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Drill Program Planning at Flagship Mosseau Project in Quebec is Complete: Regional Exploration Plans at Labelle and Urban Barry Properties Commissioned

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(TheNewswire)

 

  

 
 

 

Vancouver, British Columbia TheNewswire – July 24, 2025 ‑ Harvest Gold Corporation (TSXV: HVG,OTC:HVGDF) (‘ Harvest Gold ‘ or the ‘ Company ‘) is pleased to announce that it has completed all aspects of preparation for a diamond drilling program slated to begin in early August 2025 at its 100%-owned Mosseau Gold Project in the Abitibi Greenstone Belt, Quebec (Figure 1). This follows an extensive regional data compilation, high-resolution magnetic survey, and encouraging results from recent fieldwork, including reconnaissance mapping, prospecting, soil sampling.

 

  The present financing announced July 3, 2025 is expected to close on or about July 31, 2025 and, once closed, the funds will be released immediately to the related exploration contractors.  

 

Rick Mark, President and CEO of Harvest Gold states: ‘I want to thank Louis Martin and the entire geological team for their excellent and extensive work in preparing for drilling at Mosseau. The quality and scale of the targets identified across this large property provide a strong foundation for what we believe is a significant discovery opportunity. We will also fly a magnetic survey on Labelle and execute a regional till sampling program on Urban Barry, both largely unexplored until now.’

 

  Phase I of the diamond drill program is expected to consist of approximately 5,000 metres of drilling and will test the highest-priority targets in both the Northern and Central portions of the property to evaluate their gold potential (Figure 2).  

 

  The Company has now identified approximately 23 priority drill targets, located in the Northern and Central parts of the Mosseau property (Figure 3), as a result of its integrated exploration efforts. These targets exhibit strong geological, geochemical, and geophysical signatures consistent with orogenic gold mineralization (Figure 4).  

 

  In addition to the Mosseau drill program, Harvest Gold will be launching two key regional exploration initiatives this summer:  

 

  •  

      A high-resolution magnetic survey over the LaBelle property, and  

     

    •  

  •  

      A property-wide till sampling survey over its Urban Barry properties.  

     

    •  

  These programs are designed to expand the Company’s exploration pipeline and support future drill targeting across its Quebec project portfolio.  

 

    
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  Figure 1: Project Location: Urban-Barry Greenstone Belt  

 

    
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  Figure 2: Magnetic Domains across the Northern and Central Target Areas of Mosseau  

 

    
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  Figure 3: Drill targets on the Mosseau property (magnetics)  

 

    
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  Figure 4: Compilation and Drill targets in the Central Part – Mosseau (magnetics)  

 

  Qualified Person Statement  

 

  All scientific and technical information in this news release has been prepared and approved by Louis Martin, P.Geo., Technical Advisor to the Company and considered a Qualified Person for the purposes of NI 43-101.  

 

  About Harvest Gold Corporation  

 

 Harvest Gold is focused on exploring for near surface gold deposits and copper-gold porphyry deposits in politically stable mining jurisdictions. Harvest Gold’s board of directors, management team and technical advisors have collective geological and financing experience exceeding 400 years.

 

  Harvest Gold has three active gold projects focused in the Urban Barry area, totalling 377 claims covering 20,016.87 ha , located approximately 45-70 km west of Gold Fields – Windfall Deposit (Figure 1).  

 

  Harvest Gold acknowledges that the Mosseau Gold Project straddles the Eeyou Istchee-James Bay and Abitibi territories.  Harvest Gold is committed to developing positive and mutually beneficial relationships based on respect and transparency with local Indigenous communities.  

 

Harvest Gold’s three properties, Mosseau, Urban-Barry and LaBelle, together cover over 50 km of favorable strike along mineralized shear zones.

 

  ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS  

 

Rick Mark
President and CEO
Harvest Gold Corporation

 

  For more information please contact:  

 

  Rick Mark or Jan Urata
@ 604.737.2303 or     info@harvestgoldcorp.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.  

 

  Forward Looking Information  

 

  This news release includes certain statements that may be deemed ‘forward looking statements’. All statements in this news release, other than statements of historical facts, that address events or developments that Harvest Gold expects to occur, are forward looking statements. Forward looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words ‘expects’, ‘plans’, ‘anticipates’, ‘believes’, ‘intends’, ‘estimates’, ‘projects’, ‘potential’ and similar expressions, or that events or conditions ‘will’, ‘would’, ‘may’, ‘could’ or ‘should’ occur.  

 

  Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and   actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in forward looking statements include market prices, exploitation and exploration successes, and continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Forward looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company’s management on the date the statements are made. Except as required by securities laws, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management’s beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change.  

 

Copyright (c) 2025 TheNewswire – All rights reserved.

 

 

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Maritime Commences Construction at Hammerdown, Adds to Technical Team

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Maritime Resources Corp. (TSXV: MAE,OTC:MRTMD) (‘Maritime’ or the ‘Company’) is pleased to provide an update for the Hammerdown Gold Project, located in the Baie Verte mining district of Newfoundland and Labrador (‘Hammerdown’), near the towns of King’s Point and Springdale, including its Pine Cove milling facility located near the towns of Baie Verte and Ming’s Bight.

Highlights:

  • Start of civil construction and earthworks at the Hammerdown Gold Project

  • Excavation and transportation of the historic ore pad to the Pine Cove mill

  • Strengthening of the technical and project management team

  • Funding received from provincial government for reagent technology pilot project

‘Activity at Hammerdown is ramping up with work crews focused on the civil earthworks to prepare the site for mine development, including overburden removal, site road and stockpile pad construction along with the water management systems. Through this work our site team was able to locate and excavate the original Richmont Mines ore pad which has been transported to our Pine Cove mill for processing,’ comments Garett Macdonald, President and Chief Executive Officer. ‘We have also made several key project management appointments and have established the procurement and hiring systems needed to execute the project and maximize benefits for the local communities. We would also like to recognize the funding received from the province to study an innovative technology that could help optimize reagent consumption in our process plant.’

Construction Early Works
Maritime has received the Certificate of Approval from the Pollution Prevention Division of the provincial Department of Environment and Climate Change for full mine construction and operation. Over the next few months civil construction will establish key infrastructure for mine development including access roads, water management features, the power line right of way and rock filled pads for the crushing plant, maintenance and administration facilities. As a brownfields mine site, Hammerdown benefits from existing road access and a large volume of blasted waste rock left over from the original mine development in 2000. The site contains no major watercourses or fish habitat, and is generally dry, with minimal overburden over the deposit, averaging 2-3 metres of glacial till.

Figure 1. Hammerdown Project Site – Looking Southwest

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/4548/259859_7ed1efe654102995_001full.jpg

Technical Team Appointments
The appointment of several key technical and project management personnel marks a positive step forward for the Company and Hammerdown. Recent additions to the Maritime team include:

  • Collin Ellison, Project Director. Collin has over 50 years experience in the mining industry, focusing on project development and operations. Former CEO, President and Director with Goldbelt Resources, Asian Mineral Resources and PMI Gold.

  • Billy Grace, Chief Mine Engineer. Former Manager of Technical Services with Newmont at the Musslewhite Mine in Ontario and General Manager with Aureus Gold in Nova Scotia.

  • Gregg Vickell, Senior Metallurgical Advisor. Gregg has more than 40 years experience in gold and base metals management and metallurgy including Mill Manager, Mill Superintendent, Chief Metallurgist and Operations Technical Services roles with a host of companies both in Canada and abroad. He has in depth experience with plant design, operations readiness, commissioning and process optimization.

  • Paolo Toscano, Technical Advisor – construction and engineering. Paolo recently served at Sr. Vice President Engineering and Construction for Calibre Mining at the Valentine Gold Project in Newfoundland and Labrador and has over 30 years of experience. Former Director of Projects for Alamos Gold.

Richmont Mines Historic Ore Pad
The Company’s mine geology team identified a volume of material left over from Richmont Mines when the mine closed in 2004. This material consists of broken rock from the former underground mining operation that was stockpiled on surface and transferred to highway trucks for delivery to the Nugget Pond mill. Crews have transported a portion of the existing stockpile material to the Company’s Pine Cove mill for mineral processing, providing an opportunity to test the material ahead of mine development. The remaining material is being used for construction of access roads and laydown on the Hammerdown site.

Figure 1. Excavating the historic Richmont Mines ore pad

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/4548/259859_7ed1efe654102995_002full.jpg

Government Funding for Reagent Technology
Maritime is pleased to announce the receipt of funding in the amount of $154,000 from the provincial Department of Industry, Energy and Technology under its Green Transition Fund to study a new reagent technology for its Pine Cove gold mill. GlyCat is a glycine based technology developed by Draslovk that fosters a green approach to responsible resource development by greatly reducing the amount of sodium cyanide required in gold production. GlyCat also offers the potential for greatly reduced cyanide detoxification costs, effluent treatment and increased gold recoveries. Test work is scheduled during the third quarter of 2025.

Qualified Person
Exploration activities at the Hammerdown Gold Project are administered on site by the Company’s Exploration Manager, Larry Pilgrim, P.Geo. In accordance with National Instrument 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, Larry Pilgrim, P.Geo. Exploration Manager, is the Qualified Person for the Company and has prepared, validated and approved the technical and scientific content of this press release. The Company strictly adheres to CIM Best Practices Guidelines in conducting, documenting, and reporting its exploration activities on its exploration projects.

Analytical Procedures
All samples assayed and pertaining to this press release were completed by Eastern Analytical Limited (EAL) located at Springdale, Newfoundland and Labrador. EAL is an ISO 17025:2005 accredited laboratory for a defined scope of procedures. EAL has no relationship to Maritime. Drill core samples are collected from NQ sized diamond drill core and sawn in half. The half core samples are delivered in sealed plastic bags to EAL by Maritime field crews where they are dried, crushed, and pulped. Samples are crushed to approximately 80% passing a minus 10 mesh and split using a riffle splitter to approximately 250 grams. A ring mill is used to pulverize the sample split to 95% passing a minus 150 mesh. Sample rejects are securely stored at the EAL site for future reference. A 30-gram representative sample is selected for analysis from the 250 grams after which EAL applies a fire assay fusion followed by acid digestion and analysis by atomic absorption for gold analysis. Other metals were analyzed by applying an acid digestion and 34 element ICP analysis finish. EAL runs a comprehensive QA/QC program of standards, duplicates and blanks within each sample stream.

About Maritime Resources Corp.
Maritime (TSXV: MAE,OTC:MRTMD) (OTC Pink: MRTMF) is a gold exploration and development company focused on advancing the Hammerdown Gold Project in the Baie Verte District of Newfoundland and Labrador, a top tier global mining jurisdiction. Maritime holds a 100% interest directly and subject to option agreements entitling it to earn 100% ownership in the Green Bay Property which includes the former Hammerdown gold mine and the Orion gold project. Maritime controls over 439 km2 of exploration land including the Green Bay, Whisker Valley, Gull Ridge and Point Rousse projects. Mineral processing assets owned by Maritime in the Baie Verte mining district include the Pine Cove mill and the Nugget Pond gold circuit.

On Behalf of the Board:

Maritime Resources Corp.

Garett Macdonald, MBA, P.Eng.
President and Chief Executive Officer
info@maritimegold.com
www.maritimeresourcescorp.com

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Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: 

Certain of the statements made and information contained herein is ‘forward-looking information’ within the meaning of National Instrument 51-102 – Continuous Disclosure Obligations. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as ‘will’, ‘may’, ‘should’, ‘anticipate’, ‘expects’, ‘intends’, ‘indicates’ ‘plans’ and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements concerning the Hammerdown mineralization, its’ metallurgical response, precious metal extraction based on the ongoing metallurgical testwork, sampling programs, the grade control drilling program, location and grade of underground workings and backfill material, construction elements planned for Hammerdown, production ramp up at Hammerdown, preparation of an updated technical report for Hammerdown, investments to be made to and plans for the Pine Cove mill, growth of the Company and the creation of long-term value for shareholders, exploration plans at the Company’s properties, amongst other things, which involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. All forward-looking statements and forward-looking information are based on reasonable assumptions that have been made by the Company in good faith as at the date of such information. Such assumptions include, without limitation, the price of and anticipated costs of recovery of, base metal concentrates, gold and silver, the presence of and continuity of such minerals at modeled grades and values, the capacities of various machinery and equipment, the use of ore sorting technology will produce positive results, the availability of personnel, machinery and equipment at estimated prices, mineral recovery rates, and others. Forward-looking information is subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to differ from those reflected in the forward-looking information, including, without limitation, the ability of the Company to continue to be able to access the capital markets for the funding necessary to acquire, maintain and advance exploration properties or business opportunities; global financial conditions, including competition within the industry to acquire properties of merit or new business opportunities, and competition from other companies possessing greater technical and financial resources; difficulties in advancing towards a development decision and executing exploration programs on the Company’s proposed schedules and within its cost estimates, whether due to weather conditions, availability or interruption of power supply, mechanical equipment performance problems, natural disasters or pandemics in the areas where it operates; increasingly stringent environmental regulations and other permitting restrictions or maintaining title or other factors related to exploring of its properties, such as the availability of essential supplies and services; factors beyond the capacity of the Company to anticipate and control, such as the marketability of mineral products produced from the Company’s properties; uncertainty as to whether mineral resources will ever be converted into mineral reserves once economic considerations are applied; uncertainty as to whether inferred mineral resources will be converted to the measured and indicated categories through further drilling, or into mineral reserves, once economic considerations are applied; government regulations relating to health, safety and the environment, and the scale and scope of royalties and taxes on production; and the availability of experienced contractors and professional staff to perform work in a competitive environment and the resulting adverse impact on costs and performance and other risks and uncertainties, including those described in each MD&A of financial condition and results of operations. In addition, forward-looking information is based on various assumptions including, without limitation, assumptions associated with exploration results and costs and the availability of materials and skilled labour. Should one or more of these risks and uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in forward-looking statements. Accordingly, readers are advised not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, Maritime undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

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

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/259859

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FPX Nickel Provides Update on Normal Course Issuer Bid

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 FPX Nickel Corp. (TSXV: FPX) (OTCQB: FPOCF) (‘ FPX ‘ or the ‘ Company ‘) is pleased to provide an update on its Normal Course Issuer Bid (‘ NCIB ‘) that was announced on December 2, 2024 . Since December 5, 2024 the Company has repurchased a total of 720,000 common shares (‘ Common Shares ‘) of the Company at an average price of $0.24 per share under the NCIB.

 

 

   

 

 

The repurchased shares represent progress toward the Company’s ability to acquire up to an aggregate of 5,000,000 Common Shares, representing approximately 2% of the Company’s issued and outstanding shares, over the 12-month period ending December 5, 2025 . All shares repurchased under the NCIB have been cancelled.

 

Purchases under the NCIB continue to be executed through open market transactions on the TSX Venture Exchange, with the acquisition price determined by the prevailing market conditions at the time of each transaction. Cormark Securities Inc. is managing the NCIB on behalf of FPX.

 

  About FPX Nickel Corp.  

 

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

 

On behalf of FPX Nickel Corp.

 

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

 

   Forward-Looking Statements   

 

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

 

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

 

SOURCE FPX Nickel Corp.

 

 

 

  View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/July2025/24/c8569.html  

 

 

 

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IBN Announces Latest Episode of The MiningNewsWire Podcast featuring Chairman Kal Malhi and CEO Paul Ténière of LaFleur Minerals Inc.

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Via IBN IBN a multifaceted communications organization engaged in connecting public companies to the investment community, is pleased to announce the release of the latest episode of The MiningNewsWire Podcast as part of its sustained effort to provide specialized content distribution via widespread syndication channels.

 

The MiningNewsWire Podcast features revealing sit-downs with executives who are shaping the future of the global mining industry. The latest episode features Chairman Kal Malhi and CEO Paul Ténière of LaFleur Minerals Inc. (CSE: LFLR,OTC:LFLRF) (OTCQB: LFLRF) , a Canadian exploration and development company focused on gold assets in Québec’s Abitibi region.

 

To begin the interview, Ténière outlined LaFleur Minerals’ strategy as a near-term gold producer.

 

‘We’re an interesting company in the fact that we have an advanced gold project in Québec’s Abitibi Gold Belt and a nearby permitted mill,’ he said. ‘That puts us in a strong position as a near-term gold producer.’

 

Malhi, who is also the founder of Bullrun Capital , then detailed how LaFleur acquired its flagship assets and how the company is positioned for rapid development.

 

‘Two years ago, I started looking at the opportunities in the gold mining sector. I didn’t want to go and acquire a grassroots project… but I did come across a bankruptcy,’ he explained. ‘We were able to win a bid on the Beacon Gold Mill, which Monarch had invested $20 million into upgrading. It’s fully permitted and ready to rock. We also acquired a nearby gold deposit called the Swanson Gold Deposit… We’ve turned that project into LaFleur Minerals. Now, with gold prices surging, the economics have changed phenomenally — and we may look at producing not just from our own property, but also from others in the region.’

 

Ténière closed by emphasizing LaFleur’s accelerated timeline and production-ready infrastructure.

 

‘We have a mining lease at Swanson, which allows us to get into production much faster than we could otherwise,’ he said. ‘With gold hitting over $3,000 an ounce, it makes a lot of these deposits very economically viable… It’s an exciting time to be in gold, and we’re in a great position to move quickly.’

 

Join IBN’s Stuart Smith for a conversation with LaFleur Minerals Chairman Kal Malhi and CEO Paul Ténière on restarting gold production in Québec, scaling a district-scale asset, and accelerating into the gold producer category.

 

To hear the whole podcast and subscribe for future episodes, visit https://podcast.miningnewswire.com  

 

The latest installment of The MiningNewsWire Podcast continues to reinforce IBN’s commitment to the expansion of its robust network of brands, client partners, followers and the growing IBN Podcast Series . For more than 19 years, IBN has leveraged this commitment to provide unparalleled distribution and corporate messaging solutions to 500+ public and private companies .

 

To learn more about IBN’s achievements and milestones via a visual timeline, visit:   https://IBN.fm/TimeLine   

 

  About LaFleur Minerals Inc.  

 

 LaFleur Minerals Inc. is focused on the development of district-scale gold projects in the Abitibi Gold Belt near Val-d’Or, Québec. The company’s mission is to advance mining projects with a laser focus on its resource-stage Swanson Gold Project and the Beacon Gold Mill, which have significant potential to deliver long-term value.

 

The Swanson Gold Project is approximately 16,600 hectares (166 km 2 ) in size and includes several prospects rich in gold and critical metals previously held by Monarch Mining, Abcourt Mines, and Globex Mining. LaFleur has recently consolidated a large land package along a major structural break that hosts the Swanson, Bartec, and Jolin gold deposits and several other showings which make up the Swanson Gold Project. The Swanson Gold Project is easily accessible by road with a rail line running through the property allowing direct access to several nearby gold mills, further enhancing its development potential.

 

 LaFleur Minerals’ fully-refurbished and permitted Beacon Gold Mill is capable of processing over 750 tonnes per day and is being considered for processing mineralized material at Swanson and for custom milling operations for other nearby gold projects.

 

For more information, visit the company’s website at www.LaFleurMinerals.com  

 

  About IBN  

 

  IBN consists of financial brands introduced to the investment public over the course of 19+ years. With IBN, we have amassed a collective audience of millions of social media followers. These distinctive investor brands aim to fulfill the unique needs of a growing base of client-partners. IBN will continue to expand our branded network of highly influential properties, leveraging the knowledge and energy of specialized teams of experts to serve our increasingly diversified list of clients.

 

Through our Dynamic Brand Portfolio (DBP) , IBN provides: (1) access to a network of wire solutions via InvestorWire to reach all target markets, industries and demographics in the most effective manner possible; (2) article and editorial syndication to 5,000+ news outlets ; (3) Press Release Enhancement to ensure maximum impact; (4) full-scale distribution to a growing social media audience; (5) a full array of corporate communications solutions ; and (6) total news coverage solutions.

 

For more information, please visit https://www.InvestorBrandNetwork.com  

 

Please see full terms of use and disclaimers on the InvestorBrandNetwork website applicable to all content provided by IBN, wherever published or re-published: http://IBN.fm/Disclaimer  

 

  Forward-Looking Statements  

 

This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain as they are based on current expectations and assumptions concerning future events or future performance of the company. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which are only predictions and speak only as of the date hereof. In evaluating such statements, prospective investors should review carefully various risks and uncertainties identified in this release and matters set in the company’s SEC filings. These risks and uncertainties could cause the company’s actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements.

 

  Corporate Communications  

 

IBN
Austin, Texas
www.InvestorBrandNetwork.com  
512.354.7000 Office
Editor@InvestorBrandNetwork.com  

 

   

 

 

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New Russiagate evidence ‘directly’ points to Obama, DOJ will decide ‘criminal implications’: Gabbard

Politics 4 Mins Read

Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard doubled down at a White House press briefing Wednesday, alleging the Obama administration promoted a ‘contrived narrative’ that Russia interfered in the 2016 election. 

‘There is irrefutable evidence that details how President Obama and his national security team directed the creation of an intelligence community assessment that they knew was false,’ Gabbard said. ‘They knew it would promote this contrived narrative that Russia interfered in the 2016 election to help President Trump win, selling it to the American people as though it were true. It wasn’t.’ 

Gabbard’s comments come amid the declassification of a trove of documents from the U.S. intelligence community that allege the Obama administration politicized intelligence, and that U.S. intelligence organizations did not have direct information that Russian President Vladimir Putin sought to support Trump’s election in 2016. 

 

‘All come back to and confirm the same report: There was a gross politicization and manipulation of intelligence by the Obama administration intended to delegitimize President Trump even before he was inaugurated, ultimately usurping the will of the American people,’ Gabbard said. 

Gabbard also said that the declassified documents have been shared with the Department of Justice and the FBI so those agencies can evaluate if any criminal implications stemming from the materials are warranted. 

‘We have referred and will continue to refer all of these documents to the Department of Justice and the FBI, to investigate the criminal implications of this for the evidence,’ Gabbard said. ‘Correct. The evidence that we have found, and that we have released, directly point to President Obama leading the manufacturing of this intelligence assessment. There are multiple pieces of evidence and intelligence that confirm that fact.’

On Tuesday, President Donald Trump accused former President Barack Obama of being the ‘ringleader’ of investigations into whether his campaign colluded with Russia in the 2016 election. 

In response, a spokesperson for Obama labeled the accusations ‘bizarre’ and said the new documents do not alter the conclusions of previous intelligence assessments, including a 2020 report from the Senate Intelligence Committee that was chaired by now-Secretary of State Marco Rubio. 

‘Out of respect for the office of the presidency, our office does not normally dignify the constant nonsense and misinformation flowing out of this White House with a response,’ Obama spokesman Patrick Rodenbush said in a statement. ‘But these claims are outrageous enough to merit one.’ 

‘These bizarre allegations are ridiculous and a weak attempt at distraction,’ Rodenbush said. ‘Nothing in the document issued last week undercuts the widely accepted conclusion that Russia worked to influence the 2016 presidential election but did not successfully manipulate any votes.’ 

A spokesperson for Obama did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital Wednesday. 

The newly declassified documents name Obama, in addition to other administration officials, including Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, CIA Director John Brennan, National Security Advisor Susan Rice, Secretary of State John Kerry, Attorney General Loretta Lynch and Deputy FBI Director Andrew McCabe. 

Fox News Digital previously reported that Gabbard sent a criminal referral to the Justice Department pertaining to the newly declassified material, but the agency did not disclose specifics regarding whom the criminal referral targeted. 

The Justice Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital on Wednesday. 

Gabbard’s appearance before reporters at the White House came just hours after she released a 2020 report from the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, which said the intelligence community published ‘potentially biased’ or ‘implausible’ intelligence suggesting Putin sought to help Trump win the election, per the ‘unusual’ orders of Obama. 

Fox News’ Brooke Singman and Mike Emanuel contributed to this report. 

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Johnson erupts over ‘dangerous’ Biden mental decline ‘cover-up,’ while Democrats push Epstein disclosure

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Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., accused Democrats of orchestrating a ‘cover-up’ of President Joe Biden’s signs of mental decline in a set of remarks to reporters on Wednesday.

The leader of the House of Representatives criticized left-wing lawmakers for their public pressure campaign regarding Jeffrey Epstein’s case, dismissing their calls for transparency as a hypocritical political ploy.

‘We will not be lectured on transparency by the same party that orchestrated one of the most shameless, dangerous political cover-ups in the history of the United States – and that was President Biden’s obvious mental decline,’ Johnson told reporters.

‘House Republicans stand for maximum transparency and truth. We always have, and we always will.’

It comes as the House Oversight Committee continues to investigate allegations that the former president’s top White House aides obscured signs of mental and physical decline in the octogenarian leader from the public and others in the administration.

Biden told The New York Times earlier this month that he was fully aware of every decision he made in a story regarding his use of autopen for clemency orders.

Johnson and other Republican lawmakers have dealt with a barrage of media scrutiny on Epstein’s case over the last two weeks. It’s a side effect of the fallout over a recent Department of Justice (DOJ) memo effectively declaring the matter closed.

Figures on the far-right have hammered Trump officials like Attorney General Pam Bondi, accusing them of going back on earlier vows of transparency.

At Trump’s direction, the DOJ is moving to have grand jury files related to Epstein’s case unsealed. Bondi is looking into whether imprisoned former Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell will speak with federal authorities as well.

Democrats seized on the discord by forcing Republicans on a key panel – the House Rules Committee – to take multiple votes on whether to make files related to Epstein’s case public.

GOP lawmakers’ frustration at being put into a tough political situation forced House Republicans’ agenda to partially grind to a halt this week, forcing leaders to send the House into August recess a day earlier than initially planned.

Some Republicans are frustrated with the Trump administration’s handling of the issue, while others are angry at fellow GOP lawmakers joining Democrats in public calls for transparency.

Many, like Johnson, have accused Democrats of operating on a double-standard. 

‘The way Democrats have tried to weaponize this issue is absolutely shameless. And I just want to say this – Democrats said nothing and did nothing, absolutely nothing, about bringing transparency for the entire four years of the Biden presidency,’ the speaker said. But now, all of a sudden, they want the American people to believe that they actually care.’

When reached for comment, a spokesperson for House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., pointed Fox News Digital to his remarks on Epstein earlier this week, questioning what Republicans were ‘hiding.’

‘Jeffrey Epstein committed suicide during the Trump administration. Trump administration officials have said, prior to arriving in Washington in positions of prominence, including at the FBI and the Department of Justice, that they were going to release the Epstein files. Trump administration officials are now in a position to release the Epstein files,’ Jeffries said. 

‘Does any of that, in your view, have anything to do with President Joe Biden? Why do we think President Joe Biden or President Barack Obama’s names are being invoked?’

Fox News Digital also reached out to the office of former President Joe Biden for comment but did not immediately hear back.

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House panel directs chairman to subpoena Bill and Hillary Clinton in Epstein probe

Politics 3 Mins Read

A House panel Wednesday voted in favor of subpoenaing former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Rep. Scott Perry, R-Pa., offered a motion during a House Oversight Committee subcommittee hearing to call on Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., to subpoena people with possible links to Ghislaine Maxwell, the imprisoned former associate of late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

‘I have a motion to subpoena the following individuals to expand the full committees investigation into Miss Maxwell – and the list reads as follows: William Jefferson Clinton, Hillary Diane Rodham Clinton, James Brian Comey, Loretta Elizabeth Lynch, Eric Hampton Holder, Jr., Merrick Brian Garland, Robert Swan Mueller III, William Pelham Barr, Jefferson Beauregard Sessions the third, and Alberto Gonzales. That’s the full list, Mr. Chairman. And that’s the motion,’ Perry said.

The motion passed by voice vote, meaning there was not an individual roll call.

The subpoenas would actually need to be issued by Comer to be active.

A House Oversight Committee aide told Fox News Digital, ‘The subpoenas will be issued in the near future.’

It comes after Rep. Summer Lee, D-Pa., a member of the progressive ‘Squad,’ pushed for a vote on her own motion to subpoena any files related to Epstein.

That motion passed in an 8-to-2 vote, also directing Comer to issue that subpoena.

Republican lawmakers have dealt with a barrage of media scrutiny on Epstein’s case over the last two weeks. It’s a side effect of the fallout over a recent Department of Justice (DOJ) memo effectively declaring the matter closed.

Figures on the far-right have hammered Trump officials like Attorney General Pam Bondi, accusing them of going back on earlier vows of transparency.

At Trump’s direction, the DOJ is moving to have grand jury files related to Epstein’s case unsealed. Bondi is looking into whether imprisoned former Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell will speak with federal authorities as well.

A House GOP-led motion directing Comer to subpoena Maxwell passed the House Oversight Committee unanimously on Tuesday, and Comer issued the subpoena the following day.

But Democrats have nonetheless seized on the Republican discord with newfound calls of their own for transparency in Epstein’s case. 

Wednesday’s hearing by the Oversight Committee’s subcommittee on federal law enforcement was unrelated to Epstein — but it’s part of a pattern of Democratic lawmakers in the House using any opportunity to force Republicans into an uncomfortable political position on the issue.

Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., another member of the subcommittee, successfully got Lee’s amendment altered to also call for the release of Biden administration communications related to Epstein.

Fox News Digital reached out to the Clinton Foundation for comment but did not immediately hear back.

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS

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Trump declares US will win global AI race during executive order signing ceremony: ‘Whatever it takes’

Politics 7 Mins Read

President Donald Trump declared that the United States will do ‘whatever it takes’ to win the global race to artificial intelligence dominance, during an address at a summit held in the nation’s capital Wednesday.

‘From this day forward, it’ll be a policy of the United States to do whatever it takes to lead the world in artificial intelligence,’ Trump said during his address shortly ahead of signing three new executive orders that are aimed at boosting the country’s artificial intelligence capabilities. 

Meanwhile, Trump also slammed the former Biden administration for ‘weaponizing’ and restricting AI innovation and advancements.

‘If you regulate [AI] too much, you kill the source of American genius and technological power,’ Trump said. ‘I believe that Joe Biden had a plan to lose the AI race. I think he wanted to lose it.’

Administration leaders, including White House Office of Science and Technology policy director Michael Kratsios and AI and crypto czar David Sacks, held a background call with the media Wednesday morning and outlined a three-pillar plan of action for artificial intelligence focused on American workers, free speech and protecting U.S.-built technologies. 

‘We want to center America’s workers, and make sure they benefit from AI,’ Sacks said on the call while describing the three pillars. 

‘The second is that we believe that AI systems should be free of ideological bias and not be designed to pursue socially engineered agendas,’ Sacks said. ‘And so we have a number of proposals there on how to make sure that AI remains truth-seeking and trustworthy. And then the third principle that cuts across the pillars is that we believe we have to prevent our advanced technologies from being misused or stolen by malicious actors. And we also have to monitor for emerging and unforeseen risks from AI.’

Ending red tape and restrictions on the technology is also a key component of the new AI initiative, administration officials said, noting it will usher in the next ‘industrial revolution.’

Trump ordered his administration in January to develop a plan of action for artificial intelligence in order to ‘solidify our position as the global leader in AI and secure a brighter future for all Americans.’ 

The presidential action ordered administration leaders to craft a plan ‘to sustain and enhance America’s global AI dominance in order to promote human flourishing, economic competitiveness, and national security’ within 180 days, which was Tuesday. 

Kratsios stressed on the Wednesday press call that by cutting federal red tape surrounding AI, American workers will benefit while the U.S. will avoid going down the same AI path as Europe, which is mired in tech regulations, Kratsios said on the call. ‘The action plan calls for freeing American AI innovation from unnecessary bureaucratic red tape, ensuring all Americans reap the benefits of AI technologies and leveraging AI to drive new scientific breakthroughs.’

‘On deregulation, we cannot afford to go down Europe’s innovation-killing regulatory path. Federal agencies will now review their rules on the books and repeal those that hinder AI development and deployment across industries, from financial services and agriculture to health and transportation.’ 

‘At the same time, we’re asking the private sector to recommend regulatory barriers that they face for the administration to consider removing,’ he added. ‘Instead of cultivating skepticism, our policy is to encourage and enable AI adoption across government and the private sector through regulatory sandboxes and sector-specific partnerships.’ 

Trump rescinded a Biden-era executive order hours after taking office in January that put restrictions on artificial intelligence technologies, including requiring tech companies to keep the federal government appraised of the most powerful technology they were building before the programs are made available to the public. 

Trump’s signature rescinded the Biden order, with a White House fact sheet at the time arguing the Biden executive order ‘hinders AI innovation and imposes onerous and unnecessary government control over the development of AI.’

‘American development of AI systems must be free from ideological bias or engineered social agendas,’ the White House said. ‘With the right government policies, the United States can solidify its position as the leader in AI and secure a brighter future for all Americans.’ 

‘The order directs the development of an AI Action Plan to sustain and enhance America’s AI dominance, led by the Assistant to the President for Science & Technology, the White House AI & Crypto Czar, and the National Security Advisor,’ the White House said. 

The Trump administration has notched massive wins in the artificial intelligence race, which has pitted the U.S. against China to develop the most high-tech artificial intelligence systems, including Oracle and OpenAI announcing Tuesday the companies will further develop the Stargate project, which is an effort to launch large data centers in the U.S. The two companies’ most recent announcement promises an additional 4.5 gigawatts of Stargate data center capacity, a move expected to create more than 100,000 jobs across operations, construction, and indirect roles such as manufacturing and local services.

The Stargate project includes a commitment from OpenAI, Oracle, SoftBank and MGX to invest $500 billion in U.S.-based artificial intelligence infrastructure throughout the next four years.

Creating the data centers is key to the U.S. artificial intelligence race, according to admin officials who spoke on the background call Wednesday. Sacks explained that the administration wants to see U.S. artificial intelligence infrastructure grow by leaps and bounds in order for the country to ‘lead in data centers and in the energy that powers those data centers.’ 

Earlier in July, Trump traveled to Pittsburgh for an artificial intelligence summit at Carnegie Mellon University while touting the $90 billion in private-sector investments intended to create the Keystone State into an energy and artificial intelligence hub for the country 

Trump also has signed other executive orders focused on artificial intelligence as it relates to increasing America’s energy grid capacity, and an April executive order aimed at preparing America’s next generation to employ artificial intelligence through educational programs. 

Kratsios said during the call Wednesday that the U.S. winning the artificial intelligence race is ‘non-negotiable,’ citing not only economic and geopolitical considerations. 

‘We’re not alone in recognizing the economic, geopolitical, and national security importance of AI, which is why winning the AI race is non-negotiable,’ he said. ‘The plan presents over 90 federal policy actions across three pillars. As David (Sacks) discussed, those are accelerating innovation, building American AI infrastructure, and leading international AI diplomacy and security. The action plan was crafted with overwhelming input from industry, academia and civil society, informed by over 10,000 responses to the White Houses request for information.’ 

The plan delivered to Trump could be executed in the next six months to a year, according to the background call.

The Trump administration has repeatedly rallied around how artificial intelligence will be crucial at catapulting America into the next ‘industrial revolution,’ which administration officials say will lead to job creation and a strong tech industry that can trounce other nations in the race. 

Vice President JD Vance has been one of the most vocal admin leaders touting the U.S. strength on artificial intelligence as it cut red tape surrounding the industry.

‘The Trump administration is troubled by reports that some foreign governments are considering tightening screws on U.S. tech companies with international footprints,’ Vance said in a fiery February speech from Paris. ‘America cannot and will not accept that, and we think it’s a terrible mistake.’

‘At this moment, we face the extraordinary prospect of a new industrial revolution… But it will never come to pass if over-regulation deters innovators from taking the risks necessary to advance the ball,’ he said. ‘Nor will it occur if we allow AI to become dominated by massive players looking to use the tech to censor or control users’ thoughts.’

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS

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Pro-Israel Dem says those who won’t decry Hamas over Oct. 7 attack ‘have no business’ posing as humanitarians

Politics 2 Mins Read

Rep. Ritchie Torres, D-N.Y., an outspoken opponent of antisemitism, said Wednesday that those who refuse to speak out against the heinous acts Hamas perpetrated in Israel on Oct. 7, 2023 ‘have no business’ claiming to be humanitarians.

‘If you refuse to condemn Hamas for the murder, maiming, mutilation, rape, torture, and abduction of thousands of Jews and Israelis on October 7, then you have no business calling yourself a humanitarian,’ Torres wrote on X. 

‘A humanitarianism that devalues Jewish life is no humanitarianism at all, for it has been hollowed out by antisemitism,’ he added.

The congressman has been a strong voice of support for Israel.

‘The singular stumbling block to ending the war is the terrorist organization that barbarically began it: Hamas. Scapegoating Israel is so second nature to the international community that Hamas’ role in precipitating and perpetuating the war has been all but forgotten,’ Torres wrote on X earlier this month.

In another post on X this month he opined that ‘Antisemitism is the deadliest disease ever to afflict the human heart.’

In a post last month, he asserted, ‘If Israel is the sole country in the Middle East—indeed the world—for which you reserve the label ‘apartheid’—then your use of the term is probably propagandistic rather than principled and your purpose is not constructive criticism but the destructive delegitimation of Israel as a Jewish State.’

Torres has served in the U.S. House of Representatives since early 2021.

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Credit card startup Imprint beats big banks for Rakuten co-brand deal

Business 4 Mins Read

There’s a new player making waves in an industry dominated by big banks.

Imprint, the 5-year-old credit card startup, beat out banks in a competitive bidding process for a new co-branded card from online shopping platform Rakuten, CNBC has learned.

The deal is the most recent sign that Imprint is gaining traction in the co-branded credit card industry.

The New York-based startup also just raised $70 million in additional capital, boosting its valuation by 50% to $900 million less than a year from its previous round, according to Imprint CEO Daragh Murphy.

Credit card partnerships with retailers, airlines and hotels are some of the most hotly contested deals in finance. Brands often go through extensive bidding processes to select a card company, while the companies compete for the right to issue cards to millions of loyal customers. The industry’s largest players include JPMorgan Chase, Capital One, Citigroup and Synchrony.

“We’re talking to Fortune 500 companies about being their partner and them choosing us over Synchrony, over Barclays, over U.S. Bank,” Murphy said in an interview. “We have to kind of walk and talk like we’re a big, important company, even though we still have a startup ethos.”

That’s why the company recently raised capital, bringing its total to $330 million, most of which is held on the firm’s balance sheet, according to Murphy. Those funds help show potential partners that Imprint has staying power, he said.

Imprint also has about $1.5 billion in credit lines from banks including Citigroup, Truist and Mizuho, which it uses to extend loans to card customers, Murphy said. The startup is behind the cards from brands including Eddie Bauer, Brooks Brothers and Turkish Airlines.

To offer its credit cards, Imprint usually partners with one of two small banks, First Electronic Bank or First Bank and Trust. Imprint handles the customer experience, including the technology and credit decisions, while using the credit card rails of regulated banks.

In the case of the Rakuten card, Imprint is relying on the American Express network, which allows users to get Amex purchase protections and other perks. It is using First Electronic Bank to help issue the cards.

“Though we’re not a regulated bank, we’re effectively building a bank,” Murphy said. “We have to do all the same things as a bank. We’re a capital markets company; we’re a compliance company; we’re a risk and credit and fraud company; we’re a technology company.”

To gain a toehold in the market for co-branded cards, which can be used anywhere credit cards are accepted, Imprint decided it would focus on a seamless digital experience for customers, Murphy said. That requires technology integration that is difficult for established players who rely on third-party companies including Fiserv to complete transactions, he said.

“The banks are in trouble because they don’t own the technology that the credit card runs on,” Murphy said. “Every credit card in your wallet, whether it’s Chase … or from Citi or Synchrony, they rely on two or three different third parties to power the technology.”

Imprint also decided to set itself apart by making it easy for customers to pay off their loans, Murphy said. Card companies including Bread Financial and Synchrony make a far larger percentage of revenue from late fees than Imprint does, he said.

“You shouldn’t have all these regressive late fees, and you shouldn’t make it hard to pay,” Murphy said. “The easier we make it to pay, the more likely you are to use the card, and the more likely you are to use the card, the better it is for everybody.”

Finally, Murphy said the company’s low customer acquisition costs allow it to fund more rewards for card users.

The new Rakuten card, for instance, offers users an extra 4% in cash back in addition to what customers earn through shopping on the online portal, capped at $7,000 in spending per year.

Users also earn 10% in cash back while dining at Rakuten’s partner restaurants, and 2% cash back on groceries and non-partner restaurants.

The previous Rakuten credit card was issued by Synchrony and discontinued in 2022.

This post appeared first on NBC NEWS

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