Regulatory Accountability: Canada has shut its overseas human-rights watchdog CORE, created in 2019 to handle complaints involving Canadian mining, oil and gas firms—sparking outrage from activists. Mine Safety & Expansion: Newmont says it’s applying lessons from last year’s Red Chris collapse as B.C. approves underground block-cave expansion, aiming to prevent a repeat of the July 2025 incident. Local Ownership Push (Gold): Guyana President Irfaan Ali unveiled plans for a national mining consortium so citizens can hold stakes in large-scale gold opportunities through a locally owned company. Local Control (Gold): Ghana is weighing transferring control of Gold Fields’ Tarkwa mine to local firms when leases expire, with bids judged on jobs, rehabilitation and community infrastructure. Commodity Shock (Lithium): Zimbabwe’s lithium sector warns the price crash has forced job retrenchments and delayed projects, blaming a plunge from 2022 highs to recent lows. FX Pressure (Mining): Zimbabwe’s Chamber of Mines says foreign-currency shortages are choking expansion and beneficiation, urging direct access to the willing-buyer willing-seller market. Operational Resilience (Copper): Ok Tedi reports full operations despite low Fly River levels, with alternative transport routes being assessed for fuel and supplies. Exploration Momentum (Copper/Silver): Kaoko Metals will drill its Chalkos copper-silver project in Namibia after a site visit, targeting Donkey Hill and Otniel. Exploration Pipeline (Uis): Askari Metals identified seven new pegmatite targets at its Uis project in Erongo ahead of later-year drilling. Illegal Gold & Sanctions: Colombia’s defense minister asked the U.S. to broaden sanctions tied to illegal gold funding the Clan del Golfo cartel. Environmental Enforcement: UK regulators ordered Cleveland Potash to pay £215,000 after mine brine discharge killed about 700 fish in 2022. Crypto Mining Backlash: Residents in Alabama gathered hundreds of signatures against a proposed bitcoin mining center, citing noise and pollution concerns.