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President Donald Trump is preparing to launch a US$12 billion strategic stockpile of critical minerals aimed at accelerating the administration’s efforts to reduce the US dependence on China for key raw materials.

Known as Project Vault, the initiative will combine up to US$10 billion in long-term financing from the US Export-Import Bank (EXIM) with roughly US$2 billion in private capital.

Under the plan, Project Vault will procure and store minerals such as gallium, cobalt, lithium, rare earth elements and other strategically important materials used in products ranging from electric vehicles and batteries to smartphones, jet engines, and advanced defense systems.

Furthermore, the plan is also structured as an independently governed public-private partnership. Participating manufacturers will commit in advance to purchase specific quantities of materials at predetermined inventory prices and pay upfront fees.

In return, the project will acquire and store those materials on their behalf, charging a carrying cost tied to loan interest and storage expenses. Companies will be allowed to draw down their inventories as long as they replenish them, while retaining full access in the event of a major supply disruption.

A key feature of the design is a repurchase commitment: manufacturers that agree to buy a set amount of material at a given price also commit to repurchase the same amount at that price in the future. The administration views this as a stabilizing mechanism that could dampen extreme price swings in critical mineral markets.

Administration officials said the effort gained urgency after Beijing tightened export controls on certain critical materials last year, forcing some US manufacturers to scale back production and highlighting the extent of China’s leverage over global supply chains.

China currently dominates both the mining and processing of many critical minerals, giving it significant influence over prices and availability.

The EXIM Bank’s board is scheduled to vote on authorizing the 15-year, US$10 billion loan, which would be the largest financing deal in the agency’s history, more than double its previous record.

“Project Vault is designed to support domestic manufacturers from supply shocks, support US production and processing of critical raw materials, and strengthen America’s critical minerals sector,” EXIM Chairman John Jovanovic said in the announcement.

More than a dozen companies have already signed on, according to officials. Participants include automakers and industrial giants such as General Motors (NYSE:GM), Stellantis NV (NYSE:STLA), The Boeing Company (NYSE:BA), and Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOGL)’s Google.

A step towards the right direction

“The announcement is a step in the right direction, that direction being minimizing China’s ability to disrupt the US economy and manufacturing/technology base by manipulating both price and supply of critical elements,” Silversteyn said.

However, he noted that it is “not a quick solution” given that many US-backed mining projects remain in early development stages or produce limited commercial volumes.

The initiative also follows earlier, less successful efforts. Last summer, the US withdrew a proposed US$500 million cobalt stockpile tender after failing to attract sufficient compliant supply.

Regardless, mining companies and developers have broadly welcomed the renewed push. American Pacific Mining Chief Executive Warwick Smith said Project Vault underscores the growing strategic importance of domestic copper supply.

“Once again, President Trump and the current administration are shining an important light on the need for more critical metals within the United States,” Smith said, pointing to copper’s role in electrification, transmission infrastructure, and advanced manufacturing.

Trump has also recently met with GM Chief Executive Mary Barra and mining entrepreneur Robert Friedland in a bid to bridge the interests of mineral producers and large industrial consumers.

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

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Critical Mineral Resources plc (“CMR”, “Company”) is pleased to report that following the recently completed and heavily oversubscribed fundraise, diamond drilling with two rigs is ramping-up over the coming weeks as the weather improves. Drilling during H1 is designed to produce Agadir Melloul’s maiden resource estimate, targeted for publication in early Q3 2026.

Key Highlights

  • Accelerated drill programme at Agadir-Melloul
  • Two diamond rigs ramping-up to two shifts per day each
  • 20 holes planned per month from mid-February
  • Agadir Melloul’s maiden resource estimate targeted for Q3 2026

Fig.1 Company’s diamond rig at Agadir Melloul

A group of men working on a machineAI-generated content may be incorrect.

Source: Company

Charlie Long CEO commented:

“With two rigs now turning, we anticipate an extremely productive drill programme and for an internal maiden resource to be modelled by late Q2 and for the JORC compliant resource estimate to be published in early Q3.

Drilling has been intermittent in recent weeks due to inclement weather. This week both rigs are operating on day shifts, and once the weather improves night shifts will be introduced. From then on we should be drilling 20 holes per month equating to approximately 1,000m.

For a near-surface project like this, metres drilled is less important than the number of holes drilled. Each hole will range from 20m to 50m depth, with the occasional deeper hole to drill-test the basement as we continue the hunt for mineralised rhyolite.

It’s worth reiterating that near-surface mineralisation is quite unusual and a huge economic advantage in terms of opex, upfront capex, reserve development capex and ongoing sustaining capex”.

ENDS

Critical Mineral Resources plc

Charles Long, Chief Executive Officer

info@cmrplc.com

Shard Capital LLP

Erik Woolgar

Damon Heath

AlbR Capital

Jon Belliss

+44 (0) 207 186 9952

+44 (0) 20 7399 9425

Notes To Editors

Critical Mineral Resources (CMR) PLC is an exploration and development company focused on developing assets that produce critical minerals for the global economy, including those essential for electrification and the clean energy revolution. Many of these commodities are widely recognised as being at the start of a supply and demand super cycle.

CMR is building a diversified portfolio of high-quality metals exploration and development projects in Morocco, focusing on copper, silver and potentially other critical minerals and metals. CMR identified Morocco as an ideal mining-friendly jurisdiction that meets its acquisition and operational criteria. The country is perfectly located to supply raw materials to Europe and possesses excellent prospective geology, good infrastructure and attractive permitting, tax and royalty conditions.

The Company is listed on the London Stock Exchange (CMRS.L). More information regarding the Company can be found at www.cmrplc.com

Source

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Seegnal Inc. (TSXV: SEGN), a global leader in clinical decision support solutions applying patient-centric medication safety standards, today announced its deepened partnership with Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center (‘Sourasky Medical Center’). Israel’s second-largest public hospital, Sourasky Medical Center (which treats over 1.5 million patients annually, according to its website here), has expanded its use of Seegnal’s Prescription Intelligence Platform to further enhance clinical decision-making.

The expanded deployment period effectively began on January 1, 2026 and runs through December 31, 2027, with an option to extend the engagement through December 31, 2031. Under the agreement, Seegnal’s prescription intelligence platform will support approximately 1,200 clinicians and 2,050 medical team members, who will use the system on a daily basis as part of routine clinical workflows.

Pursuant to the expanded deployment, Seegnal’s patented platform is used across multiple departments at Sourasky Medical Center, supporting physicians and care teams with real-time, patient-specific medication decision support at the point of care. The expanded deployment enables a consistent patient-centric medication safety standard across inpatient and outpatient settings, while maintaining clinical efficiency and minimizing alert fatigue.

Sourasky Medical Center is widely recognized for clinical excellence, academic leadership, and the adoption of advanced digital health technologies, as noted on its website here. The implementation of Seegnal at Sourasky Medical Center has become a case model within global public healthcare system and is actively presented to medical centers internationally as a proven example of large-scale, real-world deployment of advanced clinical decision support. As part of this role, Sourasky Medical Center serves as an active reference site, supporting peer medical centers worldwide evaluating modern approaches to medication safety and prescribing governance.

Across large-scale deployments, Seegnal has demonstrated measurable clinical and economic value for medical centers, as further described in the article published in The American Journal of Pharmacy Benefits located here. Institutions using Seegnal report reductions in medication-related adverse events, avoidable hospitalizations, and unnecessary medication utilization, alongside improved prescribing efficiency and reduced alert fatigue. From an economic standpoint, these outcomes support lower downstream costs, improved utilization of clinical resources, and stronger alignment with value-based care and quality frameworks – while preserving existing workflows.

Under the expanded scope, Seegnal continues to deliver its SaaS-based platform integrated directly into existing clinical workflows. The system enables clinicians to assess medication-related risks using comprehensive, real-world patient data–including laboratory results, comorbidities, age, renal function, and polypharmacy context–beyond traditional drug-to-drug interaction (DDI) checks.

‘Sourasky Medical Center represents one of the most advanced clinical environments within public health systems worldwide.’ said Elad Bibi-Aviv, Chief Executive Officer of Seegnal. ‘The expansion of our deployment reflects strong confidence in the clinical, operational, and economic value Seegnal delivers at scale.’

Mr. Bibi-Aviv added, ‘Sourasky Medical Center’s role as a global reference site further validates our platform’s maturity and scalability. This deployment demonstrates that patient-specific prescribing intelligence can improve safety and efficiency while supporting sustainable economics for large medical centers.’

About Seegnal

Seegnal is a public company that aims to solve one of the top causes of death and injuries in the modern world – Adverse Drug Effects (ADEs). Seegnal’s Clinical Decision Support system introduces a paradigm shift in the approach to this problem by implementing a new elevated Patient-Centric Standard. Seegnal’s SaaS technology exclusively integrates, at the point-of-care, unique patient-specific data such as, lab results, vital signs, ECG, smoking status, allergies, food interactions, gender, age, and the effects of many concomitant medications, while reducing the current alert load for clinicians by over 90%. In practice, clinicians using Seegnal eHealth complete their prescription workflow with limited interruption, saving time and fatigue. Patients enjoy more tailored medication and improved safety, leading to better quality of life, with precision alerts reaching up to 98% accuracy. Institutions have reported reductions in admissions, medication consumption, and significant time savings in prescription renewals. Seegnal eHealth is marketing its SaaS-based platform in Israel (where the Ministry of Health recently adopted Seegnal’s patient-specific standard as the new standard in governmental hospitals), the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Poland. The platform is currently a ‘standard of care’ system for over 15,000 clinicians in Israel, used daily for prescribing medications.

See www.seegnal.com.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This press release contains ‘forward-looking information’ or ‘forward-looking statements’ within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. All statements included herein, other than statements of historical fact, including statements included in the ‘About Seegnal’ section of this press release, are forward-looking. Generally, the forward-looking information and forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as ‘anticipate’, ‘believes’, ‘estimates’, ‘expects’, ‘intends’, ‘may’, ‘should’, ‘will’ or variations of such words or similar expressions. More particularly, and without limitation, this press release contains forward-looking information or forward-looking statements concerning Seegnal’s expanded deployment and extended engagement with Sourasky Medical Center, and the anticipated benefits, developments and information from the deployment. These statements are based on current assumptions and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. Please refer to Seegnal’s public filings with applicable securities regulators for additional information regarding risk factors and other disclosures.

Seegnal cautions that all forward-looking information and forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain, and that actual performance may be affected by a number of material factors, assumptions and expectations, many of which are beyond the control of Seegnal, including expectations and assumptions concerning Seegnal and its products as well as other risks and uncertainties, including those described in Seegnal’s filings available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. The reader is cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of any forward-looking information or forward-looking statements may prove to be incorrect. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of Seegnal. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking information or forward-looking statements. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Forward-looking information and forward-looking statements contained in this press release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.

The forward-looking information and forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date of this press release, and Seegnal does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or to revise any of the included forward-looking information or forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by law.

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

The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirement. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

Source

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(TheNewswire)

Stellar AfricaGold Inc.

Vancouver, BC TheNewswire – February 3rd, 2026 Stellar AfricaGold Inc. (‘Stellar’ or the ‘Company’) (TSX-V: SPX | FSE: 6YP | TGAT: 6YP) is pleased to report additional assay results and an updated interpretation from its ongoing diamond drilling program at the Tichka Est Gold Project, located in the High Atlas Mountains of Morocco.

Results received to date confirm the presence of a structurally controlled orogenic gold system, with gold mineralization preferentially hosted within fractured diorite sills and associated carbonate-altered zones linked to secondary shear structures. These results materially advance the Company’s geological understanding of the project and provide a clear framework for follow-up drilling.

Assay results for two completed drill holes remain pending and will be released once received and validated. Following a temporary interruption due to unusually severe winter weather, diamond drilling resumed on January 30th, 2026, with at least two additional drill holes planned.

Highlights – Diamond Drilling

  • Multiple gold-bearing zones intersected across several drill holes, confirming the presence and continuity of mineralization beyond the initial discovery hole TCK_001
  • Best new intercept :
    • TCK_006: 6.0m @ 3.81g/t Au from 69 m,
    • highlights the development of higher-grade mineralization within stacked horizons
  • Results support a refined structural model, with gold preferentially concentrated in competent host rocks affected by secondary shearing
  • Drilling resumed on January 30th, 2026, targeting extensions of known mineralization and additional near-surface targets identified through mapping and trenching

Gold intercepts from drill hole TCK_001, including 13.0m @ 6.12g/t Au at 0.1g/t Cut-off grade, were reported previously (see Company news release dated January 8, 2026).

Updated Composite Drill Intercepts (0.20g/t Au Cut-off)

The Company has recalculated composite gold intersections for all drill holes completed to date using a 0.20g/t Au cut-off, a maximum internal dilution of 3.0 metres, and excluding dilution at interval boundaries. This compositing approach better reflects the continuity of mineralization observed within fractured diorite and carbonate-altered zones.

Table 1 below summarizes positive composite intercepts (0.2 g/t Au cut-off) from all drill holes completed to date.

Table – Summary of Gold Intercepts using 0.2 g/t Au cut-off

Hole ID

From (m)

To (m)

Interval (m)

Au (g/t)

TCK_001

76.0

79.0

3.0

0.47

83.0

87.0

4.0

1.07

89.0

90.0

1.0

0.25

93.0

99.0

6.0

3.48

125.0

137.0

12.0

6.62

TCK_002

73.0

74.0

1.0

0.87

79.0

80.0

1.0

0.35

TCK_003

179.0

182.0

3.0

0.22

104.0

205.0

1.0

0.23

207.0

209.0

2.0

0.22

TCK_004

79.0

80.0

1.0

0.96

85.0

86.0

1.0

0.23

89.0

103.0

4.0

2.45

120.0

121.0

1.0

1.06

TCK_006

0.0

3.0

3.0

0.6

35.0

48.0

13.0

0.5

55.0

57.0

2.0

0.51

69.0

75.0

6.0

3.81

87.0

90.0

3.0

0.47

Notes:

  • Intervals are downhole lengths; true widths are not yet known.
  • Grades are uncut, length-weighted averages.
  • Composite intervals were calculated using a 0.20g/t Au cut-off with a maximum internal dilution of 3.0metres; dilution at interval boundaries is excluded.

Geological Interpretation

Drilling completed to date indicates that gold mineralization at Tichka Est is preferentially localized within competent lithologies, notably fractured diorite sills and adjacent carbonate units affected by secondary shear structures (cf. TCK_001 and TCK_006).


Click Image To View Full Size

Figure 1. Cross section of drillhole TCK_001 showing drillhole geology and gold assays.

Figure 2. Cross section of drillhole TCK_006 showing drillhole geology and gold assays.

Drill hole TCK_003 intersected the Tizgui Shear Zone, characterized by intense brecciation and pervasive calcite veining, but returned limited gold values. This is interpreted to reflect efficient fluid transport along major regional structures, with gold deposition occurring preferentially in zones of elevated fracture density within rigid host rocks rather than within the shear zones themselves.


Click Image To View Full Size

Figure 3. Cross sections of drillholes TCK_003 showing drillhole geology and gold assays.

Drilling and surface observations further indicate that the mineralized diorite bodies occur predominantly as sub-horizontal sills. This geometry promotes the development of laterally extensive fracture networks within competent rocks, enhancing fluid–rock interaction and gold precipitation, particularly where these sills are intersected by secondary shear structures.

Overall, this interpretation is consistent with an orogenic gold system and refines the Company’s exploration model by delineating high-priority structural–lithological traps.

Next Steps

Now that drilling has resumed, the Company plans to :

  • Continue two additional holes on the secondary shear structures interpreted to be linked to the Erdouz Fault System
  • Evaluate structural repetitions and stacked mineralized horizons identified through surface and further drilling work.

CEO Commentary

Stellar President and CEO J. François Lalonde commented ‘These results confirm that Tichka Est hosts a structurally controlled gold system, with mineralization concentrated within fractured diorite and associated carbonate-altered zones rather than within the main fault zones themselves. The refined geological model and interpretations provide a clear roadmap for the next phase of drilling as operations resume.’

Quality Assurance / Quality Control

All drill core was logged, sampled, and securely transported to Afrilab, an ISO-certified laboratory in Marrakech, Morocco. Gold analyses were completed using standard fire assay methods. A comprehensive QA/QC program was implemented, including the insertion of blanks, duplicates, and certified reference materials.

The drilling campaign at Tichka Est is being conducted by two geologists from the African Bureau of Mining Consultants, under the supervision of Mr. Yassine Belkabir.

Diamond drilling was conducted using HQ diameter core. Core runs were retrieved every 3.0 m or less, with recovery measured and recorded for each run. Core was oriented with a Reflex ACT III tool, photographed (wet and dry), and logged for lithology, alteration, mineralization, and structure.

Sampling intervals for assay were typically one meter in length, defined by geological boundaries. Core was cut with a diamond saw, LHS half-core archived, and RHS half-core submitted for analysis.

Sample preparation and assaying were performed by Afrilab in Marrakech, an ISO-certified laboratory independent of the Company. Samples were crushed to 70% passing 2 mm, split to 250 g, and pulverized to 85% passing 75 μm. Gold assays were performed using 50 g fire assay with an atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) finish. Over-limit assays (>5 g/t Au) were re-assayed.

QA/QC program consisted of 26 reference materials (standards), 26 blanks inserted by geologists and 18 duplicates at regular intervals. In addition, Laboratory QA/QC protocols included internal blanks, standards, and duplicates, with performance reported to the exploration team for independent review. No material QA/QC issues were noted in the batches reported.

Qualified Person

The technical information contained in this release has been reviewed and approved by Yassine Belkabir, CEng MIMMM, a Stellar director and a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101

About the Tichka Est Gold Project

The Tichka Est Gold Project comprises seven permits covering an area of 82km2 located in the High Altas region of Morocco approximately 90km south of Marrakech. Under an earn-in agreement with Morocco’s National Office for Hydrocarbons and Mining (ONYHM) Stellar can earn an 85% interest after incurring exploration expenditures totaling US$2.39M (C$3.5M) over three years.

To date early-stage exploration (mapping, sampling, trenching and a small first pass RC drill program) has identified three gold-bearing zones: Zone A extending over 450 meters along strike, Zone B: extending over two kilometers along strike and Zone C extending over two kilometers along strike. Additionally, regional stream sediment sampling over a 12 km2 area surrounding the three known gold zones identified numerous other metal anomalous zones that warrant further mapping and sampling. In total the following anomalies have been highlighted: 6 zones anomalous for gold, 5 zones anomalous for silver, 2 zones anomalous for copper and 3 zones anomalous for lead and zinc. Most areas of the seven permits have never received any modern exploration.

For more detailed information on the Tichka Est Gold Project readers are referred to Stellar’s website at www.stellarafricagold.com.

About Stellar AfricaGold Inc.

Stellar AfricaGold Inc. is a Canadian precious metal exploration company focused on precious metals in North and West Africa, with active programs in Morocco and Côte d’Ivoire. Stellar’s principal exploration projects are its advancing gold discovery at the Tichka Est Gold Project in Morocco, and its early-stage exploration Zuénoula Gold Project in Côte d’Ivoire which is now operated in joint venture with MetalsGrove Mining Ltd subsidiary, MetalsGrove CDI Pty Ltd.

The Company is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange symbol TSX.V: SPX, the Tradegate Exchange TGAT: 6YP and the Frankfurt Stock Exchange FSX: 6YP.

The Company maintains its head office in Vancouver, BC and has a country office in Marrakech, Morocco.

Stellar’s President and CEO J. François Lalonde can be contacted at +1 514-9940654 or by email at lalondejf@stellarafricagold.com

Additional information is available on the Company’s website at www.stellarafricagold.com.

On Behalf of the Board

J. François Lalonde

President & CEO

This news release contains ‘forward-looking statements’ within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws, including statements regarding the grant of PSUs, the potential vesting of such PSUs upon the achievement of future production milestones, the issuance of common shares of the Company upon settlement of vested PSUs, and the acceptance of the TSX Venture Exchange.

Forward-looking statements are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the Company not achieving the production milestones described herein, changes in business plans or commodity prices, failure to obtain regulatory approvals, and the risk factors described in the Company’s most recent Management’s Discussion and Analysis and Annual Information Form, which are available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and should not be unduly relied upon. Except as required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements contained herein.

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

Copyright (c) 2026 TheNewswire – All rights reserved.

News Provided by TheNewsWire via QuoteMedia

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Authorities overseeing some of Britain’s most famous countryside landscapes are launching targeted outreach programs aimed at ethnic minority communities, after a government-commissioned review warned rural areas are widely perceived as a ‘white’ and unwelcoming space.

‘The countryside is seen by both black, Asian and minority ethnic groups and white people as very much a ‘white’ environment,’ the report stated, ‘We are all paying for national landscapes through our taxes, and yet sometimes on our visits it has felt as if National Parks are an exclusive, mainly white, mainly middle‑class club, with rules only members understand and much too little done to encourage first time visitors.’

Critics say the initiative reflects misplaced government priorities. Michael McManus, director of research at the Henry Jackson Society, told Fox News Digital: ‘At a time of low growth, high taxes and stretched public services, it’s astonishing that ministers are spending time and money worrying about the ‘whiteness’ of the countryside. Government exists to grow the economy and fix real problems, not to indulge in culture war distractions that deliver nothing for working people.’

The initiatives stem from the 2019 Landscapes Review, commissioned by the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and led by author Julian Glover. The review concluded that England’s protected landscapes often feel disconnected from large parts of the population.

The review also criticized the leadership of protected landscapes, arguing that governance bodies do not reflect the country they serve. ‘Of the almost 1,000 people on National Park and AONB boards today, the great majority are male… and a tiny fraction are of black, Asian or minority ethnicities,’ the report said, calling that imbalance ‘wrong for organizations which are funded by the nation to serve everyone.’

Following the review, organizations representing National Landscapes, formerly known as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, have published updated management plans outlining steps to attract more diverse visitors. According to individual plans published between 2024 and 2025, and as reported by U.K. outlets including LBC and GB News, the measures apply to landscapes including the Cotswolds, the Chilterns, the Malvern Hills and others.

Under those plans, the Chilterns National Landscape will launch targeted outreach programs in Luton and High Wycombe, areas with large Muslim populations. One barrier cited in follow-up research was concern among some visitors about unleashed dogs in rural areas.

The Cotswolds National Landscape referenced the DEFRA findings directly, saying it is seeking to broaden its appeal to reach ‘the widest demographic.’

In its own management strategy, the Malvern Hills National Landscape said many minority communities lack a generational connection to the countryside because parents and grandparents ‘did not always feel welcome in it.’ The plan added that while many white English visitors value solitude, ethnic minority visitors may be more inclined toward group or family-based activities.

Other landscapes raised similar concerns. Nidderdale National Landscape in North Yorkshire warned that ethnic minority visitors may worry about how they will be received in unfamiliar rural settings. Dedham Vale, Surrey Hills, and Suffolk and Essex Coast Heaths said they aim to identify and address barriers limiting access for under-represented groups, including people without English as a first language.

Together, the plans signal a broader shift in how Britain’s publicly funded countryside is managed, as landscape authorities face growing pressure to demonstrate cultural relevance to a changing society, even as critics warn the focus risks sidelining economic priorities and traditional conservation goals.

Fox News Digital reached out to the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs in England for comment but did not receive a response before publication.


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The Senate’s top Republican leader threw cold water on President Donald Trump’s desire to nationalize elections, arguing he was in favor of ‘decentralized, distributed power.’ 

Trump, during an appearance on former FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino’s podcast, contended that it was ‘amazing Republicans aren’t tougher’ on elections. 

‘The Republicans should say, ‘We want to take over, we should take over the voting in at least many — 15 places,’’ Trump said. ‘The Republicans ought to nationalize the voting. We have states that are so crooked.’

But Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., rejected the notion. He said that while he was supportive of only citizens voting and showing identification at polling places to do so, he was not in ‘favor of federalizing elections.’

‘That’s a constitutional issue. You gotta be a citizen to vote in our elections,’ Thune said. 

Trump’s ability to morph and shape the election landscape runs into constitutional barriers, notably that elections are run by state and local officials in all 50 states. The federal government has a limited role in that process. 

Thune also noted that echoes of the idea were once pushed by congressional Democrats years ago — something that Senate Republicans resoundingly crushed.

‘But there are other things that the Dems had in their proposal to federalize elections which are really bad outcomes for the country,’ he said. ‘I’m a big believer in decentralized, distributed power. And I think, you know, it’s harder to hack 50 election systems than it is to hack one.’ 

Congressional Republicans strongly pushed back against pushes by their counterparts to pass election reform legislation, notably the John Lewis Voting Rights Act and the For the People Act, which they argued at the time would effectively nationalize elections and give Democrats control of the election system across the country. 

Trump’s suggestion came after the FBI raided an election hub in Fulton County, Ga., where federal law enforcement officials were authorized to seize election records, voting rolls and other data tied to the 2020 election.

It also comes as congressional Republicans wrestle with the Safeguarding American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, which previously passed the House but has not gotten a vote in the Senate. 

That legislation would require states to obtain proof of citizenship in-person when people register to vote and remove noncitizens from voter rolls. A modified version of the bill gaining steam among conservatives would require photo ID when voting.

Meanwhile, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., slammed Trump’s comments and the SAVE Act and affirmed that the bill would never pass through the Senate. 

‘Now as for the SAVE Act itself: it has nothing to do with protecting our elections and everything to do with federalizing voter suppression,’ Schumer said. ‘The SAVE Act is nothing more than Jim Crow 2.0.’

Thune rejected the idea, citing constitutional concerns about federalizing elections


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Six Iranian gunboats unsuccessfully attempted to halt a U.S.-flagged oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday, The Wall Street Journal reported.

The security firm Vanguard Tech told its clients on Tuesday that the Iranian vessels were armed with .50-caliber guns, and they ordered the oil tanker to turn off its engines and prepare to be boarded. Instead, the tanker sped up and was ultimately escorted to safety by a U.S. Navy vessel, according to the Journal.

The Pentagon did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital.

The incident comes as the U.S. continues to ramp up its military presence surrounding Iran, with President Donald Trump describing an ‘armada’ arrayed in the area.

Iran’s regime has vowed that any military strike on its territory would ignite a regional conflict, even as senior Iranian officials signaled a willingness to negotiate with the U.S.

U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff is expected to arrive in Israel on Tuesday for meetings with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, according to Axios. The publication also reported that Witkoff will meet Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Istanbul on Friday.

The talks in Israel are expected to focus on Iran, following Zamir’s weekend visit to Washington, where he held a series of meetings with U.S. defense officials on the Islamic Republic.

Trump said on Saturday he believes Iran is negotiating ‘seriously’ with the U.S., stressing that he hopes an ‘acceptable’ deal can be brokered.

When asked by a reporter aboard Air Force One whether he had decided on a strike against Iran, Trump responded, ‘I certainly can’t tell you that.’

‘But we do have very big, powerful ships heading in that direction,’ he added. ‘I hope they negotiate something that’s acceptable.’

Trump open to Iran deal as US bolsters forces in Middle East

The president then sidestepped a question about whether Tehran would be emboldened if the U.S. opted not to launch strikes on Iran, saying, ‘Some people think that. Some people don’t.’

‘You could make a negotiated deal that would be satisfactory with no nuclear weapons,’ Trump said. ‘They should do that, but I don’t know that they will. But they are talking to us. Seriously talking to us.’

Fox News’ Efrat Lachter and Michael Sinkewicz contributed to this report.


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The end of the current government shutdown is in sight on its fourth day after Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., managed to corral nearly all of his House GOP lawmakers to advance the legislation.

The Senate’s federal funding deal survived an important hurdle late Tuesday morning, clearing a House-wide ‘rule vote’ to allow for lawmakers to debate the measure and set up a vote on final passage by early afternoon.

It comes after a pair of House conservatives announced they would be backing off their threats to sink the legislation during the rule vote if the legislation was not paired with an unrelated election integrity bill called the SAVE America Act.

A rule vote is a House-wide test vote of sorts for most bills before they are considered for final passage. They normally fall along partisan lines even if the underlying bill has bipartisan support.

The same is true in this case, where at least several House Democrats are expected to support the funding bill during final passage — despite House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., strongly coming out against it.

But for Johnson, that meant navigating a razor-thin one-seat majority to get nearly all House Republicans to vote in lockstep to advance the legislation.

Democrats had initially walked away from a bipartisan House deal to finish funding the federal government through the end of fiscal year (FY) 2026 on Sept. 30, rebelling against a bill funding the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) over President Donald Trump’s handling of unrest in Minneapolis.

It left roughly 78% of the government’s yearly funding hanging in the balance. The DHS bill was lumped into a wider package authorizing budgets for the departments of War, Labor, Health and Human Services (HHS), Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and Education.

A new deal hashed out between Senate Democrats and the White House would fully fund those remaining areas while only extending current funding levels for DHS through Feb. 13, in order to give Democrats and Republicans time to hash out a longer-term bipartisan plan.

And despite most House Republicans coming on board — some more reluctant than others over the prospect of dealing with Democrats — Reps. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., and Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., warned they would not support the bill during the rule vote without the SAVE America Act attached.

The SAVE America Act would require voter ID at the polls and create a new proof of citizenship mandate in the voter registration process.

But that would require it to be sent back to the Senate for additional approval, where Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said it was dead on arrival.

However, Luna told reporters on Monday night that she and Burchett both changed their minds after getting assurances from the White House that Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., would force a vote on the SAVE America Act.

‘As of right now, with the current agreement that we have, as well as discussions, we will both be a yes on the rule,’ Luna said. ‘There is something called a standing filibuster that would effectively allow Senator Thune to put voter ID on the floor of the Senate. We are hearing that that is going well, and he is considering that…so we are very happy about that.’

House lawmakers will now debate the underlying bill, which will see a final vote around 1 p.m. ET.


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Eldorado Gold Corporation (NYSE:EGO,TSX:ELD) and Foran Mining (TSX:FOM,OTCQX:FMCXF) have agreed to combine in a share-based transaction that would create a larger, diversified gold and copper producer with two major development projects set to enter production in 2026

Under the deal, Eldorado Gold will acquire Foran Mining through a court-approved plan of arrangement. Following completion, Eldorado shareholders will own roughly 76 percent of the combined company, with Foran shareholders holding the remaining 24 percent.

The combination brings together two fully financed development assets: Eldorado’s Skouries project in Greece and Foran’s McIlvenna Bay project in Saskatchewan. Both are on schedule and on budget to reach commercial production by mid-2026.

The companies said the combined group is targeting production of around 900,000 gold-equivalent ounces in 2027, supported by a portfolio weighted approximately 77 percent toward gold, 15 percent toward copper, and 8 percent toward other metals.

Eldorado CEO George Burns said the deal creates “a stronger gold and copper growth company, defined by near-term cash flow generation and multiple catalysts.”

“Increasing our exposure to Canada, through an asset in Saskatchewan, consistently recognized as one of the world’s most attractive mining jurisdictions strengthens our portfolio,” Burns added.

The companies expect the enlarged group to generate about US$1.1 billion in free cash flow in 2027, providing capacity to fund growth, support dividends and share buybacks, and maintain balance sheet flexibility through commodity cycles.

The announcement comes as miners seek to lock in future supply of gold, copper and other critical minerals needed for the electrification of the global economy.

Eldorado’s deal follows several high-profile transactions in recent months, including an agreement by a subsidiary of China’s Zijin Mining Group (HKEX:2899,SHA:601899,OTC Pink:ZIJMF) to acquire Allied Gold in a US$4.1 billion transaction.

Recent swings in gold prices, after a record rally in January, have also sharpened investor scrutiny of acquisition valuations, contributing to the rise of lower-premium deals across the sector.

The transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of 2026, subject to shareholder, court, and regulatory approvals.

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

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