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Secretary of War Pete Hegseth on Friday announced that the Department of War (DOW) is establishing a new counter-narcotics Joint Task Force in the Caribbean Sea. 

Hegseth said the task force’s aim would be to ‘crush the cartels, stop the poison, and keep America safe. The message is clear: if you traffic drugs toward our shores, we will stop you cold.’

The task force is launching at the direction of President Donald Trump, he said, in the SOUTHCOM area, which covers the Caribbean and Latin America. 

The U.S. Southern Command said in a release that the task force was being launched under the II Marine Expeditionary Force on Friday ‘to synchronize and augment counter-narcotics efforts across the Western Hemisphere.’

‘Transnational criminal organizations threaten the security, prosperity, and health of our hemisphere,’ Admiral Alvin Holsey, the commander of SOUTHCOM, said in a statement. ‘By forming a JTF around II MEF headquarters, we enhance our ability to detect, disrupt, and dismantle illicit trafficking networks faster and at greater depth – together with our U.S. and partner-nation counterparts.’

This comes as the administration has begun strikes against boats in the Caribbean it says are linked to drug trafficking networks.

The administration has conducted a series of fatal strikes against four small boats believed to be carrying drugs over the last few months.

It said 21 people were killed in the strikes.  

The attacks have alarmed Democratic lawmakers as the administration hasn’t detailed what evidence it had against the targeted boats or their passengers. 

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North Korean leader Kim Jong Un displayed a new long-range intercontinental ballistic missile at a military parade in Pyongyang that included foreign leaders on Friday. 

The yet-to-be-tested Hwasong-20 was described by the state-owned Korean Central News Agency as having the ‘most powerful nuclear strategic weapons system.’

The government also displayed shorter-range ballistic, cruise and supersonic missiles at the military parade, which marked 80 years since the founding of the Worker’s Party.

Kim said at the parade that the military ‘must continue to evolve into an invincible force that eliminates all threats.’

The foreign dignitaries at the parade included Chinese Premier Li Qiang, former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, and Vietnam’s Communist Party chief To Lam. 

Kim also met with Medvedev on Friday, who praised the sacrifice of North Korean soldiers fighting with Russia in Ukraine. 

Kim said he hoped to strengthen ties with Russia and work together toward common goals. 

Last summer, Kim’s sister Kim Yo Jong warned the U.S. to not attempt to restart talks centered around denuclearization, adding that Pyongyang would view any attempt to pressure North Korea to denuclearize as ‘nothing but a mockery.’ 

‘If the U.S. fails to accept the changed reality and persists in the failed past, the DPRK- U.S. meeting will remain as a ‘hope’ of the U.S. side,’ Kim Yo Jong said, referring to the nation by its official name, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.

The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report. 

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President Donald Trump is in ‘excellent overall health,’ the president’s doctor said in a memorandum after a follow-up evaluation at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on Friday. 

Earlier this week, the White House announced that Trump, 79, would undergo a ‘routine’ semiannual physical on Friday. 

The president also met with troops while at the hospital in Bethesda, Maryland. 

‘President Donald J. Trump successfully completed a scheduled follow-up evaluation at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center,’ Navy Capt. Sean P. Barbabella, the physician to the president, wrote in a memorandum to White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt. 

Barbabella said that the visit was part of an ongoing health maintenance plan that included ‘advanced imaging, laboratory testing and preventative health assessments conducted by multidisciplinary team of specialists.’ 

He added, ‘Comprehensive laboratory studies performed in conjunction with the visit were exceptional, including stable metabolic, hematologic and cardiac parameters.’

In his summary, Barbabella said Trump, ‘remains in exceptional health, exhibiting strong cardiovascular, pulmonary, neurological, and physical performance.’ 

Barbabella also said Trump also received updated COVID-19 and flu shots in preparation for international travel. 

‘President Trump continues to demonstrate excellent overall health,’ he wrote, adding that his cardiac age was found to be ‘approximately 14 years younger than his chronological age. He continues to maintain a demanding daily schedule without restriction.’ 

The medical checkup will be Trump’s second this year. He had a similar exam in April, during which his physician stated that he ‘remains in excellent health.’

In July, the president was diagnosed with a vein condition known as chronic venous insufficiency. At the time, Leavitt said Trump had noticed ‘mild swelling’ in his lower legs and was evaluated by the White House medical unit.

Chronic venous insufficiency occurs when veins in the legs struggle to allow blood to flow back up to the heart.

Leavitt attributed the bruising on the president’s hand to ‘frequent handshaking and the use of aspirin.’

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The government shutdown is poised to enter a third week, and Democrats still appear to be struggling in the search for a cohesive messaging strategy.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., received a barrage of GOP-led attacks on Thursday after he told Punchbowl News, ‘Every day gets better for us’ in reference to the shutdown dragging on.

Meanwhile, House Democrats’ group selfie taken on Sept. 29, just before the shutdown, received criticism from both sides of the aisle. Former Rep. Adam Kinzinger, R-Ill., who’s become a fierce critic of the GOP since leaving office, wrote on X, ‘These selfie things need to stop guys. Honestly, the democrats were great at social media but social media moved on from them. The kitschy, goofy ‘choose your fighter’ type stuff needs to stop.’

Democrats have been fighting to center the discussion on healthcare, and their argument that any deal to reopen the federal government must at least include an extension of COVID-19 pandemic-era enhanced Obamacare subsidies that are set to expire at the end of this year.

And while polls show that Americans overwhelmingly do support extending the subsidies, surveys taken of the government shutdown have been more mixed, with a significant number of Americans blaming both parties.

A new Reuters/Ipsos poll released on Wednesday showed 67% of Americans believe Republicans deserve ‘a fair amount or a great deal of blame’ for the shutdown, compared to 63% for Democrats.

A New York Times/Siena poll taken on the eve of the shutdown showed that Democrats had a similarly thin edge over the GOP in the shutdown fight, but that 65% of people did not believe Democrats should shut down the government if their demands were not met.

‘Democrats keep choosing the wrong fights, including the shutdown fight. At best, the shutdown will give them a political draw where the public will blame both parties,’ Julian Epstein, a former Democratic staffer for the House Judiciary Committee, told Fox News Digital.

‘But they will not get a game change out of this conflict, and the risk for them is the longer it goes on, the public will see it’s the Democrats who are narcissistically voting to shut down the government after losing the election.’

During an appearance on ‘Real Time With Bill Maher’ earlier this month, CNN political commentator and former Obama administration appointee Van Jones said Democrats ‘do the wrong thing at the wrong time for the right reason.’

Jones said he was in favor of extending the Obamacare subsidies but argued that it may have been folly for his party to pick that fight over the shutdown before people even got notice of their premiums potentially rising.

‘I get it, the base is upset … ’Please do something, do anything,’ but the ‘something’ probably shouldn’t be throwing a bunch of people out of work in the federal government and crushing the American government’s ability to function right before the pain was about to start,’ he said.

And it’s not yet clear if Democrats have an agreed-upon roadmap for how to navigate the shutdown yet.

Late last week, just before Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., announced that the House would be out of session for another week while Republicans’ funding bill stalled in the Senate, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., unequivocally told Fox News Digital that ‘yes,’ he would call all House Democrats back to Washington to draw a contrast between the two sides.

He walked that back somewhat on Monday, however. When asked by Fox News Digital if he would still call the full caucus back, Jeffries said, ‘We have a caucus meeting at 6 p.m. today. We’ll have a House Democratic Caucus leadership meeting, that’s the full leadership, tomorrow. And I expect a strong presence of House Democrats throughout here in Washington.’

What he did not specify, however, was that the 6 p.m. caucus meeting was virtual.

At another press conference this week, Jeffries called a one-year Obamacare subsidy extension compromise bill ‘laughable’ despite it getting support from 11 members of his own Democratic caucus.

He walked those comments back again, ‘If anything is presented to us, of course, the caucus will consider it in good faith.’

But Republicans have also garnered their share of public criticism for shutdown messaging as well.

President Donald Trump’s aggressive rhetoric on federal employee layoffs put congressional Republicans in a difficult position earlier this month, though Trump has since softened his language and not yet carried out those firings.

The White House’s depiction of Jeffries in a sombrero on multiple occasions has also been panned as racist by critics.

Mike Nellis, a Democratic strategist and founder of campaign consulting firm Authentic, said Democrats were doing the right thing in focusing on health care while criticizing Republicans’ messaging.

‘I think that focusing on the health care subsidies, which are undeniably popular, has been a really smart thing for Democrats to do,’ Nellis told Fox News Digital.

‘I think that the Republicans have played right into their worst tendencies on this, which is, much of their messaging is aggressively online-focused. The sombrero stuff is mildly funny. But then they went all in on it, and they don’t have a good answer to the health care subsidies.’

Nellis also argued that Republicans’ touting of a ‘landslide’ electoral victory has set them up for a larger share of the blame.

‘When you create the conditions where you talked about the mandate that you have and the government shuts down on your watch, you’re responsible for the government shutdown,’ he said.

Still, he said he would grade Democrats with a ‘B, B minus’ on their messaging, adding that it’s ‘not perfect.’

‘Maybe the answer is … Republicans are losing the shutdown fight, rather than Democrats are winning it,’ Nellis said. ‘But I mean, I just think we’ve got a lot more right than a lot more wrong, which is the first time you can say that in quite a while.’

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HONG KONG — China outlined new curbs on exports of rare earths and related technologies on Thursday, extending controls over use of the elements critical for many high-tech and military products ahead of a meeting in about three weeks between President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

The regulations announced by the Ministry of Commerce require foreign companies to get special approval to export items that contain even small traces of rare earths elements sourced from China. These critical minerals are needed in a broad range of products, from jet engines, radar systems and electric vehicles to consumer electronics including laptops and phones.

Beijing will also impose permitting requirements on exports of technologies related to rare earths mining, smelting, recycling and magnet-making, it said.

China accounts for nearly 70% of the world’s rare earths mining. It also controls roughly 90% of global rare earths processing. Access to such materials is a key point of contention in trade talks between Washington and Beijing.

As Trump has raised tariffs on imports of many products from China, Beijing has doubled down on controls on the strategically vital minerals, raising concerns over potential shortages for manufacturers in the U.S. and elsewhere.

It was not immediately clear how China plans to enforce the new policies overseas.

During a cabinet meeting Thursday, Trump said he had yet to be briefed on the new rules but suggested that the U.S. could stop buying Chinese goods. “We import from China massive amounts,” Trump said. “Maybe we’ll have to stop doing that.”

Neha Mukherjee, a rare earths analyst at Benchmark Mineral Intelligence, called the new export controls “a strategic move by China that mirror some of Washington’s new chip export rules.

“Most rare earth magnet manufacturers in the U.S., Japan and elsewhere remain heavily dependent on rare earths from China, so these restrictions will force some difficult decisions — especially for any company involved in military uses of rare earths because most of those export licenses are expected to be denied, he said.

“The message is clear: if the U.S. and its allies want supply chain security, they must build independent value chains from mine to magnet,” Mukherjee said.

The new restrictions are to “better safeguard national security” and to stop uses in “sensitive fields such as the military” that stem from rare earths processed or sourced from China or from its related technologies, the Commerce Ministry said.

It said some unnamed “overseas bodies and individuals” had transferred rare earths elements and technologies from China abroad for military or other sensitive uses which caused “significant damage” to its national security.

The new curbs were announced just weeks ahead of an expected meeting between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in South Korea, that begins at the end of this month.

“Rare earths will continue to be a key part of negotiations for Washington and Beijing,” George Chen, a partner at The Asia Group, said in an emailed comment. “Both sides want more stability but there will be still a lot of noises before the two leaders, President Trump and Xi, can make a final deal next year when they meet. Those noises are all negotiation tactics.”

These new restrictions will likely prompt additional government and private investments in developing a mine-to-magnet supply chain outside of China. Mukherjee said that $520 million of investments in the American rare earths industry were announced just in the second quarter with most of that coming from the government.

And there is some progress already being made with American magnet maker Noveon announcing an agreement with Lynas Rare Earths this week to secure a supply of rare earths outside of China from Lynas’ mine in Australia, and MP Materials preparing to begin producing magnets later this year at its new plant in Texas that uses rare earths from the only U.S. mine that it operates in California.

In July, the U.S. Defense Department agreed to invest $400 million in shares of the Las Vegas company, establish a floor for the price of key elements, and ensure that all of the magnets made at a new plant in the first 10 years are purchased.

An MP Materials spokesperson said China’s action “reinforces the need for forward-leaning U.S. industrial policy. Building resilient supply chains is a matter of economic and national security.”

Wade Senti, president of the U.S. permanent magnet company AML, said it’s time to innovate.

“The game of chess that China is playing underscores the importance of developing innovation that changes the game and puts the United States in leading position,” Senti said.

Nazak Nikakhtar, a former Commerce Department undersecretary, said the new restrictions are “a significant development and escalation” by extending controls to related technology and equipment and to sectors like chipmakers. “This should be a wake-up call to the U.S. government that we need to invest in and appropriate more to domestic capabilities. Both are critical to rebuild America’s rare earths industrial base,” she said.

In April, Chinese authorities imposed export curbs on seven rare earth elements shortly after Trump unveiled his steep tariffs on many trading partners including China.

While supplies remain uncertain, China approved some permits for rare earth exports in June and said it was speeding up its approval processes.

This post appeared first on NBC NEWS

Perth, Australia (ABN Newswire) – Locksley Resources Ltd (ASX:LKY,OTC:LKYRF) (FRA:X5L) (OTCMKTS:LKYRF) announces a major advancement at its Mojave Project in California. Recent structural mapping has dramatically expanded the target mineralised corridor at the Desert Antimony Mine (DAM) Prospect and identified a parallel structural target, enhancing the potential for a larger mineralised system across multiple mineralised zones. This expanded target has the potential to strengthen Mojave’s position as a strategic U.S. critical minerals hub, aligned with accelerating domestic supply-chain initiatives.

Highlights

– Structural mapping expands target mineralised corridor at Desert Antimony Mine (DAM) fourfold to 1.2 km, dramatically increasing the exploration target footprint and scale potential

– New parallel structural target zone identified 150m west of the main DAM structure, indicating the potential for a multi-zone system

– Updated 3D geological model defines seven priority follow up surface sampling targets, supporting imminent exploration targeting and JORC Exploration Target work

– Regional mapping identifies lamprophyre dykes, highlighting potential for additional critical mineral occurrences including carbonatites

– Mojave emerging as a district-scale critical minerals hub, strategically aligned with accelerating U.S. onshoring policies

– Third phase structural mapping program to commence late November to continue building geological understanding of the project and identify new targets

– High-grade silver assays up to 216 g/t Ag returned from Hendricks Prospect, alongside anomalous Zn, Pb, and Cu, indicating a broader polymetallic system

The structural geology mapping completed in late August/September 2025 at the Mojave Project has expanded the strike extent of the target structure at the Desert Antimony Mine (DAM) Prospect from 0.3 km to 1.2 km, representing a ~400% increase and highlighting the potential of the system. Mapping confirmed the continuity of the NNE-striking structural zone that hosts high-grade stibnite mineralisation at DAM, and identified a second, parallel shear zone, approximately 150 m to the west, exhibiting similar alteration and structural characteristics.

The updated geological interpretation also highlights steep north-plunging intersections between the mapped shear zones and folded host rocks as possible mineralisation plunge controls. Collectively, these findings have been incorporated into a new 3D geological model, which has defined seven priority surface sampling targets to guide the next phase of exploration and support the development of a JORC Exploration Target to guide future drilling programs.

The scale and geometry of these target zones align with the type of high-grade, clean stibnite feedstock required to fast-track U.S. antimony supply chains under programs such as DPA Title III and DOE ARPA-E. The program, undertaken by a specialist structural geologist, delivered five key outcomes:

– Significant expansion of geological mapping to the northeast and southwest of the DAM Prospect, extending the target horizon to 1.2 km of strike and materially increasing the scale potential of the mineralised system.

– Completion of new geological maps for the Hendricks Prospect (2.5km south east of DAM) and the Junipero Prospect (1.1km north of the Mountain Pass Mine).

– Identification of multiple lamprophyre dykes across all areas mapped suggest the presence of deepseated mantle tapping structures.

– Updated 3D geological models across the claim package, providing enhanced structural understanding and supporting refined exploration targeting

– Definition of 18 priority target areas for follow-up detailed mapping and intensive sampling programs to further assess mineralisation potential (to commence in October).

Desert Antimony Mine (DAM)

Mapping at DAM focussed on extending to the NE and SW from the previous mapping campaign, resulting in a comprehensive geological map now covering ~1.8km of strike and the development of an updated 3D geological model (Figure 1*). This work has significantly enhanced the understanding of the structural framework and potential controls to mineralisation. Key highlights from mapping and modelling in this area include:

– Confirmation of continuity of the structural zone (which is host to the mineralisation at DAM) for approximately 400m NNE from the existing adits.

– Identification of a second parallel structural zone located approximately 150m west of the main mineralised trend, exhibiting a comparable alteration signature and kinematics to that seen at DAM.

– Extension of the target mineralisation corridor to ~1.2km (previously ~0.3km) representing a ~400% increase in strike length.

– Improved understanding of mineralisation controls, particularly the role of steep north plunging intersections between mapped shears and folded host rocks.

– Definition of seven priority areas for detailed follow up sampling and mapping to refine exploration targeting.

– Enhanced structural interpretation, revealing clear associations between E-W trending stratigraphy and regional fold hinges and NNE striking shear zones, critical for targeting additional mineralised zones.

– Completion of an updated 3D solid geology model, providing a robust foundation for refined drill planning, target prioritisation and the potential definition of a JORC Exploration Target (Figure 1*).

Hendricks Prospect

First pass mapping was undertaken at the Hendricks Prospect (Figure 1*). The area was selected as a priority target area for mapping due to rock chips previously collected by Locksley being elevated in REE.

A significant finding from the mapping was the identification of a substantial shaft and associated workings not previously known by the Company. Initial grab sampling has returned high-grade silver assays of 216g/t Ag with anomalous lead (0.3% Pb), Zinc (0.9%Zn) and Copper (0.1%).

Highlights from mapping and modelling in this area include:

– The overall structural architecture across the Hendricks prospect area shares many similarities with that surrounding the Desert Antimony Mine (DAM).

– Presence of multiple NNE striking shears throughout the mapping area which mirror the orientation of the mineralisation seen at DAM, demonstrating a regional structural consistency and potential for additional zones of mineralisation.

– Highly weathered and altered ENE to ESE striking shear zones with potential to host mineralisation

– Elevated scintillometer readings acquired from on syenogranite dykes, indicating potential for REE mineralisation.

– Multiple prospecting pits/costeans throughout the area proximal to the Hendricks Shaft targeting discrete NNE striking shear zones.

– Definition of 11 priority areas for detailed follow up sampling and mapping.

– A 3D solid geology model of Hendricks Prospect is underway and will be used for 3D target generation and drill program planning.

Mapping completed at the Hendricks Prospect Area has confirmed that target zones of interest continue to the south and will form part of the priority follow up mapping scheduled for late November 2025.

Junipero Prospect

First pass mapping was completed at the Junipero Prospect located just 1.1km north of the Mountain Pass Mine pit crest. The area was targeted due to a gravity high anomaly, the proximity to Mountain Pass and the potential for carbonatites to be found in the area. Highlights from mapping and modelling in this area include:

– Identification of multiple E-W trending lamprophyre dykes across the mapping area indicating deep seated mantle tapping structures highlighting the potential for REE hosting carbonatites throughout the area which could exploit the same pathways.

– Abundant felsic rocks (Tonalites, Syenogranites) providing potential sources of REE when assimilated with carbonatite magmas from the mantle.

– Collection of samples for multielement analysis and whole rock classification.

– A 3D solid geology model of Junipero Prospect has been completed and forms part of the DAM 3D geological model (Figure 1*) and will be used for ongoing 3D target generation and future activity.

Locksley Resources CEO Kerrie Matthews commented:

‘Our second structural mapping program at the Mojave Project has markedly advanced our geological understanding and confirmed the substantial exploration potential of this critical district. The fourfold expansion of the Desert Antimony Mine (DAM) target horizon has fundamentally changed the scale of the opportunity, demonstrating the potential for a much larger mineralised system. This success, coupled with high-grade silver confirmed at Hendricks and the identification of multiple regional shear zones, has effectively lit up the entire Mojave Project for polymetallic vein discoveries. These outstanding results strongly validate our rapid exploration and development strategy, aligning perfectly with the accelerating U.S. government focus on securing domestic critical mineral supply chains.’

*To view tables and figures, please visit:
https://abnnewswire.net/lnk/7WY0FHM0

About Locksley Resources Limited:

Locksley Resources Limited (ASX:LKY,OTC:LKYRF) (FRA:X5L) (OTCMKTS:LKYRF) is an ASX listed explorer focused on critical minerals in the United States of America. The Company is actively advancing exploration across two key assets: the Mojave Project in California, targeting rare earth elements (REEs) and antimony. Locksley Resources aims to generate shareholder value through strategic exploration, discovery and development in this highly prospective mineral region.

Mojave Project

Located in the Mojave Desert, California, the Mojave Project comprises over 250 claims across two contiguous prospect areas, namely, the North Block/Northeast Block and the El Campo Prospect. The North Block directly abuts claims held by MP Materials, while El Campo lies along strike of the Mountain Pass Mine and is enveloped by MP Materials’ claims, highlighting the strong geological continuity and exploration potential of the project area.

In addition to rare earths, the Mojave Project hosts the historic ‘Desert Antimony Mine’, which last operated in 1937. Despite the United States currently having no domestic antimony production, demand for the metal remains high due to its essential role in defense systems, semiconductors, and metal alloys. With significant surface sample results, the Desert Mine prospect represents one of the highest-grade known antimony occurrences in the U.S.

Locksley’s North American position is further strengthened by rising geopolitical urgency to diversify supply chains away from China, the global leader in both REE & antimony production. With its maiden drilling program planned, the Mojave Project is uniquely positioned to align with U.S. strategic objectives around critical mineral independence and economic security.

Tottenham Project

Locksley’s Australian portfolio comprises the advanced Tottenham Copper-Gold Project in New South Wales, focused on VMS-style mineralisation

Source:
Locksley Resources Limited

Contact:
Locksley Resources Limited
T: +61 8 9481 0389
E: info@locksleyresources.com.au

News Provided by ABN Newswire via QuoteMedia

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Australia-based Predictive Discovery (ASX:PDI) and Canadian company Robex Resources (ASX:RXR,TSXV:RBX,OTC Pink:RSRBF) have agreed on a merger of equals, creating West Africa’s new mid-tier gold producer.

In a joint announcement, the companies said that Predictive Discovery will indirectly acquire all of Robex Resources’ shares.

“(We expect) to issue an aggregate of approximately 2,115 million PDI shares to Robex shareholders, based on the Robex shares outstanding as at the date of this announcement,” Predictive Discovery said.

Under the AU$2.35 billion deal, Robex shareholders will receive 8.667 PDI shares for each Robex share.

Approximately 51 percent of the combined company will be held by PDI shareholders upon completion of the transaction, with the remaining 49 percent going to Robex shareholders. Moreover, the combined company will remain listed on the ASX and an application to list PDI’s ordinary shares on the TSX Venture Exchange will be made.

Both companies highlighted that their West African gold assets, namely PDI’s Bankan project and Robex’s Kiniero project, are situated within a 30 kilometer radius in Guinea. Bankan currently holds a mineral resource of 5.5 million ounces across four deposits, while Kiniero is aiming for its first gold production in late 2025.

The projects hold a resource of approximately 9.5 million ounces gold, including ore reserves at around 4.5 million ounces gold. By 2029, the projected combined production is over 400 kilo ounces per annum.

“(These are) two of West Africa’s largest and most advanced gold development projects,” said PDI CEO and Managing Director Andrew Pardey. “By combining them and leveraging (both companies’) proven track record, we are creating a company that positions Guinea to become one of Africa’s top five gold producers.”

Robex CEO and Managing Director Matthew Wilcox will assume responsibility as CEO and managing director of the combined company. “I am excited to lead a team that brings together deep operational experience, proven development expertise and a shared commitment to responsible growth in West Africa.”

Subject to customary conditions, the transaction is expected to close towards the end of 2025 or early 2026.

Securities Disclosure: I, Gabrielle de la Cruz, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

Investor Insight

With its flagship platform, virtualplant, already in commercial use across high-value industrial assets, and a growing global footprint through strategic partnerships, RemSense offers investors a unique opportunity to back a scalable, revenue-generating business at the forefront of digital transformation in the resource and infrastructure sectors.

Overview

RemSense Technologies Limited (ASX:REM) is an Australian technology company enabling digital transformation across resource-heavy industries through advanced asset visualisation and drone services. Originally established in 2006 as a developer of drone systems for the defence and industrial sectors, the company expanded into professional drone services in 2012.

In 2019, RemSense made a strategic expansion into high-resolution 3D asset capture and visualisation, culminating in the development of its flagship product, virtualplant. This strategic shift aligns with macro trends in digital transformation, particularly in asset-heavy industries like energy, resources, infrastructure and utilities. The company was listed on the Australian Securities Exchange in 2021.

RemSense is ideally positioned to leverage the growing adoption of digital twin technologies, particularly across mining, oil & gas, manufacturing, utilities, defence, marine and aerospace industries. These sectors are increasingly embracing digital tools to improve safety, reduce costs, and manage assets more efficiently, creating strong and expanding demand for RemSense’s solutions.

In the first half of FY25, RemSense reported $3.12 million in revenue, representing a 178 percent increase over the same period in FY24. The company also recorded its first-ever net profit of $796,892 and achieved positive operational cashflow of $365,539 – a turning point that demonstrates both commercial traction and disciplined financial execution.

Strategic partnerships with Chevron, Newmont Mining and Woodside Energy highlight RemSense’s growing reputation among Tier-1 clients and its ability to scale internationally. These engagements are not pilot programs, but are real, revenue-generating contracts that reinforce RemSense’s value proposition.

Company Highlights

  • Profitable Growth: Delivered $3.12 million in revenue in H1 FY25 – a 178 percent increase year-over-year
  • Tier-1 Client Base: Trusted by major global operators including Chevron, Newmont and Woodside Energy for digital twin and drone technology services.
  • Flagship Platform – virtualplant: A scalable, cutting edge digital twin solution providing real-time operational insights for industrial facilities and infrastructure.
  • Strong legacy drone operations: RPAS Services features CASA-certified pilots and a fleet of custom-engineered drones supporting multiple industrial applications.
  • Serving Critical Industries: Solutions deployed across energy, resources, utilities and infrastructure sectors undergoing rapid digital transformation.
  • Secured Landmark Shell Energy Contract – First major deal with Shell Energy, showcasing the power of its virtualplant platform and Sentient Computing’s 3D technologies. The project marks a key milestone in RemSense’s global expansion, delivering a transformative digital solution to enhance commissioning accuracy, efficiency, safety, and asset performance.

Key Products and Services

Virtual Plant

Virtualplant is RemSense’s flagship digital platform. It’s a high-resolution 3D asset visualisation solution that allows users to explore and interact with industrial facilities remotely, as if on site. By combining drone-based photogrammetry, terrestrial LiDAR, and 360-degree imaging, virtualplant creates immersive, detailed, interactive models of infrastructure such as gas plants, processing facilities and offshore vessels.

The platform supports a wide range of critical functions including remote inspection, maintenance planning, training, safety management, and compliance documentation. It reduces the need for site travel, improves asset visibility, and helps clients identify and address risks before they become costly failures.

Virtualplant is already deployed in high-value applications. In October 2023, Woodside Energy engaged RemSense to create a visual twin of one of its floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) vessels. In 2024, Chevron signed a series of global services agreement with RemSense to use the platform for photogrammetry scanning at gas plants in South Asia, Northwest Australia and USA, with a total contract value of more than AU$800,000. These projects reflect the platform’s global relevance and enterprise-grade capabilities.

Additional features enhance the platform’s utility:

  • vTag uses AI to automatically identify and tag equipment based on nameplate data, linking it to asset registers in systems like SAP and IBM Maximo.
  • vDetect automatically identifies physical defects such as corrosion, helping prioritise maintenance.
  • vConnect enables real-time integration with external monitoring and data platforms, creating a unified interface for visual and operational intelligence.

These capabilities make virtualplant more than a visualisation tool, as it becomes a central intelligence layer in clients’ asset ecosystems.

RPAS (Drone) Services

RemSense has a strong legacy in drone operations, with CASA-certified pilots and a fleet of custom-engineered drones equipped with high-end imaging and sensing tools. These drone services support asset inspections, geophysical and vegetation surveys, water sampling, environmental monitoring, traffic studies, and building condition assessments.

Drone data is often the first step in creating virtualplant models. This seamless integration of field data acquisition and platform-based analysis ensures RemSense delivers a complete, end-to-end digital solution for industrial clients.

Management Team

Ross Taylor – Non-executive Chairman

Ross Taylor chartered accountant with a global finance background having worked in London, Australia, New York and Tokyo. He has held senior roles at Deutsche Bank, Bankers Trust and Barclays Capital. His experience in international capital markets brings strong governance and financial oversight to RemSense’s board.

Warren Cook – Managing Director & CEO

With over 25 years of experience in technology development and commercialisation, Warren Cook has led projects in mining, energy and environmental sectors across more than a dozen countries, including Australia, US, Brazil, Canada, France, Indonesia, South Africa and the UK. He was the CEO of acQuire Technology Solutions, delivering information management software solutions for the resources industry.

John Clegg – Non-executive Director

John Clegg has been a chartered accountant since 1965 and has supported more than 50 companies through IPOs, restructures, and strategic growth initiatives. Following his 16-year tenure at Arthur Young & Co (now Ernst & Young), he shifted focus to startup ventures, offering directorship and consulting services. As a seasoned investor, director, consultant and mentor to senior executives, Clegg has left a significant mark on numerous ventures.

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Oil prices weakened in Q3 as global supply outpaced demand and inventories swelled.

Brent crude fell 1.7 percent to end the quarter at US$65.90 per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate dropped to US$62.33. Deloitte’s latest energy report attributes the decline to rising stockpiles and OPEC+’s early decision to unwind production cuts, adding 1.37 million barrels per day in October.

The US Energy Information Administration noted supply exceeded demand by 1.6 million barrels per day between May and August, pointing to continued stock builds ahead.

“OPEC+ discipline is still somewhat unpredictable — its production signals are becoming more tactical rather than structural,” Isaev wrote. “On the other hand, US shale is adjusting to price signals with a focus on capital restraint instead of just ramping up volume. LNG shipments to Europe and Japan are turning into geopolitical tools, not just simple commercial agreements.”

As for how that could affect energy stocks, he stated, ‘The advantage will go to those (companies) who can skillfully navigate this complexity, foresee critical turning points, and invest their capital with both accuracy and creativity.’

Despite the market volatility, the five top-performing oil and gas stocks on the TSX and TSXV have seen share price growth over Q3 2025. All year-to-date performance and share price data was obtained on October 9, 2025, using TradingView’s stock screener, and oil and gas companies with market caps above C$10 million at that time were considered.

1. Falcon Oil & Gas (TSXV:FO)

Year-to-date gain: 156.25 percent
Market cap: C$221.83 million
Share price: C$0.205

Falcon Oil & Gas is an international oil and gas company specializing in the exploration and development of unconventional oil and gas assets, with interests in assets in Australia, South Africa and Hungary.

The company has a 22.5 percent interest in the Beetaloo joint venture, with Tamboran Resources (NYSE:TBN,ASX:TBN) owning the remainder.

On September 30, Falcon announced it entered into a definitive agreement to be wholly acquired by joint venture partner Tamboran. The combination will create a company with roughly 2.9 million net prospective acres across Australia’s Beetaloo Basin and a projected market cap of US$500 million.

The deal is expected to close in Q1 2026.

Falcon’s share price spiked to a year-to-date high of C$0.21 on October 1.

2. Imperial Oil (TSX:IMO)

Year-to-date gain: 37.78 percent
Market cap: C$63.58 billion
Share price: C$123.56

Calgary-based Imperial Oil is a prominent Canadian energy company involved in the exploration, production, refining and marketing of petroleum products. With a history spanning over 140 years, Imperial operates diverse assets across Canada, including oil sands, conventional crude oil and natural gas assets.

In early August, Imperial released its Q2 2025 results, reporting net income of C$949 million, down from C$1.29 billion in Q1, as weaker upstream realizations and downstream margin capture weighed on results.

Despite lower earnings, the company posted its strongest Q2 upstream production in over three decades, averaging 427,000 barrels of oil equivalent (boe/d), led by record output at Kearl. Refinery capacity utilization averaged 87 percent amid major turnaround work

During the quarter, Imperial also launched Canada’s largest renewable diesel facility, located in Alberta, and returned C$367 million to shareholders through dividends.

Shares of Imperial climbed through much of Q2 and Q3, and reached a year-to-date high of C$130.94 on September 16.

3. Athabasca Oil (TSX:ATH)

Year-to-date gain: 30.91 percent
Market cap: C$3.49 billion
Share price: C$7.03

Athabasca Oil is focused on developing thermal and light oil assets within Alberta’s Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin. The company has established a substantial land base with high-quality resources. Its light oil operations are managed through its private subsidiary, Duvernay Energy, in which the company holds a 70 percent equity interest.

On July 24, Athabasca Oil reported its Q2 2025 results, highlighted by steady production and continued shareholder returns. The company produced an average of 39,088 boe/d, up 4 percent year-over-year. It generated C$127.6 million in adjusted funds flow during the quarter, down from C$165.75 in Q2 2024.

Capital spending totaled C$73 million, largely directed to expanding the company’s cornerstone Leismer project.

Additionally, Athabasca has repurchased 24 million shares year-to-date, reinforcing its “commitment to returning all thermal oil free cash flow to shareholders in 2025.” Its free cash flow from the segment totaled C$66 million in Q2.

A modest uptick in benchmark crude prices supported a stock bump for Athabasca Oil during the second week of October. Shares reached a year-to-date high of C$7.18 on October 8.

4. Parex Resources (TSX:PXT)

Year-to-date gain: 28.68 percent
Market cap: C$1.81 billion
Share price: C$18.80

Headquartered in Calgary, Parex Resources is a Colombia-focused oil and gas producer with six oil-producing assets and one non-operational asset.

Parex’s Q2 results, released on July 30, highlighted an average output rate of 42,542 boe/d, with July production rising to 44,450 boe/d. The company said it is on track to meet its full-year guidance of 43,000 to 47,000 boe/d.

Parex also announced a third quarter dividend of C$0.385 per share.

‘As we enter the second half of the year, strong near-field exploration results in the Southern Llanos, combined with the ramp-up in development drilling, are expected to drive a steady step-up in production through year-end,’ the company stated.

On October 1, the company shared a production update, reporting it averaged 44,000 boe/d in Q3.

Shares of Parex climbed throughout the Q3 to a year-to-date high of C$19.68 on September 25.

5. MEG Energy (TSX:MEG)

Year-to-date gain: 27.4 percent
Market cap: C$7.63 billion
Share price: C$30.50

MEG Energy is an energy company solely focused on in-situ thermal oil production in the southern Athabasca oil region of Alberta, Canada. Utilizing innovative enhanced oil recovery projects, including steam-assisted gravity drainage extraction methods, the company aims to increase oil recovery responsibly while reducing carbon emissions.

In May, Strathcona Resources (TSX:SCR) made an unsolicited C$4.1 billion offer for MEG, a move company executives at MEG quickly denounced. In a subsequent press release shared on June 16, MEG called the offer “inadequate, opportunistic, and NOT in the best interests of MEG or its shareholders.”

In mid-September MEG again urged shareholders to reject a revised offer from Strathcona and instead consider an August offer from Cenovus Energy (TSX:CVE).

On October 8, MEG announced that Cenovus increased its bid to C$8.6 billion, and again suggested shareholders accept the offer.

Following the increased bid, Shares of MEG rose to a year-to-date high of C$30.50 on October 9.

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

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