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FPX Nickel Receives Multi-Year Area-BasedPermit and Commences 2025 Drilling Activities at Baptiste Nickel Project

 

 

FPX Nickel Corp. (TSXV: FPX) (OTCQB: FPOCF) (‘ FPX ‘ or the ‘ Company ‘) is pleased to report that it has received a multi-year area-based (‘ MYAB ‘) permit from the government of British Columbia to support the renewal of drilling activities at the Baptiste Nickel Project (‘ Baptiste ‘ or ‘ the Project ‘) in 2025.  This year’s drilling program has commenced successfully, targeting the completion of geomechanical, hydrogeological, and condemnation holes to complement the Project dataset for the feasibility study and the Company’s planned entry into the environmental assessment (‘ EA ‘) process in the second half of 2025.

 

  Highlights  

 

  • Receipt of multi-year area-based permit covers all anticipated Baptiste field activities required for the feasibility study (‘ FS ‘) and follows a robust engagement process with nearby First Nations communities before and throughout the permitting process

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  • Phase one FS engineering field investigations to be completed with drilling to occur over an approximate 8-week period beginning in early July

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  • Approximately 2,800 m of geomechanical, hydrogeological, and condemnation drilling is planned around the Project site for this first phase of the FS field program, with most of the meterage focused within the open-pit footprint, focused on long-lead data collection for the EA and FS

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  • Over 75% of fieldwork expenditures are anticipated to be disbursed under the terms of contracts awarded to First Nations-owned or -affiliated businesses operating in central British Columbia  

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‘We are pleased to have received the MYAB permit, which sets the stage for conducting all field activities required for the feasibility study and the commencement of the EA process,’ said Martin Turenne , FPX’s President and CEO. ‘Throughout the permitting process, we have continued to benefit from our collaboration with the government of British Columbia’s Critical Minerals Office, which has played an important role in ensuring a robust engagement process with all impacted First Nations. We continue to build on our inclusive relationships with the multiple First Nations communities connected to the Project, including the proposed mine site and associated off-site infrastructure such as the powerline and access road, and we are proud to support those communities in maximizing their economic participation in this year’s program.’

 

 

   

 

 

  Feasibility Study Field Work  

 

In connection with the environmental and cultural baseline study works ongoing at Baptiste since 2022, FPX has commenced the first phase of FS engineering field investigations. This year’s program is focused on long-lead data collection that will support the EA process, as well as improved engineering definition within the open-pit footprint.

 

Approximately 2,800 m of geomechanical drilling, hydrogeological drilling, and condemnation drilling is planned around the Project site in 2025, with most of the meterage focused within the open-pit footprint.  The second phase of the FS engineering field investigation program is expected to be undertaken in 2026 and will include resource in-fill drilling, further geomechanical drilling, further hydrogeological drilling, and ex-pit geotechnical drilling. Following the completion of the second phase of engineering field investigations, the FS is expected to be completed in 2027.

 

  Cultural and Environmental Baseline Studies  

 

Cultural and environmental baseline studies have been ongoing for the Baptiste Nickel Project since early 2022 and include surface water hydrology and water quality, wildlife, vegetation, fisheries and aquatics, and archeology programs. Ongoing and expanded programs were completed in 2024 in preparation for the EA process. The 2025 program is continuing to study the Project area, and includes ongoing wildlife, climate, hydrology, water quality and hydrogeology work.

 

The cultural and environmental studies for the Project are being conducted by local First Nations-owned and -affiliated businesses in the Project area. This approach targets the integration of First Nations perspectives into the scoping and execution of these studies and provides a strong collaborative basis for the EA process, which the Company plans to initiate in the second half of 2025.

 

  Daniel Apai , P.Eng., FPX’s Vice President, Projects, FPX’s Qualified Person under NI 43-101, has reviewed and approved the technical content of this news release.

 

  About the Baptiste Nickel Project  

 

The Company’s Baptiste Nickel Project represents a large-scale greenfield discovery of nickel mineralization in the form of a sulphur-free, nickel-iron mineral called awaruite (Ni 3 Fe) hosted in an ultramafic/ophiolite complex.  The absence of sulphur and our ability to connect to the BC Hydro grid means that Baptiste has the potential to be one of the lowest carbon-intensive nickel producers in the world and will produce a very high-grade product that does not require any intermediate smelting or complex refining.  The Baptiste mineral claims cover an area of 453 km 2 west of Middle River and north of Trembleur Lake, in central British Columbia.  In addition to the Baptiste Deposit itself, awaruite mineralization has been confirmed through drilling at several target areas within the same claims package, most notably at the Van Target which is located 6 km to the north of the Baptiste Deposit.  Since 2010, approximately US$55 million has been spent on the exploration and development of Baptiste.

 

FPX has conducted mineral exploration activities to date subject to the conditions of agreements with First Nations and keyoh holders. In 2024, the Province of British Columbia identified the Baptiste Nickel Project as the first project to be included in the Province’s new Critical Minerals Office (‘ CMO ‘) concierge service initiative, a provincial strategy action to enable the prioritization of critical minerals projects in B.C. The CMO initiative is providing an excellent structure to proactively identify and address issues and opportunities ahead of the Project’s entry into the environmental assessment process.

 

  About FPX Nickel Corp.  

 

 FPX Nickel Corp. is focused on the exploration and development of the Baptiste Nickel Project, located in central British Columbia , and other occurrences of the same unique style of naturally occurring nickel-iron alloy mineralization known as awaruite. For more information, please view the Company’s website at https://fpxnickel.com/.  

 

On behalf of FPX Nickel Corp.

 

‘Martin Turenne’
Martin Turenne , President, CEO and Director

 

   Forward-Looking Statements   

 

  Certain of the statements made and information contained herein is considered ‘forward-looking information’ within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. These statements address future events and conditions and so involve inherent risks and uncertainties, as disclosed in the Company’s periodic filings with Canadian securities regulators. Actual results could differ from those currently projected. The Company does not assume the obligation to update any forward-looking statement.  

 

  Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.  

 

 

   

 

 

SOURCE FPX Nickel Corp.

 

 

 

  View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/July2025/07/c0114.html  

 

 

 

News Provided by Canada Newswire via QuoteMedia

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Asara Resources

Investor Insight

With a proven management team and a high-impact flagship asset, Asara Resources is spearheading a new era of gold discovery in West Africa, leveraging the same team that established Robex’s 3.5 Moz Kiniero project. The company holds 923,000 oz of gold in Mineral Resources with significant upside, delivering a compelling investment opportunity for savvy investors.

Overview

Asara Resources (ASX:AS1,FSE:ALM) is spearheading the next West African gold rush from a strategic foothold in Guinea’s underexplored Siguiri Basin, an emerging gold district with over 30 million ounces (Moz) of historical and current gold production.

The company’s flagship Kada gold project hosts a 923,000 oz, oxide-dominant gold resource located just 35 km south of AngloGold Ashanti’s 6.2 Moz Siguiri mine. Asara is methodically applying the proven “string-of-pits” development model that has driven success across the region, supported by an experienced team responsible for establishing the Kiniero project, now a cornerstone asset for Robex (TSX:RBX). Guinea offers a favorable jurisdiction for mining investment, with more than US$15 billion in resource-sector inflows since 2020 and a planned return to civilian governance, positioning it as one of the more stable West African jurisdictions relative to its neighbours in the Sahel region.

Asara’s near-term strategy includes: rapidly growing its resource base through 33,600 meters of RC and diamond drilling planned for 2025; advancing a low-CAPEX, oxide-first development strategy leveraging free-dig saprolite, high gold recoveries and conventional carbon-in-leach (CIL) flowsheet; and maintaining upside exposure to copper and silver-zinc through its Loreto JV with Teck and the optional Paguanta asset in Chile.

With strong in-country infrastructure, a focused and proven leadership team, and robust gold pricing tailwinds, Asara is advancing the Kada project toward a construction-ready decision on a compressed and capital-efficient timeline.

Company Highlights

  • Flagship Kada gold project – 923,000 oz gold and counting: 30.3 Mt @ 0.95 g/t gold with 59 percent oxide-transition ounces that show over 90 percent CIL recoveries and <3.5:1 strip ratio; resource remains open in every direction along a 15 km corridor.
  • Aggressive growth runway: Three contiguous licence applications (Talico, Banan and Syli) would lift the land package to 348 sq km and extend strike control to 35 km, only ~6 percent of which is drilled.
  • Experienced team who took the Kiniero project from an exploration resource to construction: Senior executives previously turned Robex’s Kiniero from 1 Moz to ~3.5 Moz and into a C$750 million market cap company, bringing an identical on-ground team, in-country relationships and proven workflows to Asara.
  • Strategic Land Package: Kada is in the heart of the prolific Siguiri Basin (>30 Moz gold endowment), just 35 km south of AngloGold Ashanti’s Siguiri Mine.
  • Strong Institutional Support: Top 20 shareholders control 70+ percent of the company.

Key Projects

Kada Gold Project

The Kada gold project, located in the heart of Guinea’s prolific Siguiri Basin, is Asara’s flagship asset and the primary focus of its development strategy. The project currently hosts a JORC 2012-compliant mineral resource estimate of 30.3 million tons (Mt) grading at 0.95 grams per ton (g/t) gold for 923,000 oz of contained gold, comprising 391,000 oz oxide, 145,000 oz transitional, and 387,000 oz fresh mineralization. Approximately 59 percent of the resource lies within the oxide-transitional profile, with 24 percent of the total resource already classified as indicated.

The resource is hosted within the Massan and Bereko deposits, both of which remain open along strike and at depth and sit along a regional-scale 15 km gold-bearing corridor. The Massan deposit alone accounts for 906,000 oz of the total resource and is characterized by shallow, broad zones of saprolitic mineralization ideal for low-strip, open-pit mining. Gold mineralization is associated with quartz-sulphide-tourmaline stockworks hosted in metasediments with deep saprolite (>100 m) and is amenable to simple processing.

The mineralized zones are free-milling, with metallurgical testwork confirming cyanide leach recoveries of 95 to 97 percent for oxide and 88 percent for transition/fresh ore. Conventional CIL processing is suitable, with rapid leach kinetics (less than 24 hours for oxide) and no need for gravity recovery or oxygen injection. The ore has medium hardness, with a grind size optimized at 80 percent passing 75 microns. Geotechnically, the project exhibits a low strip ratio (<3.5:1), and the saprolite is potentially free digging, minimizing mining costs.

The project is within 60 km of the mining centre of Siguiri and benefits from existing infrastructure, including paved roads and ready access to water. Asara plans to carry out 33,600 metres of drilling in 2025, including 24,000 m RC and 9,600 m diamond drilling, to upgrade confidence in the core of the resource and test extensions at depth and along strike. These campaigns will target mineralization north, south and west of Massan. Auger drilling will be used to define and explore kilometre-scale gold-in-soil anomalies on the Talico, Banan and Syli license application. If granted, these licenses will expand Asara’s landholding to 348 sq km and provide a 35 km contiguous footprint along the Siguiri gold trend, where artisanal workings have already been mapped along key lithologic contacts.

The Bereko deposit, situated 10 km north of Massan, currently hosts an inferred resource of 18,000 oz gold grading at 0.94 g/t from shallow oxide, transitional and fresh material.

Importantly, this MRE only covers 400 metres of a >5.5 km strike length with confirmed bedrock gold anomalies. Historical drilling at Bereko includes notable intercepts such as 1.2 g/t gold over 27 m, 3.3 g/t gold over 9.3 m, and 8.8 g/t gold over 3.3 m. Mineralization remains open in all directions, providing significant upside potential with further drilling.

Asara envisions a low-CAPEX, staged development, anchored by starter pits at Massan and Bereko, followed by centralized processing infrastructure capable of supporting future satellite deposits. This approach mirrors the multi-pit strategy successfully deployed at Kiniero and Siguiri.

Loreto Copper Project

The 100 percent owned Loreto project is a large-scale porphyry copper exploration project in northern Chile, located between tenements held by mining majors BHP and Codelco. Under a joint venture with Teck Resources, Teck can earn a 75 percent interest in the project by making US$0.6 million in staged payments and spending US$17 million on exploration. The project hosts a 2.3 km x 1.0 km alteration footprint with evidence of a deeper porphyry system, supported by mapping, geochemistry and ZTEM geophysics. Teck is currently advancing social license and environmental studies to enable drilling. Asara is fully carried under the JV structure and maintains strategic exposure to a world-class copper opportunity with no capital obligations.

Paguanta Project

Asara holds a 75 percent interest in the Paguanta project in Chile. The asset is an advanced silver-zinc-lead-gold project with a defined JORC 2012 mineral resource totaling 2.4 Mt grading at 5 percent zinc, 1.4 percent lead, 88 g/t silver, and 0.3 g/t gold. The Patricia deposit contains a silver-equivalent resource of 18.2 Moz (236 g/t silver equivalent) and a zinc-equivalent resource of 514 Mlb (9.7 percent zinc equivalent). Mineralization is hosted within epithermal veins with potential for porphyry copper at depth, including the newly identified La Rosa porphyry target. More than 46,700 metres of drilling has been completed at the site, and a partial feasibility study was previously conducted by Golder Associates. Asara is actively evaluating strategic options to realize value from this asset.

Leadership Team

Matthew Sharples – Chief Executive Officer

Formerly with Robex, Matthew Sharples was instrumental in growing Kiniero into a multi-million-ounce project. He brings deep expertise in capital markets, stakeholder engagement, and West African permitting.

Tim Strong – Executive Director

Tim Strong is a seasoned exploration geologist and JORC Competent Person with significant experience across West Africa. Strong leads Asara’s technical strategy and resource development.

Brett Montgomery – Non-executive Chairman

Brett Montgomery is a respected corporate leader with a history of guiding early-stage exploration companies through critical growth phases.

Dr. Doug Jones – Non-executive Director

A geologist with decades of African exploration experience, Dr. Doug Jones provides technical oversight and strategic direction.

Dan Tucker – Technical Advisor

A key architect behind the Kiniero development strategy, Dan Tucker contributes deeply to geological targeting and land consolidation strategy.

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New Age Exploration

Investor Insight

As it advances its portfolio of gold assets in Western Australia’s prolific Pilbara gold province and New Zealand’s Otago Schist Belt, New Age Exploration presents a compelling investor value proposition, supported by a lean, discovery-driven strategy and an experienced technical team.

Overview

New Age Exploration (ASX:NAE) is building a pure-play gold exploration story centered on high-quality assets in tier-one jurisdictions in Western Australia and New Zealand. The company’s clear strategy is to operate in geological corridors already proven by major discoveries, while applying modern, cost-effective exploration techniques to define new zones of mineralization.

In Western Australia, the company’s Wagyu gold project is directly along strike from De Grey Mining’s Hemi discovery – now owned by Northern Star Resources (ASX:NST). In New Zealand, its projects – Lammerlaw and Otago Pioneer Quartz – lie within the same regional structure that hosts OceanaGold’s (TSE:OGC) 5 Moz Macraes deposit and Santana Minerals’ (ASX:SMI) rapidly growing Rise & Shine system.

With gold prices hovering at all-time highs, NAE’s approach favours technology-led targeting, rather than brute-force drilling campaigns, by using geophysics, geochemistry and passive seismic to zero in on structurally controlled gold systems with potential for scale.

All its projects are supported by local technical teams and seasoned exploration leadership, allowing concurrent progress and capital-efficient deployment. Recent programs at Wagyu and Lammerlaw have confirmed early-stage discoveries, and both assets are advancing through their next stages of drilling and target definition.

Company Highlights

  • Pilbara and Otago Exposure: Strategic landholdings in two world-class gold regions – Pilbara (WA) and Otago (NZ) – offering dual discovery potential.
  • Hemi-style Intrusion Targets: The Wagyu Gold Project shares geological features and proximity with De Grey Mining’s 11.7 Moz Hemi discovery, increasing the likelihood of a major find.
  • High-grade Intercepts: Recent drilling at Wagyu returned standout intercepts including 11.2 g/t gold and 1m @ 15.6 g/t gold.
  • Emerging New Zealand Gold Revival: Positioned at the forefront of a regional exploration resurgence in New Zealand’s South Island, supported by rising gold prices and favorable regulatory conditions.
  • Strong Cash Position: Recently raised AU$1.96 million to fund ongoing drilling, with multiple near-term catalysts expected.

Key Projects

Wagyu Gold Project

The Wagyu gold project is New Age Exploration’s flagship asset located in the highly prospective Central Pilbara region of Western Australia. The project is strategically situated between two major gold systems – Northern Star’s Hemi Gold Deposit (11.7 Moz gold resource) and the Withnell deposit – within the Mallina Basin, which hosts a similar intrusive-style orogenic gold mineralizing system. NAE holds exploration license E47/2974, which covers 136 sq km. Since acquiring the project, NAE has conducted extensive early-stage exploration, beginning with the reinterpretation of geophysical datasets, including airborne magnetics, radiometrics and satellite imagery, to delineate potential Hemi-style intrusions and structurally hosted gold targets.

Wagyu gold project location map

The company-initiated fieldwork in April 2024, completing soil sampling, gravity surveys and passive seismic geophysical surveys to refine drill targets. These efforts culminated in an extensive aircore drilling campaign (257 holes, over 7,000 m drilled), which identified a broad, crescent-shaped gold anomaly approximately 1.5 km in strike length. Notable results included intercepts such as 5.3 grams per ton (g/t) gold over 4 m (including 15.6 g/t gold over 1 m) and 2.7 g/t gold over 2 m. Encouraged by these results, the company completed its maiden RC program in March-April 2025, drilling 3,023 m across 33 holes targeting two high-priority gravity anomalies. Assays released in May 2025 confirmed a shallow oxide gold system and evidence of underlying mineralized structures, including 1.26 g/t gold over 5 m from 31 m (WRC029), 1.32 g/t gold over 3 m from 43 m (WRC031), and 1.44 g/t gold over 2 m from 83 m (WRC009). Numerous other holes returned mineralized intervals of 0.5 to 0.8 g/t over broad zones.

Importantly, geological logging and geophysical modeling support the presence of vertical feeder structures, interpreted as potential gold-bearing intrusions and fault-hosted ‘pipes,’ similar to Hemi’s discovery model. The Wagyu system remains open in all directions, with multiple untested gravity targets and deeper feeder zones yet to be explored. A follow-up RC campaign is planned for Q3/2025, focused on extending mineralization and chasing those deeper pipe-like structures beneath the supergene blanket.

Lammerlaw Gold and Antimony Project

Lammerlaw permit occurs in the southern limb of a regional fold feature characterised by a change in metamorphic grade from upper greenschist (purple) to lower greenschist (green).

The Lammerlaw gold and antimony project is located in the Otago Schist Belt, a prolific gold-bearing region in the South Island of New Zealand. The project spans 265 sq km and is held under Exploration Permit EP60807. The area is renowned for its historic gold production and geological similarity to OceanaGold’s Macraes Mine, New Zealand’s largest active gold mine with more than 5 Moz in resources. NAE acquired the project through a competitive acreage release and has since completed desktop studies, field mapping and geochemical sampling, which identified multiple 2 to 4 km-long gold-antimony soil anomalies aligned with historical workings.

During 2023-2024, the company identified nine high-priority drill targets based on soil geochemistry (gold, antimony, arsenic, tungsten), historic production data and structural mapping. NAE mobilized a Phase 1 RC drill program in early 2025, designed to test structurally hosted vein systems within both brittle and ductile deformation zones. This work confirmed the presence of gold and antimony mineralization in several targets, though results are still under review. Access to some targets is subject to Department of Conservation approvals, which the company is pursuing concurrently. A Phase 2 drill campaign is planned for Q1/2026, pending access approvals and final interpretation of current results.

Otago Pioneer Quartz Project

Overview of prospects locations within the OPQ Gold Exploration Project.

The Otago Pioneer Quartz (OPQ) project is in Central Otago within the historic Gabriel’s Gully gold district, the epicenter of the 1860s Otago gold rush. The project lies within the same regional schist belt that hosts OceanaGold’s Macraes operation. NAE acquired the OPQ tenement to secure additional exposure to high-grade shear-hosted and orogenic gold systems in the Otago region. The area is characterized by low-sulphide gold quartz veins associated with greenschist facies metamorphic rocks and late-stage brittle faulting.

While still early-stage, the company has conducted preliminary soil sampling and mapping across the tenement to delineate mineralized structures. Historical records suggest significant past production from alluvial and hard-rock sources, though modern exploration has been minimal. Given its proximity to known gold-bearing shear zones and favourable host rocks, OPQ remains a high-priority, low-cost exploration asset for future campaigns.

Going forward, NAE intends to conduct detailed geochemical and structural mapping, followed by scout drilling at known historical workings. The project remains a capital-light optionality play with future drill programs dependent on results from Lammerlaw and Wagyu.

Management Team

Alan Broome – Chairman

Alan Broome is a highly respected figure in the Australian mining industry with more than 40 years of experience across mining, metals and mining technology. A metallurgist by training, Broome has served as chairman and director of numerous ASX-listed and private companies, contributing to significant exploration and development successes. His leadership brings deep strategic insight and a proven track record in guiding discovery-stage companies through to project advancement.

Joshua Wellisch – Executive Director

A capital markets executive with deep ASX and venture experience, Joshua Wellisch leads strategic and operational execution for NAE’s projects. Wellisch is also currently a director of NRG Capital, specialising in capital raisings, corporate structuring and the facilitation of ASX listings and was formerly managing director of Kairos Minerals Limited.

Peter Thompson – Chief Geologist

Appointed in 2025, Peter Thompson brings 35+ years of exploration leadership including stints at Western Mining, Anaconda Nickel, and as CEO of St Barbara. He led redevelopment of Beaconsfield Gold Mine, spearheaded the acquisition, listing and development of the Karlawinda gold deposit and was instrumental in the discovery and advancement of large volcanogenic massive sulphide deposits in Mongolia.

James Pope – Consulting Geologist (NZ)

James Pope is a highly experienced minerals sector professional with nearly 30 years in exploration, consulting and research across a broad range of commodities including gold, PGE, diamonds, base metals, coal and coal seam gas. He currently leads Strata Geoscience, a specialised geoscience consultancy based in Christchurch, New Zealand. Throughout his career, Pope has progressed from hands-on geological mapping and drill site supervision to leading multidisciplinary teams of up to 50 professionals delivering exploration, resource assessment, engineering and environmental services.

Kerry Gordon – Consulting Geologist (NZ)

Kerry Gordon is a seasoned minerals sector professional with nearly 25 years of experience spanning exploration, resource development and operations. He is currently a principal at Strata Geoscience, and has worked across New Zealand, Australia, Papua New Guinea, Vietnam and Mongolia on projects involving gold, critical metals (antimony, tungsten), coal, coal seam gas, and conventional petroleum. Gordon is an expert at managing exploration programs in remote and technically demanding environments, with a strong focus on field-based geological techniques, complex drilling and downhole logging operations, and logistical coordination.

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Finlay Minerals Ltd. engages Investing News Network

 

  

 

   

 

  

 

  About finlay minerals ltd.  

 

Finlay is a TSXV company focused on exploration for base and precious metal deposits with five 100% owned properties in northern British Columbia : the PIL and ATTY properties in the Toodoggone (13,374 hectares (‘ha’)), the Silver Hope Cu-Ag Property (21,322 ha) and the SAY Cu-Ag & the JJB Cu Properties (41,655 ha) in the Bear Lake Corridor. Each property is located in areas of recent development and porphyry discoveries with the advantage of hosting the potential for new discoveries.

 

The PIL and ATTY Properties are fully and sole funded by Freeport-McMoRan through 6-year Earn-In Agreements; the JJB, SAY and Silver Hope 2025 exploration programs are fully funded by Finlay.

 

Finlay trades under the symbol ‘FYL’ on the TSXV and under the symbol ‘FYMNF’ on the OTCQB. For further information and details, please visit the Company’s website at www.finlayminerals.com  

 

  On behalf of the Board of Directors,  

 

  Robert F. Brown , P. Eng.
President, Executive Chairman of the Board & Director

 

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

 

   Forward-Looking Information:    This news release includes certain ‘forward-looking information’ and ‘forward-looking statements’ (collectively, ‘forward-looking statements’) within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements in this news release that address events or developments that we expect to occur in the future are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, although not always, identified by words such as ‘expect’, ‘plan’, ‘anticipate’, ‘project’, ‘target’, ‘potential’, ‘schedule’, ‘forecast’, ‘budget’, ‘estimate’, ‘intend’ or ‘believe’ and similar expressions or their negative connotations, or that events or conditions ‘will’, ‘would’, ‘may’, ‘could’, ‘should’ or ‘might’ occur. All such forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management as of the date such statements are made. Forward-looking statements in this news release include statements regarding, among others, corporate plans. Although Finlay 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 or developments may differ materially from those forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include market prices, exploration successes, and continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. These forward-looking statements are based on a number of assumptions including, among other things, assumptions regarding general business and economic conditions, the timing and receipt of regulatory and governmental approvals, the ability of Finlay and other parties to satisfy stock exchange and other regulatory requirements in a timely manner, the availability of financing for Finlay’s proposed transactions and programs on reasonable terms, and the ability of third-party service providers to deliver services in a timely manner. 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. Finlay does not assume any obligation to update or revise its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.  

 

SOURCE finlay minerals ltd. 

 

 

 

  View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/July2025/07/c0723.html  

 

 

 

News Provided by Canada Newswire via QuoteMedia

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Crypto Market Recap: SEC Issues Crypto ETF Guidance, Bit Digital Pivots to Ethereum

Here’s a quick recap of the crypto landscape for Monday (July 7) as of 9:00 p.m. UTC.

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

Bitcoin and Ethereum price update

Bitcoin (BTC) is priced at US$108,159, a 0.3 percent decline in the last 24 hours. The day’s range for the cryptocurrency brought a low of US$107,591 and a high of US$108,551.

Bitcoin price performance, July 7, 2025.

Chart via TradingView.

Bitcoin hovered near US$109,000 at the start of the day as investors shifted from equities to crypto in response to tariff-related uncertainty under US President Donald Trump.

Meanwhile, MicroStrategy’s (NASDAQ:MSTR) paused its weekly Bitcoin purchases for the first time since March, signaling a strategic reassessment amid recent volatility. Together, macro pressures and institutional moves helped support Bitcoin’s price.

Ethereum (ETH) is priced at US$2,546.07, up by 0.2 percent over the past 24 hours. Its lowest valuation as of Monday was US$2,521, and its highest was US$2,553.

Altcoin price update

  • Solana (SOL) was priced at US$149.11, down by 1.3 percent over 24 hours. Its lowest valuation as of Monday was US$149.21, and its highest was US$153.06.
  • XRP was trading for US$2.30, up 1.6 percent in the past 24 hours. The cryptocurrency’s lowest valuation was US$2.28, and its highest was US$2.30.
  • Sui (SUI) is trading at US$2.87, down by 0.7 percent over the past 24 hours. Its lowest valuation was US$2.84 and its highest was US$2.92.
  • Cardano (ADA) is priced at US$0.5847, down by 0.4 percent in the last 24 hours. Its lowest valuation as of Monday was US$0.5764, and its highest was US$0.589.

Today’s crypto news to know

CoreWeave to acquire Core Scientific for US$9 billion

CoreWeave (NASDAQ:CRWV) signed a definitive agreement to acquire Core Scientific (NASDAQ:CORZ) in an all-stock deal valued at US$9 billion, the company announced today. Core Scientific’s shareholders will receive 0.1235 shares of CoreWeave Class A common stock for each share of Core Scientific, representing a 66 percent premium over Core Scientific’s June 25 closing price of US$12.30.

The deal had been in the works for over a year. A US$1 billion bid made by CoreWeave in 2024 was initially rejected as too low, but the Wall Street Journal reported in June 2025 that discussions between the two companies had resumed.

“This acquisition accelerates our strategy to deploy AI and (high-performance computing) workloads at scale,” said Michael Intrator, CoreWeave’s CEO, Chair and co-founder. “Verticalizing the ownership of Core Scientific’s high-performance data center infrastructure enables CoreWeave to significantly enhance operating efficiency and de-risk our future expansion.”

Bit Digital shifts corporate treasury from Bitcoin to Ether

Digital asset firm Bit Digital (NASDAQ:BTBT) has shifted its corporate treasury from Bitcoin to Ether, according to an announcement made by the company on Monday.

The change was punctuated by a purchase of more than 75,000 ETH tokens, funded by the sale of 280 Bitcoin and proceeds raised during a recent public offering that brought in US$172 million.

According to the announcement, Bit Digital held 24,434 ETH prior to the offering, and the additional ETH acquisition has brought the company’s total to approximately 100,603 ETH. This move establishes Bit Digital as the second-largest corporate holder of ETH after Coinbase Global, according to CoinGecko data.

Following this news, Bit Digital’s stock closed over 18 percent higher, and its market capitalization temporarily rose above US$1 billion.

The Blockchain Group and Smarter Web Company expand Bitcoin holdings

On the other hand, France’s The Blockchain Group (EPA:ALTBG) and the United Kingdom’s Smarter Web Company (AQSE:SWE) expanded their Bitcoin holdings today.

In a Monday announcement, The Blockchain Group said it acquired 116 BTC for about 10.7 million euros, bringing its total holdings to 1,904 BTC.

The Smarter Web Company announced its purchase of 226.42 BTC for 17.9 million pounds, bringing the company’s total to 1,000 BTC.

SEC’s crypto ETF guidance signals mainstream shift

The US Securities and Exchange Commission took a major step toward regulating crypto exchange-traded products with its first formal guidance on crypto ETP disclosures, according to a Reuters analysis.

Issued last week, the 12 page document issues new guidance, stating firms should describe risks and custody arrangements in “plain English.” The document could speed up approval of dozens of new crypto ETFs tied to a variety of coins, including Solana, XRP and even Trump’s meme coin, Reuters states.

Anonymous insiders told Reuters the SEC is also developing a more standardized listing rule to replace the case-by-case exemptions that currently delay launches. That change could shrink approval timelines from 240 days to as little as 75.

Musk’s America Party goes all-in on Bitcoin, calls fiat ‘hopeless’

Elon Musk confirmed that his newly formed America Party will officially embrace Bitcoin after declaring that “fiat is hopeless” in a post on X.

The move follows Musk’s earlier hints at increasing his own Bitcoin exposure and praising Bitcoin as a hedge against traditional currency.

Musk was a significant figure in Trump’s reelection campaign and even headed the Department of Government Efficiency before splitting with Trump over his budget bill and creating the America Party.

The shift could inject more digital asset discussions into US politics as Musk tries to build a third-party movement.

Despite hype from Dogecoin supporters, no plans for DOGE adoption were announced.

Metaplanet boosts Bitcoin stash past 15,500 BTC

Japan’s Metaplanet (OTCQX:MTPLF,TSE:3350) disclosed this week that it purchased another 2,205 BTC at an average price of 15.64 million yen per coin, spending around US$213 million.

This purchase brings the firm’s total bitcoin holdings to 15,555 BTC, making Metaplanet one of the world’s largest corporate holders of the asset.

The company tracks a proprietary metric called BTC Yield, measuring the effect of share dilution on per-share bitcoin value.

For the second quarter, Metaplanet reported a BTC yield of 95.6 percent, down from 309.8 percent the previous quarter, but still strong enough to highlight aggressive growth.

Metaplanet’s total BTC investment now tops US$1.38 billion.

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

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

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

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Top 5 Junior Gold Mining Stocks on the TSXV in 2025

The gold price continued to surge to new record highs in the second quarter of the year, reaching an all-time high of C$4,663.85 per ounce, or US$3,433.47, on June 13.

The gains were primarily fueled by safe-haven investment as Israel and the United States launched attacks on Iranian nuclear sites and Iran retaliated against targets in Israel and a US base in Qatar. Although a ceasefire was announced, tensions in the region remain high.

Additional tailwinds come from the continuing uncertainty in global financial markets, stemming from shifting US trade policy and Donald Trump’s ongoing, on-again-off-again tariff plans.

There is also additional uncertainty going into the second half of the year as the US government passed its “Big Beautiful Bill” on July 3. The bill has been criticized from both sides, including the former head of the Department of Government Efficiency, Elon Musk, for increasing deficit spending and exacerbating an already ballooning debt, which some investors believe is driving the US toward a debt crisis.

What does this mean for junior gold companies? While there was delay in translating high gold prices into share price gains for gold explorers, many are now up significantly this year. Below, we profile the five TSXV gold companies that are the best performers of 2025 by year-to-date share price gains.

Data for this article was retrieved on July 3, 2025, using TradingView’s stock screener, and only companies with market capitalizations greater than C$10 million are included.

1. Onyx Gold (TSXV:ONYX)

Year-to-date gain: 846.34 percent
Market cap: C$122.48 million
Share price: C$1.94

Onyx Gold is an exploration company advancing its Munro-Croesus project, located near Timmins in Ontario, Canada. The company has increased the size of the land package by 200 percent between 2020 and 2025, and the project now covers an area of 109 square kilometers.

Munro-Croesus hosts the historic Croesus mine, which produced 14,859 ounces of gold between 1915 and 1936 with an average grade of 95.3 grams per metric ton (g/t). Onyx is the first company to explore the property since the mine closed.

Shares in Onyx have had significant gains in the second quarter of 2025. The momentum came as the company announced option agreements to enlarge its land package at Munro-Croesus.

The first announcement came on April 10, when it stated that it had agreed with private vendors to acquire a 21 hectare patented claim near the Argus North zone. Under the terms of the agreement, Onyx has the option to acquire a 100 percent interest in the property, which has never been drilled, in exchange for cash consideration of C$1.5 million and 3.3 million Onyx shares over a three-year period.

The second acquisition was announced on June 24, when Onyx reported that it signed a mineral property purchase and sale agreement to acquire a 100 percent interest in the Munro and Hewitt properties, both located near the existing Munro-Croesus project. The acquisition will expand the company’s land package from 95 to 109 square kilometers.

Alongside its land consolidations, Onyx has also spent the second quarter advancing exploration at the property.

Most recently, on June 26, the company reported the first drill results from its 10,000 meter spring drill program at the Argus North zone at Munro-Croesus. One highlighted assay contained 1.8 grams per metric ton (g/t) gold over 91 meters, including 4 g/t over 32 meters and 5.3 g/t over 17 meters.

The company said the results demonstrate the continuity of broad zones of high-grade gold mineralization.

Shares in Onyx reached a year-to-date high of C$2.09 on June 27.

2. Goldgroup Mining (TSXV:GGA)

Year-to-date gain: 500 percent
Market cap: C$217.34 million
Share price: C$0.99

Goldgroup Mining is a gold production, development and exploration company working to advance its Cerro Prieto heap-leach gold mine. The 4,335 hectare property, located in Sonora, Mexico, produces an annual average of 11,500 ounces of gold and has produced more than 120,000 ounces since its beginning in March 2013.

Goldgroup is currently working to double the capacity of the mine to more than 25,000 ounces per year. The last update on progress came in October 2024, when it announced that it had installed the primary crusher with a 2,200 metric ton per day throughput. It also said it had expanded pumping and irrigation capacity.

The most recent update on Cerro Prieto came on March 26, when Goldgroup announced high-impact exploration near the mine. The program will include 6,000 meters of diamond drilling focused on the Nuevo Esperanza and Reyna zones, which are next to the main Esperanza production zone.

The company also announced plans for an induced polarization geophysical survey and surface trenching 1 kilometer south of the mine to further investigate newly discovered mineralized zones.

In addition to activities at Cerro Prieto, the company announced on March 7 that it had entered an agreement to acquire Minera Apolo and its Pinos gold project from Candeleria Mining in exchange for settling a US$2.7 million loan facility. Goldgroup previously secured rights to the facility with Candeleria from a creditor group in a maneuver to acquire the project.

Pinos is a fully permitted gold project situated in the Zacatecas mining belt of Northern Mexico and comprises 29 concessions over 3,816 hectares. A 2018 PEA revealed an after-tax net present value of US$12 million, with a 25 percent internal rate of return at a gold price of US$1,250 per ounce.

Shares in Goldgroup reached a year-to-date high of C$1.08 on May 9.

3. Trident Resources (TSXV:ROCK)

Year-to-date gain: 400 percent
Market cap: C$19.62 million
Share price: C$0.75

Trident Resources, formerly Eros Resources, is a gold and copper exploration company focused on projects in Saskatchewan, Canada.

A three-way merger in early 2025 between Eros Resources, MAS Gold and Rockridge Resources, allowed the companies to consolidate a portfolio of assets in Saskatchewan, including the Contact Lake and Greywacke gold projects in the La Ronge gold belt as well as the Knife Lake copper project.

Before this year, Eros was focused on the Bell Mountain gold-silver project in Nevada, US, but on January 6, the company announced it had sold the property to Lincoln Gold Mining (TSXV:LMG) in exchange for up to 4.5 million common shares and a net profits interest of 7.5 percent of net returns from gold and silver produced at the project to a maximum of US$2 million.

The company announced its rebranding from Eros to Trident on April 23, with its new name chosen in part to represent the three companies joining together. In the release, the company stated that the rebrand marked the beginning of a new chapter for the company, underscoring its focus on the gold and copper markets.

On May 6, Trident announced it received drill permits for the Contact Lake project, marking the first project news following the rebrand.

Trident stated the drill program would be conducted over the summer and consist of approximately 5,000 meters, with 3,800 meters to be carried out at the Contact Lake deposit and 1,200 meters at the Preview SW deposit.

Shares in Trident reached a year-to-date high of C$0.75 on July 3.

4. Solstice Gold (TSXV:SGC)

Year-to-date gain: 333 percent
Market cap: C$15.28 million
Share price: C$0.065

Solstice Gold is an exploration company focused on advancing its flagship Strathy gold project in Ontario, which it acquired in June 2024.

The project consists of 45 claims covering an area of 45 square kilometers in the Temagami Greenstone belt. Historical documents report six gold showings in the central portion of the project areas, with documented mineralization at the Leckie prospect.

On January 15, Solstice announced results from an induced polarization survey of the property. It identified 50 new targets, with the highest priority targets being along strike on the Leckie Fault. The company stated that the results support the existence of an extensive, largely unexplored system, with potential for multiple discoveries.

Solstice said it had also been selected to receive a grant under the Ontario Junior Exploration Program from the provincial government. The grant will provide 50 percent of the exploration funding, up to a maximum of C$194,000.

Shares in Solstice gained early in the year following its January 20 announcement that Michael Gentile had increased his stake in Solstice to 16.76 percent, making him the single largest shareholder.

In its latest project update on July 2, Solstice announced it had wrapped up its spring drill program, which focused on four target areas. In total, the company completed 3,125 meters of drilling across 14 holes, and results are expected in July.

The company reported that it had entered into an agreement to acquire 17 additional claims, which would increase the project area by 50 percent. It added that targets identified from its IP program may extend along strike into these claims.

Shares in Solstice reached a year-to-date high of C$0.065 on June 27.

5. Lahontan Gold (TSXV:LG)

Year-to-date gain: 300 percent
Market cap: C$28.49 million
Share price: C$0.10

Lahontan Gold is a development and exploration company dedicated to advancing a portfolio of properties in Nevada, United States.

Its primary focus is on its flagship Santa Fe gold-silver project in Walker Lane. The property consists of 291 unpatented lode mining claims, 67 unpatented mill site claims, and 24 patented lode mining claims, covering a land package of 26.4 square kilometers.

On January 24, the company released a PEA for the project that demonstrated an after-tax net present value of US$56.5 million with an internal rate of return of 17.4 percent over a payback period of 4.24 years based on a gold price of US$2,025 per ounce.

The included MRE for the site reports an indicated resource of 1.44 million ounces of gold and 11.2 million ounces of silver from 48.39 million metric tons of ore at an average grade of 0.92 g/t gold and 7.18 g/t silver. It also hosts an inferred resource of 401,000 ounces of gold and 1.75 million ounces of silver from 16.76 million metric tons at a grade of 0.74 g/t gold and 3.25 g/t silver.

The most recent news from Lahontan was on March 18, when it provided an update on its Exploration Plan of Operation submitted to the Bureau of Land Management in November 2024. In the release, the company stated it expects the Bureau to approve the plan, allowing permitting to proceed to the National Environmental Policy Act phase. According to Lahontan, final approval is on track for late 2025.

In the meantime, Lahontan stated that it would be able to continue exploration drilling at its patented mining claims under a Notice of Intent (NOI). On May 6, the company filed a new NOI for additional drilling at the site that would target extensions in the Slab and York areas of the project, and the BLM approved it on June 9.

Additionally, the company announced on June 24 that it had started metallurgical test work at Santa Fe with the goal of substantially improving CN leach gold recoveries for transition materials compared to the 49 percent recovery in the PEA.

Shares in Lahontan reached a year-to-date high of C$0.105 on June 25.

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

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

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Is a Chinese chain’s blood orange cold brew the future of coffee in America?

Chinese chain Luckin Coffee opened its first two U.S. locations this week, betting that mobile-only ordering and creative flavors can lure customers away from Starbucks.

Both new Luckin stores are based in Manhattan, and at the midtown location on Wednesday, Sam Liu took a sip of her jasmine cold brew.

“I’ve never tried anything like it,” she said.

I thought I just order at the counter, but I realized everyone was standing around looking at their phone.

Luckin Customer Sam Liu, New York City

Liu said she’d hoped for more seating — the small shop has only three tables — and was initially confused by Luckin’s in-app ordering system, which means customers can’t order directly from a barista.

“I thought I just order at the counter, but I realized everyone was standing around looking at their phone,” Liu said.

Luckin is China’s largest coffee chain, with more than twice as many locations as Starbucks there. Its two New York City stores are its first foray outside Asia, where it has over 24,000 locations across the region. By comparison, there are over 17,000 Starbucks in the United States.

Its CEO, Guo Jinyi, called the U.S. “a strategically important market” for the company’s expansion in a press release heralding the two new locations Wednesday. “We are excited to introduce a diverse and unique coffee experience to American consumers.”

The company, which didn’t respond to a request for comment, has touted its ambitions to expand globally but hasn’t publicly detailed its next moves in the U.S. or other markets.

The chain has gained success overseas through creative drinks like alcohol-infused coffees and fruit lattes, along with its smartphone-centric ordering model. The app-based approach makes it easier to track inventory, send personalized appeals to consumers and serve drinks quickly, said John Zolidis, an analyst who tracks Luckin and Starbucks at the brokerage firm he founded, Quo Vadis Capital.

“Luckin was able to develop an incredible muscle with regard to product innovation, and they have been very creative in China,” he said.

Drink orders ready for pickup or delivery inside one of the Manhattan Luckin shops on Monday.Anthony Behar / Sipa USA via AP

Zolidis said how Luckin fares on Starbucks’ home turf will depend on its ability to differentiate its menu from other major U.S. coffee chains and smaller, independent cafes. Its American lineup already includes distinctive drinks like blood orange cold brew and coconut lattes.

“These orange drinks, or one of their most successful, a coconut cloud latte — that’s how you get trial [customers] from the U.S.,” Zolidis said.

Luckin faced financial troubles during the pandemic. It was delisted from Nasdaq in 2020 after its stock plunged following an internal investigation that found an executive had falsified revenue reports. The company filed for bankruptcy in the U.S. the following year but emerged from proceedings in 2022 and its sales have soared since, reaching $4.7 billion worldwide in fiscal year 2024, a 38.4% increase from 2023.

Luckin was able to develop an incredible muscle with regard to product innovation, and they have been very creative in China.

John Zolidis, Founder, Quo Vadis Capital

Starbucks, by contrast, is struggling in both the U.S. and China. Its same-store sales in the U.S. declined 2% and its sales in China 8% in fiscal year 2024, and it reported in April that its quarterly profit was half of what it pulled in for the same period last year. The Seattle-based chain is reportedly looking to partially sell its business in China while revamping its U.S. strategy to focus on customer experience and human connection, in contrast with Luckin’s model.

“We veered away from, I think, owning the idea of the ‘third place,’ the coffeehouse experience, making sure that the customer was front and center,” Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol told NBC News in June.

A Starbucks spokesperson declined to comment.

Zolidis said that whereas Starbucks aims in both the U.S. and China to appeal to customers looking for higher-end coffee served in an inviting setting, Luckin has successfully positioned itself as the “everyman’s coffee” in China, with low prices and small, grab-and-go storefronts.

After taking the train in from Hoboken, New Jersey, to check out the new one in midtown, Samantha Coy said the trip was worth it. She had enjoyed Luckin in China previously and was eager to order one of its fruit drinks.

“I’m surprised Starbucks hasn’t tried to bring that over to the U.S.,” Coy said. “I hope they stay open.”

Zolidis said he thinks Luckin is well-positioned to gain a foothold in America.

“They’ve been able to operate and grow incredibly quickly in the Chinese market, much faster than I would have thought possible, and they’ve been able to sustain it and develop a strong financial model so they can fund their expansion in the U.S.,” Zolidis said. “They wouldn’t be coming here to try it if they didn’t think they had a shot of owning part of the market.”

This post appeared first on NBC NEWS

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Israel carries out first strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen since Israel-Iran ceasefire

Israel carried out it first strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen since the Israel-Iran ceasefire, attacking ports and a power plant around midnight local time Sunday night into Monday morning.

The strikes come after at least three Houthi ballistic missiles were launched at Israel after the ceasefire, according to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) including one missile that was intercepted Saturday.

Israel struck the ports of Hodeida, Ras Isa, Salif and the Ras Kanatib power plant along the Red Sea. The IDF also struck the Galaxy Leader, a cargo ship seized by the Houthis in November 2023.

“Houthi forces installed a radar system on the ship and have been using it to track vessels in the international maritime arena to facilitate further terrorist activities,” the IDF said in a statement following the strikes.

A short time before the wave of strikes, the IDF’s Arabic language spokesman, Avichay Adraee, issued an evacuation warning for the ports and the power station.

Defense Minister Israel Katz said the strikes were part of the newly named Operation “Black Flag.” In a statement on social media, Katz said, “The Houthis will continue to pay a heavy price for their actions” and promised more attacks would follow if the Houthis kept launch drones and ballistic missiles at Israel.

The Houthi military confirmed the strikes but said, “Yemeni air defenses effectively confronted the Israeli aggression,” using, “a massive barrage of locally manufactured surface-to-air missiles,” in a short statement on early Monday morning local.

Houthi political bureau member Mohammed Al Farah said targeting Yemeni ports, power stations, and other “civilian facilities is an attempt to harm civilians and has no connection to any military activity,” according to the Houthi-run Al-Masirah TV.

The attack comes as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu travels to Washington to meet with US President Donald Trump.

Since Israel’s war with Hamas in Gaza started in October 2023, the country has come under fire from missiles and rockets from Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen, who claim to strike Israel in solidarity with the Palestinians.

The Iran-backed Houthis have also repeatedly targeted commercial and military ships in the Red Sea.

In March, the US carried out extensive strikes on Yemen to degrade the group’s military capabilities.

This is a developing story and will be updated.

This post appeared first on cnn.com

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Suriname parliament elects first female president

Suriname’s parliament backed Jennifer Simons as the South American country’s first woman president on Sunday, setting the doctor and former parliamentary speaker on course to helm a nation on the cusp of a predicted oil boom.

Surinamese lawmakers backed Simons as president six weeks after the ruling party and its top opposition nearly tied in the race for legislative seats, leading to a coalition deal to install Simons as president.

Simons’ opposition National Democratic Party won 18 seats and current President Chan Santokhi’s Progressive Reform Party won 17 seats in the May 25 parliamentary election. Smaller parties won the remaining 16 seats.

Suriname’s president is elected indirectly. Following the general election, members of the National Assembly vote for the president, and a candidate must secure a two-thirds majority to win the office.

“I come into this office to serve, and I will use all my knowledge, strength and insight to make our wealth available to all of our people,” Simons, 71, said in a brief speech after lawmakers approved her appointment with a round of applause.

Simons vowed to pay special attention to young people and those who have not yet had the best opportunities.

“I am very aware of the responsibility now placed on our shoulders, a responsibility compounded for me by the fact that I am the first woman to hold this office,” she added. “I do not need many words. My thanks and we will get to work.”

Incumbent President Chan Santokhi, a 66-year-old former police commissioner who stood for re-election, had faced criticism over a lack of protections for the poorer and more vulnerable sectors of society.

Santokhi congratulated Simons on her election and told lawmakers he took responsibility for his shortcomings and hoped he would be remembered for his commitment. He said he would continue to serve the country after the transition as a member of parliament.

A coming boom

Suriname, a former Dutch colony independent since 1975, is expected to see a surge in revenues from the nation’s first big offshore energy development, an oil and gas project led by TotalEnergies TTEF.PA.

The Gran Morgu project is set to begin production in 2028. Discovered reserves may allow Suriname to compete with neighboring Guyana, whose economy grew 43.6% last year, as a prominent producer.

However, campaigning featured little debate about what the next government, which will hold power until 2030, should do with the income.

Simons’ election was agreed in a six-party deal two days after the parliamentary contest, but was not made official until Sunday’s vote. Her inauguration is scheduled for July 16.

Suriname’s parliament backed Simons for the post by acclamation, alongside National Party of Suriname (NPS) leader Gregory Rusland as her vice president.

Simons served as parliamentary speaker for a decade until 2020. She was second in vote tallies behind Santokhi, winning more than 41,700 votes. She is the head of the NDP, founded by former President Desi Bouterse, who dominated Surinamese politics for decades but died a fugitive last year.

NDP founder Bouterse left office in 2020, the year after he was convicted in the 1982 murders of 15 government critics.

When the conviction was upheld in 2023, Bouterse went into hiding, dying at the age of 79 at an unknown location on Christmas Eve.

This post appeared first on cnn.com

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