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Man who attempted to assassinate Kavanaugh now identifies as a woman

A man who pleaded guilty to attempting to kill Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh in 2022 is now using a female name and pronouns, according to a court document filed Friday. 

Nicholas Roske, who is scheduled to be sentenced next month, is using the name Sophie Roske and a ‘Ms.’ title for the first time in a court filing in a case that has stretched for three years.

The court filing was a routine request in anticipation of Roske’s sentencing, which is set for Oct. 3. But the filing referenced Roske by the name ‘Sophia,’ while a footnote revealed that Nicholas remains Roske’s legal first name.

‘Out of respect for Ms. Roske, the balance of this pleading and counsel’s in-court argument will refer to her as Sophie and use female pronouns,’ the footnote stated.

It is unclear if Roske is undergoing any treatments to become transgender. Fox News Digital reached out to the defendant’s defense team for comment.

Roske arrived at Kavanaugh’s house June 8, 2022, with a pistol, ammunition, a knife, a crowbar and tactical gear. Roske eventually called 9-1-1 and turned himself in after receiving a call from his sister and observing U.S. marshals in front of the justice’s house.

The incident occurred just two weeks before the Supreme Court handed down its landmark decision overturning Roe v. Wade, an expected decision that had drawn protesters to the Supreme Court building and conservative justices’ houses for weeks leading up to it.

The Department of Justice is seeking a 30-year sentence. In a sentencing memorandum, prosecutors referenced ‘mental health issues’ the defendant has had for about a decade that included thoughts of violently murdering his sister. He has received treatment for the issues, specifics of which were not included in the memorandum.

‘While the defendant has mental health issues, those issues do not detract from the gravity of the defendant’s crime: the defendant researched and targeted multiple members of the judiciary, and intended to alter the composition of the Supreme Court for ideological reasons,’ prosecutors wrote.

The revelation of the gender label switch comes as the DOJ has internally discussed concerns with transgender people owning guns and as conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s alleged assassin, Tyler Robinson, was discovered to have been in a romantic relationship with a transgender person. While the investigation remains open and authorities are still developing an understanding of the motive, authorities have said Robinson felt Kirk spread hate, which drove him to carry out the killing.

A Bureau of Prisons spokesperson said in a statement to Fox News the bureau could not confirm details about any gender-related treatments Roske may have received.

‘For privacy, safety and security reasons, the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) does not comment on the conditions of confinement for any incarcerated individual, including health information status or treatments,’ the spokesperson said.

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS
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1911 Gold Announces Upsize of Previously Announced “Best Efforts” Life Offering and Private Placement to C$17 Million

1911 Gold Corporation (‘ 1911 Gold ‘ or the ‘ Company ‘) (TSXV: AUMB,OTC:AUMBF; OTCQB: AUMBF; FRA: 2KY) is pleased to announce that it has entered into an amended and restated agreement with Haywood Securities (‘ Haywood ‘), as lead agent, on its own behalf and on behalf of Velocity Capital Partners (together with Haywood, the ‘ Agents ‘), to amend the terms of its previously announced ‘best efforts’ private placement and LIFE offering to increase the size of the offering to C$17 million (the ‘ Upsized Offering ‘).

Under the terms of the Upsized Offering, the Agents have agreed to sell, on a ‘best efforts’ private placement basis, up to: (i) 3,184,000 common shares which qualify as ‘flow-through shares’ (within the meaning of the Tax Act) and qualify as ‘Canadian exploration expenses’ as defined in the Tax Act (the ‘ CEE LIFE Shares ‘) at a price of C$0.64 per CEE LIFE Share (the ‘ CEE Issue Price ‘); and (ii) 14,802,000 common shares which qualify as ‘flow-through shares’ (within the meaning of the Tax Act) and qualify as ‘accelerated Canadian development expenses’ as defined in the Tax Act (the ‘ CDE Offered Shares ‘) at a price of C$0.554 per CDE Offered Share (the ‘ CDE Issue Price ‘) for aggregate gross proceeds to the Company from the sale of CEE LIFE Shares and CDE Offered Shares of up to C$10,238,068 (the ‘ LIFE Offering ‘).

Additionally, the Agents have agreed to sell, on a ‘best-efforts’ private placement basis, up to: (i) 6,889,000 common shares of the Company (the ‘ Non-FT Shares ‘) at a price per Non-FT Share of C$0.45 (the ‘ Non-FT Issue Price ‘); and (ii) 5,655,000 common shares which qualify as ‘flow-through shares’ (within the meaning of the Tax Act) and qualify as ‘Canadian exploration expenses’ as defined in the Tax Act (the ‘ CEE PP Shares ‘ and together with the CEE LIFE Shares, the ‘ CEE Offered Shares ‘) at the CEE Issue Price for aggregate gross proceeds to the Company from the sale of the Non-FT Shares and CEE PP Shares of up to C$6,719,250 (the ‘ PP Offering ‘ and together with the LIFE Offering, the ‘ Marketed Offering ‘). The Marketed Offering combines aggregate gross proceeds to the Company of up to C$16,957,318. The CEE Offered Shares, CDE Offered Shares, and Non-FT Shares are referred to herein as the ‘ Offered Shares ‘.

The Company has granted the Agents an option to sell up to an additional 15% of the Marketed Offering in CEE Offered Shares at the CEE Issue Price (the ‘ Agents’ Option ‘, and together with the Marketed Offering, the ‘ Upsized Offering ‘), exercisable in whole or in part at any time up to 48 hours prior to the closing date of the Upsized Offering.

The Non-FT Shares and CEE PP Shares will be issued and sold to eligible purchasers pursuant to the available ‘accredited investor’, ‘minimum amount investment’ and ‘family, friends and business associates’ private placement exemptions in accordance with National Instrument 45-106 – Prospectus Exemptions (‘ NI 45-106 ‘) in each of the Provinces of Canada. The CEE LIFE Shares and CDE Offered Shares will be offered and sold to eligible purchasers pursuant to the listed issuer financing prospectus exemption under Part 5A of NI 45-106 and Coordinated Blanket Order 45-935 – Exemptions from Certain Conditions of the Listed Issuer Financing Exemption (the ‘ LIFE Exemption ‘) in each of the Provinces of Canada. The Offered Shares may be offered and sold to eligible purchasers pursuant to the LIFE Exemption in, the United States and in certain offshore foreign jurisdictions. The Offered Shares sold to purchasers in the United States will be made on a private placement basis pursuant to one or more exemptions from registration requirements of the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

For the CEE Offered Shares, the Company, pursuant to the provisions in the Tax Act shall use an amount equal to the gross proceeds of the sale of the CEE Offered Shares to incur qualifying expenditures after the Closing Date and prior to December 31, 2026 in the aggregate amount of not less than the total amount of the gross proceeds raised from the issue of CEE Offered Shares. The Company shall renounce the qualifying expenditures so incurred to the purchasers of the CEE Offered Shares effective on or before December 31, 2025.

For the CDE Offered Shares, the Company, pursuant to the provisions in the Tax Act shall use an amount equal to the gross proceeds of the sale of the CEE Offered Shares to incur ‘accelerated Canadian development expenses’ after the Closing Date and prior to December 31, 2026 in the aggregate amount of not less than the total amount of the gross proceeds raised from the issue of CDE Offered Shares. The Company shall renounce the qualifying expenditures so incurred to the purchasers of the CDE Offered Shares effective on or before December 31, 2026.

The net proceeds from the sale of the Non-FT Shares shall be used for general corporate and working capital purposes.

The CEE LIFE Shares and CDE Offered Shares to be issued under the Upsized Offering will not be subject to resale restrictions pursuant to applicable Canadian securities laws.

The Non-FT Shares and CEE PP Shares to be issued under the Upsized Offering will be subject to a hold period in Canada expiring four months and one day from the closing date of the Upsized Offering.

The Company has filed an amended and restated offering document (the ‘ Offering Document ‘) related to the LIFE Offering of CEE LIFE Shares and CDE Offered Shares that can be accessed under the Company’s profile on SEDAR+ at https://www.sedarplus.ca and on the Company’s website at www.1911gold.com . Prospective investors of the LIFE Non-FT Shares, CEE LIFE Shares and CDE Offered Shares should read the Offering Document before making an investment decision.

The Upsized Offering is expected to close on or about October 15, 2025 or such other date as the Company and the Agents may agree, and is subject to certain closing conditions including, but not limited to, the receipt of all necessary approvals including the conditional listing approval of the TSX Venture Exchange (‘ TSXV ‘) and the applicable securities regulatory authorities. The Upsized Offering is subject to final acceptance of the TSXV.

In consideration for their services, the Company has agreed to pay the Agents a cash commission equal to 6.0% of the gross proceeds from the Upsized Offering (subject to reduction to 3.0% on certain president’s list purchases) and that number of non-transferable compensation options (the ‘ Compensation Options ‘) as is equal to 6.0% of the aggregate number of Offered Shares sold under the Upsized Offering (subject to reduction to 3.0% on certain president’s list purchases). Each Compensation Option is exercisable to acquire one common share of the Company at a price equal to the Non-FT Issue Price for a period of 24 months from the closing date of the Upsized Offering, except Compensation Options issued with respect to president’s list purchasers, with such Compensation Options to be exercisable for a period of nine months from the closing date of the Upsized Offering.

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

About 1911 Gold Corporation

1911 Gold is a junior developer with a highly prospective, consolidated land package totaling more than 61,647 hectares within and adjacent to the Archean Rice Lake greenstone belt in Manitoba, Canada. The Company also owns the True North mine and mill complex in Bissett, Manitoba. 1911 Gold believes its land package represents a prime exploration opportunity, with the potential to develop a mining district centred on the True North complex.

In addition, the Company holds the Apex project near Snow Lake, Manitoba and the Denton-Keefer project near Timmins, Ontario, and remains focused on advancing organic growth while pursuing accretive acquisition opportunities across North America.

1911 Gold’s True North complex and exploration land package are located within the traditional territory of the Hollow Water First Nation, signatory to Treaty No. 5 (1875-76). 1911 Gold looks forward to maintaining open, co-operative and respectful communication with the Hollow Water First Nation, and all local stakeholders, in order to build mutually beneficial working relationships.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Shaun Heinrichs

President and CEO

For further information, please contact:

Shaun Heinrichs
Chief Executive Officer

(604) 674-1293

sheinrichs@1911gold.com

www.1911gold.com

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

This news release may contain forward -looking statements. Often, but not always, forward- looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as ‘plans’, ‘expects’ or ‘does not expect’, ‘is expected’, ‘budget’, ‘scheduled’, ‘estimates’, ‘forecasts’, ‘intends’, ‘anticipates’ or ‘does not anticipate’, or ‘believes’, or describes a ‘goal’, or variation of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results ‘may’, ‘could’, ‘would’, ‘might’ or ‘will’ be taken, occur or be achieved .

All forward-looking statements reflect the Company’s beliefs and assumptions based on information available at the time the statements were made. Actual results or events may differ from those predicted in these forward-looking statements. All of the Company’s forward-looking statements are qualified by the assumptions that are stated or inherent in such forward-looking statements, including the assumptions listed below. Although the Company believes that these assumptions are reasonable, this list is not exhaustive of factors that may affect any of the forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, future events, conditions, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, prediction, projection, forecast, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. All statements that address expectations or projections about the future, including, but not limited to, statements with respect to the terms of the Upsized Offering, the use of proceeds of the Upsized Offering, the timing and ability of the Company to close the Upsized Offering, the timing and ability of the Company to receive necessary regulatory approvals, the tax treatment of the securities issued under the Upsized Offering, the timing for the qualifying expenditures to be incurred and to be renounced in favour of the subscribers, and the plans, operations and prospects of the Company, are forward-looking statements.

In making the forward-looking statements included in this news release, the Company have applied several material assumptions, including that the Upsized Offering will close on the anticipated terms; that the Company will use the net proceeds of the Upsized Offering as anticipated; that the Company will receive all necessary approvals in respect of the Upsized Offering; the Company´s financial condition and development plans do not change because of unforeseen events, and management’s ability to execute its business strategy and no unexpected or adverse regulatory changes with respect to the Company mineral projects, and that the specific proposals to amend the Tax Act publicly announced on March 3, 2025 by the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources on behalf of the Minister of Finance proposing an amendment to extend the mineral exploration tax credit for investors in flow-through shares until March 31, 2027 will be enacted. Forward-looking statements and information are subject to various known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the ability of the Company to control or predict, that may cause the Company’s actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied thereby, and are developed based on assumptions about such risks, uncertainties and other factors set out herein. Although 1911 Gold has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

All forward-looking statements contained in this news release are given as of the date hereof. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

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

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Copper Quest Closes Second and Final Tranche of Financing

// Not for distribution to the United States newswire services or for dissemination in the United States //

Copper Quest Exploration Inc. (CSE: CQX; FRA: 3MX) (‘ Copper Quest ‘ or the ‘ Company ‘) is pleased to announce that it has closed the second and final tranche (the ‘ Second Tranche ‘) of its previously announced non-brokered private placement (the ‘ Private Placement ‘) with the issuance of 4,070,534 units (the ‘ Units ‘, and each, a ‘ Unit ‘) of the Company at a price of $0.075 per Unit for gross proceeds of $305,290.05.

Each Unit consists of one (1) common share of the Company (‘ Share ‘) and one (1) Share purchase warrant, whereby each Share purchase warrant (‘ Warrant ‘) is convertible into an additional Share (‘ Warrant Share ‘) at an exercise price of $0.15 per Warrant Share. Each Warrant will expire on September 19, 2027 (the ‘ Expiry Date ‘), being the date that is two (2) years following the date of issuance. The Expiry Date is subject to acceleration in the event the closing price of the Company’s common shares on the Canadian Securities Exchange is equal to or greater than C$0.29 for a period of 10 consecutive trading days at any time after that date which is four (4) months following the date of issuance, in which case the Expiry Date of the Warrants shall automatically accelerate and the Warrants will expire on that date which is 30 days from the date of notice of such acceleration event.

In connection with the Private Placement, the Company paid aggregate finder’s fees in the amount of $5,040 to eligible finders and issued a total of 67,200 finder warrants (the ‘ Finder Warrants ‘). The terms of the Finder Warrants are the same as the Warrants.

An insider of the Company acquired an aggregate of 680,000 units. The participation by the insider in the Private Placement constitutes a ‘related party transaction’ as defined under Multilateral Instrument 61-101 Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions (‘ MI 61-101 ‘). The Company relied on the exemptions from the valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 contained in sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101, as neither the fair market value of the securities purchased by insiders, nor the consideration for the securities paid by such insiders, exceeded 25% of CQX’s market capitalization. The Company did not file a material change report in respect of the related party transaction at least 21 days before the closing of the Private Placement, which the Company deems reasonable in the circumstances in order to complete the Offering in an expeditious manner. The Private Placement was unanimously approved by the Board.

Proceeds from the Private Placement are intended for exploration activities and general working capital purposes. All securities issued in connection with the Private Placement are subject to a statutory hold period expiring January 20, 2026, being the date that is four months and one day from the date of issuance.

The securities described herein have not been registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the ‘ U.S. Securities Act ‘), or any state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold absent registration or compliance with an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any State in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

About Copper

Copper is an essential industrial metal at the heart of the global energy transition and modern infrastructure. It plays a critical role in electrification, renewable energy systems, electric vehicles, data centers, and smart technologies. With global demand rising and new supply challenged by declining grades, complex permitting, and underinvestment, the copper market faces persistent deficits and growing geopolitical scrutiny. Recent U.S. policy announcements, including import tariffs and initiatives to secure domestic and allied supply chains, underscore copper’s strategic importance and the need for resilient, localized resource exploration, development, production and processing capacity.

About Copper Quest Inc.

Copper Quest (CSE: CQX; OTCQB: IMIMF; FRA: 3MX) is focused on building shareholder value through the exploration and development of its North American Critical Mineral portfolio of assets. The Company’s land package currently comprises four projects that span over 40,000+ hectares in great mining jurisdictions.

Copper Quest has a 100% interest in the Stars Property, a porphyry copper-molybdenum discovery, covering 9,693 hectares in central British Columbia’s Bulkley Porphyry Belt. Contiguous to the Stars Property Copper Quest has a 100% interest in the 5,389 ha Stellar Property. CQX also has an earn-in option up to 80% and joint-venture agreement on the 4,700 ha porphyry copper-molybdenum Rip Project, also in the Bulkley Porphyry Belt.

Copper Quest has a 100% interest in the Thane Project located in the Quesnel Terrane of Northern BC which spans over 20,658 ha with 10 high-priority targets identified demonstrating significant copper and precious metal mineralization potential.

Copper Quest’s leadership and advisory teams are senior mining industry executives who have a wealth of technical and capital markets experience and a strong track record of discovering, financing, developing, and operating mining projects on a global scale. Copper Quest is committed to sustainable and responsible business activities in line with industry best practices, supportive of all stakeholders, including the local communities in which it operates. The Company’s common shares are principally listed on the Canadian Stock Exchange under the symbol ‘CQX’. For more information on Copper Quest, please visit the Company’s website at Copper Quest .

On behalf of the Board of Copper Quest Exploration Inc.

Brian Thurston, P.Geo.
Chief Executive Officer and Director
Tel: 778-949-1829

For further information contact:

Kelly Abbott
Investor Relations
info@copper.quest

Forward Looking Information

This news release contains certain ‘forward-looking information’ and ‘forward-looking statements’ (collectively, ‘ forward-looking statements ‘) within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact included herein, including without limitation, statements relating the future operations and activities of Copper Quest, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are frequently, but not always, identified by words such as ‘expects’, ‘anticipates’, ‘believes’, ‘intends’, ‘estimates’, ‘potential’, ‘possible’, and similar expressions, or statements that events, conditions, or results ‘will’, ‘may’, ‘could’, or ‘should’ occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements in this news release relate to, among other things, the expected use of proceeds from the Private Placement. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Forward-looking statements reflect the beliefs, opinions and projections on the date the statements are made and are based upon a number of assumptions and estimates based on or related to many of these factors. Such factors include, without limitation, risks associated with possible accidents and other risks associated with mineral exploration operations, the risk that the Company will encounter unanticipated geological factors, risks associated with the interpretation of exploration results, the possibility that the Company may not be able to secure permitting and other governmental clearances necessary to carry out the Company’s exploration plans, the risk that the Company will not be able to raise sufficient funds to carry out its business plans, and the risk of political uncertainties and regulatory or legal changes that might interfere with the Company’s business and prospects. Readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release concerning these items. The Company does not assume any obligation to update the forward-looking statements of beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change, except as required by applicable securities laws.

The Canadian Securities Exchange has not reviewed, approved or disapproved the contents of this press release, and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

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Defense Market Trends and Stocks to Watch in the New Era of Conflict

Modern warfare is evolving quickly alongside emerging technologies, unlocking unprecedented investment opportunities in diverse areas of the defense sector.

Escalating conflicts in Europe and the Middle East are prompting governments worldwide to increase military spending. Looking at the US alone, the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act has the potential to bring a US$150 billion investment into the defense industry. In addition, the Trump administration is proposing a US$1 trillion defense budget for 2026 with a focus on cybersecurity, artificial intelligence (AI) and autonomous systems capabilities.

The biggest US defense contractors and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are expected to benefit greatly from the huge government spending expected in the sector. As for up-and-coming American defense companies that offer investors growth opportunities, those that can quickly develop and commercialize dual-capability technologies (i.e. for both civil sector and defense markets) are looking equally as attractive.

“If the opportunity is purely in the defense sector, that’s a big, but ultimately limited, opportunity. If the opportunity is in defense and a range of other sectors because the technology has got a transversal application, then it becomes far more interesting for an investor,” notes Joe Cassidy, partner, technology, media and telecom at KPMG in the UK.

Defense and security trends: Nature of war is changing

Defense spending jumped nearly 10 percent in 2024, according to a KPMG report on emerging trends in the aerospace and defense sector, representing “its fastest growth rate in nearly four decades.’

The firm attributes this growth to geopolitical destabilization both in Europe and in the Middle East. The global trade war surrounding rare earths, platinum-group metals, aluminum, steel and semiconductors is adding further pressure.

This increase in domestic defense spending has been translating into big wins for defense and security stocks. As Raymond James’ September Defense & Government Market Intel Report shows, publicly traded companies in the US defense sector are up by 57.8 percent since September 2024.

In a June interview with Federal News Network’s Terry Gerton, Sam Maness, managing director of Raymond James’ Defense and Government Group, ascribed the growth to the anticipated increase in funding for domestic defense contractors. He noted that US-China tensions and other geopolitical conflicts are “lead(ing) to bullishness for anything that is more meaningfully touching mission, and defense technology naturally does that.’

Looking forward, analysts expect supply chain sovereignty and cutting-edge technological advancements to be the major themes in this sector as nations look to cost effectively build out their domestic defense industries. At the same time, new weapons systems are reshaping the nature of war both on the battlefield and online.

“The way conflicts are resolved is changing rapidly and new technologies are disrupting the battlefield strategy,” states KPMG in its report. “Defense departments need rapid innovation and are no longer willing to wait years for a custom system when an ‘80% Solution’ can be purchased off-the-shelf.”

So what technologies are getting the most attention in the defense sector?

As mentioned, cybersecurity, autonomous systems and AI solutions are in the spotlight, and companies with dual-capability technologies are getting recognition. Below are examples of defense stocks tracked by Raymond James that are focused on providing these technologies to both the civil and defense sectors.

Cybersecurity defense stocks

One of the greatest threats to modern militaries is cyber attacks. This makes securing military IT infrastructure, communications networks and weapons systems mission critical for today’s armed forces.

L3Harris Technologies (NYSE:LHX) is a leading US defense contractor that provides cybersecurity solutions such as end-to-end technologies across air, land, sea, space and cyber domains.

The firm also serves public safety sectors such as law enforcement and fire; commercial sectors such as utilities and transportation; the commercial aviation space; and the healthcare industry.

Mercury Systems (NASDAQ:MRCY) develops secure processing subsystems, embedded computing and mission-critical technologies with advanced cybersecurity features for military and defense applications.

The company also supplies the aviation and industrial sectors.

V2X (NYSE:VVX) supplies vehicle-to-everything cybersecurity to secure communications between military vehicles, drones and command centers. It is in the process of acquiring federal IT business of QinetiQ Group (LSE:QQ), which provides data engineering, intel mission support and cyber solutions for US intelligence agencies.

In the civil and commercial space, the company provides solutions to first responders, commercial fleets and the auto sector, as well as urban mobility and utilities.

Zscaler (NASDAQ:ZS) is a leader in cloud-native security and its zero-trust architecture platforms are used by the US Department of Defense, intelligence agencies and other defense contractors. In August, the company acquired Red Canary, adding to its portfolio of cybersecurity detection and response solutions for US defense and intelligence agencies. Zscaler also serves the healthcare, finance, retail, energy, manufacturing and public sectors.

    Autonomous system defense stocks

    The changing nature of war is probably best represented in the rapid innovation and adoption of lower-cost autonomous systems such as drones, unmanned ground vehicles, robotics and counter-drone technologies.

    A key supplier to the US military, AeroVironment (NASDAQ:AVAV) designs and manufactures unmanned aerial vehicles and robotics systems primarily for military surveillance and reconnaissance.

    The company also provides electric energy systems to the commercial and public sectors.

    Kratos Defense & Security Solutions (NASDAQ:KTOS) specializes in advanced defense technologies such as unmanned systems, satellite communications and hypersonics, while adapting them for commercial markets.

    Teledyne Technologies (NYSE:TDY) provides drones, unmanned vehicles and robotics-related technologies to the defense sector through its subsidiary Teledyne FLIR.

    It also provides these technologies for the civil aviation, manufacturing and energy sectors.

    Through its subsidiary Textron Systems, Textron (NYSE:TXT) develops and integrates autonomous and robotics systems for the US Department of Defense and military operations for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions. The company’s autonomous technologies portfolio also extends into civil aviation, law enforcement and critical infrastructure protection for government and civilian operations.

      Artificial intelligence defense stocks

      AI technologies are rapidly being integrated into existing and emerging defense tech, including unmanned aerial and ground vehicles, reconnaissance and surveillance systems as well as hypersonic weapons.

      Curtiss-Wright (NYSE:CW) is a global engineering company that provides products such as sensors, controls and data acquisition systems for the defense, aviation, nuclear power and industrial markets. Its defense solutions division has produced AI-optimized rugged embedded computing systems for use on the battlefield.

      Leonardo DRS (NASDAQ:DRS) specializes in AI-enabled computing and sensing for tactical military platforms, including for use in US Army ground vehicles. Its technology is also used for public safety and infrastructure protection during disaster responses, as well as in industrial automation, medical diagnostics and commercial transportation.

      Palantir Technologies (NASDAQ:PLTR) is a leading defense contractor that delivers AI platforms for the US military and its allies. It partners with other major defense industry companies such Northrop Grumman (NYSE:NOC) and Anduril Industries. Palantir’s technology is also widely used in the civil sector, as well as by more than half of Fortune 500 companies in sectors such as healthcare, energy, finance and manufacturing.

      Voyager Technologies (NYSE:VOYG) is a defense- and space-focused AI technology company that provides national security solutions with partners such as Palantir. In August, it acquired Electromagnetic Systems, adding AI-based automated target recognition software and intelligence analytics for space-based radar systems to its portfolio. Voyager’s AI tech is also used by NASA and commercial satellite operators.

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

        This post appeared first on investingnews.com
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        Crypto Market Update: Stablecoin Funding Hits Record, Ethereum Sets Next Hard Fork Date

        Here’s a quick recap of the crypto landscape for Friday (September 19) as of 9:00 p.m. UTC.

        Get the latest insights on Bitcoin, Ethereum and altcoins, along with a round-up of key cryptocurrency market news.

        Bitcoin and Ethereum price update

        Bitcoin (BTC) was priced at US$115,191, a 1.9 percent decrease in 24 hours, and its lowest valuation of the day, after an earlier price peak to US$116,450.

        Bitcoin price performance, September 19, 2025.

        Bitcoin price performance, September 19, 2025.

        Chart via TradingView.

        The crypto market showed strength this week, bolstered by investor confidence after the US Federal Reserve’s interest rate cut on Wednesday (September 17) and NVIDIA’s (NASDAQ:NVDA) US$5 billion investment in Intel (NASDAQ:INTC).

        Meanwhile, the US Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) adoption of new generic listing standards for spot crypto exchange-traded products paves the way for faster approvals of products tracking digital assets.

        The REX-Osprey XRP ETF (NYSEAMERICAN:XRPR) and the REX-Osprey DOGE ETF (NYSEAMERICAN:DOJE) launched on Thursday (September 18) as the first implementations of this rule change.

        The funds saw US$37.7 million and US$17 million traded on the day, respectively.

        Ether (ETH) was trading at US$4,445.54, down by 3.2 percent to its lowest valuation on Friday. The cryptocurrency’s highest valuation was US$4,541.88.

        Altcoin price update

        • Solana (SOL) was priced at US$236.73, a decrease of 4.8 percent over the last 24 hours. Its lowest valuation of the day was US$236.10, while its highest valuation was US$242.53.
        • XRP was trading for US$2.99, down by 3.8 percent in the past 24 hours, its lowest valuation of the day. Its highest was US$3.04.
        • SUI (Sui) was valued at US$3.65, trading at its lowest valuation of the day and down by 7.6 percent over the past 24 hours. Its highest price point on Friday was US$3.75.
        • Cardano (ADA) was priced at US$0.8959, down by 3.6 percent over 24 hours. Its lowest value of the day was US$0.8933, while its highest value was US$0.9075.

        ETF data & derivatives trends

        Spot Bitcoin ETFs drew record inflows this week, with around 20,685 BTC were added. The influx pushed US spot Bitcoin ETF holdings to around 1.32 million BTC worth US$150 billion.

        BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (NASDAQ:IBIT) led with US$1 billion in net buys, while Fidelity’s Advantage Bitcoin ETF (TSX:FBTC) topped US$843 million and ARK 21Shares Bitcoin ETF (BATS:ARKB) added US$182 million.

        Meanwhile, US Ethereum ETFs saw outflows of US$62 million over the week.

        Altcoin ETFs are also taking shape. In mid-September, the SEC approved the first US ETFs for XRP and Dogecoin. DOGE jumped by 20 percent upon its ETF debut. This altcoin ETF wave, now backed by giants like Grayscale and Franklin Templeton, is reshaping flows and legitimizing more speculative assets.

        On the derivatives side, leverage is at a near-record level.

        Bitcoin futures open interest surpassed US$220 billion in September. CryptoQuant notes clusters of orders just above and below the spot price, so any sharp swing, even a small break, could trigger “record liquidations.”

        Bitcoin liquidations have totaled approximately US$13.71 million over the past four hours, predominantly from long positions, indicating continued selling pressure in the market.

        Ethereum liquidations reflected a similar trend, with about US$10.85 million liquidated in the same period, of which US$10.08 million were long positions, signaling sustained bearish momentum.

        The perpetual funding rate for BTC was at 0.0064 percent, while the ETH funding rate stood at 0.001 percent, indicating a neutral or balanced market without strong bias toward bullish or bearish positioning.

        Market indicators showed an RSI level of 41.03 as of 8:00 p.m. UTC, suggesting neutral conditions.

        Next week’s crypto news to watch

        Bitcoin has formed a rising wedge pattern over the past month, with a bearish divergence noted by on-chain analysts. Technically, Bitcoin appears to be in a mild consolidation after last week’s surge.

        CryptoQuant analyst Axel Adler has observed that Bitcoin is trading just above its short-term holder realized price.

        In equities, the S&P 500 (INDEXSP:.INX) and Nasdaq Composite (INDE XNASDAQ:.IXIC) hit record highs as crypto pulled back modestly on Friday, reflecting a temporary decoupling.

        Key crypto catalysts to watch next week include potential announcements out of Korea’s Blockchain Week, scheduled to run in Seoul from September 22 to 28.

        Additionally, LayerZero (ZRO) is scheduled for a major token unlock on September 20 of approximately 25.7 million ZRO tokens, roughly 8.5 percent of the current circulating supply, valued at around US$52.5 million

        Other significant upcoming unlocks include Optimism’s 116 million OP tokens on September 21 and AltLayer’s 3.7 million ALT token release on September 25.

        Today’s crypto news to know

        Stablecoin startups post fundraising record

        Funding for stablecoin-related companies has surged to unprecedented levels this year, with 14 firms raising a combined US$537 million so far, according to DefiLlama data. That figure marks a sharp jump from the US$84 million raised across all of 2024, underscoring a wave of investor confidence in fiat-pegged digital assets.

        The year’s biggest deal came in July, when Hong Kong’s OSL Group (HKEX:0863) secured US$300 million.

        Analysts have linked the momentum to favorable regulatory shifts, including the GENIUS Act, signed into law by U.S. President Donald Trump in July, which provided legal clarity for stablecoin issuers.

        The sector’s rapid rise is also visible in secondary markets. For instance, after its initial public offering in June, Circle (NYSE:CRCL) is now trading at four times its debut value.

        Watchdog flags Trump-linked crypto firm for token sales to sanctioned actors

        A watchdog group has accused World Liberty Financial, a cryptocurrency venture tied to US President Donald Trump, of allowing its tokens to flow into the hands of users connected with sanctioned entities.

        According to Accountable.us, WLFI tokens ended up with wallets linked to North Korea’s Lazarus Group, Iran’s Nobitex exchange, and Russian traders, despite long-standing US restrictions.

        The report highlights one case on Jan. 20, 2025, when WLFI sold 600,000 tokens, worth roughly US$10,000, on Trump’s inauguration day to a wallet later tied to Lazarus transactions.

        Even after DeFi platforms flagged the account, the wallet continued operating until late August, receiving WLFI’s branded USD1 stablecoin as part of an airdrop. Separate sales were traced back to Iran’s Nobitex in October 2024, a platform that Chainalysis has previously identified as a hub for sanctions evasion.

        The allegations raise questions over WLFI’s compliance and could intensify regulatory pressure on the company.

        Trump’s team has not publicly responded to the claims.

        Ethereum Foundation announces next hard fork details and timeline

        Ethereum’s Fusaka hard fork is scheduled for mainnet launch on December 3, 2025, according to an announcement shared by Ethereum researcher Christine D. Kim.

        The upgrade will include 11 to 12 Ethereum improvement proposals focused on scalability and network efficiency, particularly doubling blob capacity to enhance layer-2 transaction throughput.

        Testing will occur on public testnets throughout October and November. A US$2 million audit competition is underway to ensure Fusaka’s code security ahead of deployment.

        The upgrade follows May’s Pectra hard fork and sets the stage for subsequent improvements planned for 2026.

        PayPal’s US dollar stablecoin expands to nine blockchains

        PayPal Holdings’ (NASDAQ:PYPL) US dollar stablecoin, PYUSD, is expanding to nine new blockchains through a partnership with interoperability protocol LayerZero.

        The move broadens the token’s reach beyond its native issuance on Ethereum, Solana, Arbitrum, and Stellar, making it accessible across networks like Avalanche, Aptos, Tron, and others.

        As part of the rollout, LayerZero created a wrapped version called PYUSD0, which is fully interchangeable with the original token and operates within its Hydra Stargate system.

        The expansion is designed to accelerate adoption and cement PYUSD’s role as a dollar-backed instrument across the crypto ecosystem. Since launching in 2023 through issuer Paxos, PYUSD has grown steadily, with supply climbing from US$520 million at the start of the year to US$1.3 billion.

        Kraken, Trust Wallet partner to expand xStocks access

        Kraken has partnered with Trust Wallet to expand access to xStocks, a tokenized equities product developed by Backed.

        This collaboration, announced on Friday, brings 60 tokenized US equities to over 200 million Trust Wallet users worldwide, allowing them to trade these assets across multiple blockchains using a variety of local fiat currencies.

        “For xStocks to achieve true mass adoption, seamless integration with the world’s most popular self-custody wallets is vital. Bringing xStocks to Trust Wallet places open and interoperable tokenized equities directly into the hands of millions, alongside the crypto, stablecoins and DeFi assets they already use every day,” said Kraken co-CEO Arjun Sethi.

        In the coming weeks, the team said it will continue collaborating with partners to introduce xStocks to additional high-performance blockchains and leading consumer applications.

        Canadian regulators called to crypto action

        In a speech on Thursday, the Bank of Canada’s executive director of payments, Ron Morrow, said that Canada is behind other countries in developing rules for the use of stablecoins and should consider regulations for digital assets given the growing interest in them domestically and the US’ efforts to enable widespread adoption.

        “Governments are moving to regulate stablecoins and other cryptocurrencies so consumers can reap their benefits and be protected from credit and liquidity risks. In fact, many jurisdictions worldwide either have, or will soon have, a regulatory framework for cryptoassets,” Morrow said during a keynote speech at the ONE Conference in Ottawa.

        He called on federal and provincial regulators to “work quickly and collaboratively to evolve our regulatory frameworks.”

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

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

        This post appeared first on investingnews.com
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        Top 5 Canadian Mining Stocks This Week: Japan Gold Rises 119 Percent

        Statistics Canada released July’s monthly mineral production survey on Friday (September 19). The data showed gold production increased month-over-month, while copper and silver declined; shipments, however, saw broad declines from June for all three metals.

        Gold production increased significantly to 18,855 kilograms compared to 16,935 kilograms in June. Meanwhile, copper production fell to 37.99 million kilograms from 39.17 million kilograms in June, and silver production slipped to 25,345 kilograms from 28,390 kilograms.

        As for shipments, gold shipments slid to 16,748 kilograms from 18,554, copper fell to 39.28 million kilograms from 45.96 million, and silver decreased to 26,397 kilograms from 31,181.

        StatsCan released August’s consumer price index (CPI) data on Tuesday (September 16), the day before the Bank of Canada’s interest rate decision. The release showed that all-items inflation rose 1.9 percent on a yearly basis, up from the 1.7 percent recorded in July.

        The agency attributed the faster growth in headline inflation in part to a slower year-over-year decline in gasoline prices, which fell 12.7 percent in August versus 16.1 percent in July, resulting in a less moderating effect on inflation than during the previous month.

        StatsCan noted that without volatile gasoline prices included, CPI in August rose 2.4 percent year-over-year after registering a 2.5 percent increase in the three previous months.

        The Bank of Canada chose to reduce its benchmark lending rate by 25 basis points to 2.5 percent on Wednesday (September 17), noting ‘a weaker economy and less upside risk to inflation.’ It marks the first cut since March, when it set the rate at 2.75 percent.

        South of the border, the US Federal Reserve held its September meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee on Tuesday and Wednesday. The US central bank also chose to cut 25 basis points from the Federal Funds Rate, bringing it to the 4 percent to 4.25 percent range. It is the first change to the interest rate since the last 25 basis point cut in December 2024.

        For more on what’s moving markets this week, check out our top market news roundup.

        Markets and commodities react

        Canadian equity markets were in positive territory this week.

        The S&P/TSX Composite Index (INDEXTSI:OSPTX) set another new record high this week, ending the week up 1.29 percent to 29,768.36. The S&P/TSX Venture Composite Index (INDEXTSI:JX) performed even better, climbing 2.65 percent to finish Friday at 904.80, its first close above 900 since January 2022. The CSE Composite Index (CSE:CSECOMP) also jumped, gaining 4.98 percent to end the week at 162.04.

        The gold price was in focus again this week as it climbed to another new record, reaching an intraday high of US$3,707 per ounce on Wednesday ahead of the FOMC meeting. While the price retreated slightly to US$3,642 on Thursday, it ended the week up 1.15 percent overall at US$3,685.26 per ounce.

        The silver price was also volatile, rising to US$42.83 per ounce early in the week before dipping below US$42 per ounce in mid-week trading. It bounced back to end the week on 14 year highs, gaining 2.11 percent to close Friday at US$43.08.

        Copper saw its mid-week gains erased by the end of the week, closing Friday largely flat at US$4.63 per pound. The S&P Goldman Sachs Commodities Index (INDEXSP:SPGSCI) echoed those movements with a 0.06 percent gain to end the week at 545.95.

        Top Canadian mining stocks this week

        How did mining stocks perform against this backdrop?

        Take a look at this week’s five best-performing Canadian mining stocks below.

        Stocks data for this article was retrieved at 4:00 p.m. EDT on Friday using TradingView’s stock screener. Only companies trading on the TSX, TSXV and CSE with market caps greater than C$10 million are included. Mineral companies within the non-energy minerals, energy minerals, process industry and producer manufacturing sectors were considered.

        1. Japan Gold (TSXV:JG)

        Weekly gain: 119.05 percent
        Market cap: C$50.3 million
        Share price: C$0.23

        Japan Gold is an exploration company focused on a portfolio of Japan-based gold assets.

        Its most advanced property is the Mizobe gold project located in Southern Kyushu. The site hosts several exploration targets covering an area of 2 kilometers by 2.5 kilometers and has produced river float samples up to 18.9 g/t of gold.

        The company is also working on a trio of projects with Barrick (TSX:ABX,NYSE:B), the most advanced of which is the Hakuryu project located in Northern Hokkaido. The company has identified several targets, including the Hakuryu No. 3 vein, which hosts a 360 meter main zone with a thickness of 20 meters.

        Shares in Japan Gold gained significantly at the end of the week; however, the company has not released news since September 9, when it reported that it had mobilized for a four-hole, 1,600 meter drill program at Mizobe.

        2. Minnova (TSXV:MCI)

        Weekly gain: 110 percent
        Market cap: C$21.06 million
        Share price: C$0.21

        Minnova is an exploration and development company advancing its brownfield PL gold mine in Manitoba, Canada.

        The property consists of 28 mining claims and covers an area of 5,114 hectares. An April 2018 feasibility study for the project indicated project economics with an after-tax net present value of C$36.7 million, an internal rate of return of 53 percent and a payback period of 1.2 years, calculated at a gold price of US$1,250 per ounce.

        The company has been working to restart the mine over the past few years, but faced funding shortfalls. Trading for Minnova was halted on August 6 as it worked to resolve financial issues to maintain its listing on the TSXV.

        On September 11, the company announced that trading would resume on the TSXV alongside a corporate update. It disclosed that it had a working capital deficiency of C$544,611 and is planning a private placement to address the shortfall. Funds will also go towards ongoing activities at PL, including drilling, test work and updated NI 43-101 techno-economic studies.

        Minnova also announced that it is advancing plans for preliminary open-pit and underground mine design and layout, and that work on a new mine development plan that takes into account higher gold prices is underway.

        Shares in Minnova have surged since trading resumed earlier this week from their price of under C$0.10 before the halt.

        3. Stamper Oil and Gas (TSXV:STMP)

        Weekly gain: 98.26 percent
        Market cap: C$16.02 million
        Share price: C$0.018

        Stamper Oil and Gas is an exploration and development company working to advance offshore projects in Namibia.

        The company holds an interest in five exploration blocks in Namibia; its most significant holding is a 32.9 percent stake in PEL 107 located in the Orange Basin. PEL 107 covers an area of 5,484 square kilometers and is located 210 kilometers from shore in an area that hosts three multi-billion-barrel discoveries since 2022.

        The company has been conducting seismic work ahead of the planned drilling of an exploration well set to commence in 2027.

        Stamper completed the acquisition of its holdings in the Namibian blocks on September 10, when it reported it had closed its purchase of BISP Exploration, originally announced on May 12.

        4. New Break Resources (CSE:NBRK)

        Weekly gain: 93.33 percent
        Market cap: C$17.03 million
        Share price: C$0.29

        New Break Resources is a gold exploration company working to advance its Moray gold project in Northeastern Ontario, Canada.

        The property is located near Timmins, within the Abitibi Greenstone Belt, and spans an area of 10,326 hectares. Additionally, it is situated 32 kilometres northwest of Alamos Gold’s (TSX:AGI) Young-Davidson gold mine, which produced 174,000 ounces of gold in 2024.

        On Wednesday, New Break announced results from its six-hole, 1,502-meter maiden diamond drilling program at the site. The company highlighted one assay with an average grade of 4.11 grams per metric ton (g/t) gold over 31.3 meters, including an interval of 6.75 g/t over 7.1 meters.

        The prior week, the company closed the final tranche of an oversubscribed private placement. In total, the company raised proceeds of C$1 million over three tranches, which will be used for ongoing exploration at Moray and for general working capital purposes.

        5. Clean Tech Vanadium Mining (TSXV:CTV)

        Weekly gain: 91.67 percent
        Market cap: C$15.77 million
        Share price: C$0.115

        CleanTech Vanadium is an exploration company working to advance several critical mineral projects in the US.

        Its most recent focus has been on its Kentucky-Illinois fluorspar projects, which consist of over a dozen deposits covering over 8,150 acres along the border of Kentucky and Illinois. Mining in the region dates back to the late 1800s and has produced 12.5 million metric tons of fluorspar, according to the company.

        CleanTech also owns the Gibellini vanadium project in Nevada, US. The project has been approved for multiple state permits and received a positive environmental impact statement from the Bureau of Land Management. According to the project page, the site covers 21 kilometers and hosts a measured and indicated vanadium oxide resource of 127 million pounds.

        Additionally, the company announced on August 6 that it had acquired the El Triunfo gold-antimony project near La Paz, Bolivia, from Silver Elephant for cash considerations of C$155,000.

        The most recent announcement from CleanTech came on Tuesday when it welcomed an additional US$1 billion in funding programs from the Department of Energy (DoE) that was announced on August 13. It also highlighted the continued inclusion of fluorspar, germanium, gallium, indium and vanadium on the US Geological Survey’s Critical Minerals list.

        CleanTech stated that it intends to explore funding options with the DoE, with a focus on advancing its Illinois-Kentucky fluorspar district. The company noted that the Department of Defense is funding research at the nearby Hicks Dome rare earth and fluorspar project in Illinois.

        FAQs for Canadian mining stocks

        What is the difference between the TSX and TSXV?

        The TSX, or Toronto Stock Exchange, is used by senior companies with larger market caps, and the TSXV, or TSX Venture Exchange, is used by smaller-cap companies. Companies listed on the TSXV can graduate to the senior exchange.

        How many mining companies are listed on the TSX and TSXV?

        As of May 2025, there were 1,565 companies listed on the TSXV, 910 of which were mining companies. Comparatively, the TSX was home to 1,899 companies, with 181 of those being mining companies.

        Together, the TSX and TSXV host around 40 percent of the world’s public mining companies.

        How much does it cost to list on the TSXV?

        There are a variety of different fees that companies must pay to list on the TSXV, and according to the exchange, they can vary based on the transaction’s nature and complexity. The listing fee alone will most likely cost between C$10,000 to C$70,000. Accounting and auditing fees could rack up between C$25,000 and C$100,000, while legal fees are expected to be over C$75,000 and an underwriters’ commission may hit up to 12 percent.

        The exchange lists a handful of other fees and expenses companies can expect, including but not limited to security commission and transfer agency fees, investor relations costs and director and officer liability insurance.

        These are all just for the initial listing, of course. There are ongoing expenses once companies are trading, such as sustaining fees and additional listing fees, plus the costs associated with filing regular reports.

        How do you trade on the TSXV?

        Investors can trade on the TSXV the way they would trade stocks on any exchange. This means they can use a stock broker or an individual investment account to buy and sell shares of TSXV-listed companies during the exchange’s trading hours.

        Article by Dean Belder; FAQs by Lauren Kelly.

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

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

        This post appeared first on investingnews.com
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        Editor’s Picks: Gold Price Breaks US$3,700 for First Time, Major Miners Hone Portfolios

        Gold hit yet another new price record this week, rising past US$3,700 per ounce.

        The yellow metal broke that level on Wednesday (September 16), the first day of the US Federal Reserve’s meeting, and then did it again the next day just after the gathering wrapped up.

        The Fed was widely anticipated to cut interest rates, and that’s exactly what happened — it announced a 25 basis point reduction to the 4 to 4.25 percent range, with Chair Jerome Powell describing it to reporters as a ‘risk-management cut.’

        Although inflation is still outside the Fed’s 2 percent target, Powell said the central bank has shifted its focus toward the jobs market due to a change in the balance of risks — in his view, it’s no longer possible to call the labor market ‘very solid.’

        ‘Labor demand has softened, and the recent pace of job creation appears to be running below the break-even rate needed to hold the unemployment rate constant.’ — Jerome Powell, US Federal Reserve

        All Fed governors were in favor of the 25 basis point cut, with the exception of new addition Stephen Miran, who wanted to see a 50 basis point decline. Miran, who is on leave from his position at the White House Council of Economic Advisers, was confirmed by the Senate this week. He was selected by US President Donald Trump to replace Adriana Kugler.

        Miran’s new role at the Fed has raised questions about the central bank’s independence, as Trump has now nominated three out of seven governors. Lisa Cook, who Trump attempted to fire in August, ultimately did not lose her position after a federal appeals court ruling.

        Looking forward, the Fed’s latest dot plot shows policymakers expect two additional 25 basis point cuts this year, which would take rates to the 3.5 to 3.75 percent level.

        In 2026, they are currently anticipating only one quarter-point reduction.

        Going back to gold, it took a breather after passing US$3,700, sinking back down to the US$3,640 level after the Fed’s meeting. It was back at up at US$3,685 as of Friday (September 19) afternoon.

        While that’s a fairly big move in a short amount of time, many experts agree that right now it’s the big picture that’s important for gold, not day-to-day factors.

        Here’s how Will Rhind of GraniteShares explained it:

        ‘I think the main thing that’s driving gold, like I said, is this alternative to the dollar. People want an alternative to fiat money and particularly the dollar, and also to traditional stocks and bonds. And so gold’s appeal as being a genuine alternative, an uncorrelated alternative grows by the month, seemingly.’

        Bullet briefing — Gold M&A heats up, GDX switches index

        Newmont announces sale of Coffee

        Denver Gold Group hosted its Mining Forum Americas in Colorado Springs this week, bringing together the gold sector’s major players — and with them a slew of news.

        Among the major transactions announced was Newmont’s (TSX:NGT,NYSE:NEM,ASX:NEM) sale of its Yukon-based Coffee project to explorer Fuerte Metals (TSXV:FMT,OTCQB:FUEMF), formerly Atacama Copper, for total consideration of up to US$150 million.

        The Coffee transaction is the latest in a series of divestments from Newmont, which is looking to cut costs and hone in on tier-one assets after buying Newcrest Mining in 2023. Once the deal goes through, Newmont will have sold all six operations and two projects it set out to trim.

        ‘The sale of the Coffee Project reflects our ongoing efforts to streamline the portfolio and sharpen our focus on core operations’ — Tom Palmer, Newmont

        During the last gold bull market, major miners were criticized for doing high-priced deals and letting costs spiral out of control — this time, they appear to be taking steps to avoid that.

        Alamos to divest Turkish subsidiary

        Also divesting an asset this week was Alamos Gold (TSX:AGI,NYSE:AGI), which said it plans to sell its Turkish subsidiary to a unit of industrial conglomerate Nurol Holding.

        The US$470 million agreement will take several assets off Alamos’ hands, including its Kirazlı gold project, which has been blocked since 2019, when its mining licenses were not renewed amid protests. Alamos filed a $1 billion claim against Turkey in response, but said arbitration will be suspended and ultimately discontinued if certain contractual milestones are met.

        ‘This transaction marks a positive outcome, allowing us to crystallize significant value for our Turkish assets, and utilize the proceeds to support the development of our portfolio of other high-return growth projects’ — John A. McCluskey, Alamos Gold

        Zijin Gold plans IPO

        Zijin Gold International, which operates all of Zijin Mining Group’s (OTC Pink:ZIJMF,HKEX:2899,SHA:601899) mines outside of China, is lining up a Hong Kong initial public offering (IPO) that could raise over US$3 billion.

        Trading is set to begin on September 29, and the deal will value Zijin Gold at US$24.1 billion. According to Zijin Gold’s prospectus, it ranks ninth and eleventh globally in terms of gold reserves and production, respectively. The IPO is reportedly the world’s largest since May, and of course comes as gold continues on its record-setting price run.

        GDX makes index switch

        The VanEck Gold Miners ETF (ARCA:GDX), better known as GDX, began tracking a new index on Friday. It now follows the MarketVector Global Gold Miners Index.

        VanEck announced the change at the beginning of June, saying that it would coincide with GDX’s regular index reconstitution and rebalance cycle. In an update this week, the company shared how the shift will impact weightings for its holdings. While in many cases the difference is less than a percentage point, there are some larger changes — for example, Newmont’s weighting is falling by 6.04 percent; in addition, some companies have been removed or added.

        So far VanEck hasn’t announced changes for the VanEck Junior Gold Miners ETF (ARCA:GDXJ). Adjustments to that fund could be interesting — market participants often note that it doesn’t provide true exposure to exploration-stage companies.

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

        This post appeared first on investingnews.com
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        Charlie Kirk credited with helping Trump gain significant ground with young voters

        As conservatives reflect on the legacy of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk ahead of his celebration of life in Arizona on Sunday, some Republicans credit him with helping President Donald Trump win over young voters in 2024. 

        Former TPUSA staffer Anthony DeWitt explained that the grassroots element of Kirk’s work likely played a ‘monumental’ role in ‘energizing the youth to get out and vote in 2024.’

        ‘Charlie created something that finally lifted the voices and work of not only grassroots, but young people, people like myself who were just entering politics and gave us something that traditionally was only achieved by those who have had a lifetime in politics,’ DeWitt stated.

        ‘Getting young people knocking doors, chasing ballots, getting signatures, signing up new voters, attending conferences — that was the key to winning the 2024 election.’

        A Fox News voter analysis had Trump wooing 47% of voters aged 18-29, with former Vice President Kamala Harris narrowly winning the demographic with 51%.

        In the battleground state of Michigan, the analysis found that Trump won the age group with 50%, compared to 48% for Harris. He also came close with 48% in Arizona, where TPUSA is headquartered, with 51% of those surveyed backing Harris.

        Trump ultimately ended up sweeping the battleground states, including Michigan and Arizona, winning 312 electoral votes and the popular vote.

        However, it is an 11% increase from the 36% of voters in the same age range in 2020, with former President Joe Biden carrying the demographic with 61%.

        Colin Reed, a Washington, D.C.-based Republican strategist, noted how Kirk plays a unique role in ‘expanding the tent’ for the party.

        ‘A generation ago, it would have been unthinkable for a Republican candidate to run nearly equal among younger voters against a Democratic standard-bearer who had every Hollywood and celebrity endorser under the sun, but that’s precisely what happened in 2024,’ Reed wrote to Fox News Digital, alluding to Harris’ star-studded, but short campaign after Biden dropped out in July.

        ‘Charlie opened the doors for younger people to not only consider the conservative movement but embrace it and champion its principles as a ticket to prosperity and happiness.’

        Those close to Kirk, including Turning Point Action’s leader Tyler Bowyer, dubbed 2026 the ‘Charlie Kirk election’ at a vigil at Arizona State University Monday.

        ‘2028 will be the Kirk-Vance election,’ he said, and the organization is expected to rally around Vice President JD Vance to be Trump’s successor.  

        This post appeared first on FOX NEWS
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        Trump’s final Cabinet pick, Mike Waltz, confirmed by Senate in narrow vote

        The Senate confirmed the last member of President Donald Trump’s Cabinet on Friday after months of delay from Senate Democrats.

        Lawmakers confirmed Mike Waltz to be Trump’s ambassador to the United Nations on a bipartisan 47-45 vote. Sens. John Fetterman, D-Pa., Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., and Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., crossed the aisle to confirm him.

        Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., was the lone Republican to vote against his confirmation. He also voted against Waltz’s advancing out of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

        Waltz’s confirmation ends a nearly nine-month gap during which the U.S. was without a representative at the U.N., and it comes as the organization gears up for its General Assembly in New York City next week.

        Waltz, a retired Army National Guard colonel and former Green Beret, previously served as a House Republican from Florida before being tapped to serve as Trump’s national security advisor.

        However, he was dismissed from his position at the National Security Council following the ‘Signalgate’ controversy after Waltz added a journalist to a group chat with Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, Vice President JD Vance and others as they discussed strikes in Yemen.

        Waltz took responsibility for the blunder and told Fox News’ Laura Ingraham at the time, ‘It’s embarrassing. We’re going to get to the bottom of it.’

        Despite the hiccup, Trump tapped Waltz in May to be the U.S. ambassador to the U.N.

        The move came after he subbed out Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., from the position. At the time, Trump cited concerns that losing her from the House would make it difficult to pass legislation, particularly his ‘big, beautiful bill,’ given the GOP’s razor-thin majority in the lower chamber.

        Still, Waltz was scrutinized by Senate Democrats during his confirmation hearing in July, where lawmakers accused the former House Republican of an ‘amateurish’ move for including a journalist into a sensitive conversation. Waltz pushed back that there was no classified information shared in the chat.

        During the hearing, Waltz advocated for reforms at the U.N. and argued that ‘we should have one place in the world where everyone can talk.’

        ‘Where China, Russia, Europe, the developing world, can come together and resolve conflicts,’ he said. ‘But after 80 years, it’s drifted from its core mission of peacemaking.’

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        Trump admin asks Supreme Court to allow it to enforce passport sex designation policy

        President Donald Trump’s administration on Friday asked the Supreme Court to permit enforcement of a passport policy requiring transgender and nonbinary applicants to list their sex as male or female according to their birth certificate.

        Due to a lower court order, transgender and nonbinary people can receive passports with an ‘X’ identification marker instead of male or female. The Justice Department has appealed that order, the Associated Press reported.

        In its filing on Friday, Justice Department lawyers argued, ‘Private citizens cannot force the government to use inaccurate sex designations on identification documents that fail to reflect the person’s biological sex — especially not on identification documents that are government property and an exercise of the President’s constitutional and statutory power to communicate with foreign governments.’

        On Jan. 20, President Trump signed an executive order directing the federal government to recognize only male or female designations based on ‘an individual’s immutable biological classification.’ 

        The order instructed the State Department to issue official documents, including passports, in line with that standard.

        A federal judge in Massachusetts later ruled the State Department must provide transgender and nonbinary applicants with passports reflecting the gender designation they select. 

        The 1st Circuit Court of Appeals declined to block that order while the case moves forward, prompting the administration to appeal to the Supreme Court.

        For more than three decades before the Trump administration, the State Department permitted people to update the sex designation on their passports.

        In 2022, the Biden administration introduced the option for applicants to choose ‘X’ as a gender-neutral designation and to select ‘M’ or ‘F’ to indicate male or female, according to Reuters.

        Fox News’ Bill Mears and Shannon Bream contributed to this report.

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