Disseminated on behalf of  Ucore Rare Metals Inc. (TSX.V: UCU) (OTCQX: UURAF) and may include paid advertising.

• China controls roughly 70% of global rare-earth mining and as much as 90% of rare-earth magnet production.
• This threat has placed renewed urgency on domestic companies, such as Ucore, that aim to rebuild processing infrastructure the U.S. allowed to atrophy over several decades.
• Ucore’s competitive edge lies in RapidSX, a solvent-extraction-based separation platform designed as a technological improvement over conventional SX systems.

The escalating tug-of-war over critical mineral supply chains has taken another sharp turn, as a recent Wall Street Journal report reveals China’s plans to tighten control over high-performance rare-earth magnets essential for U.S. military systems. The article outlines how Beijing may take steps to limit access to advanced magnet technologies used in fighter jets, missile-guidance components and other defense hardware, potentially deepening U.S. vulnerability in a market it already depends on almost entirely. With this in mind, Ucore Rare Metals (TSX.V: UCU) (OTCQX: UURAF) is positioning itself as a critical part of the solution, developing a North American supply chain for rare-earth separation using its proprietary RapidSX technology and advancing plans for a commercial facility designed to reduce reliance on Chinese processing.

China controls roughly 70% of global rare-earth mining and as much as 90% of rare-earth magnet production. A 2023 USGS report confirms that the United States imported 74% of its rare-earth compounds and metals from China between 2018 and 2021, underscoring the imbalance that policymakers have warned about for years. The WSJ notes that China’s new proposals, if implemented, would further restrict Western access to the most sophisticated magnet technologies, which are essential for permanent-magnet motors in military aircraft, guided missiles, drones, radar and numerous classified systems. This strategic vulnerability is part of why the U.S. Department of Defense has increasingly emphasized “mine-to-magnet” reshoring efforts.

The concern is not hypothetical. A 2022 study by the Congressional Research Service confirmed that a single F-35 fighter jet requires approximately 920 pounds of rare-earth materials, many of which must undergo separation and magnet-manufacturing processes that currently occur almost entirely in China. New Chinese restrictions could widen this gap by cutting off access to advanced magnet manufacturing know-how, potentially affecting everything from precision-guided munitions to next-generation naval and air-defense platforms. This threat has placed renewed urgency on domestic companies, such as Ucore, that aim to rebuild processing infrastructure the U.S. allowed to atrophy over several decades.

Ucore Rare Metals is central to this reshoring effort through its planned Strategic Metal Complex in Alexandria, Louisiana, where the company intends to separate mixed rare-earth concentrates into individual oxides needed for high-performance magnets. The facility is designed with a nameplate capacity of 7,500 metric tons per year of total rare-earth oxides, including up to 2,000 metric tons of neodymium-praseodymium (“NdPr”) oxide, the primary feedstock for permanent magnets.

Ucore’s competitive edge lies in RapidSX, a solvent-extraction-based separation platform designed as a technological improvement over conventional SX systems. Independent third-party testing commissioned during Ucore’s demonstration program showed that RapidSX can achieve comparable or superior separation performance while reducing processing time and equipment footprint relative to legacy systems.

This matters because China’s dominance stems not only from resource access but from decades of investment in downstream processing, an area where North America has lagged. By focusing specifically on separation, the most difficult and capital-intensive part of the supply chain, Ucore is addressing the bottleneck that prevents rare-earth mines in North America from supplying magnet-grade materials to the defense sector and to emerging industries such as electric vehicles and wind turbines.

Ucore’s strategy aligns with U.S. policy directives, including the Defense Production Act Title III investments allocated to expand domestic rare-earth processing. The Pentagon has repeatedly stated that dependency on China poses a national-security threat, particularly as demand for NdFeB magnets accelerates. An International Energy Agency report projected that demand for rare-earth magnet materials could triple by 2040 due to electric mobility and renewable energy growth. Ucore’s ability to supply separated oxides to North American magnet manufacturers therefore supports multiple priorities: defense readiness, clean-energy expansion and industrial resiliency.

These efforts are essential. China’s tightening grip on downstream processing and magnet manufacturing is not merely an economic maneuver; it is a geopolitical strategy aimed at maintaining leverage over industries central to the 21st century. As the U.S. accelerates efforts to rebuild a complete rare-earth supply chain, Ucore Rare Metals stands out as a company building the technical and commercial capacity required to shift this balance. The company’s RapidSX technology, Louisiana processing complex and integration plans with North American magnet manufacturers position it as a vital player in reducing dependence on foreign supply chains and ensuring that critical materials essential for national security are available when they are needed most.

For more information, visit www.Ucore.com.

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to UURAF are available in the company’s newsroom at https://ibn.fm/UURAF

Disseminated on behalf of  ESGold Corp. (CSE: ESAU) (OTCQB: ESAUF) and may include paid advertising.

• ESGold Corp., an exploration-stage company committed to the acquisition, exploration, and development of high-quality mineral properties worldwide, has announced its intention to proceed with a non-brokered private placement of up to 5.3 million flow-through common shares of the company at a price of 85 cents per FT share, for C$4.5 million
• Due to strong investor demand, the offering was increased to C$4.5 million from the C$2.9 million previously announced
• ESGold looks to channel these proceeds to the exploration of its Montauban Property in Quebec, marking a significant step for the company as it looks to unlock the property’s full gold potential

ESGold (CSE: ESAU) (OTCQB: ESAUF), an exploration-stage company committed to acquiring, exploring, and developing high-quality mineral properties worldwide, just announced its intention to proceed with a non-brokered private placement of up to 5.3 million flow-through common shares of the company. The initiative will raise up to C$4.5 million, with each share selling at $0.85. Red Cloud Securities Inc. will serve as a finder in connection with this offering (https://ibn.fm/3KZWH).

ESGold plans to channel proceeds from the offering into exploration of its Montauban Property in Quebec. The company recognizes the opportunity and the value that the property holds, hence its focus on further exploring it and bringing it even closer to monetization. Just last month, the company marked a significant milestone with the partial completion and interpretation of a comprehensive three-dimensional geological model of the property. Results from this undertaking demonstrated that the property is not just a reclamation or redevelopment story, but rather the nucleus of a potentially much larger gold, silver, and base-metal district (https://ibn.fm/3Dywr).

“What was once seen as a series of small, isolated deposits now seems to emerge as a continuous multilayered mineral system with dimensions not previously recognized at Montauban,” noted ESGold’s CEO and Director, Gordon Robb (https://ibn.fm/3Dywr).

Further exploration of the property will reveal the extent of the deposits. It will also paint a more detailed picture of the property’s actual value and what lies beneath, even as it seeks to create shareholder value.

Proceeds from the offering will be used for Canadian exploration expenses as defined in paragraph (f) of the definition of “Canadian exploration expense.” The offering is set to close on or about December 8, 2025, subject to various conditions, including, but not limited to, receipt of all necessary corporate and regulatory approvals, such as the Canadian Securities Exchange (https://ibn.fm/3KZWH).

So far, ESGold’s near-term cash flow from tailings reprocessing has demonstrated the company’s ability to finance exploration internally. This has been shown to minimize dilution while maximizing discovery leverage. However, the offering offers a faster way to unlock Montauban’s true potential, bringing the company closer to establishing its position as a leader in its space. 

With an investment of C$15 million in infrastructure, including power access, roads, and a 20,000 sq. ft. processing facility, ESGold is seen as demonstrating its confidence in the facility as well as highlighting its economic potential. 

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

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to ESAUF are available in the company’s newsroom at https://ibn.fm/ESAUF

Disseminated on behalf of  SPARC AI Inc. (CSE: SPAI) (OTCQB: SPAIF) and may include paid advertising.

• SPARC AI takes delivery of two custom STRIKE-1 drones to speed up demonstrations and commercial testing cycles
• The company’s SPARC technology is designed to convert cameras and sensors into precision target coordinate acquisition systems
• These latest updates highlight SPARC AI’s mission: to redefine autonomous navigation, spatial intelligence, and real-time object location across commercial, defense, and emergency sectors

SPARC AI (CSE: SPAI) (OTCQB: SPAIF) is taking the lead in spatial computing and autonomous navigation with the recent arrival of two custom-designed and built STRIKE-1 drones. These drones are specialized platforms that strategically position the company for quicker demonstrations, more controlled evaluations, and a quicker path towards commercial application. Reputed for its Spatial, Predictive, Approximation, and Radial Convolution (“SPARC”) technology, the company is changing the way cameras, sensors, drones, and mobile devices capture, interpret, and convey target coordinates (ibn.fm/C7nQA).

SPARC AI’s newly delivered STRIKE-1 aircraft indicates a significant step forward. Instead of relying on customer-supplied hardware, which is usually characterized by differences in sensor placement, airframe design, and onboard components, the company now operates standard, repeatable flight tests. This approach ensures consistent conditions for evaluating the company’s target acquisition system, helping to validate autonomous navigation features and gather relevant data for technical updates. 

SPARC’s reputation as a leader in sensor-based geolocation and intelligent object tracking separates it from the competition. SPARC AI’s primary platform enables the transformation of regular devices (Airborne, fixed, mobile, or handheld) into accurate coordinate acquisition systems that can pinpoint the location of objects regardless of their distance. From surveying to defense and emergency response, autonomous operations, and critical infrastructure monitoring, the technology enables high-accuracy situational awareness, providing hands-free capabilities.

Additionally, SPARC AI intends to make the STRIKE-1 drones accessible to paid customers for trials, allowing organizations to avoid early-stage modifications of their existing drones. With this strategic approach, timelines are shortened, onboarding stress is reduced, and customers gain access to a controlled environment where they can experience the precision and power of SPARC AI’s software before full deployment.

The company operates at the nexus of AI-powered spatial analysis, sensor intelligence, and advanced autonomous control. The company’s line of products encompasses precision geolocation algorithms, target acquisition software, and autonomous flight modules, which are backed by a rapidly growing collection of engineering achievements and patents. Additionally, SPARC’s research and development pathway demonstrates its commitment to expanding its influence in enterprise intelligence, defense, autonomous systems, public safety, and geospatial analytics.

These updates highlight the company’s broader mission to change how machines perceive, process, and navigate the real world, leveraging AI-enhanced spatial technologies. With its acquisition of the STRIKE-1 platforms, SPARC AI is now able to showcase its strengths and capabilities, enhance customer engagement, and accelerate the transition from pilot testing to real-world applications.

For more information, visit the company’s website at https://sparcai.co.

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to SPAIF are available in the company’s newsroom at https://ibn.fm/SPAIF

Disseminated on behalf of  Canamera Energy Metals Corp. (CSE: EMET) (OTCQB: EMETF) and may include paid advertising.

• Canamera is advancing a diversified portfolio of rare earth projects across Brazil, the United States, and Canada, each positioned within prospective and strategically significant jurisdictions.
• The company’s Brazilian ionic clay projects offer exposure to one of the most prospective and underdeveloped rare earth regions globally.
• U.S. expansion and targeted staking near major carbonatite systems align the company with accelerating North American critical-minerals policy support.
• Recent financings, including private placements and LIFE offerings, strengthen the balance sheet and support ongoing exploration and corporate initiatives.
• An experienced leadership team with deep exploration and capital markets expertise supports the advancement of district-scale rare earth opportunities.

Canamera Energy Metals (CSE: EMET) (OTCQB: EMETF) is a rare earth and critical metals exploration company focused on developing a diversified portfolio of district-scale opportunities across the Americas. The company targets jurisdictions with supportive regulatory frameworks, strong geological signatures, and increasing strategic relevance as global supply chains seek alternatives to China’s rare earth dominance. Its assets span ionic clay systems in Brazil, carbonatite complexes in the United States and Canada, and underexplored terrains with meaningful geophysical and geochemical indicators.

Guided by a vision to support North American and allied rare earth supply chains, Canamera concentrates on high-conviction targets where early entry, scalable land positions, and efficient exploration can potentially unlock long-term value. The company’s mission is centered on generating discoveries aligned with the accelerating global demand for critical minerals essential to defense, advanced manufacturing, clean energy technology, and next-generation electronics. Through systematic data-driven exploration, Canamera aims to advance projects aligned with growing efforts to diversify rare earth supply across strategic jurisdictions.

The company is headquartered in Edmonton, Alberta.

Projects

Turvolândia – Minas Gerais, Brazil

Canamera holds an option to acquire up to a 100% ownership interest in the Turvolândia Rare Earth Ionic Clay Project, a 29,574-hectare land package located in Minas Gerais, Brazil’s top mining state and a region responsible for over 30% of national mineral output. The project sits within a prolific corridor of REE-rich alkaline rocks associated with the Poços de Caldas Complex, currently being advanced by multiple industry developers.

Turvolândia benefits from year-round road access, established infrastructure, and supportive local communities. The geological setting includes the São Vicente and Pouso Alegre complexes, where heavily weathered horizons host REE-enriched clays and minerals such as monazite and bastnäsite.

Early exploration confirms REE-bearing clays, with upcoming work focused on property-wide soil sampling and deeper drilling to test the primary ionic clay enrichment horizon and depth potential.

São Sepé – Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

Canamera also holds an option to acquire up to a 100% interest in the São Sepé Project, which comprises 7,966 hectares in a province known for significant mining activity, including coal, gems, and titanium, and offers strong infrastructure and accessibility. The geology is dominated by an 11-km Rapakivi granite body and advanced-weathered granitoid rocks prospective for potential ionic clay REE mineralization.

While currently undrilled, initial soil sampling indicates the presence of REE enrichment potential. Three priority targets—Erica, Sara, and Maya—have been identified, with planned work including systematic soil sampling and drilling across defined zones. The project also covers a notable uranium-potassium-thorium anomaly, further supporting its rare earth potential.

Iron Hills – Colorado, USA

The Iron Hills Project consists of 85 unpatented lode claims totaling 1,756 acres, held at 100% ownership and located within the Iron Hills / Powderhorn carbonatite complex, one of the premier carbonatite-alkaline systems in the United States. Adjacent to Teck Resources’ Iron Hill deposit, host to one of the country’s largest rare earth oxide and titanium deposits, the project spans two non-contiguous claim blocks positioned along mapped intrusive contacts, felsite porphyry boundaries, and carbonatite dike projections.

Canamera staked these claims in 2025 as part of its U.S. expansion strategy supported by Rangefront Mining Services, and they are pending approval by the BLM.

Schryburt Lake – Ontario, Canada

Through a Joint Venture Option Agreement, Canamera may earn up to a 90% interest in the Schryburt Lake Project, a multi-center carbonatite-hosted REE–Nb system defined by four priority targets: Blue Jay, Goldfinch, Blackbird, and Starling.

These prospects exhibit coincident thorium radiometric highs, coherent magnetic bodies, surface anomalies, and historical trenching. Together, they outline the potential for a vertically extensive and multi-center REE–Nb system. Planned work includes a ~1,000-meter heli-supported scout drilling program following permitting and community consultation.

Garrow – Ontario, Canada

The Garrow Project covers 2,182 hectares located 43 km north-northeast of North Bay and is accessible year-round with strong local infrastructure. Canamera holds an option to acquire a 100% interest in the property.

Regional geochemical datasets include 26 samples above 500 ppm REE across Ontario, and three of these high-value anomalies occur within the Garrow Township area, making it a compelling target for early-stage exploration, including property-wide soil sampling and geophysics to delineate initial drill targets.

Market Opportunity

Rare earth elements play a central role in high-growth industries including electric vehicles, wind turbines, robotics, high-performance electronics, defense systems, and medical imaging, underpinning global trends in electrification, automation, and advanced manufacturing. Their application in permanent magnets, optics and lasers, catalysts, and nuclear and medical technologies positions them as foundational materials for both industrial innovation and national security.

Global demand for rare earth elements is projected to triple—from 59,000 tonnes in 2022 to 176,000 tonnes by 2035—driven by rapid EV adoption and wind-power expansion, with supply expected to lag by up to 30%, according to McKinsey & Company. The global REE market, valued at $3.95 billion in 2024, is forecast to reach $6.3 billion by 2030 at a compound annual growth rate of approximately 8.6%, according to Grand View Research, reflecting a sustained and widening supply-demand imbalance that supports new project development.

China currently controls approximately 60% of global rare earth mining and about 90% of processing capacity, reinforcing persistent price volatility and supply-chain concentration that have been highlighted by historical export restrictions, environmental crackdowns, and geopolitical disruptions. In response, North American governments have accelerated initiatives to strengthen domestic critical-minerals supply chains, including $1 billion in U.S. Department of Energy funding opportunities and Canada’s C$1.5 billion Critical Minerals Infrastructure Fund. Together, these structural shortages, policy tailwinds, and long-term electrification trends underscore the strategic relevance of Canamera’s diversified rare earth portfolio across Brazil, the United States, and Canada.

Leadership Team

Brad Brodeur, CEO & Director, brings more than 27 years of capital markets experience focused on venture-stage issuers, having led over $100 million in financings for junior and start-up companies following senior advisory roles at Raymond James, Canaccord Genuity, and Edward Jones.

Warren Robb, VP Exploration, brings over 35 years of global mineral exploration experience across North America, China, Africa, and South America, including senior roles with Nexus Gold, WPC Resources (now Bluestar Gold), Roxgold, TTM Resources, Majestic Gold, and Trivalence Mining.

Jelena Veljovic, CFO, brings public-company financial reporting and accounting expertise through her work with Treewalk Consulting in Vancouver, supported by prior experience in taxation and private-company accounting at Focus LLP in Calgary.

All technical and scientific information disclosed herein was reviewed and approved by Warren Robb, P.Geo (British Columbia), Vice-President, Exploration, of the Company and a “Qualified Person” as defined by National Instrument 43-101. 

For a discussion of the Company’s QA/QC and data verification processes and procedures, please see its most recently filed technical report, a copy of which is available under Canamera’s profile at www.sedarplus.ca.

For company information, visit the company’s website at https://canamerametals.com.

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to EMETF are available in the company’s newsroom at https://ibn.fm/EMETF

Disseminated on behalf of  Lahontan Gold Corp. (TSX.V: LG) (OTCQB: LGCXF) and may include paid advertising.

• Lahontan has mobilized a track-mounted MDP-1500 RC drill to its flagship Santa Fe Mine in Nevada’s Walker Lane
• The company is conducting a 25-hole, 4,000-meter drill program focused on expanding and upgrading oxide gold and silver resources
• These updates underscore Lahontan’s long-term strategy of advancing Santa Fe from exploration into planning, scheduling, and permitting for the coming year

Lahontan Gold (TSX.V: LG) (OTCQB: LGCXF) is accelerating its flagship Santa Fe Mine, located in Nevada, by organizing a reverse-circulation drill rig to conduct a strategic fall drill program aimed at upgrading and expanding the project’s shallow oxide reserve. Lahontan, known for its position within the Walker Lane trend, is shifting its focus from broad resource definition to more technical groundwork that precedes mine planning and permitting, indicating progress in Santa Fe’s efforts towards mineral exploitation (ibn.fm/2cvRQ).

Lahontan currently has a program of 25 drill holes summing up to 4,000 meters with a focus on the York and Slab zones. These areas contain near-surface oxidation mineralization where previous drilling has shown extensive silver-gold potential. The coming RC campaign is designed to transform resources from the inferred to the indicated category while spreading its overall resource tentacles, setting the company up for economic and engineering evaluation in 2026.

The company already has a solid reputation as a Nevada-focused silver and gold explorer with a significant presence in the Walker Lane. Lahontan’s Santa Fe Mine, a 26.4 km² holding with a history of producing 702,067 ounces of silver and 359,202 ounces of gold, is an indication that it is worthy of redevelopment. The project benefits from a history of heap-leach operations, favorable geology, and proven reserves of mineralization.

Lahontan operates at the intersection of metallurgical testing, geology, and long-term mine development planning. In addition to its new drill program, the company is making inroads into metallurgical studies that will help the whole mineral development process. According to the CEO and Executive Chair, Kimberly Ann, it is “vital as the company pivots from resource definition to mine planning and permitting in 2026,” emphasizing the relevance of the coordinated approach. Company Vice President (Exploration) Brian Maher personally leads the field operations.

These technical and drilling updates highlight the company’s wider mission: to transform the Santa Fe Mine into a modern, economically viable oxide gold-silver operation. Lahontan’s strategy entails expansion drilling, resource conversion, long-range planning, and metallurgical analysis with a view to cutting down risks and optimizing operations.

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

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to LGCXF are available in the company’s newsroom at ibn.fm/LGCXF

Disseminated on behalf of  Powermax Minerals Inc. (CSE: PMAX) (OTCQB: PWMXF) and may include paid advertising.

• Powermax Minerals plans a comprehensive Phase 1 exploration program at the Pinard REE Project in northern Ontario.
• The program combines historical datasets with new fieldwork, including mapping, sampling and airborne geophysics.
• Phase 2 fieldwork at the Cameron REE Project in British Columbia has been completed, with laboratory results pending.
• Both projects target light and heavy rare earth elements at a time when global demand is projected to triple by 2035.
• North American policymakers are increasing support for REE supply chains amid China’s export controls and processing dominance.

Powermax Minerals (CSE: PMAX) (OTCQB: PWMXF), a Canadian mineral exploration company, recently announced a planned detailed Phase 1 program for the newly optioned Pinard Project in northern Ontario, adding momentum to work already completed at the Cameron Project in British Columbia. Together, these initiatives reflect a growing strategic emphasis on rare earth elements (“REEs”) at a time when global demand is accelerating and supply risks are rising.

The Pinard Project covers 5,178 hectares across 255 contiguous claims in an area accessible by all-weather roads, roughly 70 kilometers northeast of Kapuskasing. According to the company, the property is underlain by the Pinard Intrusive Complex, an alkalic to peralkalic system comparable to other REE-associated intrusions across the southern Superior Province. Its geological characteristics place it within a regional trend that includes the Clay-Howells Alkaline Complex, located about 20 kilometers southwest and known to host niobium and rare earth mineralization (https://ibn.fm/XnFV2).

Powermax’s planned Phase 1 program integrates historical data with a modernized exploration approach. The company plans a full compilation of existing geological, geophysical and geochemical records, which will be digitized into a GIS framework to refine target modeling. Fieldwork will include prospecting, geological mapping and multi-media sampling (rock, soil and stream sediment) to pinpoint potential mineralized zones. Radiometric scanning and a high-resolution helicopter-borne magnetic and gamma-ray survey will further delineate structural features and radiometric anomalies.

CEO Paul Gorman describes the approach as a systematic effort to “rapidly advance our technical understanding of the Project by combining historical datasets with modern exploration techniques.” He added that this systematic approach will allow the company to efficiently identify and prioritize high-quality targets for follow-up work.

The company’s progress at Pinard follows the recent completion of Phase 2 fieldwork at the Cameron REE Project in British Columbia, announced last month (https://ibn.fm/PgY3m). Cameron spans nearly 3,000 hectares within the Monashee Group, a metamorphic and granitic region known for REE-bearing pegmatites, carbonatite zones and altered gneisses. The property’s lithologies host both light and heavy rare earth minerals, including monazite, allanite and xenotime.

Powermax’s Phase 2 program included geological mapping and extensive sampling: 100 soil samples, 100 stream sediment samples and 29 rock samples have been submitted to Agat Laboratories in Calgary. The lab, accredited under ISO/IEC 17025:2017, will analyze the samples under its 201-380 REE metals package, with select samples undergoing additional gold and graphite testing.

Rock chip sampling focused on exposures of quartz-biotite gneiss, granitic outcrops and carbonatite lenses, units frequently hosting REE mineralization. Stream sediment sampling targeted fine-grained material capable of reflecting upstream sources, while soil sampling across B-horizon layers provides coverage across both suspected mineralized zones and baseline areas.

Once lab results are processed, the data will be integrated with prior geophysical and geological findings to update Cameron’s exploration model and refine future drill targets. Powermax says this dataset will help guide the next phase of technical work.

The timing of these programs reflects broader market dynamics. Global demand for rare earth elements is projected to rise from 59,000 tonnes in 2022 to 176,000 tonnes by 2035, driven by electric vehicles, wind turbines and other clean-energy technologies. Meanwhile, China continues to dominate the supply chain, controlling roughly 60% of mining and around 90% of processing. Recent export restrictions have heightened concerns about supply security.

North American governments have been expanding support for domestic REE projects, including more than US$1 billion directed through the U.S. Defense Production Act and related initiatives. Canadian companies remain eligible for these grants and funding programs targeting supply chain resilience.

Powermax’s portfolio aligns with these policy shifts. Beyond Pinard and Cameron, the company holds options on the Atikokan REE Property in Ontario and owns 100% of the Ogden Bear Lodge Project in Wyoming, an increasingly strategic jurisdiction given U.S. defense priorities. With these assets, along with a focus on systematic geoscience, staged exploration and jurisdictionally secure locations, Powermax is positioning itself within the broader effort to expand North American REE outputs at a time of growing investor interest.

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

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to PWMXF are available in the company’s newsroom at https://ibn.fm/PWMXF

• The company posted record nine-month net income as new electronic monitoring contracts expanded across U.S. and international markets.
• Since mid-2024, SuperCom has secured more than 30 new U.S. EM contracts and entered 13 additional states.
• Its first state-level Department of Corrections contract in the U.S. marks a significant step that further strengthens the company’s competitive position.
• SuperCom’s modular PureSecurity(TM) platform integrates GPS, RFID, and cloud-based tools for home confinement, parole monitoring, and domestic-violence programs.
• Global research continues to show that EM can reduce recidivism, helping jurisdictions seek cost-efficient, community-based alternatives to incarceration.

As criminal justice systems across the United States look for cost-efficient ways to reduce incarceration and improve public safety, demand for electronic monitoring technology has grown considerably. SuperCom (NASDAQ: SPCB), a global provider of secured e-Government, IoT, and cybersecurity solutions, has been among the beneficiaries of this shift. Over the past year, SuperCom has expanded its footprint across the U.S. and achieved record financial performance as contracts accelerated in both domestic and international markets.

SuperCom recently reported record nine-month net income as its electronic monitoring contracts increased both nationwide and globally. The company posted a record net income of $6 million for the first nine months of 2025, more than doubling the prior year, along with notable growth across other metrics, including gross profit (https://ibn.fm/cRz7N). The expansion reflects a strategic refocus on its PureSecurity(TM) suite, a modular set of tools designed for offender tracking, house arrest, parole supervision, and domestic-violence protection.

The company’s expanding presence in the U.S. remains one of its most notable developments. Since mid-2024, SuperCom has secured more than 30 new EM contracts and entered 13 new states, often replacing established providers. This rise in state and county-level adoption signals growing confidence in the company’s technology and its ability to support courts, corrections agencies, and community-supervision programs. A recent highlight was SuperCom’s first state-level Department of Corrections contract, a milestone that demonstrates progress in competing for higher-volume, multi-year public-sector agreements (https://ibn.fm/CUusJ).

The DOC contract, achieved through a strategic partnership signed earlier this year, was awarded under Arizona’s statewide Behavioral Health services and includes the deployment of SuperCom’s GPS-based electronic monitoring technology as part of a broader suite of rehabilitative and supervision services. Implementation is expected to begin in January 2026.

SuperCom’s PureSecurity(TM) platform combines GPS, RFID, and cloud-based monitoring to offer various configurations for different supervision environments. PureOne is a single-piece GPS bracelet used for continuous monitoring indoors and outdoors, while PureCom serves as the RF base station for house-arrest programs. PureTag, PureBeacon, and PureTrack(TM) extend capabilities into indoor monitoring and smartphone-based tracking. For domestic-violence protection, SuperCom offers PureShield(TM) in the U.S. and PureProtect(TM) in the EU, mobile applications that alert victims and authorities when an offender violates proximity restrictions.

The platform is supported by PureMonitor, the company’s cloud system that compiles location data, compliance alerts, and reporting tools that can be accessed across devices.

Electronic monitoring has drawn the attention of policymakers for its potential to offer structured supervision without the high costs of traditional incarceration. Research from multiple academic studies supports its effectiveness. In Argentina, electronic monitoring reduced one-year recidivism by as much as 48%, while a study in Australia reported a 28% reduction in two-year reoffending rates. In France, the likelihood of reoffending within five years decreased by roughly 10%. These findings illustrate how courts can use EM to support rehabilitation and maintain community ties while still enforcing restrictions.

For SuperCom, these trends align with jurisdictions seeking alternatives that balance public safety with budget pressures. Many counties and states face overcrowded facilities and rising operating costs, making electronic monitoring an appealing supplement or replacement for certain categories of incarceration. SuperCom emphasizes that EM can also expand the reach of domestic-violence protection programs, where proximity-alert tools can provide real-time warnings and documentation for law-enforcement responses.

The company’s recent run of contract wins has been concentrated heavily in the United States, where it has increasingly displaced competitors. Entering 13 new states since 2024 suggests that agencies seeking new suppliers have been receptive to SuperCom’s approach, pricing structure, and technology. Several contracts have included multi-year terms, providing recurring revenue visibility and strengthening its market position.

Globally, interest in EM technology has also continued to rise, driven by the same pressures affecting U.S. jurisdictions: population growth, cost constraints, and a shift toward community-based supervision models. SuperCom’s international deployments span EMEA and NAFTA. The company has indicated that it expects this trend to continue as more governments examine evidence showing reductions in reoffending and improved reintegration outcomes.

Financially, the record nine-month net income reported in 2025 reflects this broad expansion. While the company has not released full-year results, its performance through the first three quarters underscores the steady growth in EM demand. As revenue from long-term contracts accumulates, margins have improved, in part due to the scalability of the company’s solutions.

The electronic monitoring market is undergoing significant change as agencies evaluate new technologies and suppliers. With continued expansion in the U.S., a growing international footprint, and a product suite aligned with correctional and public-safety needs, SuperCom has emerged as an increasingly prominent participant in this expanding market for digital supervision and monitoring technologies.

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

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to SPCB are available in the company’s newsroom at http://ibn.fm/SPCB

Disseminated on behalf of  ESGold Corp. (CSE: ESAU) (OTCQB: ESAUF) and may include paid advertising.

• ESGold Corp., a development-stage company committed to the acquisition, exploration, and development of high-quality mineral properties worldwide, is optimistic that gold and silver demand will continue to grow in the new year.
• Gold continues to grow as an increasingly popular investment hedge, representing a major opportunity for ESGold.
• The company has doubled down on its Montauban gold and silver project, with development ahead of schedule, and is on track for gold and silver production by 2026.
• The company has inked a C$9 million binding term sheet with Ocean Partners UK Ltd. to advance its operations on the facility, demonstrating its confidence in the project.

ESGold (CSE: ESAU) (OTCQB: ESAUF), a development-stage company committed to acquiring, exploring, and developing high-quality mineral properties worldwide, is optimistic that gold and silver demand will continue to grow in the new year. The demand for gold and silver in technology applications, powered by the massive growth in AI, coupled with the ongoing search for more stable investment options and ways to preserve wealth, point to continued strength in gold and silver markets.

According to the World Gold Council, technology demand for gold reached approximately 326 tons last year, a 7% year-over-year increase. This translates to more than 10.5 million ounces consumed across electronics and industrial applications (https://ibn.fm/ofPp2). Over and above that, 2025 is on track to become the second-best-performing year for gold on a price basis, having grown in value by 56.7%, but still well behind the best-performing year, 1979, when the value grew by 126.6% (https://ibn.fm/WaB43).

This points to gold serving as a traditional hedge during times of uncertainty, alongside its growing adoption worldwide. Experts and analysts foresee continued gains into 2026, which ESGold aims to capitalize on heavily. This growth, coupled with the AI boom, presents excellent opportunities for the company, particularly as it works to cement its position as a leader in its space while creating shareholder value.

With hardware at the backbone of AI algorithms and their reliance on gold and silver for circuit boards and data hubs, ESGold projects a surge in gold demand going forward. As such, it is doubling down on its Montauban facility. The facility is rich in gold and silver, with recent AI-enhanced 3D models of the area revealing continuous, stacked mineralized zones that define multiple gold- and silver-rich sulphide horizons extending beyond historical mine workings.

“The Montauban model is the most significant technical milestone in the project’s modern history,” noted Gordon Robb, ESGold’s CEO and Director. “What was once seen as a series of small, isolated deposits now seems to emerge as a continuous multilayered mineral system with dimensions not previously recognized at Montauban,” he added (https://ibn.fm/9uAar).

As a demonstration of the company’s confidence in the facility and its bullish stance on the current market, ESGold recently inked a C$9 million binding term sheet with Ocean Partners UK Ltd, affording it flexibility as it continues to explore and advance the Montauban project (https://ibn.fm/euFjN). With an investment of C$15 million already made so far on the property, covering roads, power access, and a 20,000 sq. ft. processing facility, this agreement will guarantee a stable, long-term sales channel for all its gold and silver dore, while further creating certainty around revenue realization and reinforcing the project’s economic foundation.

All operations at the Montauban facility are ahead of schedule. The company is on track to bring gold and silver to market by 2026, positioning itself ahead of its slower-moving peers. ESGold continues to demonstrate what can be done with exemplary leadership and the right resources, factors that Mr. Robb continues to emphasize, even as he helps steer the company towards becoming a leader in its space.

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

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to ESAUF are available in the company’s newsroom at https://ibn.fm/ESAUF

Disseminated on behalf of  Ucore Rare Metals Inc. (TSX.V: UCU) (OTCQX: UURAF) and may include paid advertising.

• Ucore Rare Metals is developing a first-of-its-kind North American processing hub dedicated to refining samarium and gadolinium oxides.
• The U.S. Geological Survey’s draft 2025 supply-risk model identifies samarium as the most at-risk mineral among the 50 materials evaluated.
• Ucore’s Kingston facility is part of a wider company strategy to establish a Western alternative to China’s dominant magnet-materials infrastructure.

As the United States faces its most severe supply-chain warning yet for a key defense mineral, one project in Canada has suddenly become more strategically important than ever. The latest U.S. Geological Survey draft ranking shows samarium carrying the highest supply disruption risk among all evaluated critical minerals for 2025, a development that directly elevates the relevance of Ucore Rare Metals (TSX.V: UCU) (OTCQX: UURAF) and its planned Ontario-based samarium-gadolinium refining facility. 

Ucore Rare Metals is developing a first-of-its-kind North American processing hub dedicated to refining samarium and gadolinium oxides, part of a broader strategy to rebuild a complete, Western-controlled supply chain for critical materials used in advanced manufacturing, energy technologies and defense applications. The U.S. Geological Survey’s draft 2025 supply-risk model identifies samarium as the most at-risk mineral among the 50 materials evaluated, placing it at the highest potential for supply disruption due to heavy concentration of global production in a single country. According to the USGS, samarium ranks number one on the agency’s overall disruption index, while gadolinium also appears in the high-risk tier due to similar production and processing concentration trends.

This finding follows years of analysis showing that rare-earth metals, particularly those used in permanent magnet alloys, are among the most vulnerable materials in the U.S. industrial supply chain. Samarium’s elevated ranking is especially notable because it is essential for samarium-cobalt (“SmCo”) permanent magnets, which are prized for their high-temperature performance and resistance to demagnetization. These magnets remain indispensable in aerospace, defense, naval propulsion and critical energy applications where other types of magnets cannot safely operate.

China’s dominance is the central reason for the heightened risk signal. The USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries confirm that China is the world’s leading producer and processor of rare-earth elements, controlling the vast majority of global supply, including samarium production streams derived from rare-earth separation facilities. With the U.S. dependent on imports for nearly all commercial quantities of separated rare-earth materials, the combination of geopolitical tension and supply concentration makes samarium vulnerability a pressing strategic concern. SmCo magnets are incorporated into guidance systems, high-performance electric motors, radar components, precision navigation technologies and various classified defense applications. Their performance under extreme heat makes a reliable supply of samarium and gadolinium technically irreplaceable in several mission-critical systems.

This worsening supply-chain imbalance is precisely what Canada moved to address when the federal government announced up to C$36.3 million in conditional funding to support Ucore’s Kingston project. The announcement noted that the contribution would come from two sources: Natural Resources Canada’s Global Partnerships Initiative and FedDev Ontario. The funding is intended to help Ucore establish a North American facility dedicated to processing samarium and gadolinium oxides for the samarium-cobalt magnet supply chain, with all funding contingent on standard due-diligence reviews and final agreements This represents one of the most targeted federal investments to date in a facility explicitly aligned with defense-grade magnet materials.

Ucore’s Kingston facility is part of a wider company strategy to establish a Western alternative to China’s dominant magnet-materials infrastructure. The company is also advancing its RapidSX technology platform, which is designed to improve the efficiency of rare-earth separation by enhancing traditional solvent-extraction processes. RapidSX can achieve separation performance comparable to conventional systems while reducing plant footprint and processing times, a characteristic that could make domestic separation more cost-competitive with entrenched Chinese operations. 

The Kingston plant is designed to focus on mid-stream processing, converting mixed rare-earth feedstocks into high-purity samarium and gadolinium oxides suitable for downstream alloying into SmCo magnet materials. This fills a critical gap because both the United States and Canada currently lack commercial-scale facilities capable of producing separated heavy rare-earth oxides at purity levels needed for magnet manufacturers. By building this processing tier in North America, Ucore aims to enable a more complete mine-to-magnet supply chain that does not rely on China for separation, refinement or high-performance magnet feedstocks.

The timing could not be more consequential. The USGS’s new risk ranking marks the clearest signal yet that samarium is among the minerals most vulnerable to geopolitical disruption. With demand from aerospace, defense and electrification technologies expected to rise, the need for stable, Western-aligned processing capacity becomes increasingly urgent. The Ucore Kingston initiative offers a direct response to this vulnerability by establishing a facility capable of refining the specific oxides required for critical magnet alloys, backed by a conditional federal commitment and a technology platform built around greater efficiency and scalability.

As the U.S. and its allies work to strengthen critical-mineral resilience, Ucore Rare Metals stands at the center of a strategically important development in the supply chain. The risk signal is flashing red, and Ucore’s Kingston facility provides a tangible path to securing materials that modern defense systems cannot operate without.

For more information, visit www.Ucore.com.

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to UURAF are available in the company’s newsroom at https://ibn.fm/UURAF

Disseminated on behalf of LaFleur Minerals Inc. (CSE: LFLR) (OTCQB: LFLRF) and may include paid advertising.

• In recent months, the gold market has surged above $4,000 per ounce, with some analysts predicting a possible $5,000 per ounce record during the coming year
• Gold explorer and near-term producer LaFleur Minerals is preparing to restart operations at its flagship operation in the renowned Abitibi Greenstone Belt of Quebec, a prime location in the heart of Val-d’Or’s active gold camp
• The company benefits from a de-risked profile with a district-scale gold exploration project, plus a historically producing, fully permitted, gold mill, forming a vertically integrated gold producer model
• LaFleur will have the results of a Preliminary Economic Assessment in January along with assay results from test drilling to help provide guidance as the operation gets up and running during the early part of the coming year

Investors who are long on gold have been enjoying the meteoric rise of the precious metal market this year, which has kept gold over $4,000 for weeks even amid dips for profit-taking (https://ibn.fm/658ng). Some analysts remain optimistic gold will even top $5,000 in the coming months amid a cooling economy, a significant increase over the $1,600 an ounce price post-COVID only three years ago. 

“Third quarter supply-demand data supports a continued central bank bid. The positive structural picture shows inelastic demand from central banks and ETF investment diverting supply from the jewelry market,” Deutsche Bank said in a note to clients regarding its forecast for prices to continue to rise (https://ibn.fm/thWDL). “Also, overall growth in demand outpaces supply.”

Gold explorer and near-term producer LaFleur Minerals (CSE: LFLR) (OTCQB: LFLRF) anticipates firing up its flagship operation in the renowned Abitibi Gold Belt of Quebec early in 2026, sourcing material from its district-scale Swanson Gold Project and producing it through its de-risked 750 tpd capacity, fully permitted and refurbished Beacon Gold Mill asset. 

The market factors coinciding with the timing of the operation launch are exciting for LaFleur, which is focused on processing its own feed while also contemplating the potential of supplementing its revenues with custom work contracts for other miners working nearby Abitibi claims, given its strategic position in Canada’s largest gold producing belt, flush with nearby gold deposits – a region currently undergoing increasing consolidation and M&A activity such as recently announced IAMGOLD and Fresnillo/Probe deals.  

“There is the option to upgrade the mill as we bring more projects into the fold. So certainly, this is just the beginning. … But basically all the technical studies and all the work that we’re doing is focused on Swanson,” LaFleur CEO Paul Ténière said during an October interview with Crux Investor (https://ibn.fm/pNVQx).

“The Beacon Gold Mill is about 45 to 50 kilometers south of Swanson, and from the very beginning, as part of this PEA (Preliminary Economic Assessment), we’ve looked at integrating these two projects together. Traditionally they were kind of looked at separately,” he added. “On the geology side, we’re doing a resource update. As part of that, we’re actually doing some twin holes and other additional holes at the Swanson deposit. We’ve got at least a dozen holes that are being done there. We’re more than halfway through that now and we’re just waiting for assay results to come back from that.”

LaFleur expects to have the results of its PEA available in January 2026, just a month away. With the Beacon Gold Mill’s recommissioning already able to draw on existing on-site stockpiles for initial feed and test runs, the company is able to press forward faster than many of its peers toward generating cash flow.

“Sometimes with PEA levels you’ll make assumptions with metallurgical testing — recovery rates based on maybe some older studies that have been done — but in this case we’re actually going to have tangible data,” Ténière said. “There’s cleanup to do, there’s maintenance to do at the mill. … So that everything is tuned up properly, so that when Swanson comes into play in early 2026, everything is running smoothly.”

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

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to LFLRF are available in the company’s newsroom at https://ibn.fm/LFLRF

Qualified Person Statement:

All scientific and technical information contained in this article has been reviewed and approved by Louis Martin, P.Geo. (OGQ), Exploration Manager and Technical Advisor of the company and considered a Qualified Person for the purposes of NI 43-101.