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North Bud Farms $NBUD.ca Enters U.S. Market with the Signing of the Definitive Agreement to Acquire Nevada Botanical Science Located in Reno, Nevada $CGC $ACB $APH $CRON.ca $HEXO.ca $TRST.ca $OGI.ca

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 8:59 AM on Tuesday, November 19th, 2019
  • Signed a definitive asset purchase agreement to acquire all assets of Nevada Botanical Science, Inc.
  • Transaction valued at USD$7.5 million
  • NBS currently operates a 5,000 sq. ft. indoor cultivation facility and has been approved for expansion of up to 60,000 sq. ft of greenhouse space.
  • Property also includes an operating extraction facility and licensed and approved commercial kitchen.
  • This infrastructure is capable of manufacturing and bottling beverages and edibles and is currently used by NBS for both white label and branded product manufacturing.

TORONTO, Nov. 19, 2019 — North Bud Farms Inc. (CSE: NBUD) (OTCQB: NOBDF) (“NORTHBUD” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce that Bonfire Brands USA, a wholly owned subsidiary of NORTHBUD, has signed a definitive asset purchase agreement to acquire all assets of Nevada Botanical Science, Inc. (“NBS”) (see June 25, 2019 press release) in a transaction valued at USD$7.5 million.

Nevada Botanical Science (NBS) is located in Reno, Nevada. NBS holds Nevada State medical and adult use licenses for cultivation, extraction and distribution. NBS operates an integrated cannabis operation located on 3.2 acres of land within the Reno green zone industrial park. NBS currently operates a 5,000 sq. ft. indoor cultivation facility and has been approved for expansion of up to 60,000 sq. ft of greenhouse space. The property also includes an operating extraction facility and licensed and approved commercial kitchen. This infrastructure is capable of manufacturing and bottling beverages and edibles and is currently used by NBS for both white label and branded product manufacturing. Operated by healthcare professionals, NBS has been primarily focused on the Nevada State medical cannabis market. NBS currently manufactures and sells award winning (Jack Herer Cup 2018) topical pain creams, balms and lotions under the Trichomic medical brand.

This past year NBS launched a trial release of cannabis infused cocktails under the brand “Happiest Hour”. Collaborating with local craft beverage manufactures NBS released a variety of beverages including Margarita, Pina Colada, Bloody Mary, Long Island Ice Tea and Lemonade to select retailers in the state. To date retailer adoption and reordering has been 100% and based on customer feedback, NBS will increase production and distribution including additional retailers in Las Vegas in 2020. NBS has also finished a successful trial launch of its energy shot 1oz beverage containing 25mg of THC and 50mg of Caffeine. The Company plans to run a second branded trial in early 2020. Over the past three months NBS and NORTHBUD have been working together in preparation for the release of NORTHBUD branded dried flower products in Q4 2019 and a variety of infused and non-infused pre rolls. 

“Subject to the finalizing of the previously announced acquisition of the Qlora Group in California, the Company plans to establish a unified product manufacturing and distribution platform within these two important states,” said Justin Braune, President of Bonfire Brands USA. “The license classes in California and Nevada allow for identical activities and the Company has been in negotiation with multiple potential JV partners who wish to leverage this unique platform. Being one of the few multi state operators with operations in both states will allow us to offer turnkey solutions to prospective partners moving forward.”

Transaction Terms

The transaction (the “Transaction”) is structured as an asset purchase agreement whereby in exchange for the purchase of all of the securities and assets of NBS, NORTHBUD is paying a total of USD$7,500,000 as follows:

  • Cash payment of USD$500,000 (paid in full);
  • Approximately USD$1 million in convertible shares of Bonfire Brands USA (6,500,000 “convertible shares”); and
  • A USD$6,000,000 interest bearing promissory note.

The convertible shares may be exchanged on a 1-1 basis with common shares of NBUD at the discretion of the shareholder. At the time of signing, the converted value of these securities was equal to USD$1,000,000. All applicable U.S. and Canadian regulatory holds shall apply upon conversion.

As per the terms of the agreement NBS will allocate pro rated ownership of assets in NBS and all associated licenses to Bonfire Brands USA throughout the re-payment period, subject to state approval.

Bonfire Brands and NBS have agreed to an operations and management arrangement allowing Bonfire to assume operational control, begin integration and driving revenue immediately.  

“The NORTHBUD and Bonfire Brands USA team are extremely proud to have finalized this agreement making the state of Nevada our strategic entry point into the U.S. legal cannabis market,” said Ryan Brown, CEO of NORTHBUD. “We are equally proud of the structure of the deal and how it minimizes shareholder dilution while allowing our team to begin integration and operations with a focus on immediate revenue growth in one of the most sought-after adult use markets in North America. Our team has been looking at acquisitions in Nevada for over two years before finding the right fit.  The Nevada market is considered one of the largest and most profitable in North America with recreational sales of USD$580 million in the first full year of legalization* (2017 Nevada Dept. of Taxation).”

The securities of the Company have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “U.S. Securities Act”) or any state securities laws. Accordingly, the securities of the Company may not be offered or sold within the United States unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities of the Company in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

The Transaction is a significant acquisition but will not result in a “Fundamental Change” pursuant to the policies of the CSE. NORTHBUD will be preparing the necessary corporate and securities filings in order to secure the required approvals for the Transaction.

The parties have agreed to pay USD$187,500 in broker/finder fees to arm’s length parties on a prorated basis connection with the closing of the Transaction.

The closing of the Transaction is conditional on the receipt by the parties of applicable corporate and regulatory approvals, including that of the CSE.

About Nevada Botanical Science, Inc.

Founded by a group of northern Nevada physicians and healthcare professionals who believe in the promise of medical cannabis, Nevada Botanical Science has developed a world class cannabis production, research and development facility in Reno’s Washoe County. Its work and commitment are fully in compliance with the Hippocratic Oath as well as Nevada statute. Nevada Botanical Science is dedicated to ensuring the highest measure of safety, governance and stewardship for its patients, employees and the community it serves.

For more information visit: www.nevadabotanicalscience.com

About North Bud Farms Inc.

North Bud Farms Inc., through its wholly owned subsidiary GrowPros MMP Inc., is pursuing a licence under The Cannabis Act.  The Company has built a state-of-the-art purpose-built cannabis production facility located on 135 acres of Agricultural Land in Low, Quebec, Canada. NORTHBUD through its wholly owned U.S. subsidiary, Bonfire Brands USA has acquired Nevada Botanical Science, Inc. a world class cannabis production, research and development facility with 5,000 sq. ft. of indoor cultivation in Reno’s Washoe County. Nevada Botanical Science holds medical and adult use licenses for cultivation, extraction and distribution. Bonfire Brands USA has entered into an agreement to acquire assets in Salinas, California.

For more information visit: www.northbud.com

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange (the “CSE”) nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-looking statements
Certain statements and information included in this press release that, to the extent they are not historical fact, constitute forward-looking information or statements (collectively, “forward-looking statements”) within the meaning of applicable securities legislation.  Forward-looking statements, including those identified by the expressions “anticipate”, “believe”, “plan”, “estimate”, “expect”, “intend”, “may”, “should” and similar expressions to the extent they relate to the Company or its management. This press release contains forward- looking statements including those relating to the entering into of the Definitive Agreement and closing of the Transaction with Nevada Botanical Science, Inc. Forward-looking statements are based on the reasonable assumptions, estimates, analysis and opinions of management made in light of its experience and its perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, as well as other factors that management believes to be relevant and reasonable in the circumstances at the date that such statements are made, but which may prove to be incorrect.

Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements.  Such risks and uncertainties include, among others, the risk factors included in the Company’s final long form prospectus dated August 21, 2018, which is available under the Company’s SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements. Further, any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which such statement is made. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for the Company’s management to predict all of such factors and to assess in advance the impact of each such factor on the Company’s business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect information, events, results, circumstances or otherwise after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as required by law including securities laws. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of any offer to buy any securities of the Company.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
North Bud Farms Inc.
Edward Miller
VP, IR & Communications
Office: (855) 628-3420 ext. 3
[email protected]

NORTHBUD $NBUD.ca – #THC – infused #edibles and #CBD – infused edibles $CGC $ACB $APH $CRON.ca $HEXO.ca $TRST.ca $OGI.ca

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 5:37 PM on Monday, November 18th, 2019

SPONSOR: NORTHBUD (NBUD:CSE) Sustainable low cost, high quality cannabinoid production and procurement focusing on both bio-pharmaceutical development and Cannabinoid Infused Products. Learn More.

THC-infused edibles and CBD-infused edibles

When cannabis is ingested, the THC is metabolized by the liver

With edibles coming to brick-and-mortar shops in mid-December, users are looking to get high without the smoke.

But when choosing edibles, users will want to pay attention to whether the product has CBD or THC, two compounds with very different effects.

CBD

CBD, the non-psychoactive component within cannabis has been widely touted for its medical benefits to help people with, among other conditions, chronic pain. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports CBD is not physically addictive.

By comparing those administered doses of active CBD to those given as a placebo, researchers said that “while the number of studies is limited, the evidence from well-controlled human experimental research indicates that CBD is not associated with abuse potential.”

CBD leads to slower effects that aren’t psychoactive in nature — meaning they aren’t the effects you see portrayed in pop culture.

The effects from CBD will be tame and mellow compared to its psychoactive opposite, THC. Most medical cannabis includes CBD rather than THC, with CBD already available in capsule form in legal stores.

THC

When most people think of cannabis’ effects, they think of THC. Many of the new cannabis products slated to enter stores in mid-December will focus on THC.

When cannabis is ingested, the THC is metabolized by the liver, transforming itself into 11-hydroxy-THC. This metabolite is up to four times faster in crossing the blood-brain barrier than average THC, and is why edibles are associated with intense, vivid and longer-lasting experiences.

THC normally gets pointed at as the compound that creates the potential for withdrawal symptoms among some heavy users.

An evidence brief compiled by the Canadian Public Health Association (CPHA) states that “cannabis is addictive, though not everyone who uses it will develop an addiction.”

While using cannabis oil or edibles with THC, users may get addicted or experience habit-formation. Products that only include CBD don’t appear to become addictive.

Source: https://lfpress.com/cannabis-news/day-29-thc-infused-edibles-and-cbd-infused-edibles/wcm/473a4264-5028-4c42-94ca-53da8b2db7c7

Datametrex $DM.ca Reduces Senior Executives Compensation

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 12:49 PM on Monday, November 18th, 2019
  • Senior Management including; Andrew Ryu, Jeffrey Stevens and Steve Kang have voluntarily agreed to reduce their compensation by approximately 40% effective immediately
  • Additionally, the Company’s 10% rolling stock option plan was re-approved and confirmed
  • Shareholders passed a special resolution to change the name of the Company from Datametrex AI Limited to Nexalogy AI Limited as well as a share consolidation plan of up to 8 to 1 

TORONTO, Nov. 18, 2019 – Datametrex AI Limited (the “Company” or “Datametrex”) (TSXV: DM, FSE: D4G) is pleased to announce that the Senior Management including; Andrew Ryu, Jeffrey Stevens and Steve Kang have voluntarily agreed to reduce their compensation by approximately 40% effective immediately. The Company also completed the integration of back office functions of Nexalogy. As a result, the Company has cut down the number of staff and office space as a part of its cost saving strategy.

“Our goal is to grow the business and share price organically rather than doing a share consolidation. The entire team is aligned with our shareholders in getting the Company back on track,” says Marshall Gunter, CEO of the Company.

The Company is also pleased to announce completion of it’s annual and special meeting.  At the meeting, Andrew Ryu, Charles Schade, Janeen Stodulski, David Ellison and John McMullen were elected as directors of the Company and KPMG were appointed as auditors for the Company.  Additionally, the Company’s 10% rolling stock option plan was re-approved and confirmed and shareholders passed a special resolution to change the name of the Company from Datametrex AI Limited to Nexalogy AI Limited as well as a share consolidation plan of up to 8 to 1. 

The Company’s name will not be changed until the Company files articles of amendment and obtains the necessary regulatory approvals.  While the resolution gives discretion to the Company’s board and management to effect the share consolidation, no decision has been made by the Company to complete the consolidation or what the consolidation ratio will be.  If and when the Company decides to implement the share consolidation, a further press release will be disseminated with the details of the share consolidation.

About Datametrex

Datametrex AI Limited is a technology focused company with exposure to Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning through its wholly owned subsidiary, Nexalogy (www.nexalogy.com).

For further information, please contact:

Jeff Stevens – President
Phone: 647-777-7974
Email: [email protected]

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains “forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable securities laws.  All statements contained herein that are not clearly historical in nature may constitute forward-looking information. In some cases, forward-looking information can be identified by words or phrases such as “may”, “will”, “expect”, “likely”, “should”, “would”, “plan”, “anticipate”, “intend”, “potential”, “proposed”, “estimate”, “believe” or the negative of these terms, or other similar words, expressions and grammatical variations thereof, or statements that certain events or conditions “may” or “will” happen, or by discussions of strategy.

Readers are cautioned to consider these and other factors, uncertainties and potential events carefully and not to put undue reliance on forward-looking information. The forward-looking information contained herein is made as of the date of this press release and is based on the beliefs, estimates, expectations and opinions of management on the date such forward-looking information is made. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, estimates or opinions, future events or results or otherwise or to explain any material difference between subsequent actual events and such forward-looking information, except as required by applicable law.

CardioComm Solutions $EKG.ca – Congress Eyes Privacy Protections for Data on #Mhealth #Wearables $ATE.ca $TLT.ca $OGI.ca $ACST.ca $IPA.ca

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 11:38 AM on Monday, November 18th, 2019

SPONSOR: CardioComm Solutions (EKG: TSX-V) – The heartbeat of cardiovascular medicine and telemedicine. Patented systems enable medical professionals, patients, and other healthcare professionals, clinics, hospitals and call centres to access and manage patient information in a secure and reliable environment.

Congress Eyes Privacy Protections for Data on mHealth Wearables

A bill introduced this week – and another introduced this past June – aim to protect patient health data gathered on consumer-facing mHealth wearables like smartwatches, fitness bands and even apps.

  • US Senators Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and Jacky Rosen (D-NV) have introduced a bill this week that aims to define how data gathered on smartwatches, fitness bands and other connected health devices – including mHealth apps – dis protected and prevent “entities that collect consumer health information” from exposing that data to other parties.

By Eric Wicklund

November 15, 2019 – Congress is jumping into the long-simmering debate over the protection of health data on consumer-facing mHealth wearables.

US Senators Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and Jacky Rosen (D-NV) have introduced a bill this week that aims to define how data gathered on smartwatches, fitness bands and other connected health devices – including mHealth apps – dis protected and prevent “entities that collect consumer health information” from exposing that data to other parties.

“The introduction of technology to our health care system in the form of apps and wearable health devices has brought up a number of important questions regarding data collection and privacy,” Rosen said in a press release announcing the bill, to be called The Stop Marketing And Revealing The Wearables And Trackers Consumer Health (SMARTWATCH) Data Act. “This commonsense, bipartisan legislation will extend existing health care privacy protections to personal health data collected by apps and wearables, preventing this data from being sold or used commercially without the consumer’s consent.” 

The bill’s introduction comes amidst a flurry of news in the consumer-facing mHealth arena, including Google’s pending purchase of Fitbit and the announcement that the tech giant will be working with Ascension – the largest non-profit health system in the US – to integrate mHealth technology and data collection into the health system’s care programs.

“The Google/Ascension news has brought needed scrutiny to the security of Americans’ health data,” Cassidy said in the press release. “The SMARTWATCH Act prevents big tech data harvesters from collecting intimate private data without patients’ consent. Americans should always know their health information is secure.”

The bill defines consumer health information as “any information about the health status, personal biometric information, or personal kinesthetic information (such as keystroke or gait patterns and sleep information) about a specific individual that is created or collected by a personal consumer device, whether detected from sensors or input manually.” This would include not only physiological, biological and behavioral data, but “deoxyribonucleic acid, imagery of the iris, retina, fingerprint, face, hand, palm, vein patterns, and voice recordings, from which an identifier template, such as a faceprint, a minutiae template, or a voiceprint, can be extracted.”

Under the bill, the organization that collects that data would be barred from transferring, selling, sharing or allowing access to that data, unless aggregated and anonymized, to “any domestic information broker or other domestic entity” whose primary function is to analyze that information for profit or whose primary purpose is to add commercial value to the entity collecting the data.

The bill goes on to direct the Health and Human Services Secretary to treat violations in the same way that it would treat HIPAA (Health and Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) violations.

The legislation mirrors a bill introduced in June by Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) that aims to protect consumer health information not protected under current laws.

The Protecting Personal Health Data Act (S.1842) would require the development of regulations that strengthen privacy and security protections, including setting consent standards that address genetic, biometric and general personal health data, and give consumers the ability to access, amend and delete their data. It would also create a National Task Force on Health Data Protection that would:

  • evaluate and provide input to address cybersecurity risks and privacy concerns associated with consumer products that handle personal health data, and the development of security standards for consumer devices, services, applications, and software; and
  • study the long-term effectiveness of de-identification methodologies for genetic and biometric data, and advise on the creation of resources to educate consumers about direct-to-consumer genetic testing.

Source: https://mhealthintelligence.com/news/congress-eyes-privacy-protections-for-data-on-mhealth-wearables

CLIENT FEATURE: Tartisan Nickel $TN.ca Kenbridge Property Hosts M&I Resource of 7.14 Million Tonnes of 0.62% #Nickel + 0.33% #Copper $ROX.ca $FF.ca $EDG.ca $AGL.ca $ANZ.ca

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 10:14 AM on Monday, November 18th, 2019

Investment Highlights

  • Kenbridge property has a measured and indicated resource of 7.14 million tonnes at 0.62% nickel, 0.33% copper
  • 17.5 (21.8 fully diluted) percent equity stake in Eloro Resources and 2 percent NSR in their La Victoria property

Kenbridge Ni Project (ON, Canada)

  • Advanced  stage  deposit  remains open  in  three  directions,  is  equipped with a 623m  deep  shaft  and  has  never  been  mined. 
  • Preliminary  Economic Assessment completed and updated returned robust project 
    economics and operating costs including  a  NPV  of  C$253M  and  cash costs of US$3.47/lb of nickel net of  copper credits.
  • Plans for Kenbridge include updating PEA, advancing the project through to feasibility and exploring the open mineralization at depth

FULL DISCLOSURE: Tartisan Nickel Corp. is an advertising client of AGORA Internet Relations Corp.

PRIMO Nutraceuticals Inc. $PRMO.ca – Feds Finally Crafting National #CBD Rules $CROP.ca $VP.ca NF.ca $MCOA

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 5:05 PM on Friday, November 15th, 2019

SPONSOR:  PRIMO NUTRACEUTICALS INC. (CSE: PRMO) (OTC: BUGVF) (FSE: 8BV) (DEU: 8BV) (MUN: 8BV) (STU: 8BV) provides strategic capital to the thriving cannabis cultivation sector through ownership and development of commercial real estate properties. The company also offers fully built out turnkey facilities equipped with state-of-the-art growing infrastructure to cannabis growers and processors. Click here for more info.

Feds Finally Crafting National CBD Rules

  • After years of states passing their own rules concerning cannabidiol – more commonly known as CBD – the federal government is now quietly taking the first steps to regulate it.

By: Louis Biscotti

Photo: Sven Hoppe/dpa (Photo by Sven Hoppe/picture alliance via Getty Images) dpa/picture alliance via Getty Images

The F&B industry is ahead of them: You can already get CBD in gummies, oils, lotions and juices, and Arizona Iced Tea and Ben and Jerry’s have been testing it. But as states moved to regulate, the federal government sat on the sidelines, leaving CBD in legal limbo.  That began to change a couple of weeks ago in what could be the beginning of the biggest change for the CBD market since the Farm Bill of 2018 ended classifying hemp and products derived from it as controlled substances.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) in late October published its interim final rules for domestic hemp production in the Federal Register, including rules regarding CBD, a product of hemp. How big a deal could this be? Think about the end of Prohibition. The federal government is finally creating standards that could help create a national marketplace. That could help move CBD from the margins to the mainstream, adding security, safety and consistency to manufacturing.

The proposed rules come as sales of CBD are expected to reach $13 billion this year, even as federal law tries to catch up with demand. CBD is getting too big to be ignored, and lack of reliable information and uniform regulation adds to confusion. The feds are finally arriving on the scene (let’s not call it a party) with the structure that’s needed.

The new rules would include federal aid for hemp farmers and could help ease access to insurance and loans, leading to bigger supply and more financing. There are also tough provisions, which could be good for consumers and companies, but will add costs for manufacturers and others in the supply chain. Hemp samples, for instance, would have to be delivered to DEA-certified labs 15 days before harvest and certified.

The USDA, however, is only the first federal agency to lay its hands on hemp and CBD. The Food & Drug Administration (FDA), which approved seizure drug Epidolex containing CBD, classifies it as an active ingredient in medications – which it regulates. The agency in late October said it’s continuing “to explore potential pathways for various types of CBD products to be lawfully marketed.” Manufacturing isn’t currently subject to FDA review. The USDA’s actions could help change that. The Grocery Manufacturers Association, for instance, is pushing for the FDA to issue final CBD rules instead of allowing “a maze of inconsistent, and often contradictory, state and local regulations” that can lead to a “regulatory mess.”

The USDA has also begun to regulate THC, the psychoactive ingredient in hemp sometimes included with CBD. The USDA indicates that, potentially, hemp could contain up to 0.3 percent THC or tetrahydrocannabinol, the limit in Canada and many other countries. The FDA is likely to fall in line with that as CBD becomes more common.

CBD’s popularity comes with often-exaggerated claims; some people look at it as a cure-all. That also could change with regulation. The FDA already issued warnings to companies making medical claims. As the feds begin to regulate CBD, some misinformation may vanish from marketing, which could lower sales, as the market sorts itself out, “weeding out” certain companies as others grow.

Money is already flowing into companies working with CBD. Altria, parent of cigarette giant Philip Morris, poured $1.8 billion into cannabis company Cronos Group. Beer distributors and Arizona Iced Tea are infusing drinks with CBD, hoping to experience (puns are just too easy here) higher sales. As the market for CBD continues to expand, it’s only a matter of time before CBD gets what the Grocery Manufacturers Association wished for: federal regulation.

While most industries dread regulation, it could prove essential for CBD to truly take off in food and beverage, providing safety to consumers and security for producers. The USDA has stepped off the sidelines, and the FDA is talking about stepping in. It looks like federal rules may finally be arriving, bringing standards and — get ready — red tape (which means compliance costs)  in a trade-off for quality control, consumer protection, and growth prospects. It’s starting to look like a national marketplace for CBD may no longer be a pipe dream.

Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/louisbiscotti/2019/11/15/feds-finally-crafting-national-cbd-rules/#7a79898f1b89

New Age Metals $NAM.ca – Europe #EVs now use 57% more #lithium carbonate equivalent $LIC.ca $LIX.ca $LI.ca $ELR.ca $ATL.ca

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 3:30 PM on Friday, November 15th, 2019

SPONSOR: New Age Metals Inc. The company’s Lithium Division has already made significant acquisitions in Canada and the USA. The company also owns one of North America’s largest primary platinum group metals deposit in Sudbury, Canada. Updated NI 43-101 Mineral Resource Estimate 2,867,000 PdEq Measured and Indicated Ounces, with an additional 1,059,000 PdEq Ounces in the Inferred. Learn More.

Europe EVs now use 57% more lithium carbonate equivalent

  • Changing mix of EV sales is most noticeable in Europe where the average battery in new passenger EVs sold in September contained 15.8kg of LCE
  • Constitutes a 57% surge compared to last year, thanks in no small part to the popularity of the Tesla Model 3 on the continent

CItroën e-Méhari. Batteries for the electric SUV are produced in France. Image: PSA Group

By: Frik Els

Electric car pioneer Tesla is already producing units on a trial basis at its giant Shanghai gigafactory despite only breaking ground this year, but thanks to changes to the Chinese EV subsidy program, demand for locally-made Teslas may fall short of expectations.

On Monday, China’s automobile manufacturing industry body said fewer new energy vehicles, or NEVs as they are termed domestically, could be sold this year than in 2018 (last year sales boomed by more than 60%).

Sales of NEVs – which apart from battery-powered vehicles also include hybrids and fuel cell cars – fell by more than 45% in October from the same month last year, adding to the woes of an industry coping with 16 straight months of declining overall sales.

Changes to China’s EV incentive program favour hybrids so lithium loads may start to tend downwards in that country too

Adamas Intelligence tracks the battery capacity (and the metals used in them) of electric vehicles sold around the world and the slowdown in the EV market, where lithium-ion batteries dominate, has already showed up in raw material deployment data.

In September 2019, the average new passenger EV including plug-in and conventional hybrids sold globally contained 12.2 kilograms of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE), a modest increase of 4% over 2018, according to the latest Adamas report.

The Toronto-based research company’s data shows China still outstripped global growth in September with a 7% increase in LCE on a per-EV basis, reaching a sales-weighted average of just shy of 20kg thanks to the prevalence of full electric models in the country.

That’s in stark contrast to Japan, where hybrids represent more than 90% of EV sales and average batteries contain only 1.1kg of LCE. Changes to China’s EV incentive program favour hybrids so lithium loads may start to tend downwards in that country too.

The changing mix of EV sales is most noticeable in Europe where the average battery in new passenger EVs sold in September contained 15.8kg of LCE.

That constitutes a 57% surge compared to last year, thanks in no small part to the popularity of the Tesla Model 3 on the continent. Teslas have always had bigger batteries than competitor cars to help with fast-charging and range.

In the US the trend is in the opposite direction – with passenger EVs leaving showrooms containing on average 15.2kg of LCE, 12% less than in September 2018.

Source: https://www.mining.com/lithium-price-europe-evs-now-use-57-more-lce/

CLIENT FEATURE: CardioComm Solutions $EKG.ca – Connecting Your Heart To The Cloud $ATE.ca $TLT.ca $OGI.ca $ACST.ca $IPA.ca

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 12:49 PM on Friday, November 15th, 2019

Global Leaders in Mobile  ECG Connectivity

  • 20 years of medical credibility licensing technologies to hospitals, physicians, remote patient monitoring  platforms, research groups and commercial call centers
  • Sold into > 20 countries, with the largest customer base located in the US
  • Class II medical device clearances and device agnostic for collecting, viewing, recording, analyzing and  storing of ECGs for management of patient and consumer health
  • ECG solutions for both consumer (OTC) and medical (Rx) markets
  • Owns all IP and source code
  • Market expert contributor for reports in m‐health, mobile cardiac monitoring and new advances in  consumer health and wellness monitoring

Recent Highlights

  • Secured New Health Canada Device Clearance and Exclusive Canadian Sales Rights for US Medical ECG Device Manufacturer Read More
    • Entered into an exclusive sales and marketing agreement for the GEMS™ Sirona with California-based Datrix LLC
    • Under the multi-year, renewable agreement, CardioComm assumes the role of exclusive Canadian distributor of the Datrix ECG recorders under the GEMS™ Sirona brand device.
  • Secured Newest US and Canadian Medical Device 13485:2016 MDSAP Certification Read More
    • Completed its ISO 13485:2016 certification in compliance with the Medical Device Single Audit Program, a mandatory requiment under Health Canada and accepted as an equivalent quality management certification by the USA Food and Drug Administration.
  • Announced ECG Services Integration and Co-Marketing Agreement with California-Based BodiMetrics LLC Read More
    • GEMS™ Universal will be available under two subscription models:
    • $6 US per month with one free ECG interpretation included; and,
    • $69 US per year with 12 free ECG interpretations that may be requested any time during the one year subscription.

Company Accolades

FULL DISCLOSURE: CardioComm Solutions Inc. is an advertising client of AGORA Internet Relations Corp.

BetterU Education Corp. $BTRU.ca – #Edtech Startups Transforming The Way Indian Children Learn $ARCL $CPLA $BPI $FC.ca

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 10:57 AM on Friday, November 15th, 2019
SPONSOR:  BetterU Education Corp. aims to provide access to quality education from around the world. The company plans to bridge the prevailing gap in the education and job industry and enhance the lives of its prospective learners by developing an integrated ecosystem. Click here for more information.

Edtech Startups Transforming The Way Indian Children Learn

  • Many edtech startups today are leveraging the increasing literacy rate coupled with increased internet penetration
  • These startups are trying to address the most important issue faced by the Indian education system

India has roughly 1.5 million schools, 38,000 colleges, and 760 universities as per MHRD. This translates into one school per 200 school-goers and one college per 3,700 college-goers. According to a report by management consulting firm Technopak in 2016, India’s education market is valued at $100 Bn while the digital learning market is estimated at $2 Bn. The report also said that the digital learning market is expected to reach $5.7 Bn by 2020 as the number of internet users is increasing.

Many edtech startups today are leveraging the increasing literacy rate coupled with increased internet penetration. These startups are trying to address the most important issue faced by the Indian education system, which is the lack of upgrade. By bringing in technology, these startups are trying to bridge the gap between rural and urban India as well.

Samsung-backed TagHive recently launched an AI-powered classroom engagement solution, Class Saathi, to make tech-based learning accessible and affordable for schools in rural India with little or no infrastructural investments. The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) also partnered with Microsoft India and IBM to focus on tech reskilling for teachers and AI curriculum in schools. Through this, CBSE will be conducting capacity building programmes for high school teachers with an aim to integrate cloud-powered technology in K12 teaching and inculcating digital teaching skills in educators through the curriculum as well as extra-curricular training.

Source:https://inc42.com/buzz/india-ranks-fourth-in-providing-entrepreneurial-training-in-schools/

ThreeD Capital Inc. $IDK.ca – ‘Unknown Fund’ to Donate $75M in #Bitcoin to #Crypto, Anonymity Startups Focused $HIVE.ca $BLOC.ca $CODE.ca

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 10:47 AM on Friday, November 15th, 2019

SPONSOR: ThreeD Capital Inc. (IDK:CSE) Led by legendary financier, Sheldon Inwentash, ThreeD is a Canadian-based venture capital firm that only invests in best of breed small-cap companies which are both defensible and mass scalable. More than just lip service, Inwentash has financed many of Canada’s biggest small-cap exits. Click Here For More Information.

‘Unknown Fund’ to Donate $75M in Bitcoin to Crypto, Anonymity-Focused Startups

  • An anonymous organization dubbed “Unknown Fund” is planning to give away $75 million in Bitcoin (BTC) to startups that are focused on anonymity and the protection of personal data.

By Ana Alexandre

An anonymous organization dubbed “Unknown Fund” is planning to give away $75 million in Bitcoin (BTC) to startups that are focused on anonymity and the protection of personal data.

In a press release on Nov. 13, the organization — which consists of “ordinary, anonymous people from different countries” —  said it will donate the money to startups which support the idea of anonymity and specifically operate in such fields as the protection of personal information, tools of anonymity, cryptocurrencies and blockchain.

Fighting the misuse of people’s personal data

The idea behind the donations is to fight the manipulation of people by politics, social media networks and other parties who collect individuals’ personal data, which Unkown Fund says has proved to be an “amazing and frightening” tool.

The project supposedly started on 4chan, an anonymous English-language imageboard, and claims to have the support of hacktivist group Anonymous, which it cites as saying:

“Now the main goal of large corporations is to collect as much information as possible about the personal lives of people, and then use it for their enrichment. And they do a great job of it by making ordinary people get poorer. We are ready to fight for change and protect people.”

The Unknown Fund argues that the deployment of blockchain technology and digital currencies could help protect people’s rights and freedoms, and eventually develop a new environment with a trustworthy monetary system.

Blockchain in personal data protection

Many industry players have questioned blockchain’s ability to ensure personal data protection. Speaking with Cointelegraph in August, Timothy Paolini, a board member at NYU Blockchain, stated:

“Blockchains are built around the principles of decentralization, removing the single point of failure risk (think Equifax servers) and cutting out unnecessary third parties by establishing a more direct, peer-to-peer network. This also maintains your privacy and control of your data from third-party apps as data rests at the protocol instead of the application layer.”

Deirdre K. Mulligan, an assistant professor at the University of California, Berkeley School of Information, argued that blockchains do not inherently protect your identity, as they can be manipulated by their architects to be centralized and non-anonymous. Mulligan stated:

“Companies can exert a lot of control over how they design an application, through its architecture, default settings, what it communicates in its privacy policies, and what it does in practice. The value for a consumer concerned about her privacy would depend on the blockchain application and the kind of data collected and processed by it.”

Source: https://cointelegraph.com/news/unknown-fund-to-donate-75m-in-bitcoin-to-crypto-anonymity-focused-startups