Newmont’s Red Chris mine in British Columbia has secured an amended Environmental Assessment Certificate and Mines Act permit, allowing a shift from open-pit to underground block caving and extending operations into the mid-2040s. The copper-gold porphyry deposit in the Golden Triangle hosts an estimated 20 million oz of gold and 13 billion lb of copper, with the block cave expected to lift Canada’s copper output by about 15%. The project entails several billion dollars in capital, around 1,800 construction jobs and roughly 1,500 operating roles at peak.

Goldman Sachs has cut its end‑2026 gold price forecast by US$500/oz to US$4,900/oz after the US Federal Reserve, under new chair Kevin Warsh, signalled a hawkish shift that has pushed market-implied December rate hike odds to 87%. Spot gold has already fallen to about US$4,100/oz, down 27% from its near‑US$5,600/oz January peak, with three consecutive monthly losses between March and May and a 4% year‑to‑date decline. Goldman warns a 2026 year‑end target as low as US$4,400/oz is possible if rates rise, partly offset by ongoing central‑bank buying of roughly 50 tonnes/month this year and 40 tonnes/month next year.

Panama’s environment ministry reports that First Quantum Minerals’ suspended Cobre Panama operation has achieved about 88% compliance with 370 commitments under its Category III Environmental Impact Assessment and environmental management programmes, with deficiencies centred on biodiversity management, ecological restoration and environmental monitoring. The SGS-led audit reviewed legal, fiscal, environmental and operational performance across the two open pits, processing plant, dual power stations and port, and found no “insurmountable structural failures”. An inter-agency task force will now use the findings to advise on a potential restart of the mine, which produced roughly 350,000 tonnes of copper in 2022.