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One of the few U.S. lawmakers who have seen classified footage of the U.S. military’s strikes against a suspected drug boat off the coast of Venezuela believes the public should get to see the evidence, too.

‘I think it’s really important that this video be made public. It’s not lost on anyone, of course, that the interpretation of the video, which you know, six or seven of us had an opportunity to see last week, broke down precisely on party lines,’ Rep. Jim Himes, D-Conn., said in an interview with ‘Face the Nation’ on Sunday.

‘I know how the public is going to react, because I felt my own reaction,’ Himes added.

Democrats quickly condemned the administration when news first broke that the U.S. Department of War had ordered a second strike to eliminate survivors who had somehow escaped an initial strike.

Republicans, by contrast, largely came to the defense of the strike, arguing that the administration had taken the necessary steps to eliminate narco-traffickers that President Donald Trump had designated as terrorists.

The War Department has ordered over 20 different strikes on small boats in the Caribbean, targeting what it calls drug smuggling activity. 

Only one strike is thought to have had multiple attacks to eliminate survivors.

‘I think it’s important for Americans to see it because, look, there’s a certain amount of sympathy out there for going after drug runners,’ Himes said. ‘But I think it’s really important that people see what it looks like when the full force of the United States military is turned on two guys who are clinging to a piece of wood and about to go under, just so that they have sort of a visceral feel for what it is that we’re doing.’

Himes said his estimation of the video turned on the defenselessness of the targets. 

‘These guys — and this is why the American people need to see this video — these guys were barely alive, much less engaging in hostilities,’ Himes said.

In addition to viewing the footage, Himes said he had met with Adm. Frank Bradley, suggesting that Bradley had received pressure to carry out the strikes.

‘Anyone who has ever worked with Adm. Bradley will tell you that he has a storied career and that he is a man of deep, deep integrity. And frankly, I have no reason to doubt that,’ Himes said.

‘An apparently good man like Adm. Bradley is placed in a context where he knows that if he countermands an order that he is perhaps uncomfortable with, it is very likely that he’ll be fired,’ Himes said.

The details of the communication surrounding the second strike and its ordering remain unclear. 

The House of Representatives and the Senate both opened inquiries into the strikes late last month. When asked about their progress, Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, declined to describe the probe but said lawmakers would evaluate all relevant evidence.

‘The investigation will be done by the numbers,’ Wicker said.


This post appeared first on FOX NEWS

President Donald Trump and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., have been taking shots at each other on social media Monday, following Greene’s Sunday night appearance on ’60 Minutes’ in which she drew the president’s ire.

Greene, who is set to retire from Congress when her term ends in January, said during the interview that Republicans are ‘terrified’ of not going along with Trump and being the subject of an angry Truth Social post. During the interview, Lesley Stahl asked Greene, ‘Are you MAGA?’ Greene replied, ‘I am America first.’

Trump took to the social media platform Monday morning with his sights set on Greene.

‘The only reason Marjorie ‘Traitor’ Brown (Green turns Brown under stress!) went BAD is that she was JILTED by the President of the United States (Certainly not the first time she has been jilted!). Too much work, not enough time, and her ideas are, NOW, really BAD – She sort of reminds me of a Rotten Apple! Marjorie is not AMERICA FIRST or MAGA, because nobody could have changed her views so fast, and her new views are those of a very dumb person,’ Trump declared in part of a lengthy Truth Social post on Monday.

Greene fired back, repudiating the president’s assertion.

‘I AM AMERICA FIRST,’ she declared in a post on X, adding the American flag emoji. ‘Thank you for your attention to this matter.’

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene announces resignation

Her post included a graphic indicating she received $0 from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), and that she ‘condemns Israel for committing genocide.’ Next to that was another graphic indicating that for Trump, there had been millions in ‘independent expenditures & campaign contributions received from pro-Israel interest groups.’ 

Fox News Digital reached out to Greene’s office on Monday for additional comment, but she did not immediately respond.

Trump on Marjorie Taylor Greene:

Greene had also been going after Trump over the weekend, before her interview aired.

In a Sunday post on X, Greene claimed Trump turned on her after she ‘stood with the Epstein Survivors.’ She also said the president had fired off ‘harsh accusatory replies and zero sympathy’ after she alerted him about threats made against her adult son’s life.

A White House official told Fox News Digital that the messages Greene cited had been referred to the FBI.


This post appeared first on FOX NEWS

The Department of Health and Human Services has altered the official portrait of a transgender former Biden administration official to display the individual’s birth name, rather than adopted name.

The former official, who currently goes by Rachel Levine, achieved the rank of admiral and served in President Joe Biden’s administration as an assistant secretary for health. Levine was born a male and was the first transgender person to secure a Senate confirmation.

Up until the government shutdown this year, Levine’s portrait plaque in the HHS offices featured the name ‘Rachel Levine,’ but it now displays the official’s birth name, ‘Richard Levine.’

‘Our priority is ensuring that the information presented internally and externally by HHS reflects gold standard science. We remain committed to reversing harmful policies enacted by Levine and ensuring that biological reality guides our approach to public health,’ HHS spokesperson Andrew Nixon said in a statement.

Levine responded to the move both personally and through a spokesman in statements to NPR.

‘During the federal shutdown, the current leadership of the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health changed Admiral Levine’s photo to remove her current legal name and use a prior name,’ Adrian Shanker, a spokesman for Levine, told NPR, going on to describe the move as an act ‘of bigotry against her.’

‘I’m not going to comment on this type of petty action,’ Levine told the outlet.

Levine was a steady source of controversy during the Biden administration, claiming that there was ‘no argument’ regarding effectiveness and safety of transgender medical procedures, and claiming that hormone blockers ought to be used to stop children from ‘going through the wrong puberty.’

‘Gender-affirming care is medical care,’ Levine said in 2023. ‘Gender-affirming care is mental health care. Gender-affirming care is literally suicide prevention care.’


This post appeared first on FOX NEWS

This article has been disseminated on behalf of LaFleur Minerals Inc. and may include a paid advertisement.

MiningNewsWire Editorial Coverage : The most compelling moment for investors to engage with a mining company is often during its transition from explorer to producer, a period when value can inflect sharply as an organization shifts from discovery to cash flow. Explorers that successfully cross this development threshold tend to realize significant re-ratings because they de-risk their story, demonstrate reliable production capability and create a foundation for recurring revenues. For many interested in the mining space, entering at this stage allows participation before the substantial upside typically associated with the first years of production is fully priced in. This moment becomes particularly attractive when a company controls key infrastructure, is advancing toward production in a tier-one jurisdiction and trades at a valuation meaningfully below the replacement cost of its assets. That dynamic is now unfolding around LaFleur Minerals Inc. (CSE: LFLR) (OTCQB: LFLRF) (FSE: 3WK0) ( profile ) which owns a fully permitted and refurbished gold mill in Québec’s Abitibi region and is positioned well ahead of neighboring peers still working through early development stages. With a district-scale land position, an advancing flagship deposit and near-term production plans, LaFleur offers meaningful leverage to the explorer-to-producer inflection point, which historically delivers some of the best returns in the mining sector. LaFleur is among a strong group of companies working to become leaders in the mining space, including Barrick Mining Corporation (NYSE: B) (TSX: ABX), West Red Lake Gold Mines Ltd . (TSX.V: WRLG) (OTCQB: WRLGF), Pirate Gold Corp. (TSX.V: YARR) (OTCQB: SICNF) and Abcourt Mines (TSX.V: ABI) (OTC: ABMBF).

Disclosure: This does not represent material news, partnerships, or investment advice.

  • LaFleur’s core strategy is built around a vertically integrated development model anchored by its wholly owned Beacon Gold Mill and its nearby Swanson Gold Project.
  • As part of its transition toward production, LaFleur has begun permitting for a bulk sample of approximately 100,000 tonnes from the Swanson deposit.
  • One of LaFleur’s most significant competitive strengths is its ownership of the Beacon Gold Mill, a fully permitted and recently refurbished facility in Val-d’Or.
  • LaFleur has finalized a comprehensive restart plan for the Beacon Mill, budgeting between C$5 and C$6 million to complete the six-to-eight-month recommissioning process.

Vertically Integrated Path to Production

LaFleur’s core strategy is built around a vertically integrated development model anchored by its wholly owned Beacon Gold Mill and its nearby Swanson Gold Project. The company plans to feed its fully permitted processing facility with its own mineralized material, reducing dependence on third-party mills and establishing one of the lowest-cost pathways to production in the region.

This arrangement is unusual among junior miners, many of which rely on shared infrastructure or toll-milling contracts that can limit margins and create delays. By contrast, LaFleur’s ability to control both the mine and mill components provides a direct route to monetizing ore, accelerating cash flow and supporting a self-sustaining operational model.

LaFleur’s Swanson Gold Project sits at the foundation of this integrated strategy. Swanson is an advanced exploration-stage asset with more than 36,000 meters of historical drilling and 242 drill holes contributing to the geological dataset. This extensive history supports a current Indicated resource of 123.4 thousand ounces of gold and an Inferred resource of 64.5 thousand ounces, forming a strong geological basis for future mine planning.

Located within one of the most prolific gold belts in the world, the Abitibi Greenstone Belt, Swanson benefits from a district enriched by more than 200 million ounces of historical production and a long track record of supporting commercially successful mines. The combination of geological scale, existing data density and room for resource expansion positions Swanson as a cornerstone for LaFleur’s move toward production.

Recent land consolidation has extended Swanson’s total footprint to an estimated 18,300-plus hectares across 445 claims and a mining lease, strengthening LaFleur’s control over key mineralized trends and providing access to prospective areas for future drilling. This district-scale position gives LaFleur optionality to pursue both open-pit and underground targets across multiple structures. Its proximity to the Beacon Gold Mill, approximately 60 kilometers away, ensures that haulage is straightforward once mining begins, reducing both operational complexity and processing costs.

Together, Swanson and Beacon form a rare pairing: an emerging well-endowed deposit and a fully permitted mill under a single ownership structure, both with capacity to scale. For a company transitioning into production, this configuration provides strong competitive advantages and creates a clear path toward becoming one of Québec’s newest gold producers.

Aggressive Drilling to Unlock Resource Growth

To advance Swanson toward production and enhance the geological confidence required for future studies, LaFleur initiated a 7,500-meter diamond drilling program this year, targeting more than 50 regional prospects. These include Swanson itself as well as nearby zones such as Bartec, Jolin and Marimac, areas that share favorable geological characteristics and have demonstrated promising early results.

The program is designed to test high-grade structures, confirm continuity and extend mineralization along strike. Early sampling at Jolin returned values up to 11.7 grams per tonne gold, highlighting strong potential for discovering additional near-surface mineralized zones within the broader land package. An important component of the program involves step-out drilling aimed at evaluating the potential for open-pit development.

By identifying near-surface extensions and testing lateral continuity, LaFleur is working to establish a resource base that supports both initial bulk sampling and long-term production scenarios. The ability to truck material directly to the Beacon Gold Mill places added economic value on shallow mineralization, which can be rapidly monetized once mining begins.

Parallel to the regional drilling program, LaFleur is advancing a 10-hole twin-hole drilling campaign at the Swanson deposit in order to validate historical drill results, improve confidence in grade distribution and collect fresh core for metallurgical and ore-sorting studies. This data will support an updated mineral resource estimate and contribute directly to the company’s Preliminary Economic Assessment (‘PEA’), led by environmental consultant firm Environmental Resources Management (‘ERM’). The PEA will incorporate geological, mining, processing, and cost considerations to define the initial development plan that underpins LaFleur’s transition to producer status.

Collectively, the drilling and validation programs are expanding the geological understanding of LaFleur’s district-scale land position and moving the company toward a long-term vision of achieving a resource exceeding one million ounces of gold. As these programs advance, they strengthen the case for Swanson as a viable and scalable production asset situated near a fully permitted mill which underwent over $20 million in upgrades in 2022.

Bulk Sample Strategy, Advancing Permits

As part of its transition toward production, LaFleur has begun permitting for a bulk sample of approximately 100,000 tonnes from the Swanson deposit. The planned sample has an estimated average grade of 1.89 grams per tonne gold and contains roughly 6,350 ounces of gold, representing about 3% of the project’s current mineral resource.

Bulk sampling is a critical intermediate step for companies approaching production because it enables the validation of geological models, confirms metallurgical assumptions, and generates early revenue through processing. In LaFleur’s case, the existence of the Beacon Gold Mill allows the company to run bulk sample material locally, accelerating cash flow while reducing technical uncertainty.

Permitting and closure plans for the bulk sample are being advanced with Québec regulators, who oversee one of the most established mining frameworks in Canada. Québec’s regulatory environment is recognized for its efficiency and transparency, supporting the timely evaluation of mining proposals and bulk sampling initiatives. Because LaFleur already owns a fully permitted mill, its permitting requirements relate primarily to mine-site logistics rather than infrastructure construction, significantly reducing the time required to begin test mining.

To support its upcoming production decisions, LaFleur engaged ERM’s Technical Mining Services Group to complete a PEA for Swanson. The PEA will include mine design, mineral resource modelling, metallurgical testing, processing flowsheets and cost projections required for an initial production scenario. Importantly, the study will incorporate current gold price assumptions, which remain historically elevated.

Bulk sampling will provide vital operational data, such as dilution rates, mining conditions, haulage efficiency and mill performance, that feed into the PEA and future feasibility studies. For investors, the combination of permitting progress, bulk sampling preparation and economic analysis creates a strong foundation for LaFleur’s near-term production timeline.

Beacon Mill: A High-Value Strategic Asset
One of LaFleur’s most significant competitive strengths is its ownership of the Beacon Gold Mill , a fully permitted and recently refurbished facility in Val-d’Or, a recognized mining camp. The mill, acquired through Monarch Mining’s CCAA restructuring process in 2024, underwent approximately C$20 million in upgrades in 2022, leaving it in excellent operational condition. With a processing capacity of more than 750 tonnes per day, Beacon provides LaFleur with an infrastructure advantage that few junior miners possess.

The mill benefits from year-round road access, a skilled regional workforce, reliable grid power and proximity to numerous exploration-stage deposits in the region. As a result, it not only supports LaFleur’s own production plans but also creates opportunities for future custom milling revenue once operations are underway.

An independent valuation by Bumigeme, a Montréal engineering firm, placed the replacement cost of the Beacon Mill and its tailings facility at approximately C$71.5 million. Rehabilitation requirements were estimated at a modest C$4.1 million, highlighting the mill’s strong condition and low restart cost. Notably, the mill carries no royalties or encumbrances and is backed by a C$2.4 million reclamation bond. These features position Beacon as an exceptionally valuable asset relative to LaFleur’s current market valuation.

Owning a permitted mill dramatically reduces the typical multiyear timeline associated with constructing processing infrastructure. For companies operating in regions such as the Abitibi, where environmental requirements are robust and permitting processes are thorough, having an existing facility is a major strategic advantage. LaFleur’s ownership of Beacon effectively moves the company ahead of nearby peers, which must still navigate planning, financing and permitting for mill construction. Combined with Swanson’s resource potential and district-scale land position, the Beacon Mill establishes a clear path to production that supports LaFleur’s ambition to become one of Québec’s next gold producers.

Restart Plan, Regional Momentum and Upcoming Catalysts

LaFleur has finalized a comprehensive restart plan for the Beacon Mill, budgeting between C$5 and C$6 million to complete the six-to-eight-month recommissioning process. The company expects to begin production ramp-up by early next year and reach full operational capacity by year end. The restart plan includes approximately C$3.8 million for mill equipment upgrades and about C$1.8 million for repairs and improvements to the tailings storage facility. These targeted investments will allow LaFleur to resume processing operations safely and efficiently while meeting Québec’s regulatory standards.

The mill restart positions LaFleur within a vibrant and rapidly consolidating region of the Abitibi. Recent corporate transactions, such as Fresnillo’s acquisition of Probe Gold and other strategic deals within the Val-d’Or region, underscore the district’s attractiveness and highlight rising valuations for companies controlling both resources and infrastructure. Probe’s valuation of approximately $70–$80 per ounce of gold in the ground helps establish a regional pricing precedent. By comparison, LaFleur’s combination of the Beacon Mill and the Swanson resource appears meaningfully undervalued relative to peers.

To support its production restart, LaFleur engaged FMI Securities to launch Gold-Linked Convertible Notes for up to C$7 million, following successful completions of a C$2.88 million LIFE Offering and C$1.66 million flow-through financing. These financing steps demonstrate investor confidence in LaFleur’s path to production and strengthen the company’s treasury as it advances into the next phase of development.

With a fully permitted mill, a progressing bulk sample program, expanding drill results and a forthcoming preliminary economic assessment, LaFleur occupies a unique position within Québec’s premier gold belt. The company’s integrated model, regional infrastructure advantages and near-term production timeline align strongly with the explorer-to-producer transition point that historically delivers some of the most compelling upside across the mining sector.

Strategic Moves Signal Expanding Momentum in Gold Exploration

The gold sector continues to advance through a wave of strategic realignments, drilling initiatives and operational milestones that signal both confidence and long-term planning across the industry. These unfolding moves point to a sector embracing opportunity while preparing for future growth cycles.

Barrick Mining Corporation (NYSE: B) (TSX: ABX) board of directors has authorized Barrick’s management team to explore an initial public offering of a subsidiary that will hold Barrick’s premier North American Gold Assets (‘NewCo’). NewCo would be anchored by Barrick’s joint venture interests in Nevada Gold Mines and Pueblo Viejo, as well as Barrick’s wholly owned Fourmile gold discovery in Nevada.

West Red Lake Gold Mines Ltd . (TSX.V: WRLG) (OTCQB: WRLGF) announced a fully funded infill drilling program at its 100% owned Fork Deposit located approximately 250 meters southwest from its Madsen Mine in the Red Lake Gold District of Northwestern Ontario, Canada. The core of the Fork Deposit has been re-envisioned as a high-grade near-mine resource expansion target that is a priority for immediate advancement.

Pirate Gold Corp. (TSX.V: YARR) (OTCQB: SICNF), formerly Sokoman Minerals Corp., announced that its common shares have commenced trading on the TSX Venture Exchange under the new ticker symbol. The company’s common shares will continue to trade on the OTCQB Venture Market under the ticker SICNF. The name and symbol change unify the company’s identity under the Pirate Gold banner, reflecting a renewed focus on discovery, value creation and the frontier spirit rooted in Newfoundland’s exploration history.

Abcourt Mines (TSX.V: ABI) (OTC: ABMBF) has received its environmental certificate of authorization for custom milling of ore from off-site deposits at its Sleeping Giant mill. This certificate of authorization allows Abcourt to begin commercial discussions with potential clients, accelerate the environmental authorization process and begin processing gold ore from mining companies that do not have a mill to extract gold from their ore.

These developments underscore a gold industry that is actively optimizing assets, accelerating advancement of near-term opportunities and positioning itself for stronger performance in the years ahead. As these initiatives progress, they offer a glimpse into how the next generation of gold production, discovery and value creation may unfold across key mining jurisdictions.

For further information about LaFleur Minerals, please visit the LaFleur Profile .

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This post appeared first on investingnews.com

This article has been disseminated on behalf of LaFleur Minerals Inc. and may include a paid advertisement.

MiningNewsWire Editorial Coverage : The most compelling moment for investors to engage with a mining company is often during its transition from explorer to producer, a period when value can inflect sharply as an organization shifts from discovery to cash flow. Explorers that successfully cross this development threshold tend to realize significant re-ratings because they de-risk their story, demonstrate reliable production capability and create a foundation for recurring revenues. For many interested in the mining space, entering at this stage allows participation before the substantial upside typically associated with the first years of production is fully priced in. This moment becomes particularly attractive when a company controls key infrastructure, is advancing toward production in a tier-one jurisdiction and trades at a valuation meaningfully below the replacement cost of its assets. That dynamic is now unfolding around LaFleur Minerals Inc. (CSE: LFLR) (OTCQB: LFLRF) (FSE: 3WK0) ( profile ) which owns a fully permitted and refurbished gold mill in Québec’s Abitibi region and is positioned well ahead of neighboring peers still working through early development stages. With a district-scale land position, an advancing flagship deposit and near-term production plans, LaFleur offers meaningful leverage to the explorer-to-producer inflection point, which historically delivers some of the best returns in the mining sector. LaFleur is among a strong group of companies working to become leaders in the mining space, including Barrick Mining Corporation (NYSE: B) (TSX: ABX), West Red Lake Gold Mines Ltd . (TSX.V: WRLG) (OTCQB: WRLGF), Pirate Gold Corp. (TSX.V: YARR) (OTCQB: SICNF) and Abcourt Mines (TSX.V: ABI) (OTC: ABMBF).

Disclosure: This does not represent material news, partnerships, or investment advice.

  • LaFleur’s core strategy is built around a vertically integrated development model anchored by its wholly owned Beacon Gold Mill and its nearby Swanson Gold Project.
  • As part of its transition toward production, LaFleur has begun permitting for a bulk sample of approximately 100,000 tonnes from the Swanson deposit.
  • One of LaFleur’s most significant competitive strengths is its ownership of the Beacon Gold Mill, a fully permitted and recently refurbished facility in Val-d’Or.
  • LaFleur has finalized a comprehensive restart plan for the Beacon Mill, budgeting between C$5 and C$6 million to complete the six-to-eight-month recommissioning process.

Vertically Integrated Path to Production

LaFleur’s core strategy is built around a vertically integrated development model anchored by its wholly owned Beacon Gold Mill and its nearby Swanson Gold Project. The company plans to feed its fully permitted processing facility with its own mineralized material, reducing dependence on third-party mills and establishing one of the lowest-cost pathways to production in the region.

This arrangement is unusual among junior miners, many of which rely on shared infrastructure or toll-milling contracts that can limit margins and create delays. By contrast, LaFleur’s ability to control both the mine and mill components provides a direct route to monetizing ore, accelerating cash flow and supporting a self-sustaining operational model.

LaFleur’s Swanson Gold Project sits at the foundation of this integrated strategy. Swanson is an advanced exploration-stage asset with more than 36,000 meters of historical drilling and 242 drill holes contributing to the geological dataset. This extensive history supports a current Indicated resource of 123.4 thousand ounces of gold and an Inferred resource of 64.5 thousand ounces, forming a strong geological basis for future mine planning.

Located within one of the most prolific gold belts in the world, the Abitibi Greenstone Belt, Swanson benefits from a district enriched by more than 200 million ounces of historical production and a long track record of supporting commercially successful mines. The combination of geological scale, existing data density and room for resource expansion positions Swanson as a cornerstone for LaFleur’s move toward production.

Recent land consolidation has extended Swanson’s total footprint to an estimated 18,300-plus hectares across 445 claims and a mining lease, strengthening LaFleur’s control over key mineralized trends and providing access to prospective areas for future drilling. This district-scale position gives LaFleur optionality to pursue both open-pit and underground targets across multiple structures. Its proximity to the Beacon Gold Mill, approximately 60 kilometers away, ensures that haulage is straightforward once mining begins, reducing both operational complexity and processing costs.

Together, Swanson and Beacon form a rare pairing: an emerging well-endowed deposit and a fully permitted mill under a single ownership structure, both with capacity to scale. For a company transitioning into production, this configuration provides strong competitive advantages and creates a clear path toward becoming one of Québec’s newest gold producers.

Aggressive Drilling to Unlock Resource Growth

To advance Swanson toward production and enhance the geological confidence required for future studies, LaFleur initiated a 7,500-meter diamond drilling program this year, targeting more than 50 regional prospects. These include Swanson itself as well as nearby zones such as Bartec, Jolin and Marimac, areas that share favorable geological characteristics and have demonstrated promising early results.

The program is designed to test high-grade structures, confirm continuity and extend mineralization along strike. Early sampling at Jolin returned values up to 11.7 grams per tonne gold, highlighting strong potential for discovering additional near-surface mineralized zones within the broader land package. An important component of the program involves step-out drilling aimed at evaluating the potential for open-pit development.

By identifying near-surface extensions and testing lateral continuity, LaFleur is working to establish a resource base that supports both initial bulk sampling and long-term production scenarios. The ability to truck material directly to the Beacon Gold Mill places added economic value on shallow mineralization, which can be rapidly monetized once mining begins.

Parallel to the regional drilling program, LaFleur is advancing a 10-hole twin-hole drilling campaign at the Swanson deposit in order to validate historical drill results, improve confidence in grade distribution and collect fresh core for metallurgical and ore-sorting studies. This data will support an updated mineral resource estimate and contribute directly to the company’s Preliminary Economic Assessment (‘PEA’), led by environmental consultant firm Environmental Resources Management (‘ERM’). The PEA will incorporate geological, mining, processing, and cost considerations to define the initial development plan that underpins LaFleur’s transition to producer status.

Collectively, the drilling and validation programs are expanding the geological understanding of LaFleur’s district-scale land position and moving the company toward a long-term vision of achieving a resource exceeding one million ounces of gold. As these programs advance, they strengthen the case for Swanson as a viable and scalable production asset situated near a fully permitted mill which underwent over $20 million in upgrades in 2022.

Bulk Sample Strategy, Advancing Permits

As part of its transition toward production, LaFleur has begun permitting for a bulk sample of approximately 100,000 tonnes from the Swanson deposit. The planned sample has an estimated average grade of 1.89 grams per tonne gold and contains roughly 6,350 ounces of gold, representing about 3% of the project’s current mineral resource.

Bulk sampling is a critical intermediate step for companies approaching production because it enables the validation of geological models, confirms metallurgical assumptions, and generates early revenue through processing. In LaFleur’s case, the existence of the Beacon Gold Mill allows the company to run bulk sample material locally, accelerating cash flow while reducing technical uncertainty.

Permitting and closure plans for the bulk sample are being advanced with Québec regulators, who oversee one of the most established mining frameworks in Canada. Québec’s regulatory environment is recognized for its efficiency and transparency, supporting the timely evaluation of mining proposals and bulk sampling initiatives. Because LaFleur already owns a fully permitted mill, its permitting requirements relate primarily to mine-site logistics rather than infrastructure construction, significantly reducing the time required to begin test mining.

To support its upcoming production decisions, LaFleur engaged ERM’s Technical Mining Services Group to complete a PEA for Swanson. The PEA will include mine design, mineral resource modelling, metallurgical testing, processing flowsheets and cost projections required for an initial production scenario. Importantly, the study will incorporate current gold price assumptions, which remain historically elevated.

Bulk sampling will provide vital operational data, such as dilution rates, mining conditions, haulage efficiency and mill performance, that feed into the PEA and future feasibility studies. For investors, the combination of permitting progress, bulk sampling preparation and economic analysis creates a strong foundation for LaFleur’s near-term production timeline.

Beacon Mill: A High-Value Strategic Asset
One of LaFleur’s most significant competitive strengths is its ownership of the Beacon Gold Mill , a fully permitted and recently refurbished facility in Val-d’Or, a recognized mining camp. The mill, acquired through Monarch Mining’s CCAA restructuring process in 2024, underwent approximately C$20 million in upgrades in 2022, leaving it in excellent operational condition. With a processing capacity of more than 750 tonnes per day, Beacon provides LaFleur with an infrastructure advantage that few junior miners possess.

The mill benefits from year-round road access, a skilled regional workforce, reliable grid power and proximity to numerous exploration-stage deposits in the region. As a result, it not only supports LaFleur’s own production plans but also creates opportunities for future custom milling revenue once operations are underway.

An independent valuation by Bumigeme, a Montréal engineering firm, placed the replacement cost of the Beacon Mill and its tailings facility at approximately C$71.5 million. Rehabilitation requirements were estimated at a modest C$4.1 million, highlighting the mill’s strong condition and low restart cost. Notably, the mill carries no royalties or encumbrances and is backed by a C$2.4 million reclamation bond. These features position Beacon as an exceptionally valuable asset relative to LaFleur’s current market valuation.

Owning a permitted mill dramatically reduces the typical multiyear timeline associated with constructing processing infrastructure. For companies operating in regions such as the Abitibi, where environmental requirements are robust and permitting processes are thorough, having an existing facility is a major strategic advantage. LaFleur’s ownership of Beacon effectively moves the company ahead of nearby peers, which must still navigate planning, financing and permitting for mill construction. Combined with Swanson’s resource potential and district-scale land position, the Beacon Mill establishes a clear path to production that supports LaFleur’s ambition to become one of Québec’s next gold producers.

Restart Plan, Regional Momentum and Upcoming Catalysts

LaFleur has finalized a comprehensive restart plan for the Beacon Mill, budgeting between C$5 and C$6 million to complete the six-to-eight-month recommissioning process. The company expects to begin production ramp-up by early next year and reach full operational capacity by year end. The restart plan includes approximately C$3.8 million for mill equipment upgrades and about C$1.8 million for repairs and improvements to the tailings storage facility. These targeted investments will allow LaFleur to resume processing operations safely and efficiently while meeting Québec’s regulatory standards.

The mill restart positions LaFleur within a vibrant and rapidly consolidating region of the Abitibi. Recent corporate transactions, such as Fresnillo’s acquisition of Probe Gold and other strategic deals within the Val-d’Or region, underscore the district’s attractiveness and highlight rising valuations for companies controlling both resources and infrastructure. Probe’s valuation of approximately $70–$80 per ounce of gold in the ground helps establish a regional pricing precedent. By comparison, LaFleur’s combination of the Beacon Mill and the Swanson resource appears meaningfully undervalued relative to peers.

To support its production restart, LaFleur engaged FMI Securities to launch Gold-Linked Convertible Notes for up to C$7 million, following successful completions of a C$2.88 million LIFE Offering and C$1.66 million flow-through financing. These financing steps demonstrate investor confidence in LaFleur’s path to production and strengthen the company’s treasury as it advances into the next phase of development.

With a fully permitted mill, a progressing bulk sample program, expanding drill results and a forthcoming preliminary economic assessment, LaFleur occupies a unique position within Québec’s premier gold belt. The company’s integrated model, regional infrastructure advantages and near-term production timeline align strongly with the explorer-to-producer transition point that historically delivers some of the most compelling upside across the mining sector.

Strategic Moves Signal Expanding Momentum in Gold Exploration

The gold sector continues to advance through a wave of strategic realignments, drilling initiatives and operational milestones that signal both confidence and long-term planning across the industry. These unfolding moves point to a sector embracing opportunity while preparing for future growth cycles.

Barrick Mining Corporation (NYSE: B) (TSX: ABX) board of directors has authorized Barrick’s management team to explore an initial public offering of a subsidiary that will hold Barrick’s premier North American Gold Assets (‘NewCo’). NewCo would be anchored by Barrick’s joint venture interests in Nevada Gold Mines and Pueblo Viejo, as well as Barrick’s wholly owned Fourmile gold discovery in Nevada.

West Red Lake Gold Mines Ltd . (TSX.V: WRLG) (OTCQB: WRLGF) announced a fully funded infill drilling program at its 100% owned Fork Deposit located approximately 250 meters southwest from its Madsen Mine in the Red Lake Gold District of Northwestern Ontario, Canada. The core of the Fork Deposit has been re-envisioned as a high-grade near-mine resource expansion target that is a priority for immediate advancement.

Pirate Gold Corp. (TSX.V: YARR) (OTCQB: SICNF), formerly Sokoman Minerals Corp., announced that its common shares have commenced trading on the TSX Venture Exchange under the new ticker symbol. The company’s common shares will continue to trade on the OTCQB Venture Market under the ticker SICNF. The name and symbol change unify the company’s identity under the Pirate Gold banner, reflecting a renewed focus on discovery, value creation and the frontier spirit rooted in Newfoundland’s exploration history.

Abcourt Mines (TSX.V: ABI) (OTC: ABMBF) has received its environmental certificate of authorization for custom milling of ore from off-site deposits at its Sleeping Giant mill. This certificate of authorization allows Abcourt to begin commercial discussions with potential clients, accelerate the environmental authorization process and begin processing gold ore from mining companies that do not have a mill to extract gold from their ore.

These developments underscore a gold industry that is actively optimizing assets, accelerating advancement of near-term opportunities and positioning itself for stronger performance in the years ahead. As these initiatives progress, they offer a glimpse into how the next generation of gold production, discovery and value creation may unfold across key mining jurisdictions.

For further information about LaFleur Minerals, please visit the LaFleur Profile .

About MiningNewsWire

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Homerun Resources Inc. (TSXV: HMR,OTC:HMRFF) (OTCQB: HMRFF) (‘Homerun’ or the ‘Company’) is pleased to announce that it has closed its financing, previously announced on June 16, 2025, with an arm’s length institutional investor, Sorbie Bornholm LP (the ‘Investor’) for aggregate proceeds of CDN$6,000,000 (the ‘Offering’) at a price of $1.00 per unit (‘Unit’).

Pursuant to the terms and conditions of a Sharing Agreement and other supporting agreements between the parties, the proceeds have been deposited into escrow and the release of the shares, warrants and cash shall be as follows:

  • The Investor deposited CDN$6,000,000 into a third-party escrow account.
  • The Company will issue 6,000,000 shares into escrow and the warrants will be issued to the Investor on each monthly settlement date.
  • Over a 24-month period, the cash and shares will be released from escrow monthly based on the Company’s market price at each release date.
  • The Investor will immediately receive upon closing 1,500,000 warrants exercisable at CDN$1.18 for three (3) years.
  • The Investor will also receive up to 4,960,000 additional warrants, released monthly over 24 months, priced at a 20% premium to the 5-day VWAP at the time of each issuance and exercisable for three (3) years from issuance.
  • The Company paid the Investor a corporate finance fee of $360,000 payable via the issuance of 360,000 Units and a due-diligence deposit of $100,000 payable via the issuance of 100,000 Units, both on the same terms as the Units and subject to the same escrow release schedule.

SHARING AGREEMENT

The Units to be issued under the Offering, representing $6,000,000 will be held pursuant to a sharing agreement between the Investor and the Company (the ‘Sharing Agreement’). The Sharing Agreement provides that the Company’s economic interest will be determined in 24 monthly settlement tranches as measured against the Benchmark Price (as defined herein). If, at the time of settlement, the Settlement Price (determined monthly based on a volume-weighted average price for 20 trading days prior to the settlement date) (the ‘Settlement Price’) exceeds the benchmark price of $1.178 (the ‘Benchmark Price’), the Company shall receive more than 100% of the monthly settlement due, on a pro-rata basis. There is no upper limit placed on the additional proceeds’ receivable by the Company as part of the monthly settlements. If, at the time of settlement, the Settlement Price is below the Benchmark Price of $1.178, the Company will receive less than 100% of the monthly settlement due on a pro-rata basis. In no event will a decline in the Settlement Price of the Units result in an increase in the number of Units being issued to Sorbie.

TABLE OF BENCHMARK PRICE PERFORMANCE POTENTIAL DISTRIBUTIONS:

Benchmark Price
(BMP)
VWAP
 Price
Monthly 
Release
Additional 
Monthly Cash
Monthly Net to Company Total Net to Company* Shares Issued
 to Sorbie in Placement
Benchmark Price 1.178 $250,000 $0 $250,000 $6,000,000 6,000,000
25% above BMP 1.4725 $250,000 $62,500 $312,500 $7,500,000 6,000,000
50% above BMP 1.767 $250,000 $125,000 $375,000 $9,000,000 6,000,000
100% above BMP 2.356 $250,000 $250,000 $500,000 $12,000,000 6,000,000
200% above BMP 3.534 $250,000 $500,000 $750,000 $18,000,000 6,000,000
300% above BMP 4.712 $250,000 $750,000 $1,000,000 $24,000,000 6,000,000
20% below BMP 0.9424 $250,000 ($50,000) $200,000 $4,800,000 6,000,000

 

*Assumes static VWAP for entire term and does not include any proceeds from the warrants

As part of the TSX Venture Exchange (‘TSXV‘) approval of the Offering, the Company shall be required to file a private placement submission through the TMX LINX portal within three (3) business days from the date that the Company receives the monthly settlement notice from the Investor. The TMX LINX submission must include the following requirements:

  • A final TSXV Form 4B detailing the cash release from escrow and the corresponding number of shares released from escrow, and confirming the number and details of the warrants issued from the Company’s treasury;
  • A copy of the Investor’s settlement notice;
  • A copy of the Company’s news release that discloses the details of the settlement; and
  • The minimum Exchange fee.

The Company relied on the listed issuer financing exemption under Part 5A of National Instrument 45-106 – Prospectus Exemptions, as amended by Coordinated Blanket Order 45-935 – Exemptions from Certain Conditions of the Listed Issuer Financing Exemption, for the Offering, and the shares and warrants will not be subject to restrictions on resale. An offering document dated December 1, 2025 related to the Offering is available under the Company’s profile at www.sedarplus.ca and at www.homerunresources.com.

About Sorbie Bornholm LP (https://sorbiebornholm.com/)

Sorbie Bornholm LP is a global investment firm that provides funding for ongoing business objectives to listed micro, small and mid-cap growth companies. We focus on public equity investments in companies that are looking to expand – and on management teams with a clear growth strategy. Our extensive experience allows us to invest in most industries – and to focus on providing supportive, longer-term capital that rewards company growth.

Since 2000, Sorbie Bornholm LP founder Greg Kofford has perfected the ‘Sorbie-Strategy’, utilizing a Sharing Agreement that supports management and rewards growth. This unique approach has now been used in over 70 investments – with many of those resulting in the companies receiving more cash than the original offering proceeds, without having to issue any additional shares.

Sorbie Bornholm’s core values drive who we are and how we invest. We are committed to developing long-term relationships with select listed public companies and their brokers & advisers. We focus on providing supportive, longer-term capital that rewards growth. We invest to make a difference, to become a valued partner and to be a shareholder of choice. It’s important to us that we succeed together.

About Homerun (www.homerunresources.com / www.homerunenergy.com)

Homerun is building the silica-powered backbone of the energy transition across four focused verticals: Silica, Solar, Energy Storage, and Energy Solutions. Anchored by a unique high-purity low-iron silica resource in Bahia, Brazil, Homerun transforms raw silica into essential products and technologies that accelerate clean power adoption and deliver durable shareholder value.

  • ⁠Silica: Secure supply and processing of high-purity low-iron silica for mission-critical applications, enabling premium solar glass and advanced energy materials.
  • Solar: Development of Latin America’s first dedicated 1,000 tonne per day high-efficiency solar glass plant and the commercialization of antimony-free solar glass designed for next-generation photovoltaic performance.
  • Energy Storage: Advancement of long-duration, silica-based thermal storage systems and related technologies to decarbonize industrial heat and unlock grid flexibility.
  • ⁠Energy Solutions: AI-enabled energy management, control systems, and turnkey electrification solutions that reduce costs and optimize renewable generation for commercial and industrial customers.

With disciplined execution, strategic partnerships, and an unwavering commitment to best-in-class ESG practices, Homerun is focused on converting milestones into markets-creating a scalable, vertically integrated platform for clean energy manufacturing in the Americas.

On behalf of the Board of Directors of
Homerun Resources Inc.

‘Brian Leeners’

Brian Leeners, CEO & Director
brianleeners@gmail.com / +1 604-862-4184 (WhatsApp)

Tyler Muir, Investor Relations
info@homerunresources.com / +1 306-690-8886 (WhatsApp)

FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE

The information contained herein contains ‘forward-looking statements’ within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking statements relate to information that is based on assumptions of management, forecasts of future results, and estimates of amounts not yet determinable. Any statements that express predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance are not statements of historical fact and may be ‘forward-looking statements’.

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

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To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/277257

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Homerun Resources Inc. (TSXV: HMR,OTC:HMRFF) (OTCQB: HMRFF) (‘Homerun’ or the ‘Company’) is pleased to announce that it has closed its financing, previously announced on June 16, 2025, with an arm’s length institutional investor, Sorbie Bornholm LP (the ‘Investor’) for aggregate proceeds of CDN$6,000,000 (the ‘Offering’) at a price of $1.00 per unit (‘Unit’).

Pursuant to the terms and conditions of a Sharing Agreement and other supporting agreements between the parties, the proceeds have been deposited into escrow and the release of the shares, warrants and cash shall be as follows:

  • The Investor deposited CDN$6,000,000 into a third-party escrow account.
  • The Company will issue 6,000,000 shares into escrow and the warrants will be issued to the Investor on each monthly settlement date.
  • Over a 24-month period, the cash and shares will be released from escrow monthly based on the Company’s market price at each release date.
  • The Investor will immediately receive upon closing 1,500,000 warrants exercisable at CDN$1.18 for three (3) years.
  • The Investor will also receive up to 4,960,000 additional warrants, released monthly over 24 months, priced at a 20% premium to the 5-day VWAP at the time of each issuance and exercisable for three (3) years from issuance.
  • The Company paid the Investor a corporate finance fee of $360,000 payable via the issuance of 360,000 Units and a due-diligence deposit of $100,000 payable via the issuance of 100,000 Units, both on the same terms as the Units and subject to the same escrow release schedule.

SHARING AGREEMENT

The Units to be issued under the Offering, representing $6,000,000 will be held pursuant to a sharing agreement between the Investor and the Company (the ‘Sharing Agreement’). The Sharing Agreement provides that the Company’s economic interest will be determined in 24 monthly settlement tranches as measured against the Benchmark Price (as defined herein). If, at the time of settlement, the Settlement Price (determined monthly based on a volume-weighted average price for 20 trading days prior to the settlement date) (the ‘Settlement Price’) exceeds the benchmark price of $1.178 (the ‘Benchmark Price’), the Company shall receive more than 100% of the monthly settlement due, on a pro-rata basis. There is no upper limit placed on the additional proceeds’ receivable by the Company as part of the monthly settlements. If, at the time of settlement, the Settlement Price is below the Benchmark Price of $1.178, the Company will receive less than 100% of the monthly settlement due on a pro-rata basis. In no event will a decline in the Settlement Price of the Units result in an increase in the number of Units being issued to Sorbie.

TABLE OF BENCHMARK PRICE PERFORMANCE POTENTIAL DISTRIBUTIONS:

Benchmark Price
(BMP)
VWAP
 Price
Monthly 
Release
Additional 
Monthly Cash
Monthly Net to Company Total Net to Company* Shares Issued
 to Sorbie in Placement
Benchmark Price 1.178 $250,000 $0 $250,000 $6,000,000 6,000,000
25% above BMP 1.4725 $250,000 $62,500 $312,500 $7,500,000 6,000,000
50% above BMP 1.767 $250,000 $125,000 $375,000 $9,000,000 6,000,000
100% above BMP 2.356 $250,000 $250,000 $500,000 $12,000,000 6,000,000
200% above BMP 3.534 $250,000 $500,000 $750,000 $18,000,000 6,000,000
300% above BMP 4.712 $250,000 $750,000 $1,000,000 $24,000,000 6,000,000
20% below BMP 0.9424 $250,000 ($50,000) $200,000 $4,800,000 6,000,000

 

*Assumes static VWAP for entire term and does not include any proceeds from the warrants

As part of the TSX Venture Exchange (‘TSXV‘) approval of the Offering, the Company shall be required to file a private placement submission through the TMX LINX portal within three (3) business days from the date that the Company receives the monthly settlement notice from the Investor. The TMX LINX submission must include the following requirements:

  • A final TSXV Form 4B detailing the cash release from escrow and the corresponding number of shares released from escrow, and confirming the number and details of the warrants issued from the Company’s treasury;
  • A copy of the Investor’s settlement notice;
  • A copy of the Company’s news release that discloses the details of the settlement; and
  • The minimum Exchange fee.

The Company relied on the listed issuer financing exemption under Part 5A of National Instrument 45-106 – Prospectus Exemptions, as amended by Coordinated Blanket Order 45-935 – Exemptions from Certain Conditions of the Listed Issuer Financing Exemption, for the Offering, and the shares and warrants will not be subject to restrictions on resale. An offering document dated December 1, 2025 related to the Offering is available under the Company’s profile at www.sedarplus.ca and at www.homerunresources.com.

About Sorbie Bornholm LP (https://sorbiebornholm.com/)

Sorbie Bornholm LP is a global investment firm that provides funding for ongoing business objectives to listed micro, small and mid-cap growth companies. We focus on public equity investments in companies that are looking to expand – and on management teams with a clear growth strategy. Our extensive experience allows us to invest in most industries – and to focus on providing supportive, longer-term capital that rewards company growth.

Since 2000, Sorbie Bornholm LP founder Greg Kofford has perfected the ‘Sorbie-Strategy’, utilizing a Sharing Agreement that supports management and rewards growth. This unique approach has now been used in over 70 investments – with many of those resulting in the companies receiving more cash than the original offering proceeds, without having to issue any additional shares.

Sorbie Bornholm’s core values drive who we are and how we invest. We are committed to developing long-term relationships with select listed public companies and their brokers & advisers. We focus on providing supportive, longer-term capital that rewards growth. We invest to make a difference, to become a valued partner and to be a shareholder of choice. It’s important to us that we succeed together.

About Homerun (www.homerunresources.com / www.homerunenergy.com)

Homerun is building the silica-powered backbone of the energy transition across four focused verticals: Silica, Solar, Energy Storage, and Energy Solutions. Anchored by a unique high-purity low-iron silica resource in Bahia, Brazil, Homerun transforms raw silica into essential products and technologies that accelerate clean power adoption and deliver durable shareholder value.

  • ⁠Silica: Secure supply and processing of high-purity low-iron silica for mission-critical applications, enabling premium solar glass and advanced energy materials.
  • Solar: Development of Latin America’s first dedicated 1,000 tonne per day high-efficiency solar glass plant and the commercialization of antimony-free solar glass designed for next-generation photovoltaic performance.
  • Energy Storage: Advancement of long-duration, silica-based thermal storage systems and related technologies to decarbonize industrial heat and unlock grid flexibility.
  • ⁠Energy Solutions: AI-enabled energy management, control systems, and turnkey electrification solutions that reduce costs and optimize renewable generation for commercial and industrial customers.

With disciplined execution, strategic partnerships, and an unwavering commitment to best-in-class ESG practices, Homerun is focused on converting milestones into markets-creating a scalable, vertically integrated platform for clean energy manufacturing in the Americas.

On behalf of the Board of Directors of
Homerun Resources Inc.

‘Brian Leeners’

Brian Leeners, CEO & Director
brianleeners@gmail.com / +1 604-862-4184 (WhatsApp)

Tyler Muir, Investor Relations
info@homerunresources.com / +1 306-690-8886 (WhatsApp)

FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE

The information contained herein contains ‘forward-looking statements’ within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking statements relate to information that is based on assumptions of management, forecasts of future results, and estimates of amounts not yet determinable. Any statements that express predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance are not statements of historical fact and may be ‘forward-looking statements’.

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

Corporate Logo

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/277257

News Provided by Newsfile via QuoteMedia

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

A sweeping new report warns that America’s top universities, including MIT, Stanford, Harvard and Princeton, have been quietly partnering with Chinese artificial intelligence labs deeply embedded in Beijing’s surveillance and security state and in some cases co-authoring thousands of papers with entities tied to oppressive efforts against Uyghur Muslims.

The report, released by Strategy Risks and the Human Rights Foundation on Monday morning, shows that two major Chinese state-backed labs, Zhejiang Lab and the Shanghai Artificial Intelligence Research Institute (SAIRI), have co-authored roughly 3,000 papers with Western researchers since 2020. 

The labs have direct ties to CETC, the CCP’s defense conglomerate that has sanctioned building the Xinjiang surveillance platform used to target Uyghur Muslims as part of an overall campaign against the group that the Biden and Trump administrations have labeled a ‘genocide.’

‘With Western support and U.S.government funding, the labs have developed technologies in multi-object tracking, gait recognition, and infrared detection,’ Strategy Risks said in a press release. ‘These collaborations facilitated human rights abuses, mass surveillance, and the transfer of sensitive U.S. technology to Chinese companies linked to the Chinese Communist Party.’

The authors stress that the core problem is not covert espionage, but the ‘shocking normalization’ of Western institutions treating Chinese security-linked labs as ordinary research partners, even though Chinese law requires all such entities to support state surveillance and intelligence efforts.

Inside China, no research entities are independent of the CCP, the study emphasizes, while explaining that China’s national security, intelligence, cybersecurity and data security laws compel all organizations, including supposedly civilian research labs, to share information with state security services, meaning Western research can be absorbed directly into systems of repression.

‘The findings show a staggering lack of interest among top Western AI ethics organizations and academic departments with respect to how the CCP weaponizes AI against its own citizens,’ Alex Gladstein, chief strategy officer of the Human Rights Foundation, told Fox News Digital.

‘Often, these organizations simply refuse to address AI and Chinese human rights issues. As the report reveals, there are often financial incentives and ties that prevent anyone from speaking up. HRF’s AI program exists to call out this hypocrisy and drive new investigative research into dictators and how they abuse AI to repress their citizens, while at the same time investing in open-source privacy protecting AI tools to expand individual freedom.’

The report also criticizes leading Western AI ethics institutes, including those at Oxford, Cambridge, MIT and Berkeley, for largely remaining silent on China’s use of AI for repression from 2020 to 2025, even as their universities continued collaborations. Only two organizations publicly condemned Beijing’s practices during that period.

Over the past decade, China has built the world’s most expansive digital police state in Xinjiang, where more than 1 million Uyghur Muslims have been subjected to mass detention, forced labor, coercive ‘re-education’ and blanket surveillance that tracks faces, voices, movements and even biometric data. 

‘The Chinese government systematically deploys surveillance technologies to target rights advocates, ethnic minorities — particularly Uyghurs and other Muslim populations in Xinjiang — and political dissidents,’ the study says.

The report concludes that without new guardrails, Western universities and public research agencies will continue supplying technical breakthroughs that ‘flow seamlessly into China’s apparatus of repression.’

 The authors call for mandatory human-rights due diligence for international research partnerships, greater transparency on foreign co-authorships, and limits on collaboration with Chinese state-linked labs tied to surveillance and defense.

Fox News Digital reached out to MIT, Harvard and Princeton for comment.


This post appeared first on FOX NEWS

Republican Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst, who chairs the Senate Small Business Committee, is urging 24 federal agencies to halt funding for a Biden-expanded program for ‘socially and economically disadvantaged’ business owners now under fire for alleged fraud and corruption, Fox News Digital has learned.

‘Despite concerns with the 8(a) program, Joe Biden opened the floodgates to fraud,’Ernst told Fox News Digital about the program. ‘I have found evidence of alarming, potentially fraudulent 8(a) awards made across government that need to be investigated. The program must be halted at every agency while a thorough review is conducted to ensure taxpayers are not being ripped off by con artists. Tax dollars designed to help small businesses must actually benefit all small businesses.’

The federal government’s 8(a) program is an initiative under the Small Business Administration (SBA) to assist ‘socially and economically disadvantaged’ small businesses, according to the agency’s website, including training and counseling, and exclusive access to federal contracting opportunities.

Ernst sent letters to the chiefs of 24 federal agencies that have established 8(a) programs — stretching from Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem — calling on them to halt funding amid fraud concerns. 

‘The SBA’s 8(a) program is the largest set-aside program at the agency, which dished out $40+ billion in contract awards during fiscal year 2024 (FY 24) alone,’ Ernst wrote in the letters. ‘Yet decades of Government Accountability Office (GAO), SBA’s Office of Inspector General, and DOJ probes expose the same rot. Sloppy oversight and weak enforcement measures allow 8(a) participants to act as pass-through entities, snagging unlimited no-bid deals with little transparency.4 Every loophole guts public trust and rigs the system against honest competitors.’

Ernst said the Biden administration tripled the initiative’s contracting goals from an original aim of awarding 5% of federal contracts to 8(a) companies, up to 15% during his tenure. Ernst pointed to a recent Department of Justice bust in her push to halt funding, as well as an October guerrilla-style sting interview conducted by James O’Keefe that allegedly uncovered an 8(a) firm admitting ‘to Violating Federal Law, Using Minority-Owned Status as a Front to Obtain $100M+ No-Bid Government Contracts While Outsourcing 80% of the Work.’

The Department of Justice in June arrested four individuals in Maryland and Florida for running an alleged decade-long bribery scheme involving at least 14 8(a) contracts worth over $550 million in U.S. taxpayer dollars. One of the four men arrested was a government contractor for the United States Agency for International Development, according to the Department of Justice. The men pleaded guilty in the scheme. 

The scheme involved bribes such as cash, NBA tickets and a country club wedding, Fox News chief Washington correspondent Mike Emanuel reported in June. 

SBA Chief Kelly Loeffler ordered a full audit of all government contracting officers who have exercised grant-awarding authority under the agency’s business development program over the past 15 years back in June. She said the agency’s audit would begin with high-dollar and limited competition contracts within SBA’s 8(a) business development program. 

Loeffler, following O’Keefe’s investigation, opened an investigation related to that contract, she reported on X in October. 

The 8(a) program is facing intensifying heat after Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent announced ‘a comprehensive audit of all contracts and task orders awarded under preference-based contracting, totaling approximately $9 billion in contract value across Treasury and its bureaus’ in November. 

The audit is focused on the ‘Small Business Administration’s 8(a) Business Development Program, and other initiatives that provide federal contracting preferences to certain eligible businesses,’ the department reported at the time. 

That same month, Ernst introduced legislation, ‘Stop 8(a) Contracting Fraud Act,’ to halt funding to all new no-bid awards until a thorough audit and report of the program is conducted. 

Loeffler additionally sent letters to all 4,300 8(a) contractors across the federal government, which ordered ‘them to produce financial records as part of a comprehensive effort to root out fraud, waste, and abuse,’ she posted to X Friday. 

‘Evidence indicates that the 8(a) Program, initially designed for ‘socially and economically disadvantaged’ businesses, has become a pass-through vehicle for rampant abuse — especially during the Biden Administration, which aggressively prioritized DEI over merit in federal contracting,’ Loeffler added. 

‘While there’s no doubt that the Biden Administration’s indifference toward 8(a) program integrity enabled swindlers and fraudsters to treat federal contracting programs like personal piggy banks, 8(a) program flaws have raised alarm bells for decades,’ Ernst continued in her letters. 

Ernst is calling on the chiefs of the 24 agencies to pause contracting, audit current contracts, review set-aside contracts awarded by the respective agencies since fiscal year 2020 and to report to the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship with any findings by Dec. 22. 

Fox News Digital reached out to Biden’s office regarding his administration’s expansion of the program and recent investigations into alleged fraud schemes, but did not immediately receive a reply.

Fox News Digital’s Andrew Mark Miller and Peter Pinedo contributed to this report. 


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The Supreme Court will weigh the legality of President Donald Trump’s attempt to fire a member of the Federal Trade Commission without cause on Monday — a blockbuster legal fight that could fundamentally reshape the balance of powers across the federal government, and formally topple a 90-year-old court precedent.  

Justices agreed earlier this year to take up the case, which centers on Trump’s firing of Federal Trade Commission member Rebecca Slaughter, a Democrat, without cause and well before her term was slated to expire in 2029. 

Slaughter sued immediately to challenge her removal, arguing that it violated protections the Supreme Court enshrined in Humphrey’s Executor, a 1935 ruling that restricted a president’s ability to remove the heads of independent agencies, such as the FTC, without cause. 

Slaughter also argued her removal violates the Federal Trade Commission Act, or a 1914 law passed by Congress that shields FTC members from being removed by a president except in circumstances of ‘inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office.’

A federal judge sided with Slaughter’s lawyers in July, agreeing that her firing unlawfully exceeded Trump’s executive branch powers and ordered her reinstated. The Supreme Court in September stayed that decision temporarily, allowing Trump’s firing to remain in effect pending their review.

The Supreme Court’s willingness to review the case is a sign that justices might be ready to do away completely with Humphrey’s protections, which have already been weakened significantly over the last 20 years. Allowing Humphey’s to be watered down further, or overturned completely, could allow sitting presidents to wield more authority in ordering the at-will firing of members of other federal regulatory agencies, including the National Labor Relations Board and the Securities and Exchange Commission, among others, and replacing them with persons of their choosing.

The six conservative justices on the high court signaled as much when they agreed to review the case earlier this year. (Justices split along ideological lines in agreeing to take up the case, with Justices Elena Kagan, Sonia Sotomayor and Ketanji Brown Jackson dissenting.)

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They asked both parties to come prepared to address two key questions in oral arguments: First, whether the removal protections for FTC members ‘violates the separation of powers and, if so, whether Humphrey’s Executor, should be overruled,’ and whether a federal court may prevent a person’s removal from public office, ‘either through relief at equity or at law.’

U.S. Solicitor General D. John Sauer has asked the high court to overrule Humphrey’s. He argued in a filing that the FTC authorities of today vastly exceed the authorities granted to the commission in 1935. ‘The notion that some agencies that exercise executive power can be sequestered from presidential control seriously offends the Constitution’s structure and the liberties that the separation of powers protects,’ he said.

A decision is expected to be handed down by the end of June.

The case, Trump v. Slaughter, is one of four cases the Supreme Court’s conservative majority has agreed to review this term that centers on key separation of powers issues, and questions involving the so-called unitary executive theory. 

Critics have cited concerns that the court’s decision to take up the cases could eliminate lasting bulwarks in place to protect against the whims of a sitting president, regardless of political party.

It also comes as justices for the Supreme Court’s 6-3 conservative majority have grappled with a flurry of similar lawsuits filed this year by other Trump-fired Democratic board members, including Gwynne Wilcox of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) and Cathy Harris of the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB).

The arguments in Trump v. Slaughter will be closely watched and are expected to inform how the court will consider a similar case in January, centered on Trump’s attempted ouster of Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook.

Since taking office, Trump has signed hundreds of executive orders and ordered sweeping personnel actions that have restructured federal agencies and led to mass layoffs across federal agencies, including leaders that were believed to be insulated from the whims of a sitting president.


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