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February 17, 2025

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This Is How I Crush The Benchmark S&P 500 In Any Market

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It was another mildly bullish week as our major indices climbed very close to new, fresh all-time highs. We also saw a return to growth stocks as we approached breakout levels, which is a good signal as far as rally sustainability goes. Despite this, there remain reasons to be cautious and I’ll point out a couple of those reasons below.

Negative Divergences

The S&P 500 ($SPX) and NASDAQ 100 ($NDX) both seem to be losing bullish price momentum on their respective weekly charts, which can be seen below:

$SPX

$NDX

The price momentum on both indices is slowing and eerily similar to late 2021, just before the cyclical bear market of 2022. Let me be clear that I do NOT believe we’re heading into a cyclical bear market. I don’t see that extent of potential weakness ahead. I do see increased risks of a 5-10% drop, however, and that’s why I’m cautious.

Is This Current Rally Truly Sustainable?

Sometimes a little common sense and perspective goes a very long way. Over the last 75 years, the S&P 500 has averaged gaining 9% per year. So when you go through short-term periods that show gains well in excess of that 9% average, you should at least be thinking there’s the risk that the S&P 500 will fall back and “reversion to the mean”, which is a mathematical concept that describes the tendency of extreme results to move closer to the average. We’ve seen a tremendous rally since the summer correction of 2023. Let’s look at the last 68 weeks (since the correction low in late-October 2023) of return on both the S&P 500 and NASDAQ 100 and compare it to the history of 68-week rates of change (ROC) to gain a sense of this current rally and its sustainability:

$SPX

$NDX

You can look at these two charts and make your own judgement and draw your own conclusions, but, outside of the late-1990s, 68-week ROCs above 50% on the S&P 500 and 60% on the NASDAQ 100 suggest a short-term pullback is more likely, not guaranteed.

Now The Good News

While bullish price action and momentum may seem to be slowing, the long-term monthly PPO on both of these indices is definitely on the rise, which, in my view, limits any short-term downside to the 20-month EMA. I’ll just show the S&P 500 monthly chart, but this will highlight the likelihood that any future selling, if it occurs (no guarantee), holds 20-month EMA support:

$SPX

This chart takes us back 25 years to the turn of the century. The yellow areas highlight poor (below zero) or declining PPOs. During these periods, I’d ignore 20-month EMA support and be cautious. However, the blank periods highlight a rising monthly PPO, during which we rarely see price fall below the rising 20-month EMA. This is where we currently stand. Most pullbacks over the last 25 years, when the monthly PPO is above zero and rising, have fallen short of actual 20-month EMA tests. In other words, we should view a 20-month EMA test as a “worst case” scenario.

The next market decline should be viewed as an OUTSTANDING opportunity to enter this secular bull market.

Stick With Strength

Since we began rolling out our Portfolios quarterly, we’ve had to overcome cyclical bear markets in Q4 2018 (trade war), March 2020 (pandemic), and the first 9-10 months of 2022 (rising inflation and rising interest rates), and a 3-month correction during the summer of 2023. We’ve remained fully invested and have CRUSHED the S&P 500. In fact, below is a graph that highlights our Model Portfolio performance since its inception in November 2018 (in the middle of the trade war!) through the end of January 2025:

We’ve demonstrated the best way to beat the S&P 500, which is to invest in leading relative strength stocks. It’s the only proven method that’s worked for us at EarningsBeats.com. We “draft” our 10 favorite relative strength stocks in various sectors and industry groups and hold them for one entire earnings cycle, then rinse and repeat. Our last quarter’s “draft” picks have annihilated the S&P 500, +15.15% vs. 3.34%.

You can check out our Model Portfolio holdings for the last 3 months below:

8 of our 10 Model Portfolio stocks outperformed the S&P 500, a few by a very wide margin. Owning relative strength stocks like PLTR, CLS, and TPR will completely carry a portfolio and lead to outstanding returns.

Our “quarterly” results are calculated over the following periods:

  • February 19 – May 19
  • May 19 – August 19
  • August 19 – November 19
  • November 19 – February 19

The reason we calculate our quarterly returns using the above time periods is that we select our stocks each quarter on February 19, May 19, August 19, and November 19. By the time we reach these dates, most key market-moving companies have reported their quarterly results and fundamental data like earnings is factored into our portfolio selections just as much as technical considerations. That fundamental/technical combination is one factor that separates us from others and we do this because my background is public accounting. I don’t stray far from my core beliefs. I believe management’s execution of their business strategies/plan and beating revenue and EPS estimates is a huge component of its stock’s upside potential.

On Monday, February 17th, we’re holding our next DRAFT. We will be announcing the 10-equal weighted stocks in each of our portfolios designed to beat the S&P 500 over the next 3-month period. You’re quite welcome to join us. It might change your way of investing and improve your results immediately. CLICK HERE for more information and to register!

Happy trading!

Tom

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Here Are Two Great Earnings Reports This Past Quarter

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For us at EarningsBeats.com, earnings season is the time to do our research to uncover the best stocks to trade over the next 90 days, or earnings cycle. We do this in various ways. Our flagship ChartList is our Strong Earnings ChartList (SECL), which honestly is nothing more than a sophisticated WatchList that organizes annotated charts with key price/gap support levels, simply as a reminder throughout the next quarter as to where might be great entry points. These stocks typically have great price/volume combinations, excellent relative strength, and rising AD lines (accumulation/distribution lines).

Currently, we have 301 stocks on our SECL and all of our prior Model and Aggressive portfolio stocks have been on this ChartList. One of the keys is that SECL companies ALL have beaten Wall Street consensus estimates as to both revenues and earnings per share (EPS). It guarantees us an element of strong fundamentals and confirmed management execution, I believe necessary ingredients to long-term growth.

On Monday, we’ll be unveiling the 10 equal-weighted stocks in our Model and Aggressive Portfolios for the next 3 months. But before we announce those stocks, much analysis needs to be done. For purposes of this article, I’ll give you a couple names that I’m considering strongly for one of our portfolios, based upon their quarterly results and their technical outlook.

Samsara, Inc. (IOT)

There are plenty of stocks to choose from in software ($DJUSSW), so IOT may or may not make our final cut. However, the strength here, both absolute and relative, is apparent. We just saw both the absolute and relative price break out to all-time highs. So too did the AD line. The uptrend is alive and kicking, if not strengthening. IOT will be reporting its quarterly results on March 6th, which is only a couple weeks after our portfolio “draft”. Having earnings so close can be a really good thing or a really bad thing. Currently, IOT’s significant relative strength vs. software suggests to me that the most recent quarter has been a very strong one, which could propel IOT substantially higher very quickly when results are released, helping to lead a portfolio higher. But what if IOT misses its estimates or lowers future guidance? We have a history of holding our portfolio stocks for an entire 90-day period without stops. Of course, our EB members can decide on their own how to handle both gaps to the upside or to the downside as a result of quarterly results. But holding a stock for 90 days after lowering guidance can be dangerous.

For our next potential portfolio stock, how about a household name that consolidated for two years before breaking out, then pulled back to test that key support level?

Coca Cola Co. (KO)

Surprisingly, KO beat its most recent quarterly revenue consensus estimate by 8-9% and easily surpassed its EPS estimate as well. Could this be a steady influence for a portfolio for the next 90 days? Should we consider that KO’s best two-consecutive-calendar-month period over the last 20 years is March and April?

There’ll be a lot to think about over the next 24 hours as we prepare to release our portfolio selections. Can we repeat our stellar results of the last couple quarters? Check this out:

Model Portfolio:

For the period November 19 through Friday, February 14th’s close:

  • Model Portfolio: +15.15%
  • S&P 500: +3.34%

For the period August 19 through November 19:

  • Model Portfolio: +20.89%
  • S&P 500: +5.50%

Aggressive Portfolio:

For the period November 19 through Friday, February 14th’s close:

  • Aggressive Portfolio: +9.37%
  • S&P 500: +3.34%

For the period August 19 through November 19:

  • Aggressive Portfolio: +25.75%
  • S&P 500: +5.50%

This is unreal outperformance, especially when you consider that these are quarterly results! Any portfolio manage would love to beat the benchmark S&P 500 by 1 percentage point annually. Both our Model and Aggressive portfolios have beaten that benchmark by more than 25 percentage points over the past 6 months.

I showed our “since inception” Model Portfolio results vs. the S&P 500 in a graph in yesterday’s article, but it’s worth repeating:

That’s a lot of outperformance over the past 6+ years. And we’re going to try to do it again. We’re “drafting” the 10 equal-weighted stocks in our portfolios on Monday, February 17th at 5:30pm ET. This is a members-only event, but we do have a 30-day FREE trial for those interested in checking out our strategy. For more information about the event and membership, click HERE.

Happy trading!

Tom

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Liberty Gold to Spin Out Antimony Project, Establish New US Strategic Metals Company

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Liberty Gold (TSX:LGD,OTCQX:LGDTF) plans to spin out its Goldstrike project, including the Antimony Ridge discovery, into a separate entity that will focus on strategic metals exploration and development in the US.

The company will continue developing its Black Pine oxide gold project in Idaho, while shareholders will gain exposure to a newly formed entity dedicated to antimony and gold assets in Utah.

In a Tuesday (February 11) press release, Liberty Gold said it has identified a third high-grade antimony zone at Antimony Ridge, located approximately 1.5 kilometers west of previously known mineralization.

The newly discovered zone extends over 400 meters, contributing to a cumulative mapped strike length exceeding 2 kilometers. Soil geochemical anomalies suggest a broader mineralized area spanning up to 5 kilometers.

Recent surface sampling in the new zone has yielded antimony values exceeding 3 percent and gold concentrations reaching 0.68 grams per metric ton. Additional sampling efforts are ongoing to further delineate the mineralized zone.

Further, three drill sites near the historic Lejaiv mine at Antimony Ridge are permitted, with additional applications underway to cover a larger portion of the mineralized trend. Liberty Gold has also expanded its land position at Antimony Ridge by staking an additional 2 square kilometers, increasing the total claim block to 10 square kilometers.

‘We believe that separating Liberty Gold into two independent entities will unlock significant shareholder value and maximize market exposure to both the Black Pine Oxide Gold Project in Idaho and to the new Antimony Ridge discovery at our Goldstrike Project in Utah,’ said Cal Everett, CEO and director at Liberty Gold, in the company’s release.

Future plans for Antimony Ridge include additional surface sampling, detailed field mapping and geophysical surveys.

A drill permit application is expected to be submitted in the first quarter of 2025 to evaluate the depth and lateral extent of mineralization. An initial drilling program of up to 5,000 meters is planned from 16 drill sites.

Discussions are also underway regarding processing options, including toll milling agreements and potential partnerships for establishing a dedicated US-based processing facility. The company is assessing funding opportunities through government grants to support the development of domestic antimony production.

The spinout transaction is expected to create distinct investment opportunities for shareholders, separating Liberty Gold’s oxide gold development from the new entity’s strategic metals focus. Additional details regarding the structure of the spinout and future exploration plans will be released as regulatory approvals progress.

Antimony market outlook

According to Research and Markets, the global antimony market is projected to grow from an estimated US$2.5 billion in 2024 to US$3.5 billion by 2030, reflecting a CAGR of 6.2 percent.

Overall, the Asia-Pacific region accounts for nearly 44 percent of global demand, driven by applications in flame retardants, lead-acid batteries and electronic components.

Antimony trioxide and pentoxide compounds are widely used in fire-resistant materials for construction, textiles and electronics. Antimony is also considered a strategic metal for military and defense applications.

Antimony-lead alloys play a key role in lead-acid batteries, which remain essential for automotive applications, backup power systems and renewable energy storage. While lithium-ion batteries dominate the electric vehicle market, lead-acid batteries continue to be used for auxiliary power and engine startup functions.

The stability of antimony demand is tied to its diverse industrial applications, which include plastics, coatings and glass manufacturing.

Securities Disclosure: I, Giann Liguid, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

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E-Power Starts Metallurgical Testwork at SGS Canada Inc

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E-Power Resources Inc. (CSE: EPR) (FSE: 8RO) (‘E-Power’ or the ‘Company’) is pleased to report the start of metallurgical testwork on three samples from the Company’s Tetepisca flake graphite property located in the Cote-Nord region of Québec. The objective of the testwork is to evaluate metallurgy on the samples targetting graphite concentrates > 95% graphite carbon (‘Cg’) with maximum flake size and recovery. Deliverables will include head characterizations including total carbon (‘Ct’) and Cg concentrations, size fraction analyses with flake size distributions, and Cg grade and composition concentrate. The results of the study will be used by E-Power to focus continued evaluation of the Tetepisca flake graphite property. The metallurgical testwork is being completed by SGS Canada Inc. at their Lakefield, Ontario facility.

James Cross, President and CEO of E-Power commented:‘Our Tetepsica property hosts a number of surface showings with the potential to be flake graphite resources. The 2024 propspecting on our northern claim group added to this inventory with the discovery of several new showings characterized by multiple high graphite grade samples with underlying conductor continuity. Our ongoing metallurgical test work is designed to evaluate the metallurgy and concentrate characteristics; determining, comparing, and contrasting the response from several showings. We intend to continue to evaluate the geology, mineralogy, and metallurgy of the property through the 2025 field season with the objective of prioritizing targets for drilling and resource delineation.

During the 2024 field season, a total of 1,037 kilograms (1.037 tonnes) comprising four bulk samples including the Captain Cosmos (1), Syndicate (1) and Graphi West (2) graphite showings were collected (Figure 1). Field duplicates, consisting of 2 to 3 kg samples taken from each of the bulk sample excavation sites returned Cg values that are consistent with and above the average resource Cg grade in the Tetepisca district (approximately 14% Cg). The results are presented table 1 below. The final report on a detailed mineralogy study on samples from the three target areas utilizing reflected and transmitted light petrography and a Scanning Electron Microscope is pending. Preliminary results of the study document a range of graphite grain sizes, associated gangue mineralogy and graphite grain-gangue mineral textures. All three samples contain large to jumbo flakes free of metamorphic intergrowths or inclusions supporting a positive metallurgical response.

Table 1: Cg Results from Advanced targets and comparison with historical results

Graphite Showing
(sample)		 Historical Result Field Duplicate
Sample Wt. C Graphitic
C % kg %
Captain Cosmos 29.07 2.46 30.00
Syndicate 12.00 2.44 13.20
Graphi West A 19.80 2.56 17.55
Graphi West B not previously sampled 2.48 16.65

Figure 1. Map of Tetepisca Property and location of bulk samples.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9160/240239_f11b9829b4fd9890_002full.jpg

Preliminary evaluation of flake graphite recovery from the four Tetepisca samples was completed at Volt Carbon Technolgies Inc. (‘Volt’) using Volt’s proprietary dry separation techniques. The study consisted of several trial air separation runs on selected samples from each zone followed by determination of Ct and Cg of the resulting concentrates. The results confirm the presence of large and jumbo flake in all samples and indicate that graphite can be separated from Tetepisca ore feed using Volt’s dry separation technique. A high value of 96.4% Ct and 93.5% Cg was attained from the +14 mesh fraction of a trial run from the Syndicate showing and a high value of 95.8% Ct and 91.7% Cg was attained from the +40 mesh fraction of a trial run from the Graphi-West showing. The average Cg results for all trial runs of flakes +30 mesh (Jumbo) was 90.90% Cg for the Syndicate showing and 90.32% Cg for the Graphi-West showing. The average analytical results for all trial runs of flakes +40 mesh (Jumbo+Large Flakes) was 90.45 for the Syndicate showing and 89.60 for the Graphi-West showing.

The metallurgical test work being completed at SGS Canada Inc. will provide E-Power with, among other information, ore feed head grades, recovery factors, concentrate compostion, and flake size analysis which will contribute to the evaluation of resource delineation targets.

About the Tetepisca Property

The Tetepisca Property is located approximately 220 km north of the town of Baie-Comeau in the North Shore Region of Québec. The property consists of 230 claims covering an area of approximately 12,620 hectares within the emerging Tetepisca Graphite District (‘TGD’). The property is 100% owned by E-Power. Fifty-two claims, located in the southern part of the property, are subject to a 1.5% NSR held by a group of local prospectors; otherwise the Tetepisca property remains unencumbered. The TGD is an active graphite exploration and development district with delineated measured and indicated resources in excess of 120 Mt at an average grade of approximately 14% Cg. The Company’s Tetepisca property is strategically located over continuous bedrock conductive horizons that are known and interpreted to be due to graphite and which hold significant potential to host flake graphite resources. The intersection of graphite in our 2023 drilling and the results of our 2024 exploration program to date confirms the Company’s exploration model and provides the basis for continued exploration and evaluation.

Qualified Person

Jamie Lavigne, P. Geo, Vice President Exploration and Director for E-Power is a Qualified Person as defined in NI 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the technical information in this press release.

About E-Power

E-Power Resources Inc. is a Québec Corporation based in Montréal and focused on battery minerals exploration in Québec. The Company is currently advancing two projects; the Tetepisca property, located in the North Shore region of the Province and the Turgeon property located in the Abitibi region adjacent to the Ontario border. The Company’s priority target is flake graphite on the Tetepsica Property. The Turgeon property is located in the prolific Abitibi gold and base metal mining district and the Company is evaluating Turgeon primarily for its copper-zinc and gold potential.

For more information about E-Power Resources Inc. please visit the Company website at: e-powerresources.com.

Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements:

This news release contains ‘forward-looking statements.’ Statements in this press release which are not purely historical are forward-looking statements and include any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future. Actual results could differ from those projected in any forward-looking statements due to numerous factors. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release, and the Company assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that the plans, expectations and intentions contained in this press release are reasonable, there can be no assurance that they will prove to be accurate.

For information contact: James Cross, CEO, Tel: (438) 701-3736, info@e-powerresources.com.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/240239

News Provided by Newsfile via QuoteMedia

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

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Significant Gold and Antimony Grades Confirmed at Hurricane Project

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The Board of Inca Minerals Limited (ASX: ICG) (Inca or the Company) is pleased to provide shareholders a progress report on due diligence associated with the recently announced (ASX 5 February 2025) Binding Implementation Agreement to acquire Stunalara Metals Limited (Stunalara) via an off market takeover bid. Stunalara’s key asset is the high-grade gold & gold- antimony Hurricane Project located approximately 110km west-northwest of Cairns and 75km southwest of Port Douglas in North Queensland. Hurricane boasts multiple undrilled high-grade gold & gold-antimony prospects developed from rock chip and grab sampling.

Inca’s technical team recently conducted a site visit as part of the due diligence process to confirm and replicate historical geochemical data, culminating with the collection and dispatch for assaying of 84 rock chip samples. Assays have now been received for those samples with exceptional results recorded for gold (Au) and antimony (Sb) at multiple prospects including Holmes, Cyclone, Tornado, Hurricane and Bouncer confirming the high-grade prospectivity of the Hurricane Project.

Assay Highlights (Refer to table 1, Appendix 1 for full results)

Assays with gold greater than 5g/t:

  • Hurricane South – Sample MC0374: 81.5g/t Au
  • Hurricane North – Sample MC0368: 12.95g/t Au
  • Hurricane South – Sample MC0379: 11.9g/t Au
  • Bouncer – Sample HRX10042: 8.29g/t Au and 12.7% Sb.
  • Typhoon – Sample HRX10055: 7.84g/t Au
  • Holmes – Sample HRX10083: 6.4g/t Au
  • Holmes – Sample MC0392: 6g/t Au
  • 2 other samples returned gold greater than 4g/t, three with grades over 3g/t and 12 with grades over 1g/t.

Highly anomalous levels of Antimony (Sb) were also recorded, which included:

  • Bouncer – Sample HRX10029 with 35.1% Sb
  • Bouncer – Sample HRX10036: 20.8% Sb
  • Bouncer – Sample HRX10042: 12.75% Sb
  • Bouncer – Sample HRX10037: 9.54% Sb
  • Bouncer – Sample HRX10033: 7.78% Sb
  • Holmes – Sample MC0393: 5.28% Sb, and
  • Holmes – Sample MC0398: 4.89% Sb

29 samples returned highly anomalous arsenic values > 0.1% (>1000ppm As, up to 9840ppm in 1 sample).

“The identification of high-grade gold and antimony in rock chips across different locations which have never been drilled, highlights the significant exploration potential of the Hurricane Project for the discovery of gold and antimony. Inca Minerals is looking forward to progressing follow-up exploration programs to build on this significant rock chip data,” said Inca Exploration Manager, Dr Emmanuel Wembenyui.

In addition to gold, the Hurricane Project results include high levels (up to 35%) of antimony, a critical and new economy metal. Antimony is listed as a critical mineral by the United States, the European Union, Japan, India, the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth of Austalia. New economy metals are pivotal for modern technologies, economies and national security, providing direct support for technologies that are paving the way to the transition from fossil fuels to net zero emmisions , advanced manufacturing and defence technologies/capabilities amongst other applications.

HURRICANE PROJECT

Inca is pleased to report highly encouraging results from a geological reconnaissance field trip to the gold and antimony Hurricane Project. The Hurricane Project is located about 110km west-northwest of Cairns and 75km southwest of Port Douglas in North Queensland, Figure 1.

The Hurricane Project comprises three tenements – EPM 19437, which hosts the Holmes, Porphyry, Monsoon and Cyclone prospects, EPM 25855 in which are located the Hurricane and Tornado Prospects, and EPM 27518, which hosts the Bouncer prospect, Figure 1.

Geology of the Hurricane Project Regional Geology

The Hurricane Project area falls within the Mossman 1:250,000 and the Mount Mulligan 1:100,000 Queensland Geological map sheets. The regional geology traverses a wide Geological Timescale from the Devonian in the Hodgkinson Formation through granodiorite and rhyolitic Carboniferous and Permian intrusions to Triassic and Quaternary Sandstones. The Hodgkinson Formation comprises dark grey to greenish, fine to medium quartz greywackes interbedded with siltstones, mudstones and conglomerates. The Carboniferous to Permian granitic/granodiorite and rhyolite intrusions comprise a suite of felsic porphyritic intrusions. The main porphyritic bodies comprise medium to coarse-grained mineral crystals including euhedral hornblende- biotite, k-feldspar and quartz, which locally grade into fine-grained silicified granites.

Local Geology

The three tenements which make up the Hurricane Project are structurally set within two major NW-SE trending faults, being the Hurricane Fault and the Retina Fault. The Hodgkinson Formation dominates these tenements and comprises of tightly folded greywackes, siltstones, shales, cherts, conglomerates and limestones. Locally within the Hurricane Project are 2 felsic intrusions, which occur in EPM 19437 and are predominantly porphyritic granites. These intrusions are the major source of heat, which mobilised hydrothermal fluids to interact with surrounding country rock, leading to widespread alteration in the form of silicification, sericite and carbonates, and account for the deposition of epithermal gold, silver, and antimony mineralised veins. Epithermal gold deposits are strongly associated with hydrothermal fluids that are related to calc-alkaline volcanism and magmatism. Plots of La-Y-Nb on the ternary diagram of Cabanis and Lecolle, 1989; shows that the Hurricane Project falls within the Arc Calc-Alkaline geo-tectonic setting, supporting an epithermal exploration model for the project (Figure 2). Epithermal gold could be low or high sulfidation, depending on mineralogy and can occur as veins, stockworks, replacements or disseminations. Mineralisation within the project area is associated with variably altered, silicified and brecciated quartz veins ranging in widths from 2 to >50m and lengths over 700m. The mineralogy of the Hurricane Project which includes gold, antimony, silver, very limited sulphur, +/- lead and zinc, leans towards the low sulfidation model.

Click here for the full ASX Release

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

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Saudi Arabia to host US-Russia talks on Ukraine, as UK says it’s ‘ready and willing’ to put troops on ground

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Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Middle East special envoy Steve Witkoff and National Security Adviser Mike Waltz are all traveling to Saudi Arabia for the talks.

A Ukrainian official said they would not be present at the talks though Keith Kellogg, the Trump administration’s Russia-Ukraine envoy, discussed a “dual track” set of negotiations and will be in Kyiv this week. On Sunday, US President Donald Trump said the Ukrainians would be part of the negotiations.

News of the US-Russia talks came as UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Sunday he was “ready and willing” to put British troops on the ground in Ukraine to enforce a peace deal if necessary.

Writing in the Daily Telegraph newspaper, Starmer said he does not take the possibility lightly but reasoned that helping to guarantee Ukraine’s security would also strengthen the security of the United Kingdom and Europe.

He called on European nations to increase their defense spending and “take on a greater role in NATO,” but said US support would remain critical for guaranteeing peace. The prime minister also said he would meet with Trump and other G7 allies in the coming days to secure a strong deal.

Starmer is among the European leaders who will take part in an emergency summit on Ukraine on Monday amid growing concern that the Trump administration’s push to work with Russia to end the war has left them isolated.

The Elysée Palace said French President Emmanuel Macron would hold an “informal” meeting Monday with “the heads of government of Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy, Poland, Spain, the Netherlands and Denmark, as well as the President of the European Council, the President of the European Commission and the Secretary General of NATO.”

Starmer on Saturday called the European meeting a “once in a generation” moment for national security and said the UK would “work to ensure we keep the US and Europe together,” according to a Downing Street statement. “We cannot allow any divisions in the alliance to distract from the external enemies we face,” he said.

Trump has talked openly about the Saudis playing a key role in the negotiations and the country has been an important part of US foreign policy under his presidency.

It was just a week ago that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman helped facilitate the release of Marc Fogel in Russia.

Trump’s first foreign trip in 2017 was to Saudi Arabia.

This post appeared first on cnn.com

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New photos show damage to US aircraft carrier after collision

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New photos show the damage to a US Navy aircraft carrier sustained in a collision with a merchant ship last week.

The warship USS Harry S. Truman docked at a US naval facility in Souda Bay, Greece, for repairs over the weekend following the incident near the entrance to the Suez Canal.

Photos released by the Navy on Saturday show damage to the exterior starboard quarter of the 1,100-foot-long, nuclear-powered aircraft carrier.

Damaged areas included “the exterior wall of two storage rooms and a maintenance space … a line handling space, the fantail, and the platform above one of the storage spaces,” the Navy said in a statement.

None of the damage affects the ship’s combat capability, the statement said, adding that it has conducted flight operations since the accident last Wednesday night.

A team including structural engineers and naval architects is conducting a detailed assessment of the damage and would implement a repair plan, the Navy said, without offering a timetable for the repairs.

The Truman collied with the Besiktas-M, a Panamanian-flagged, 617-foot (188-meter) long bulk carrier, in the crowded waters near the Suez Canal off Egypt’s Port Said in the Mediterranean Sea.

The merchant ship was also damaged, but no injuries were reported on either vessel, the Navy said following the collision near a crowded anchorage for ships transiting the canal.

Former US Navy captain Carl Schuster, an instructor at Hawaii Pacific University, said such conditions leave little room for error.

“There is not a lot of room for maneuvering in a restricted seaway, and both ships require about one nautical mile to stop,” Schuster said.

Small navigation mistakes, misreading of the other ship’s intentions or delayed decision-making from the crew of either ship could have put them in danger quickly “with very few viable options,” Schuster said.

Before the accident, the Truman was in Souda Bay for a “working port visit” after two months of combat operations in the Central Command region, a Navy statement said.

During that time, it conducted multiple strikes against Houthi rebels in Yemen and launched airstrikes against ISIS in Somalia, the Navy said.

Rear Adm. Sean Bailey, commander of the Truman’s carrier strike group, which includes a guided-missile cruiser and three destroyers, said it remains operational across the region.

“Our mission has not changed and we remain committed to responding to any challenge in this dynamic and global security environment,” Bailey said in a statement.

This post appeared first on cnn.com

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South Korean actor Kim Sae-ron dead at 24

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South Korean actor Kim Sae-ron was found dead at her home in Seoul on Sunday, nearly two years after she retreated from the public eye following a drunk driving conviction. She was 24.

Kim began her career as a child actor and gained widespread recognition, including an appearance at the Cannes Film Festival, for her role as a girl abandoned at an orphanage in 2009 movie “A Brand New Life.”

She later starred in 2010 action hit “The Man from Nowhere,” 2012 mystery thriller “The Neighbors,” and 2014 drama “A Girl at My Door,” among numerous roles in film and television.

But Kim’s career had stalled since April 2023 after a Seoul court found her guilty of driving under the influence when she crashed her car in the South Korean capital a year earlier. Kim avoided jail but was fined about $14,000.

Her last known role was in Netflix’s 2023 K-drama “Bloodhounds.”

The final post on Kim’s Instagram account, a photo of the actor shared in January, has accumulated more than 205,000 likes. Comments are disabled on the account.

How to get help

Help is available if you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts or mental health matters.
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Globally: The International Association for Suicide Prevention and Befrienders Worldwide have contact information for crisis centers around the world.

    Korean celebrities paid tribute to Kim following the news of her death.

    “May you rest in peace,” actor Kim Ok-bin wrote on Instagram alongside a photo of a white chrysanthemum, a symbol of grief in many Asian cultures.

    Kim’s co-star Kim Min-che shared a photo of a scene from “The Neighbors” on Instagram and said: “I was so happy to meet you as my daughter in the movie. May you rest in peace.”

    Recent deaths of young K-pop idols and K-drama stars have highlighted ongoing concerns about mental health and pressures in South Korea’s entertainment industry.

    Song Jae-lim, a former model who rose to prominence in K-dramas, was found dead in his apartment last November at age 39. ASTRO boy band member Moon bin died last year at age 25. K-pop singer and actress Sulli was also 25 when she died in 2019. And two years earlier, boyband SHINee’s Kim Jong-hyun was found dead at his home at age 27.

    Entertainment agencies have implemented various mental health support systems, including counseling services and more flexible schedules, but observers say the highly competitive nature of K-entertainment, combined with intense public scrutiny, and expectations of perfection in appearance and behavior, are affecting stars.

    This post appeared first on cnn.com

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