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Questcorp Mining

Investing 6 Mins Read

Investor Insight

With a tight capital structure, experienced management and strategic gold, silver and copper project locations near major past-producing mines, Questcorp is well-positioned to deliver discovery-driven growth to investors.

Overview

Questcorp Mining (CSE:QQQ,OTC:QQCMF,FSE:D910) is a Canadian junior exploration company focused on unlocking value in two high-potential mineral districts: the Sonoran Gold Belt in Mexico and Vancouver Island in British Columbia.

The company aims to build shareholder value through disciplined exploration of assets with near-surface mineralization and proven geologic continuity. The company operates in mining-friendly jurisdictions, close to infrastructure and within major metal-producing belts. Its flagship La Union gold project offers high-grade gold-silver-lead-zinc potential in Mexico, while the North Island copper project provides exposure to porphyry copper and skarn systems in a district that hosts multi-billion-pound copper resources.

With gold prices near all-time highs and a copper supply crunch emerging, Questcorp is targeting discoveries that can drive exponential value from a tightly held share structure.

Company Highlights

  • Flagship Asset – La Union Gold Project (Mexico): A high-grade carbonate replacement gold system in the Sonoran Gold Belt, boasting historical production, strong geologic signatures and drill-ready targets with >80 g/t gold surface samples.
  • Copper Exposure in Tier-1 Jurisdiction: The North Island copper project lies just north of BHP’s historic Island Copper Mine. It shows promising porphyry and skarn-style mineralization and is adjacent to Northisle’s multi-million-ounce copper-gold deposits.
  • Tight Capital Structure and Strategic Investors: ~93 million shares outstanding with over 80 percent held by long-term, high-net-worth, US and International investors with 3-5 year investment window.
  • Execution-focused Management: Led by Founding President & CEO Saf Dhillon, a veteran builder of public companies, and geologist Tim Henneberry, with over 45 years of global exploration success.
  • Immediate Catalysts: Near-term exploration at both assets with active permitting, drill programs and news flow expected throughout 2025.

Key Projects

La Union Gold Project – Sonora, Mexico (Flagship Asset)

The La Union gold project is a 2,604-hectare, road-accessible high-grade carbonate replacement deposit (CRD) located at the edge of the Sonoran Gold Belt, one of the richest gold-producing regions in Mexico. The property is located near major mines, including La Herradura (6.7 Moz, measured and indicated) and San Francisco (1.4 Moz, measured and indicated), and boasts historical production from underground operations by Peñoles and others, reportedly yielding ~50,000 ounces of gold in the 1950s at grades of 7 to 20 grams per ton (g/t) gold.

La Union gold project location

Work done to date includes consolidation of seven historical properties into a single district-scale project by Riverside Resources, which invested more than US$2.5 million in geological mapping, sampling and target definition. Sampling has returned high-grade grab samples including 83.2 g/t gold, 4,816 g/t silver, 30 percent zinc, and 19.8 percent lead. Channel sampling and geological work identified eight mineralized zones, three of which – Plomito, La Famosa and La Union – are drill-ready and fully permitted.

Geology and history of La Union

Questcorp executed a definitive agreement with Riverside in May 2025 to earn up to 100 percent interest in the project. The planned Phase I program includes drilling 10 diamond drill holes averaging 300 meters in depth across the three priority targets, alongside geophysical (gravity and EM) surveys to refine targets. Questcorp will also continue surface exploration at the remaining five targets to identify additional drill candidates. The project’s polymetallic nature and porphyry potential at depth suggest significant resource upside. Riverside remains as the operator during the earn-in, bringing proven success in similar deposits such as Alamos Gold’s Mulatos.

North Island Copper Project (NICP) – Vancouver Island, BC

The North Island copper property is an exploration-stage project located on the northern tip of Vancouver Island, approximately 7.5 km northwest of BHP’s historic Island Copper Mine. The Island Copper operation historically produced 1.2 billion kg copper, 35,268 kg gold, 360,800 kg silver, and significant molybdenum and rhenium from 367 million tonnes of ore, underscoring the district’s endowment.

NICP hosts eight documented copper-silver skarn occurrences and displays porphyry-style mineralization associated with the Island Intrusive suite. The property is geologically anchored by two main target areas: skarns associated with Quatsino limestones in the east and a porphyry copper target to the west, known as the Marisa Zone. Historical drilling by previous operators at Marisa intersected broad zones of copper mineralization, including:

  • DDH92-01: 0.078 percent copper over 56.39 m, including 0.171 percent copper over 16.17 m
  • DDH92-03: 0.041 percent copper over 70.71 m, with increasing grade at depth

Despite promising results, these zones were never followed up. Questcorp intends to revisit and expand on this historic work. The next steps include completing a 3D induced polarization (IP) survey to model chargeability and resistivity anomalies, followed by a focused drill campaign targeting extensions of the Marisa porphyry.

The project benefits from excellent access via the Vancouver Island Highway and logging roads, plus nearby hydro infrastructure, offering low-cost exploration potential. With a favorable neighborhood, including Northisle Copper & Gold Inc. (TSXV:NCX) with a ~$800 million market cap, NICP represents a high-upside copper exploration story in a Tier-1 jurisdiction.

Founding Directors and Management Team

Saf Dhillon – President, CEO and Director

Saf Dhillon has been involved in the development of public companies for over 20 years, holding various positions including investor relations, business development and senior management, as well as board directorships, building an extensive worldwide list of contacts. He was a key member of the Idaho-based US Geothermal’s management team, which grew the company from an approximately US$2 million startup to a successful independent renewable energy power producer with three new power plants operating in the Pacific Northwest. Saf is President & CEO of iMetal Resources Inc. (TSXV:IMR), President & CEO of Bayridge Resources Corp. (CSE:BYRG). He is also a founding director of Torrent Gold (CSE:TGLD), a board member of Lake Winn Resources (TSXV:LWR), and provides assistance to several other private and public companies.

R. Tim Henneberry – Director

R. Tim Henneberry is a professional geoscientist with over 43 years of experience in domestic and international exploration and production for base and precious metals and industrial minerals. He founded Mammoth Geological in 1991, providing geological consulting services to numerous private and publicly traded companies. Henneberry has been involved in senior management of several TSX Venture and CSE-listed companies over the last 30+ years, serving as director, senior officer or advisor, including the founding of several.

Scott Davis – Director

Scott Davis is a partner of Cross Davis & Company LLP, Chartered Professional Accountants, providing accounting and management services for publicly listed companies. His experience includes CFO positions of several companies listed on the TSX Venture Exchange, and his past experience consists of senior management positions, including four years at Appleby as an assistant financial controller. Prior to that, he spent two years at Davidson & Company LLP, Chartered Professional Accountants, as an auditor, and five years with Pacific Opportunity Capital as an accounting manager.

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

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Nickel Price 2025 Year-End Review

Investing 6 Mins Read

After peaking above US$20,000 per metric ton (MT) in May 2024, nickel prices have trended steadily downward.

Behind the numbers is a persistent oversupply driven by Indonesia’s high output, the world’s largest nickel producer.

At the same time, demand from China’s manufacturing and construction sectors, a traditional driver of stainless steel, has been weak as the country’s beleaguered real estate sector continues to find its footing.

Read on to learn what other key factors moved the nickel sector in 2025.

Nickel price in Q4

There wasn’t much change at the start of the quarter; the price was essentially trading in the US$15,000 to US$15,500 range, the same as it had since recovering from the post-liberation day tariff announcement rout in the base metals market in April that sent the price spiraling to a year-to-date low of US$14,150.

Nickel price, December 19, 2024, to December 18, 2025.

Chart via TradingEconomics.

However, cracks began to form at the end of October as it became clearer that the oversupply situation was likely to persist, pushing prices back below the US$15,000 mark by mid-November.

Prices for nickel rebounded in late November, but failed to break the US$15,000 again and slid toward a yearly low, reaching US$14,235 on December 15.

Oversupply continues to weigh on nickel

At the end of the year’s third quarter, the expectation was that nickel prices would carry momentum as the monsoon season arrived in the Philippines; however, despite seasonal declines in output, the market ‘s supply glut persisted, and prices continued to trend lower at the end of the period.

As of September 30, London Metal Exchange (LME) warehouses held 231,504 MT of nickel, and by November 28, stockpiles had grown to 254,364 MT, nearly 100,000 MT higher than the start of 2025.

According to a mid-December Shanghai Metals Market article, refined production decreased by 25,800 MT in November. Still, it was outpaced by inventory accumulation, as downstream demand remained soft.

On the demand side, stockpile buildups coincided with the traditional off-season for stainless steel producers, which accounts for 60 percent of total nickel demand, and weak end-use consumption led some producers to initiate output cuts. Additionally, Shanghai Metals Market notes that stainless demand was further impacted by the superior economics of recycled materials. The outlet also states that although production costs in Indonesia are lower than elsewhere, the price of nickel is rapidly approaching producers’ break-even point.

In February, the Indonesian government changed its quota system, increasing nickel ore output to 298.5 million wet metric tons from 271 million wet metric tons in 2024. The move from the top nickel producer was designed to alleviate supply pressures, with increased production limited to major production areas.

This was followed in October by a change to the length of time production quotas were valid, shortening it to one year from three years, and forcing miners to reapply for previously approved quotas for 2026 and 2027.

Changes were made to the application system after companies failed to meet environmental obligations, and companies will now have to submit proof they have the financial means to remediate land after operations are complete.

Adding to the metal’s woes at the end of the year is demand from the electric vehicle (EV) sector slipping as more battery producers pivot away from nickel in their chemistries, as cheaper lithium-iron-phosphate batteries improve efficiency.

For her part, Manthey, explained that everything has aligned for a bear market.

“LME stockpiles are at a four-year high, with Chinese and Indonesian cathode dominating,” she said, adding that growth in battery metals was slower than expected, and that demand for stainless steel was sluggish on the back of global weakness in manufacturing.

How did nickel perform for the rest of the year?

The rest of the year wasn’t much different for nickel.

The oversupply situation carried over from 2024, with Indonesian producers making up roughly 60 percent of the market. Likewise, curtailments continued among western producers as prices were unable to cover costs.

In April, the Indonesian government made a significant change to its royalty rates, hiking them to between 14 and 19 percent, depending on the nickel price. That’s up from the country’s previously imposed 10 percent flat rate, with a 2 percent royalty on nickel mattes destined for battery production.

As the second quarter began, base metal prices sank amid rising expectations of a global recession following US President Donald Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariff announcement on April 2.

Markets rebounded after their initial tariff plans were walked back, following a bond market squeeze that pushed 10 year treasury yields up by more than half a percentage point.

Nickel faced further pressures in July as the One Big Beautiful Bill was signed into law in the US, ending the federal EV tax credit, as well as other tax credits for expanding charging infrastructure. The change came into effect on September 30 and eliminated a US$7,500 rebate on the purchase of new EVs. Before the end of the tax credit, data showed that American EV sales reached a record 1.2 million through the first nine months of 2025, with the share for EVs climbing to 12 percent in Q3 as consumers made purchases ahead of the program’s end.

Q4 data shows EV sales have declined significantly since the tax credit expired, and interest in EVs has fallen by 20 percent. The fall caused Ford Motor (NASDAQ:F) to pull back on its EV plans and take a US$19.5 billion writedown.

Investor takeaway

Nickel prices continued on a downtrend in 2025, and expectations aren’t much different for the year ahead.

Until the metal see ssustained upward momentum, it’s unlikely that curtailed western operations will be restarted.

For experienced investors, this may offer an opportunity to enter a market closer to the bottom than the top. However, until there is a significant correction in supply and demand fundamentals, the nickel market won’t have much of a tailwind, leading to a riskier market, that may have a lengthy period before returns are realized, if at all.

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

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

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International Lithium Corp. AGM Chairman’s Statement

Investing 8 Mins Read

International Lithium Corp. (TSXV: ILC,OTC:ILHMF) (OTCQB: ILHMF) (FSE: IAH) (the ‘Company’ or ‘ILC’) will hold its 2025 Annual General Meeting today, December 22, at 9.30 a.m. Pacific Time. At that meeting, John Wisbey, Chairman and CEO, will make the following statement:

‘Good morning, and welcome to the 2025 Annual General Meeting of International Lithium Corp. (‘ILC’ or the ‘Company’). I would like to share a few comments on the year-to-date and the outlook ahead before proceeding with formalities.

‘In summary, 2025 has been a successful year for ILC, improved further by a major turnround in the lithium market from June onwards. The Company completed the sale of its Avalonia property in Ireland, and made a major advance in Southern Africa through obtaining an option to acquire an 80% interest in the company owning the important Karibib project in Namibia. It is important to note that ILC has become much more than a lithium company, and the expansion into other critical minerals will be especially notable if ILC exercises its option in Namibia. As well as lithium, the Karibib project contains the largest declared rubidium resource in Africa, and also enough cesium that, when refined, would meet a year of global demand. Rubidium and cesium are both valuable critical metals with multiple commercial uses.

‘The year for the lithium market has been one of two halves. In H1 2025, the lithium price, and that of related minerals such as spodumene, continued to be very weak, reaching a low in June of circa 10% of the 2023 highs. This, combined with the resultant impact on share prices, was painful for every company in the lithium sector, including ILC. However, in H2 2025, the position has seen a considerable improvement.

‘While much of the commodity market’s focus has been on gold, silver and platinum, the rebound in lithium prices has not been widely reported and has been largely overlooked. Yet in H2 2025, the spodumene price has risen by more than 100%, outperforming all precious metals. Most of that gain has come in Q4 2025. The main benchmark lithium carbonate price Li2CO3 has risen by around 65% from its June 2025 lows. If this trend continues, it will be very positive for the lithium sector.

‘The Company’s flagship Raleigh Lake project in Ontario, Canada is again, at today’s prices for spodumene, an economically viable project even if ILC were to focus solely on lithium. Moreover, it also carries a significant rubidium resource, and one of ILC’s goals in 2026 is to put a formal economic value on that rubidium resource, as we did in the PEA for lithium two years ago.

‘In September 2025, ILC announced that it had acquired an option to buy Lepidico’s 100% interest in Lepidico Mauritius for C$975,000. This brings with it an 80% interest in the Namibian company that owns 100% of the Karibib Lithium, Rubidium and Cesium project. As announced at the time, this is a major project that has received substantial investment and, indeed, reached the Definitive Feasibility Study stage under JORC in 2020. If the option is exercised, ILC will have a major stake in the largest declared rubidium resource in Africa and one of the largest in the world. There is also enough cesium at Karibib that, when refined, could meet a year of world demand. We are still waiting for the outcome of an arbitration case that Lepidico is engaged in and will decide whether or not to exercise the option shortly after receiving that result.

Lepidico’s 80% ownership of Karibib resulted from its 2019 acquisition of TSXV-listed Desert Lion Energy in exchange for shares and other securities valued at that time at AUD$ 22.9 million (approximately CAD$20.7 million). Since acquiring the company in 2019, Lepidico invested a further AUD$ 12.1 million (approximately CAD$ 10.9 million) in the Karibib project, excluding central group overheads, with a significant portion directed towards drilling, an environmental study and subsequently a Definitive Feasibility Study and a further Resource Estimate.

This project could become highly important to ILC in 2026, and the Company’s Southern Africa strategy will hopefully also be supplemented by progress on the announced Zimbabwe EPO applications.

‘The Company completed the sale of the Avalonia project in Ireland to a subsidiary of its partner, Ganfeng Lithium, whereby ILC also retains a 2% Net Smelter Royalty. The total of C$2.5m generated from this was used to advance the investment in the Namibian project and other ongoing initiatives.

Outlook

‘The good work done in 2025, and the upturn in the lithium market, gives a strong possibility of 2026 being a successful period for ILC. As well as extra work at the flagship Raleigh Lake project in Canada, if ILC exercises its option to buy Lepidico Mauritius, it will, at Karibib in Namibia, have a project that could otherwise have taken several years and tens of millions of dollars to bring a similar greenfield project to the same stage, let alone the time to identify such a project. Karibib would bring ILC not only lithium, but also a world-class resource in rubidium and one of the larger cesium deposits not controlled by a Chinese company.

‘Lithium and spodumene prices are now back up to the level where mine development is economically viable at Canadian prices. If their rise continues, this will be positive for ILC and the lithium industry overall. ILC’s additional focus on rubidium and cesium gives further strings to its bow that could turn ILC into a much larger company.

‘In closing, I would like to take this opportunity to wish all of our valued shareholders, advisors and other stakeholders a Merry Christmas and a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year.’

On behalf of the Company,

John Wisbey
Chairman and CEO
www.internationallithium.ca

For further information concerning this news release, please contact +1 604-449-6520 or info@internationallithium.ca or ILC@yellowjerseypr.com.

_______________________________________________________________________________________

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services 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 Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

Except for statements of historical fact, this news release or other releases contain certain ‘forward-looking information’ within the meaning of applicable securities law. Forward-looking information or forward-looking statements in this or other news releases may include: the timing of completion of any offering and the amount to be raised, the likelihood or otherwise of the Company exercising its option on Lepidico Mauritius, the outcome of arbitration involving Lepidico Namibia, the effect of results of anticipated production rates, the timing and/or anticipated results of drilling on the Karibib or Raleigh Lake or Firesteel or Wolf Ridge projects, the expectation of resource estimates, preliminary economic assessments, feasibility studies, lithium or rubidium or copper recoveries, modeling of capital and operating costs, results of studies utilizing various technologies at the company’s projects, the Company’s budgeted expenditures, future plans for expansion in Southern Africa and planned exploration work on its projects, increased value of shareholder investments in the Company, the potential from the Company’s third party earn-out or royalty arrangements, the future demand for lithium, rubidium, cesium and copper, and assumptions about ethical behaviour by our joint venture partners or third party operators of projects or royalty partners. Such forward-looking information is based on assumptions and subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to those discussed in the sections entitled ‘Risks’ and ‘Forward-Looking Statements’ in the interim and annual Management’s Discussion and Analysis which are available at www.sedarplus.ca. While management believes that the assumptions made are reasonable, there can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate. Should one or more of the risks, uncertainties or other factors materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in forward-looking information. Forward-looking information herein, and all subsequent written and oral forward-looking information are based on expectations, estimates and opinions of management on the dates they are made that, while considered reasonable by the Company as of the time of such statements, are subject to significant business, economic, legislative, and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. These estimates and assumptions may prove to be incorrect and are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. Except as required by law, the Company assumes no obligation to update forward-looking information should circumstances or management’s estimates or opinions change.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/278761

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Armory Mining Engages Castello Q Exploration for Ammo Antimony-Gold Work Program

Investing 5 Mins Read

(TheNewswire)

  

Vancouver, B.C. TheNewswire – December 22, 2025 Armory Mining Corp. (CSE: ARMY) (OTC: RMRYF) (FRA: 2JS) (the ‘Company’ or ‘Armory’) a resource exploration company focused on the discovery and development of minerals critical to the energy, security and defense sectors, is pleased to announce it has engaged Castello Q Exploration Corp to carry out an initial phase one work program at its 100% owned Ammo Antimony-Gold project, located in Nova Scotia, Canada.

 

Ammo is 3,092-hectare exploration package that completely surrounds and is contiguous to the historical West Gore antimony-gold mine.  West Gore produced both antimony and gold in the years leading up to World War I.  The ground has since changed hands multiple times, and is currently held by Military Metals Corp.

 

West Gore was a significant producer during World War One, with production shipped to England.  Records document nearly 32,000 metric tons of production between 1914-1917, yielding over 7,000 metric tons of antimony concentrate grading 46%.
Total gold recovered up to 1917 was 6,861 ounces. Limited work was conducted in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1980s by several companies along with the Nova Scotia government*.

 

‘We have established budgets for the phase one exploration program at Ammo and are happy to begin working with Castello Q Exploration,’ said Alex Klenman, CEO. ‘This initial program will provide geologically important data that will contribute significantly to drill targeting. We’re excited that meaningful exploration work is on the horizon and eager to move the project forward in a positive way,’ continued Mr. Klenman.

 


Click Image To View Full Size

 

Figure 1: Map showing Armory’s Ammo Project surrounding the historical West Gore antimony-gold mine

 

The initial work program is expected to consist of data compilation, prospecting and reconnaissance, to identify favorable geology, followed by detailed surface sampling and geophysics to assist in determining priority drill targets. The Company plans to budget up to $656,000 CDN for the initial phase of exploration.  

 

* Source: NI 43-101 Technical Report, Battery Metals Corp, Mark S. King, P. Geo., Michael C. Corey, P. Geo., May 25, 2021

Note: The Company considers historical data at West Gore to be relevant. Readers are cautioned that the Company has not independently verified the information, and notes that the mineralization on this property may not be indicative of the mineralization on the Company’s property.

 

About Armory Mining Corp

Armory Mining Corp. is a Canadian exploration company focused on minerals critical to the energy, security and defense sectors. The Company controls an 80% interest in the Candela II lithium brine project located in the Incahuasi Salar, Salta Province, Argentina. In addition, the Company controls 100% interest in both the Ammo antimony-gold project located in Nova Scotia and the Riley Creek antimony-gold project located in British Columbia.

 

Qualified Person

 

Harrison Cookenboo, Ph.D., P. Geo., an independent Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, has reviewed and approved the technical contents of this news release.

 

Contact Information

 

Alex Klenman

CEO & Director

alex@armorymining.com

 

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as the term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy of accuracy of this news release.   This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of any of the Company’s securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful, including any of the securities in the United States of America. The Company’s securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the ‘1933 Act’) or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for account or benefit of, U.S. Persons (as defined in Regulation S under the  1933 Act) unless registered under the  1933 Act  and applicable  state  securities  laws, or an exemption from such registration requirements is available.

 

Forward-looking statements:

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements, including statements regarding the intended use of funds. The words ‘expects,’ ‘anticipates,’ ‘believes,’ ‘intends,’ ‘plans,’ ‘will,’ ‘may,’ and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that its expectations as reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, such statements involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in these statements due to various factors, including, but not limited to, political and regulatory risks in Canada, operational and exploration risks, market conditions, and the availability of financing. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which are made as of the date of this release. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws.

Copyright (c) 2025 TheNewswire – All rights reserved.

News Provided by TheNewsWire via QuoteMedia

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DAVID MARCUS: Erika Kirk is the mother squabbling conservatives need

Politics 4 Mins Read

PHOENIX, Ariz. – While it is true that Erika Kirk is head of one of the nation’s leading conservative groups, at one point this weekend at Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest, she made it clear that she holds an even more important title: mother.

After two days of infighting at the conference between some of its top stars, Kirk smiled on stage Friday night and said, ‘Well, say what you want about AmFest, but it’s definitely not boring. Feels like a Thanksgiving dinner where your family’s hashing out the family business.’

This is the best and most positive way to look at the squabbling in Phoenix between Ben Shapiro, Tucker Carlson, Megyn Kelly and other right-wing celebrities. It has been mostly over Israel, and it was a sideshow few attendees expected or particularly wanted.

Brent, in his 50s and from Oklahoma City, came to AmFest with his two sons.

‘I was in there the night Ben and Tucker went at each other, at one point, I told my wife, I’m going out for some air, I just felt like I needed to escape to the real world, you know?’ he told me over a smoke.

I did know. 

Along with sniping over Israel and antisemitism, the question of what a ‘heritage American’ is, or if it is a thing at all, also spurred division. Ohio gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy told the crowd, ‘I think the idea of a heritage American is about as loony as anything the woke left has actually put up,’ adding ‘There is no American who is more American than somebody else.… It is binary. Either you’re an American or you’re not.’

This would have been Civics 101, even for conservatives, not long ago, but Ramaswamy is right to mention wokeness, because proponents of the concept that a genealogy that leads back to nation’s founding is something special is mainly driven by such people being told for decades now that it is actually the only lineage that is not special, or something to be proud of.

I asked Dennis, who is the fourth-generation owner of a farm in South Dakota, which sounds pretty heritage-y to me, what he made of it all.

‘I don’t think much about that,’ he said. ‘If you love the country and follow the laws, you can be an American.’

Dennis was much more interested in, and comfortable talking about soybeans and sugar beets. I asked how the tariffs were affecting him, and he told me, ‘It’s hurt, but I look at the big picture and I think it will be good in the long run.’

It was tempting after speaking, not just with Dennis, but with many attendees, old and young, who are most focused on prices, to think, ‘It’s the economy, stupid, knock it off with the identity politics stuff.’ But Erika Kirk made a good point: These might be fights the right needs to have before settling into next year’s midterm elections.

TPUSA spokesman Andrew Kolvet posted on X with this very message.

‘If we force conformity without uncomfortable debates, there can be no winning consensus,’ he wrote. ‘There’s no civil war. This is the necessary work of a conservative coalition defining its dominant center ahead of the coming battles. We’re not hive-minded commies. Let it play out.’

It should also be noted how much better hashing all of this out at an actual live event is than endless sniping on social media where nobody is ever really forced to contend with ideas they oppose. The mere act of shaking hands with someone you disagree with can be a powerful calming influence.

On Sunday, the big finale of AmFest will be Vice President JD Vance’s speech to the assembled. As of 4 a.m., there was already a line for it.

Sarah, a college freshman told me, ‘I wasn’t old enough to vote for Trump, but I will get to vote for Vance, and I’m excited about that.’ This is good news for Vance, but it’s also a lot of pressure. Can he be the force that mends the wounds opening this weekend at AmFest? 

Erika Kirk is right, families sometimes fight. In fact, sometimes they have to. But the question is always what happens after the blowup, after the tears and recriminations?

Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., told the crowd this weekend, ‘You may not like Tucker Carlson, Ben Shapiro, Steve Bannon or me. Guess what: If the radical left wins, we all hang together.’

This seems correct, and even after AmFest’s nasty internecine fighting, it is still a goal well within reach of TPUSA and the conservative movement. It is also almost certainly what Charlie Kirk would have wanted.

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS

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DOJ restores Trump photo to Epstein files after determining no victims depicted

Politics 3 Mins Read

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) said Sunday it restored a photo featuring President Donald Trump to its latest release of Jeffrey Epstein–related documents after a review determined the image did not depict any Epstein victims.

In a post on X, the DOJ said the photo was initially taken down ‘out of an abundance of caution’ after the Southern District of New York flagged it for additional review to protect potential victims.

Following a review, officials concluded no Epstein victims were shown in the photograph, and it was reposted without ‘alteration or redaction,’ according to the DOJ.

‘The Southern District of New York flagged an image of President Trump for potential further action to protect victims,’ the DOJ wrote. ‘Out of an abundance of caution, the Department of Justice temporarily removed the image for further review. After the review, it was determined there is no evidence that any Epstein victims are depicted in the photograph, and it has been reposted without any alteration or redaction.’

Earlier Sunday, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said the removal of the photo had ‘nothing to do with President Trump’ and was instead driven by concerns for the women depicted, he said during an appearance on NBC’s ‘Meet the Press.’

The explanation came after reports that at least 16 files had disappeared from the DOJ’s Epstein-related public webpage less than a day after they were posted on Friday, without public notice or an initial explanation, The Associated Press reported.

The missing files included one that showed a series of photos displayed on a cabinet and inside a drawer. In the drawer, there was a photo of Donald Trump pictured alongside Melania Trump, Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, AP reported.

On Saturday, Democrats on the House Oversight Committee criticized the removal of the photo, writing, ‘We need transparency for the American public.’

‘This photo, file 468, from the Epstein files that includes Donald Trump has apparently now been removed from the DOJ release,’ Democrats on the House Oversight Committee posted on X. ‘[Attorney General Pam Bondi] is this true? What else is being covered up? We need transparency for the American public.’

The DOJ released the trove of files after The Epstein Files Transparency Act, signed by President Trump on Nov. 19, 2025, required AG Pam Bondi to release all unclassified records, communications and investigative materials related to Epstein within 30 days.

The agency posted thousands of pages on a government website Friday related to Epstein’s and Maxwell’s sex-trafficking cases. The files were released as the result of a deadline imposed by the Epstein Files Transparency Act.

Fox News Digital’s Lori Bashian contributed to this report.

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Rapper Nicki Minaj teams up with new Turning Point USA leader Erika Kirk for Q&A session

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Erika Kirk welcomed rapper Nicki Minaj as the surprise guest for a Q&A at Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest on Sunday.

The ‘Beez in the Trap’ singer previously teamed up with the Trump White House, speaking at the United Nations in November to raise awareness about persecution against Christians in Nigeria. Rumors had grown that Minaj would make an appearance at AmericaFest, but it was not confirmed until she went on stage Sunday.

‘I’m honored to be here. I’m honored to be here,’ Minaj said after Kirk welcomed her to the stage.

She went on to praise both President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance, saying they are politicians who have an ‘uncanny’ ability to relate to the American people.

‘I love both of them,’ she said of the two leaders.

Despite previously supporting Democrats like Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, Minaj has increasingly shown support for Trump lately.

On Nov. 1, Minaj posted a screenshot of a Trump Truth Social post where he said, ‘Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria.’

She wrote, ‘Reading this made me feel a deep sense of gratitude. We live in a country where we can freely worship God. No group should ever be persecuted for practicing their religion.’

Minaj continued, ‘We don’t have to share the same beliefs in order for us to respect each other. Numerous countries all around the world are being affected by this horror & it’s dangerous to pretend we don’t notice.’

She thanked the ‘President & his team for taking this seriously. God bless every persecuted Christian. Let’s remember to lift them up in prayer.’

She has also repeatedly attacked California Gov. Gavin Newsom over his stance on transgender children.

Kirk has stepped in as the chairwoman and CEO of Turning Point USA since the murder of her husband, late Turning Point USA CEO Charlie Kirk, in September.

Kirk spoke at the conservative AmFest on Thursday, telling the crowd, ‘Here’s what I’ve learned the most in these last three months is that my husband, he deeply mattered on a multitude of levels, so much so that it proved even more once he was assassinated, how much of a peacemaker he was and how much of a coalition builder he was.’

She added that both her husband and she would choose fight mode over flight in any situation. 

‘You don’t retreat,’ she said. ‘Charlie would go wherever he needed to go, and I’m the same exact way … And you’ll learn that about me the more you get to know me. I know I’m new here, I’m new here, but you’ll learn.’

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DHS responds after reports CISA chief allegedly failed polygraph for classified intel access

Politics 5 Mins Read

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is disputing reports that acting Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) Director Madhu Gottumukkala failed a polygraph after seeking access to highly sensitive intelligence, as an internal investigation and the suspension of multiple career cybersecurity officials deepen turmoil inside the agency, according to a report.

Politico reported that Gottumukkala pushed for access to a tightly restricted intelligence program that required a counter-intelligence polygraph and that at least six career staffers were later placed on paid administrative leave for allegedly misleading leadership about the requirement, an assertion DHS strongly denies.

The outlet said its reporting was based on interviews with four former and eight current cybersecurity officials, including multiple Trump administration appointees who worked with Gottumukkala or had knowledge of the polygraph examination and the events that followed. All 12 were granted anonymity over concerns about retaliation, according to Politico.

DHS pushed back on the reporting, saying the polygraph at issue was not authorized and that disciplinary action against career staff complied with department policy.

‘Acting Director Madhu Gottumukkala did not fail a sanctioned polygraph test. An unsanctioned polygraph test was coordinated by staff, misleading incoming CISA leadership,’ DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement provided to Fox News Digital. ‘The employees in question were placed on administrative leave, pending conclusion of an investigation.’

‘We expect and require the highest standards of performance from our employees and hold them directly accountable to uphold all policies and procedures,’ she continued. ‘Acting Director Gottumukkala has the complete and full support of the Secretary and is laser focused on returning the agency to its statutory mission.’

Politico also reported that Gottumukkala failed a polygraph during the final week of July, citing five current officials and one former official.

The test was administered to determine whether he would be eligible to review one of the most sensitive intelligence programs shared with CISA by another U.S. spy agency, according to the outlet.

That intelligence was part of a controlled access program with strict distribution limits, and the originating agency required any CISA personnel granted need-to-know access to first pass a counter-intelligence polygraph, according to four current officials and one former official cited by Politico.

As a civilian agency, most CISA employees do not require access to such highly classified material or a polygraph to be hired, though polygraphs are commonly used across the Pentagon and U.S. intelligence community to protect the government’s most sensitive information.

Politico reported that senior staff raised questions on at least two occasions about whether Gottumukkala needed access to the intelligence, but said he continued pressing for it even if it meant taking a polygraph, citing four current officials.

The outlet also reported that an initial access request in early June, signed by mid-level CISA staff, was denied by a senior agency official who determined there was no urgent need-to-know and noted that the agency’s previous deputy director had not viewed the program.

That senior official was later placed on administrative leave for unrelated reasons in late June, and a second access request signed by Gottumukkala was approved in early July after the official was no longer in the role, according to current officials cited by Politico.

Despite being advised that access to the most sensitive material was not essential to his job and that lower-classification alternatives were available, Gottumukkala continued to pursue access, officials told the outlet.

Officials interviewed by Politico said they could not definitively explain why Gottumukkala did not pass the July polygraph and cautioned that failures can occur for innocuous reasons such as anxiety or technical errors, noting that polygraph results are generally not admissible in U.S. courts.

On Aug. 1, shortly after the polygraph, at least six career staff involved in scheduling and approving the test were notified in letters from then–acting DHS Chief Security Officer Michael Boyajian that their access to classified national security information was being temporarily suspended for potentially misleading Gottumukkala, according to officials and a letter reviewed by Politico.

‘This action is being taken due to information received by this office that you may have participated in providing false information to the acting head of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) regarding the existence of a requirement for a polygraph examination prior to accessing certain programs,’ the letter said. ‘The above allegation shows deliberate or negligent failure to follow policies that protect government information, which raises concerns regarding an individual’s trustworthiness, judgment, reliability or willingness and ability to safeguard classified information.’

In a separate letter dated Aug. 4, the suspended employees were informed by Acting CISA Chief Human Capital Officer Kevin Diana that they had been placed on paid administrative leave pending an investigation, according to current and former officials and a copy reviewed by Politico.

Gottumukkala was appointed CISA deputy director in May and previously served as commissioner and chief information officer for South Dakota’s Bureau of Information and Technology, which oversees statewide technology and cybersecurity initiatives.

CISA said in a May press release that Gottumukkala has more than two decades of experience in information technology and cybersecurity across the public and private sectors.

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Editor’s Picks: Silver Price Keeps Running, Breaks All-time High Again

Investing 4 Mins Read

The silver price was on the rise once again this week — it surged past the US$67 per ounce level on Friday (December 19), hitting a new record before pulling back.

As for gold, it spent much of the period around the US$4,330 per ounce level, although it rose as high as US$4,360 on Thursday (December 18), approaching its own all-time high.

Investors were eyeing November US consumer price index (CPI) data, which came out on Thursday. It was up 2.7 percent year-on-year, while core CPI was measured at 2.6 percent.

Those figures were quite a bit lower than analysts’ estimates, and data collection issues caused by the US government shutdown have left market participants questioning the results.

Notably, Bureau of Labor Statistics officials had to make ‘certain methodological assumptions’ because the October CPI report was canceled entirely. The bureau also started November data collection later than usual, driving concerns about a rebound in numbers for December.

US jobs data for both October and November came out this week as well, showing that the unemployment rate for last month rose to 4.6 percent, the highest since 2021.

While 64,000 jobs were added in November, 105,000 were lost in October, and revisions took 33,000 jobs away from the months of August and September.

Outside US economic data, it’s worth noting that for silver there’s still a lot of focus on behind-the-scenes actions that could be impacting the price.

Here’s what Substack newsletter writer John Rubino had to say about that:

‘A lot of the discontinuities that we’re seeing in the silver market right now are due to the fact that the big exchanges like Comex may not have enough silver to satisfy the demands of futures contract holders.

‘In other words, there are a lot more people out there with long futures contracts that could come in and demand silver than there is silver to satisfy that demand. And the number of people who are standing for delivery on futures contracts is rising, and the amount of silver in these exchanges is shrinking.’

Bullet briefing — Platinum beats gold, copper hits new record

Platinum price on the move

I’d be remiss if I didn’t also take a moment to mention platinum.

While gold and silver have been making headlines, platinum’s 2025 rise has been quiet, but significant — it’s up over 100 percent year-to-date and nearly hit US$1,980 per ounce this week.

Platinum is somewhat similar to silver in that they both have precious and industrial sides, and they’ve both seen persistent deficits in recent years.

Platinum’s deficit has definitely helped it rise this year, but looking forward to next year the World Platinum Investment Council is expecting a balanced market. When I saw that, I wondered if that would mean lower prices in 2026. But that may not necessarily be the case.

Edward Sterck said there are a couple of nuances in the council’s outlook — for example, it’s anticipating profit taking from exchange-traded funds, but if that doesn’t happen, then the platinum deficit may persist. He also noted that balance in 2026 wouldn’t erase years of deficits:

‘A balanced market doesn’t solve for the fact we’ve had three years of deficits. It doesn’t in any way, I suppose, rebuild aboveground stocks. And it’s the shortage of aboveground stocks that seems to be one of the major catalysts behind this price action and behind the market tightness.’

Copper price hits new high

It’s not only precious metals that have been hitting new highs this year.

The price of copper has been climbing as well, hitting a new all-time high of close to US$12,000 per metric ton last week on the London Metal Exchange.

It’s pulled back slightly since then, but market watchers agree the copper outlook remains strong as rising demand meets constrained supply. In fact, I’ve been asking experts what they think the top-performing asset of next year will be, and copper has been a popular pick.

Lobo Tiggre of IndependentSpeculator.com chose the base metal as his highest-confidence trade of 2025, and he said he’s sticking with it next year.

Here’s what he had to say about copper:

‘Top pick for 2026 is copper. Similar reasons to 2025 —the copper price has been kicked around, up and down by what I think of as sort of extraneous issues. But the fundamentals mean the demand scenario just looks phenomenal, and the supply has been really constrained.’

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

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Tech Weekly: Micron Rises on Latest Results, Trump Media Jumps on TAE Merger

Investing 4 Mins Read

We also break down next week’s catalysts to watch to help you prepare for the week ahead.

In this article:

    This week’s tech sector performance

    US stocks advanced this week amid key economic data releases, with tech leading gains after Micron Technology’s (NASDAQ:MU) results release and easing artificial intelligence (AI) sector pressures.

    The S&P 500 (INDEXSP:.INX) rose 0.02 percent on the week, closing Friday (December 19) at 6,834.5.

    However, tech stock losses earlier in the week kept gains in check. The Nasdaq Composite (INDEXNASDAQ:.IXIC) lost 0.1 percent for the week to close at 23,307.62 on Friday.

    3 tech stocks moving markets this week

    1. Micron Technology (NASDAQ:MU)

    Micron Technology reported earnings for its first fiscal quarter of 2026 on Thursday (December 18), showing strong results driven by surging high-bandwidth memory sales for AI data centers

    Revenue reached US$13.64 billion, up 93 percent from last year and higher than the company’s September revenue projection of US$12.8 billion. Adjusted earnings per share were US$4.78, beating estimates of US$3.95. The company generated strong free cashflow and declared a US$0.115 per share dividend payable on January 14, 2026.

    Looking ahead, Micron adjusted its profit guidance for the upcoming quarter to US$8.42 per share, higher than Wall Street’s US$4.78 consensus, due to continued AI boom momentum.

    Investors responded to the results by sending Micron shares up 10 percent post-earnings. Momentum carried into Friday’s trading session, spilling over into other tech stocks, which have come under pressure in recent weeks over lofty valuations and funding concerns. The company ended the week 0.58 percent higher.

    2. Trump Media & Technology Group (NASDAQ:DJT)

    Trump Media & Technology Group rose nearly 30 percent before Thursday’s opening bell after the company announced plans to merge with fusion power company TAE Technologies.

    The all-stock deal is reportedly valued at more than US$6 billion. Devin Nunes, chair and chief executive of Trump Media, and Dr. Michl Binderbauer, CEO and director at TAE, are set to serve as co-CEOs.

    TAE is a private company with backing from Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOGL) and other companies. The merger is slated to create one of the first publicly traded nuclear fusion companies. “We’re taking a big step forward toward a revolutionary technology that will cement America’s global energy dominance for generations,“ Nunes said.

    Shares of Trump Media closed the week with a gain of 39.53 percent.

    3. Oracle (NYSE:ORCL)

    Oracle shares dropped 5.4 percent on Wednesday (December 17) after a Financial Times report claimed data center investor Blue Owl Capital pulled out of a US$10 billion financing round for one of the AI data centers Oracle is constructing for OpenAI in Michigan. Talks reportedly stalled due to concerns over project delays, tougher debt terms, Oracle’s rising debt load and lease arrangements, per sources cited by the news outlet.

    Oracle disputed the report’s implications, stating that Michigan negotiations are “on schedule” without Blue Owl.

    The company said its project development partner, Related Digital, has chosen “the best equity partner from a competitive group of options, which in this instance was not Blue Owl.” Still, the company finished the week with its share price ahead by 2.18 percent as tech stocks staged an end-of-year comeback.

    Oracle, Micron Technology and Trump Media performance, December 15 to 19, 2025.

    Chart via Google Finance.

    Top tech news of the week

                Tech ETF performance

                Tech exchange-traded funds (ETFs) track baskets of major tech stocks, meaning their performance helps investors gauge the overall performance of the niches they cover.

                This week, the iShares Semiconductor ETF (NASDAQ:SOXX) declined by 0.94 percent, while the Invesco PHLX Semiconductor ETF (NASDAQ:SOXQ) saw a loss of 0.66 percent.

                The VanEck Semiconductor ETF (NASDAQ:SMH) also decreased by 0.61 percent.

                Tech news to watch next week

                Markets will be closed mid-week next week, with low trading volumes likely keeping movement calm.

                Watch for year-end selling in tech stocks, a potential rotation into safer sectors and light data like factory orders and home sales reports. Any comments on future interest rates could move markets somehwat, but expect mostly flat trading unless big news like policy changes breaks through.

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

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