation. Rice's plea deal with the Dallas County District Attorney's Office gave him deferred probation, meaning that his case will be dismissed if he successfully completes his five years of probation. Rice can reportedly serve the 30 days of jail time at any point during his probation. Rice was also required to pay the medical expenses of the victims, totaling $115,481.91, as part of the deal. In addition to his sentence, Rice was sued for $1 million by the two people who were injured in the crash; that lawsuit was settled the day before he received his sentence. Despite the uncertainty, Rice has not been limited in training camp with the Chiefs, and has been playing in the team's typical rotation. "We're going to progress as normal with him," Kansas City head coach Andy Reid told reporters in July. "He'll go in and take all the reps that he'd normally take. We always rotate that position. So depending on what happens here in the future, whoever needs to play will be able step in, and they'll know what they are doing and be in good shape to do it." If Rice and the NFL do not reach a settlement before his Sept. 30 hearing, Rice will be available for the first four games of the season, including the Chiefs' opener against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sept. 5 and the home opener (and Super Bowl rematch) against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sept. 14.
