Breaking
Safe Future Tomorrow
Author

admin

Browsing
Politics

Trudeau says 51st state is distraction from Trump tariff threat, acknowledges facing ‘successful negotiator’

Canada’s outgoing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau suggested that President-elect Trump’s suggestion that Canada become America’s ’51st state’ was a distraction from the tariff threat. 

‘I know that as a successful negotiator, he likes to keep people a little off balance. The 51st state, that’s not going to happen,’ Trudeau told MSNBC’s ‘Inside with Jen Psaki’ on Sunday. ‘It’s just a non-starter. Canadians are incredibly proud of being Canadian. But people are now talking about that, as opposed to talking about what impact 25% tariffs [has] on steel and aluminum coming into the United States, on energy, whether it’s oil and gas or electricity.’

‘No American wants to pay 25% more for electricity or oil and gas coming in from Canada,’ Trudeau said in the interview with Psaki, President Biden’s former White House press secretary. ‘That’s something I think people need to pay a little more attention to. And perhaps the idea of a 51st state is distracting a little bit from a very real question that will increase the cost of living for Americans and harm a trading relationship that works extremely well.’

Trump has threatened to impose 25% tariffs on all Canadian imports. The president-elect also said that if Canada merged with the U.S., taxes would decrease and there would be no tariffs. 

The president-elect has also taken shots at Trudeau, referring to him as the ‘governor’ of Canada. Last Monday, Trudeau announced that he would resign as Canada’s prime minister once his Liberal Party chooses a new leader on March 9. 

‘From my very first conversations with him back in 2016, he told me how much he admires Canada, how much he appreciates and likes us, so there is a certain amount of flattery in this that he thinks that we are as great as we are,’ Trudeau said of Trump on Sunday. ‘He’s right, we are great. We’re also very, very proud of being Canadian. If you talk to any Canadian, you ask them to define what it is to be Canadian, they’ll talk about all sorts of different things, but one of the things we will point out is, ‘and we’re not Americans.’’ 

On Trudeau’s trip to Mar-a-Lago in November, the Canadian prime minister said the topic of the U.S. annexing Canada did come up, but Trudeau said once he joked that Canada could annex Vermont or California as a sort of trade, Trump ‘immediately decided it was not that funny anymore, and we moved on to a different conversation.’ 

‘This isn’t out of the blue that he’s doing this, but my focus has to be not on something that he’s talking about that will not ever happen, but more on something that might well happen, that if he does choose to go forward with tariffs that raise the costs of just about everything for American citizens, that on top of that, we’re going to have a robust response to that,’ Trudeau said. 

‘We are ready to respond with tariffs as necessary,’ Trudeau said. 

Canadian officials say that if Trump follows through with his threat of punishing tariffs, Canada would consider slapping retaliatory tariffs on American orange juice, toilets and some steel products. 

Trudeau recalled that Trump previously put tariffs on imports of steel and aluminum during his first term, and Canada responded by putting tariffs on bourbon, Harley Davidson motorcycles, orange juice, playing cards and other such items that Trudeau argued Canadians could easily find replacements for. 

‘It ended up causing a lot of loss in American businesses for whom Canada is their number one export partner. We are the number one export partner for about 35 different U.S. states, and anything that thickens the border between us ends up costing American citizens and American jobs. That’s not what President Trump got elected to do,’ Trudeau said. ‘I know he got elected to try and make life easier for all Americans, to support American workers. These are things that are going to hurt them.’ 

Trump said last week that the U.S. does not need oil – or anything else – from Canada, but almost a quarter of the oil that the U.S. consumes each day comes from Canada. The energy-rich western province of Alberta exports 4.3 million barrels of oil a day to the U.S., according to the Associated Press. Data from the United States Energy Information Administration shows that the U.S. consumes 20 million barrels a day, and produces about 13.2 million barrels a day.

Canada, a founding partner of NATO and home to more than 40 million people, is also the top export destination for 36 U.S. states. Nearly $2.7 billion worth of goods and services cross the border each day.

Trump has said that he would reconsider his tariff threat if Canada made improvements in managing security at the Canada-U.S. border, which he and his advisers see as a potential entry point for illegal immigrants.

Trudeau has said that less than 1% of illegal immigrants and fentanyl cross into the U.S. from Canada.

Nevertheless, after his meeting with Trump at Mar-a-Lago, Trudeau announced an increase in spending on border security, expressing willingness to address Trump’s concerns in hopes that he would reconsider his tariff threat.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Related Topics

  • Justin Trudeau
  • Canada
  • Trade
  • Trump Transition
  • US Energy
This post appeared first on FOX NEWS
Keep Reading
World

Tsunami advisory triggered after 6.9 magnitude earthquake rattles southwest Japan

Japan’s Meteorological Agency has issued a tsunami advisory after a 6.9 magnitude earthquake occurred off the coast of southwest Japan.

The quake struck shortly after 9:19 p.m. local time (7:19 a.m. ET), the agency said, triggering an advisory for Miyazaki province, in the island of Kyushu, as well as Japan’s southern Kochi prefecture.

Authorities have urged locals not to enter the sea or approach the coast until the advisory is lifted, the country’s meteorological agency said on X.

This is a developing story and will be updated.

This post appeared first on cnn.com
Keep Reading
Investing

Westport Announces Director Retirement

Westport Fuel Systems Inc. (‘Westport’) (TSX:WPRT Nasdaq:WPRT), announces that Brenda Eprile has retired from Westport’s Board of Directors (the ‘Board’), effective January 6, 2025. The Board is currently evaluating alternatives with respect to the appointment of an independent director to fill the vacancy.

‘On behalf of the entire Board of Directors, I would like to express our deepest gratitude to Brenda for her exceptional leadership and unwavering dedication throughout her 11 year tenure,’ said Dan Hancock, Westport Fuel Systems Board Chair. ‘Brenda has been an invaluable part of our team, and we wish her well in her next chapter.’

About Westport Fuel Systems

At Westport Fuel Systems, we are driving innovation to power a cleaner tomorrow. We are a leading supplier of advanced fuel delivery components and systems for clean, low-carbon fuels such as natural gas, renewable natural gas, propane, and hydrogen to the global transportation industry. Our technology delivers the performance and fuel efficiency required by transportation applications and the environmental benefits that address climate change and urban air quality challenges. Headquartered in Vancouver, Canada, with operations in Europe, Asia, North America, and South America, we serve our customers in more than 70 countries with leading global transportation brands. At Westport Fuel Systems, we think ahead. For more information, visit www.wfsinc.com.

Investor Inquiries:
Investor Relations
T: +1 604-718-2046
E: invest@wfsinc.com

Primary Logo

News Provided by GlobeNewswire via QuoteMedia

This post appeared first on investingnews.com
Keep Reading
Politics

Trump can power the US into the future with a muscular nuclear energy policy

President-elect Donald J. Trump’s return to the White House comes at a critical moment for America’s energy future. We are experiencing unprecedented demand for reliable power to fuel burgeoning technologies like artificial intelligence and quantum computing. That demand is expected to grow exponentially over the coming years. In President Biden’s Washington, Democrats have lurched further and further to the left in a failed attempt to excite his political base by pushing unrealistic dreams of an electric grid powered only by unpredictable wind and solar. Fortunately, Trump understands that our energy security, technological edge, and national security are at stake. We have already seen the premium that the new administration places on good energy policy with the announcement of the brand-new National Energy Council.

The amount of energy used by AI data centers alone is expected to skyrocket over the next decade. Every time a new technology is announced, or there is a breakthrough in quantum computing, there is a corresponding increase in energy demand. Other countries around the world, particularly China, are building massive data centers and the energy infrastructure necessary to power advancements in AI. Meanwhile, America’s energy sector has been hamstrung for four years by policymaking that has sought to restrict and contract energy production rather than unlock its full potential.

With the past as prologue, Trump’s first term and his record on supporting reliable nuclear power as a vital energy source provide cause for optimism about the new direction of U.S. energy policy. Trump has a track record of delivering results on nuclear power and demonstrating what is possible when we put America first.

Within the first six months of his first term, Trump announced an initiative to unlock the power of American innovation on the industry. He said, ‘First, we will begin to revive and expand our nuclear energy sector — which I’m so happy about — which produces clean, renewable and emissions-free energy.’

In 2019, Trump’s Department of Energy (DOE) finalized loan guarantees that totaled $12 billion to finance the construction of the Vogtle nuclear power plant in Georgia. This was the first nuclear plant to begin construction in the U.S. in decades. This accomplishment was not just about creating jobs or expanding our production capacity. It was a downpayment on our future technological innovation.

That same year, President Trump issued a presidential memorandum to establish the United States Nuclear Fuel Working Group. It was a meaningful acknowledgment that there are national security implications around the need to produce nuclear power. Ultimately, the administration proposed a Uranium Reserve Program at DOE to ensure that America has a secure energy future.

Trump’s forward-looking approach also provided an important counter to China. Previous administrations had ignored the efforts that China was undertaking to dominate both the global nuclear and AI markets. The Trump administration, however, took concrete action to restrict nuclear exports to China and was successful in convincing allies to buy nuclear technology from America rather than China.

Many Democrats in Washington want you to believe that their green agenda is the only way forward and refuse to entertain any other ideas, no matter how worthy they are. Most Americans already understand the reality that powering AI and other future technologies with only solar and wind power is a fantasy. They are unreliable, uneconomical, and unable to provide the amount of power America needs. Thankfully, President Trump has already laid much of the groundwork to protect existing nuclear capacity and invest in the future. We now have a real opportunity to add nuclear capacity through new plants or by reviving shuttered plants that we desperately need. However, we must ensure that our existing nuclear fleet, which has seen a number of closures in the past decade, is preserved. This two-fold strategy will provide the additional around-the-clock power we need, support the current infrastructure, and power technological innovation.

Energy policy does not exist in a vacuum. It is inextricably tied to America’s technological future and global economic leadership. Protecting existing nuclear capacity and expanding it means we can power more AI, more quantum computing, and more technological innovation at home, all with power that runs around-the-clock in every weather condition. Every advancement in nuclear technology strengthens our national security and ensures we don’t cede our technological edge to China or Russia.

During a campaign stop in Pennsylvania, Trump touted the benefits of nuclear energy and pledged to embrace it as an energy source. He said, ‘I will do rapid approvals for new energy infrastructure, and we will embrace all forms of energy including nuclear. Nuclear is a great energy.’ China is aggressively expanding its industrial and technological infrastructure. We can’t let inadequate energy capacity hold us back. I am confident that the team that President Trump has assembled, including North Dakota Gov. Doug Bergum at the Department of the Interior and Liberty Energy CEO Chris Wright at DOE, understand this.

Related Topics

  • Opinion
  • Politics
  • US Energy
  • Donald Trump
This post appeared first on FOX NEWS
Keep Reading
Politics

Incoming Trump administration given new blueprint on ways to weaken Iran: ‘unique opportunity’

A new report shared with the Trump transition team and shown to Fox News Digital recommends drastic steps to curtail the Iranian regime just days away from the start of President-elect Donald Trump’s second term in office.

‘President-elect Trump now has the unique opportunity to push back on the regime in a moment of its significant decline. By using diplomatic, informational, military, and economic means to hold Tehran accountable, he can promote regional stability and a new Middle East,’ Ambassador Mark D. Wallace, CEO and founder of United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI), told Fox News Digital.

The UANI report, titled ‘A 100 Day Plan for the Incoming Trump Administration on Iran’ is a blueprint for the administration to employ against Iran and has been shared with the Trump transition team, according to its authors.

‘Since 1979, Iran has been the world’s number one state sponsor of terrorism, the major cause of instability in the Middle East, and has brutally repressed its people with impunity,’ Wallace said.

The report recommends that the incoming Trump administration take a comprehensive, whole-of-government approach across, as Ambassador Wallace said, the diplomatic, informational, military and economic sectors alongside allies to properly hold Iran accountable for its regional destabilization efforts.

Iran fears the incoming Trump administration, said co-author of the report Jason Brodsky, adding he believes there is a strategic opportunity for Washington and its allies to capitalize on that fear to advance U.S. interests.

‘Rushing into premature diplomacy risks undermining that dynamic,’ Brodsky, policy director of UANI, told Fox News Digital. 

The report outlines several specific policy prescriptions in order to weaken Iran and argues that the U.S. government should first build a pressure campaign against Iran which will sharpen the regime’s choices.

In this new policy approach, the United States should learn from Israel’s experience since Oct. 7 about how to strike the Islamic Republic militarily without triggering a wider war.

‘If the Israelis can do so without triggering a wider war, so can the U.S. government,’ Brodsky said.

The authors assert that President-elect Trump should deliver a major policy address to warn Tehran that the U.S. would not hesitate to use military force to destroy Iran’s nuclear program if it takes steps to further advance its capabilities. The International Atomic Energy Agency reported in early December enriched uranium to weapons-grade levels. French President Emmanuel Macron said Iran’s nuclear program is nearing the ‘point of no return’ with many seeing it as a method to build leverage against the incoming Trump administration.

Additionally, the report’s authors say the incoming Republican administration could also use targeted strikes against Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps commanders, Quds Force and Intelligence Ministry assets inside Iran if Iran or its proxies harm Americans. Targeted strikes should also hit Iran’s repressive apparatus through cyber and kinetic means if security forces violently suppress innocent protesters, as happened in 2009 after the disputed presidential election and in 2022 following the death of Mahsa Amini, who had been arrested by the morality police for not covering her hair with a hijab.

U.S. strikes or retaliations against the regime, the report notes, have been non-existent or focused on the Islamic Republic’s proxies.

‘That dynamic only emboldens Iranian decision-making to calculate the benefits of these operations against Americans outweigh the costs and to doubt the U.S. resolve to defend its interests. The incoming Trump administration should reverse that calculus and one way to do so is to start holding Iran’s regime responsible on Iranian soil for the terrorism of its proxies,’ Brodsky explained. The U.S. should also build a military defector program and encourage political and military actors across the Islamic Republic, including within the Revolutionary Guard and other security forces, to defect from the regime. 

A key source of Iranian revenue is provided by its vast oil exports and allows Iran to sustain its terror across the Middle East through its ‘Axis of Resistance’ proxy networks. In 2024, Iran exported 587 million barrels of oil, an increase of 10.75% compared to the previous year due to OPEC cuts and lack of sanctions enforcement. 

Claire Jungman, co-author and director of the Tanker Tracking Program and chief of staff of UANI, told Fox News Digital that Iran’s oil exports have surged to nearly 2 million barrels per day—the highest in five years—under President Biden’s administration, reflecting weakened sanctions enforcement and the impact of billions in unfrozen assets. 

‘The incoming Trump administration has a critical opportunity to halt Tehran’s illicit revenue streams and restore maximum pressure on the regime,’ Jungman added.

Iran is the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism and is a key source of regional Islamist terror groups including Hezbollah and Hamas, the group responsible for the Oct. 7 attacks against Israel. The State Department estimates that Iran provides some $100 million annually to Hamas and helps fund Hezbollah with about $700 million a year.

UANI cautions against some in Western capitals who wish to seek negotiation with Tehran and views this flawed approach of endless negotiations as a way Iran can buy time and avert pressure. Ambassador Wallace said the previous maximum pressure campaign worked, and it’s time to reapply this policy as the regime faces setback after setback as it became embroiled in regional conflict with Israel after October 7th.

‘With the loss of its proxies and the support of the Iranian people … the Iranian regime’s days are numbered and, inevitably, the brave Iranian people will rise against the weakened corrupt mullahs,’ Wallace said.

Related Topics

  • Iran
  • Middle East
  • Israel
  • Trump Transition
  • Terrorism
  • Worldwide Conflicts
This post appeared first on FOX NEWS
Keep Reading
World

Baby gorilla rescued from cargo hold of Turkish Airlines plane

A young gorilla rescued from a plane’s cargo hold is recovering at an Istanbul zoo, officials said Sunday, while wildlife officers consider returning him to his natural habitat.

The 5-month-old gorilla was discovered in a box on a Turkish Airlines flight from Nigeria to Thailand last month. After a public competition, he has been named Zeytin, or Olive, and is recuperating at Polonezkoy Zoo.

“Of course, what we want and desire is for the baby gorilla … to continue its life in its homeland,” Fahrettin Ulu, regional director of Istanbul Nature Conservation and National Parks, said Sunday.

“What is important is that an absolutely safe environment is established in the place it goes to, which is extremely important for us.”

In the weeks since he was found, Zeytin has gained weight and is showing signs of recovering from his traumatic journey.

“When he first came, he was very shy, he would stay where we left him,” said veterinarian Gulfem Esmen. “He doesn’t have that shyness now. He doesn’t even care about us much. He plays games by himself.”

Both gorilla species — the western and eastern gorillas, which populate central Africa’s remote forests and mountains — are classified as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

As Istanbul emerges as a major air hub between continents, customs officials have increasingly intercepted illegally traded animals. In October, 17 young Nile crocodiles and 10 monitor lizards were found in an Egyptian passenger’s luggage at the city’s Sabiha Gokcen Airport.

This post appeared first on cnn.com
Keep Reading
World

Taiwan sees threefold surge in suspected Chinese espionage cases

Taiwan has seen a “significant rise” in the number of individuals charged with spying for China in recent years, according to new data released by the island’s security bureau, amid escalating intimidation by Beijing.

In a report released Sunday, Taiwan’s National Security Bureau (NSB) said the number of individuals prosecuted for Chinese espionage had increased threefold in recent years, rising from 16 in 2021 to 64 in 2024.

Of those 64 charged, 15 were military veterans and 28 were active service members, according to the report, which said targets of Chinese infiltration included military units, government agencies and local associations.

Beijing claims the self-governing democracy as its own territory and has vowed to take control of it, by force if necessary, despite having never controlled it.

The Taiwanese government has repeatedly rejected China’s sovereignty claims and emphasized that Taiwan’s future can only be decided by its 23.5 million people.

“The Chinese Communist Party continues to use diverse channels and means to infiltrate all walks of life in order to absorb citizens to help them develop networks or gather sensitive government information,” the report said.

In recent years, Beijing has stepped up its pressure on the island, launching large-scale military drills more frequently and raising alarm over the possible deployment of “gray zone” tactics – acts that fall below the threshold of war.

Taiwan officials’ suspicions earlier this month that a Chinese vessel may have been responsible for damage to an undersea internet cable underscored concerns on the island about vulnerabilities that could be exploited by Beijing in so-called “gray zone operations.”

In December, China also fielded its largest regional maritime deployment in decades – including multiple formations of Chinese naval and coast guard vessels – in regional waters and around the Taiwan Strait, according to Taiwan’s Defense Ministry.

For years, Taiwan’s security agencies have warned about Beijing’s growing attempts to infiltrate its armed forces and their espionage activities, particularly efforts to bribe military officers in exchange for national secrets.

The latest report said that improved counter-intelligence capabilities has allowed authorities in Taiwan to uncover more cases of suspected Chinese espionage.

It said Chinese agents allegedly attempted to establish contacts with criminal gangs and local temples, as well as setting up underground banks to recruit military personnel and China-friendly groups in Taiwan.

The report added, without specifying details of the cases, that some of the suspected spies were tasked to serve as agents of “sabotage” and raise China’s flag in the event of a Chinese invasion. Some were also asked to gather intelligence in a move to build a “sniper team” for an “assassination assignment.”

China’s Ministry of State Security (MSS), which oversees intelligence and counterintelligence both within China and overseas, has also previously accused Taiwan of conducting spying activities.

Last August, the ministry said it had uncovered over a thousand Taiwanese espionage cases in recent years and dismantled a number of espionage networks.

China’s MSS has also launched a high-profile campaign against what it says is a surge in espionage activities by foreign nationals at a time when relations with western powers, especially the United States, have cratered.

Chao Yu-hsiang, a resident search officer at Taiwan’s Institute of National Defense and Security Research (INDSR), said he hopes the recent surge in prosecutions by Taiwan would prompt the Taiwanese military to enhance security measures.

“Both our military and civilians should maintain a high level of vigilance in our words and deeds, develop good confidentiality habits, and use social media with caution to prevent those with ulterior motives from infiltrating, absorbing and exploiting us,” he wrote in a column published by INDSR on Monday.

This post appeared first on cnn.com
Keep Reading
Investing

SAGA Metals Completes Petrographic and Geophysical Analysis at Drill Ready Radar Project in Labrador, Canada

Saga Metals Corp. (‘SAGA’ or the ‘Company’) (TSXV: SAGA) (OTCQB: SAGMF) (FSE: 20H) a North American exploration company focused on critical mineral discovery, is pleased to announce the completion of an initial petrographic petrological analysis and geophysical analysis, improving the geological understanding of the drill ready Radar Titanium-Vanadium (Ti-V) project in Labrador, Canada.

Michael Garagan, CGO & Director of Saga Metals Corp. comments: ‘This data couldn’t have come at a better time as we head into the mobilization of our maiden drill program at the Radar project. These magnetic inverse sections are going to help enormously in our drill targeting throughout the 2025 program. As you can see in Figure 3 below, the main anomalous zone is between 200-400 meters depth, but we can still see the high- grade potential in this model at 600+ meters below the surface. Ultimately the model is most accurate in the first 200 meters where the magnetics are still strong enough to give a robust signature. We know this system is vertical, so I would like to see the system remaining robust as we increase in depth. The projection of the model below 200-400 meters is encouraging because it’s based off the presence of magnetite, which we have picked up in our surveys. This interpretation suggests impressive width throughout the structure and our drill program will start to better define the nature of this zone. We now have a much better understanding of this Vanadium titanomagnetite structure and we are excited to build upon this knowledge as we continue our metallurgical analysis throughout drilling, keeping the economic viability of our projects at the forefront to ensure value creation for our shareholders.’

Radar Titanium & Vanadium Project – Labrador, Canada

The Radar Ti-V Property is located 10km south of Cartwright in Labrador, Canada. The project spans 17,250 hectares and benefits from road access, supporting efficient exploration and development.

Regional map of the Radar Ti-V project highlighting the Hawkeye, Trapper and third transitional zone and the projects proximity to the town of Cartwright, Labrador

Figure 1: Regional map of the Radar Ti-V project highlighting the Hawkeye, Trapper and third transitional zone and the projects proximity to the town of Cartwright, Labrador

The Hawkeye zone is the most prospective target on the property. Detailed geophysics and surface samples are suggestive of a complex and multi-phased layered mafic intrusion that may be upwards of 1km wide and 4km long. The geophysics completed show very detailed correlation to the rock samples and observed phase changes with the potential for multiple parallel systems.

Geophysics Completed with Inverse Interpretation:

Saga Metals has successfully completed a detailed magnetic and electromagnetic (EM) survey over the northwest section of the Hawkeye Zone at the Radar Project. Utilizing ground-based equipment on a tightly spaced grid, with 25 meters between stations and 50-meter line spacing, the survey delivered high-resolution magnetic and conductivity data. This effort has proven highly effective in mapping magnetite-rich zones within the Gabbro Norite host rock, a key indicator of titanium (TiO₂) and vanadium (V₂O₅) mineralization.

The magnetic survey was so successful that the high-resolution imagery combined with sample assays and field observations can be used to map some of the most distinguishing features of the system throughout this zone.

SAGA continued to update its geophysics with the magnetic inversions of the Hawkeye zone. Completed by Chris and David Mark of Geotronics, the magnetic inversions can project, with a high degree of certainty up to 400 meters in depth, what the mineralized magnetic body looks like beneath the surface.

Magnetic inversion of the Hawkeye zone looking north-northeast. Range of

Figure 2:   Magnetic inversion of the Hawkeye zone looking north-northeast. Range of > 0.02 susceptibility cut off.

Same magnetic inversion of the Hawkeye zone looking east at profile cross section with

Figure 3:   Same magnetic inversion of the Hawkeye zone looking east at profile cross section with > 0.02 susceptibility cut off.

Petrographic Analysis at the Radar Ti-V Project:

Recent petrographic work completed by Dr. Al Miller on rock samples from the Hawkeye zone have increased our understanding of the mineralogical host of Titanium and Vanadium mineralization at the Radar project. This sets the foundation for the metallurgical work the team hopes to be able to build on during the 2025 drill programs.

First look at the petrography of the Hawkeye zone reveals more than one composition of magnetite; evidence which contributes to the hypothesis of multiphase mineralization events. Additionally, petrographic evidence reveals that much of the titanium and vanadium mineralization occurs within magnetite with a lack of ilmenite in many of the layers. This is key to understanding how these elements are locked up together and ultimately how they’ll separate during extraction. These layers have assayed high TiO2% and V2O5% leading to the use of Vanadium Titanomagnetite (VTM) classification of several mineralized layers of the Hawkeye zone. Ilmenite with exsolution lamellae of the magnetite was observed but only in a few cases. This has contributed to what can be called differential compositional layering and multiple mineralization magmatic layering events.

Michael Garagan, CGO & Director of Saga Metals Corp. stated: ‘The results of the work completed to date suggests that there were several pulses of magma and multiple phases of deposition. Magnetite was the dominant mineral in the identified layers but differs slightly, representing a different genesis. The observed differences show multiple phases of titanium and vanadium locked up in the magnetite. One phase shows magnetite with minor amounts of ilmenite, which likely formed at its own chemical expense and likely taking Ti and V to form that mineral. The second phase has no ilmenite present and can be called Titanomagnetite. These different magnetite phases can be found in very different layers from each other. This suggests a mineralizing system that was active for a long period of time and the possibility of more mineralization over a broader area.’

Petrography of Hawkeye zone shows significant magnetite (Mt) mineralization with a Hornblende (Hb), Diopside/ Orthopyroxene (Di) and Plagioclase groundmass

Figure 4 : Petrography of Hawkeye zone shows significant magnetite (Mt) mineralization with a Hornblende (Hb), Diopside/ Orthopyroxene (Di) and Plagioclase groundmass.

VTM’s are a mineralization style that has not received much attention in North America but is a pivotal piece of China’s iron, titanium and vanadium mining and production industry.

‘Vanadium titanomagnetite (VTM), which contains valuable elements such as iron, vanadium, and titanium, has an extremely high potential value. VTM resources in the PanXi regions of China are estimated at up to 10 Gt (billion tons), and account for 93% and 63% of the country’s titanium and vanadium resources respectively. The exploitation of VTMs has thus received much attention.

Traditionally VTM have been considered difficult to treat and separate metallurgically but due to their importance within countries like China, new research and separation methods are proving that this is no longer the case. Recent efforts of VTM recovery methods succeeded in achieving: Recoveries of up to 80.08% for titanium, 95.07% for iron, and 71.60% for vanadium were achieved.’ (Barksdale, 1966; Chen et al., 2011)

Michael Garagan, CGO & Director of Saga Metals Corp. comments : ‘These results are very promising for the future of the Radar project. To expedite the economic viability of multiple projects within our portfolio we felt it necessary to begin this mineralogical and early metallurgical work. Encouragingly, these results are exactly what we hoped to see from the rock as they highlight a favourable mineralogical genesis for a competitive Vanadium Titanomagnetite deposit.’

Petrography of Hawkeye zone shows significant magnetite (Mt) mineralization with weathered Pyrrhotite (Po) crystals

Figure 5:   Petrography of Hawkeye zone shows significant magnetite (Mt) mineralization with weathered Pyrrhotite (Po) crystals

Petrographic work and analysis completed by Dr. Al Miller:

With an Honours B.Sc. and Ph.D., Dr. Miller brings over 25 years of consultancy experience in mineral deposits and previously worked for 25 years with the Geological Survey of Canada, where he specialized in large-scale mapping and deposit evaluation. His expertise covers a wide range of minerals, including uranium, gold, nickel-copper-platinum group elements (Ni-Cu-PGE), and copper-gold porphyry. He has also contributed to global exploration efforts across Canada, the Americas, China, and Russia. With numerous publications to his name, his extensive industry experience includes roles as a Director, Chief Geologist, VP of Exploration, and Head of Technical Teams for several exploration companies.

Market opportunity for Titanium and Vanadium:

‘As of June 2023, the market value of titanium was projected to grow to nearly 31 billion U.S. dollars. The titanium market size is forecast to grow over the coming years, to nearly 52 billion U.S. dollars in 2030.’ ( M. Jaganmohan , 2025).

‘The global vanadium market size was valued at USD 4.28 billion in 2023 and is projected to grow from USD 3.46 billion in 2024 to USD 4.89 billion by 2032, exhibiting a CAGR of 4.4% during the forecast period. Asia Pacific dominated the vanadium market with a market share of 72.9% in 2023.’ ( Fortune Business , 2024)

Drilling Upcoming at the Radar Titanium & Vanadium Project:

The Company has received drill permits from the Newfoundland & Labrador government to commence drilling at Radar Titanium-Vanadium (Ti-V) project.

Highlights heading into the drilling programs include:

  • Maiden Drill Programs: Drilling is scheduled to commence in Q1 2025 with a minimum 1,500m program at the Radar Ti-V Project.
  • Radar Ti-V Drilling Location: The Hawkeye zone is the most advanced zone with both surface samples and detailed geophysics creating clear drill targets.
  • Radar’s Hawkeye Zone Potential: Assays have returned consistent values between 2.5 – 11.1% TiO2 and 0.2 – 0.66% V2O5 , confirming the presence of high-grade titanium & vanadium across a potential 1km wide and 4km long and through recent geophysics the system is suggestive of being open at depth beyond 600m.

About Saga Metals Corp.

Saga Metals Corp. is a North American mining company focused on the exploration and discovery of critical minerals that support the global transition to green energy. The company’s flagship asset, the Double Mer Uranium Project, is located in Labrador, Canada, covering 25,600 hectares. This project features uranium radiometrics that highlight an 18-kilometer east-west trend, with a confirmed 14-kilometer section producing samples as high as 0.4281% U 3 O 8 and spectrometer readings of 22,000cps.

In addition to its uranium focus, SAGA owns the Legacy Lithium Property in Quebec’s Eeyou Istchee James Bay region. This project, developed in partnership with Rio Tinto, has been expanded through the acquisition of the Amirault Lithium Project. Together, these properties cover 65,849 hectares and share significant geological continuity with other major players in the area, including Rio Tinto, Winsome Resources, Azimut Exploration, and Loyal Lithium.

SAGA also holds secondary exploration assets in Labrador, where the company is focused on the discovery of titanium, vanadium, and iron ore. With a portfolio that spans key minerals crucial to the green energy transition, SAGA is strategically positioned to play an essential role in the clean energy future.

For more information, contact:
Saga Metals Corp.
Investor Relations
Tel: +1 (778) 930-1321
Email: info@sagametals.com
www.sagametals.com

Qualified Person

Peter Webster P.Geo. CEO of Mercator Geological Services Limited is an Independent Qualified Person as defined under National Instrument 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the technical information related to the Radar Ti-V Project disclosed in this news release.

The TSX Venture Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the accuracy or adequacy of this release. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Service 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 Disclaimer

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as ‘will’, ‘may’, ‘should’, ‘anticipates’, ‘expects’, ‘believes’, and similar expressions or the negative of these words or other comparable terminology. All statements other than statements of historical fact, included in this release are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. In particular, this news release contains forward-looking information pertaining to the Company’s petrographic and geophysics results as well as plans and objectives in respect of the planned drill programs. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company’s expectations include, but are not limited to, changes in the state of equity and debt markets, fluctuations in commodity prices, delays in obtaining required regulatory or governmental approvals, environmental risks, limitations on insurance coverage, risks and uncertainties involved in the mineral exploration and development industry, and the risks detailed in the Company’s final prospectus in Manitoba and amended and restated final prospectus for British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario dated August 30, 2024, filed under its SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca, and in the continuous disclosure filings made by the Company with securities regulations from time to time. The reader is cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of any forward-looking information may prove to be incorrect. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted, as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking information. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release and the Company will update or revise publicly any of the included forward-looking statements only as expressly required by applicable law.

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/54dc438a-fb0e-4339-94fc-d248afe5cabe

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6bdf78ca-308d-4d20-9949-5e047fec4841

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/dee57c5f-17ee-48b2-96ab-5d837357136b

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/5c0e668f-799f-4064-a785-ce3a7c0ddf92

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/ca80ceff-4c17-494c-b86d-f30ec8fb0fab

Primary Logo

News Provided by GlobeNewswire via QuoteMedia

This post appeared first on investingnews.com
Keep Reading
Politics

Senate GOP tees up confirmation hearing blitz in effort to meet ambitious Trump targets

Republicans will hold confirmation hearings this week for more than a dozen high-profile administration picks for President-elect Trump’s next term, including those for Pete Hegseth, Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., and Gov. Kristi Noem, R-S.D.

Hegseth, Trump’s Secretary of Defense pick, will have one of the first hearings on Tuesday, when he will go before the Senate Armed Services Committee at 9:30 a.m. and face questions from both Democrats and Republicans. 

Rubio and Noem were tapped by Trump to be his Secretaries of State and Homeland Security, respectively. Noem will appear before the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs on Wednesday at 9 a.m., while Rubio is set to face the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations at 10 a.m. 

Other Tuesday hearings include those for Doug Collins to serve as Secretary of Veterans Affairs and former North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum for Secretary of the Interior. 

Trump also chose Pam Bondi for attorney general, John Ratcliffe to direct the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), Russell Vought to lead the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Sean Duffy for Secretary of Transportation and Chris Wright to be Secretary of Energy. Hearings for each of them will be on Wednesday. 

Eric Turner, who Trump tapped to be his next Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and Scott Bessent, whom the president-elect announced as his pick to lead the Treasury Department, have hearings scheduled for Thursday. 

The hearing blitz comes as Republicans prepare to confirm as many Trump nominees as they can, as quickly as they can. 

Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., explained his hope to confirm his choices promptly, on ‘Maria Bartiromo’s Wall Street’ on Friday, saying, ‘In the past, the minority party has not obstructed at least a handful of high-ranking Cabinet members to be approved in the first week. So I’m hopeful that Secretary of State, as well as Department of Homeland Security, will be approved either on the day of the inauguration, the day after or that week, as well as a few others — Department of Defense.’

‘So, I’m hoping we get to it quickly and that we don’t muddle it around. And I still have my fingers crossed that that’s going to happen. As far as the two that I’m in charge of, I’ve seen no resistance on the Republican side. And some indication that we may get some Democrat support as well,’ he added. 

Republicans are particularly motivated to confirm Trump’s national security team, especially in the wake of a recent terror attack in New Orleans, Louisiana, in which 14 were killed, and 35 people were injured. 

Related Topics

  • Politics
  • Senate
  • Trump Transition
  • Kristi Noem
  • Marco Rubio
This post appeared first on FOX NEWS
Keep Reading
World

Dramatic showdown looms in South Korea as Yoon faces impeachment trial and possible arrest

South Korea looks set for a dramatic political showdown this week as impeachment proceedings kick off against suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol, who remains holed up in his fortified residence evading arrest for a separate criminal investigation.

The embattled leader’s short-lived declaration of martial law in December triggered widespread public outrage and protests, and plunged the country into its biggest political crisis in decades.

For weeks, Yoon has barricaded himself in his hillside compound in the capital Seoul, surrounded by his Presidential Security Service (PSS) team, while outside the gates hundreds of his die-hard conservative supporters have vowed to protect him.

Yoon has indicated through his lawyer that he will not attend the first formal hearing in his impeachment trial on Tuesday, citing safety concerns relating to efforts to detain him for questioning, according to South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency.

The former prosecutor-turned-politician was stripped of his presidential powers last month after his declaration of martial law, and is wanted for questioning in multiple investigations, including allegations he led an insurrection – a crime punishable by life imprisonment or even the death penalty.

Yoon maintains he acted legitimately in declaring martial law and considers the warrant “illegal and invalid.” He has told his supporters that he will “fight until the end.”

Supporters are concerned Yoon will be detained if he leaves his residence to attend the impeachment hearings. Rival protesters have also braved cold conditions to call for his arrest.

Corruption investigators are determined to execute the arrest warrant against Yoon – the first time such action has been taken against a sitting president.

Tensions exploded earlier this month when investigators attempted to detain Yoon at his residence, resulting in a dramatic hours-long standoff between dozens of police and a “human wall” of around 200 soldiers and members of the presidential security detail.

The arrest attempt was later called off with investigators citing the safety of the people on the ground, though the arrest warrant was extended.

Yoon has also filed legal complaints against those who tried to arrest him including the head of the state anti-corruption agency.

Political fate in hands of top court

Yoon swiftly rescinded his late-night martial law declaration on December 3, after lawmakers pushed past security forces blocking their way into parliament and voted down the decree.

The National Assembly then voted to impeach Yoon after several members of his own ruling party turned on him. Parliament also voted to impeach the country’s prime minister and acting president Han Duck-soo. The finance minister, Choi Sang-mok, is now acting president.

The country’s Constitutional Court has the ultimate say over Yoon and Han’s political fate, and will determine whether they will be formally removed from their positions or reinstated.

Oral arguments for Yoon’s trial start Tuesday, with five sessions scheduled until February 4. If Yoon fails to appear on Tuesday, a second hearing will proceed on Thursday, with or without him in attendance.

The court has up to 180 days to decide whether to uphold or reject the impeachment vote, and vowed to make the case a “top priority.”

Complicating the court’s deliberations is that the nine-member court currently only has eight justices, due to a delay in filling vacancies left by retired justices.

Acting President Choi recently filled two out of three vacancies on the court appointed by the parliament, and the remaining position will be reviewed by the court later this month.

Under South Korea’s constitution, at least six justices must approve an impeachment for it to be upheld.

If the Constitutional Court upholds Yoon’s impeachment, he would become the shortest-serving president in South Korea’s democratic history. The country must then hold new presidential elections within 60 days.

Criminal investigations

While Yoon has been suspended from exercising his powers, he has not been officially removed from office. That means he still has presidential immunity from most criminal charges – except for insurrection or treason.

South Korea’s police, military, and anti-corruption body have formed a joint investigation team to examine the charges of insurrection and abuse of power against Yoon. Meanwhile, prosecutors are investigating key figures involved in the martial law operation, including commanders and the defense minister.

Yoon has refused to answer three summonses in recent weeks asking for his cooperation, according to the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO.)

Meanwhile, corruption investigators appear to be pushing ahead with their second attempt to arrest the suspended president.

On Sunday, the CIO said it had asked the Defense Ministry and presidential security team for cooperation with enforcing the arrest and search warrant against Yoon.

Much of the spotlight has fallen on the presidential security team, the PSS, which has been accused of acting like Yoon’s personal bodyguards. Previously, the CIO said “it is virtually impossible to execute a warrant” at Yoon’s residence while security there remains in place.

The CIO on Sunday asked the country’s defense ministry to ensure soldiers dispatched to the security team protecting Yoon do not disrupt efforts to arrest him.

It also said the security team should avoid an “illegal act” such as mobilizing security personnel for jobs outside of their duties, and warned that disruption could result in criminal punishment.

There is also some confusion as to which agency has jurisdiction to carry out the arrest warrant. Yoon’s lawyers on Monday accused the police of being complicit in an “illegal arrest and abuse of power,” and that “any evidence obtained through such actions would be deemed illegal.”

Yoon’s lawyers argue the warrant should be executed by the CIO, not the police. South Korean law, however, states that police are authorized to assist other authorities in carrying out public duties.

On Friday, the head of Yoon’s PSS, Park Chong-jun, submitted his resignation before undergoing police questioning over his role in blocking Yoon’s arrest, according to the security team.

Once the warrant has been enforced, it starts a 48-hour countdown for investigators to hold and question Yoon. The CIO would need to apply for another warrant within that period to formally arrest him.

This post appeared first on cnn.com
Keep Reading