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Investing in silver futures is one of many options for those interested in entering the silver market.

The highest price for silver to date was reached half a century ago, when the precious metal hit US$48.70 per ounce. With the silver price hitting US$44 per ounce following the US Federal Reserve’s September 2025 rate cut, investors are wondering if the white metal will it break past its record. Some silver bulls believe that could happen in the near future, with a few market insiders even calling for a triple-digit silver price.

Trading silver futures is not the same as owning physical bullion, but it’s a popular strategy for advanced investors with a higher risk tolerance. Read on to learn more about how silver futures work and what role they can play in a portfolio.

What are silver futures?

Silver futures trading involves an agreement between a buyer and a seller in which physical silver will be bought by the buyer and delivered by the seller for a fixed price at a date set in the future.

Most traders (especially short-term traders) aren’t concerned about delivery when it comes to silver futures — they typically use cash to settle their long or short positions before they expire or defer them to the next available delivery month. Overall, very few silver futures contracts traded each year actually result in the delivery of the underlying commodity.

What exchanges are silver futures traded on?

Silver futures can be traded on various global exchanges, but the COMEX is a common option. The COMEX is one of four exchanges that make up CME Group, which bills itself as the world’s leading derivatives marketplace.

On the COMEX, monthly silver futures contracts are listed for the current calendar month or the following two calendar months, plus any January, March, May or September within a 23 month period. July and December are also included should they fall within a 60 month period, beginning with the current month. The material offered must assay to a minimum of 999 fineness.

According to Investopedia, silver futures on the COMEX are quoted in US dollars per troy ounce and are traded in units of various sizes, ranging from 1,000 (known as micro contracts) to 2,500 (E-mini contracts) to 5,000 (full contracts) troy ounces. For example, a price quote of US$24 for 5,000 troy ounces would cost approximately US$120,000.

In the case of a full contract, investors who wait for their silver futures to mature will either receive or deliver a 5,000 troy ounce COMEX silver warrant for a full-sized silver future, depending on if they are the buyer or the seller. One warrant entitles the holder to ownership of equivalent bars of silver in designated depositories, such as with the The Brink’s Co (NYSE:BCO), HSBC Holdings (NYSE:HSBC, LSE:HSBA), Manfra Tordella & Brookes, Delaware Depository and JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM).

The COMEX settlement process is different for smaller silver futures contracts.

Silver futures are also traded electronically on the Indian National Commodity & Derivatives Exchange (NCDEX), the Dubai Gold & Commodities Exchange (DGCX), the Multi Commodity Exchange of India (MCX) and the Tokyo Commodity Exchange (TOCOM).

Why invest in silver futures?

Silver typically follows in the footsteps of gold and is considered a safe-haven asset. Investors tend to flock to precious metals in times of turmoil, which bumps up demand, and if gold is too expensive, silver is a cheaper option.

Futures offer a limit on potential losses to buyers, which attracts those interested in hedging. Hedgers such as producers, portfolio managers and consumers often use futures to mitigate price risk — their goal is to protect themselves from inflation and to reap the rewards of favorable price movements. On the flip side, speculative investors can use silver futures to gain exposure to the white metal while only putting up a fraction of the total cost for a contract.

Of course, silver has equal potential to suffer large losses in the futures market — due to the leverage involved, investors can lose funds in their accounts quickly. For that reason, experts often encourage inexperienced market participants to avoid the futures market until they have a good idea of their desired risk profile, time horizon and cost considerations.

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

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

Investing

Investing in Gold Royalty and Streaming Stocks

Gold royalty companies offer investors exposure to gold and silver with the benefits of diversification, lower risk and a steady income stream.

Royalty companies operating in the resource sector will typically agree to provide funding for the exploration or development of a resource in exchange for a percentage of revenue from the deposit if it begins producing. Similarly, a company with a streaming model may work out an agreement with a resource company for a share of the metal produced from a deposit in exchange for an investment.

These kinds of arrangements benefit both parties. Streamers get access to the underlying commodity at a fixed price and are shielded from cost overruns and spikes in production. Further, if there is a price decrease the metals can be warehoused until the market conditions improve. In both cases, mining companies receive considerable upfront investment during the expensive construction and expansion phases, and unlike loans these investments have longer-term payouts at a fixed amount.

Let’s take a deeper look at how royalties and streaming works, their benefits and the gold and silver royalty and streaming stocks you can invest in.

How do gold and silver royalties work?

Gold and silver royalty agreements involve royalty companies agreeing to provide funding for the exploration or development of a precious metals resource in exchange for a percentage of revenue from the deposit if it begins producing metals.

The foundation for royalties dates back a few hundred years. Originally, they were payments made to the British monarchy in exchange for miners’ rights to operate gold and silver mining operations on lands held by the crown. Today, these arrangements still exist, with mining operators paying the government a share of the revenues generated from exploiting resources on public lands.

The first royalty paid to a company in the gold sector was an agreement in 1986 in which Franco-Nevada (TSX:FNV,NYSE:FNV) made a US$2 million investment into Western States Minerals’ Goldstrike small heap-leach mine in Nevada, US, for a 4 percent share of revenues collected from the mine. Western States was sold the same year to Barrick Gold (TSX:ABX,NYSE:GOLD). Barrick discovered a far larger resource at the site and the royalty has since earned Franco-Nevada more than US$1 billion.

This early example set a precedent for the industry. It saw Franco-Nevada, which was then a gold exploration company, lock itself into what became one of the largest gold mineral resources in the world at a relatively low overhead while avoiding future costs associated with the growth and maintenance of the mine.

How do gold and silver streams work?

Gold and silver streams work in a similar manner to the royalty model but returns are in the form of physical metals rather than funds. In return for investing in an asset, a gold streaming company may work out an agreement with a resource company for a share of the metal produced from a deposit, or for the ability to purchase the metal at a lower price than market value.

This is also a popular model with base metal mining companies whose operations result in gold and/or silver by-products. In these cases, gold and silver streaming companies may work out a deal with a base metal mining operation to take delivery of a certain amount of precious metals at an agreed upon price.

The Goldstrike royalty made Franco-Nevada what it is today, but its largest contributing asset in its portfolio is a deal with Lundin Mining (TSX:LUN,OTC Pink:LUNMF) for a stream of the gold and silver resources extracted from its Candelaria copper mine in Chile.

Under the terms of the deal, which was part of Lundin’s 2014 acquisition of Freeport-McMoRan’s (NYSE:FCX) stake in Candelaria, Franco-Nevada provided a US$648 million deposit in exchange for a 68 percent stream of the asset’s silver and gold. This will lower to 40 percent once 720,000 ounces of gold and 12 million ounces of silver have been delivered, which the company currently predicts will take place in 2027.

While Franco-Nevada does have to pay for the metal, the agreed upon amount is far under the current market value. At the time, the deal was set at US$400 for each ounce of gold and US$4 per ounce of silver with a 1 percent inflationary adjustment, or market price if that was less.

Are royalty and streaming companies a good investment?

Royalty and streaming companies are largely seen as a lower-risk investment than mining companies. Lower operational costs and higher portfolio diversification means they are hedged against a mine shutdown, natural disaster, market forces or the politics that may affect the nature of an operation or project. However, that’s not to say royalty and streaming deals aren’t without their risks.

In many ways, gold royalty companies are like venture capitalists in the tech industry, working to fund many projects in the hopes that some will see big payoffs that offset the loss from the ones that don’t make it. This means they need large access to funding in order to build their portfolios.

To get funding, royalty and streaming companies have several options: using cash on hand, raising debt through loans or issuing more shares. Each of these options carries risk. Using cash to pay for investments could reduce the size of the safety net and eat into company liquidity, debt needs to be managed to ensure that payments don’t exceed income and the issuance of stock could lead to an overall devaluation of share price and impact investor sentiment.

Once companies have developed strong cash flows and good liquidity, they are able to take advantage of their own reserves, without the need to worry about loans or stock dilution. The same cannot be said for the up-and-coming companies who need to rely on external funding to make deals, making them riskier.

These companies provide a good entry point for investors with lower share price, and have more potential to return higher percentage gains in share price, they also bear more risk. With more reliance on raising external capital, there is a greater need for deals to be successful and a greater chance for a company to incur more debt load or stock dilution.

Diverse portfolios can help reduce the risk associated with a royalty company, and companies like Franco-Nevada have the industry knowledge and financial capital to take some risks. As of February 2025, the company has 430 assets on their books; of those, 119 are producing, and 38 are in the advanced stages of development. It’s the 273 more that are in the exploration phase, many of which will never provide returns, that represent the greatest risk.

Of course, unforeseen events can affect both mining and royalty companies alike, particularly when assets that take up a larger percentage or a portfolio are affected. Franco-Nevada had more than US$1 billion invested in First Quantum’s (TSX:FM,OTC Pink:FQVLF) Cobre Panama mine before it was shuttered by the Panamanian government following protests at the end of 2023. The mine brought in US$223.3 million for Franco-Nevada in 2022 and represented nearly a quarter of its precious metal income. While it fared better than First Quantum, the royalty company’s share price took a significant hit.

Gold and silver royalty companies

The biggest companies in the precious metals royalty and streaming space have long histories and have built positive reputations on the backs of strong investments. They offer a means for investors to de-risk an entry into the gold sector by maintaining an arms-length attachment to it.

The five gold and silver royalty and streaming companies on this list had market caps above $1 billion in their respective currencies as of September 23, 2025.

1. Wheaton Precious Metals (TSX:WPM,NYSE:WPM)

Market cap: C$67.59 billion

Wheaton Precious Metals was established in 2004 as Silver Wheaton with a focus on silver streaming. Goldcorp held a majority interest, but began to reduce it in 2006 and by 2008 had completely divested itself. By that time, Silver Wheaton had begun to diversify into other precious metals. The following year, Silver Wheaton acquired rival silver streaming stock Silverstone Resources in a C$190 million deal.

Silver Wheaton changed its name in 2017 to Wheaton Precious Metals and has since built itself into one of the largest players in the gold and silver royalty and streaming space, with investments in 16 operating mines and 23 development projects across five continents.

Included in Wheaton’s assets are investments in Newmont’s (TSX:NGT,NYSE:NEM,ASX:NEM) Peñasquito mine in Mexico, Sibanye Stillwater’s (NYSE:SBSW) Stillwater and East Boulder mines in Montana, US, and Hudbay Minerals’ (TSX:HBM,NYSE:HBM) Copper World Complex project in Arizona, US.

2. Franco-Nevada (TSX:FNV,NYSE:FNV)

Market cap: C$57 billion

A trailblazer in the gold royalty business, Franco-Nevada has set a high bar. The current iteration of the company was spun out of Newmont in what became a C$1.1 billion initial public offering, one of the biggest IPOs of 2007.

Franco-Nevada now has a portfolio of royalties and streams on 119 producing assets around the world including gold, silver, base metal and oil and gas operations, which generate more than US$1.2 billion for the company annually.

Among the producing assets for which Franco-Nevada has precious metals streams and royalties are Glencore’s (LSE:GLEN,OTC Pink:GLCNF) Antapaccay mine in Peru, Agnico Eagle’s (NYSE:AEM,TSX:AEM) Detour Lake mine in Ontario, Canada, and Gold Fields’ (NYSE:GFI) Salares Norte mine in Chile.

See the sections above for more information on Franco-Nevada’s royalty and streaming deals.

3. Royal Gold (NASDAQ:RGLD)

Market cap: US$13.63 billion

Royal Gold got its start in 1981 as oil and gas exploration and production company Royal Resources.

Responding to shifts in the overall resource market, by 1987, Royal Gold was born with a focus on building a portfolio of minority positions in significant gold properties operated by major mining firms.

Today, Royal Gold is a leading precious metals streaming and royalty company with interest in 175 properties, of which 42 are producing assets, across 17 countries.

Among its assets are Barrick Mining (TSX:ABX,NYSE:B) and Newmont’s Cortez mine in Nevada, US, Teck’s (TSX:TECK.A,TECK.B,NYSE:TECK) Andacollo mine in Chile and Centerra Gold’s (TSX:CG,NYSE:CGAU) Mount Milligan mine in British Columbia, Canada.

Royal Gold is planning to acquire Sandstorm Gold, the fifth largest gold royalty company on this list. The deal is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2025.

4. OR Royalties (TSX:OR,NYSE:OR)

Market cap: C$5.1 billion

Previously named Osisko Gold Royalties, OR Royalties was created in 2014 as a spinoff deal between Osisko Mining (TSX:OSK), Yamana Gold and Agnico Eagle Mines (TSX:AEM,NYSE:AEM). The deal was made in an attempt to prevent a hostile takeover of Osisko Mining and its Canadian Malartic gold complex by Goldcorp, now part of Newmont.

In the deal, OR Royalties carried with it a 5 percent net smelter return royalty from the Canadian Malartic mine. Now owned by Agnico Eagle, the complex in Québec remains a cornerstone of the royalty company’s business today.

The gold and silver royalty and streaming company has gone on to amass royalties, streams and offtakes for 195 assets, 21 of which are producing, across six continents.

The majority are located in North America, including one of the most well-known gold-producing mines in the world, Agnico Eagle’s Canadian Malartic complex in Québec, as well as SSR Mining’s (NASDAQ:SSRM,TSX:SSRM) Seabee mine in Saskatchewan, Canada, and Kinross Gold’s (TSX:K,NYSE:KGC) Bald Mountain mine in Nevada.

5. Sandstorm Gold (TSX:SSL,NYSE:SAND)

Market cap: C$3.51 billion

Sandstorm Gold Royalties was founded in 2008 as a small startup and has since become a multi-billion dollar gold and silver royalty and streaming company.

Sandstorm’s royalty portfolio boasts more than 230 assets, of which 40 are producing assets, located across more than a dozen countries.

Its producing assets include Pan American Silver’s (TSX:PAAS,NYSE:PAAS) Ceo Moro mine and Cerrado Gold’s (TSX:CERT,OTCQX:CRDOF) Las Calandrias mine, both located in Argentina, as well as Ivanhoe’s (TSX:IVN,OTCQX:IVPAF) Platreef mine in South Africa.

Sandstorm is set to be acquired by fellow royalty company Royalty Gold in a deal expected to close in Q4.

Small-cap gold and silver royalty companies

There are also small-cap gold and silver royalty and streaming companies you can invest in and offer a lower-cost option for investors who are comfortable with a little more risk. Like their larger counterparts, small-cap gold royalty stocks offer a lower-risk investment than getting into a small-cap mining company but still provide access to the underlying precious metals market.

The five small-cap gold and silver royalty companies on this list had market caps above $10 million in their respective currencies as of September 23, 2025.

1. Gold Royalty (NYSEAMERICAN:GROY)

Market cap: US$648.7 million

Gold Royalty is building a diversified portfolio of more than 240 gold royalty and gold streaming interests based on net smelter return royalties on properties in the Americas.

The company’s revenue generating investments include Agnico Eagle’s Canadian Malartic complex in Québec, Dundee Precious Metals’ (TSX:DPM) Vareš mine in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Discovery Silver’s (TSX:DSV,OTCQX:DSVSF) Borden mine in Ontario.

2. Metalla Royalty & Streaming (TSXV:MTA)

Market cap: C$752.37 million

Metalla Royalty & Streaming focuses on gold, silver and copper projects. The company’s royalty model involves acquiring royalties and streams by offering resource companies Metalla shares and cash.

The mid-tier royalty and streaming company’s asset portfolio includes more than 100 projects across North America, South America and Australia. Its cornerstone assets include IAMGOLD (TSX:IMG,NYSE:IAG) and Sumitomo Metal Mining’s (OTC Pink:SSUMF,TSE:5713) Côté gold mine in Ontario, Canada, and First Quantum Minerals’ (TSX:FM) Taca Taca project in Argentina.

3. Sailfish Royalty (TSXV:FISH,OTCQX:SROYF)

Market cap: C$227.57 million

Founded in 2014, Sailfish Royalty’s asset portfolio is much smaller than the other gold royalty stocks on this list. It consists of one producing mine as well as two development-stage and two exploration-stage properties in the Americas.

In Nicaragua, Sailfish has a gold stream equivalent to a 3 percent net smelter return on Mako Mining’s (TSXV:MKO,OTCQX:MAKOF) San Albino gold mine and a 2 percent net smelter return on the area surrounding the mine. The company also holds a 13,500 ounce per quarter silver stream at the property, which was set to expire in May 2025. At the end of April, Sailfish chose to exercise its option to purchase all silver for the life of the mine.

4. Empress Royalty (TSXV:EMPR,OTCQX:EMPYF)

Market cap: C$113.23 million

Empress Royalty’s business model involves investing in mining companies in various stages of exploration through production who need further non-dilutive capital to fund their projects and operations.

Empress’ gold and silver royalty and streaming portfolio includes 10 exploration assets in Canada and four producing assets, with two in the Americas and two in Africa: the privately owned Sierra Antapite mine in Peru, Luca Mining’s (TSXV:LUCA,OTCQX:LUCMF) Tahuehueto mine in Mexico, the privately owned Manica mine in Mozambique and Golconda Gold’s (TSXV:GG,OTCQB:GGGOF) Galaxy gold mine in South Africa.

Empress has a silver stream for Tahuehueto and gold streams for the other three mines.

5. Silver Crown Royalties (CBOE:SCRI,OTCQX:SLCRF)

Market cap: C$17.34 million

Silver Crown Royalties is a revenue-generating silver-only royalty company focusing on silver as by-product credits. The company targets royalty originations on producing or near-producing assets in tier 1 jurisdictions.

Silver Crown has royalties on two producing assets in its portfolio: Gold Mountain Mining’s (TSX:GMTN) Elk gold project in British Columbia, Canada, and private Canadian company Pilar Gold’s PGDM mine in Brazil.

Gold and silver royalty ETFs

Those who want more broad exposure to the precious metals markets may want to buy shares of an exchange-traded fund that includes gold and silver royalty and streaming stocks. Here are a few to get you started, including ASX gold ETFs and a US gold ETF.

Betashares Global Royalties ETF (ASX:ROYL)
The Betashares Global Royalties ETF is an Australian ETF that tracks the performance of an index of global companies that earn a significant amount of their revenue from royalty income, royalty-related income and intellectual property income. The fund’s top two holdings are Wheaton Precious Metals and Franco-Nevada, with Royal Gold and OR Royalties also among its significant holdings.

Betashares Global Gold Miners ETF (ASX:MNRS)
The Betashares Global Gold Miners ETF tracks the performance of an index of the world’s largest gold mining companies outside of Australia, hedged into Australian dollars. Wheaton Precious Metals, Franco-Nevada and Royal Gold are also among the fund’s top holdings.

VanEck Gold Miners ETF (ARCA:GDX)
The VanEck Gold Miners ETF is a US gold ETF that aims to replicate the performance of the MarketVector Global Gold Miners Index by holding large-cap gold mining stocks and precious metals royalty companies. As with the other gold ETFs on this list, its top holdings include Franco-Nevada, Wheaton Precious Metals and Royal Gold.

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

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

Politics

Comey indicted for alleged false statements, obstruction of congressional proceeding

Former FBI Director James Comey was indicted by a grand jury on two counts, alleged false statements within jurisdiction of the legislative branch and obstruction of congressional proceeding, Fox News Digital has learned.

Fox News Digital exclusively reported in July that Comey was under criminal investigation by the FBI. The probe into Comey centered on whether he lied to Congress during his Sept. 30, 2020, testimony about his handling of the original Trump–Russia probe at the FBI, known inside the bureau as ‘Crossfire Hurricane.’

‘No one is above the law,’ Attorney General Pam Bondi said on X. ‘Today’s indictment reflects this Department of Justice’s commitment to holding those who abuse positions of power accountable for misleading the American people. We will follow the facts in this case.’

FBI Director Kash Patel took to X to say, ‘Today, your FBI took another step in its promise of full accountability.’

‘For far too long, previous corrupt leadership and their enablers weaponized federal law enforcement, damaging once proud institutions and severely eroding public trust,’ Patel wrote. ‘Every day, we continue the fight to earn that trust back, and under my leadership, this FBI will confront the problem head-on. Nowhere was this politicization of law enforcement more blatant than during the Russiagate hoax, a disgraceful chapter in history we continue to investigate and expose.

‘Everyone, especially those in positions of power, will be held to account – no matter their perch.’

The indictment alleges that Comey obstructed a congressional investigation into the disclosure of sensitive information in violation of 18 USC 1505.

The indictment also alleges Comey made a false statement when he stated he did not authorize someone at the FBI to be an anonymous source. According to the indictment, that statement was false.

Fox News Digital also exclusively reported that former CIA Director John Brennan is under criminal investigation related to the Trump–Russia probe.

Under federal law, prosecutors have five years to bring a charge, with the five-year mark occurring Tuesday.

The case is being handled by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.

‘JUSTICE IN AMERICA!’ President Trump posted to his Truth Social account. ‘One of the worst human beings this Country has ever been exposed to is James Comey, the former Corrupt Head of the FBI. Today he was indicted by a Grand Jury on two felony counts for various illegal and unlawful acts.

‘He has been so bad for our Country, for so long, and is now at the beginning of being held responsible for his crimes against our Nation. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!’

The FBI opened its Trump-Russia probe in July 2016, known inside the bureau as ‘Crossfire Hurricane.’

President Trump, during his first term, fired Comey in May 2017.

Days later, Robert Mueller was appointed special counsel to take over the FBI’s original ‘Crossfire Hurricane’ investigation.

After nearly two years, former Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation, which concluded in March 2019, yielded no evidence of criminal conspiracy or coordination between the Trump campaign and Russian officials during the 2016 presidential election.

Shortly after, John Durham was appointed as special counsel to investigate the origins of the ‘Crossfire Hurricane’ probe.

Durham found that the FBI ‘failed to act’ on a ‘clear warning sign’ that the bureau was the ‘target’ of a Clinton-led effort to ‘manipulate or influence the law enforcement process for political purposes’ ahead of the 2016 presidential election.

‘The aforementioned facts reflect a rather startling and inexplicable failure to adequately consider and incorporate the Clinton Plan intelligence into the FBI’s investigative decision-making in the Crossfire Hurricane investigation,’ Durham’s report states.

‘Indeed, had the FBI opened the Crossfire Hurricane investigation as an assessment and, in turn, gathered and analyzed data in concert with the information from the Clinton Plan intelligence, it is likely that the information received would have been examined, at a minimum, with a more critical eye,’ the report continued.

Durham, in his report, said the FBI ‘failed to act on what should have been — when combined with other incontrovertible facts — a clear warning sign that the FBI might then be the target of an effort to manipulate or influence the law enforcement process for political purposes during the 2016 presidential election.’

Fox News’ David Spunt contributed to this report.

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS

Politics

Trump stakes Gaza peace hopes on 21-point plan as Israel, Houthis continue deadly fighting

New York, NY – As President Donald Trump’s new peace plan circulates at the United Nations, Israel launched long-range strikes deep inside Yemen, hitting targets more than 2,000 kilometers from home and underscoring how volatile the Middle East remains even as diplomacy plays out in New York.

Trump unveiled a 21-point initiative to end the Gaza war during meetings with Arab leaders on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly this week.

A White House official, speaking on background, told Fox News Digital, ‘The President underscored his desire to bring fighting in Gaza to an expeditious close. Special envoy Witkoff summarized the U.S. plan for Gaza, including the return of all hostages living and deceased, no further attacks on Qatar, a new dialogue between Israel and Palestinians for peaceful coexistence and more.

‘Foreign partners expressed broad agreement that President Trump was the only one who could end the fighting in Gaza and expressed the hope that they could work together with Special Envoy Witkoff to consider the President’s plan as Americans continue to engage with Israeli officials,’ the White House official added.

Arab officials told Fox News Digital that, during the meeting, leaders pressed Trump to confirm he would block Israeli annexation of the West Bank, describing the discussion as ‘productive.’

Speaking at the Concordia Annual Summit in New York, U.S. special envoy for the Middle East Steve Witkoff also described a ‘very productive’ meeting Tuesday between Trump and officials from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Egypt, Jordan, Turkey, Indonesia and Pakistan.

‘We presented what we call the Trump 21-point plan for peace in the Middle East,’ Witkoff said. ‘I think it addresses Israeli concerns as well as concerns of neighbors in the region.’

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, speaking in a recorded UNGA address after being barred from entry to the U.S., also signaled support.

‘We declare that we are ready to work with U.S. President Donald Trump and with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and France, the United Nations and all partners to implement the peace plan that was approved in the conference that was held on the 22nd of September, in a way that would lead towards a just peace and regional cooperation,’ Abbas said.

Abbas added that the PA is prepared to take over security and governance in Gaza, while Hamas must disarm.

‘The dawn of freedom will emerge, and the flag of Palestine will fly high in our skies as a symbol of dignity, steadfastness and being free from the yoke of occupation,’ he said. ‘Palestine is ours. Jerusalem is the jewel of our hearts and our eternal capital. We will not leave our homeland. We will not leave our lands.’

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, before departing for New York, where he is scheduled to address the UNGA Friday, said without directly commenting on the 21-point proposal, ‘In Washington, I will meet for the fourth time with President Trump, and I will discuss with him the great opportunities our victories have brought, as well as our need to complete the war’s objectives: to return all of our hostages, to defeat Hamas and to expand the circle of peace that has come our way following the historic victory.’

Even as Trump pushed diplomacy in New York, Israel expanded its campaign against Iran-backed militias. The IDF confirmed Thursday it carried out a wide wave of airstrikes against Houthi targets in Sana’a, Yemen, less than 24 hours after a Houthi drone slammed into a hotel in Eilat, wounding 24 people, two of them seriously.

Saudi and Israeli media reported more than 10 strikes during the Houthis’ weekly address, targeting command centers, intelligence headquarters and military compounds. Israeli officials estimate over 50 militants were killed. The IDF said the operation involved dozens of aircraft and long-range refueling, marking Israel’s 15th strike in Yemen since the war began.

Defense Minister Israel Katz said the raids, carried out under the code name Package Delivered, dealt a heavy blow.

‘We struck numerous terror targets of the Houthi regime in Sana’a, eliminating dozens of operatives and destroying stockpiles of drones and weapons,’ Katz declared. ‘As I promised yesterday — those who harm us will be harmed sevenfold.’

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS

Investing

West High YieldResources Ltd. Responds to SRRAC Judicial Review Filing and Affirms EAO Decision

West High Yield (W.H.Y.) Resources Ltd. (TSXV: WHY,OTC:WHYRF) (FSE: W0H) (the ‘Company’ or ‘West High Yield’) responds to the unfounded allegations made by the Save Record Ridge Action Committee (‘SRRAC’) in its recent announcement regarding a judicial review application filed against the British Columbia Environmental Assessment Office’s (‘EAO’) final decision not to designate the Record Ridge Industrial Minerals Project (the ‘Project’) for environmental assessment.

The SRRAC’s claims mischaracterize both the nature of the Project and the regulatory oversight process. West High Yield has consistently acted in full compliance with British Columbia’s laws, regulatory thresholds, and environmental safeguards. The Company is confident that the EAO decision will withstand the court’s review.

‘Our Company has followed the law at every stage of this process,’ said Frank Marasco, President and Chief Executive Officer of West High Yield. ‘The EAO made its determination independently, based on evidence, thresholds, and precedent. The Company remains committed to transparency, environmental protection, and ensuring the Project delivers lasting benefits to local communities, Indigenous partners, and the Province of B.C. The allegations that we attempted to mislead regulators or put the public at risk are unfounded,. and we will vigorously contest these claims.’

The below details all of the steps taken by the Company in furtherance of the Project, as well as key highlights and milestones of the Project up to the date of this news release:

Regulatory Compliance and Transparency

For six years, the Project application advanced under the British Columbia Mines Development Review Committee guidance as an ‘Industrial Minerals Mine‘, where the environmental assessment threshold is 250,000 tonnes per year. The Company applied for 200,000 tonnes for the Project, which was below the assessment threshold.
In 2024, the EAO reclassified the Project as a ‘Mineral Mine’, with a lower threshold of 75,000 tonnes. The Company amended its application to 63,500 tonnes per year, which was below the assessment threshold.
The EAO’s final report confirmed that ‘intended operational production capacity’ (not speculative or theoretical maximum capacity) is the required legal test, citing the British Columbia Court of Appeal’s Friends of Davie Bay decision (2012 BCCA 293).

Independent Oversight by the EAO

The EAO conducted a rigorous, independent review of the revised scope, confirming the Project does not exceed the 75,000-tonne per year threshold requiring an environmental assessment.
SRRAC’s response to the EAO’s draft report was filed nearly seven weeks after the deadline set by the EAO for stakeholders. Despite this, the EAO nonetheless considered it before issuing its final decision.
The assertion by SRRAC that the EAO accepted the Project’s updated plans ‘at face value’ is simply not credible. The EAO is an independent body and it assessed the Project against legal thresholds and regulatory rules and regulations, as required by law.

Indigenous Partnership and Oversight

A cornerstone of the Project is its formal Cooperation Agreement with the Osoyoos Indian Band (‘OIB’), who fully support the Project. The OIB undertook their own independent environmental review of the Project. Construction and operations will be led by Skemixst Solutions, the OIB’s business enterprise.
This ensures Indigenous oversight, cultural awareness, and environmental stewardship while ensuring project benefits flow directly to Indigenous and local communities.

Addressing Health and Environmental Concerns

The Project will implement advanced dust suppression, continuous air and water quality monitoring, asbestos mitigation plan despite averaging only 0.0001% in volume verses Canadian guideline of 0.1%, in addition to strict material handling protocols to protect workers and the community.
A comprehensive reclamation plan is in place to restore the site after operations, in compliance with British Columbia Mines Act.

Benefits for Community and Province

The Project will provide direct employment and supply-chain opportunities for local businesses.
It contributes to Canada’s and British Columbia’s critical minerals strategy, securing sustainable supplies of magnesium, silica, nickel, and iron, materials that are essential for clean energy and advanced manufacturing.
The Project advances reconciliation by embedding Indigenous leadership and shared prosperity at its core.

About West High Yield

West High Yield is a publicly traded junior mining exploration and development company focused on acquiring, exploring, and developing mineral resource properties in Canada. Its primary objective is to develop its Record Ridge critical mineral (magnesium, silica, and nickel) deposit using green processing techniques to minimize waste and CO₂ emissions.

The Company’s Record Ridge critical mineral deposit located 10 kilometers southwest of Rossland, British Columbia, has approximately 10.6 million tonnes of contained magnesium based on an independently produced National Instrument 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (‘NI 43-101‘) Preliminary Economic Assessment technical report (titled ‘Revised NI 43-101 Technical Report Preliminary Economic Assessment Record Ridge Project, British Columbia, Canada’) prepared by SRK Consulting (Canada) Inc. on April 18, 2013 in accordance with NI 43-101 and which can be found on the Company’s profile at https://www.sedarplus.ca.

Qualified Person
Rick Walker, B.Sc., M.Sc., P.Geo., the Company Geologist is a Qualified Person as defined in NI 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the technical information in this press release.

Contact Information:

West High Yield (W.H.Y.) RESOURCES LTD.

Frank Marasco Jr., President and Chief Executive Officer
Telephone: (403) 660-3488
Email: frank@whyresources.com

Barry Baim, Corporate Secretary
Telephone: (403) 829-2246
Email: barry@whyresources.com

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-looking Information

This press release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. The forward-looking statements and information are based on certain key expectations and assumptions made by the Company. Although the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which such forward-looking statements and information are based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements and information because the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct.

Forward-looking information is based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the statements are made and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking information. Some of the risks and other factors that could cause the results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking information include, but are not limited to: general economic conditions in Canada and globally; industry conditions, including governmental regulation; failure to obtain industry partner and other third party consents and approvals, if and when required; the availability of capital on acceptable terms; the need to obtain required approvals from regulatory authorities; and other factors. Readers are cautioned that this list of risk factors should not be construed as exhaustive.

Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on this forward-looking information, which is given as of the date hereof, and to not use such forward-looking information for anything other than its intended purpose. The Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.

NEITHER THE TSXV NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSXV) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/268058

News Provided by Newsfile via QuoteMedia

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Business

The charm of watching movies in theaters is fading

WASHINGTON — Americans are more likely to watch newly released movies from the comfort of their own homes instead of heading out to a theater, according to a new poll.

About three-quarters of U.S. adults said they watched a new movie on streaming instead of in the theater at least once in the past year, according to the survey from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, including about 3 in 10 who watched new movies on streaming at least once a month.

Meanwhile, about two-thirds of Americans said that they’ve watched a recently released movie in a theater in the past year, and only 16% said they went at least once a month.

The results suggest that, on the whole, American moviegoers are more likely to stream a film than see it in the theaters, a shifting tide that was only accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic and its aftermath. Convenience and cost are both factors for many people who can’t find the time to go to a theater or pay the increasingly high price for a ticket.

Sherry Jenkins, 69, of New Jersey, turns to streaming for all of her moviegoing needs.

“It’s much more convenient,” Jenkins said. “I can watch anything I want, I just have to wait a month or two after the movies are released because they usually go to streaming pretty quickly.”

In the post-pandemic era, films end up on streaming services more quickly. In 2017, a 90-day exclusive theatrical window was common. Now, theaters are fighting for an industrywide standard of 45 days. For studios, the strategy seems to be different for every movie. This year’s best picture winner, “Anora,” had a 70-day exclusive theatrical window. “Wicked,” meanwhile, was available to purchase on demand only 40 days after opening in theaters — and that was a case in which the film was, and continued to be, a box-office hit. It was also profitable on streaming.

There is some overlap between theatergoers and people who opt for streaming — 55% of U.S. adults have seen a new movie in a theater and skipped the theater in favor of streaming at least once in the past year — but only watching new movies on streaming is more common than only going to the theater.

Some in the film industry believe that movies that start in theaters still have more cultural cachet, but Jenkins doesn’t see it that way.

“The studios now are so closely affiliated with the streaming services,” Jenkins said. “There’s really no logic behind why some skip the theaters.”

The last time she regularly went to the movie theaters was, she thinks, about 20 years ago. But as a tech-savvy retiree, there just hasn’t been enough of a reason to make the trek to the theater. A subscriber to Acorn, BritBox, Paramount+, Peacock, Netflix and Hulu, Jenkins doesn’t even see the need for cable anymore.

“People tell me, ‘Oh, you have to go to the theaters and see ‘Top Gun: Maverick,’ ” Jenkins said. “But my TV is 75 inches, and I’m comfortable. I’m at home.”

Maryneal Jones, 91, of North Carolina, said she likes to go to the movies but finds them too expensive.

“There’s some movies I would like to see, and I say to myself, I’ll just wait until they show them on TV or I’ll go visit a friend who has those apps,” Jones said. “But I just don’t want to pay 12 bucks.”

The average cost of a movie ticket in the U.S. is $13.17, according to data firm EntTelligence. In 2022, it was $11.76.

Jones does not subscribe to any streaming services, but she also sees more movies in theaters than many others. She estimates she sees about six to eight a year. Recent films she’s watched in the theater include “The Life of Chuck” and the French romantic comedy “Jane Austen Wrecked My Life.”

The AP-NORC poll also indicates that streaming may be a more accessible option for lower-income Americans. Higher-income adults are more likely than low-income adults to be at least occasional moviegoers for new releases, but the gap is smaller for watching movies on streaming instead of going to the theater.

New movies are more popular among young adults, regardless of how they see them. But streaming is more of a go-to for the younger generation.

Slightly less than half of adults under age 30 say they watched a recently released movie on streaming instead of going to the theater at least once a month in the past year, compared with about 2 in 10 who watched a movie in the theater with that frequency.

Eddie Lin, an 18-year-old student in Texas, said he mostly watches movies at home, on streamers like Crunchyroll, Hulu, HBO Max and Prime Video, but will go to the theaters for “bigger things” like “A Minecraft Movie,” which is the biggest movie of the year in North America.

“A couple of my friends wanted to see it,” Lin said. “And there were the memes. I felt like the audience would be more interactive and it would be enhanced by being there with, like, a bunch of people.”

While streaming will continue to be formidable competition for audience attention and dollars, there has also been rising interest in the value of seeing certain films in IMAX or on other premium format screens, whether it’s “Sinners” or “Oppenheimer.”

The North American box office is currently up more than 4% from last year, but the industry has struggled to reach pre-pandemic levels of business. Compared with 2019, the annual box office is down more than 22%.

“I used to go more when I was younger, with my family, seeing all the Marvel movies up to ‘Endgame,’ “ Lin said. “I like movie theaters. It’s an experience. For me, it’s mostly a time thing. But I do feel like a certain charm of watching movies in theaters is gone.”

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Politics

Comey indicted for alleged false statement, obstruction of justice

Former FBI Director James Comey was indicted by a grand jury on alleged false statement and obstruction of justice charges, Fox News Digital has learned.

Fox News Digital also exclusively reported that former CIA Director John Brennan is under criminal investigation related to the Trump–Russia probe.

Under federal law, prosecutors have five years to bring a charge, with the five-year mark occurring Tuesday.

The case is being handled by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.

Former Special Counsel Robert Mueller was appointed to take over the FBI’s original ‘Crossfire Hurricane’ investigation. After nearly two years, Mueller’s investigation, which concluded in March 2019, yielded no evidence of criminal conspiracy or coordination between the Trump campaign and Russian officials during the 2016 presidential election.

Shortly after, John Durham was appointed as special counsel to investigate the origins of the ‘Crossfire Hurricane’ probe.

Durham, in his report, said the FBI ‘failed to act on what should have been—when combined with other incontrovertible facts— a clear warning sign that the FBI might then be the target of an effort to manipulate or influence the law enforcement process for political purposes during the 2016 presidential election.’

Fox News’ David Spunt contributed to this report.

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Politics

Trump blasts Rep. Jasmine Crockett as ‘low IQ,’ jokes Somalia should ‘take back’ Ilhan Omar

President Donald Trump, while signing executive orders in the Oval Office Thursday, went off-script to criticize Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, calling her ‘a very low IQ person’ and questioning her role in Congress.

‘Recently, Jasmine Crockett. Yes, yes, I remember what I said. Is she any relation to the late, great Davy Crockett? I don’t think so,’ Trump told assembled reporters.

‘Let me tell you before you even ask. She’s a very low IQ person. I mean, if we ever had to pass an aptitude test, that’s the one [who] should take one. … This is a low IQ person who I can’t even believe is a congressperson,’ he said.

‘Between her and Ilhan Omar [D-Minn.]… and, you know, I met the head of Somalia. Did you know that? And I suggested that maybe he’d like to take her back. And he said, ‘I don’t want her,’’ Trump said.

The president’s comments came as he addressed reporters during a proclamation and executive order signing, where his remarks shifted from the day’s policy agenda to sharp critiques of Democrat lawmakers.

Trump grouped Crockett with Omar, reviving criticism he has often directed at members of the so-called progressive ‘Squad.’

His anecdote about suggesting to Somalia’s leader that Omar, who was born in Mogadishu, be ‘taken back’ drew laughter from some in the room.

Crockett, a freshman Democrat from Texas, has quickly gained visibility for her combative style during House hearings and for her clashes with Republicans.

Omar, meanwhile, has long been a target of Trump’s criticism over her pro-Palestinian views and outspoken progressive agenda.

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Politics

Top GOP lawmaker reveals most ‘significant challenge’ impacting Ukraine against Russia

A senior House Republican is arguing that sanctioning Russia would be key to neutralizing one of the biggest challenges facing Ukraine as it fights for its sovereignty.

The push by Rep. Mike Turner, R-Ohio, the former chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, comes as Congress wrestles with legislation that would expand sanctions and slap tariffs on countries buying Russian energy. Supporters say the measures are overdue to undermine Russia’s war economy, while skeptics warn they could strain U.S. alliances and global markets.

‘With the right support, Ukraine could be successful, and Russia’s aggression could be defeated,’ Turner, who recently returned from a bipartisan trip to Ukraine, told a small group of reporters Thursday.

‘In the presentations that I received, there is no question that the most significant challenge in this conflict is Russia’s ability to continue its industrial production.’

He added that military and other assistance that Russia is getting from China, Iran and North Korea is also keeping Moscow afloat.

‘We have to impact their ability for production. It is not just their ability currently for production, but is even the projections in the future,’ Turner said. ‘Right now, their economic engine is fueling their war engine.’

Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Russian President Vladimir Putin believed Kyiv would fall in a matter of days. However, that estimate has long since been shattered, and the two countries have since engaged in the bloodiest land war in Europe since World War II.

Moscow’s troops have since taken over parts of Donbas in eastern Ukraine and have held Ukraine’s Crimea territory since 2014.

President Donald Trump, who has met with leaders on both sides, gave Kyiv an enthusiastic vote of confidence earlier this week after speaking at the United Nations General Assembly.

‘After getting to know and fully understand the Ukraine/Russia Military and Economic situation and, after seeing the Economic trouble it is causing Russia, I think Ukraine, with the support of the European Union, is in a position to fight and WIN all of Ukraine back in its original form,’ he posted on Truth Social.

‘With time, patience, and the financial support of Europe and, in particular, NATO, the original Borders from where this War started, is very much an option. Why not? Russia has been fighting aimlessly for three and a half years a War that should have taken a Real Military Power less than a week to win.’

Asked at one point about the Ukrainians’ assessment of Russia’s offensive this past summer, Turner said the front lines moved very little.

‘The Russian casualties, daily, are enormous. And that is sobering. The production of weapons by Russia is the only difference that’s allowing this aggression to continue,’ he said. ‘The economics of Russia to continue to be able to sell oil and energy is floating their ability to continue this aggression against Ukraine.’

China was the largest global customer of Russia’s fossil fuels as of August 2025, followed by India and Turkey, according to the Centre For Research on Energy and Clean Air.

And while much of Europe has sharply cut its reliance on Russian energy, it does still rely on Moscow for some supplies, according to the New York Times.

The U.S. has already levied a wide array of sanctions on Russian entities, imports and individuals since the war began.

But legislation being led by Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa., would go further, giving Trump wide discretion to levy more sanctions and heavy tariffs on countries that import Russian energy, among other measures.

Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said in a recent interview on CBS News’ ‘Face The Nation’ that he was supportive of sanctioning Russia, though he did not endorse the bill specifically.

‘I think appropriate sanctions on Russia are far overdue. I mean, I think there’s a big appetite for that in Congress, so we’re willing to work with the White House and our Senate colleagues in the House to get that done,’ he said.

When asked by Fox News Digital if he believed Congress could act without Trump’s green light, however, Turner said, ‘I don’t think the president has indicated that there’s a red light on moving forward with sanctions.’

Fox News Digital reached out to the White House for the president’s thoughts but did not hear back by press time.

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Politics

Speaker Johnson flips script on Dem leaders with staunch warning against government shutdown

Republicans and Democrats are continuing to trade blows ahead of a potential government shutdown next week, with both sides indicating that neither is willing to budge from its position on federal funding.

Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., released a memo earlier this week highlighting past years’ comments by Senate Democrats warning of the pitfalls of a government shutdown.

‘House Republicans acted responsibly last week to keep the government open with the clean short-term continuing resolution,’ Johnson’s memo said.

‘Senate Democrats, who used to warn that shutdowns would hurt seniors, veterans, and working families, are now threatening to force one unless Congress repeals the Working Families Tax Cut, restores taxpayer-funded healthcare for illegal aliens, and sends half a billion dollars to leftist news outlets, among other partisan spending demands.’

The rest of the memo features a list of Democrats’ comments, beginning with then-Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., warning on Sept. 16, 2024, ‘If the government shuts down, it will be average Americans who suffer most.’

At the time, the Democrat-controlled Senate was negotiating with the House GOP majority under then-President Joe Biden to avert a government shutdown. That stand-off ended with Biden signing a short-term extension of the previous fiscal year’s government funding levels on Sept. 26, 2024 – days before the Sept. 30 shutdown deadline – through Dec. 20, 2024.

Johnson’s memo also referenced comments by Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., from Jan. 4, 2018, during President Donald Trump’s first term, ‘The truth is that shutting down the government is a serious and dangerous action that we must do everything possible to prevent. Shutting down the government would impact tens of millions of our fellow Americans who would be unable to access government services.’

Senate Democrats, then in the minority, agreed to the GOP’s short-term funding bill in exchange for public assurances for a vote on immigration legislation.

Anna Bahr, a spokesperson for Sanders, told Fox News Digital that the Senator ‘absolutely still believes that a government shutdown is serious and dangerous, and urges the Trump administration and his Republican colleagues not to do it,’ but that he’s been clear he’d support Senate Democrats’ counter-proposal over the GOP’s bill.

‘President Trump’s party controls the House, Senate, and White House and has the responsibility of keeping the government open,’ Bahr said.

During an earlier stand-off in late 2023, Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., said, according to Johnson’s memo, ‘A government shutdown would have serious impacts. Servicemembers won’t get their paychecks. Airports could have major delays. Nutrition assistance for children could be cut off. We can’t let any of that happen. Congress needs to work together to prevent a shutdown.’

Kelley argued in a statement to Fox News Digital that Trump would ‘rather shut the government down than keep health care premiums from skyrocketing for millions of Americans.’

‘The only person who wants a government shutdown is President Donald Trump,’ he said.

Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., said in November that year, ‘The priority has to be keeping the government open and I think this is a moment where reasonable people in the Senate, and that’s where most of the reasonable people are these days, have to make sure that we are not making the perfect the enemy of the good.’

And Sen. Maggie Hassan, D-N.H., who along with Schumer voted to advance the GOP’s CR earlier this year, said in Dec. 2024 that shutdowns would risk ‘national security and threatening livelihoods – which is why it is important that we voted on a bipartisan basis to avert a shutdown.’

A spokesperson for Hassan told Fox News Digital that she still believed that a government shutdown could cause real pain.

‘Which is why she is urging President Trump and Congressional Republicans to come to the table and work with Democrats to keep the government open and pass a funding bill that protects access to health care for millions of Americans,’ they said.

The House passed a short-term extension keeping federal funding levels roughly the same, called a continuing resolution (CR), last week. The vote fell largely along party lines, with just one Democrat crossing the aisle in the measure’s favor.

The bill also included an extra $30 million for lawmaker security, which was welcomed by both sides, as well as $58 million requested by the White House for executive and judicial branch security.

An effort to consider the bill in the Senate hours later was scuttled when most Democrats, along with two Republicans, opposed a vote to begin debating the measure.

Now both parties are blaming one another for a potential shutdown – which could hit at midnight on Oct. 1 if a deal is not passed in both chambers by then.

Republicans are accusing Democrats of recklessly pushing for a shutdown and making unworkable demands in exchange for keeping the government open. They’ve also pointed out that government funding levels have remained relatively steady since fiscal year (FY) 2024, when Democrats supported then-President Joe Biden’s spending priorities.

But Democrats, infuriated by being sidelined in discussions on the bill, have also been pushing for the inclusion of enhanced Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies that are set to expire at the end of 2025 without congressional action.

Fox News Digital reached out to the offices of Schumer and Murphy, but did not immediately hear back.

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