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March 24, 2025

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Errawarra Resources Ltd (ASX: ERW) (Errawarra or the Company) is delighted to announce that it has entered binding agreements (refer Acquisition Terms) pursuant to which the Company has acquired 70% of the historical Elizabeth Hill Silver Project (“Project” or “Elizabeth Hill”), 70% of the silver rights to the Pinderi Hills Project tenement package and 70% of the ownership of 3 tenements or tenement applications surrounding the silver project. This collective tenement package totalling 180km2 is in the Tier 1 mining jurisdiction of the Pilbara, Western Australia (Figure 2 – Project Location).

HIGHLIGHTS:

  • Transformational acquisition of the high-grade Elizabeth Hill Silver Project in the West Pilbara mining region of Western Australia
  • Acquisition agreed in conjunction with a $3 million placement to existing shareholders and new investors including major fund investors
  • Historical production of 1.2Moz Ag from 16kt ore (~2,194 g/t Ag head grade)1 over only 1 year of operation
  • Elizabeth Hill mining operations ceased in 2000 due to declining silver prices (~USD $5/oz)2
  • Requisite geology and structure present, with the Project located on a major ultramafic complex with multiple high grade silver drill intercepts including3:
    • 11.7 m @ 5,371 g/t Ag from 13m (21EHDD003)
    • 24 m @ 1,228 g/t Ag from 64m (AMEHRC009)
    • 43 m @ 370 g/t Ag from 0m (22AMC001); and
    • 24.8m @ 915 g/t Ag from 2m (21EHDD001)
  • Errawarra becomes the first explorer to consolidate the Elizabeth Hill Mine and the surrounding land package of 180km2, which covers additional highly prospective underexplored areas for silver mineralisation
  • Experienced precious metals geologist Mr. Robert Mosig has joined the board to assist in fast-tracking forward development and exploration activities at Elizabeth Hill
  • Highly respected ERM Consultants led by Mr Ian Stockton have already commenced analysis of the Elizabeth Hill geological setting including comparisons with analogous projects globally to assist in target generation
  • Project located on a granted mining lease (ML) and all the required exploration/drilling approvals are in place to fast track immediate drilling post site visit and target prioritisation

The Elizabeth Hill Project acquisition is conditional upon meeting the condition precedent and obtaining the relevant approvals, amongst others, Errawarra entering into separate joint venture agreements with Alien Metals Limited (Alien) (AIM: UFO) and GreenTech Metals Limited (GreenTech).

This transformational acquisition ensures that the Company is now underpinned by a high-grade historical producing silver asset, with significant resource growth potential and future low-cost operational opportunities in a Tier 1 global mining jurisdiction.

Chairman Thomas Reddicliffe commented:

“This is an exceptional opportunity for our shareholders, and we are fortunate to have secured an interest in the Elizabeth Hill Silver Project and extensions. This will enhance our existing exploration projects in the same region of Western Australia with the addition of an interest in a high-grade past producing silver asset with growth potential not previously tested.”

“The combination of existing high-grade silver intercepts signify growth potential and compelling exploration prospectivity at both near mine and regional targets. With Elizabeth Hill being located on an approved mining lease, this presents an opportunity for the Company to fast-track drilling and, if successful, mining supported by a buoyant silver market driven by strong investor demand and global issues.”

“We look forward to immediately getting work underway with regular news in the near future”.

Click here for the full ASX Release

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

Kaiser Reef Limited (‘Kaiser’ or ‘the Company’) is pleased to announce that it has entered into a definitive agreement (the “Agreement”) with Catalyst Metals Limited (ASX:CYL) (“Catalyst”) to acquire the Henty Gold Mine and associated Tasmanian exploration tenements (“Henty Gold Mine” or “Henty”).

KEY HIGHLIGHTS

  • Proven production asset with a cumulative production history of 1.4Moz at 8.9g/t Au1 and a track record of replacing mined ounces. Gold produced in the December Quarter totalled 6,594oz, produced at an AISC of A$2,631/oz2
  • JORC compliant Mineral Resource of 4.1Mt @ 3.4g/t Au for 449kozs of contained gold and Ore Reserve of 1.2Mt @ 4.0g/t Au for 154kozs
  • Highly attractive acquisition metric of less than A$1,200 per production ounce4 based on total upfront consideration of A$31.6 million, comprising A$15.0 million cash and 118.6 million shares issued to Catalyst, equivalent to a 19.99% shareholding
  • Acquisition immediately transforms Kaiser into a +30kozpa5, multi-asset gold producer with a clear pathway to grow to a 50kozpa production target
  • Kaiser and Catalyst agree an option to form a strategic partnership in the Victorian Goldfields around the Maldon gold processing plant, including an option to expand the processing plant, supporting both Kaiser’s and Catalyst’s Victorian ambitions
  • A further A$10 million of funding secured with Auramet International Inc, consisting of a A$8 million senior secured gold loan and a A$2 million unsecured gold prepayment facility ensuring a strong working capital position

TRANSACTION SUMMARY

Kaiser Reef Ltd (ASX:KAU) (“Kaiser” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce that it has entered into a definitive agreement (the “Agreement”) with Catalyst Metals Limited (ASX:CYL) (“Catalyst”) pursuant to which Kaiser will acquire the Henty Gold Mine and associated Tasmanian exploration tenements (“Henty Gold Mine” or “Henty”) for:

  • A$15.0 million upfront consideration;
  • A$16.6 million in shares issued to Catalyst (Catalyst to emerge as a 19.99% shareholder);
  • deferred payments of 50 ounces per month to Catalyst, capped at 3,000 ounces and commencing 6 months from Completion (“Deferred Consideration”);
  • 0.5% NSR royalty on gold produced from the Darwin Target Zone area;
  • Kaiser to reimburse Catalyst A$3.9 million in Environmental Bond Payments to Mineral Resources Tasmania in 12 monthly instalments; and
  • an option agreement through which Catalyst may enter into a joint venture with Kaiser in relation to the Maldon processing plant.

together the (“Transaction”).

STRATEGIC RATIONALE

  • Established production platform: The Henty Gold Mine is an established gold production platform, with historical production of 1.4Moz @ 8.9g/t. Since acquiring Henty in 2021, Catalyst has made significant operational improvements and investments at Henty, including drill platforms, drilling, tailings, underground fleet and people.
  • 5-year mine plan: Work to date has culminated in establishing a robust 5-year mine plan underpinned by a current Ore Reserves of 1.2Mt @ 4.0g/t for 154koz. There is significant scope to extent mine life based on the current Mineral Resource of 4.1Mt @ 3.4g/t Au for 449koz along with the considerable opportunities for near-mine exploration and development success.
  • Significant infrastructure: There is significant infrastructure in place at the Henty Gold Mine including a 300ktpa CIL processing plant, surface & underground workshops, administration complex, access to hydro generated grid power and refreshed tailings storage capacity.
  • Implement and build on operational capacity: Key Kaiser executives have significant experience in the optimisation of similar assets to Henty achieved through a combination of operational improvement and targeted exploration investment. The support from Catalyst as a 19.99% strategic shareholder, along with the addition of the Henty site operating team, a stable & skilled local workforce of +150 employees, will further strengthen the Kaiser team.
  • Flagship asset: With the Henty Gold Mine as its flagship asset, the Kaiser team will provide dedicated focus to continue the significant work completed by Catalyst and further drive operational improvements at Henty.

Kaiser’s Managing Director, Jonathan Downes said:

“We are excited to significantly expand Kaiser’s production base, exploration opportunities and enter into a strategic partnership with Catalyst in Victoria. We look forward to welcoming the Henty team into Kaiser and growing the business together.

“Catalyst has done a great job building a profitable operation at Henty over the last 4 years, with clear production and mine life visibility, plus some great exploration targets. Kaiser will continue to re-invest into Henty and build on what Catalyst has already achieved. We are very pleased to have Catalyst’s continued involvement and exposure to the upside at Henty, both as Kaiser’s major shareholder and through their board representation.

“The option for Kaiser and Catalyst to enter into a 50/50 JV partnership at the Maldon processing plant gives both parties a clear pathway that supports their Victorian ambitions. A Joint Venture can unlock the benefits that would come with plant expansion and increased operational scale, and we look forward to working with Catalyst as JV partners if they execute the option.

“I’m also pleased that Brad Valiukas will be taking a full-time role with Kaiser as Director – Operations. Brad has a wealth of experience in underground mining and helping to grow companies such as Mincor Resources, to their peak period operating 8 mines, and Northern Star, bedding in assets from Newmont, Barrick and Sumitomo. Brad has been instrumental in the changes we have made over the last few months at A1, accelerating the capital development to get below historic workings and setting A1 up to deliver going forward.

“The addition of Henty to our portfolio, alongside A1 in Victoria, positions Kaiser as a >30,000oz old producer and targeting 50,000 ounces of gold production per annum in the short term. Each of the gold projects provides expansion and exploration opportunities and collectively positions Kaiser for a market re-rating in line with our peers. The value metrics of Kaiser are compelling with three gold mines (one on care and maintenance) and two gold processing plants – all held with an enterprise value of A$67 million.”

Click here for the full ASX Release

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

HITIQ Limited (ASX: HIQ) (HITIQ or the Company) announces a strategic shift to focus on the consumer market, targeting amateur and community-level athletes of all ages across a variety of sports with its new HITIQ PROTEQT system. This shift to the consumer market is a natural strategic step for the Company, running in parallel with its established work in professional sports, taking its world-leading impact detection technology where it can have the greatest impact—in the amateur sporting community, and positioning HITIQ to tap into a vast, accessible market, steering the Company toward a sustainable, cash flow positive future. This direction is reinforced by a significant milestone: a three-year partnership with the Victorian Amateur Football Association (VAFA), naming HITIQ as the VAFA’s ‘Official Concussion Technology Partner.’

  • HITIQ is shifting its strategic focus to the consumer market, targeting amateur and community-level athletes.
  • This strategic shift to the consumer market complements ongoing efforts in professional sports.
  • A three-year partnership with the VAFA marks a key launchpad, driving HITIQ toward a cash flow positive future.

The consumer market, encompassing millions of amateur players globally, offers a substantial opportunity driven by increasing concussion awareness and demand for cost-effective safety solutions. Research shows community-level athletes and parents prioritize wellbeing, creating strong incentives for adopting HITIQ’s technology, which includes real-time impact detection, symptom assessment, and telehealth support. As part of this shift, HITIQ PROTEQT will be made available to VAFA clubs, monitoring head impacts in real time, flagging potential concussion risks, and guiding players through symptom assessments with telehealth access to emergency physicians and concussion specialists when needed. Players diagnosed with concussion by their preferred medical professional will follow club medical staff guidance and AFL community concussion protocols for return-to-play. Leveraging its extensive elite sports foundation, HITIQ will keep advancing its technology at this level to strengthen offerings for the community market.

HITIQ PROTEQT integrates proven elite-level technology—previously validated by partners like Monash University and Virginia Tech—into an accessible, boil-and-bite smart mouthguard. Priced for broad uptake and paired with a subscription model, HITIQ PROTEQT offers head impact monitoring, concussion management, and return-to-play guidance, and will be available to consumers this season. The VAFA partnership builds on HITIQ’s prior success with the Nexus iMG in this league, providing a proven foundation to drive adoption among amateur players and families.

Earl Eddings, Executive Chairman of HITIQ, said:

“This shift positions HITIQ where the real demand is – grassroots sport. We’ve built a scalable, consumer- focused product that meets a clear need, backed by world-class technology and partnerships. This is about delivering safety to millions while driving sustainable growth for shareholders. Partnering with the VAFA is a critical step toward bringing HITIQ PROTEQT to life. With the VAFA as our launchpad, we’re gearing up to deliver our cutting-edge technology to community sport, starting with their teams and expanding nationwide.”

VAFA CEO Jason Reddick said:

“Player safety is a primary priority for the VAFA, and concussion is one of the most serious health issues in the game. So partnering with HITIQ, who are leading the way in impact detection technology that can assist with early flagging of potential concussions, is another step forward. We’re happy to help bring this next-level tool to our VAFA community and encourage our clubs to learn more about HITIQ PROTEQT. Any tool that can help players and club medical staff quickly identify a potential concussion and begin assessment and treatment earlier is worthy of consideration.”

Stuart McDonald, Senior Research Fellow of Monash University’s Department of Neuroscience, said: ‘Research with HITIQ’s instrumented mouthguards, including our studies in the VAFA, has shown they reliably detect and quantify the forces exerted on the head during collisions. Based on our experience, players have found their previous mouthguards very comfortable, and they also show promise in identifying impacts that may carry a higher concussion risk. While these devices do not diagnose concussion, they could be used to highlight significant impacts that might otherwise have been missed, encouraging appropriate symptom monitoring and medical evaluation.’

The Company’s growth strategy includes scaling manufacturing and expanding into key markets starting with Australia. With board renewal, we have brought in sport and consumer expertise, and a refreshed leadership team with global sports tech experience will support this shift, alongside plans to build a leading concussion dataset for stakeholders. With the VAFA partnership as a springboard, this strategic shift sets HITIQ on a clear course for profitability.

Earl Eddings will be presenting the attached slides this week for a non-deal Asia roadshow.

Click here for the full ASX Release

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

Here’s a quick recap of the crypto landscape for Friday (March 21) as of 9:00 p.m. UTC.

Bitcoin and Ethereum price update

Bitcoin (BTC) is currently trading at US$83,955.92, a 0.7 percent decrease over the past 24 hours. The day’s trading range has seen a low of US$83,238.78 and a high of US$84,411.85.

A new analysis by trading resource Material Indicators on March 20 (Thursday) identified a classic manipulatory device known as spoofing by one or more whales as a reason why Bitcoin failed to sustain or rally past US$87,500 yesterday. Crypto markets are seeing decreased speculative trading, indicated by a lower Bitcoin hot supply. Analysts predict bearish trends could continue, with Bitcoin possibly dropping to $60,000.

Bitcoin performance, March 21, 2025.

Chart via TradingView.

Ethereum (ETH) is priced at US$1,973.30, trading flat over the same period. The cryptocurrency reached an intraday low of US$1,938.90 and a high of US$1,976.41.

Crypto analytics platform Santiment observed the lowest supply of Ether on crypto exchanges since November 2015, which suggests that investors are moving their ETH into cold storage wallets for long-term holding. This could lead to a supply shock, resulting in a potential price surge.

Altcoin price update

  • Solana (SOL) is currently valued at US$128.15, up 0.2 percent over the past 24 hours. SOL experienced a low of US$125.34 and a high of US$129.04 on Friday.
    • Sui (SUI) is priced at US$2.27, showing a 4.6 percent decrease over the past 24 hours. It achieved a daily low of US$2.24 and a high of US$2.29.
    • Cardano (ADA) is trading at US$0.7105, reflecting a 1.1 percent decrease over the past 24 hours. Its lowest price on Friday was US$0.7017, with a high of US$0.7167.

    Crypto news to know

    Australia exploring digital asset integration

    The Australian government is developing a regulatory framework for digital assets, focusing on digital asset platforms (DAPs) and payment stablecoins. According to a white paper released by the Treasury office, the reforms aim to balance innovation with consumer protection, aligning with international best practices.

    Key elements include extending existing financial services laws to DAPs, treating payment stablecoins as stored-value facilities and reviewing the enhanced regulatory sandbox. Under the framework, the government plans to explore the potential of digital asset technology, while addressing de-banking issues and considering future initiatives such as the Crypto Asset Reporting Framework, central bank digital currencies, tokenization and decentralized finance.

    The paper details a pilot program that centers around exploring the practical applications of tokenization in financial markets, particularly in the wholesale sector. The program will be executed in collaboration with the Digital Finance Cooperative Research Center, the Treasury, ASIC and the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority.

    These developments come ahead of a federal election slated for May 17 or earlier.

    Coinbase in talks to acquire Deribit

    Coinbase is reportedly in advanced discussions to acquire leading cryptocurrency derivatives platform Deribit, according to a Bloomberg report released on Friday afternoon.

    According to sources cited by the news outlet, the move aims to bolster Coinbase’s presence in the institutional crypto trading space by integrating Deribit’s established options and futures offerings.

    The acquisition would allow Coinbase to diversify its revenue streams and cater to sophisticated traders seeking complex financial instruments, potentially solidifying its position as a comprehensive crypto exchange in a rapidly evolving market.

    The companies have not commented on the potential deal, but have reportedly notified regulators in Dubai where Deribit holds a license.

    Canary Capital files to list Pengu ETF

    Canary Capital has filed US regulatory documents to list an exchange-traded fund (ETF) that would hold Pengu (PENGU), the governance token of the Pudgy Penguins non-fungible token (NFT) project.

    This move follows an earlier proposal by the investment firm to offer the first Sui ETF on Monday (March 17).

    The proposed Pengu ETF aims to hold spot PENGU and Pudgy Penguins NFTs, potentially becoming the first US ETF to hold NFTs if approved. The filing also reveals plans for the ETF to hold other digital assets, such as SOL and ETH, for transactions related to the PENGU and Pudgy Penguins NFTs.

    As of March 21, PENGU had a market cap of approximately US$395 million, according to CoinGecko.

    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

    The first flight carrying Venezuelan migrants deported from the United States landed in Venezuela early Monday, after the two governments reached an agreement to resume repatriation flights.

    Nearly 200 deportees were on the plane, which landed at an airport just north of capital Caracas.

    Video of the arrival shows some deportees celebrating with their hands in the air as they walked down stairs on to the tarmac, where a heavy presence of security staff was stationed. Others made the sign of the cross as they disembarked.

    The US Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs said the flight departed from the US and stopped in Honduras, where a change of planes took place.

    “Today, deportation flights of Venezuelan illegal aliens to their homeland resumed via Honduras,” the department wrote on X.

    “These individuals had no legal basis to remain in the United States. We expect to see a consistent flow of deportation flights to Venezuela going forward. Thank you to Honduran President Castro and her government for partnering to combat illegal immigration.”

    Honduras’s Secretary of Foreign Affairs said 199 citizens of Venezuelan origin were on the flight. The transfer took three and a half hours and occurred “in an orderly and safe manner,” Enrique Reina said in a post on X.

    Following the transfer the “Venezuelan-flagged vessel departed for the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela,” said Reina.

    Repatriations to Venezuela had stalled over the Trump administration’s decision in February to revoke a license allowing American oil company Chevron to carry out some operations in the South American country.

    Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro said at the time that the decision “affected” the flights to Venezuela, prompting the Trump administration to threaten further sanctions on the South American country.

    The resumption of repatriation flights follows growing outrage in Venezuela over the US deporting 238 Venezuelans to El Salvador, who were then transferred to the notorious Cecot mega-prison.

    Venezuela’s National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez Gómez announced the agreement to resume repatriations in a statement on Saturday, two weeks after Venezuela had effectively paused repatriation flights from the US.

    “Migration is not a crime, and we will not rest until we achieve the return of all those who need it and until we rescue our brothers and sisters kidnapped in El Salvador,” Rodríguez said Saturday.

    Venezuela does not have diplomatic relations in the US. Flight tracking data suggests the deportees were transferred Sunday from a Texas charter flight – which landed at an airbase in Honduras that was previously used for migrant transfers – to a Caracas-bound plane.

    The White House hasn’t commented on Sunday’s deportation flight.

    Maduro on Wednesday ordered his government to increase the number of flights needed to repatriate Venezuelan migrants detained in the US.

    This post appeared first on cnn.com

    Greenland’s prime minister said a planned visit to the island by US officials, including second lady Usha Vance, is “highly aggressive,” plunging relations to a new low after President Donald Trump vowed to annex the autonomous Danish territory.

    Vance, the wife of US Vice President JD Vance, will travel to Greenland this week to watch the island’s national dogsled race and “celebrate Greenlandic culture and unity,” according to a statement from the White House. National security adviser Mike Waltz is also expected to visit the territory this week, according to a source familiar with the trip.

    Greenland Prime Minister Mute B. Egede called the US delegation’s trip to the island “highly aggressive” in an interview with Greenlandic newspaper Sermitsiaq on Sunday, and raised particular objection to Waltz’s visit.

    “What is the national security adviser doing in Greenland? The only purpose is to demonstrate power over us,” Egede said. “His mere presence in Greenland will no doubt fuel American belief in Trump’s mission — and the pressure will increase.”

    Trump’s idea to annex Greenland has thrown an international spotlight on the territory, which holds vast stores of rare earth minerals critical for high-tech industries, and has raised questions about the island’s future security as the US, Russia and China vie for influence in the Arctic. Trump has repeatedly expressed interest in the US taking the island by force or economic coercion, even as Denmark and Greenland have firmly rejected the idea.

    “I think we’re going to get it one way or the other,” Trump said during remarks to a joint session of Congress earlier this month.

    Egede, who has pushed for Greenland’s independence from Denmark, said Greenlanders’ effort to be diplomatic just “bounces off Donald Trump and his administration in their mission to own and control Greenland.”

    Egede’s ruling left-wing party IAInuit Ataqatigiit was defeated in parliamentary elections earlier this month, but he remains prime minister until a new governing coalition is formed.

    Jens-Frederik Nielsen, who is likely to be Greenland’s next leader after his party won the election, said the timing of the American visit shows “a lack of respect.”

    “The fact that the Americans know very well that we are still in a negotiating situation and that the municipal elections have not yet concluded, they still capitalize on the moment to come to Greenland, once again, which shows a lack of respect for the Greenlandic population,” Nielsen told Sermitsiaq.

    The White House presented Vance’s visit as a cultural one, and said the second lady “will travel to Greenland with her son and a United States delegation to visit historical sites, learn about Greenlandic heritage, and attend the Avannaata Qimussersu, Greenland’s national dogsled race.”

    “Ms. Vance and the delegation are excited to witness this monumental race and celebrate Greenlandic culture and unity,” the White House statement said.

    It is unclear whether the US has ever sent a delegation to the dogsled race, much less a group featuring a second lady.

    Denmark ruled Greenland as a colony until 1953, when the island achieved greater powers of self-governance. In 2009, it gained more powers pertaining to minerals, policing and courts of law, but Denmark still controls security, defense, foreign and monetary policy. Greenland also benefits from Denmark’s European Union and NATO memberships.

    Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said in a written comment to Reuters that the visit of the US delegation is “something we take seriously.” She said Denmark wants to cooperate with the US, but that should be based on “the fundamental rules of sovereignty.”

    While Greenlandic politicians have repeatedly signaled they are opposed to annexation, they are open to deals with the United States for rare earth mining, expanding tourism, stronger diplomatic connections and other investments.

    A poll in January, commissioned by Danish and Greenlandic newspapers, found that 85% of Greenlanders did not want to become part of the US, with nearly half saying Trump’s interest was a threat, Reuters reported.

    The president’s son Donald Trump, Jr. made headlines with a visit to Greenland in January.

    “Greenland is an incredible place, and the people will benefit tremendously if, and when, it becomes part of our nation. We will protect it, and cherish it, from a very vicious outside world. Make Greenland Great Again!” Trump Jr. posted on social media at the time.

    This post appeared first on cnn.com

    At a military prison in central Israel, 18-year-old Itamar Greenberg sat in a US Army-issued army uniform as the Hollywood blockbuster “American Sniper” blared from the rec room’s TV.

    But Greenberg is not a soldier, and the desert camouflage fatigues are the only military uniform the so-called refusenik – as conscientious objectors are called in Israel – has ever worn.

    Greenberg has been in and out of prison for the last year, serving a total of 197 days over five consecutive sentences. Earlier this month, Greenberg was released from the Neve Tzedek prison for the last time.

    His crime? Refusing to enlist after being summoned for military service, which is compulsory for most Jewish Israelis – and some minorities – over the age of 18.

    Greenberg said his refusal to serve came as the “culmination of a long process of learning and moral reckoning.”

    “The more I learned, the more I knew I couldn’t wear a uniform that symbolizes killing and oppression,” he said, explaining that Israel’s war in Gaza – which was launched after Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel on October 7, 2023 – solidified his decision to refuse.

    “There is genocide,” he said. “So we don’t need good reasons (to refuse).”

    The Israeli government has vehemently denied accusations that the war in Gaza amounts to genocide against the Palestinian people.

    The war, which was reignited last week when Israel resumed airstrikes and ground operations in Gaza after a short-lived ceasefire, has killed over 50,000 Palestinians in 17 months, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.

    Over 670 people have been killed and 1,200 others injured in Gaza since Tuesday alone, when Israel’s military campaign restarted, according to the health ministry there.

    “I want this change, and I will give my life for it,” Greenberg said of his decision to serve time in prison rather than serving with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

    It’s a decision that conscientious objectors like Greenberg don’t take lightly, as refusing the draft is essentially a choice of ostracization.

    In Israel, the military is more than just an institution. It’s part of the social fabric, with military service and secular Jewish-Israeli identity deeply intertwined. And it starts early: From elementary school, students are taught they will one day be the soldiers who will protect children just like them, with soldiers visiting classrooms and schools explicitly encouraging students to enlist. At 16, those children receive their first recruitment orders, culminating with conscription at 18. Many see it as an honor, a duty and a rite of passage.

    Greenberg has been called a self-hating Jew, antisemitic, a terrorist supporter, and a traitor, he said – even by family and friends.

    “People message me on Instagram and say that they will slaughter me, as Hamas did to Israelis on October 7,” he said.

    In prison, Greenberg was placed in solitary confinement after receiving threats from fellow inmates – a move that prison officials told him was “for his safety.”

    Despite social ostracization, he – and what a network of organizations supporting conscientious objectors say is a growing number of refuseniks – remain dedicated to the cause.

    Their numbers are still exceedingly small. Only a dozen Israeli teens have publicly refused to enlist on conscientious grounds since the start of the war, according to Mesarvot, an organization that supports objectors. But that number is higher than in years prior to the war.

    Other groups have been far more vocal than the refuseniks in refusing to take part in Israel’s military tradition. Before the October 7 attacks, thousands of reservists protesting the government’s desire to weaken the judiciary said that they would not show up for service. And for months, the country has been roiled over the conscription of ultra-orthodox men who refuse to enter the military because they are studying in religious schools.

    Greenberg’s views are extreme even for the increasingly marginalized Israeli left. The mass protests that have become commonplace since October 7 are not so much against the military or war writ large, but in favor of a ceasefire deal to bring home hostages held in Gaza. But Greenberg and other refuseniks hope that their movement might create space for a more mainstream dialogue on the pitfalls of a militarized society.

    “If I join the army, I just will be part of the problem. I personally prefer to be part of the solution,” Greenberg said, noting that he may not live to see it.

    On Saturday, around a dozen of those refuseniks met at the headquarters of the left-wing political coalition Hadash to prepare for their weekly demonstration in central Tel Aviv.

    Smoking a roll-up cigarette on the balcony of the building with a handful of other conscientious objectors, Lior Fogel, a 19-year-old from Tel Aviv, said she had always had “issues with the army as an institution, based on violence and force,” and managed to get a psychiatrist to sign her off with a mental health condition to get out of service.

    Multiple human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, have said that Israel’s treatment of Palestinians constitutes apartheid. Israel has denounced that characterization as antisemitic.

    “The system of apartheid and the maintenance of this rule that actively oppresses another group cannot be upheld. Not only is it immoral and generally horrible, but it will end up blowing up in your face,” Fogel said.

    As Fogel and the others marched to Begin Street to join thousands of people from all walks of society who were demonstrating under an umbrella of pro-democracy and anti-war, she too, acknowledged that the views of the refuseniks remain fringe.

    Still, the activists might be meeting their moment.

    Rage against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reached a fever pitch this week among tens of thousands of protesters who believe he is employing increasingly anti-democratic means to stay in power, and who question what he hopes to achieve with a renewed military campaign that nearly a year and a half of relentless war has not.

    Many blame Netanyahu for prioritizing his political survival over the security of his country and say the renewed military campaign grossly endangers the lives of the estimated 24 living hostages still held in Gaza by Hamas and its allies.

    The sentiment marks a significant turn in the conflict, and one that refuseniks hope will give Israelis that are considering refusing to serve in protest of the renewed military campaign the power to act – regardless of political persuasion.

    “When Israel restarted the fight, a lot of people, not radical or left, but people that support the ceasefire and the hostages can now say, we will refuse – even if they don’t care about the Palestinians,” Greenberg said.

    “The refusal is now less taboo. So, they can use this tool that we developed – even though they think that we are crazy and traitors – when they think it’s right,” he added.

    Elam said he was hoping his protest would help fellow Israelis to understand that “the pain of Palestinians is the same as Israelis.”

    When another attendee of the wider protest heard Elam talking, he interrupted to insist that the teenager’s viewpoint isn’t representative of Israeli society, and said: “That’s not true. He is a minority, and his views don’t represent what everybody else here thinks.”

    But others stood by in support of dozens of objectors who chanted “peace, equality, social justice,” and held signs that read “refuse the war, mobilize for peace.”

    Rakefet Lapid, whose two children also refused service years before the war, and whose family lives in one of the kibbutz that was attacked by Hamas on October 7 said: “I’m glad they are still some young people willing to say that.”

    “But I’m sorry they are a small minority,” she added.

    Greenberg said he chose to go public because he “didn’t want to lie.”

    While the teen has secured papers from a psychiatrist that say he has mental issues that won’t allow him to serve, he said his reason is not due to his mental health – but his political perspective.

    “If I’m going out on my ‘mental issues,’ then it’s like saying to the army: ‘I am the problem, not you,’” he said.

    This post appeared first on cnn.com

    South Korea is struggling to contain wildfires ravaging the country’s southeast after more than two dozen blazes broke out over the weekend, killing four people and forcing thousands to evacuate.

    As of Sunday night, nearly 9,000 firefighters, police and civil servants and 120 helicopters had been dispatched to five areas to fight the fires. By Monday morning, firefighters facing the additional challenge of dry and windy conditions had quashed all but four of the blazes.

    A spark from a lawn mower started the first wildfire, which ignited Friday afternoon in Sancheong, South Gyeongsang province, about 300 kilometers (186 miles) south of the capital Seoul, according to an Interior Safety Ministry situation report.

    Four civil servants dispatched to fight the wildfire were killed, Yonhap news agency reported. As of Monday morning, the fire was not contained and had burned through more than 1,464 hectares (more than 3,600 acres), the Interior Safety Ministry reported.

    Wildfires that broke out on Saturday in Euiseong, North Gyeongsang province; the Ulju area of Ulsan city; and Gimhae, South Gyeongsang remained active on Monday.

    The fire in Euiseong was started by people paying tribute at a grave, and had torched 6,861 hectares (nearly 17,000 acres) as of Monday morning, according to the report.

    More than 2,740 people were forced to evacuate due to the fires, the majority of whom were in shelters as of Monday morning. About 162 buildings have been damaged by the wildfires, including a temple in Euiseong.

    On Saturday, then-acting prime minister Choi Sang-mok ordered the forest service “to do everything possible” to evacuate residents and secure the safety of workers fighting fires, according to his office.

    The government declared a state of emergency for Ulsan city, South and North Gyeongsang provinces on Saturday.

    Wildfires are not unusual in South Korea, particularly in February, March and April when conditions are driest.

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    A United States delegation led by real estate tycoon-turned-diplomat Steve Witkoff has begun a high-stakes meeting with Kremlin negotiators in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where the Trump administration is pushing for a ceasefire in separate talks with Russia and Ukraine.

    Russia’s TASS news agency reported that talks were underway on Monday morning, citing an unnamed source.

    The meeting comes one day after talks between a US team led by President Donald Trump’s Kyiv envoy, Keith Kellogg, and Ukraine’s Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, which was described by the latter as “productive and focused.”

    While many watching from Washington, and across Europe, will hope some initial positivity can be translated into a 30-day ceasefire and longer-term negotiations, a wide gulf in expectations exists between Russia, Ukraine and their US interlocutors.

    A barrage of Russian drone attacks killed at least six in Ukraine over the weekend, including young families. Moscow accuses Ukraine of recent hits on gas and oil facilities in Kursk and Krasnodar despite its offer to halt attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure.

    The Russian delegation at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Riyadh includes seasoned Kremlin diplomat Grigory Karasin and former spy chief Sergey Beseda, according to Russian state media. Beseda is viewed by many in Ukraine as a hard-nosed nationalist and early supporter of Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022.

    The trust deficit on the Ukrainian side has not been helped by Witkoff’s recent rhetorical support for many of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s maximalist positions ahead of talks. Speaking to podcast host Tucker Carlson on Sunday, Witkoff appeared to show some sympathy toward Russia’s territorial ambitions in Ukraine, describing the four regions Russia wants to formally annex — Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk and Luhansk — as “Russian speaking.”

    “There have been referendums where the overwhelming majority of the people have indicated that they want to be under Russian rule,” he said.

    Russia held the referendums in occupied areas of the four territories in September 2022. The votes were widely viewed as a sham and heavily criticized by the US at the time as well as by allies in Europe.

    “The Russians are de facto in control of these territories. The question is: Will the world acknowledge that those are Russian territories?” Witkoff asked Sunday. “Can (Ukrainian President Volodymyr) Zelensky survive politically if he acknowledges this? This is the central issue in the conflict.”

    Moscow says a ceasefire will not be possible unless Kyiv agrees not to use it to resupply or reorganize its troops. It has also publicly voiced key demands such as Ukraine never being allowed to join NATO.

    Speaking Sunday night, Zelensky put the responsibility on Putin to end the war.

    “The one who brought this war must take it away,” he said.

    This is a developing story and will be updated.

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