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Pentagon Deal Seeks to Create First Large-scale US Gallium Facility

January 13, 2026 Investing 2 Mins Read

The Trump administration is considering a direct equity stake in a Louisiana-based refinery to establish what officials say would become the only large-scale producer of gallium in the US.

The Department of Defense is set to invest US$150 million in preferred equity in Atlantic Alumina, known as ATALCO, as part of a strategic partnership with an affiliate of Pinnacle Asset Management, according to Bloomberg.

The unannounced deal will fund an expansion of ATALCO’s alumina output and the construction of a new circuit to recover gallium, a critical metal used in military systems and advanced semiconductors.

Under the agreement, ATALCO will pair the Pentagon’s investment with an additional US$300 million from Pinnacle. The US government is also expected to provide additional funding within 30 days of the transaction’s closing.

“This strategic partnership is an essential step in reducing reliance on foreign nations for critical minerals,” ATALCO said.

Once fully built out, the facility is expected to produce more than 1 million metric tons of alumina annually and up to 50 metric tons of gallium per year. Gallium is typically recovered as a by-product of alumina refining, and China currently dominates both global alumina processing and gallium supply.

ATALCO has operated continuously since the late 1950s at its refinery in Gramercy, Louisiana, where it processes Jamaican bauxite into alumina, a fine white powder used in aluminum production.

After the closure of a neighboring refinery in 2020, the facility became the last alumina refinery of its kind in the country. The company says it currently supplies roughly 40 percent of domestic alumina demand.

The investment is a continuation of the Trump administration’s shift toward taking direct financial stakes in companies it views as strategically important in its effort to rebuild a domestic supply chain for rare earths and critical minerals.

Last November, the government backed a US$1.4 billion public-private partnership involving Vulcan Elements and ReElement Technologies, a subsidiary of American Resources (NASDAQ:AREC), to expand domestic rare earth magnet production.

In October, officials explored taking an equity stake in Critical Metals (NASDAQ:CRML), a US-listed company developing Greenland’s Tanbreez rare earths deposit.

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

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

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Doug Casey: Gold, Silver, Uranium, Oil/Gas — My Focus in 2026

January 13, 2026 Investing 1 Min Read

Doug Casey of InternationalMan.com and the podcast Doug Casey’s Take shares his thoughts on gold, silver and more heading into the new year.

Casey, who is also a best-selling author, sees higher prices for both precious metals ahead.

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

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Rare Earths Market Forecast: Top Trends for Rare Earths in 2026

January 13, 2026 Investing 9 Mins Read

Aided by rising demand for permanent magnets, the rare earths market entered 2025 on firmer footing, with prices and investor sentiment trending higher.

That early optimism, however, was quickly overtaken by mounting geopolitical risk as US-China trade tensions returned rare earths to the center of global supply chain concerns.

Through the first quarter, uncertainty around tariffs and the prospect of tighter Chinese controls weighed heavily on downstream industries and reinforced the strategic value of rare earths.

That risk crystallized in early April, when China issued Announcement 18, a sweeping export control regime covering a range of medium and heavy rare earths — including terbium, dysprosium, samarium and yttrium — as well as related oxides, alloys, compounds and permanent magnet technologies.

Framed by Beijing as a national security and nonproliferation measure, the policy added a new layer of regulatory friction to supply chains underpinning electric vehicles, defense systems, clean energy and advanced manufacturing.

The response was swift. In Washington, the Trump administration moved to reassess US critical minerals security, singling out rare earths as a strategic vulnerability.

“An overreliance on foreign critical minerals and their derivative products could jeopardize US defense capabilities, infrastructure development, and technological innovation,” the White House said, underscoring a shift from market-driven concern to national security imperative.

For Jon Hykawy, president and chief executive at Stormcrow Capital, the Trump administration’s rare earths ambitions and its understanding of the minerals markets was the most impactful trend of 2025, commenting, “By far the biggest impact was the implication from re-elected US President Donald Trump that rare earths and other critical materials, to be found in Ukraine or Greenland or Canada or wherever, are the most bigly important things, ever.’

The seasoned market analyst also questions the administration’s broader goals.

“Critical materials are, to me, what is necessary for ensuring that important projects can be completed,’ he said.

‘But President Trump has also decided that climate change is a scam, that electrified vehicles and wind power are terrible and coal and oil are where it’s at,’ Hykawy continued.

‘In that case, whether or not Trump has even the concept of a plan regarding what a rare earth actually is, and he isn’t using ‘rare earth’ as a catch-all phrase for ‘weird metal that I don’t know how to spell,’ then rare earths or lithium are not critical materials, as far as the USA should be concerned: if you don’t need ‘em, they ain’t critical.”

China’s rare earths chokehold exposes supply chain fault lines

By mid-year, the impact of China’s controls was being felt most acutely in the automotive sector. European suppliers warned of production shutdowns as licensing delays rippled through tightly integrated supply chains.

The Asian nation controls roughly 70 percent of global rare earths mine output, as well as 85 percent of refining capacity and about 90 percent of magnet manufacturing.

That concentration left markets highly exposed when Beijing escalated restrictions again in October, expanding export controls to cover a total of 12 rare earths and associated permanent magnets.

Although some measures were later paused through November 2026, earlier dual-use restrictions stayed in place, reinforcing the perception that rare earths are now a tool of geopolitical leverage.

“At its core, China has shown a greater willingness to use its dominance in critical minerals to advance its trade and geopolitical influence, potentially causing significant disruptions to global supply chains for industries like automotive, aerospace, defense, and electronics,” states a S&P Global Energy report.

Against that backdrop, efforts to diversify supply accelerated.

In the US, government support moved from rhetoric to capital. The Department of Defense committed US$400 million to MP Materials (NYSE:MP) to expand processing at Mountain Pass and build a second domestic magnet plant, securing a US-based source of permanent magnets for defense applications.

Days later, Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) announced a US$500 million agreement with MP to supply recycled rare earth magnets for hundreds of millions of devices starting in 2027, tying supply chain security to sustainability.

As Hykawy explained, these developments are setting the stage for ex-China supply:

“We are at the beginning of producing, processing and utilizing rare earths in a supply chain entirely outside of China. There is absolutely nothing that prevents us from building that western supply chain except time and money. Rare earth deposits of all types, including ionic clays and their relatively inexpensive production of heavy rare earths, are readily available outside of China.”

He went on to note that there has been a misconception about the impacts of rare earths production, paired with a lack of investment and expertise that has prevented a faster buildout.

“It’s a media cliché that rare earth mining and processing is somehow much more destructive to the environment than other types of mining, but that’s also just plain wrong,” Hykawy added.

“Unfortunately, building that supply chain will take money and, especially, time, because we need the people who know how to do all of this, and there is no substitute for the time required to give them their required experience.”

Rare earths supply security and growing demand

As global demand for rare earths accelerates and supply chain risks heighten, experts believe the sector’s importance on the global stage will keep intensifying.

During a Benchmark Week presentation, Michael Finch of Benchmark Mineral Intelligence explained that rare earths have “become far more strategic in nature” over recent years, with applications spanning electric vehicles, consumer electronics, wind energy, robotics and modern military systems.

While permanent magnets remain a headline driver, non-magnetic uses now account for a larger share of total demand, underscoring the material’s broad industrial importance.

Demand projections for rare earths forecast robust growth, underpinned key segment expansion.

According to Finch’s data an average 100 kW EV traction motor contains roughly five kilograms of neodymium-praseodymium and about one kilogram of dysprosium oxide, illustrating how electrification is fueling consumption.

Additionally, permanent magnet applications are projected to grow at an 8.5 percent compound annual rate through 2030, with magnetic and non-magnetic uses expected to reach parity over the next decade.

Military demand is also a significant driver.

“(There are) 418 kilograms of rare earths going into an F 35 type two fighter (jet), 2.6 metric tons going into a type 51 (naval) destroyer, and 4.6 metric tons going into a Virginia class submarine,” said Finch.

As stated, supply remains heavily concentrated in China which controls 91 percent of the overall supply chain, from mining to permanent magnets. Finch emphasized that this concentration creates a single-country risk, noting, “When a country owns so much of a supply chain, it’s easy to use it as a bargaining chip.”

The global rare earths supply chain is gradually diversifying. North America and Africa are emerging as key growth regions, with projects expected to significantly expand non-Chinese production in the coming decade.

Finch pointed to Africa, which could account for up to 7 percent of global supply after 2030, driven by low capital intensity and favorable mining costs. Despite this progress, he cautioned that complete self-sufficiency outside China remains a distant prospect, emphasizing the need for rapid investment and strategic coordination to secure supply.

Rare earths investment bolstered by government support

In addition to the Department of Defense’s MP Materials investment, the US government has established a price floor for NdPr oxide, the high-value rare earths ingredient inside permanent magnets.

During a fireside chat at Benchmark Week, Ryan Corbett, CFO of MP Materials, explained the impact of the price floor in support of the burgeoning US supply chain. He told the audience that the deal is “absolutely transformational,’ and pointed to China’s ability to control pricing by flooding or starving the market. “What good is it to invest billions of dollars if the second you turn your refinery on, prices go from US$170 to US$45?” said Corbett.

In October, the Trump administration announced another strategic investment aimed at reshoring critical supply chains through a US$1.4 billion public-private partnership with Vulcan Elements and ReElement Technologies.

Under the agreement, the Commerce Department will provide US$50 million in CHIPS Act incentives for neodymium-iron-boron magnet production in exchange for an equity stake, alongside up to US$700 million in conditional Defense Department loans to support facilities targeting up to 10,000 metric tons of annual output.

On the private investment side, Rare earths developer Pensana (LSE:PRE,OTCPL:PNSPF) secured a US$100 million strategic investment to advance its mine-to-magnet ambitions in the US, at the end of 2025.

Although the rare earths sector saw several multimillion-dollar deals in 2025, exploration capital remains scarce.

According to S&P Global’s Senior Principal Analyst, Mining Studies & Mine Economics, Paul Manalo the rare earths account for 1 percent of global exploration budgets, however, that number has improved in recent years.

“For the sixth consecutive year, budgets for rare earths were up reaching US$155 million in 2025; it’s the highest level since 2012,” Manalo said during the S&P Global Market Intelligence 2026 Corporate Exploration Strategies webinar.

Although exploration budgets are growing, the expert said 80 percent of that capital is being deployed in only four countries: Australia, Brazil, USA and Canada. “Just like in other minor metals, the juniors are the primary drivers for exploration of rare earths, with only a few majors dabbling in it,” Manalo told listeners, adding, “There are few rare earth mines outside of China, so most pending exploration is for late stage projects.”

The government funding and strategic stockpile proposal were acknowledged as a good starting point by Stormcrow Capital’s Hykawy, who also cautioned that they may not be as meaningful as markets anticipate.

“I give the efforts so far an ‘A’ for enthusiasm but a ‘C-‘ for effectiveness. From what I have seen, the powers-that-be are beavering away to create a supply chain that can provide what the world is demanding, today,” he said.

“Unfortunately, many of their efforts can’t bear fruit for 5 years or more, and none of these agencies seemed to think it worthwhile to try and evaluate what will be required in 5 or 10 years.”

More long-term foresight is needed.

“Technology giveth, but technology also taketh away, and while no one can be sure what the technology-driven need will be in 5 or 10 years, we should at least try to incorporate that into planning,” he said.

“If the wrong projects are being backed, the economics for that producer or processor in 5 or 10 years are not going to look good and money and time will have been completely wasted.”

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

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Valeura Energy Inc. Announces Q4 2025 Update and 2026 Guidance

January 13, 2026 Investing 17 Mins Read

CALGARY, AB / ACCESS Newswire / January 13, 2026 / Valeura Energy Inc. (TSX:VLE,OTC:VLERF)(OTCQX:VLERF) (‘Valeura’ or the ‘Company’) announces: (i) the Company’s Q4 2025 performance was in line with its guidance outlook for 2025 and resulted in a new record cash position; (ii) completion of a successful drilling campaign at Block B5/27 drove strong ongoing oil production and is expected to contribute to reserves replacement; and (iii) a guidance outlook for 2026 supporting its objective to continue generating long-term value for shareholders.

Q4 and Full Year 2025 Highlights

Record cash position of US$305.7 million as at 31 December 2025 with no debt;
Oil production averaged 24,721 bbls/d in Q4 2025, resulting in full year average oil production of 23,242 bbls/d⁽¹⁾ for 2025;
2.523 million bbls of oil were sold in Q4 2025, with 8.466 million bbls sold for the full year 2025;
Price realisations in Q4 2025 averaged US$64.0/bbl, resulting in revenue of US$161.4 million, and US$594.4 million of revenue for the full year 2025;
Greenhouse gas (‘GHG’) intensity reduced by 13% for full year 2025, yielding a 30% reduction since Valeura originally acquired its Thailand portfolio in 2023; and
Nine production-oriented development wells were completed at the Jasmine and Ban Yen fields in Q4 2025 with 100% success rate, including a new record length for a horizontal well in the Gulf of Thailand.

2026 Guidance Highlights

Full year oil production mid-point of 21,000 bbls/d⁽¹⁾;
Capex and exploration spending mid-point of US$185 million, including approximately US$70 million associated with the Wassana field redevelopment; and
Adjusted Opex mid-point of US$205 million⁽²⁾.

⁽¹⁾ Working interest share production, before royalties.

⁽²⁾ Adjusted Opex is a non-IFRS financial measure, more fully described in Valeura’s Management’s Discussion and Analysis dated 14 November 2025. Includes lease spending of US$25 million.

Dr. Sean Guest, President and CEO commented:

‘We closed out 2025 with strong production performance and an even stronger financial position. Our Q4 drilling programme at Jasmine and Ban Yen was ambitious and innovative, and delivered a 100% success rate, with all wells being completed as producers. All across the business, our team remains committed to this type of world class performance and I believe this is reflected in the continual strengthening of our balance sheet, which now includes over US$300 million in cash, and no debt.

That commitment to excellence is also apparent in our strong safety performance and positive direction of travel on key environmental, social, and governance metrics. We saw no deviations from our high standards during the year and continue to show progress in our GHG intensity, which has now been reduced by approximately 30% under Valeura’s operatorship.

As we raise our sights to the year ahead, our long-term objective of delivering 20 – 25 mbbls/d⁽¹⁾ from our four producing assets remains intact, with this year’s performance expected around 21 mbbls/d⁽¹⁾, a number we see as a lull in advance of the start-up of our Wassana field redevelopment, which remains on track for first oil production in Q2 2027.

We continue to aggressively pursue other growth ambitions as well. The spirit of collaboration is strong between our team and our operating partners both in the large farm-in blocks in the Gulf of Thailand, and in our deep gas play in Türkiye where testing operations are now underway.

Our aspirations to grow inorganically are continuing as a priority. We believed that our appetite for larger, more transformative deals is well-supported, both by the financial wherewithal we bring to bear, and by the rich opportunity set we see emerging within our core Asia-Pacific region.’

⁽¹⁾ Working interest share oil production, before royalties.

Q4 and Full Year 2025 Overview
Working interest share oil production before royalties averaged 24.7 mbbls/d in Q4 2025. This was an increase of 7.6% over the prior quarter, reflecting the impact of new oil production wells coming on stream at Block B5/27, in addition to ongoing steady operations at the Company’s other producing fields. On a full year basis, working interest share oil production before royalties was higher as well, averaging 23.2 mbbls/d in 2025, an increase of 1.8% over 2024.

Oil sales totalled 2.523 million bbls in Q4 2025, which was higher than the 2.274 million bbls produced in the quarter, as a result of sales from crude oil held in inventory at the beginning of the quarter. The resultant revenue was US$161.4 million, based on an average sales price of US$64.0/bbl. The Company continues to realise a premium to the benchmark Brent crude oil price. For the full year 2025, the effect of quarterly over-lift / under-lift positions is negligible, with oil sales totalling 8.466 million bbls, a figure which is very close to the full year’s production of 8.483 million bbls. Valeura’s average 2025 sales price was US$70.2/bbl.

Valeura’s cash position strengthened to a new high of US$305.7 million at 31 December 2025, with no debt.

Operations Update
Operations progressed safely throughout 2025, and with no deviations from the Company’s high standards for environmental, social, and governance stewardship. Of note, Valeura is continuing to pursue efficiency gains across its portfolio that have a positive impact on the Company’s GHG emissions. Valeura estimates that its GHG intensity has reduced by 13% compared to the Company’s 2024 performance, and overall has achieved a 30% reduction since originally acquiring its Thailand portfolio.

Construction activities of a new-build central processing platform (‘CPP’) for the Wassana field redevelopment are progressing ahead of schedule. The project is now approximately 45% complete, underpinning management’s confidence in achieving first oil production from the redeveloped Wassana field (100% operated interest) on time, as planned, in Q2 2027. Moreover, with the majority of project costs either locked in or subject to fixed-price contracts, the Wassana field redevelopment project also remains on budget.

At the Company’s deep gas play in the Thrace basin of Türkiye, Transatlantic Petroleum LLC (‘Transatlantic’), who are conducting operations on Valeura’s behalf, have re-entered and hydraulically stimulated the Devepinar-1 well. Gas has been continually produced to surface through the well’s casing for over three weeks. With this success, Transatlantic has opted to continue work on the well, and is now installing production tubing to facilitate a longer-term production test. Transatlantic has satisfied its earning requirements and is now entitled to a 50% undivided working interest in the western portion of the Company’s lands, as further described in Valeura’s 15 October 2025 announcement. Once approved by the regulator, Transatlantic will hold a 50.0% working interest in the western portion of the Company’s lands, Valeura will hold 31.5%, and Pinnacle Turkey, Inc. will hold the remaining 18.5%. Valeura’s working interest in the eastern portion of the lands (Banarli licences) remains at 100%, subject to Transatlantic completing the drilling and testing of a new well. The Company intends to release more details on the Devepinar-1 well test and the future plans for the deep gas play later in Q1 2026.

Block B5/27 Drilling
Valeura has just completed the drilling of one deviated and eight horizontal wells on the Jasmine and Ban Yen fields at Block B5/27 in the Gulf of Thailand (100% operated interest). The drilling programme primarily focused on accessing unswept oil accumulations within producing reservoirs. All wells were successful and have been completed as producers. As a result, oil production rates before royalties from Block B5/27 have increased from approximately 7,300 bbls/d over the seven-day period prior to start of the drilling programme, to recent rates of approximately 8,600 bbls/d over the seven-day period immediately following the drilling programme.

Several of the wells were engineered to intersect additional appraisal targets while drilling toward their primary development targets. As a result, Valeura has identified various additional oil accumulations which will form the basis of future infill drilling campaigns on Block B5/27. This success is expected to add to the ultimate production potential of the block, which has already exceeded its production expectations many times over, and has seen its economic field life extended every year under Valeura’s operatorship.

Since taking over operatorship of its Thai portfolio in 2023, Valeura has been introducing new technologies and drilling approaches which are expected to increase the ultimate recovery of the fields and lower costs. One well in the recent drilling programme, JSB-28ST2H, achieved a new record as the longest horizontal well interval ever drilled in the Gulf of Thailand, at 3,875′. In addition, two of the wells drilled from the Jasmine B platform used a novel new approach whereby the shallower sections of the pre-existing wells were re-used, with the new well bores being drilled as sidetracks through the existing 7′ casing. This approach reduces drilling time and mitigates certain downhole drilling risks. Further, all horizontal wells drilled in this campaign were completed using autonomous inflow control devices which reduces the inflow of non-oil fluids into the wellbore. This technology has now been adopted extensively by Valeura as a value-enhancing innovation, across all its Gulf of Thailand assets.

2026 Work Programme andGuidance Synopsis
Valeura currently has one drill rig on contract, with a charter term spanning January through August 2026. The Company’s planned work programme for 2026 entails drilling an aggregate of 16 development and appraisal wells on the Jasmine, Nong Yao, and Manora fields. The overall objective of the development and appraisal programme is to mitigate natural production declines while also continuing the Company’s multi-year performance of adding reserves. The base plan also includes the planned drilling of two exploration wells across its operated Gulf of Thailand portfolio.

The Company is planning total capex and exploration spending of US$175 – 195 million in 2026. This amount includes approximately US$70 million for the completion of construction and installation of the new CPP at the Wassana field, in preparation for development drilling in Q1 2027. The Company is planning exploration expenditure of approximately US$7 million.

Valeura continues to model that its portfolio of four producing Gulf of Thailand fields will deliver working interest share oil production before royalties within the range of 20,000 – 25,000 bbls/d into the 2030’s. The Company’s 2026 work programme is in line with this expectation, with full year average production guidance of 19,500 – 22,500 bbls/d, or a mid-point of 21,000 bbls/d (working interest share, before royalties).

Adjusted opex in 2026 is forecast as US$190 – 220 million and at the midpoint would be the lowest opex that the Company has achieved since assuming operatorship in Thailand. Of note, adjusted opex guidance includes anticipated spending of approximately US$25 million on leases related to floating production, storage, and offloading vessels employed across the Company’s operations.

The Company’s production and capex forecast is predicated on the Company having one drilling rig on contract for approximately eight months of the year. Should prevailing economic conditions warrant revising the drilling programme to include more drilling, Valeura would update its guidance expectations accordingly.

Valeura is also actively working with PTT Exploration and Production Plc (‘PTTEP’) to pursue both exploration and development planning on Blocks G1/65 and G3/65 in the Gulf of Thailand, where Valeura is farming in to earn a 40% non-operated working interest (the ‘Farm-in Transaction’). High priority work streams are focussed on the Bussabong gas development area, which could result in an investment decision in 2026, and the Nong Yao northeast oil exploration area, to define a suitable timeframe for exploration drilling. Upon completion of the Farm-in Transaction, Valeura intends to more fully articulate a work programme for both blocks and will update the guidance at that time. Completion of the Farm-in Transaction requires government approval, which is expected following Thailand’s general election in Q1 2026.

Upcoming Announcements
Valeura intends to announce the results of a third-party reserves and resources evaluation as of 31 December 2025 in approximately the second half of February 2026. Thereafter, the Company plans to release its full audited financial and operating results for the year ended 31 December 2025 on approximately 18 March 2026.

For further information, please contact:

Valeura Energy Inc. (General Corporate Enquiries)+65 6373 6940
Sean Guest, President and CEO
Yacine Ben-Meriem, CFO
Contact@valeuraenergy.com

Valeura Energy Inc. (Investor and Media Enquiries) +1 403 975 6752 / +44 7392 940495
Robin James Martin, Vice President, Communications and Investor Relations
IR@valeuraenergy.com

Contact details for the Company’s advisors, covering research analysts and joint brokers, including Auctus Advisors LLP, Beacon Securities Limited, Canaccord Genuity Ltd (UK), Cormark Securities Inc., Research Capital Corporation, Roth Canada Inc., and Stifel Nicolaus Europe Limited, are listed on the Company’s website at www.valeuraenergy.com/investor-information/analysts/.

About the Company

Valeura Energy Inc. is a Canadian public company engaged in the exploration, development and production of petroleum and natural gas in Thailand and in Türkiye. The Company is pursuing a growth-oriented strategy and intends to re-invest into its producing asset portfolio and to deploy resources toward further organic and inorganic growth in Southeast Asia. Valeura aspires toward value accretive growth for stakeholders while adhering to high standards of environmental, social and governance responsibility.

Additional information relating to Valeura is also available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

Advisory and Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Information
Certain information included in this news release constitutes forward-looking information under applicable securities legislation. Such forward-looking information is for the purpose of explaining management’s current expectations and plans relating to the future. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such information may not be appropriate for other purposes, such as making investment decisions. Forward-looking information typically contains statements with words such as ‘anticipate’, ‘believe’, ‘expect’, ‘plan’, ‘intend’, ‘estimate’, ‘propose’, ‘project’, ‘target’ or similar words suggesting future outcomes or statements regarding an outlook. Forward-looking information in this news release includes, but is not limited to, anticipated 2026 full year oil production rates; anticipated capex and exploration spending in 2026, including the proportion included for the Wassana redevelopment project and for exploration expenditure; anticipated 2026 adjusted opex, and the proportion thereof relating to leases; the Company’s reduced GHG intensity representing an ongoing ‘direction of travel’; the Company’s ability to realise its long-term objective of delivering 20 – 25 mbbls/d from its four producing assets; timing for development drilling and for first oil production from the Wassana field redevelopment; the Company’s continued aggressive pursuit of its growth ambitions; the ability for the Company’s financial wherewithal and opportunity set to support inorganic growth; the Company continuing to realise a premium to the benchmark Brent crude oil price; the Company continuing to pursue and achieve efficiency gains across its portfolio; the transfer of working interest in the deep gas play to Transatlantic and resultant working interests of the parties, and the Company obtaining regulatory approval thereof; the Company’s intention to release more details on the Devepinar-1 well test and the future plans for the deep gas play and the timing thereof; additional oil accumulations at the Jasmine and Ban Yen fields forming the basis of future infill drilling campaigns on the block; drilling success adding to the ultimate production potential of the B5/27 Block; new technologies and drilling approaching resulting in an increase in the ultimate recovery of its fields; the duration and composition of Valeura’s 2026 drilling programme; the Company’s anticipated exploration expenditure for 2026; the ability for drilling to mitigate natural production declines while also continuing the Company’s multi-year performance of adding reserves; and government approval and timing for completion of the Farm-in Transaction.

Forward-looking information is based on management’s current expectations and assumptions regarding, among other things: political stability of the areas in which the Company is operating; continued safety of operations and ability to proceed in a timely manner; continued operations of and approvals forthcoming from governments and regulators in a manner consistent with past conduct; future drilling activity on the required/expected timelines; the prospectivity of the Company’s lands; the continued favourable pricing and operating netbacks across its business; future production rates and associated operating netbacks and cash flow; decline rates; future sources of funding; future economic conditions; the impact of inflation of future costs; future currency exchange rates; interest rates; the ability to meet drilling deadlines and fulfil commitments under licences and leases; future commodity prices; the impact of the Russian invasion of Ukraine; royalty rates and taxes; future capital and other expenditures; the success obtained in drilling new wells and working over existing wellbores; the performance of wells and facilities; the availability of the required capital to funds its exploration, development and other operations, and the ability of the Company to meet its commitments and financial obligations; the ability of the Company to secure adequate processing, transportation, fractionation and storage capacity on acceptable terms; the capacity and reliability of facilities; the application of regulatory requirements respecting abandonment and reclamation; the recoverability of the Company’s reserves and contingent resources; future growth; the sufficiency of budgeted capital expenditures in carrying out planned activities; the impact of increasing competition; the ability to efficiently integrate assets and employees acquired through acquisitions; global energy policies going forward; future debt levels; and the Company’s continued ability to obtain and retain qualified staff and equipment in a timely and cost efficient manner. In addition, the Company’s work programmes and budgets are in part based upon expected agreement among joint venture partners and associated exploration, development and marketing plans and anticipated costs and sales prices, which are subject to change based on, among other things, the actual results of drilling and related activity, availability of drilling, offshore storage and offloading facilities and other specialised oilfield equipment and service providers, changes in partners’ plans and unexpected delays and changes in market conditions. Although the Company believes the expectations and assumptions reflected in such forward-looking information are reasonable, they may prove to be incorrect.

Forward-looking information involves significant known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Exploration, appraisal, and development of oil and natural gas reserves and resources are speculative activities and involve a degree of risk. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated by the Company including, but not limited to: the ability of management to execute its business plan or realise anticipated benefits from acquisitions; the risk of disruptions from public health emergencies and/or pandemics; competition for specialised equipment and human resources; the Company’s ability to manage growth; the Company’s ability to manage the costs related to inflation; disruption in supply chains; the risk of currency fluctuations; changes in interest rates, oil and gas prices and netbacks; potential changes in joint venture partner strategies and participation in work programmes; uncertainty regarding the contemplated timelines and costs for work programme execution; the risks of disruption to operations and access to worksites; potential changes in laws and regulations, the uncertainty regarding government and other approvals; counterparty risk; the risk that financing may not be available; risks associated with weather delays and natural disasters; and the risk associated with international activity. See the most recent annual information form and management’s discussion and analysis of the Company for a detailed discussion of the risk factors.

The forward-looking information contained in this new release is made as of the date hereof and the Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless required by applicable securities laws. The forward-looking information contained in this new release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities in any jurisdiction, including where such offer would be unlawful. This news release is not for distribution or release, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States, Ireland, the Republic of South Africa or Japan or any other jurisdiction in which its publication or distribution would be unlawful.

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

This information is provided by Reach, the non-regulatory press release distribution service of RNS, part of the London Stock Exchange. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact rns@lseg.com or visit www.rns.com.

SOURCE: Valeura Energy Inc.

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire

News Provided by ACCESS Newswire via QuoteMedia

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Heliostar Provides 2026 Guidance and Growth Plan

January 13, 2026 Investing 11 Mins Read

HIGHLIGHTS:

Production guidance of 50,000-55,000 oz gold
Cash Costs of $1,850-$1,950/oz gold and All In Sustaining Costs of $2,025-$2,125/oz gold
Pre-stripping of Veta Madre open pit expansion at La Colorada
$27M exploration program funded from operating cash flow

Heliostar Metals Ltd. (TSXV: HSTR,OTC:HSTXF) (OTCQX: HSTXF) (FSE: RGG1) (‘Heliostar’ or the ‘Company’) is pleased to provide production and cost guidance for 2026 as well as details of growth plans across the portfolio. The Company plans to produce 50,000-55,000 ounces of gold at by-product cash costs of $1,850-$1,950oz gold and a consolidated All-In Sustaining Cost (AISC) of $2,025-$2,125oz gold. Heliostar will utilize the cash generated from ongoing operations to continue to invest in exploration and growth initiatives across the Company’s portfolio, including advancement of the flagship Ana Paula development project towards production.

Project	Category	2026 Guidance
La Colorada Mine
	Gold Production (Ounces)	20,000-22,300
	Silver Production (Ounces)	130,000-145,000
	Cash Costs (per gold ounce)^1,2	$1,650-$1,750
	All-In Sustaining Cost (per gold ounce)^1,2,3,4	$1,775-$1,875
San Agustin Mine
	Gold Production (Ounces)	30,000-32,700
	Silver Production (Ounces)	160,000-175,000
	Cash Costs (per gold ounce)^1,2	$2,000-$2,100
	All-In Sustaining Costs (per gold ounce)^1,2,3,4	$2,150-$2,250
Heliostar Consolidated
	Gold Production (Ounces)	50,000-55,000
	Silver sold (Ounces)	290,000-320,000
	Cash Cost (per gold ounce)^1,2	$1,850-$1,950
	All-In Sustaining Costs (per gold ounce)^1,2,3,4	$2,025-$2,125

Cash costs and AISC are non-GAAP measures. Please refer to the ‘Non-GAAP Financial Measures’ section of this news release for further information on this measure.
AISC is based on the World Gold Council definition.
Mine site AISC includes only the portion of corporate G&A allocated to the operating mines. Consolidated G&A includes the aforementioned corporate G&A allocated to the operating mines plus all corporate stock-based compensation.
Annual average exchange rate from all costs based on Mexican peso to US dollar (18 pesos per one dollar).

The La Colorada mine (‘La Colorada’) will continue to produce metals from processing Junkyard and other stockpiles with a focus on additional re-leaching opportunities at the operation. The San Agustin mine (‘San Agustin’) successfully resumed mining operations in December 2025 (see the press release dated December 17, 2025) and will continue mining, crushing, stacking and leaching activities to produce gold and silver through 2026 and beyond.

La Colorada

In 2026, the Company expects to produce 20,000-22,300 ounces of gold at an AISC of $1,775-$1,875 per ounce of gold. This will come from crushing and stacking stockpiles, including the Junkyard Stockpile ore, a portion of the Truckshop Stockpile and re-leaching opportunities.

Development of the Veta Madre open pit expansion project is planned to commence in early Q3. The Company plans to conduct pre-stripping of 11 million tonnes of waste in 2026 to access the 43,000 ounces of in-situ gold in reserves at Veta Madre starting in the first half of 2027. This is a key growth initiative that will drive increased production at the mine in 2027.

De-risking drilling of Veta Madre and Veta Madre Plus (a planned cutback and possible expansion, respectively) is ongoing. The results of this program will provide technical information for a refined pit design and may lead to additional mineral reserves. Heliostar has also budgeted for regional exploration beyond the main mine trend at La Colorada with the aim of unlocking the full geologic potential of the larger, under-explored land package. In addition, the Company has planned for a dedicated drill program in the second half of 2026 to investigate the underground potential below the existing open pits at La Colorada. Heliostar intends to invest up to $5.8M in resource development and exploration activities at La Colorada in 2026.

San Agustin

After successfully restarting open pit production in December 2025, the operation will produce at steady state through 2026 and beyond. The Company expects the mine to produce 30,000-32,700 ounces of gold at a site-level, by-product AISC of $2,150-$2,250 per ounce of gold. The increase in cost compared to that shown in the January 2025 Feasibility Study is driven by general inflation, higher contractor mining costs and allocation of corporate general and administrative costs.

Drilling focused on expanding the oxide reserves at the Corner Area and around the existing open pit is ongoing, with 13,000 metres budgeted in 2026. In addition, Heliostar has planned up to 5,000 metres of drilling to investigate the high-grade portions of the large, polymetallic sulphide deposit that sits both adjacent to and beneath the oxides currently being mined. Further, $2.0M has been earmarked for exploration of Heliostar’s claims across the district, including early-stage exploration of the silver-rich Consejo veins mapped at surface. The Company plans to invest up to $9.7M through this year to unlock the full geologic potential of the property.

Ana Paula

The ongoing 20,000 metre infill and expansion drill program at Ana Paula will continue through Q1 2026. Given the success to date, an additional 6,500 metres have been approved to continue to upgrade inferred material currently in the Preliminary Economic Assessment mine plan. Heliostar has commenced work to complete a Feasibility Study for Ana Paula, scheduled to be completed in the first half of 2027. This important milestone will fully define the construction and operating plans to develop a 100k ounce per year gold mine.

Heliostar plans to continue to advance the existing 412 metre production-scale decline into the Ana Paula deposit in 2026. This work is planned to start in Q3 and is part of a broader de-risking and early works program to support production at the mine in the second half of 2028. The completion of the decline will also provide a platform for underground drilling to continue to expand the Ana Paula deposit at depth and explore for the causative intrusion and potential mineralized contact skarn deposit.

In addition, $1.5M has been budgeted for early-stage, regional exploration at Ana Paula. This includes a drone magnetics survey, ground-based gravity survey, property-wide soil sampling and geologic mapping. The Ana Paula project sits on a largely unexplored 56,334ha land package – one of the largest in the prolific and highly prospective Guererro Gold Belt. In total, Heliostar plans to invest $6.6M in resource development and regional exploration at Ana Paula in 2026, in addition to the $15.0M required to extend the decline.

Other Properties

At Cerro del Gallo, Heliostar is advancing permitting discussions alongside active engagement with the local communities and social benchmarking surveys. The Company’s workplan includes an update of the geologic model to allow flotation trade-off testing, further metallurgical test work of the sulphide portion of the deposit and hydrological data collection.

Unga and San Antonio will see modest exploration and metallurgical programs, respectively.

The total planned exploration, development and study expenditure for these properties is $4.9M.

Statement of Qualified Persons

Gregg Bush, P.Eng., Qualified Person, as such term is defined by National Instrument 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, has reviewed the scientific and technical information that forms the basis for this news release and has approved the disclosure herein. Mr. Bush is employed as Chief Operating Officer of the Company.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Management believes that the reported non-GAAP financial measures will enable certain investors to better evaluate the Company’s performance, liquidity, and ability to generate cash flow. These measures do not have any standardized definition under IFRS and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS. Other companies may calculate these measures differently. Additional details of the Company’s calculation of Cash Costs and All-In Sustaining Costs can be found in the most recent MD&A.

About Heliostar Metals Ltd.

Heliostar is a gold producer with production from operating mines in Mexico. This includes the La Colorada Mine in Sonora and San Agustin Mine in Durango. The Company also has a strong portfolio of development projects in Mexico and the USA. These include the Ana Paula project in Guerrero, the Cerro del Gallo project in Guanajuato, the San Antonio project in Baja Sur and the Unga project in Alaska.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

Charles Funk
President and Chief Executive Officer
Heliostar Metals Limited
Email: charles.funk@heliostarmetals.com
Phone: +1 844-753-0045

Rob Grey
Investor Relations Manager
Heliostar Metals Limited
Email: rob.grey@heliostarmetals.com
Phone: +1 844-753-0045

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

This news release includes certain ‘Forward-Looking Statements’ within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and ‘forward-looking information’ under applicable Canadian securities laws. When used in this news release, the words ‘anticipate’, ‘believe’, ‘estimate’, ‘expect’, ‘target’, ‘plan’, ‘forecast’, ‘may’, ‘would’, ‘could’, ‘schedule’ and similar words or expressions, identify forward-looking statements or information. These forward-looking statements or information relate to, among other things, the Company’s plans, prospects and business strategies; the Company’s guidance on the timing and amount of future production and its expectations regarding the results of operations; the completion of additional studies, including and the Feasibility Study for Ana Paula; exploration and metallurgical programs; and expectations for other economic, business, and/or competitive factors.

Forward-looking statements and forward-looking information relating to the terms and completion of the Facility, any future mineral production, liquidity, and future exploration plans are based on management’s reasonable assumptions, estimates, expectations, analyses and opinions, which are based on management’s experience and perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, and other factors that management believes are relevant and reasonable in the circumstances, but which may prove to be incorrect. Assumptions have been made regarding, among other things, the receipt of necessary approvals, price of metals; no escalation in the severity of public health crises or ongoing military conflicts; costs of exploration and development; the estimated costs of development of exploration projects; and the Company’s ability to operate in a safe and effective manner and its ability to obtain financing on reasonable terms.

These statements reflect the Company’s respective current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of other assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by management, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political, and social uncertainties and contingencies. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or forward-looking information and the Company has made assumptions and estimates based on or related to many of these factors. Such factors include, without limitation: precious metals price volatility; risks associated with the conduct of the Company’s mining activities in foreign jurisdictions; regulatory, consent or permitting delays; risks relating to reliance on the Company’s management team and outside contractors; risks regarding exploration and mining activities; the Company’s inability to obtain insurance to cover all risks, on a commercially reasonable basis or at all; currency fluctuations; risks regarding the failure to generate sufficient cash flow from operations; risks relating to project financing and equity issuances; risks and unknowns inherent in all mining projects, including the inaccuracy of reserves and resources, metallurgical recoveries and capital and operating costs of such projects; contests over title to properties, particularly title to undeveloped properties; laws and regulations governing the environment, health and safety; the ability of the communities in which the Company operates to manage and cope with the implications of public health crises; the economic and financial implications of public health crises, ongoing military conflicts and general economic factors to the Company; operating or technical difficulties in connection with mining or development activities; employee relations, labour unrest or unavailability; the Company’s interactions with surrounding communities; the Company’s ability to successfully integrate acquired assets; the speculative nature of exploration and development, including the risks of diminishing quantities or grades of reserves; stock market volatility; conflicts of interest among certain directors and officers; lack of liquidity for shareholders of the Company; litigation risk; and the factors identified under the caption ‘Risk Factors’ in the Company’s public disclosure documents. Readers are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forward-looking statements or forward-looking information. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be other factors that cause results not to be anticipated, estimated or intended. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements or forward-looking information to reflect changes in assumptions or changes in circumstances or any other events affecting such statements or information, other than as required by applicable law.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/280186

News Provided by Newsfile via QuoteMedia

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Jack Smith to testify next week at a public House Judiciary Committee hearing

January 13, 2026 Politics 3 Mins Read

Former special counsel Jack Smith will testify in a hearing before the House Judiciary Committee next week, giving Republican and Democratic lawmakers on the panel a chance to grill him in a public setting on his prosecutions of President Donald Trump.

Smith will appear before the committee on Jan. 22, one month after he sat for a closed-door deposition with the committee and testified for eight hours about his special counsel work, a source familiar told Fox News Digital.

Smith had long said he wanted to speak to the committee publicly, and although Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, first demanded the deposition, the chairman also said an open hearing was on the table.

Smith investigated Trump and brought two indictments against him over the 2020 election and alleged retention of classified documents. Trump pleaded not guilty and aggressively fought the charges, and Smith dropped both cases when Trump won the 2024 election, citing a Department of Justice policy that discourages prosecuting sitting presidents.

In a public hearing, House lawmakers will be able to question Smith in five-minute increments, whereas in the deposition, each party questioned Smith in one-hour sessions. Politico first reported that Smith would appear for a hearing sometime this month.

Smith gave little new information during his initial meeting with the committee and defended his work.

‘I made my decisions in the investigation without regard to President Trump’s political association, activities, beliefs, or candidacy in the 2024 presidential election,’ Smith said, according to a transcript of the deposition. ‘We took actions based on what the facts, and the law required, the very lesson I learned early in my career as a prosecutor.’

Smith said he followed DOJ policy when his team made the controversial decision to subpoena numerous Republican senators’ and House members’ phone records as part of his 2020 election probe. Smith noted the subpoenas sought a narrow set of data.

‘If Donald Trump had chosen to call a number of Democratic senators [to delay the election certification proceedings], we would have gotten toll records for Democratic senators. So responsibility for why these records, why we collected them, that’s — that lies with Donald Trump,’ Smith said.

The Republicans have said the subpoenas were unconstitutional violations of the speech or debate clause, and they have broadly said the Biden DOJ abused its authority by bringing, in their view, politicized criminal charges against a former president and presidential candidate.

Trump, who has long decried Smith as a ‘thug’ and said he belongs in jail, has said he welcomes Smith at a public hearing.

Asked about Smith’s appearance next week, a representative for Smith provided a statement from one of his lawyers, Lanny Breuer.

‘Jack has been clear for months he is ready and willing to answer questions in a public hearing about his investigations into President Trump’s alleged unlawful efforts to overturn the 2020 election and his mishandling of classified documents,’ Breuer said.

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Bill Clinton scheduled to appear before Oversight Committee as contempt of Congress threat looms

January 13, 2026 Politics 3 Mins Read

Former President Bill Clinton has been summoned to appear on Capitol Hill Tuesday morning, as Republicans threaten a possible criminal referral if the ex-commander-in-chief skips out.

He and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have both been subpoenaed to appear before the House Oversight Committee for separate closed-door depositions for the panel’s investigation into Jeffrey Epstein.

Clinton was scheduled to appear Tuesday morning at 10 a.m., but it’s not clear whether he will do so. The deposition is expected to move forward regardless.

A spokeswoman for the committee told Fox News Digital on Friday that neither had confirmed their scheduled dates at that point.

‘The Clintons have not confirmed their appearances for their subpoenaed depositions. They are obligated under the law to appear, and we expect them to do so. If the Clintons do not appear at their depositions, the House Oversight Committee will initiate contempt of Congress proceedings,’ the spokeswoman said.

Both Clintons were originally scheduled to appear before the committee in October, but their deposition dates were postponed while the panel was in talks with their attorneys.

Their deposition dates were delayed again when House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., was informed the former first couple would be attending a funeral.

‘They’re saying now that he’s going to a funeral on that day, so we’ve been going back and forth with the lawyer,’ Comer told Fox News Digital in December. ‘We’re going to hold him in contempt if he doesn’t show up for his deposition.’

The House Oversight Committee would need to advance a contempt resolution before it’s considered by the entire chamber. If a simple majority votes to hold someone in contempt of Congress, a criminal referral is then traditionally made to the Department of Justice.

A criminal contempt of Congress charge is a misdemeanor that carries a punishment of up to one year in jail and a maximum $100,000 fine if convicted.

In the absence of mutually agreed-upon new dates, new subpoenas were issued for Bill and Hillary Clinton to appear on Jan. 13 and Jan. 14, respectively.

They were two of 10 people who Comer initially subpoenaed in the House’s Epstein investigation after a unanimous bipartisan vote directed him to do so last year.

Clinton was known to be friendly with the late pedophile before his federal charges but was never implicated in any wrongdoing related to him.

Fox News Digital reached out to the Clintons’ lawyer and Bill Clinton’s spokesperson to ask whether he would appear Tuesday, but did not receive a response.

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Iran protests spark regime survival question as exiled dissident says it feels like a ‘revolution’

January 13, 2026 Politics 6 Mins Read

As protests spread across Iran and the government responds with lethal force, amid increasing reports claiming thousands have been killed, a growing question is being debated by analysts and Iranians alike: Is the Islamic Republic facing its most serious threat since the 1979 revolution, or does it still retain enough coercive power to survive?

For Mehdi Ghadimi, an Iranian journalist who spent decades protesting the regime before being forced to leave the country, this moment feels fundamentally different from anything that came before.

‘From 1999, when I was about fifteen, until 2024, when I was forced to leave Iran, I took part in every street protest against the Islamic Republic,’ Ghadimi told Fox News Digital. ‘For roughly half of those years, I supported the reformist movement. But after 2010, we became certain that the Islamic Republic is not reformable, that changing its factions is a fiction.’

According to Ghadimi, that realization gradually spread across Iranian society, culminating in what he describes as a decisive shift in the current unrest.

‘For the first time in the 47 years of struggle by the Iranian people against the Islamic Republic, the idea of returning to the period before January 1979 became the sole demand and the central point of unity among the people,’ he said. ‘As a result, we witnessed the most widespread presence of people from all cities and villages of Iran in the streets, on a scale unprecedented in any previous protests.’

Ghadimi claimed the chants on the streets reflected that shift. Instead of demanding economic relief or changes to dress codes, protesters openly called for the fall of the Islamic Republic and the return of the Pahlavi dynasty.

‘At that point, it no longer seemed that we were merely protesting,’ he said. ‘We were, in fact, carrying out a revolution.’

Still, Ghadimi was clear about what he believes is preventing the regime’s collapse.

‘The answer is very clear,’ he said. ‘The government sets no limit for itself when it comes to killing its own people.’

He added that Tehran appears reassured by the lack of consequences for its actions. ‘It has also been reassured by the behavior of other countries that if it manages to survive, it will not be punished for these blatant crimes against humanity,’ he said. ‘The doors of diplomacy will always remain open to them, even if their hands are stained with blood.’

Ghadimi described how the regime cut off internet access to disrupt coordination between protesters and opposition leadership abroad. He said that once connectivity was severed, the reach of video messages from the exiled Prince Reza Pahlavi dropped dramatically.

While Iranian voices describe a revolutionary moment, security and policy experts caution that structural realities still favor the regime.

Javed Ali, an associate professor at the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy, said the Islamic Republic is facing far more serious threats to its grip on power than in years past, driven by a convergence of military, regional, economic and diplomatic pressures.

‘The IRGC is in a much weaker position following the 12-day war with Israel last summer,’ Ali said, citing ‘leadership removals, ballistic missile and drone capabilities that were used or damaged, and an air and radar defense network that has been significantly degraded.’

Ali said Iran’s regional deterrence has also eroded sharply. ‘The so-called Axis of Resistance has been significantly weakened across the region,’ he said, pointing to setbacks suffered by Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis and Shiite militias allied with Tehran.

Internally, Ali said demographic pressure is intensifying the challenge. ‘Iran’s younger population is even more frustrated than before with deteriorating economic conditions, ongoing social and cultural restrictions and repeated violent crackdowns on dissent,’ he said.

Ali also pointed to shifting external dynamics that are limiting Tehran’s room to maneuver, including what he described as a stronger U.S.-Israel relationship tied to the Netanyahu-Trump alliance. He added that there are ‘possible joint operations already underway to support the protest movement inside Iran.’

Israeli security sources, speaking on background, said Israel has no such interest in intervening in a way that would allow Tehran to redirect domestic unrest outward.

‘Everyone understands it is better to sit and wait quietly and not attract the fire toward Israel,’ one source said. ‘The regime would like to make this about Israel and the Zionist enemy and start another war to repress internal protests.’

‘It is not Israel against Iran,’ the source added. ‘We recognize that the regime has an interest in provoking us, and we do not want to contribute to that.’

The source said a collapse of the Islamic Republic would have far-reaching consequences. ‘If the regime falls, it will affect the entire Middle East,’ the official said. ‘It could open a new era.’

Ali said Iran is increasingly isolated diplomatically. ‘There is growing isolation from Gulf monarchies, the fall of Assad in Syria and only muted support from China and Russia,’ he said.

Despite those pressures, Ali cautioned that Iran’s coercive institutions remain loyal.

‘I think the IRGC, including Basiji paramilitary elements, along with the Ministry of Intelligence, are still loyal to the regime out of a mix of ideology, religion, and self-interest,’ he said, citing ‘power, money and influence.’

Whether fear of collapse could drive insiders to defect remains unclear. ‘Whether there are insiders willing to flip because of a sense of imminent collapse of the clerical structure is hard to know,’ Ali said.

He placed the probability of an internal regime collapse at ‘25% or less,’ calling it ‘possible, but far less probable.’

For now, Iran appears caught between two realities: a population increasingly unified around the rejection of the Islamic Republic, and a security apparatus still willing to use overwhelming force to preserve it.

As Ali noted, pressure alone does not bring regimes down. The decisive moment comes only when those ordered to enforce repression decide it is no longer in their interest to do so.

Despite the scale of unrest, Ghadimi cautioned that the outcome remains uncertain.

‘After these four hellish days, without even knowing the fate of our friends and loved ones who went into the streets, or whether they were alive or not, it is truly difficult for me to give you a clear assessment and say whether our revolution is now moving toward victory or not,’ he said.

He recalled a message he heard repeatedly before leaving Iran, across cities and social classes.

‘The only thing I consistently heard was this: ‘We have nothing left to lose, and even at the cost of our lives, we will not retreat one step from our demand for the fall of the Islamic Republic,’’ Ghadimi said. ‘They asked me to promise that now that I am outside Iran, I would be their voice.’

‘That spirit is what still gives my heart hope for victory,’ he added. ‘But my mind tells me that when mass killing carries no punishment, and when the government possesses enough bullets, guns and determination to suppress it, even if it means killing millions, then victory would require a miracle.’

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Bipartisan lawmakers propose bill to block military action against NATO members amid threats to take Greenland

January 13, 2026 Politics 4 Mins Read

A bipartisan group of lawmakers is introducing a bill aimed at restricting any unauthorized military action by President Donald Trump, amid growing debate over his comments about acquiring Greenland ‘one way or the other.’

Rep. Bill Keating, D-Mass., is leading the legislation along with Reps. Steny Hoyer, D-Md., Brendan Boyle, D-Pa., and Don Bacon, R-Neb., according to POLITICO.

‘This is about our fundamental shared goals and our fundamental security, not just in Europe, but in the United States itself,’ Keating said in a statement to the outlet.

The group involved in the effort is soliciting broader support for the legislation and say they hope additional Republicans will back the effort to restrict funding for any unauthorized military action against U.S. allies.

In a letter to colleagues, Keating said ‘this legislation takes a clear stand against such action and further supports NATO allies and partners,’ according to POLITICO.

While the measure does not specifically name any specific countries, it is clearly in response to Trump’s repeated threats against Greenland.

Keating said the decision to omit Greenland’s name was meant to broaden the legislation’s focus. He said he met with the Danish Ambassador and the head of Greenland representation.

‘This isn’t just about Greenland. This is about our security,’ Keating said.

Keating also said he believes slashing funding is the most impactful way to disincentivize Trump administration officials from taking action.

‘War powers are important, but we’ve seen with Democratic and Republican presidents that that’s not as effective,’ he said. ‘It’s hard to get around having no funds or not allowing personnel to do it.’

This comes after the Senate advanced a bipartisan resolution last week that would limit Trump’s ability to conduct further attacks against Venezuela after the U.S. military’s recent move to strike the country and capture its president, Nicolás Maduro. The Upper Chamber could pass the measure later this week, although its future in the House remains uncertain despite some support from Republicans.

On Greenland, administration officials are openly weighing options such as military force to take the Danish territory, a move that would violate NATO’s Article V, which states that an attack on one member is an attack on all of them and could end the alliance of more than 75 years.

‘We are going to do something on Greenland, whether they like it or not,’ Trump said on Friday. ‘Because if we don’t do it, Russia or China will take over Greenland, and we’re not going to have Russia or China as a neighbor.’

Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen and four party leaders reaffirmed last week that the self-governing island has no interest in becoming part of the U.S.

‘We don’t want to be Americans, we don’t want to be Danes, we want to be Greenlanders,’ the leaders said, adding that Greenland’s ‘future must be decided by the Greenlandic people.’

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, as well as the leaders of Italy, Spain and Poland, also signed a letter stating: ‘Greenland belongs to its people. It is for Denmark and Greenland, and them only, to decide on matters concerning Denmark and Greenland.’

The chance of expanding U.S. control over Greenland has drawn mixed reactions from Congress. While most Democrats have opposed the idea, some Republicans have voiced support for pursuing closer ties with the territory.

Rep. Randy Fine, R-Fla., who introduced legislation to make it the 51st U.S. state, although he said the best way to acquire Greenland is voluntarily.

‘I think it is in the world’s interest for the United States to exert sovereignty over Greenland,’ Fine told Fox News Digital.

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Jeffries says DHS Secretary Noem ‘should be run out of town’ amid ICE shooting backlash

January 13, 2026 Politics 3 Mins Read

House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., directed some heated remarks at a Trump administration Cabinet official whose department has been dominating headlines in recent weeks.

‘What is clear is that Kristi Noem is completely and totally unqualified. She should have never been confirmed by Senate Republicans,’ Jeffries said of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) secretary during a Monday press conference. ‘It’s disgraceful that she’s there. She should be run out of town as soon as possible.’

Criticism against Noem, DHS, and Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has intensified on the left in the wake of a deadly ICE-involved shooting in Minneapolis last week.

An ICE agent shot and killed a U.S. citizen, 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good, who allegedly presented a threat to ICE agents as they attempted to conduct enforcement operations. Partisan fissures have since erupted over which side was acting improperly when the deadly incident occurred.

‘Kristi Noem, the Department of Homeland Security and ICE, they’re totally out of control. And the American people want these extremists to be reined in,’ Jeffries said on Monday.

He said Good ‘should be alive today’ and accused both Noem and the ICE agent who shot Good of a ‘depraved indifference toward human life.’

Video of last week’s incident appears to show Good’s car making contact with the ICE agent who shot her before he opened fire. Arguments have since raged over whether she was deliberately getting in the way or even weaponizing her car, or whether she was trying to drive away.

Federal officials like Noem have defended the agent as acting in self-defense while accusing Good of trying to actively impede ICE activity in the Democrat-controlled city.

Democrats, including Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, have accused ICE and Republican officials of stoking fear and tension in the city while demanding the federal government cease current operations there immediately.

Now Democrats in Congress have been threatening to withhold support from funding DHS unless significant reforms are made — a threat Jeffries alluded to during his press conference.

‘What’s in front of us right now is a spending bill that will go either one of two ways. Either Republicans will continue their my-way-or-the-highway approach as it relates to the Homeland Security bill — and if that happens, then it’s going to be on them to figure out a path forward,’ Jeffries began.

‘Alternatively, particularly in the face of the tragedy…there’s some commonsense measures that need to be put in place so that ICE can conduct itself in a manner that is at least consistent with every other law enforcement agency in the United States of America, at the state, local and federal level.’

The deadline to finish federal funding and avert a partial government shutdown is at the end of day on Jan. 30.

Fox News Digital reached out to DHS for a response.

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