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First bipartisan shutdown negotiations surface on Capitol Hill after funding bill blocked again

Bipartisan talks on reopening the government began to materialize less than a day into the shutdown, with Republicans and Democrats trying to find a middle ground on expiring Obamacare tax credits.

The federal government entered its first full day of a shutdown on Wednesday, and so far neither side of the aisle is willing to buckle as the hours ticked by.

Still, in the middle of Senate Republicans’ third attempt to pass the House GOP’s short-term funding extension, a group of nearly a dozen senators huddled on the floor in the first public display of negotiations so far.

‘There are glimmers of hope, and I think they’re bipartisan,’ said Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., who was in the huddle.

The conversations on the floor came as Republicans demanded that Democrats yield and provide the votes to reopen the government, while Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., doubled down on his position that Democrats wouldn’t budge without ‘serious’ movement on Obamacare premium subsidies.

‘Donald Trump and Republicans have barreled us into a shutdown because they refuse to protect Americans’ healthcare,’ Schumer said. ‘It’s clear that the way out of this shutdown is to sit down and negotiate with Democrats to address the looming healthcare crisis that faces tens of millions of American families.’

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., appears willing to slowly chip away at Senate Democrats through a de facto war of attrition and plans to bring House Republicans’ bill to the floor for a vote again and again.

The Senate will be out on Thursday to observe Yom Kippur but is expected to return Friday and possibly vote into the weekend on the continuing resolution (CR) that would reopen the government until Nov. 21 to give lawmakers more time to finish work on the dozen spending bills needed to fund the government.

Thune told Fox News Digital that he expected to talk to Schumer ‘in the next day or two.’

‘He’s indicated that he’s interested in doing that,’ Thune said. ‘I’m not sure what we’ll achieve by that, but I think there are, I mean, things seem to be moving on their side. We just keep telling them to ‘give us — open up the government, and we’ll get on with regular business.’’

Thune and Senate Republicans have argued that Senate Democrats’ rejection of the GOP’s CR is hypocritical, given that when former President Joe Biden was in office, Schumer and his caucus routinely voted for ‘clean’ extensions — like the GOP’s current proposal.

But the issue for Democrats was multifaceted. 

Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., was among the many lawmakers holding a confab on the Senate floor, and while he didn’t divulge full details of the private talks, he said a major issue for him was about ensuring that a ‘deal is a deal.’

‘Anything we agree to, because it’s not a clean CR if the president will tear it up tomorrow,’ he said. ‘In the past, we voted for clean CRs, but the president has shown that he’ll take the money back.’

Among the options tossed around in the huddle were a 10-day funding extension once floated by Schumer, which he quickly shot down earlier this week, or passing the Republican plan to actually give lawmakers time to negotiate a solution to the expiring tax credits.

Sen. Peter Welch, D-Vt., said there were no high-level discussions quite yet, but that any path forward had to be ‘enforceable.’

‘The bottom line here is that I sense real concern among my Republican colleagues about what happens to the people they represent if we go off the cliff on the Affordable Care Act,’ he said, referring to Obamacare.

And Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., who helped facilitate the conversation, said it’d be ‘great’ if lawmakers were able to get something figured out before the Nov. 21 deadline in the GOP’s bill, but that he and other Republicans were still pushing Democrats to support their legislation.

‘It’s not like there’s anything that they should be objecting to with regard to what’s in the existing bill,’ he said. ‘This is their hostage, and we’re just telling them, ‘Look, we’ve got support on the other side to fix the issues that you have a concern about, but it’s going to take time to negotiate those through.” 

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NATO allies clash after Russian jets breach airspace, testing alliance resolve

Recent Russian incursions into NATO airspace have sharpened divisions inside the alliance over how to respond, exposing both the strength and the limits of collective defense.

Secretary General Mark Rutte clashed with Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal last week after Estonia invoked NATO’s Article 4 clause, which triggers consultations when a member feels its security is threatened.

According to three European officials granted anonymity to speak freely, Rutte argued that repeated invocations risked diluting the treaty’s force. One source said he even raised his voice at Michal, warning that NATO must be cautious about how often it signals alarm.

Rutte argued that if Article 4 were invoked every time Russia violated sovereignty — through drone incursions, fighter jets, cyberattacks and more — it would quickly lose impact, according to the officials.  

A NATO spokesperson confirmed Rutte and Michal spoke Friday and said the secretary general ‘has supported Estonia throughout the process.’

Rasmus Ruuda, director of the Government Communication Office of Estonia, told Fox News Digital Rutte ‘expressed support for Estonia and the Prime Minister thanked NATO for its actions.’

‘Article 4 is just a signal that we’re taking note of what happened,’  said Giedrimas Jeglinskas, a Lithuanian member of parliament and former NATO assistant secretary general. ‘We can be invoking Article 4 every week, and I think that only weakens us, because we’re unable to truly respond to that aggression that Russia is sort of throwing at us.’

The tension comes after a series of provocative moves by Moscow. Last month, missile-carrying Russian MiG-29s flew into Estonian territory, following an earlier breach of Polish airspace by 19 drones and repeated incursions over Romania. In Poland, jets scrambled to intercept the drones, shooting some of them down. It marked the first time since World War II that Polish armed forces mobilized to engage an airborne threat over their homeland.

The Russian jets in Estonia were eventually escorted out of its territory by Italian F-35s. Estonia’s Article 4 request followed Poland’s own invocation days earlier, prompting another round of consultations in Brussels.

Since its creation in 1949, Article 4 has been triggered only nine times. NATO’s warning to Russia after the Estonian request was blunt: any further breaches would be met with ‘all means’ of defense. Estonia’s defense minister said his nation was prepared to shoot down Russian planes violating airspace ‘if there is a need.’ 

But Jeglinskas said signaling without consequence risks leaving the alliance trapped.

‘We’re happy to do Article 4 every other day, but so what? What’s next?’ he said. ‘The real question is what happens when the jets actually enter our airspace.’

The debate cuts to a deeper question: what constitutes a ‘need’ to shoot down Russian jets? How can Russia be deterred without stumbling into direct war?

‘The last thing we want is to have NATO get drawn into a war with Russia,’ a senior State Department official told Fox News Digital. ‘God knows how that ends.’

‘Almost all wars … they don’t necessarily start with a big bang,’ the official went on. ‘They start with an escalation, and then somebody feels they need to respond to this, and then you just get in a toxic spiral.’

The United States has promised to defend ‘every inch’ of NATO while pressing Europe to bear more of its own defense burden. Washington’s mixed signals have only complicated matters.

Trump administration officials long favored reducing the U.S. troop presence in Europe. But President Donald Trump recently delivered one of the starkest warnings to Moscow, declaring that NATO states should shoot Russian aircraft down if they incur on their territory.

Jeglinskas said the statement resonated across the Baltic States. ‘What was really helpful was that President Trump was very clear,’ he said. ‘That gives us confidence we’re on the right track, and we really appreciate the support.’

Still, allies remain divided on whether to escalate. Some warn that Eastern Europe cannot credibly threaten retaliation without an American security guarantee. Others argue that deterrence depends on showing Russia its incursions carry a cost.

‘If we really want to send a proper message of deterrence to Russia, we need to be prepared to use kinetic force,’ Jeglinskas said. ‘That means neutralizing those jets — shooting them down or finding other ways to impose consequences — so Russia actually feels the cost of its incursions. That hasn’t happened yet, and it leaves us vulnerable.’

The airspace disputes now extend beyond fighter jets. European Union members are meeting in Copenhagen this week to discuss shoring up air defenses after a wave of drone sightings. Denmark briefly shut down its airspace following mysterious drone activity, while Lithuania’s Vilnius airport and Norway’s Oslo airport also reported disruptions. Drones have even been spotted over Germany’s northern state of Schleswig-Holstein.

‘We are not at war, but we are no longer at peace either. We must do much more for our own security,’ German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said in Düsseldorf.

NATO jets scrambled to intercept drones over Poland, but the response underscored a growing mismatch: deploying multi-million dollar fighters to counter small, unmanned aircraft is neither efficient nor sustainable.

‘NATO remains the most crucial element of our security equation,’ Jeglinskas said. ‘It’s the backbone through which our security is viewed. There’s really no doubt about NATO’s political will and its capability to defend its territory, but warfare is changing — and the question now is, has NATO adapted to the new way of war that is seeping through the borders of Ukraine?’

Jeglinskas warned that neither NATO nor the Baltic States have done enough. ‘The Polish incursion signified that NATO is not fully ready to counter these threats,’ he said. ‘Scrambling jets is a tremendous economic mismatch. If these kinds of attacks become swarms, it’s not sustainable.’

To address mounting threats, NATO last month launched Operation Eastern Sentry, reinforcing its presence on Europe’s eastern flank. Jeglinskas welcomed the move but said gaps remain.

‘Jets are very important, but more jets don’t mean we’re more secure from low-altitude drones,’ he said. ‘The question is: do we have sensors that can detect what’s happening from the ground up to a kilometer into our airspace? We don’t see that. It’s like a dead space.’

Jeglinskas called for stronger short- and medium-range radar, as well as layered defenses akin to Israel’s Iron Dome, capable of intercepting drones with both kinetic and electronic means.

‘NATO’s response is commendable,’ he said, ‘but it’s not enough. You need technical know-how, the right capabilities, and systems that are truly integrated if you want to make this work.’

For now, NATO remains caught between signaling resolve and acting on it. As Russia continues to test the alliance’s borders, Jeglinskas and other Eastern European officials warn that credibility is at stake. The next incursion, they argue, may demand more than words.

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War Department pushes back on ‘false’ narrative of internal strategy split

Rejecting reports of a split with the brass, the Department of War says the National Defense Strategy was ‘seamlessly coordinated’ with senior civilian and uniform leaders — and that ‘any narrative to the contrary is false.’

On Monday, The Washington Post reported that multiple senior officers had raised concerns about the forthcoming strategy, pointing to a divide between political leadership.

Deputy Secretary of War Steve Feinberg pushed back on Wednesday, in an on-the-record statement to Fox News Digital.

‘The Department’s National Defense Strategy has been seamlessly coordinated with all senior civilian and military leadership with total collaboration — any narrative to the contrary is false,’ Feinberg said.

A senior War Department official said the strategy was the product of ‘extensive and intensive’ collaboration across the department.

The drafting team included a policy lead, a Joint Staff deputy and representatives from the military services who consulted widely with civilian and uniformed offices.

Under Secretary of War for Policy Elbridge Colby and the acting deputy under-secretary for policy, Austin Dahmer, met with leaders from every group. The official called that level of policy-shop engagement ‘unprecedented.’

Air Force Gen. Dan Caine, who chairs the Joint Chiefs of Staff, provided feedback directly to Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Colby, the official said, and both assured him his input would be reflected in the final draft.

The Post report said political appointees in the Pentagon policy office led the drafting and described unusually sharp pushback from some commanders over priorities and tone. 

The War Department disputes that characterization and says the document was coordinated at the principal level and aligned closely with the National Security Strategy.

The pushback comes a day after Hegseth addressed hundreds of commanders at Marine Corps Base Quantico.

In a 45-minute speech, he argued the force needs tougher standards and a tighter focus on warfighting. He has recalled one-star and above officers from around the world to brief in person and has removed several senior general officers as part of a broader overhaul.

Hegseth says new directives will restore rigorous physical, grooming and leadership standards and require combat roles to meet one set of physical benchmarks.

The Washington Post did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment. 

Fox News Digital’s Jasmine Baehr and Morgan Phillips contributed to this report.

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Lithium Americas and GM Advance Thacker Pass with Landmark Federal Funding

Lithium Americas (TSX:LAC,NYSE:LAC) has reached an agreement with General Motors (NYSE:GM) and the US Department of Energy (DOE) to unlock the first $435 million installment of a landmark federal loan for its Thacker Pass lithium project in Nevada.

The company confirmed on Wednesday ( October 1) that the DOE will receive warrants giving it a 5 percent equity interest in Lithium Americas and a parallel 5 percent economic interest in the Thacker Pass joint venture with GM.

The arrangement is part of the terms for advancing the first tranche of a US$2.23 billion federal loan approved in 2024 to finance construction of the project, which is set to be the largest source of lithium in the western hemisphere.

The DOE also agreed to defer US$182 million of debt service over the first five years of the loan, while Lithium Americas will post an additional US$120 million into reserve accounts within a year of the funds being drawn.

Located about 25 miles south of the Oregon border, Thacker Pass has been cast as central to Washington’s push to cut reliance on Chinese-controlled processing and narrow the gap with global lithium producers in Australia and Chile.

Phase 1 of the project is designed to produce 40,000 metric tons of battery-grade lithium carbonate annually—enough to support roughly 800,000 electric vehicles.

At present, US domestic lithium output is negligible, limited to Albemarle’s (NYSE:ALB) Silver Peak operation in Nevada, which produces fewer than 5,000 metric tons a year.

By comparison, China processes more than three-quarters of the world’s raw lithium into battery-grade material.

Washington’s share finalized

The DOE stake comes after weeks of speculation over the size of Washington’s equity interest.

According to sources in late September, Trump officials had pressed for up to 10 percent, with Lithium Americas countering by offering no-cost warrants for 5 to 10 percent of its shares. The final agreement settled at the low end of that range.

The warrants issued to DOE will allow the department to appoint an observer to the joint venture’s board meetings for as long as it retains its economic stake.

If exercised in full, the ownership structure of the Thacker Pass joint venture will be 59 percent Lithium Americas, 36 percent GM, and 5 percent DOE.

Voting control, however, will remain split 62 percent to Lithium Americas and 38 percent to GM.

“We greatly appreciate the support of the Administration, General Motors and our partners in advancing this vital world-class project,” said Jonathan Evans, president and CEO of Lithium Americas.

“Together, we are onshoring large-scale US lithium production, strengthening America’s supply chain, creating exceptional jobs and enhancing our long-term energy security and prosperity”

For Washington, the agreement marks the latest in a series of moves by the Trump administration to take minority positions in companies deemed critical to US industrial and national security interests.

US Energy Secretary Chris Wright said in a statement that the Thacker Pass deal “helps reduce the country’s dependence on foreign adversaries for critical minerals by strengthening domestic supply chains.”

Shares of Lithium Americas surged more than 30 percent in pre-market trading Wednesday following the announcement, extending a rally that began last month when reports of a potential federal equity stake first surfaced.

The stock had spiked more than 90 percent in late September after Reuters reported the Trump administration’s push for ownership, jumping from about US$3 to over US$6.

Construction at Thacker Pass is already underway, with more than 600 contractors on site. The mine and processing plant are expected to reach full commercial output in 2028.

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

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Gold Price Closes in on US$3,900 as US Government Shuts Down

Gold continued to set new records on Wednesday (October 1), nearly reaching US$3,900 per ounce.

After spending the summer months consolidating, the yellow metal began pushing higher toward the end of August.

It quickly reached US$3,500 and continued past US$3,600, US$3,700 and US$3,800; gold rose as high as US$3,895 per ounce on Wednesday before retreating back to the US$3,850 mark by 2:00 p.m. EDT.

The yellow metal is up over 10 percent in the last month, and about 44 percent year-to-date.

Gold price, June 30 to October 1, 2025.

Gold’s latest rise comes after US Congress failed to reach an agreement on a spending bill ahead of the new fiscal year on Tuesday (September 30), triggering a government shutdown.

Democrats and Republicans had been at loggerheads as Democrats pushed for changes to the bill, including an extension to billions of dollars in subsidies for Obamacare, and as President Donald Trump threatened thousands of permanent layoffs — not just temporary furloughs — in the event of a shutdown.

Beyond current events, gold’s rise is underpinned by factors like strong central bank buying, global geopolitical uncertainty, concerns about the US dollar and other fiat currencies and expectations of lower interest rates.

Those factors have many experts predicting a rise beyond US$4,000, potentially before the end of the year, although a correction is widely expected beforehand.

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

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Altech Batteries LtdCommences Selling Sodium Nickel Chloride Batteries

Perth, Australia (ABN Newswire) – Altech Batteries Limited (ASX:ATC,OTC:ALTHF) (FRA:A3Y) (OTCMKTS:ALTHF) pleased to announce its immediate entry into the sodium nickel chloride (SNC) (or previously referred as sodium alumina solid state (SAS)), battery market in Australia, Europe and United States of America through a strategic collaboration and distribution agreement with the current largest SNC battery manufacturer AMPower, a subsidiary of the Chilwee Group.

Highlights

– Altech signs collaboration agreement with AMPower for early market entry into Europe, Australia and the USA

– AMPower presently produces conventional zebra design sodium nickel chloride batteries for Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS) and are developing BESS and traction batteries

– Altech’s CERENERGY(R) batteries use the same sodium nickel chloride chemistry, but are especially designed for high performance energy storage systems (ESS)

– Altech and AMPower will cooperate on sodium nickel BESS development. Each partner will have the authority to distribute the co-developed BESS under its own brand

– AMPower will manufacture energy storage packs in accordance with Altech specifications and supervision under Altech branding and distribution

– Altech gains immediate market entry and presence for sodium nickel chloride batteries to establish its energy storage battery market especially in Europe and Australia

– CERENERGY(R) cell technology I/P will not be shared with AMPower

– Altech’s CERENERGY(R) 120 MWh battery project development in Germany remains on track

– Preliminary funding approval from the German Government for 46.7 million Euro having been received

Chilwee is the third largest e-mobility battery manufacturer in China, with an annual turnover of US$20 billion, 23,000 employees, and production capabilities spanning lead-acid, lithium-ion, sodium-ion, and next-generation battery technologies. AMPower currently manufactures conventional Zebra-type sodium nickel chloride (Na/NiCl2) solid-state batteries-using the same chemistry as CERENERGY(R)-but mainly for the small Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS) industrial market. AMPower was originally established as a joint venture with General Electric to produce sodium nickel chloride UPS batteries under the Durathon brand.

In the initial phase, AMPower will produce sodium nickel chloride solid state UPS batteries for Altech which will be under Altech brand, supervision and specification for distribution across Australia, Europe, and the USA. This strategy provides a faster pathway to cash flow for Altech.

This will strengthen the market presence and branding of Altech while the company advances and secures funding for its CERENERGY(R) 120 MWh energy storage project in Germany.

Several battery models that will be offered by Altech immediately are shown above. These sodium nickel chloride UPS batteries are completely fireproof, featured long cycle life, and operate reliably in both extreme heat and cold. A key advantage of these sodium nickel chloride UPS batteries is their capacity to stay fully charged, idle, and instantly ready for discharge for more than 10 years-without the need for regular maintenance or the frequent replacements required by leadacid, lithium-ion or Ni-Cad batteries. These UPS batteries also serve a unique niche in explosion-proof environments or locations where lithium-ion batteries are restricted or banned. To capture this market, Altech has recruited a team of experienced marketing professionals to drive the sales process.

ESS Batteries

In the second phase, AMPower, with its available production capacity, intends to manufacture sodium nickel chloride batteries for the household, industrial, and grid-scale energy storage markets.

AMPower currently has a production capacity of approximately 100 MWh per annum, with the ability to scale up to 200 MWh per annum. Altech and AMPower will cooperate on small and medium size sodium nickel BESS development. Each partner will have the authority to distribute the codeveloped BESS under its own brand. AMPower will produce sodium nickel chloride BESS for Altech, under Altech brand and sales managed by Altech in the three key markets Europe, Australia and the USA. This arrangement will generate additional cash flow over and above the UPS sales, while building product credibility and brand recognition, paving the way for the CERENERGY(R) 120 MWh large scale industrial energy storage project in Germany.

This collaboration fast-tracks the commercialisation of Altech’s sodium nickel chloride (Na/NiCl2) solid-state battery technology, enabling immediate production of Altech-branded battery packs to meet growing customer demand, reinforced by strong interest from existing offtake partners. Crucially, the arrangement excludes any transfer or sharing of Altech’s proprietary IKTS CERENERGY(R) battery cell technology with AMPower, ensuring complete protection of Altech’s intellectual property. And vice versa, AMPower will not transfer or share AMPowers Durathon(R) battery cell technology with Altech, ensuring complete protection of the intellectual property of GE and Chilwee.

Under the agreement, AMPower will manufacture the battery cells, integrate the battery management and thermal systems, and assemble the grid-ready battery packs. AMPower will also provide customers with the required warranties and performance guarantees for the grid systems. Altech will define the technical specifications and operational modes tailored to a range of energy storage and BESS applications, while overseeing production, branding, regional certifications, marketing, and distribution across Europe, the United States, and Australia. All products produced by AMPower on requirements of Altech will be marketed under the Altech brand and interface, and will comply with international battery standards. This collaboration positions Altech to fast-track its entry into the grid battery market and establish an immediate commercial presence across its key regions.

BENEFITS FOR AMPOWER

AMPower’s current facility is operating at an annual production rate of approximately 100 MWh, primarily supplying the small-scale UPS commercial market with 20-30 kWh battery units. The company has the ability to scale production to 200 MWh per annum with minimal additional capital investment. By supplying Altech’s grid-scale battery packs, AMPower will be able to substantially increase its individual cell production volumes, unlocking greater economies of scale and reducing overall unit costs. Altech will provide the sales expansion needed to drive this market entry and support the ramp-up of AMPower’s operations.

BENEFITS FOR ALTECH

Altech’s new go-to-market strategy is designed to accelerate commercial progress and operational readiness while delivering early financial returns. By launching UPS and grid-scale battery packs ahead of commissioning its CERENERGY(R) plant in Germany, Altech will establish a steady revenue stream to offset operational costs and reduce reliance on external funding during the transition to full-scale production. Early market entry enables Altech to build a customer base across key regions-including Australia, Europe, and the United States-while strengthening brand recognition and market credibility.

This first-mover advantage also mitigates risks from competing battery technologies, as Altech’s sodium nickel chloride (Na/NiCl2) batteries gain real-world application experience ahead of rivals.

The collaboration further provides Altech with direct exposure to battery production and systems integration, offering hands-on experience in areas such as BESS assembly, energy management systems, and system thermal control. These practical insights will support the refinement and optimisation of Altech’s CERENERGY(R) battery packs.

SAME CHEMISTRY – ORIGINAL TECHNOLOGY

ZEBRA cells originally designed in the early 90s employ the same sodium nickel chloride (Na/NiCl) cell chemistry that forms the basis of Altech’s CERENERGY(R) technology, however with an entirely different geometry and use profile. This proven chemistry is inherently non-flammable, highly tolerant of extreme temperatures, and delivers long cycle life with stable performance. ZEBRA batteries are particularly well suited for UPS systems and smaller energy storage applications.

CERENERGY(R) represents the next generation of sodium nickel chloride technology, featuring an advanced tubular design that enhances thermal management, improves electrochemical efficiency, and delivers higher energy density beside simplifying the manufacturing process whilst increasing quality, reliability and performance. Its simplified architecture reduces inactive material, substantially lowers system costs, and increases reliability-making it a scalable and robust solution for grid – scale stationary energy storage. Notably, the new cell design delivers a 2.6-fold increase in capacity, rising from 38 Ah to 100 Ah, marking a significant leap in performance. In addition CERENERGY(R) feature a number of other improvements in terms of material composition, electrode design and composition, which are part of the confidential IP and shall not be publicised.

Importantly, the cooperation with AMPower ZEBRA UPS batteries followed by small and medium size energy storage systems with the branding of Altech helps build market acceptance of sodium nickel chloride technology while fully complementing, rather than competing with, the development of the CERENERGY(R) grid scale battery storage production project in Germany.

Altech Group Managing Director Iggy Tan said:

‘Altech is experiencing exceptional interest in our sodium nickel chloride solid-state battery technology, especially from customers seeking safer, more reliable alternatives to lithium-ion. These batteries are inherently fireproof, perform reliably in extreme temperatures, and offer strong environmental credentials – making them an ideal fit for the needs of the stationary energy storage market. Growing concerns over battery fire risks, particularly in data centres and AI facilities, are further accelerating demand. Our collaboration with AMPower enables immediate production, and our offtake customers are eager to secure supply. With special focus on UPS as well as small and medium size energy storage this early market entry strategy is augmenting and not competing with the large scale grid energy storage Cerenergy Battery strategy. By moving quickly to meet this demand, Altech is positioning itself as a leader in what we see as the next major wave in battery storage innovation.’

To view details of the Agreement, please visit:
https://abnnewswire.net/lnk/PEUQAPMZ

About Altech Batteries Ltd:

Altech Batteries Limited (ASX:ATC,OTC:ALTHF) (FRA:A3Y) is a specialty battery technology company that has a joint venture agreement with world leading German battery institute Fraunhofer IKTS (‘Fraunhofer’) to commercialise the revolutionary CERENERGY(R) Sodium Alumina Solid State (SAS) Battery. CERENERGY(R) batteries are the game-changing alternative to lithium-ion batteries. CERENERGY(R) batteries are fire and explosion-proof; have a life span of more than 15 years and operate in extreme cold and desert climates. The battery technology uses table salt and is lithium-free; cobalt-free; graphite-free; and copper-free, eliminating exposure to critical metal price rises and supply chain concerns.

The joint venture is commercialising its CERENERGY(R) battery, with plans to construct a 100MWh production facility on Altech’s land in Saxony, Germany. The facility intends to produce CERENERGY(R) battery modules to provide grid storage solutions to the market.

Source:
Altech Batteries Ltd

Contact:
Corporate
Iggy Tan
Managing Director
Altech Batteries Limited
Tel: +61-8-6168-1555
Email: info@altechgroup.com

Martin Stein
Chief Financial Officer
Altech Batteries Limited
Tel: +61-8-6168-1555
Email: info@altechgroup.com

News Provided by ABN Newswire via QuoteMedia

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Mustang Energy and Skyharbour Resources Stake an Additional Claim on its 914W Uranium Project

Mustang Energy Corp. ( CSE: MEC, OTC:MECPF, FRA:92T ) (the ‘ Company ‘ or ‘ Mustang ‘) announces that, in connection with Skyharbour Resources Ltd. (TSX-V: SYH), it has staked an additional claim on its 914W Uranium Project.

The new claim (MC00022913) totals 1182.25 ha and is located immediately to the east of the original 914W claim. It has seen only minimal modern exploration, being partially covered by the same 2005 VTEM (southern half) and 2007 Tempest TDEM surveys (north half) as MC00017142, with lake sediment sampling also being done on the claim in 2007. Historical exploration on the claim included airborne EM, magnetic, and radiometrics surveys in 1969 and 1976, with prospecting, geological mapping, lake sediment and radon sampling, also taking place in 1969 and 1976.

About Mustang Energy Corp.:

Mustang Energy is a Canadian mineral exploration company focused on the discovery and development of high-potential uranium and critical mineral assets. The company holds a portfolio of 147,153 hectares of strategically located properties in Saskatchewan’s Athabasca Basin—one of the world’s premier uranium districts. Mustang is advancing early-stage exploration through modern techniques and a disciplined, data-driven approach. The Company is committed to building long-term value through responsible exploration and a focus on high-impact targets in underexplored areas.

For further information, please contact:

Mustang Energy Corp.

Attention: Nicholas Luksha, CEO and Director
Phone: (604) 838-0184

Neither the CSE nor the Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

News Provided by GlobeNewswire via QuoteMedia

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Apex Announces Update on Financing

Apex Resources Inc. (TSXV: APX) (OTCID: SLMLF) (‘Apex’ or the ‘Company’) announces that the Company will not be proceeding with a further tranche of the non-brokered financing (the ‘Financing’) announced in its news releases dated July 25, 2025 and September 3, 2025.

The Company also announces that it intends to raise on a non-brokered financing basis up to $250,000 in flow-through funding (the ‘FT Financing’) that will consist of up to 3,571,429 FT Units (the ‘FT Units’), priced at $0.07 per FT Unit. Each FT Unit will consist of one flow-through common share (the ‘FT Share’) plus one-half (1/2) non-transferable non-flow-through share purchase warrant (each whole warrant, a ‘NFT Warrant’). Each NFT Warrant is exercisable to purchase one additional non-flow-through common share of the Company (the ‘NFT Warrant Share’) at $0.10 for a period of two years from the date of closing.

The FT Shares will qualify as ‘flow-through shares’ (within the meaning of subsection 66(15) of the Income Tax Act (Canada) (the ‘Tax Act‘). The gross proceeds raised from the issuance of the FT Shares will be used by the Company to incur ‘Canadian exploration expenses’ (within the meaning of the Tax Act). The Company reserves the right to accept additional funds or increase the FT Financing, subject to regulatory approval, should the FT Financing be oversubscribed.

The Company may pay finder’s fees to certain third parties of up to 7% in cash and up to 7% in compensation warrants (the ‘Finder’s Fee’) in connection with the sale of FT Units to arm’s length subscribers. Each compensation warrant will entitle the holder to purchase one additional common share of the Company at $0.07 for a period of two years from the date of closing.

Closing of the FT Financing and the payment and/or issuance of the Finder’s Fee are subject to TSX Venture Exchange approval and all securities issued pursuant to the FT Financing and Finder’s Fee will be subject to a four-month and one day hold period from the closing date.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to sell any of the securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the ‘U.S. Securities Act‘), or any U.S. state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons (as defined in Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act) absent registration under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration requirements is available.

About Apex Resources Inc.

Apex is a Vancouver-based exploration company with a suite of precious and critical minerals projects and historic mines located in the United States and Canada.

The Jersey-Emerald Property is wholly owned by Apex and encompasses the historic Jersey Lead-Zinc Mine – British Columbia’s second largest historic zinc mine, and the Emerald Tungsten Mine – Canada’s second largest historic tungsten mine, both located in southern British Columbia.

The Lithium Creek Project is Apex’s flagship project with placer claims covering hundreds of square miles within the aerially extensive Fernley, Humboldt, and Carson Sinks, and includes widespread naturally flowing lithium brine groundwater. The Lithium Creek Project is strategically located near the City of Reno and within 40 minutes of the principle North American battery hub, hosting the Tesla Gigafactory and other key industry players in the Lithium Ion battery supply chain.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors of

Apex Resources Inc.
Ron Lang,
President & CEO

Ph. +1(250) 212-7119 or info@apxresources.com website: www.apxresources.com

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

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS: This news release may contain forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws (‘forward-looking statements’). Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words ‘expects,’ ‘plans,’ ‘anticipates,’ ‘believes,’ ‘intends,’ ‘estimates,’ ‘projects,’ ‘potential’ and similar expressions, or that events or conditions ‘will,’ ‘would,’ ‘may,’ ‘could’ or ‘should’ occur, including but not limited to, closing of the FT Financing. These forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those reflected in the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation: risks related to fluctuations in metal prices; uncertainties related to raising sufficient financing to fund exploration work in a timely manner and on acceptable terms; changes in planned work resulting from weather, logistical, technical or other factors; the possibility that results of work will not fulfill expectations and realize the perceived potential of the Project; risk of accidents, equipment breakdowns and labour disputes or other unanticipated difficulties or interruptions; the possibility of cost overruns or unanticipated expenses in conducting work programs; the risk of environmental contamination or damage resulting from Apex’s operations and other risks and uncertainties. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date it is made and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/268813

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Syntheia Closes Call Center Guys Acquisition

Syntheia Corp. (CSE: SYAI) (‘Syntheia’ or the ‘Company’) (Syntheia.ai), is pleased to announce that, further to its press release of September 25, 2025, it has completed the previously announced acquisition (the ‘Transaction’) of certain assets of Call Centre Guys Inc. (‘CCG’). As consideration for the Transaction, the Company paid $750,000 cash and issued an aggregate of 10,000,000 common shares of the Company (each a ‘Common Share’) to Imran Butt, the principal of CCG. The Common Shares are subject to a statutory four-month and one day resale restriction and are subject to an 18-month voluntary escrow on a 25% release schedule with the first escrow release on closing of the Transaction and the following three releases every 6 months thereafter. Further, the Company issued a 10% secured promissory note as previously disclosed in the press release of the Company dated September 25, 2025.

‘With the acquisition of the CCG call center assets combined with our conversational AI platform, we expect savings and efficiencies which will significantly increase the customer experience,’ commented Tony Di Benedetto, CEO of Syntheia. ‘We are excited to continue our industry wide roll out across North America deploying our conversational AI platform in call center acquisitions. We look to enhance revenue growth, realize savings, and increase customer satisfaction, while creating consistent accretive shareholder value,’ said Tony Di Benedetto, Chief Executive Officer.

In connection with the Transaction, Imran Butt, the principal of CCG, has joined the board of directors of the Company and has been appointed as President of the Company replacing Richard Buzbuzian as President. Mr. Buzbuzian will continue to serve as a director of the Company and Capital Markets advisor for the Company.

Imran is a senior business executive in the customer experience industry whose career spans over two decades of building, scaling, and transforming contact centers. He launched Matrix 5 Inc. in 2002, and within months became a leading industry partner which later evolved into Voysus Group Inc., serving major communications and media companies among other industries. After successfully exiting Voysus in 2012, Imran founded CCG in 2017, blending people-first values with advanced technology to deliver solutions supporting international organizations including major telecommunications companies, cosmetic brands, tech services firms, IT service providers and a Big Four accounting firm.

‘With over 20+ years in the call center space, I look forward to bringing my operational experience and industry contacts to my new role as President of Syntheia Corp. We have a significant opportunity in the call center market enhance the customer experience with AI, which Syntheia has now developed. It is a very exciting time at Syntheia!’ commented Imran Butt, President Syntheia Corp.

About Syntheia

Syntheia is an artificial intelligence technology company which is developing and commercializing proprietary algorithms to deliver human-like conversations and deploying our technology to enhance customer satisfaction while dramatically reducing turnover and traditional staffing issues.

For further information, please contact:

Tony Di Benedetto
Chief Executive Officer
Tel: (844) 796-8434

Cautionary Statement

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

This news release contains certain ‘forward-looking information’ within the meaning of applicable securities law. Forward-looking information is frequently characterized by words such as ‘plan’, ‘expect’, ‘project’, ‘intend’, ‘believe’, ‘anticipate’, ‘estimate’, ‘may’, ‘will’, ‘would’, ‘potential’, ‘proposed’ and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions ‘may’ or ‘will’ occur. These statements are only predictions. Forward-looking information is based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the information is provided and is subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking information. Forward-looking statements in this news release includes, but are not limited to, the synergies derived from the acquisition of the assets in the Transaction. Readers are cautioned that forward‐looking information is not based on historical facts but instead reflects the Company’s management’s expectations, estimates or projections concerning the business of the Company’s future results or events based on the opinions, assumptions and estimates of management considered reasonable at the date the statements are made.

Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward‐looking information are reasonable, such information involves risks and uncertainties, and undue reliance should not be placed on such information, as unknown or unpredictable factors could have material adverse effects on future results, performance or achievements. Please refer to the Company’s listing statement available on SEDAR+ for a list of risks and key factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward‐looking information. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should assumptions underlying the forward‐looking information prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as intended, planned, anticipated, believed, estimated or expected.

Although the Company has attempted to identify important risks, uncertainties and factors which could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be others that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information if circumstances or management’s estimates or opinions should change unless required by law. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information.

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

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/268810

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Gold’s Meteoric Rise: Can the Price Break US$4,000 in 2025?

Gold’s momentum has price predictions heading upwards of US$4,000 per ounce by the year’s end.

Rising by more than 44 percent since the start of the year, in 2025 the price of gold has hit highs once unthinkable. Aggressive central bank buying, US Federal Reserve rate decisions, ongoing geopolitical conflicts and US trade policy uncertainty have weakened the US dollar and escalated federal debt concerns. The resulting increase in demand for safe-haven assets is pushing investors toward gold, from physical bars to gold exchange-traded funds.

This week, the US government shutdown drove the price of gold even higher, approaching the US$3,900 level as it reached US$3,896.30 early in the morning of Wednesday (October 1) before pulling back.

Let’s take a look at what’s driving the gold price in the final stretch of 2025.

US monetary policy and dollar weakness

Gold traditionally has had an inverse relationship to the dollar, and has benefited greatly this year as the dollar has weakened. Many agree that this trend is set to continue feeding the gold price in the months ahead.

While China has been the focal point of gold buying this year, the World Gold Council’s Joe Cavatoni said western investors looking for risk diversification are helping to drive the latest surge in the gold price.

In his view, the Fed has how begun signaling to investors that economic deterioration — and a possible move into a stagflationary environment — is imminent.

Global conflict stoking central bank buying

Strong central bank buying is another key catalyst for gold’s record price streak.

Although the rate at which the world’s central banks are scooping up the precious metal has slowed somewhat in 2025 compared to the last few years, governments are still set to be net buyers this year.

For a fourth year in a row, Cavatoni sees central banks continuing to buy gold despite higher prices, although he noted that they may make price-sensitive adjustments to buy more strategically. According to the World Gold Council’s latest annual central bank survey, conducted in June, 95 percent of the 73 respondents expect to increase their gold holdings over the next 12 months. At the same time, 73 percent expect to lighten their US dollar reserves.

Countries are building up their strategic reserves of gold as security. Just look at the top two buyers of gold recently: China and Poland. Both are at the center of rapidly escalating geopolitical conflicts.

China has responded to escalating US trade tensions by taking a defensive stance economically, and that has included significantly boosting its gold reserves by 36 metric tons over nine months as of this past July.

Poland is the largest net purchaser of gold this year at 67 metric tons. No doubt, the European nation views the metal as a critical safeguard against escalating hostilities with neighboring Russia.

“Everybody has to build up their gold reserves, because the road that all these countries are on is the road of increasing global stress,” explained Chambers, adding that global leaders understand that “paper is no good when you’re fighting a war.’ This is driving the gold price higher as demand comes up against supply.

“There’s only 3,200 tonnes of it mined every year,” he said, “and the price is only going to go one way.”

Is gold heading to US$4,000 in 2025?

However, both Gareth Soloway of VerifiedInvesting.com, and Steve Barton of In It To Win It said gold is likely to trade sideways and even pull back to as low as US$3,500 before making another go at the US$4,000 target.

So will it get there this year?

Nothing is for certain, but there are a few signals gold investors should watch. The World Gold Council’s Cavatoni said he’s keeping a close eye on what the money markets are doing as interest rates start to move, as well as investor sentiment in western markets, the US in particular.

“Pay attention to how people are responding to that risk and uncertainty that we talked to, and economic conditions that are getting clearer, and I think you’ll find that this case for gold is well supporting the price predictions you’re hearing from analysts in the markets,’ he suggested.

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

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