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International Lithium Corp. (TSXV: ILC,OTC:ILHMF) (OTCQB: ILHMF) (FSE: IAH) (the ‘Company’ or ‘ILC’) is pleased to announce, further to its announcement on September 09, 2025, that on October 24, 2025 Lepidico met all the drawdown conditions for completion of its secured loan from ILC and that this has now been increased to the full amount of CAD$ 510,000. Of this loan amount CAD$420,000 earns interest at the rate of 10% p.a.

There were various conditions for the drawdown of the remaining loan, including a key condition now met that, by full drawdown, there would be no debt owed by Lepidico Mauritius or its subsidiaries to its ultimate Australian parent, Lepidico Ltd., which is in liquidation.

ILC now holds without any conditions an option from Lepidico (Canada) Inc. (‘Lepidico Canada’) to buy 100% of the shares of Lepidico (Mauritius) Ltd. (‘Lepidico Mauritius’) on a debt-free basis for consideration of CAD$975,000 plus certain payments in the future that are contingent on and linked to various possible receipts by Lepidico Canada. Lepidico Mauritius in turn owns 80% of Lepidico Chemicals Namibia (Pty) Ltd. (‘Lepidico Namibia’), which owns the Karibib Lithium, Rubidium and Cesium project in Namibia. The actual net amount payable by ILC on option exercise will be the difference between CAD$975,000 payable by ILC for the option exercise and the repayment to ILC of loan principal of CAD$510,000 plus interest accrued to the date of option exercise. The option has been granted until the later of November 30, 2025, and 30 days after the arbitration outcome is known (see below).

It is important to reiterate that there is a possibility that the option may not be exercised, especially if Lepidico Namibia encounters an adverse outcome in an arbitration dispute with the Chinese company Jiangxi Jinhui Lithium Co. Ltd., which involves claims and counterclaims. This arbitration in Singapore is now expected to conclude at any time from now until the end of 2025. Conversely, if the arbitration is resolved positively, ILC and Lepidico Canada have agreed that 30% of the net proceeds after legal and other costs will be retained by the part of the Lepidico group that ILC would be acquiring, with the remaining 70% paid to Lepidico Canada. The deal structure reflects ILC’s reluctance to assume the risk of a negative arbitration award arising from events that occurred seven years ago.

Assuming the transaction goes ahead with ILC exercising its option, the Company would leapfrog, by several years, the development stage of other projects it is interested in, including those in Zimbabwe and:

  • have one of the largest rubidium resources in Africa and (per our own research and also using Grok) the largest disclosed rubidium resource in Africa, as well as one of the most extensive rubidium resources in North America through ILC’s existing Raleigh Lake project in Ontario;
  • be well-positioned for an upswing in the lithium market; and
  • strengthen its stance as one of the leading global players in the rubidium market and a company with some of the most significant cesium interests of any non-Chinese company.

Lepidico’s ownership of Karibib resulted from its 2019 acquisition of TSXV-listed Desert Lion Energy in exchange for shares and other securities valued at that time at AUD$ 22.9 million (approximately CAD$20.7 million). Since acquiring the company in 2019, Lepidico has invested a further AUD$ 12.1 million (approximately CAD$ 10.9 million) in the Karibib project, excluding central group overheads, with a significant portion directed towards drilling, an environmental study and subsequently a Definitive Feasibility Study and a further Resource Estimate both under JORC standards.

The Karibib Project comprises two areas near Karibib, Namibia, with fully permitted mining licences known as Rubicon and Helikon (also in various reports spelled Helicon), along with an Exclusive Prospecting Licence EPL5439 for an adjacent area. Fuller details are as set out in our news release of September 9, 2025.

It is believed, based on published data, that as well as its significant lithium resource, the Karibib project contains the largest (or one of the two largest) rubidium resources of any project in Africa (the others being in Zimbabwe and Zambia). At the same time, the amount of cesium is smaller but nevertheless equal to about one year of global demand. For cesium Sinomine has historically been the largest producer in Africa, and has recently restarted cesium production at its Bikita project in Zimbabwe by extracting pollucite from petalite tailings. Sinomine is also known to have rubidium from the lepidolite at Bikita, but we are not aware of any resource estimate.

If the option is exercised, ILC would, subject to confirming the resource as its own resource (and not a historical resource as it is presently treating it) have the largest known or at least the largest disclosed rubidium resource in Africa. The Company also has extensive rubidium resources in North America through its Raleigh Lake project in Ontario. Please refer to the Company’s ‘The Raleigh Lake Project – NI 43-101 Technical Report PEA’ dated January 18, 2024 by ERM Consultants Canada Ltd. and the seven named QPs in the report.

John Wisbey, Chairman of ILC, stated: ‘This potential acquisition marks a significant advancement for ILC globally – particularly in Southern Africa. With this single transaction for a project that reached the Definitive Feasibility Study stage under JORC in 2020 and was upgraded in 2022, the Company would leapfrog, by several years, the development stage of other projects we are interested in, including those in Zimbabwe.’

‘Assuming the transaction goes ahead with ILC exercising its option, ILC will be well-positioned for an upswing in the lithium market, as well as strengthening its stance as one of the leading global players in the rubidium market and a company with some of the most significant cesium interests of any non-Chinese company.’

About International Lithium Corp.

International Lithium Corp. is a Critical Minerals exploration company with exploration activities in Ontario, Canada, with intentions to expand into Southern Africa. It has projects at various stages, ranging from Definitive Feasibility Study at Rubicon in Namibia (note that ILC currently has an option only and is treating this as historic information at this point and not a current resource for ILC) to Preliminary Economic Assessment at Raleigh Lake (as noted above) to Pre-Drilling at Wolf Ridge. The primary target metals in Canada are lithium, rubidium and copper. There are three projects (two in Ontario and one in Ireland) in which ILC has sold its share but where we stand to receive future payments from either a resource milestone being achieved or from a Net Smelter Royalty. In Namibia the Karibib project contains lithium, rubidium and cesium.

While the world’s politicians are currently divided on the future of the energy market’s historic dependence on oil and gas and on ‘Net Zero’, there is in any scenario an ever increasing and significant demand for electricity driven by AI and data centres, and by a likely unstoppable momentum towards electric vehicles and grid-scale electricity storage. All these contribute to rising demand for lithium and copper as well as other metals. Rubidium is also a valuable critical metal that is strategic for high-precision clocks and for space technology. We have seen the politically driven and increasingly urgent wish by the USA, Canada, EU and other major economies to safeguard their supplies of critical metals and to become more self-sufficient. Our Canadian and Southern African projects, which contain lithium, rubidium, cesium and copper, are strategic in that respect.

Our key mission for the next decade is to generate revenue for our shareholders from lithium and other battery metals, as well as rare metals, while also contributing to the creation of a greener, cleaner planet and less polluted cities.

This includes optimizing the value of our existing projects in Canada as well as finding, exploring and developing projects that have the potential to become world-class deposits. We have announced that we regard Southern Africa as a key strategic target market for ILC and, in addition to Namibia, we have applied for and hope to receive EPOs in Zimbabwe. We hope to make further announcements on the portfolio developments over the next few weeks and months.

The Company’s interests in various projects now consist of the following, and in addition, the Company continues to seek other opportunities:

Name Metal Location Stage Area in 
Hectares
Current Ownership Percentage Future Ownership % if options exercised and/or residual interest Operator or 
JV Partner
Rubicon + 
Helikon + 
Exclusive Prospecting Licence
Lithium
Rubidium
Cesium
Karibib, 
Namibia
2021 : Feasibility Study completed for Li, Rb and Cs 29,500 0 % 80% Lepidico; ILC if option exercised
Raleigh Lake Lithium
Rubidium
Ontario Dec 2023 : PEA for Li completed Apr 2023 Maiden Resource Estimates for Li and Rb 32,900 100% 100% ILC
Firesteel Copper
Cobalt
Ontario Aeromagnetics and Drilling started mid 2024 6,600 90% 90% ILC
Wolf Ridge Lithium Ontario Pre-Drilling 5,700 0% 100% ILC
Mavis Lake Lithium Ontario May 2023
Maiden Resource Estimate
2,600 0% 0%
(carries an extra earn-in payment of AUD$ 0.75 million if resource targets met)
Critical Resources Limited
Avalonia Lithium Ireland Drilling 29,200 0% 0%
2.0% Net Smelter Royalty
GFL Intl Co Ltd. (owned by Ganfeng Lithium Group Co. Ltd)
Forgan/
Lucky Lakes
Lithium Ontario Drilling 0% 0%
1.5% Net Smelter Royalty
Power Minerals Limited

 

The Company’s primary strategic focus at this point is on the Raleigh Lake Project, comprising lithium and rubidium, and the Firesteel copper project in Canada, as well as obtaining EPOs and mineral claims in Zimbabwe. The Karibib projects in Namibia, including further development on the EPL there, will become a high focus if ILC exercises its option there.

The Raleigh Lake Project now encompasses 32,900 hectares (329 square kilometres) of mineral claims in Ontario and represents ILC’s most significant project in Canada. To date, drilling has occurred on less than 1,000 hectares of our claims. A Preliminary Economic Assessment was published for ILC’s lithium at Raleigh Lake in December 2023, with a detailed economic analysis of ILC’s separate rubidium resource still pending. Raleigh Lake is 100% owned by ILC, free from any encumbrances and royalties. The Raleigh Lake Project boasts excellent access to roads, rail, and utilities.

A continuing goal has been to remain a well-funded company to turn our aspirations into reality. Following the disposal of the Mariana project in Argentina in 2021, the Mavis Lake project in Canada in 2022, and the Avalonia project in 2025, ILC continues to achieve sufficient inward cash flow to be able to make progress with its exploration projects.

With the increasing demand for high-tech rechargeable batteries used in electric vehicles, electrical storage, and portable electronics, lithium has been designated ‘the new oil’ and is a key part of a green energy, sustainable economy. By positioning itself with projects that have significant resource potential and solid strategic partners, ILC aims to be one of the preferred lithium and rare metals resource developers for investors and to continue building value for its shareholders for the rest of the 2020s, the decade of battery metals.

On behalf of the Company,

John Wisbey
Chairman and CEO
www.internationallithium.ca

For further information concerning this news release, please contact +1 604-449-6520 or info@internationallithium.ca or ILC@yellowjerseypr.com.

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

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

Except for statements of historical fact, this news release or other releases contain certain ‘forward-looking information’ within the meaning of applicable securities law. Forward-looking information or forward-looking statements in this or other news releases may include: the timing of completion of any offering and the amount to be raised, the likelihood or otherwise of the Company exercising its option on Lepidico Mauritius, the outcome of arbitration involving Lepidico Namibia, the effect of results of anticipated production rates, the timing and/or anticipated results of drilling on the Karibib or Raleigh Lake or Firesteel or Wolf Ridge projects, the expectation of resource estimates, preliminary economic assessments, feasibility studies, lithium or rubidium or copper recoveries, modeling of capital and operating costs, results of studies utilizing various technologies at the company’s projects, the Company’s budgeted expenditures, future plans for expansion in Southern Africa and planned exploration work on its projects, increased value of shareholder investments in the Company, the potential from the Company’s third party earn-out or royalty arrangements, the future demand for lithium, rubidium, cesium and copper, and assumptions about ethical behaviour by our joint venture partners or third party operators of projects or royalty partners. Such forward-looking information is based on assumptions and subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to those discussed in the sections entitled ‘Risks’ and ‘Forward-Looking Statements’ in the interim and annual Management’s Discussion and Analysis which are available at www.sedarplus.ca. While management believes that the assumptions made are reasonable, there can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate. Should one or more of the risks, uncertainties or other factors materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in forward-looking information. Forward-looking information herein, and all subsequent written and oral forward-looking information are based on expectations, estimates and opinions of management on the dates they are made that, while considered reasonable by the Company as of the time of such statements, are subject to significant business, economic, legislative, and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. These estimates and assumptions may prove to be incorrect and are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. Except as required by law, the Company assumes no obligation to update forward-looking information should circumstances or management’s estimates or opinions change.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/272194

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(TheNewswire)

Brossard, Quebec TheNewswire – le 28 octobre 2025 CORPORATION CHARBONE (TSXV: CH,OTC:CHHYF; OTCQB: CHHYF; FSE: K47) (« CHARBONE » ou la « Société »), un producteur et distributeur nord-américain spécialisé dans l’hydrogène propre Ultra Haute Pureté (« UHP ») et les gaz industriels stratégiques, a le plaisir d’annoncer que les travaux de construction civil ont officiellement débuté hier, le 27 octobre 2025 sur le site de Sorel-Tracy, conformément à l’échéancier présenté dans le communiqué du 22 octobre dernier .

Ce jalon marque le lancement concret de la phase de construction du premier module de production d’hydrogène propre UHP de CHARBONE au Québec. Les travaux visent la préparation complète des infrastructures techniques et la mise en place des fondations nécessaires à la réinstallation des équipements principaux, dont la livraison avait été complétée avec succès plus tôt ce mois-ci.

« Nous sommes très fiers de voir le projet progresser exactement selon le plan établi , grâce à l’engagement exceptionnel de nos équipes et de nos partenaires , » a déclaré Dave B. Gagnon, PDG de CHARBONE . « Le début des travaux civils concrétise notre vision d’une production locale et décarbonée d’hydrogène propre UHP au Québec. Chaque étape franchie nous rapproche de la mise en service prévue en novembre et du déploiement de notre modèle modulaire . »


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À propos de CORPORATION CHARBONE

CHARBONE est une entreprise intégrée spécialisée dans l’hydrogène propre Ultra Haute Pureté (UHP) et la distribution stratégique de gaz industriels en Amérique du Nord et en Asie-Pacifique. Elle développe un réseau modulaire de production d’hydrogène vert tout en s’associant à des partenaires de l’industrie pour offrir de l’hélium et d’autres gaz spécialisés sans avoir à construire de nouvelles usines coûteuses. Cette stratégie disciplinée diversifie les revenus, réduit les risques et augmente sa flexibilité. Le groupe Charbone est coté en bourse en Amérique du Nord et en Europe sur la bourse de croissance TSX (TSXV: CH,OTC:CHHYF) ; sur les marchés OTC (OTCQB: CHHYF) ; et à la Bourse de Francfort (FSE: K47) . Pour plus d’informations, visiter www.charbone.com .

Énoncés prospectifs

Le présent communiqué de presse contient des énoncés qui constituent de « l’information prospective » au sens des lois canadiennes sur les valeurs mobilières (« déclarations prospectives »). Ces déclarations prospectives sont souvent identifiées par des mots tels que « a l’intention », « anticipe », « s’attend à », « croit », « planifie », « probable », ou des mots similaires. Les déclarations prospectives reflètent les attentes, estimations ou projections respectives de la direction de Charbone concernant les résultats ou événements futurs, sur la base des opinions, hypothèses et estimations considérées comme raisonnables par la direction à la date à laquelle les déclarations sont faites. Bien que Charbone estime que les attentes exprimées dans les déclarations prospectives sont raisonnables, les déclarations prospectives comportent des risques et des incertitudes, et il ne faut pas se fier indûment aux déclarations prospectives, car des facteurs inconnus ou imprévisibles pourraient faire en sorte que les résultats réels soient sensiblement différents de ceux exprimés dans les déclarations prospectives. Des risques et des incertitudes liés aux activités de Charbone peuvent avoir une incidence sur les déclarations prospectives. Ces risques, incertitudes et hypothèses comprennent, sans s’y limiter, ceux décrits à la rubrique « Facteurs de risque » dans la déclaration de changement à l’inscription de la Société datée du 31 mars 2022, qui peut être consultée sur SEDAR à l’adresse www.sedar.com; ils pourraient faire en sorte que les événements ou les résultats réels diffèrent sensiblement de ceux prévus dans les déclarations prospectives.

Sauf si les lois sur les valeurs mobilières applicables l’exigent, Charbone ne s’engage pas à mettre à jour ni à réviser les déclarations prospectives.

Ni la Bourse de croissance TSX ni son fournisseur de services de réglementation (tel que ce terme est défini dans les politiques de la Bourse de croissance TSX) n’acceptent de responsabilité quant à la pertinence ou à l’exactitude du présent communiqué.

Pour contacter Corporation Charbone :

Téléphone bureau: +1 450 678 7171

Courriel: ir@charbone.com

Benoit Veilleux

Chef de la direction financière et secrétaire corporatif

Copyright (c) 2025 TheNewswire – All rights reserved.

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(TheNewswire)

Brossard, Quebec TheNewswire – October 28, 2025 CHARBONE CORPORATION (TSXV: CH,OTC:CHHYF; OTCQB: CHHYF; FSE: K47) (‘ CHARBONE ‘ or the ‘ Company ‘), a North American producer and distributor specializing in clean Ultra High Purity (‘ UHP ‘) hydrogen and strategic industrial gases, is pleased to announce that civil construction work officially began yesterday, October 27, 2025, at the Sorel-Tracy site in accordance with the timeline presented in the Company’s October 22 press release.

This milestone marks the concrete launch of the construction phase for CHARBONE’s first clean UHP hydrogen production module in Quebec. The work involves the complete preparation of technical infrastructure and the installation of foundations required for the reassembly of the main equipment, the delivery of which was successfully completed earlier this month.

We are extremely proud to see the project progressing exactly according to plan, thanks to the outstanding commitment of our teams and partners ,’ said Dave B. Gagnon, CEO of CHARBONE . ‘ The start of civil construction work brings our vision of local, decarbonized clean UHP hydrogen production in Quebec to life. Each milestone achieved brings us closer to commissioning in November and to the broader deployment of our modular model .’


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About CHARBONE CORPORATION

CHARBONE is an integrated company specializing in clean Ultra High Purity (UHP) hydrogen and the strategic distribution of industrial gases in North America and Asia-Pacific. Through a modular approach, the Company is building a distributed network of green hydrogen production plants while diversifying revenues via helium and specialty gas partnerships. This disciplined model reduces risk, enhances flexibility, and positions CHARBONE as a leader in the transition to a low-carbon future. CHARBONE is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange (TSXV: CH,OTC:CHHYF) , the OTC Markets (OTCQB: CHHYF) , and the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (FSE: K47) . Visit www.charbone.com .

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains statements that are ‘forward-looking information’ as defined under Canadian securities laws (‘forward-looking statements’). These forward-looking statements are often identified by words such as ‘intends’, ‘anticipates’, ‘expects’, ‘believes’, ‘plans’, ‘likely’, or similar words. The forward-looking statements reflect management’s expectations, estimates, or projections concerning future results or events, based on the opinions, assumptions and estimates considered reasonable by management at the date the statements are made. Although Charbone believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, and undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements, as unknown or unpredictable factors could cause actual results to be materially different from those reflected in the forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements may be affected by risks and uncertainties in the business of Charbone. These risks, uncertainties and assumptions include, but are not limited to, those described under ‘Risk Factors’ in the Corporation’s Filing Statement dated March 31, 2022, which is available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com; they could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in any forward-looking statements.

Except as required under applicable securities legislation, Charbone undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking information.

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

Contact Charbone Corporation

Telephone: +1 450 678 7171

Email: ir@charbone.com

Benoit Veilleux

CFO and Corporate Secretary

Copyright (c) 2025 TheNewswire – All rights reserved.

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This post appeared first on investingnews.com

Russian President Vladimir Putin is tightening his grip on power by elevating younger loyalists amid growing instability inside the Kremlin as he ages, according to reports.

On Sunday, The Telegraph reported that Putin, 73, who has ruled Russia for more than two decades, is ‘running out of cards to play’ as pressure mounts both domestically and abroad. 

The Federal Security Service (FSB) also opened a criminal case against exiled businessman Mikhail Khodorkovsky and 22 members of the Anti-War Committee of Russia, accusing them of plotting a seizure of power, per reports. Khodorkovsky spent a decade in a Siberian prison before founding the Anti-War Committee in 2022.

John Herbst, Senior Director of the Eurasia Center at the Atlantic Council and former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine, told the U.K. outlet that ‘the Kremlin is falling into paranoia.’

‘All the people around him have started thinking about a world beyond Putin, so he has arranged his own elite in a really careful way, so there are no clear seams along which it would kind of rip apart,’ Henry Hale, Professor of Political Science and International Affairs at George Washington University, told Fox News Digital. 

‘He also has members of his own family now that are starting to rise in the ranks. One of the ones that has gotten the most attention is Anna Evgenievna Tsivilyova, née Putina,’ Hale said. 

Tsivilyova, 52, is Putin’s first cousin once removed and currently heads the Defenders of the Fatherland Foundation, a state-run organization that supports Russian soldiers and veterans. 

She has also served as chair of the board of the Kolmar Group, one of Russia’s largest coal companies.

‘The younger people are being brought up by the older generation integrated seamlessly into the power pyramid,’ Hale said.

‘Putin is worried about what happens as he ages and if you don’t provide some opportunity for younger people to rise up, you know, then the regime might come under some pressure.’

‘These people can be trusted because they’re related to people close to Putin, and they can also be young and energetic. The younger people are being brought up by the older generation, integrated seamlessly into the power pyramid,’ Hale added.

In 2023, Wagner Group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin staged a brief mutiny, sending his fighters toward Moscow before abruptly standing down only to die weeks later in a plane crash. 

Now, the Kremlin’s focus has shifted to silencing opposition abroad. 

‘Tensions remain within the elite and Putin wants to get rid of any possible risks,’ Hale said. ‘The 2023 incident was a warning from Putin to his own elite, his own inner circle, not to dare try anything. Putin and his people are watching each other carefully and so don’t try anything funny,’ Hale added.

Recently, western sanctions, less oil revenue, and war costs could push Russia toward recession.  

The Treasury Department under President Donald Trump sanctioned Russia’s two largest oil producers, Rosneft and Lukoil, escalating pressure on the Kremlin to end its war in Ukraine. 

According to reports, the Russian government could raise taxes and increase domestic borrowing to close the gap.

‘Putin has weathered the main crisis that the full-scale invasion of Ukraine brought Russia, which was the initial shock of the invasion and its failure to take Ukraine in a matter of days,’ Hale added. 

‘But war brings uncertainty and there’s a risk of disastrous defeat, underperforming expectations. All the people around him start thinking about a world beyond Putin.’

‘That said, well, I think Putin’s regime is fairly stable at the moment,’ Hale concluded.

Fox News Digital has reached out to the Kremlin for comment.

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President Donald Trump told U.S. troops aboard the USS George Washington at Japan’s Yokosuka Naval Base on Tuesday that the ‘first batch of missiles for Japan’s F-35 fighter jets ‘will arrive this week,’ suggesting that U.S. defense deliveries to Tokyo are moving ahead of schedule.

The comments came during Trump’s hour-long remarks to sailors as part of his wider Asia trip, which included a stop in Malaysia before Japan, where he met with the country’s first female prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, and signed a new U.S.-Japan framework agreement on rare earth minerals. Later this week, Trump is expected to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Washington has approved several large arms sales to Japan, including advanced AIM-120 AMRAAM and AIM-9X air-to-air missiles designed for F-35s.

Trump praised the U.S.’ alliance with Japan, calling it ‘one of the most remarkable relationships in the entire world.’

Prime Minister Takaichi, sharing the stage with Trump, said Japan was ‘committed to fundamentally reinforcing its defense capability’ and ‘ready to contribute even more proactively to peace and stability in the region.’

Trump also touted Japan’s and the U.S.’ stock markets reaching record highs, saying it was a sign that ‘we’re doing something right.’

Trump’s appearance underscored Washington’s deepening security cooperation with Tokyo as regional tensions with China and North Korea persist. Ahead of his Asia trip this week, Trump has made repeated invitations to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, though no concrete preparations are underway.

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House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer, R-Ky., is demanding the Department of Justice (DOJ) conduct a ‘comprehensive’ investigation into former President Joe Biden’s autopen use.

The committee’s GOP majority released a 100-page report on Tuesday morning detailing findings from its months-long probe into Biden’s White House, specifically whether his inner circle covered up signs of mental decline in the ex-president, and if that alleged cover-up extended to executive actions signed via autopen without Biden’s full awareness.

‘Faced with the cognitive decline of President Joe Biden, White House aides — at the direction of the inner circle — hid the truth about the former president’s condition and fitness for office,’ the report said.

The report also detailed a ‘haphazard documentation process’ for pardons made by Biden, which the committee argued left room for doubt over whether the former president made those decisions himself.

‘In the absence of sufficient contemporaneous documentation indicating that cognitively deteriorating President Biden himself made a given executive decision, such decisions do not carry the force of law and should be considered void,’ the GOP report said.

‘The Department of Justice should immediately conduct a review of all executive actions taken by President Biden between January 20, 2021, and January 19, 2025. Given the patterns and findings detailed herein, this review should focus particularly on all acts of clemency. However, it should also include all other types of executive actions.’

In addition to concerns about who signed off on Biden’s executive actions, Comer spent part of the report raising concerns about Hunter Biden’s role in the pardon process.

Fox News Digital previously reported that ex-Biden Chief of Staff Jeff Zients told investigators that Hunter Biden was in the room for some pardon discussions — specifically the controversial preemptive pardons the ex-president gave to his relatives.

‘It was towards the end,’ said a portion of Zients’ transcript included in the report. ‘What comes to mind is the family discussions. But I don’t know — that doesn’t mean that was it. It was the pardons towards the end, very end of the administration. And I think it was a few meetings, not many meetings.’

Comer’s report said, ‘Zients testified that President Biden included his son, Hunter Biden, in the decision-making process for and meetings about pardons.’

‘This apparently included the meeting to discuss the pardons of five Biden family members, Dr. Anthony Fauci, General Mark Milley, and the members of Congress who served on the Select Subcommittee to Investigate the January 6th attack on the United States Capitol, and their staff,’ the report said.

The Oversight Committee called a total of 14 witnesses across three months, mainly consisting of top Biden administration aides — including some who had known him for decades.

Despite nearly 47 hours of interviews and sworn depositions, however, Comer suggested he believed aides covered for Biden even in the committee room.

‘Throughout the Committee’s investigation, senior Biden White House aides presented a perspective of President Biden’s cognitive health completely disconnected from that of the American public,’ the report said.

‘Not one of the Committee’s 14 witnesses was willing to admit that they ever had a concern about President Biden being in cognitive decline. In fact, numerous witnesses could not recall having a single conversation about President Biden’s cognitive health with anyone inside or outside of the White House.’

Comer spent a significant amount of time in the report criticizing former White House physician Dr. Kevin O’Connor. O’Connor’s sworn deposition was among the shortest sit-downs of the investigation, with the doctor having invoked the Fifth Amendment for all questions save for his name.

In a letter obtained by Fox News Digital alongside the report, Comer called for the D.C. Health Board of Medicine to investigate O’Connor — and potentially bar him from practicing medicine.

The GOP report called O’Connor’s alleged decision to not conduct a cognitive exam with Biden during his four-year term ‘reckless’ and accused him of making ‘grossly misleading medical assessments.’

‘His refusal to answer questions about the execution of his duties as physician to the president — combined with testimony indicating that Dr. O’Connor may have succumbed to political pressure from the inner circle, influencing his medical decisions and aiding in the cover-up — legitimizes the public’s concerns that Dr. O’Connor was not forthright in carrying out his ultimate duties to the country,’ the report said.

‘The Committee recommends that the District of Columbia Board of Medicine review the actions taken by Dr. O’Connor while serving as the White House physician to President Biden for any potential wrongdoing in the medical care of the former president –– including whether Dr. O’Connor produced false or misleading medical reports to the American people.’

O’Connor’s lawyers previously told Fox News Digital that he invoked the Fifth Amendment over concerns that the scope of the committee’s probe could run afoul of doctor-patient confidentiality standards.

Biden’s allies have repeatedly denounced Comer’s probe as political and having no basis in reality. 

Multiple people who spoke with the committee have argued that concerns about Biden’s mental acuity were made worse by the media and Republican pundits, particularly after his disastrous June 2024 debate against current President Donald Trump.

In an interview with The New York Times in July, Biden affirmed he ‘made every decision’ on his own.

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President Barack Obama was angry with former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi for her quick endorsement of former Vice President Kamala Harris after President Joe Biden withdrew from the 2024 election, according to a new book.

An excerpt from ABC News’ Jonathan Karl’s upcoming book, ‘Retribution,’ asserts that Pelosi and Obama had come to an understanding that Harris ‘should not simply be handed the nomination unchallenged.’ Nevertheless, Pelosi handed her an endorsement within 24 hours of Biden’s withdrawal.

‘The Obamas were not happy,’ a source close to Pelosi told Karl, according to an excerpt obtained by the Daily Mail.

‘This person summed up Obama’s message to Pelosi as, essentially, ‘What the f–k did you just do?’’ Karl wrote.

The book asserts that Obama had deep concerns about Harris’ ability to beat President Donald Trump and wanted Democrats to hold an open convention.

‘Obama and Pelosi — arguably the two most influential figures in the Democratic Party — had privately agreed to abstain from making any endorsements,’ Karl wrote.

‘The former president wanted to know what had happened. Why had Pelosi issued a statement endorsing Harris so soon? Hadn’t he and Pelosi agreed days earlier that party leaders anointing the vice president as Biden’s replacement would be a mistake?’ Karl added.

Obama gave Pelosi an angry phone call, during which Pelosi argued ‘that train has left the station,’ when Biden endorsed Harris during his withdrawal message.

The source close to Pelosi claimed Obama sounded ‘genuinely irritated’ on the call.

Obama himself ultimately waited five days after Biden’s withdrawal before offering his endorsement to Harris in a joint phone call with his wife, Michelle.

‘We called to say Michelle and I couldn’t be prouder to endorse you and do everything we can to get you through this election and into the Oval Office,’ Obama said.

Michelle chimed in, ‘I am proud of you. This is going to be historic.’

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U.S. airline travelers are beginning to feel the effects of the ongoing government shutdown. And with no clear end in sight, it’s increasingly likely that Americans could be grappling with flight delays and cancellations just ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday.

Tuesday marks Day 28 of the shutdown. It’s also the first day that air traffic controllers and other federal workers will see a paycheck showing $0 — putting added strain on a sector that is already dealing with a declining workforce and difficult employment conditions.

‘This Democrat-led shutdown is putting an unnecessary strain on our nation’s aviation system, putting more flights at risk for delays or cancellation,’ Rep. Troy Nehls, R-Texas, chair of the House Transportation Committee’s aviation subcommittee, told Fox News Digital.

After speaking with air traffic controllers directly, Nehls said, ‘They’ve shared their growing concerns about fatigue, distraction and financial hardship as they continue performing essential work without pay.’

‘The busy holiday season is quickly approaching, and the traveling public deserves a safe, efficient, and reliable travel experience. If Senate Democrats continue to refuse to do the right thing and pass the clean continuing resolution, the situation will only get worse,’ Nehls said.

Still, the looming payday hasn’t loosened Senate Democrats from their dug-in position. 

Sen. Andy Kim, D-N.J., argued that the blame game against Democrats over air traffic controllers, and other looming issues like federal food benefits soon running out of money, were ‘all things that the Republicans have been cutting back on.’ 

He noted to Fox News Digital that the administration fired hundreds of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) employees earlier this year based on recommendations from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). 

‘These are things that they’ve constantly been attacking and putting the strain and pressure on air traffic controllers, and now they’re pretending like they care about this, and I just find that to be disingenuous,’ Kim said. ‘And it’s just using our federal workers as pawns when we know that this administration has done everything that they could to decimate and dismantle our civil service and our public service.’

The Senate may vote on a bill this week from Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, that would pay air traffic controllers, but so far Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., has not teed it up. Thune said they’d ‘see what the temperature is of our senators’ on that and other funding issues, but he reiterated that the easiest way to pay all federal workers would be to reopen the government. 

Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., echoed a sentiment many Senate Democrats have shared about Cruz’s bill and others like it that would incrementally fund parts of the government; it can’t give President Donald Trump ‘carte blanche to do what he wants.’ 

When asked by Fox News Digital about criticism from Republicans over congressional Democrats’ role in air traffic controllers missing a pay day, he said, ‘Air traffic controllers have been really admirable in coming to work and doing their job.’

Cruz said that he hoped his bill would get a shot, and when asked what his message to Republicans would be to get the bill on the floor, he said, ‘That the Democrats not paying air traffic controllers is reckless.’  

Some 13,000 air traffic controllers are employed across the U.S. Many already work six days per week, faced with a long-simmering shortage of employees.

Because air traffic controllers are deemed essential workers, they are made to work during shutdowns without pay. Instead, they are expected to get back pay when the shutdown is over.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned late last week that it would mean that many air traffic controllers would be forced to take on another job to make ends meet.

‘If you have a controller that’s working six days a week but has to think about, ‘How am I going to pay the mortgage, how am I to make the car payment, how am I going to put food on my kid’s table?’ They have to make choices, and the choice they’re making is to take a second job,’ Duffy said. ‘I don’t want them delivering for DoorDash. I don’t want them driving Uber. I want them coming to their facilities and controlling the airspace.’

And the effects are being felt already, even far outside of Washington, D.C., where Congress is still gridlocked over federal spending.

Los Angeles International Airport, one of the world’s busiest airports, was forced to issue a temporary ground stop on Sunday morning due to a shortage of air traffic controllers.

It was just one of 22 locations that faced disruptions over air traffic controller shortages on Sunday, Duffy told ‘Sunday Morning Futures.’

There were more than 3,300 delayed flights across the U.S. as of late Monday afternoon, according to airline tracker FlightAware. There were more than 8,700 delays on Sunday.

And several airports, including in Dallas, Austin and Newark, were all under ‘ground delay’ or ‘ground stop’ advisories early Monday evening, according to advisory bulletins from the FAA. Each advisory was due to staffing issues. 

Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kan., noted that there were ‘three or four’ fast-approaching pressure points, including the payday for air traffic controllers, that could shake loose deeply entrenched Senate Democrats. 

He noted that it wouldn’t be something inside the walls of Congress that could force negotiations, but ‘something extraneous that forces us to come together.’

‘I think the air traffic control has the most potential to light this place up,’ he told Fox News Digital. ‘If the senators can’t go home Thursday night because of air traffic control issues, then I think it really could be a pressure point.’

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The third quarter was a pivotal period for both the biotech and pharmaceutical sectors, with regulatory developments and an increase in business deals shaping the landscape for the industries.

Public biotech indexes rallied above critical levels last seen in 2021, with the NASDAQ Biotech Index (INDEXNASDAQ:NBI) closing 21 points ahead for the quarter and up 11 percent year-to-date.

Emerging artificial intelligence (AI) applications are becoming increasingly critical in drug discovery and R&D, highlighted by products like AlphaFold and new draft guidance from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that encourages AI use in regulatory submissions. However, cautious funding approaches remain, especially for early stage companies.

This confluence may signal a sector resurgence, despite continued funding caution for early stage firms.

Biopharma M&A activity picks up

In a Q3 report on M&A activity, Oppenheimer notes that biopharma market sentiment showed an upward trajectory during the quarter, with expectations that deal flow will continue to increase through the end of 2025.

William Blair, a global investment banking and asset management firm specializing in biopharma investments, also notes an uptick in momentum in a recap of Q2 activity in the biopharma space, citing positive clinical data, a wave of public M&A activity and more clarity on tariffs and drug pricing as catalysts.

Total M&A transaction value reached US$38 billion for the quarter, according to data analyzed by Oppenheimer, including US$20 billion in September alone. Clinical-stage acquisitions saw their strongest quarter since late 2023, driven by early stage assets in the oncology, immunology and cardiovascular-metabolic areas.

The central nervous system space saw a pause in deals for the first time since the beginning of 2024, reflecting shifting investment priorities. Small molecules and antibodies maintained their leading positions as prevalent treatment modalities in deals, while emergents like bispecific antibodies, multi-specific antibody-drug conjugates and CAR-T therapies gained traction. However, the overall M&A market for antibody-drug conjugates remained cautious, with the exception of Seribant Therapeutics’ acquisition of Y-mAbs Therapeutics for US$412 million.

Public company takeouts continued to outnumber private company acquisitions for the second consecutive quarter; however, private companies still attracted strong interest from investors after a sluggish first half of 2025.

Oppenheimer’s Private Placement Activity report notes that a significant increase was observed in September, with companies with a clinical pipeline and a platform commanding the highest valuations.

Strategic partnerships between established pharmaceutical leaders and innovative biotech firms continued to underscore the ongoing efforts by pharma leaders to build and diversify their pipelines.

Roche Holding (OTCQX:RHHBY,SWX:ROG) and Zealand Pharma (OTC Pink:ZLDPY,CPH:ZEAL) entered into an agreement to co-develop and co-commercialize weight-loss drug candidate petrelintide in a deal valued at up to US$5.3 billion, reflecting ongoing interest in weight-management therapies, despite market challenges and competitive pressure.

Meanwhile, Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY) and BioNTech (NASDAQ:BNTX) agreed to co-develop and co-commercialize a novel cancer immunotherapy targeting multiple tumor types in a deal worth up to US$11 billion, and Pfizer (NYSE:PFE) partnered with 3SBio (OTC Pink:TRSBF,HKEX:1530) to advance a new cancer drug candidate.

Both agreements highlight ongoing efforts to expand oncology treatment options.

Cell and gene therapies continued to draw investor attention, and the central nervous system space saw an increase in average deal size. William Blair notes that cell and gene therapies remain a priority area for venture capital investors, as well as public market investors, despite regulatory complexities.

Initial public offering (IPO) activity rebounded meaningfully in Q3 after a quieter first half of 2025, with LB Pharmaceuticals’ (NASDAQ:LBRX) September offering serving as a marker of renewed capital markets appetite.

Secondary public offerings and clinical-stage private financings also increased, fueled by promising clinical data and expanding investor participation, including from international markets such as China.

In parallel, funding for AI-driven drug discovery platforms continued to capture investor interest, with rounds for companies like Isomorphic Labs, Pathos and Lila Sciences.

Regulatory and policy developments

US President Donald Trump’s second term has brought a shift to more business-friendly stances, impacting healthcare M&A and trade. The Federal Trade Commission has signaled intentions to ease antitrust scrutiny, potentially speeding up big pharma and biotech dealmaking and encouraging higher transaction volumes that consolidate the sector.

A central policy focus is the onshoring of biopharmaceutical manufacturing, with the administration actively pursuing tariff negotiations to reduce import costs and bolster supply chain resilience. The landmark deal between the government and Pfizer to lower drug prices in Medicaid in exchange for tariff relief exemplifies this dual approach.

These tariff adjustments are designed to ease the burden on drug importation costs, incentivizing companies to invest more domestically while managing global supply chain risks. Lara Castleton, US head of portfolio construction and strategy at Janus Henderson Investors, has identified this agreement as “the catalyst for healthcare.” She further suggests that the sector is likely overdue for a comeback, having lagged behind the tech market earlier in the year.

Trump has emphasized the expectation that other pharma companies will follow suit, intensifying onshoring efforts. As of September 30, large pharma had committed roughly US$368 billion to US-based manufacturing facilities.

Additionally, the FDA approved 45 new drug applications in Q3, marking a notable increase from previous quarters. This surge was driven by accelerated approvals, largely in the gene and cell therapy sectors, as well as innovative biologics targeting rare diseases and oncology.

Biotech and pharma market forecast for 2025

The biotech and pharma sectors entered Q4 on firm footing. Supportive market dynamics are expected to persist as the year continues, with 2025 on track to reach US$93 billion in total transaction value.

Several catalysts are poised to shape the healthcare landscape moving forward.

An anticipated IPO from MapLight Therapeutics, focusing on neurology therapies, will reveal investor appetite for specialty pharma assets in a market that had a bullish close to Q3, but faces questions about sustaining momentum.

On the regulatory front, FDA decisions are expected for a handful of treatments in gene and cell therapy, as well as oncology. Approvals are expected to accelerate, bolstered by programs aimed at speeding up evaluations of novel treatments like CRISPR-based medicines, stem cell research and nutraceuticals.

Leadership changes may also foster innovation in unconventional medical fields such as stem cell research and nutraceuticals. Amid an evolving regulatory and political landscape, Reed Jobs has advocated for sustained public funding to fuel biomedical progress, delivering a key congressional address on National Institutes of Health protection in September. Beyond advocacy, he is also building a nearly US$1 billion biotech fund focused on next-generation cancer therapies, highlighting the vital intersection of public research funding and private sector innovation.

Policy clarity around drug pricing reforms and Medicaid tariff relief will critically influence commercial access and pricing dynamics. The GLP-1 sector remains under the spotlight following the announcement of Trump’s plans to reduce the monthly cost of GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy to US$150.

AI’s expanding role in drug discovery, clinical trial design and digital therapeutics will continue to inspire industry innovation, likely attracting significant funding and fostering new collaborations.

However, volatility related to regulatory appointments, trade uncertainties and notably the ongoing US federal government shutdown presents near-term challenges. Investors and industry participants will closely monitor clinical data and regulatory shifts to navigate the evolving landscape successfully.

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

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Investor Insight

Cartier Resources presents a compelling gold investment opportunity, driven by a growing Abitibi resource, solid institutional support, and upcoming development milestones.

Overview

Cartier Resources (TSXV:ECR,FSE:6CA) is a Quebec-based gold exploration company advancing a compelling growth story anchored in one of Canada’s most prolific gold regions — the Abitibi Greenstone Belt. With a focused strategy, institutional support and a commitment to innovation, Cartier is building a significant gold resource base while positioning its flagship Cadillac project as an emerging mining camp east of Val-d’Or. As the company transitions from explorer to potential developer, the coming months present multiple catalysts for a significant valuation uplift.

Cartier projects in the Abitibi Greenstone Belt in Quebec

The Cadillac project has evolved from a single mine project into an emerging gold camp with multiple deposits, advanced resource modeling, and a clear development path. Located in a mining-friendly jurisdiction with existing infrastructure, the Cadillac project is ideally positioned to attract development partners, strategic investments, or acquisition interest from senior producers.

In 2023, using a gold price of US$1,750, Cartier completed a preliminary economic assessment (PEA) which confirmed the project’s robust economics, with a production forecast of 116,900 oz/year over 9.7 years and a low AISC of US$755/oz.

With permitting pathways de-risked by historical mining activity and extensive drilling already completed, Cartier has launched a fully funded 100,000-metre diamond drilling program. By combining AI and geostatistical reinterpretation techniques with traditional exploration methods, the company is positioning itself at the forefront of modern mineral discovery.

The Cadillac project has all the hallmarks of a high-potential development-stage gold asset: grade, scale, jurisdiction, infrastructure, and strategic backing. Cartier is also actively pursuing parallel value-creation opportunities, including the reprocessing of legacy tailings at the Chimo site and monetization of non-core assets like Wilson, Fenton and Benoist.

Company Highlights

  • District-Scale Gold Project: Cadillac: Cartier’s core asset consolidates the former Chimo Mine and East Cadillac properties into a district-scale land package on the prolific Larder Lake-Cadillac Fault — host to more than 100 million ounces of historic gold production.
  • Aggressive Exploration Program: In 2025, Cartier launched a 100,000-meter drill program — one of the largest in the region — to expand its substantial gold resources and unlock Cadillac’s camp-scale potential.
  • Innovation in Discovery: The company is leveraging AI-assisted mineral discovery tools, in partnership with VRIFY, to sharpen drill targeting and accelerate new discoveries.
  • Strategic Partnership with Agnico Eagle: Agnico Eagle, Cartier’s largest shareholder with a 28 percent equity stake, provides financial strength and validates the company’s assets and strategy.
  • ESG-Friendly Tailings Reprocessing: Cartier has introduced a low-capex initiative to evaluate reprocessing 600,000 tons of historic tailings, representing a potential near-term revenue stream with ESG benefits.
  • Attractive Valuation With a clean share structure and a market cap of C$52.9 million, Cartier offers significant re-rating potential as exploration and development catalysts unfold.

Key Projects

Cadillac Project

The company’s flagship Cadillac project is a consolidated land package totaling 11,525 hectares, located along a 15-kilometre strike of the Larder Lake–Cadillac Fault (LLCF) — one of the most productive gold-bearing structures in Canada. This fault zone has historically produced over 100 million ounces of gold across multiple camps. Cartier’s land package includes the past-producing Chimo Mine (379,012 oz gold from 1964 to 1997), West Nordeau, and several new discovery zones over a 10-km strike length straddling the LLCF.

Cartier has completed four mineral resource estimates (MREs) between 2019 and 2022. The most recent, published in May 2023, outlined 7.1 million tons (Mt) @ 3.1 grams per ton (g/t) gold (720,000 oz) indicated and 18.5 Mt @ 2.8 g/t gold (1.63 Moz) inferred. The PEA evaluated an underground mining operation fed from three primary zones (Chimo, East Chimo, West Nordeau), with a 2.9-year payback on a C$341 million capex. The PEA assumes an average head grade of 3.0 g/t gold and annual production of 116,900 oz gold. Infrastructure advantages include an existing shaft, power line and permitted tailings facility.

Cartier Resources has commenced its fully funded 100,000-metre drill program at the Cadillac Project in Quebec, the largest ever on the property. The 18-month campaign is designed to both expand known gold zones and test new high-priority targets along the Cadillac Fault Zone. With $11 million in cash and no debt, Cartier is well positioned to advance Cadillac’s district-scale gold potential.

Chimo Tailings Project

As part of Cartier’s sustainability-focused development strategy, the company is evaluating the potential for reprocessing approximately 600,000 tons of historical tailings deposited during the Chimo Mine operations. This project could unlock near-term, low-cost production with a minimal environmental footprint. Cartier will launch metallurgical characterization to assess gold recovery potential and economic viability. The project benefits from proximity to several underutilized gold mills in the Val-d’Or region, potentially enabling toll milling agreements.

Other Projects: Wilson, Fenton and Benoist

Cartier also holds 100 percent ownership of three additional gold projects — Wilson, Fenton and Benoist — all located within the Abitibi Belt and each hosting historical gold mineralization or compliant resources. The Wilson Project (1,750 ha, three zones), Fenton (671 ha, 12 zones) and Benoist (3,086 ha, two zones) are currently available for joint ventures or sale. These assets offer significant exploration upside and optionality, allowing Cartier to remain focused on Cadillac while preserving long-term value.

Management Team

Philippe Cloutier – Founder, President, CEO and Director

Philippe Cloutier is the founder and driving force behind Cartier Resources. A professional geologist with over 35 years of experience in the exploration and development of precious and base metal deposits, Cloutier has a deep technical understanding of the Abitibi Greenstone Belt, having spent most of his career advancing projects in this prolific region.

Nancy Lacoursière – Chief Financial Officer

Nancy Lacoursière brings over 20 years of experience in corporate finance, accounting and strategic financial management. She has held CFO and senior finance positions across the natural resources and manufacturing sectors, with a strong focus on Quebec-based operations.

Ronan Déroff – VP of Exploration

Ronan Déroff is a senior exploration geologist and Cartier’s designated qualified person under NI 43-101. With over 15 years of experience in mineral exploration, resource modeling, GIS and project management, Déroff leads the technical execution of Cartier’s exploration strategy. He has overseen the development of multiple MREs and PEAs for the Cadillac project, and played a central role in integrating modern data analysis and AI-assisted targeting into the company’s workflow. He holds a Masters in operations and management of mineral resources (EGERM), from the Université d’Orléans (France).

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