Author

admin

Browsing

Cartier Resources Inc. (″ Cartier ″ or the ″ Company ″) (TSXV: ECR,OTC:ECRFF; FSE: 6CA) is pleased to announce it has awarded the contract for beginning the first environmental baseline studies for the Cadillac project and an initial evaluation of economic assessment of the past-producing Chimo mine tailings to Stantec, a global leader in sustainable design and engineering. The baseline studies will be divided into two distinct parts which include 1) environmental baseline desktop study and 2) preliminary environmental geochemical characterization.

These initial baseline studies will form a foundation for Cartier by providing a comprehensive understanding of the current environmental conditions and identifying potential impacts of future development planning of the Cadillac project. The results will help guide our advancing strategies in a responsible and sustainable manner, enabling the design and implementing operations that minimize environmental impact while optimizing the economic potential of the project . ‘ – Philippe Cloutier, President and CEO of Cartier.

We continue to advance the Cadillac project with a dual-focus strategy: drilling an ambitious 100,000-meter drilling campaign that combines the extensions of known gold zones and the exploration of new high-priority targets, identified using cutting-edge AI technology through our collaboration with VRIFY and now launching of the foundational environmental baseline studies. These efforts will be conducted simultaneously, with the potential for additional work emerging as the project advances. ‘ – Ronan Deroff, Vice President Exploration of Cartier.

Below is the description of the different parts:

Part 1 – Environmental Baseline Desktop Study

The environmental desktop study aims to document and characterize the potential environmental constraints on the Cadillac project footprint. This approach identifies potential environmental issues, such as atmospheric conditions, surface and groundwater management, wetlands and natural environments, terrestrial, avian and aquatic fauna as well as land uses.

The approach consists of a rigorous document review that will allow for planning the future general development of the Cadillac project, identifying sensitive areas and minimizing environmental impacts. This first step will permit to plan a comprehensive field work as a next step to the environmental baseline studies. All the information will be sufficiently comprehensive to serve as a basis for drafting Chapter 20 of a possible update to the Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA).

Part 2 – Preliminary Environmental Geochemical Characterization

The preliminary environmental geochemical characterization study aims to assess the potential geochemical risks of the waste rock and ore that will be extracted from the operations, as well as the tailings generated during ore processing.

In accordance with the criteria of the Guide de caractérisation des résidus miniers et du minerai (GCRMM), geochemical characterization is used to classify mining materials in terms of their acid generation and metal leaching potential. Static tests will be conducted on approximately fifty samples representative of the various lithologies present on the site to determine appropriate management methods for these materials, in accordance with the guidelines of Directive 019 of the Ministère de l’Environnement, de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques, de la Faune et des Parcs (MELCCFP).

Part 3 – Assessment of the economic assessment of the past-producing Chimo mine tailings

This assessment aims to determine whether economic recovery of the Chimo mine tailings is feasible, considering its geochemical, granulometric and metallurgical characteristics.

The study will consist of systematic sampling, with approximately fifty sample sites planned to cover the entire tailings facility. All required authorizations to perform the sampling will be obtained prior to the field work.

Qualified Person

The scientific and technical content of this press release has been prepared, reviewed and approved by Mr. Ronan Déroff, P.Geo., M.Sc., Vice President Exploration, who is a ″Qualified Person″ as defined by National Instrument 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (″NI 43-101″).

About Stantec

Stantec is a global leader in sustainable engineering, architecture, and environmental consulting. ​It empowers clients, people, and communities to rise to the world’s greatest challenges at a time when the world faces more unprecedented concerns than ever before. Stantec trades on the TSX and the NYSE under the symbol STN.

About Cadillac Project

The Cadillac Project, covering 14,000 hectares along a 15-kilometre stretch of the Cadillac Fault, is one of the largest consolidated land packages in the Val-d’Or mining camp. Cartier’s flagship asset integrates the historic Chimo Mine and East Cadillac projects, creating a dominant position in a world class gold mining district.

With excellent road access, year-round infrastructure and nearby milling capacity, the project is ideally positioned for rapid advancement and value creation.

Using a gold price of US$1,750/oz, a Preliminary Economic Assessment demonstrated the economic viability of a 2-km segment, compared to the 15 km that will be the subject of the 100,000 m drilling program, with an average annual gold production of 116,900 oz over a 9.7-year mine life. Indicated resources are estimated at 720,000 ounces (7.1 million tonnes at 3.1 g/t Au) and inferred resources at 1,633,000 ounces (18.5 million tonnes at 2.8 g/t Au). Please see the NI 43-101 ″Technical Report and Preliminary Economic Assessment for Chimo Mine and West Nordeau Gold Deposits, Chimo Mine and East Cadillac Properties, Quebec, Canada, Marc R. Beauvais, P.Eng., of InnovExplo Inc., Mr. Florent Baril of Bumigeme and Mr. Eric Sellars, P.Eng. of Responsible Mining Solutions″ effective May 29, 2023.

About Cartier Resources Inc.

Cartier Resources Inc., founded in 2006 and headquartered in Val-d’Or (Quebec) is a gold exploration company focused on building shareholder value through discovery and development in one of Canada’s most prolific mining camps. The Company combines strong technical expertise, a track record of successful exploration, and a fully funded program to advance its flagship Cadillac Project. Cartier’s strategy is clear: unlock the full potential of one of the largest undeveloped gold landholdings in Quebec.

For further information, contact:
Philippe Cloutier, P. Geo.
President and CEO
Telephone: 819-856-0512
philippe.cloutier@ressourcescartier.com
www.ressourcescartier.com

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

News Provided by GlobeNewswire via QuoteMedia

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

(TheNewswire)

S eptember 9, 2025 TheNewswire – Vancouver, British Columbia Blue Lagoon Resources Inc. (‘Blue Lagoon’ or the ‘Company’) (CSE: BLLG,OTC:BLAGF; OTCQB: BLAGF; FSE: 7BL) is pleased to provide an update on its Dome Mountain Gold Project, where the Company is nearing final commissioning of its Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor (MBBR) water treatment system – the final step required before commencing blasting.

The Company expects the MBBR to be fully activated within the next 7 to 10 days , at which point the water treatment plant will be fully commissioned and blasting can begin. In the meantime, underground preparation work is scheduled to start this week to ensure the operation is fully ready for the start of mining.

Underground Work To Commence This Week

Work beginning this week includes:

  • Establishing emergency egress exit points – ensuring all ladders are secure and viable.

  • Bolt testing – testing approximately 10% of bolting as per the Ground Control Management Plan.

  • Re-establishing the ventilation system – moving and wiring underground fans and ventilation ducts.

  • Clearing and fortifying underground magazine storage units and purchasing explosives.

  • Moving small waste piles to improve efficiency once blasting begins.

  • Cleaning the underground sump.

  • Drilling at the rollover to establish the first exposed ore face.

Once the MBBR system is commissioned (expected in the next 7 to 10 days), drilling and blasting will begin immediately at both the rollover and in the incline (development work).

‘We are now extremely close to begin mining,’ said Rana Vig, President & CEO of Blue Lagoon Resources. ‘The MBBR commissioning at Dome Mountain is the last remaining step before blasting can commence, and our crews are already underground preparing for operations. We expect to transition quickly into production and near-term cash flow once the system is online.’

To further strengthen its operational readiness, Blue Lagoon has added two experienced professionals to its team:

Michael Kendall – Underground Mine Supervisor

Mr. Kendall brings more than three decades of hands-on underground mining experience, with a proven track record of leading safe, efficient, and high-performing crews across some of Canada’s most notable operations, including Eskay Creek, Rice Lake, Myra Falls, Red Chris, and Minto.

  • Former Underground Mine Manager at Fortis Mining and Underground Supervisor at Barminco (Red Chris).

  • Extensive experience in mine planning, development, and production management, including recommissioning and optimization of underground operations.

  • Recognized Mine Rescue Captain, with multiple provincial championships and decades of safety leadership.

Mr. Kendall’s deep operational knowledge and safety-first approach will be instrumental as Dome Mountain transitions from development into steady-state production.

Dr. Francis Salifu Environmental Manager

The Company has also appointed an Environmental Manager, a seasoned professional with over 15 years of progressive experience in mining-sector environmental management, including more than five years in senior supervisory roles.

  • PhD in Environmental Science.

  • Expertise in ML/ARD mitigation, water quality and water balance modeling, and biochemical reactor (BCR) systems.

  • Formerly with Conuma Resources, PwC, and the Alberta Energy Regulator, where they developed integrated environmental management programs and improved site compliance by more than 60%.

  • Skilled in stakeholder engagement with regulators, consultants, and Indigenous communities, with a strong focus on sustainability and continuous improvement.

This appointment underscores Blue Lagoon’s commitment to the highest standards of environmental compliance and responsible mining as production begins.

‘As we prepare for mining and near-term cash flow, building the right team is critical,’ said Rana Vig, President & CEO of Blue Lagoon Resources. ‘Michael’s extensive underground experience and Francis’s proven leadership in sustainability both strengthen our operational readiness. These hires reinforce our commitment to safety, environmental stewardship, and efficient execution at Dome Mountain

About Blue Lagoon Resources Inc.

Blue Lagoon Resources is a Canadian based publicly listed mining company (CSE: BLLG,OTC:BLAGF; FSE: 7BL; OTCQB: BLAGF) focused on building shareholder value through the aggressive development of its 100% owned Dome Mountain Gold project. The Company is run by professionals with significant finance and mining experience and operates within a prime mining jurisdiction in British Columbia, Canada. With the granting of a full mining permit, a key milestone achieved in February 2025 – one of only nine such permits issued in British Columbia since 2015 – Blue Lagoon is now focused on last preparatory activities and tasks related to the safe and secure opening of the Dome Mountain Gold Mine, targeting Q3 2025 as the start of gold production . The Company’s primary objective has always been to become a cash-flowing mining company, to ultimately deliver tangible monetary value to shareholders, state, and local communities.

The Company is not basing its production decision at Dome Mountain on a feasibility study of mineral reserves demonstrating economic and technical viability. The production decision is based on having existing mining infrastructure, past bulk sampling and processing activity, and the established mineral resource.  The Company understands that there is increased uncertainty, and consequently a higher risk of failure, when production is undertaken in advance of a feasibility study.

For further information, please contact:

Rana Vig

President and CEO

Telephone: 604-218-4766

Email: rana@bllg.ca

The CSE has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information: This release includes certain statements that may be deemed ‘forward-looking statements’. All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts, that address events or developments that Blue Lagoon Resources Inc. (the ‘Company’) expects to occur, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words ‘expects’, ‘targets’, ‘plans’, ‘anticipates’, ‘believes’, ‘intends’, ‘estimates’, ‘projects’, ‘potential’, ‘mine’, ‘production’ and similar expressions, or that events or conditions ‘will’, ‘would’, ‘may’, ‘could’ or ‘should’ occur. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include results of exploration activities may not show quality and quantity necessary for further exploration or future exploitation of minerals deposits, volatility of gold and silver prices, delays in mine development activities, future cash flow expectations and continued availability of capital and financing, permitting and other approvals, and general economic, market or business conditions.  Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company’s management, contractors and consultants on the date the statements are made. Except as required by applicable securities laws, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management’s, contractor’s and consultants’ beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change

Copyright (c) 2025 TheNewswire – All rights reserved.

News Provided by TheNewsWire via QuoteMedia

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

(TheNewswire)

VANCOUVER, BC TheNewswire – September 9, 2025 Heritage Mining Ltd. (CSE: HML FRA: Y66) (‘ Heritage ‘ or the ‘ Company ‘) is pleased to announce a confirmed broad gold zone within a newly discovered ~74m wide quartz vein system (true width unknown) associated with a magnetic anomaly that extends for ~4km along strike length and up to 200m in width (Figure 1, 2) at its flagship Drayton Black Lake Project. Scout drilling targeted this previously unrecognized magnetic feature at Zone Three Extension, as part of the ongoing 2025 Exploration Scout Drill Program.

DBL Exploration Update Highlights

Drilling at Drayton-Black Lake (‘ DBL ‘) Zone 3 Extension prospect confirms gold mineralization over broad widths and associated with a thick quartz vein structure that is up to 74m in core length (true width unknown) as initially reported in Heritage’s press release dated May 15, 2025 and July 22, 2025.

Drill Hole HML25-013 intersected

  • 0.98 g/t Au over 5.00m from 101.00m (Figure 3)

  • 1.11 g/t Au over 11.09m from 115.91m

Including: 4g/t Au over 2m from 125m (Figure 3)

‘We are very pleased with the discovery of such a wide quartz vein structure. Our limited drilling has now confirmed a broad zone of gold mineralization associated with the ‘mega-quartz vein structure’.  The Company is excited by the potential this vein system exhibits, and we look forward to further communicating the next steps as well as findings on our other projects to the market in short order.’ Commented Peter Schloo, President, CEO and Director of Heritage Mining Ltd.

‘The intersection of very wide (~74m wide in core length, HML25-013) strongly deformed quartz vein in drill holes from Zone 3 Extension in the Lake of Bays Batholith was a great proof of concept for our geology/mineralization model. Multiple stages of deformation, fluid ingress, alteration, and sulphide deposition are evident within the quartz vein system. The return of assays showing a composite interval of 0.98 g/t Au over 5.00m and 1.11 g/t Au over 11.09m (including 4g/t Au over 2m from 125m) in hole HML25-013 provides further encouragement for discovery and support of our model.’ Commented Brett Davis, Structural Geologist Consultant to Heritage Mining Ltd.


Click Image To View Full Size

Figure 1: HML25-013, 014 Cross section with 2024 Drone Mag Survey


Click Image To View Full Size

Figure 2: Showing the completed and proposed holes testing the northeast-southwest trending magnetic lineament

Discussion of Results

DBL – Zone 3 Extension

The 2025 scout drill program at Zone 3 Extension targeted granite-hosted mineralised quartz-vein structures that were first discovered in the HML Zone 3 drilling program of August 2024 (Figure 2).  The recently completed drill program comprised 4 holes for a total 1105.5m.  Drilling targeted a northeast-southwest trending magnetic lineament, which appears to control the quartz veining.  Drilling is considered a technical success with two ( HML25-011 and 013 ) of the four holes intersecting a well-developed quartz vein structure, including drill hole HML25-013 that intersected a 74m wide vein structure (true width unknown).  Assays received for HML25-010, 011, 012, 13, 14.

Assay results from HML 25-013 confirm broad gold mineralization. Based on the Drone Magnetic survey, the ‘mega-quartz vein structure’ has a potential strike length of ~4km and warrants additional exploration drilling.

Hole_ID

Target

From(m)

To(m)

Au g/t

Length(m)

Composite

HML25-013

Zone 3

101.11

106.00

0.98

5.00

5 m of 0.98 g/t Au

HML25-013

Zone 3

115.91

127.00

1.10

11.09

11.09 m of 1.10 g/t Au

Incl.

Zone 3

125.00

127.00

4.00

2.00

2.0 m of 4.00 g/t Au

Internal dilution is no more then 0.20 g/t Au over a 5m interval.


Click Image To View Full Size

Figure 3: HML25-013 Box 29, 126.66m to 126.45m Mineralization Photo (4g/t Au over 2m from 125m interval)


Click Image To View Full Size

Figure 4: HML25-013 Box 24 (103.29m – 107.68m) 1.83 g/t Au from 103.5m

Assay results from HML 25-014 confirm anomalous gold values outside the quartz vein zone and inside the granite batholith providing support of a potential mineralized vein system.

HML25-014 Highlights:

        • 0.87 g/t Au over 0.46m from 310.82m

        • 0.63 g/t Au over 0.52m from 315.75m

Assays for HML25-010 & 011 & 14 confirm locally elevated gold values in the vein structure per press released July 22, 2025 with HML25-014 missing the structure due to dip direction.

Conclusion

The Company believes additional drilling is warranted to test along this major quartz vein structure along strike.   The Company has proposed an additional 10 holes to test along a 2km strike length of the magnetic lineament (Figure 3) the complete program proposal for the remainder of 2025 will be communicated in short order.

Qualified Person

Stephen Hughes P. Geo, Strategic Advisor for the Company, serves as a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects and has reviewed the scientific and technical information in this news release, approving the disclosure herein.

Technical Program

Heritage Mining adheres to a strict QA/QC protocol for handling, sampling, sample transportation and analyses.  Chain-of-custody protocols are designed to ensure security of samples until their delivery at the laboratory.

Sampling, Sub-sampling, and Laboratory Analysis for Heritage Mining Drayton Black Lake Project All drilling at the Drayton Black Lake project recovers NQ core. Drill core is systematically split in half using a diamond saw. A qualified geologist examines the drill core, marking intervals for sampling and indicating the cutting line. Sample lengths are typically 1.0 metre, adjusted to a minimum length of 0.5 metre as necessary to respect lithological and/or mineralogical contacts and to isolate narrow veins or structures that may contain higher-grade mineralization.

Technicians saw the core along the cutting lines determined by the geologist. One half of the core is retained as a witness sample, while the other half is submitted for analysis. Individual sample bags are securely sealed and placed into sealed bags, which are then clearly marked with their contents.

Heritage Mining submits samples for gold determination by PhotonAssay to ALS Canada Ltd. (‘ ALS ‘). ALS operates under a commercial contract with Heritage Mining.

Drill core samples are shipped to ALS for sample preparation at their facilities in Thunderbay Ontario. ALS is an ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accredited laboratory for the PhotonAssay method in addition to a variety of diverse metal determination methods.

Analytical Procedures

The ALS procedure for PhotonAssay involves lab applying preparation codes LOG-21 (sample logging via barcode), CRU-31 (fine crushing so that 70% passes through a 2mm screen) and SPL-32a (rotary splitting of a representative ~500g subsample)  followed by analytical code Au-PA01 which is a non-destructive gold analysis method using high-energy X-rays with a gold detection range from 0.03 ppm to 350ppm.

After gold assays are returned, Heritage then may choose to perform multi-element assays on selected samples based on the gold results. In these cases, sample preparation codes FND-05 (locate and use remaining crushed material from Au-PA01) and PUL-32m (pulverization so that >85% passes 75 µm screen) are then applied followed by analytical code ME-MS61 (multi-element ICP-MS analysis for base metals, pathfinder elements, lithophile elements and rare earth elements).

________________________________________

Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC)

The drill program design, QA/QC, and interpretation of results are performed by qualified persons employing a rigorous QA/QC program consistent with industry best practices. Standards and blanks account for a minimum of 10% of the samples, in addition to the laboratories’ internal quality assurance programs.

Quality Control data are meticulously evaluated upon receipt from the laboratories for any failures. Appropriate corrective action is taken if assay results for standards and blanks fall outside allowed tolerances. All results disclosed by Heritage Mining have successfully passed the Company’s stringent quality control protocols.

The Company does not recognize any factors of drilling, sampling, or recovery that could materially affect the accuracy or reliability of the assay data disclosed. The assay data disclosed in this press release have been verified by the Company’s Qualified Person against the original assay certificates.

Heritage Mining notes that it has not completed any economic evaluations of its Drayton-Black Lake Project, and the project does not currently have any resources or reserves.

ABOUT HERITAGE MINING LTD.

The Company is a Canadian mineral exploration company advancing its two high grade gold-silver-copper projects in Northwestern Ontario. The Drayton-Black Lake and the Contact Bay projects are located near Sioux Lookout in the underexplored Eagle-Wabigoon-Manitou Greenstone Belt . Both projects benefit from a wealth of historic data, excellent site access and logistical support from the local community.

For further information, please contact:

Heritage Mining Ltd.

Peter Schloo, CPA, CA, CFA

President, CEO and Director

Phone: (905) 505-0918

Email: peter@heritagemining.ca

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This news release contains certain statements that constitute forward looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. These statements relate to future events of the Company. Any statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as ‘seek’, ‘anticipate’, ‘plan’, ‘continue’, ‘estimate’, ‘expect’, ‘forecast’, ‘may’, ‘will’, ‘project’, ‘predict’, ‘potential’, ‘targeting’, ‘intend’, ‘could’, ‘might’, ‘should’, ‘believe’, ‘outlook’ and similar expressions are not statements of historical fact and may be forward looking information. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein are forward-looking statements.

Forward looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such risks include, among others, the inherent risk of the mining industry; adverse economic and market developments; the risk that the Company will not be successful in completing additional acquisitions; risks relating to the estimation of mineral resources; the possibility that the Company’s estimated burn rate may be higher than anticipated; risks of unexpected cost increases; risks of labour shortages; risks relating to exploration and development activities; risks relating to future prices of mineral resources; risks related to work site accidents, risks related to geological uncertainties and variations; risks related to government and community support of the Company’s projects; risks related to global pandemics and other risks related to the mining industry. The Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking information are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward‐looking information should not be unduly relied upon. These statements speak only as of the date of this news release. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update any forward‐looking information except as required by law.

This document does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, securities of the Company in Canada, the United States, or any other jurisdiction. Any such offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to buy the securities described herein will be made only pursuant to subscription documentation between the Company and prospective purchasers. Any such offering will be made in reliance upon exemptions from the prospectus and registration requirements under applicable securities laws, pursuant to a subscription agreement to be entered into by the Company and prospective investors.

NOT INTENDED FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWS WIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES

Copyright (c) 2025 TheNewswire – All rights reserved.

News Provided by TheNewsWire via QuoteMedia

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

The House is preparing to take up its annual defense policy bill this week, with Democrats filing hundreds of amendments — many aimed at rebuking President Donald Trump’s administration and current GOP priorities

Lawmakers submitted roughly 450 proposed amendments to the fiscal 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Among them are measures dealing with diversity, Israel funding and Trump’s crackdown on illegal immigration.

The House Rules Committee will review the bill Monday afternoon and set parameters for debate, paving the way for a floor vote later this week.

Most of the progressive amendments are unlikely to survive, underscoring their symbolic nature. Still, Democrats are using the traditionally bipartisan defense package to spotlight opposition to the White House and Republican leadership.

Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, filed several amendments, including one to strike the NDAA’s prohibition on using defense funds for diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts.

Similarly, Reps. Luz Rivas, D-Calif., and Jill Tokuda, D-Hawaii, offered an amendment to block a ban on DEI programs at the Pentagon.

Crockett also introduced language aimed at halting construction of migrant detention facilities on military installations, directly challenging Trump administration policy.

Rep. Maxwell Frost, D-Fla., put forward an amendment barring Defense Department funds from supporting migrant processing and detention operations.

The Pentagon announced last month it is building the country’s largest federal migrant detention center in Fort Bliss, Texas.

Rep. Delia Ramirez, D-Ill., filed two amendments targeting Trump-era immigration policies. One would prohibit funding for family separation, while another ‘prohibits funds from being used to transfer non-citizens to foreign prisons, except under treaties and extradition laws,’ according to the Rules Committee website. The latter proposal would effectively block deportations to El Salvador.

Reps. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., and Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., introduced measures aimed at limiting U.S. support for Israel.

Tlaib’s amendment would ban U.S. arms sales to countries whose governments include officials with outstanding International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrants. The ICC issued warrants in late 2024 for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and senior officials.

Omar’s proposal seeks to repeal Israel’s emergency access to a U.S.-managed weapons stockpile located in the country.

The NDAA is a bill passed every fiscal year that sets national security and defense policy for the U.S. government.

More than 1,000 total amendments have been introduced to this year’s bill.

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS

President Donald Trump just took a pivotal step to make healthcare affordable again.

On Sept. 4, his administration announced that most Americans will now be eligible to buy what are known as ‘copper plans’ on the ObamaCare exchanges. Before this reform, nearly all Americans were legally barred from buying these much more affordable plans. But now working families can get the plans they need at a price they can afford – and many uninsured people will likely get covered as a result.

The president is fixing one of the fundamental problems with ObamaCare. That law forced Americans who get their insurance on the individual market to buy costly plans, and in the 11 years since the law went into effect, they’ve gotten even pricier.  

ObamaCare plans have risen by nearly 200% since 2013. What’s more, prices for all plans are expected to rise another 18% by the start of next year.

ObamaCare’s authors knew their law would make healthcare more expensive. That’s why they quietly created an actually affordable option, which they called ‘copper plans.’ These plans cover pre-existing conditions, essential health benefits and everything else that ObamaCare requires, but they come with slightly higher out-of-pocket costs in exchange for dramatically lower premiums. 

Tens of millions of people could benefit from these options, but the federal government only allowed a minuscule number of Americans to buy them. Basically, you had to be under the age of 30. While anyone else could apply for a ‘hardship exemption’ to become eligible, the federal government rarely, if ever, granted these requests, forcing people to pay much more.

No longer. The Trump administration has effectively said that most Americans are now eligible for a hardship exemption, meaning anyone can buy a copper plan. Research from my organization shows that, on average, copper plans have 22% lower premiums than the typical bronze plan – and they cost up to 60% less than ObamaCare’s gold plans. By choosing these options, families can literally save hundreds or even thousands of dollars per year.

The return of affordability is reason enough to praise the president’s move. But this reform will have the added benefit of empowering uninsured people to finally get coverage they can afford. Nearly 27 million Americans are uninsured, many – if not most – because health insurance costs too much. They’ve needed access to copper plans, but their own government has blocked them. Now they’re free to buy better coverage.

Crucially, the uninsured population has the exact groups of people who can help the ObamaCare exchanges become more sustainable. The second and third-largest groups of the uninsured are between the ages of 26 and 34 and 35 and 44, respectively. These tend to be healthier people who don’t need costly plans because they don’t need much health care. As such, they don’t mind the higher out-of-pocket costs that come with the typical copper plan.

By helping to get more of these people covered, President Trump may very well stop the doom loop that has defined ObamaCare – a doom loop of ever-higher prices driving more and more people out of the markets altogether. And with fewer uninsured Americans and more people on private coverage, hospitals will see their uncompensated care costs drop. So hospitals – especially rural hospitals – will be on stronger footing.

This single reform could help millions – if not tens of millions – get more affordable coverage. It also meshes well with another commonsense policy issued by President Trump. He has reversed the Biden administration’s restrictions on short-term plans, empowering Americans to buy even more affordable coverage options for years at a time. 

This reform will also expand coverage to more uninsured people, while enabling others to get plans that better fit their budgets. We’re talking Americans of all ages who are in between jobs and looking for work, those who’ve retired but aren’t yet eligible for Medicare, and working families desperately looking for affordable coverage.

Americans urgently need this healthcare relief. While Democrats and the media are demanding that Republicans merely expand ObamaCare subsidies to prevent people from losing coverage, that’s not a real or sustainable solution. 

More government subsidies only make health insurance more expensive, not less. President Trump has taken the better road by giving Americans greater access to more affordable plans.

When it comes to helping families out, the president’s short-term reform will make a long-term difference, and his copper plans reform gets a gold star.

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS

In comments to Fox News Digital, the State Department’s position on Sudan’s warring parties has hardened, as a 500-day siege of the Darfur city of El Fasher has trapped hundreds of thousands of civilians. 

Sudan suffers from the world’s largest displacement: Between 13 million and 15 million people have been ripped from their homes, and an estimated 150,000 people have been killed since the rebel Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese government’s Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) started fighting in April 2023. The civil war’s roots lie in tensions following the 2019 ousting of President Omar al-Bashir.

‘The RSF, during the siege of El Fasher and surrounding areas, committed myriad crimes against humanity, including murder, torture, enslavement, rape, sexual slavery, sexual violence, forced displacement and persecution on ethnic, gender and political grounds,’ an Independent International Fact-Finding Mission for Sudan reported to the U.N.’s Human Rights Council last Friday. 

The report agreed with other accounts that the RSF is trying to starve El Fasher’s residents to death, stating, ‘The RSF and its allies used starvation as a method of warfare.’

Aid is being blocked from going into El Fasher, the U.N. Secretary-General’s spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric, stated Aug. 29  ‘Supplies are pre-positioned nearby but efforts by the United Nations and its partners to move them into El Fasher continue to be hampered.

‘The situation in El Fasher remains dire,’ Mariam Wahba, research analyst at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, told Fox News Digital.  ‘The RSF has effectively encircled the city, cutting off key supply routes and subjecting civilians to indiscriminate shelling. Satellite images indicate a wall is being built to trap civilians inside, consistent with RSF tactics used elsewhere. These ‘kill zones’ leave residents with no means of escape. El-Fasher is the last major SAF-held city in Darfur. If it falls, the RSF would control nearly all of Darfur, consolidating both territory and economic assets, particularly lucrative gold mines.’

President Donald Trump’s Special Advisor for Africa, Massad Boulos, met Sudan’s army chief, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan in Switzerland last month. From the tone of the State Department’s responses to Fox News Digital’s questions on Sudan this week, there appears to be little progress on the path to peace. 

A spokesperson stated, ‘since the April 2023 outbreak of conflict in Sudan, we have witnessed significant backsliding in Sudan’s overall respect for fundamental freedoms, including religious freedom.

‘In order to safeguard U.S. interests, to include the protection of religious freedom in Sudan, U.S. efforts seek to limit negative Islamist influence in Sudan’s government and curtail Iran’s regional activities that have contributed to regional destabilization, conflict, and civilian suffering.’

Wahba is also concerned about the activities of foreign ‘bad actors’ in Sudan. ‘Iran has provided the SAF with drones and technical support. Emerging reports point to Iranian interest in helicopter facilities. Iran sees its involvement in Sudan as a gateway for extending its footprint in Africa.’

Wahba continued, ‘Russia has played both sides of the conflict. It has pursued a naval base on Sudan’s Red Sea coast, which would give Moscow direct access to critical shipping lanes, while also profiting from gold smuggling through RSF-linked networks.’

‘Regional powers are also advancing their own interests. Egypt has publicly backed the SAF, aligning with Sudan’s ruler, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan. Saudi Arabia is aligned with Egypt in backing al-Burhan. The United Arab Emirates, on the other hand, has provided significant support to the RSF, viewing its commander, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo – widely known as Hemedti – as the custodian of Sudan’s gold exports and the path to its plans for port development along the Red Sea coast.’

Wahba concluded, ‘Burhan’s willingness to engage with Washington is a potential opening. This does not mean the U.S. should unconditionally back the SAF, but it could form the basis for a more defined U.S. strategy, one that makes U.S. engagement contingent on the SAF reining in, or removing, its Islamist militias and leadership.

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS

A Senate Republican charged that former President Joe Biden and top administration officials ‘demolished’ the constitutional guardrails for pardons by using an autopen.

Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, wrote in a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi, which was first obtained by Fox News Digital, that there are a list of ‘core constitutional requirements’ that must be met for pardons and granting clemency, and that the administration’s usage of an autopen likely ran afoul of those guardrails.

In the waning months of his presidency, the Biden administration commuted the sentences of roughly 1,500 inmates and pardoned 39 others in December. A little over a month later, the administration issued roughly 2,500 more commutations — the most ever by a president in a single day.

Cruz, who is a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee and chair of the Subcommittee on Federal Courts, Oversight, Agency Action, and Federal Rights, offered to provide Bondi assistance in ongoing investigations into the administration’s alleged abuse of the autopen.

He said that the clemencies were issued ‘based on broad criteria rather than case-by-case evaluations, and at least some were signed using an autopen of then-President Biden’s signature.’

‘These core Constitutional requirements, considerations, and expectations were demolished in the final months of the Biden administration for partisan and personal motives by President Biden, his family, and his top officials,’ Cruz said.

Cruz noted that the presidential pardon authority granted under Article II, Section 2 of the Constitution requires a chain of custody of sorts: there has to be an unbroken line from the president to a pardon being granted, he said.

‘Everyone involved in the process — government officials purporting to issue a pardon, the person to whom it is being granted, judicial and law enforcement officials, and most of all the American people — should have absolute confidence a pardon was granted at the president’s explicit direction,’ Cruz said.

But recent reports, and ongoing congressional investigations, have raised doubts over whether Biden explicitly directed the avalanche of pardons toward the end of his presidency.  

Cruz’s letter comes on the heels of a report from Axios that unearthed emails that showed Biden officials raised concerns with how the president’s team decided to make certain pardons and the frequent usage of the autopen.

Cruz said that the emails showed that the Biden White House ‘implemented a process that separated the President from officials responsible for signing pardons on his behalf.’

‘They could not know if they were doing so at the President’s direction, either on a case-by-case basis or as a matter of criteria,’ he said.

He argued that the doubts raised by recent reports, and the ongoing investigations by the Justice Department, risked a ‘constitutional crisis in which the other branches and the American people cannot have faith that the President’s Article 2 pardon power was legitimately deployed.’

‘If the integrity of the clemency process was broken by Biden officials, such that the relevant actions were not taken at the President’s direction, the status of the pardons and commutations would at a minimum be cast into doubt, and the officials involved in approving and using the autopens should be held accountable,’ Cruz said. 

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS

Among the files made public by the House Oversight Committee is a document that stands out for its tone: a glossy 238-page scrapbook that offers a rare and unusually intimate glimpse of Jeffrey Epstein’s self-curated network. 

The infamous ‘birthday book,’ compiled by Ghislaine Maxwell in 2003, for Epstein’s 50th includes what appears to be notes from former President Bill Clinton, Alan Dershowitz, as well as photographs that juxtapose girlfriends, animals, children’s drawings with financiers and politicians — a tableau that feels all the more unsettling today.

Maxwell wrote to Epstein at the beginning of the book that she wanted to ‘gather stories and old photographs to jog your memory about places, people and different events.’ She hoped he would ‘derive as much pleasure from looking through it’ as she did assembling it for him.

Later in the book, a photo of the two canoodling appears with a caption that reads ‘the first date,’ marked with the year 1991.

Maxwell was found guilty in 2021 of sex trafficking and other offenses, and is serving a 20-year prison term. Prosecutors said she played a central role in Epstein’s scheme, luring underage girls into what began as massages and escalated into sexual abuse.

Now 63 and incarcerated since her 2020 arrest, Maxwell told Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche in late August that she had no role in the sexual exploitation of minors. When asked about the ‘birthday book,’ she told Blanche that she could only remember some parts of it, adding that it had been years since she compiled it. 

Among the book’s entries is an apparent note from Bill Clinton, where the former Democratic president praises Epstein’s ‘childlike curiosity’ and his ‘drive to make a difference’ as well as the ‘[illegible] of friends.’

Dershowitz, a former Harvard University law professor who once represented Epstein during criminal investigations, used his birthday note to make a joke about influencing media coverage.

‘Dear Jeffrey, as a birthday gift to you, I managed to obtain an early version of the Vanity Unfair article. I talked them into changing the focus from you to Bill Clinton, as you will see from the enclosed excerpt. Happy birthday and best regards,’ the entry said.

Dershowitz has repeatedly denied wrongdoing as it relates to Epstein.

The birthday book also contained sentimental messages from family and friends. In one note, Epstein’s mother, Pauline Stolofsky Epstein, wrote that she’s been ‘very busy reminiscing since Ghislaine asked me to write about you.’ 

‘Jeff[,] you have been a good son since day one and we have been proud of you ever since,’ Epstein’s mother said.

‘I recall you refused to sleep [as a child] unless I read a story from Grandma’s Golden Book that she bought for 25c,’ she added. ‘At PTA meetings I begged your teachers to improve your handwriting.’

She also referenced Epstein’s life as a bachelor, as well as his prominent media shout-outs.

‘At age 21 Cosmopolitan magazine featured you as ‘Bachelor of the Month,’ Pauline Epstein wrote. ‘Today you still hold that title.’

‘Jeff, I’m so sorry that Dad can’t share the nachus [pride] we have regarding your achievements,’ she added. ‘He would have been overjoyed reading the article about you in the New York magazine.’ 

The book features hundreds of photos from throughout Epstein’s life until age 50, including pictures of him as a child and a teenager.

Some of the earlier images included family pictures, formal school photos and pictures of him hanging out with friends as a teenager.

The book also had revealing images of Epstein shirtless, Epstein embracing women and what appears to be a censored photo of him and Maxwell laughing and embracing in a pool. Pictures of mating lions and zebras were also included in the book.

A picture of a woman in a bikini was also included with the caption, ‘Visiting you down in Palm Beach. Can’t get a second of privacy with you and a camera around ha ha!’

Upon the files’ release, Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., chair of the House Oversight Committee, accused Democrats of previously ‘cherry-picking’ the documents.

‘Oversight Committee Republicans are focused on running a thorough investigation to bring transparency and accountability for survivors of Epstein’s heinous crimes and the American people,’ Comer said.

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS

President Donald Trump issued his ‘last warning’ to Hamas to either release the remaining hostages or face the consequences.

‘Everyone wants the hostages HOME. Everyone wants this War to end,’ Trump wrote on Truth Social. ‘The Israelis have accepted my Terms. It is time for Hamas to accept as well.’

‘I have warned Hamas about the consequences of not accepting,’ he continued. ‘This is my last warning, there will not be another one! Thank you for your attention to this matter.’

Last month, Trump said the remaining hostages would only be returned when Hamas is ‘confronted and destroyed.’ At the time, Hamas was citing alleged progress in ceasefire talks.

In July, the U.S. and Israel pulled negotiators from Qatar after Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff said Hamas showed a ‘lack of desire to reach a ceasefire’ and was likely not negotiating in good faith.

On Aug. 26, Witkoff told Fox News’ Bret Baier on ‘Special Report’ that he and Trump wanted the hostages home that week. 

‘There’s been a deal on the table for the last six or seven weeks that would have released 10 of the hostages out of the 20 who we think are alive,’ he said, noting that he believes Hamas is ‘100%’ to blame for the hold-up.

Witkoff did not elaborate on what is delaying the hostages’ return, nearly two years after they were taken in the Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel.

Fifty hostages continue to be held by Hamas, only 20 of whom are assessed to still be alive. 

Trump previously predicted in late August that there would be a ‘conclusive’ end to the war in Gaza within the next ‘two to three weeks,’ though he did not say how this would be accomplished. 

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has insisted that only a comprehensive ceasefire — one that ensures the return of all hostages and ends the war on Israel’s terms — will be considered.

Israel is preparing a new offensive in Gaza targeting Hamas, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said, as it expanded ground operations under Operation Gideon’s Chariots II.

IDF spokesperson Col. Avichay Adraee warned Palestinians in parts of Gaza City to leave ahead of an expected escalation. The warning included a map marking the area and highlighting one building the IDF planned to strike, citing ‘the presence of Hamas terrorist infrastructure inside or nearby.’

Fox News Digital’s Rachel Wolf and Danielle Wallace contributed to this report.

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS