Panama Copper Restart Watch: A government-commissioned audit of First Quantum’s shuttered Cobre Panamá mine found it broadly compliant (88%), but flagged gaps on reforestation, habitat restoration and tailings/water risks—raising odds of a negotiated restart as Panama weighs next steps. B.C. Block-Cave Push: British Columbia approved the Red Chris expansion, moving the copper-gold operation from open pit to underground block cave and extending mine life to at least 2038, with thousands of jobs and renewed focus on “fall of ground” safety after last year’s tunnel incident. Regulatory Greenlight for Red Chris: Imperial Metals said key provincial authorizations clear the way for the transition, supporting a final investment decision later this year and boosting copper output by about 15%. Critical Minerals Processing in India: India is set to approve incentives for lithium and nickel processing units, including production-linked support and import duty waivers on capital goods, aiming to reduce dependence on overseas refiners. Lead Cleanup Debate in Montana: The EPA proposed cutting the residential lead cleanup trigger from 1,200 to 456 ppm, expanding the testing/remediation boundary and sparking pushback from residents who want stricter protection. Bitcoin Mining Pressure: JPMorgan says bitcoin mining economics have worsened in 2026 as BTC trades below estimated all-in costs, squeezing miners and driving more coin selling. Illegal Mining Crackdown (South Africa): A multi-agency operation in Pilgrim’s Rest led to 36 arrests tied to illegal gold mining, with equipment and chemicals seized. Strait of Hormuz Caution: Oil shipments resumed after a U.S.-Iran MoU, but shipping remains wary with hundreds of vessels still waiting and reports of a mine near Oman adding uncertainty.