Author

admin

Browsing

President Donald Trump is taking action against Islamic State militants in northwest Nigeria, following through on previous threats and signing off on airstrikes targeting the group on Thursday. 

While the Christmas strikes zeroed in on ISIS militants, there are a number of violent extremist organizations operating in Africa’s Sahel region, where U.S. officials claim they are continuing to grow in influence and strength as violence surges there. 

The strikes conducted on Christmas occurred in Nigeria’s Sokoto State on the border of neighboring Niger. The area is where the Islamic State’s (IS) Sahel Province, which is largely based in Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso, has ‘made inroads into Nigeria,’ according to Caleb Weiss, an editor with the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies’ Long War Journal. 

‘In Sokoto, it has carried out attacks against both government forces and civilians, representing just one jihadist group operating in Nigeria,’ Weiss said in a statement Thursday.

Additionally, other ISIS branches like IS West Africa Province, as well as organizations tied to other violent extremist groups like al Qaeda, are also active in the region, he said. These include Boko Haram, a Nigerian-based group that the State Department designated a foreign terrorist organization in 2013, as well as offshoots of al Qaeda like Ansaru and The Group for Support of Islam and Muslims, also known as Jama’at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin, or JNIM.

‘In addition to IS Sahel, there is also IS West Africa Province, which supports and coordinates with IS Sahel in NW Nigeria; the so-called Boko Haram; and the Al-Qaeda groups of Ansaru and the Group for Support of Islam and Muslims, which, like IS Sahel, is a group mainly based in Mali and Burkina Faso, but in recent years have also made inroads into Nigeria that has effectively made the Sahelian and Nigerian conflicts one large conflict,’ Weiss said. 

Meanwhile, the Sahel region, which primarily includes Nigeria, Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali, is ripe for terrorist activity, and U.S. officials have long cautioned about the threat that these groups pose to the U.S. homeland.

For example, Marine Corps Gen. Michael Langley, who is the head of U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), told reporters in May that extremist groups are gaining ground and ‘expanding their ambitions,’ meaning the threat to the U.S. homeland is increasing as these groups gain ‘capability and capacity’ in the Sahel region.

‘It is the flashpoint of prolonged conflict and growing instability. It is the epicenter of terrorism on the globe,’ Langley said. 

Meanwhile, Trump announced Thursday that he directed the strikes in northwest Nigeria, after previously warning he would take action following recent attacks in the region against Christians.

‘I have previously warned these Terrorists that if they did not stop the slaughtering of Christians, there would be hell to pay, and tonight, there was,’ Trump said on Thursday in a post on Truth Social. ‘The Department of War executed numerous perfect strikes, as only the United States is capable of doing.’

It’s unclear how many people were killed in the attacks, although Trump said that the strikes were ‘deadly.’ AFRICOM said Thursday that its initial assessment is ‘multiple’ ISIS terrorists were killed in the attack. 

Christians and Christian institutions have faced a series of attacks in Nigeria. In November, two people were killed and dozens were kidnapped after gunmen raided the Christ Apostolic Church in Eruku, Kwara State. Those who were abducted were liberated almost a week later.

Also in November, armed attackers stormed St. Mary’s School in Niger State, an event that resulted in the kidnapping of more than 300 students and staff. Although school officials later said roughly 50 students were able to break free, more than 250 students and 21 teachers are still in captivity.

The Trump administration moved to designate Nigeria a ‘country of particular concern’ in November. Nigeria has pushed back against the U.S. government’s designation. 

Fox News’ Greg Wehner contributed to this report. 


This post appeared first on FOX NEWS

Nine Mile Metals LTD. (CSE: NINE,OTC:VMSXF) (OTC Pink: VMSXF) (FSE: KQ9) (the ‘Company’ or ‘Nine Mile’) is pleased to announce Certified Assay results for volcanogenic massive sulphide (VMS) mineralization collected from the pre-drill area on the Wedge VMS Project, in the world-famous Bathurst Mining Camp (BMC), New Brunswick, Canada.

TABLE 1: ACTLABS CERTIFIED ASSAY RESULTS:

Sample # Cu Pb Zn Au Ag Cu Eq
% % % g/t g/t %
280447 10.90 0.02 0.04 0.17 6.00 11.22
280448 9.95 0.03 0.03 0.24 6.20 10.36
280449 9.11 0.04 0.49 0.31 6.90 9.73
280450 10.20 0.12 0.44 0.18 7.70 10.68
280451 10.60 0.05 0.24 0.19 7.60 11.02
280452 10.10 0.41 0.76 0.24 11.60 10.86
280453 0.48 0.01 0.01 0.12 1.20 0.65
280454 2.31 0.19 0.45 0.26 3.50 2.83
280455 0.10 0.01 0.01 0.09 0.80 0.23
280456 10.20 0.05 0.34 0.19 6.40 10.64
280457 10.10 0.04 0.39 0.17 5.70 10.51
280458 3.09 0.39 1.42 0.32 5.50 4.00
280459 2.40 1.76 2.17 0.29 22.70 4.00
280460 15.00 0.05 0.11 0.71 42.00 16.64
280461 13.30 0.07 0.09 0.58 25.70 14.49
280462 14.20 0.04 0.12 0.21 48.10 15.37
280463 13.30 0.07 0.10 0.52 29.50 14.49
280464 13.70 0.06 0.11 0.25 30.90 14.60
280465 0.33 0.01 0.02 0.12 1.70 0.51
280466 0.09 0.01 0.02 0.12 1.20 0.26

 

The assays were shipped to ActLabs in Fredericton, New Brunswick for preparation with final analysis of pulps conducted in Ancaster, Ontario. The primary analytical method for the Wedge samples is UT-7, multi-element Peroxide ‘Total’ Fusion (ICP-OES+MS). When overlimit results are returned, ore grade analysis is triggered and conducted utilizing Code 8-AR-ICP-OES. Gold analysis is treated separately by 30g Fire Assay and AA finish, method 1A2. Ag is also treated separately by method 1E Ag. QA /QC controls involve inserting standards in the samples stream at set intervals.

Samples 280461 through 280464 below (Figure 1) are examples of the massive Hi-Grade Copper sulphide mineralization (Chalcopyrite). Covellite is also clearly seen in sample #280461 and #280463, as a dark blue cast in colour. The samples were collected in the area highlighted in Figure 2, immediately to the west of the footings for the old hoist and the remains of the shaft. These are well-known landmarks.

FIGURE 1: HIGHLIGHTED SAMPLES

Cannot view this image? Visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7335/279109_463894d78493091f_002.jpg

SAMPLE #280461 (14.49% CU-EQ) 

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7335/279109_463894d78493091f_002full.jpg 

Cannot view this image? Visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7335/279109_463894d78493091f_003full.jpg

SAMPLE #280462 (15.37% CU-EQ)

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7335/279109_463894d78493091f_003full.jpg

Cannot view this image? Visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7335/279109_463894d78493091f_004full.jpg

SAMPLE #280463 (14.49% CU-EQ)

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7335/279109_463894d78493091f_004full.jpg

 Cannot view this image? Visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7335/279109_463894d78493091f_005full.jpg

 SAMPLE #280464 (14.60% CU-EQ)

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7335/279109_463894d78493091f_005full.jpg

Cannot view this image? Visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7335/279109_463894d78493091f_006.jpg

FIGURE 2: 2025 SAMPLE AREA

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7335/279109_463894d78493091f_006full.jpg

Gary Lohman, Director, P.Geo., VP Exploration, stated, ‘The mineralization is massive in character, fine grained, with basic Fe (Pyrite) and Cu sulphides (Chalcopyrite – Covellite), mineralogy as we have seen in recent drilling. Visible covellite (CuS) was locally present, adding a high grade component to the system. Again, these values explain what we are seeing in our drill core from our first 3 holes. (WD-25-01 & WD-25-02 & WD-25-02B). We are extremely encouraged and look forward to the WD-25-01 Certified Drill Core Assay Results.’

Patrick J. Cruickshank, MBA, CEO & Director, stated, ‘Our current Wedge Program continues to demonstrate the high-grade quality of the sampling of this deposit. These results are simply outstanding. Our current Drill Program was designed with this quality of mineralization below and I believe our 1st (3) announced drill holes clearly demonstrates this success. This is definitely a special copper rich deposit. We look forward to sharing our summary of our next drill hole in our program.’

Qualified Person 

The technical content of this news release pertaining to the Wedge Project was reviewed and approved by Gary Lohman, P.Geo., a non-independent qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101.

Copper Equivalent (Cu-Eq) for these surface grab samples is calculated based on December 16, 2025, pricing: US$ 5.35/lb Cu, US$ 0.88/lb Pb, US$ 1.37/lb Zn, US$ 67.10/oz Ag, and US$ 4337.70/oz Au, with 80% metallurgical recoveries assumed for all metals. Since it is unclear which metals will be the principal products, assuming different recoveries is premature at this stage. Therefore, an 80% recovery rate is justified.

About Nine Mile Metals Ltd.:

Nine Mile Metals Ltd. is a Canadian public mineral exploration company focused on VMS (Cu, Pb, Zn, Ag and Au) exploration in the world-famous Bathurst Mining Camp, New Brunswick, Canada. The Company’s primary business objective is to explore its four VMS Projects: Nine Mile Brook VMS Project; California Lake VMS Project; and the Canoe Landing Lake (East – West) Project and the Wedge VMS Project. The Company is focused on exploration of Minerals for Technology (MFT), positioning for the boom in EV and green technologies requiring Copper, Silver, Lead and Zinc with a hedge with Gold.

ON BEHALF OF Nine Mile Metals LTD.,

‘Patrick J. Cruickshank, MBA’
CEO and Director
T: 506-804-6117
E: patrick@ninemilemetals.com

Forward-Looking Information:

This press release may include forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation, concerning the business of Nine Mile. Forward-looking information is based on certain key expectations and assumptions made by the management of Nine Mile. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by the use of words such as ‘will,’ ‘may,’ ‘would,’ ‘expect,’ ‘intend,’ ‘plan,’ ‘seek,’ ‘anticipate,’ ‘believe,’ ‘estimate,’ ‘predict,’ ‘potential,’ ‘continue,’ ‘likely,’ ‘could’ and variations of these terms and similar expressions, or the negative of these terms or similar expressions. Forward-looking statements in this press release include that (a) prior to commencing the 2023 exploration drill program, the ground will be mapped at surface and representative samples analyzed to determine the base and precious metal assay values , (b) the Ag and Au values will be reported upon receipt of the certified assay results from ALS Global, and (c) our current financial raise will enable us to drill the Wedge Project (along with our Canoe Landing VMS Project and follow up exploration work on our California Lake VMS Project) this season as opposed to next year. Although Nine Mile believes that the expectations and assumptions on which such forward-looking information is based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking information because Nine Mile can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct.

The Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE) has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or the accuracy of the contents of this release.

The Canadian Venture Building, 82 Richmond Street East, Toronto, ON M5C 1P1 (T) 506-804-6117

www.ninemilemetals.com

Corporate Logo

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/279109

News Provided by Newsfile via QuoteMedia

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

Apollo Silver Corp. (‘Apollo Silver’ or the ‘Company’) (TSX.V:APGO, OTCQB:APGOF, Frankfurt:6ZF) is pleased to announce that it has upsized its previously announced non-brokered private placement by an additional $2,500,000, to be subscribed for primarily by insiders of the Company, for total aggregate gross proceeds of up to $27,500,000, through the issuance of up to 5,500,000 units (the ‘Units’) at a price of $5.00 per Unit (the ‘Upsized Offering’).

As previously announced, Mr. Eric Sprott and a fund managed by Jupiter Asset Management (the ‘Jupiter Fund‘), Apollo Silver’s two largest shareholders, are participating in the Upsized Offering, and will each subscribe for 2,500,000 Units of the Company, for combined gross proceeds of $25,000,000. Following completion of the Upsized Offering, the Jupiter Fund will own approximately 12% of Apollo Silver’s issued and outstanding common shares, while Eric Sprott will own approximately 9.5%, on an undiluted basis. On a partially diluted basis, each investor’s ownership interest will increase accordingly.

Each Unit issued pursuant to the Upsized Offering will consist of one common share (a ‘Share‘) in the capital of the Company and one common Share purchase warrant (a ‘Warrant‘). Each Warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one Share at an exercise price of $7.00 for 24 months from the closing date of the Upsized Offering.

All securities issued in connection with the Upsized Offering will be subject to a four-month hold period from the date of closing. Finder’s fees may be payable on some or all of the funds raised, in accordance with the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange (the ‘TSXV‘). The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the Upsized Offering to fund exploration and development activities across the Company’s projects, as well as for general working capital and corporate purposes.

Closing of the Upsized Offering is subject to regulatory approval, including that of the TSXV.

The Upsized Offering is expected to include participation by certain insiders of the Company for an aggregate amount of up to $2,500,000. Such participation constitutes a ‘related party transaction’ under Multilateral Instrument 61-101 – Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions (‘MI 61-101’). The issuance of securities to insiders will be exempt from the valuation requirement pursuant to section 5.5(b) of MI 61-101, as the Company’s shares are not listed on a specified market, and from the minority shareholder approval requirement pursuant to section 5.7(a) of MI 61-101, as the fair market value of the securities issued to related parties will not exceed twenty-five percent of the Company’s market capitalization.

The Shares 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 U.S. state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States without registration under the U.S. Securities Act and all applicable state securities laws or compliance with the requirements of an applicable exemption therefrom. This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities in the United States, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

About Apollo Silver Corp.

Apollo Silver is advancing one of the largest undeveloped primary silver projects in the US. The Calico project hosts a large, bulk minable silver deposit with significant barite credits – a critical mineral essential to the US energy and medical sectors. The Company also holds an option on the Cinco de Mayo Project in Chihuahua, Mexico, which is host to a major carbonate replacement (CRD) deposit that is both high-grade and large tonnage. Led by an experienced and award-winning management team, Apollo Silver is well positioned to advance the assets and deliver value through exploration and development.

Please visit www.apollosilver.com for further information.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Ross McElroy
President and CEO

For further information, please contact:

Email: info@apollosilver.com

Telephone: +1 (604) 428-6128

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.

Cautionary Statement Regarding ‘Forward-Looking’ Information

This news release includes ‘forward-looking statements’ and ‘forward-looking information’ within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. All statements included in this news release, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements including, without limitation, statements with respect to the expected timing for completion of the Upsized Offering, and the intended use of proceeds from the Upsized Offering. Forward-looking statements include predictions, projections and forecasts and are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as ‘anticipate’, ‘believe’, ‘plan’, ‘estimate’, ‘expect’, ‘potential’, ‘target’, ‘budget’ and ‘intend’ and statements that an event or result ‘may’, ‘will’, ‘should’, ‘could’ or ‘might’ occur or be achieved and other similar expressions and includes the negatives thereof.

Forward-looking statements are based on the reasonable assumptions, estimates, analysis, and opinions of the management of the Company made in light of its experience and its perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, as well as other factors that management of the Company believes to be relevant and reasonable in the circumstances at the date that such statements are made. Forward-looking information is based on reasonable assumptions that have been made by the Company as at the date of such information and is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may have caused actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including but not limited to: risks associated with mineral exploration and development; metal and mineral prices; availability of capital; accuracy of the Company’s projections and estimates; realization of mineral resource estimates, interest and exchange rates; competition; stock price fluctuations; availability of drilling equipment and access; actual results of current exploration activities; government regulation; political or economic developments; environmental risks; insurance risks; capital expenditures; operating or technical difficulties in connection with development activities; personnel relations; and changes in Project parameters as plans continue to be refined. Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions management believes to be reasonable, including but not limited to the price of silver, gold and barite; the demand for silver, gold and barite; the ability to carry on exploration and development activities; the timely receipt of any required approvals; the ability to obtain qualified personnel, equipment and services in a timely and cost-efficient manner; the ability to operate in a safe, efficient and effective matter; and the regulatory framework regarding environmental matters, and such other assumptions and factors as set out herein. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate and actual results, and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward looking information contained herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. The forward-looking information contained herein is presented for the purpose of assisting investors in understanding the Company’s expected financial and operational performance and the Company’s plans and objectives and may not be appropriate for other purposes. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

Primary Logo

News Provided by GlobeNewswire via QuoteMedia

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

International Lithium Corp. (TSXV: ILC,OTC:ILHMF) (OTCQB: ILHMF) (FSE: IAH) (the ‘Company’ or ‘ILC’) announces that on December 24, 2025, it received the arbitration determination for Lepidico’s dispute with Jiangxi Jinhui Lithium Co., Ltd. (‘Jinhui’) in China. Lepidico Chemicals Namibia (Pty) Ltd (‘Lepidico Namibia’) was the party involved in the arbitration. The dispute dates back to events prior to Lepidico’s acquisition of TSXV-quoted Desert Lion Energy Inc. in 2019.

ILC structured the deal announced on September 9, 2025, to buy Lepidico Mauritius as an option precisely because it wanted to wait and see the outcome of the arbitration decision. Lepidico Mauritius owns 80% of Lepidico Namibia, which, in turn, owns the entire Karibib Lithium, Rubidium and Cesium project (the ‘Karibib Project’).

The arbitration took place at the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (‘SIAC’) as provided for in the contract between the parties. It is understood that the case was referred to arbitration at the direction of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange (‘SAFE’), a Chinese state body and regulator under the People’s Bank of China. The contract between the parties was under Ontario law. There were no Canadians on the arbitration tribunal. A tribunal of three arbitrators was appointed. The presiding arbitrator and a co-arbitrator were both Professors who are nationals of and resident in China; the second co-arbitrator was a Singapore national. The arbitration determination was issued in Chinese, with an English translation. This differs from the Singapore court system, where all proceedings and judgments are conducted in English.

The outcome was unfavourable to Lepidico Namibia and resulted in a determination in favour of Jinhui.

ILC currently holds an option, is a secured creditor, and believes in the future of the Karibib Project. ILC’s board is considering various courses of action and expects to make further announcements in due course.

About International Lithium Corp.

International Lithium Corp. has exploration activities in Ontario, Canada, with intentions to expand into Southern Africa. It has projects at various stages, ranging from Definitive Feasibility Study at Rubicon in Namibia (note that ILC currently has an option only and is treating this as historic information at this point and not a current resource for ILC) to Preliminary Economic Assessment at Raleigh Lake to Pre-Drilling at Wolf Ridge. The primary target metals in Canada are lithium, rubidium and copper. There are three projects (two in Ontario and one in Ireland) in which ILC has sold its share, but where the Company stands to receive future payments from either a resource milestone being achieved or from a Net Smelter Royalty. In Namibia the Karibib project contains lithium, rubidium and cesium.

While the world’s politicians remain divided on the future of the energy market’s historic dependence on oil and gas and on ‘Net Zero’, there is in any scenario an ever-increasing and significant demand for electricity driven by AI and data centres, and by a likely unstoppable momentum towards electric vehicles and grid-scale electricity storage. All of these contribute to rising demand for lithium, copper, and other metals. Rubidium is also a critical metal, strategic for high-precision clocks, space technology, and improving the performance of certain types of solar panels. ILC has seen the politically driven, increasingly urgent push by the USA, Canada, the EU, and other major economies to safeguard their supplies of critical minerals and to become more self-sufficient. The Company’s Canadian and Southern African projects, which contain lithium, rubidium, cesium and copper, are strategic in this regard.

The Company’s key mission for the next decade is to generate revenue for its shareholders from lithium and other critical minerals while also contributing to the creation of a greener, cleaner planet and less polluted cities.

This includes optimizing the value of ILC’s existing projects in Canada as well as finding, exploring and developing projects that have the potential to become world-class deposits. The Company announced that it regards Southern Africa as a key strategic target market and, in addition to Namibia, it has applied for and hopes to receive EPOs in Zimbabwe. The board hopes to make further announcements on the portfolio developments over the next few weeks and months.

The Company’s interests in various projects now consist of the following, and in addition, the Company continues to seek other opportunities:

Name Metal Location Stage Area in Hectares Current Ownership Percentage Future Ownership % if options exercised and/or residual interest Operator or JV Partner
Raleigh Lake Lithium
Rubidium
Ontario Dec 2023 : PEA for Li completed Apr 2023 Maiden Resource Estimates for Li and Rb 32,900 100% 100% ILC
Rubicon + Helikon + Exclusive Prospecting Licence Lithium
Rubidium
Cesium
Karibib, Namibia 2021 : Feasibility Study completed for Li, Rb and Cs under JORC 29,500 0 % 80% Lepidico; ILC if option exercised
Firesteel Copper, Cobalt Ontario Initial Drilling 6,600 90% 90% ILC
Wolf Ridge Lithium Ontario Pre-Drilling 5,700 0% 100% ILC
Mavis Lake Lithium Ontario May 2023
Maiden Resource Estimate
2,600 0% 0%
(carries an extra earn-in payment of AUD$ 0.75 million if resource targets met)
Critical Resources Limited (ASX:CRR)
Avalonia Lithium Ireland Drilling 29,200 0% 0%
2.0% Net Smelter Royalty
GFL Intl Co Ltd. (owned by Ganfeng Lithium Group Co. Ltd)
Forgan/
Lucky Lakes
Lithium Ontario Drilling < 500 0% 0%
1.5% Net Smelter Royalty
Power Minerals Limited (ASX:PNN)

 

The Company’s primary strategic focus at this point is on the Raleigh Lake Project, comprising lithium and rubidium, and the Firesteel copper project in Canada, as well as obtaining EPOs and mineral claims in Zimbabwe. The Karibib projects in Namibia, including further development of the EPL there, will be a high priority if ILC decides to remain involved.

The Raleigh Lake Project now encompasses 32,900 hectares (329 square kilometres) of mineral claims in Ontario and represents ILC’s most significant project in Canada. To date, drilling has occurred on less than 1,000 hectares of the Company’s claims. A Preliminary Economic Assessment was published for ILC’s lithium at Raleigh Lake in December 2023, with a detailed economic analysis of ILC’s separate rubidium resource still pending. Raleigh Lake is 100% owned by ILC, free from any encumbrances and royalties. The Raleigh Lake Project boasts excellent access to roads, rail, and utilities.

A continuing goal has been to remain a well-funded, strategically run company that turns ILC’s aspirations into reality. Following the disposal of the Mariana project in Argentina in 2021, the Mavis Lake project in Canada in 2022, and the Avalonia project in 2025, ILC has continued to generate sufficient cash inflows to advance its exploration projects.

With increasing demand for high-tech rechargeable batteries used in electric vehicles, energy storage, and portable electronics, lithium has been dubbed ‘the new oil’. It is a key part of a green, sustainable economy. By positioning itself on projects with significant resource potential and solid strategic partners, ILC aims to become a preferred lithium and critical minerals resource developer for investors and to continue building value for its shareholders throughout the 2020s, the decade of battery metals.

On behalf of the Company,

John Wisbey
Chairman and CEO
www.internationallithium.ca

For further information concerning this news release, please contact info@internationallithium.ca or ILC@yellowjerseypr.com.

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.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

Except for statements of historical fact, this news release or other releases contain certain ‘forward-looking information’ within the meaning of applicable securities law. Forward-looking information or forward-looking statements in this or other news releases may include: the timing of completion of any offering and the amount to be raised, the likelihood or otherwise of the Company exercising its option on Lepidico Mauritius, the outcome of arbitration and resulting actions and negotiations involving Lepidico Namibia and its stakeholders, the effect of results of anticipated production rates, the timing and/or anticipated results of drilling on the Raleigh Lake or Karibib or Firesteel or Wolf Ridge projects, the expectation of resource estimates, preliminary economic assessments, feasibility studies, the ability to renew mining licences or claims, lithium or rubidium or cesium or copper recoveries, modeling of capital and operating costs, results of studies utilizing various technologies at the company’s projects, the Company’s budgeted expenditures, future plans for expansion in Southern Africa and planned exploration work on its projects, increased value of shareholder investments in the Company, the potential from the Company’s third party earn-out or royalty arrangements, the future demand for lithium, rubidium, cesium and copper, and assumptions about ethical behaviour by our joint venture partners or third party operators of projects or royalty partners. Such forward-looking information is based on assumptions and subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to those discussed in the sections entitled ‘Risks’ and ‘Forward-Looking Statements’ in the interim and annual Management’s Discussion and Analysis which are available at www.sedarplus.ca. While management believes that the assumptions made are reasonable, there can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate. Should one or more of the risks, uncertainties or other factors materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in forward-looking information. Forward-looking information herein, and all subsequent written and oral forward-looking information are based on expectations, estimates and opinions of management on the dates they are made that, while considered reasonable by the Company as of the time of such statements, are subject to significant business, economic, legislative, and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. These estimates and assumptions may prove to be incorrect and are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. Except as required by law, the Company assumes no obligation to update forward-looking information should circumstances or management’s estimates or opinions change.

Corporate Logo

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/279116

News Provided by Newsfile via QuoteMedia

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

New research strongly suggests teachers’ unions are driving the skyrocketing administrative bloat that’s sucking resources away from classrooms. By diverting additional funding toward hiring more people, they starve effective educators of the raises and support they need, all to pad their own power structures. Unions benefit enormously from inflating the number of employees in the system, turning public schools into top-heavy bureaucracies that serve adults — not our kids.

Teachers’ union bosses gain in two major ways from the rapid expansion in administrative hiring — which also siphons resources away from teachers, students, and classrooms. 

First, a larger workforce means a bigger voting bloc in local and state politics. Public school employees can be mobilized to push for ideological agendas, from changing curricula to boxing out alternatives by blocking school choice. 

Second, more employees mean more revenue. Membership dues from 40 percent more administrators aren’t chump change — they add up to hundreds of millions of dollars annually, giving union leaders immense financial clout.

Has that money brought down student-teacher ratios or rewarded excellent teachers with raises? The latest LM2 report from the National Education Association (NEA), the largest labor union in the country, paints a damning picture. Out of more than $400 million in annual revenues, less than 10 percent goes toward representing teachers — the very people the union claims to champion. Instead, those funds are funneled into left-wing causes and Democratic campaign coffers.

According to the latest data from OpenSecrets, more than 98 percent of the NEA’s campaign contributions went to Democrats in the last election cycle. At this point, the teachers’ union has become nothing more than a money laundering operation for the Democratic Party, using educators’ hard-earned dues to bankroll partisan agendas.

The self-serving system explains why teacher salaries have remained flat since 1970, even after adjusting for inflation. Meanwhile, spending per student has ballooned by about 170 percent in real terms over the same period. If the money were truly going to improve education, we’d see it reflected in better pay for teachers or enhanced classroom resources. But it’s not.

The unions actively push to funnel that funding toward hiring more people — administrators, support staff, and other non-teaching roles. Why? Because if the money went toward increasing salaries for good teachers instead, school systems would have less to spend on expanding headcount. That means fewer dues-paying members and lower total revenues for union bosses to control and redirect toward their political allies.

According to the latest data from the Edunomics Lab at Georgetown University, student enrollment in US public schools has dropped by about 750,000 since 2014. In the same period, public school employment has increased by more than 600,000 people. Fewer kids, more adults. The government school system has morphed into a jobs program for grown-ups, with education for children as an afterthought. The situation isn’t sustainable, and it’s certainly not in the best interest of families or taxpayers.

My new peer-reviewed study, coauthored with Christos Makridis and published in Politics and Policy, confirms the unions’ role in this mess. We found that K-12 administrative bloat is more pronounced in places with stronger teachers’ union influence, all else equal. When unions hold sway, districts prioritize empire-building over efficiency, leading to layers of unnecessary bureaucracy that drain budgets without benefiting students.

Look at union-controlled Los Angeles public schools as a prime example. The Edunomics Lab data show that staffing there has increased by about 19 percent since 2014, even as the district has lost about 26 percent of its student population over the same period.

In what other industry do you go on a hiring spree just as you’re losing more than a quarter of your customers? Such decision-making would bankrupt a private business overnight. But public schools aren’t subject to market forces — they’re near-monopolies, insulated from competition by law. Without school choice, these unwise spending decisions hurt everyone: taxpayers foot the bill for the bloat, parents see their kids stuck in underperforming systems, and children suffer from misallocated resources. There’s no recourse because families can’t easily take their education dollars elsewhere.

The pattern holds in other union strongholds. In California, where unions dominate, staffing has increased by 11 percent while student enrollment has dropped about eight percent. Compare that trend to a state like North Carolina, which has banned collective bargaining for public employees. There, staffing has only risen by about four percent since 2015, with student enrollment remaining essentially unchanged. The difference is stark: without union pressure to inflate headcounts, districts focus on stability rather than expansion at all costs.

Teachers themselves are the forgotten victims in this scheme. Many of them feel left out by the one-size-fits-all system that prioritizes politics and union bosses over educators and kids. Teachers who are tired of seeing their dues siphoned off can join alternative representation like the Teacher Freedom Alliance — for free. By exiting, they would send a powerful message, incentivizing unions to refocus on fighting for higher salaries rather than just adding more boots on the ground to bolster their power.

Ultimately, the solution lies in introducing real competition through school choice. When families can vote with their feet — and take their education funding with them — districts will be forced to spend money wisely. Teachers will be financially free to find models they can believe in and that serve students well. Resources will flow into classrooms and toward training and retaining effective teachers, not toward unnecessary administrators and bloated staffs. It’s time to break the unions’ stranglehold and put kids first.

President Donald Trump is scheduled to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at Mar-a-Lago on Monday afternoon, with talks expected to focus on renewed tensions with Iran and the possibility of advancing to additional stages of the Gaza peace plan.

Before meeting with the president, Netanyahu is slated to meet with Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Monday morning.

Dr. Dan Diker, president of the Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs, told Fox News Digital that President Trump has likely been pressuring Netanyahu since the peace plan’s implementation, noting that the American leader has little patience for Middle Eastern timelines, which he said are far longer than those in the U.S. and the real estate sector.

‘The problem is that Hamas knows all it has to do is survive and continue controlling the western part of Gaza while attacking Israel, as it has been doing from Gaza’s tunnel network, in order to ratchet up tensions between Israel and the U.S.,’ Diker said.

Netanyahu’s mission during the visit, he continued, will be first to lay out Israel’s threat assessment regarding Iran, Hezbollah and Hamas as extremely serious, and to impress upon the president that Tehran is rebuilding its military capabilities. He is also likely to seek to persuade Trump to allow Israel to take the steps it deems necessary to defeat Hamas.

Israeli opposition leader and former prime minister Yair Lapid told Fox News Digital that ‘We [Israel] should be coordinating with President Trump on all the major fronts, but the top priority has to be the management of stage two in Gaza.’

Lapid added, ‘Israel needs to achieve the disarmament of Hamas and the removal of the threat from Gaza, and that requires the implementation of President Trump’s plan.’


During the meeting, Netanyahu will reportedly present Trump with plans for a potential strike on Iran. Israel has warned Washington that a recent Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps missile drill could be masking preparations for an attack, a concern that IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir conveyed to U.S. Central Command chief Adm. Brad Cooper during recent meetings in Tel Aviv.

In a Saturday interview reported by the country’s media, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said his country is engaged in what he described as a ‘total war‘ with the U.S., Israel and Europe. The Times of Israel reported him saying, ‘In my opinion, we are at total war with the United States, Israel and Europe,’ Pezeshkian said. ‘They want to bring our country to its knees.’

Axios reported that U.S. intelligence assesses there is no immediate threat, while Israeli defense officials say forces remain on heightened alert.

According to Dr. Meir Javedanfar, a lecturer on Iran and the Middle East at Reichman University, Netanyahu’s plan is expected to call for strikes on Iran’s missile program.

‘Israel will probably hope that such a wide-scale attack would further undermine the legitimacy of Iran’s supreme leader, thereby creating greater political instability within the country. This is especially true given that after the recent war with Israel, Iran’s economy has deteriorated significantly, and the regime is not taking the necessary steps to address these problems,’ he said.

Israeli Minister for Settlement and National Missions Orit Strook stressed the importance of completing full Gaza demilitarization before moving forward with further stages of the plan.

She referenced Trump’s address to the Israeli Knesset in October, noting that he highlighted his role in building international support for Gaza’s demilitarization and securing a U.N. Security Council resolution calling for the full dismantling of weapons, tunnels and terror infrastructure.

‘Hamas wakes up every day with a mission to hurt us,’ Strook told Fox News Digital. ‘The IDF will not withdraw even one meter, and no rehabilitation framework will be established until full demilitarization is completed.

‘If, God forbid, the opposite happens in the meeting, it will be a failure of the peace plan, a failure for Trump himself — who would be settling for fake demilitarization— and a failure for us. We will not be able to say that we won this war if Hamas remains armed,’ she added.

Trump is nevertheless expected to soon unveil the second stage of his Gaza framework, despite Hamas’s failure to return the remains of Israel Police Master Sgt. Ran Gvili, who was killed during the Oct. 7, 2023 massacre, and whose body was taken to Gaza by Hamas terrorists.

Fox News Digital’s Sophia Compton contributed to this report.


This post appeared first on FOX NEWS

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., on Sunday called for President Trump to only focus on America’s needs as the president meets with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The president has been heavily involved in the Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Hamas conflicts since returning to the White House.

Trump met with Zelenskyy on Sunday at Mar-a-Lago to discuss a peace plan aimed at ending the Russia-Ukraine war that began with an invasion by Moscow in February 2022.

Netanyahu arrived in Florida on Sunday ahead of their scheduled meeting on Monday at Trump’s estate to address Israel’s conflicts in the Middle East. It will be the sixth meeting of the year between the two leaders.

Greene, responding to Trump’s meeting with Zelenskyy and Netanyahu, said that the Trump administration should address the needs of Americans rather than becoming further involved in global conflicts.

‘Zelensky today. Netanyahu tomorrow,’ she wrote on X.

‘Can we just do America?’ the congresswoman continued.

The congresswoman has been a vocal critic of supplying U.S. military aid to foreign countries amid the conflicts in Europe and the Middle East.

She has also referred to Zelenskyy as ‘a dictator who canceled elections’ and labeled Israel’s military campaign in Gaza as a genocide and humanitarian crisis.

This comes after Taylor Greene, who is set to resign from the House in January, had a public spat with Trump over the past few months as Trump took issue with the Georgia Republican’s push to release documents related to the investigations into deceased sex predator Jeffrey Epstein.

Trump had withdrawn his endorsement of Greene and called her a ‘traitor’ over the public feud.


This post appeared first on FOX NEWS

President Donald Trump said Sunday that peace talks to end the war in Ukraine are close to completion after a meeting in Florida with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, with both leaders citing major progress on a 20-point plan while acknowledging unresolved disputes over territory, ceasefire terms and Ukrainian approval.

Trump and Zelenskyy spoke to reporters following their meeting at Mar-a-Lago, describing weeks of negotiations involving U.S., Ukrainian, European Union and NATO officials that have moved a potential peace framework close to the finish line, though several high-stakes issues remain unresolved.

Trump said negotiations have intensified over the past month and suggested discussions are far more advanced than at any previous point in the war, while cautioning that final agreements depend on resolving a small number of difficult questions.

‘We could be very close,’ Trump said. ‘There are one or two very thorny issues, very tough issues. But I think we’re doing very well. We made a lot of progress today, but really, we’ve made it over the last month. This is not a one-day process. It’s very complicated stuff.’

President Trump, Zelenskyy discuss peace plan after Mar-a-Lago meeting

Zelenskyy echoed that assessment, confirming that negotiators have largely agreed on the framework of a deal and crediting sustained diplomacy across multiple international meetings leading up to the Florida talks.

He said negotiations have taken place over several weeks in cities including Geneva, Miami, Berlin and at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, with American and Ukrainian teams working toward a shared peace framework.

‘We discussed all the aspects of the peace framework, which includes – and we have great achievements – a 20-point peace plan, 90% agreed,’ Zelenskyy said.

Both leaders said European and NATO officials were closely involved in the process, with a joint call held following the meeting that included senior leaders from across the continent and international institutions.

Zelenskyy said teams are expected to meet again in the coming weeks to finalize remaining issues and that Trump has agreed to potentially host further talks in Washington with European leaders and a Ukrainian delegation.

Despite the progress, territory – particularly the status of Donbas – remains one of the most difficult unresolved issues, with Trump and Zelenskyy acknowledging differing positions between Ukraine and Russia.

Trump suggested that time could be a critical factor in negotiations, warning that delays could result in further territorial losses as fighting continues.

‘Some of that land has been taken,’ Trump said. ‘Some of that land is maybe up for grabs, but it may be taken over the next period of a number of months. Are you better off making a deal now?’

Zelenskyy stressed that any final agreement would need to comply with Ukrainian law and reflect the will of the Ukrainian people, potentially requiring parliamentary approval or a national referendum.

‘Our society, too, has to choose and decide who has to vote, because it’s their land – the land not of one person,’ Zelenskyy said. ‘It’s the land of our nation for a lot of generations.’

Trump said polling shows strong public support for ending the war and reiterated his desire to bring the conflict to a close, citing the scale of casualties on both sides.

‘We want to see it ended,’ Trump said. ‘I want it ended because I don’t want to see so many people dying. We’re losing massive numbers of people – the biggest by far since World War II.’


This post appeared first on FOX NEWS

FBI Director Kash Patel said the agency has surged additional personnel and investigative resources to Minnesota as part of an ongoing effort to ‘dismantle large-scale fraud schemes exploiting federal programs.’

Patel said Sunday that the bureau moved resources into the state before recent online attention intensified, pointing to the Feeding Our Future investigation, which uncovered a $250 million scheme that siphoned federal food aid intended for children during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The case has already resulted in 78 indictments and 57 convictions, with prosecutors also charging defendants in a separate plot to bribe a juror with $120,000 in cash, Patel said, adding that the investigation remains ongoing.

‘The FBI believes this is just the tip of a very large iceberg. We will continue to follow the money and protect children, and this investigation very much remains ongoing,’ he wrote on X. ‘Furthermore, many are also being referred to immigrations officials for possible further denaturalization and deportation proceedings where eligible.’

Patel’s announcement comes in the wake of a viral video posted on social media Friday by independent journalist Nick Shirley that highlighted alleged fraud involving Minnesota childcare and learning centers. 

In the video, many of the facilities appeared non-operational despite allegedly receiving millions of dollars in government aid.

Republican lawmakers, including House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn., and Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., as well as Vice President JD Vance, have responded to the viral video, with Emmer accusing Gov. Tim Walz of sitting ‘idly by while billions were stolen from hardworking Minnesotans.’

Shirley’s video also follows a group of Minnesota state staff members who accused Walz in November of failing to act on widespread fraud warnings and retaliating against whistleblowers.

An X account calling itself Minnesota Staff Fraud Reporting Commentary, which says it consists of more than 480 Minnesota state staff members, wrote that Walz is ‘100% responsible for massive fraud in Minnesota.’

‘We let Tim Walz know of fraud early on, hoping for a partnership in stopping fraud but no, we got the opposite response. Tim Walz systematically retaliated against whistleblowers using monitoring, threats, repression, and did his best to discredit fraud reports,’ the group claimed. ‘In addition to retaliating against whistleblower[s], Tim Walz disempowered the Office of the Legislative Auditor, allowing agencies to disregard their audit findings and guidance.’

Minnesota charges six more people in massive fraud scheme

Walz addressed the fraud at a press conference in late November, saying it ‘undermines trust in government,’ and ‘undermines programs that are absolutely critical in improving quality of life.’

‘If you’re committing fraud, no matter where you come from, what you look like, what you believe, you are going to go to jail,’ he added.

The New York Times reported that what initially appeared to many Minnesotans as an isolated case of pandemic-era fraud has broadened into a much wider concern for state and federal officials.

The Times reported that over the past five years, according to law enforcement authorities, several fraud schemes proliferated in parts of Minnesota’s Somali community. A number of individuals allegedly created companies that billed state agencies for millions of dollars’ worth of social services that were never delivered.


This post appeared first on FOX NEWS