Posted by AGORACOM-JC
at 4:34 PM on Thursday, June 25th, 2020
SPONSOR: Esports Entertainment Group(GMBL:NASDAQ) – Millions of people from around the world tune in to watch teams of video game players compete with each other. In first quarter 2020, YouTube reported 1.1 billion hours watched, an increase of 13% when compared to fourth quarter 2019. Wagering on Esports is projected to hit $23 BILLION this year although that number will likely be eclipsed due to the recent pandemic. Esports Entertainment Group is the next generation online gambling company designed for the purpose of facilitating as much of this wagering as possible. LEARN MORE.
David Beckham Invests in Esports with London-based Start-up Guild
Former England soccer captain David Beckham is moving into the virtual world as co-owner of London-based start-up Guild Esports.
Guild said in a statement on Thursday that it will launch player academies and run teams in various esports arenas including Rocket League, EA Sports, FIFA and Fortnite.
“We have a vision to set a new standard, supporting these players into the future,” said Beckham, who is also co-owner of Major League Soccer’s Inter Miami.
“We are committed to nurturing and encouraging youth talent through our academy systems and I am looking forward to helping our Guild Esports team grow,” added the 45-year-old.
The Financial Times reported that Beckham was taking a significant minority stake in Guild through DB Ventures, his personal investment vehicle, and would be the second biggest shareholder.
It said Guild Esports was seeking a valuation of around 100 million pounds ($124.42 million) following a 25 million pound fundraising.
“David will be instrumental in helping shape the coaching programme implemented at our academies and we welcome his valuable mentoring as well as the inspiration he gives the younger generation of athletes,” said Guild executive chairman Carleton Curtis.
Esports has enjoyed a boom during the global COVID-19 lockdown.
According to analytics platform Newzoo, the global esports market will generate revenues of $1.1 billion in 2020 and $1.56 billion by 2023.
Posted by AGORACOM
at 4:05 PM on Thursday, June 25th, 2020
SPONSOR: Mota Ventures Corp is an established natural health products company focused in the CBD and psychedelic medicine sectors. Through their powerful eCommerce business, Mota is a leading direct-to-consumer provider of a wide range of natural health products throughout the United States and Europe. Click Here for More Info
The successful use of controlled substances such as ketamine and psilocybin mushrooms to treat mental health issues like depression and anxiety has ushered in a new era of interest in psychedelic drugs. But for researchers and clinicians eager to expand such therapies, an obvious question remains: Does treatment with psychedelics necessarily require a psychedelic experience?
An international research team hopes to answer that question by researching and developing a new class of drugs that offers the same fast-acting mental health benefits as traditional psychedelics without the disorienting, sometimes uncomfortable effects of a full-blown trip. Funded by $26.9 million from the U.S. Department of Defense’s Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), a new project announced this month “aims to create new medications to effectively and rapidly treat depression, anxiety, and substance abuse without major side effects,†according to a University of North Carolina (UNC) School of Medicine press release.
“Although drugs like ketamine and potentially psilocybin have rapid antidepressant actions, their hallucinogenic, addictive, and disorienting side effects make their clinical use limited,†said Brian L. Roth, a professor of pharmacology at UNC School of Medicine and the research project’s leader. “Our team has developed innovative methods and technologies to overcome these limitations with the goal of creating better medications to treat these neuropsychiatric conditions.â€
Research into the possible therapeutic effects of currently illicit drugs such as ketamine, psilocybin, MDMA and others has expanded tremendously during the past decade. Nonprofit groups such as the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies have led the way, with university researchers and drugmakers entering the mix more recently.
In September of last year, Johns Hopkins University announced the launch of the nation’s first-ever psychedelic research center, a $17-million project to study the use of psychedelics to treat conditions such as opioid use disorder, Alzheimer’s disease, depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Government interest in psychedelic drugs has also grown. Also in September, DARPA, a federal agency that exists to support the development of emerging technologies for use by the U.S. military, announced its Focused Pharma program, meant to develop drugs “that work quickly and deliver lasting remedies for conditions such as chronic depression and post-traumatic stress.â€
While that DARPA announcement didn’t mention specific substances or even use the word “psychedelics,†it referred to “certain Schedule 1 controlled drugs that engage serotonin receptors†and that have “significant side effects, including hallucination.â€
The press release for the new DARPA-funded project, lead by Roth at UNC, mentions ketamine and psilocybin specifically. The team will use both biological modeling and sophisticated computational approaches in an effort to design fast-acting drugs inspired by psychedelics but free from what researchers call “disabling side effects.â€
“Depression, anxiety, and substance abuse affect large segments of the population,†Roth said. “Rapidly acting drugs with antidepressant, anti-anxiety, and anti-addictive potential devoid of disabling side effects do not exist, not even as experimental compounds for use in animals. Creating such compounds would change the way we treat millions of people around the world suffering from these serious and life-threatening conditions.â€
At DARPA, Dr. Tristan McClure-Begley, Focused Pharma’s program manager, said last fall that the agency’s interest in developing such drugs is due to the country’s large number of veterans with PTSD and other mental health conditions.
“It is research we need to undertake given the scale of the mental health crisis our veterans face,†he said in September, “and if it works, the payoff is a completely new, safe, and effective therapeutic option that transforms complex and previously intractable mental conditions into something more acutely treatable.â€
Along with Roth at UNC Chapel Hill, the newly announced research project includes members Georgios Skiniotis and Ron Dror of Stanford University, Jian Jin of Icahn School of Medicine at Mt. Sinai, Brian Shoichet and Nevan Krogan of University of California at San Francisco and William Wetsel of Duke University.
Posted by AGORACOM
at 3:03 PM on Thursday, June 25th, 2020
Vancouver, British Columbia–(Newsfile Corp. – June 25, 2020) – Affinity Metals Corp. (TSXV: AFF) (“the Corporation”) (“Affinity”) is pleased to report that it has acquired, through staking, five new mineral properties. Four of the properties are located near Timmins, Ontario, Canada and the fifth is located near Revelstoke, British Columbia, Canada. The Corporation is currently acquiring more detailed information and history on the properties and provided they continue to be seen as properties of merit will provide further background in a news release and on the Corporation’s website at www.affinity-metals.com.
About Affinity Metals
Affinity is focused on the acquisition, exploration and development of strategic metal deposits within North America. Affinity is following a Project Generator model.
In addition to these recent acquisitions, Affinity is advancing the Regal and West Timmins Gold Projects.
The Regal is located near Revelstoke, British Columbia, Canada in the northern end of the prolific Kootenay Arch and hosts two major geophysical anomalies as well as three past producing mines. Recent drill results included a new silver discovery with an 11.10 meter interval of 143.29 g/t silver which included a 0.55 meter interval of 2,612.0 g/t silver.
The West Timmins Gold property is located near Timmins, Ontario, Canada and adjoins Melkior’s Carscallen project. The first drill hole has been completed and the core is now being logged, split and sampled in preparation for assaying.
On behalf of the Board of Directors
Robert Edwards, CEO and Director of Affinity Metals Corp.
Posted by AGORACOM-JC
at 5:45 PM on Wednesday, June 24th, 2020
EYC: TSX-V
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Posted by AGORACOM
at 4:03 PM on Wednesday, June 24th, 2020
SPONSOR: Lomiko Metals is focused on the exploration and development of minerals for the new green economy such as lithium and graphite. Lomiko has an option for 100% of the high-grade La Loutre graphite Property, Lac Des Iles Graphite Property and the 100% owned Quatre Milles Graphite Property. Lomiko is uniquely poised to supply the growing EV battery market. Click Here For More Information
The electric vehicle revolution has turned out to be more of an evolution, with the industry making slow and steady progress.
Despite this progress, the electric vehicle industry is still yet to turn a profit as a whole.
The next major step for the industry is to focus on efficiency and profitability, the two factors that will most impact the EV market share.
Many believe electric vehicles are the only future of road transportation. Equally, many are confident they will never replace internal combustion engines—not entirely, anyway. The so-called EV revolution, with sales of electric cars going through the roof and overtaking the sales of ICE cars, has failed to materialize. What the EV industry has instead been going through has been more stable and reliable: an evolution.
During this evolution, cutting battery costs and extending the range have been the two focal points of the EV industry. Now that there are some reliable results in these two respects, it is time to move to the next level: making EVs profitable.
It might come as a surprise that not all EVs are profitable, given that most EV-related headlines in the mainstream media are dedicated to Tesla, and Tesla continues to surprise the market with robust profits. But industry-wide, EVs have yet to turn in a profit, a new report from Lux Research says.
According to the report, the electric vehicle industry has made significant progress on battery costs and range extension, which has helped boost sales. Now, Lux Research analysts say, it is time to focus on efficiency to drive profitability, which would eventually make EVs more popular than ICE engine cars. This, the analysts say, should happen around 2035 or 2040, when plug-in hybrids and battery electric vehicles are expected to account for over half of all car sales.
“Currently, BEVs are more expensive and less convenient to use than their non-electric counterparts, but technology will continue to close this gap,” the lead author of the report, Christopher Robinson said. “We expect to see efficiency front and center as the next major focus of BEV design, with automakers either downsizing packs to increase profitability or offering more range.”
Naturally, the conclusions from the study are not based on research of every single EV that is on the global market. They are based on a representative sample of models, but, Robinson notes, there is a substantial difference between models in terms of profitability.
“Profitability in making electric vehicles ranges significantly between manufacturers. Tesla is likely the most profitable electric vehicle manufacturer with average gross margins around 20% on its vehicles,” the study’s lead author said. “However, that’s not the case for most as GM reported it still loses money on each Chevy Bolt it sells and has been hesitant to ramp up production. As incumbent manufacturers increase production capacity, we do expect profitability to improve through increased volumes of shared parts between models and advancements in batteries, motors, and other electronics in the powertrain.”
And then there are subsidies. Scorned by libertarians as a taxpayer-burdening crutch for industries that should be able to stand on their own two feet, subsidies for electric vehicles will remain in place for the observable future, at least in Europe and China, two of the world’s largest EV markets.
China recently said it would extend EV subsidies for two years, although it had planned to scrap them this year. It will gradually reduce them by 10 percent this year, 20 percent next year, and 30 percent in 2022, but it will keep them in place to stimulate more EV sales. Beijing has a target of 25 percent of all car sales to be EVs.
Meanwhile, Germany and France are even raising their EV subsidies to drive more purchases. These purchases are a big part of their green recovery plan, and in France, they are a big part of the revival of the local car industry, which has already invested heavily in electric vehicle manufacturing capabilities.
Sales of EVs this year will be affected by the pandemic, as will all car sales. BloombergNEF projects an 18-percent decline in EV sales this year but notes long-term demand remains strong.
Still, two more obstacles remain on the road to making EVs the dominant form of road transportation, and Lux Research analysts accurately call them range anxiety and charge time trauma. The reference to mental issues is not accidental. Besides their price, an inherent mistrust of EVs is a big reason why they are not a more common sight on roads and streets around the world.
Resolving these issues will take time, and they cannot be rushed, unless carmakers start handing out free EVs. After all, EVs are not an improvement on the ICE technology the way digital cameras were an improvement on analog ones. EVs are an alternative technology whose main advantage is that it does not emit noxious gases.
There are certainly many people concerned about the environment enough to be willing to spend more on a cleaner vehicle. Yet those who would rather keep their old truck, noxious gases and all, than buy an electric version and worry about charging times and ranges all the time are many more. These are the people whom the EV industry needs to convince that their product is reliable and won’t leave them stranded at a charging station in the middle of nowhere for hours.
Posted by AGORACOM
at 2:08 PM on Wednesday, June 24th, 2020
SPONSOR: Mota Ventures Corp is an established natural health products company focused in the CBD and psychedelic medicine sectors. Through their powerful eCommerce business, Mota is a leading direct-to-consumer provider of a wide range of natural health products throughout the United States and Europe. Click Here for More Info
The remedial potential of psilocybin has helped open the doors to a new world of potential treatments and psychedelic therapies.
Psilocybin and a number of similar psychoactive compounds have begun to show potential as medical therapies.
Psychedelic therapies including psilocybin, MDMA and other psychoactive compounds are slowly beginning to show medical potential as therapies designed to treat mental health concerns. Following the developmental model that saw cannabis rise from an illicit narcotic to a recognized form of medicine in a growing number of jurisdictions around the world, these psychedelic therapies may have the potential to provide significant medical benefits, especially for those suffering from mental health conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), addiction issues or other ailments.
Psychedelic treatments, including psilocybin, gaining medical acceptance
In North America, a number of leading medical and academic institutions have already begun to explore the potential of psychedelic therapies. For example, in 2017 the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted its “Breakthrough Therapy Designation†to MDMA for the treatment of PTSD. In 2019, 15 sites enrolled subjects in an FDA-regulated Phase 3 clinical trial of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for PTSD.
According to MAPS, the FDA’s Breakthrough Therapy Designation is intended for drugs that may have the potential to treat a serious or life-threatening disease or condition and preliminary clinical evidence indicates the drugs could demonstrate substantial improvement over existing therapies. Like the US FDA, Health Canada has embraced the medical potential of psychedelic therapies. The Canadian regulatory authority has provided psychedelic therapy company Numinus (TSXV:NUMI) with an updated licence under the Controlled Drug and Substances Act to allow Numinus researchers to standardize the extraction of psilocybin from mushrooms.
Under the company’s existing licence, Numinus is authorized to test, possess, buy and sell MDMA, psilocybin, psilocin, DMT and mescaline. Moving forward, the company intends to pursue the potential benefits of psychedelic therapies through the research, development and distribution of these substances. “We are excited about the future of psychedelics, and our focus will solely be on its therapeutic use,†said Numinus CEO Payton Nyquvest. “Psychedelics will only move forward in a therapeutic and research context, where the application of these substances will only happen in safe, controlled treatment environments. Numinus has these pieces in place today.â€
The initial progress made in the world of psychedelic therapies has begun to reflect many of the early steps made by the cannabis industry on the path to acceptance. Across North America, the regulation of cannabis for strictly medical uses has often predated legal recreational use.
Recognizing the parallels in these emerging industries, a number of companies in the psychedelic therapy space are working with experts from the cannabis industry in order to educate the public and develop safe and consistent treatment options. There are many similarities between the medical cannabis market and the emerging medical psychedelic market; however, the nature of psychedelics involves a much more stringent set of regulations in order to ensure patients receive a treatment tailored to their unique condition. By working with regulators like Health Canada, companies such as Numinus have an opportunity to support the emerging field of psychedelic-assisted therapy and research by establishing safe and standardized dosages and delivery methods.
Future psychedelic therapy research
The challenging nature of mental health conditions such as PTSD, addiction, depression, anxiety and many others has caused neuroscientists to consider new therapies as well. In 2019 John Hopkins Medicine announced the launch of the Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research, a research facility focused on the study of compounds including LSD and psilocybin as a means of treating a variety of mental health concerns including anorexia, addiction and depression.
With US$17 million in funding, the center is working to move the field of psychedelic therapies forward while targeting a number of specific conditions. “It’s been hand-to-mouth in this field, and now we have the core funding and infrastructure to really advance psychedelic science in a way that hasn’t been done before,†said Roland Griffiths, the director of the center at Johns Hopkins. “The one that’s crying out to be done is for opiate-use disorder, and we also plan to look at that.â€
Takeaway
Leading health authorities in both Canada and the United States have recognized the potential medical benefits of a number of psychedelic compounds. Through medical licensing agreements and research partnerships, both public and private institutions are slowly beginning to pinpoint the medical conditions that could most benefit from psychedelic therapies. As this research continues to improve our medical understanding of psychedelics, there is potential for new therapies to emerge with direct applications for a number of mental health concerns.
Posted by AGORACOM-JC
at 9:11 AM on Wednesday, June 24th, 2020
Following completion of its successful Phase 1 drill program in May 2020 (see press release dated June 2, 2020), Phase 2 of the 2020 field season will commence in July with exploratory drilling and environmental baseline studies
Drill target prioritized for testing is a large chargeability high detected in the 2017 IP survey (Figure 1), which was performed over the Pine Zone and footwall at the northern end of the 16 km long River Valley Palladium deposit
The IP target appears to be strongly chargeable, links to the eastern known extent of the Pine Zone resource via a curvilinear chargeability trend about 300 metres long , and extends from approximately 120 metres to 340 metres below surface in geophysical inversion modelling of the IP survey results
June 24, 2020 – Rockport, Canada – New Age Metals Inc. (TSXV:NAM); (OTC:NMTLF); (FSE:P7J). NAM is pleased to announce plans for its Phase 2 2020 exploration and development program at the Company’s 100% owned River Valley Palladium Project. This district-scale land package and large mineral resource is located near the City of Sudbury, Ontario, and its world-class mining and processing facilities.
Following completion of its successful Phase 1 drill program in May 2020 (see press release dated June 2, 2020), Phase 2 of the 2020 field season will commence in July with exploratory drilling and environmental baseline studies. The drill target prioritized for testing is a large chargeability high detected in the 2017 IP survey (Figure 1), which was performed over the Pine Zone and footwall at the northern end of the 16 km long River Valley Palladium deposit. The IP target appears to be strongly chargeable, links to the eastern known extent of the Pine Zone resource via a curvilinear chargeability trend about 300 metres long (Figure 1), and extends from approximately 120 metres to 340 metres below surface in geophysical inversion modelling of the IP survey results.
Click Image To View Full Size
Figure 1. Undrilled priority target from interpretation of the merged 2017 and 2018 IP survey chargeability maps for the Pine Zone-Dana North Zone area of the River Valley Palladium Project near Sudbury, Ontario. The Phase 2 program includes two vertical holes (PZ-20-07p and PZ-20-08p) totalling 750 metres.
The Phase 2 drill program as planned consists of two vertical holes totalling 750 metres and will be completed by a single diamond drill rig. Drilling is scheduled to commence in the third week of July and should be completed within about two weeks. The drilling will test for presence of the favourable Breccia Unit of the River Valley Intrusion (or feeder magma conduit), fault and fold structures, and Palladium mineralization, either an along strike continuation of the Pine Zone or a new zone (Figure 2). Assay results should be available from the laboratory by the end of August. Pending results, the two Phase 2 holes and other holes nearby may be surveyed by downhole IP techniques for off-hole anomalies. This drill program is the second phase of a three phase 5,000 metre drill program proposed for 2020.
Click Image To View Full Size
Figure 2. Pseudo-section view looking roughly southwest along strike of target towards the Pine Zone Palladium mineralization. Two Phase 2 drill hole locations (PZ-20-07p and PZ-20-08p) shown in red. The objective of these two holes is to test for the presence of the following three geological features: 1) the favourable host Breccia Unit; 2) Palladium mineralization (i.e., the IP chargeability target); and 3) the Boundary Shear Zone.
In addition to the Phase 2 drill program, environmental baseline studies are planned to commence in July. The baseline studies will include two components: 1) desktop study planning; and 2) site reconnaissance. The desktop study planning component includes reviewing historic studies and developing the baseline surface water, hydrology, aquatics, and archaeology programs. Adequate consideration at the start is necessary to ensure that such programs are rigorously defined and that the appropriate data are collected and aligned to support future permitting efforts. Site reconnaissance will be completed to validate the desktop exercise, collect and analyze two rounds of surface water samples, carry out some hydrology work and aquatic fish community and habitat work, and complete a Stage 1 archaeological assessment within the River Valley Project area. The reconnaissance work may continue into Q4 2020, depending on progress and field conditions.
About the River Valley Palladium Project
The details of the updated Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) and Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) were announced in the press release dated August 9, 2019 and are described on NAM’s website. The pit constrained Updated Mineral Resource Estimate formed the basis of the PEA. At a cut-off grade of 0.35 g/t PdEq, the Updated Mineral Resource Estimate contains 2.867 Moz PdEq in the Measured plus Indicated classifications and 1.059 Moz PdEq in the Inferred classification. The PEA is a preliminary report, but it demonstrates that there are potentially positive economics for a large-scale mining open pit operation, with 14 years of Palladium production. Refer to the NAM website (www.newagemetals.com) for details.
About NAM
New Age Metals is a junior mineral exploration and development company focused on the discovery, exploration and development of green metal projects in North America. The Company has two divisions; a Platinum Group Metals division and a Lithium/Rare Element division. The PGM division includes the 100% owned River Valley Project, one of North America’s largest undeveloped Platinum Group Metals Projects, situated 100 km from Sudbury, Ontario and the Genesis PGM Project in Alaska. The Lithium division is the largest mineral claim holder in the Winnipeg River Pegmatite Field where the Company is exploring for hard rock lithium and various rare elements such as tantalum and rubidium. Our philosophy is to be a project generator with the objective of optioning our projects with major and junior mining companies through to production. New Age Metals is a junior resource company on the TSX Venture Exchange, trading symbol NAM, OTCQB: NMTLF; FSE: P7J with 137,347,966 shares issued to date.
Agoracom
The Company also announces that further to its new release of March 17, 2020, the Company has issued 246,545 common shares to Agora Internet Relations Corp. (“AGORACOM”) pursuant to the terms of the agreement. Shares issued are subject to regulatory hold period of four months plus one day expiring on October 25, 2020 in accordance with applicable securities laws.
Investors are invited to visit the New Age Metals website where they can review the company and its corporate activities. Any questions or comments can be directed to [email protected] or Harry Barr at [email protected] or Cody Hunt at [email protected] or call our field office at 613 659 2773.
The contents contained herein that relate to Exploration Results or Mineral Resources is based on information compiled, reviewed or prepared by Bill Stone, P.Geo., a consulting geoscientist for New Age Metals. Dr. Stone is the Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the technical content of this news release.
On behalf of the Board of Directors
“Harry Barr”
Harry G. Barr
Chairman and CEO
Neither the 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 Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements: This release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. These statements may differ materially from actual future events or results and are based on current expectations or beliefs. For this purpose, statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. In addition, forward-looking statements include statements in which the Company uses words such as “continue”, “efforts”, “expect”, “believe”, “anticipate”, “confident”, “intend”, “strategy”, “plan”, “will”, “estimate”, “project”, “goal”, “target”, “prospects”, “optimistic” or similar expressions. These statements by their nature involve risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially depending on a variety of important factors, including, among others, the Company’s ability and continuation of efforts to timely and completely make available adequate current public information, additional or different regulatory and legal requirements and restrictions that may be imposed, and other factors as may be discussed in the documents filed by the Company on SEDAR (www.sedar.com), including the most recent reports that identify important risk factors that could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. The Company does not undertake any obligation to review or confirm analysts’ expectations or estimates or to release publicly any revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. Investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.
Posted by AGORACOM
at 7:11 AM on Wednesday, June 24th, 2020
TORONTO, June 24, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Loncor Resources Inc. (“Loncor” or the “Company“) (TSX: “LN”; OTCQB: “LONCF”) announces that its 76.29%-owned subsidiary, Adumbi Mining SARL (“Adumbi Miningâ€), has entered into a joint venture agreement (the “New Barrick JV“) with Barrick Gold (DRC) Limited for two exploitation permits held by Adumbi Mining (the “JV Permitsâ€) covering ground contiguous to the Company’s Imva area within the Ngayu gold belt in the northeast of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (“DRCâ€). The purpose of the New Barrick JV is to conduct exploration on the JV Permit properties to evaluate possible development and mining of such properties.
The Ngayu gold belt lies approximately 220 kilometres from the Kibali gold mine, operated by Barrick (TSX: “ABXâ€; NYSE: “GOLDâ€). Kibali produced record gold production of 814,000 ounces of gold in 2019, at “all-in sustaining costs†of US$693/oz.
The terms of the New Barrick JV are similar to Loncor’s ongoing joint venture agreement with Barrick which covers over 1,894 km2 of ground in the Ngayu gold belt including, among other properties, certain properties in the Imva area. Under the New Barrick JV, Barrick will manage and fund all exploration of the JV Permit properties until the completion of a pre-feasibility study. Once the joint venture committee has determined to move ahead with a full feasibility study, a special purpose vehicle (“SPV“) would be created to hold the specific discovery areas. Subject to the DRC’s free carried interest requirements, Barrick would retain 65% of the SPV with Adumbi Mining holding the balance of 35%. Adumbi Mining would be required, from that point forward, to fund its pro-rata share of the SPV in order to maintain its 35% interest or be diluted.
The closing of the New Barrick JV, which is expected to occur by July 18, 2020, is subject to certain closing conditions customary for transactions of this nature.
Arnold Kondrat, CEO of Loncor, stated: “We are pleased to see Barrick’s confidence in the Ngayu gold belt continue to grow. This New Barrick JV further consolidates the control of the Ngayu gold belt by Loncor and Barrick as partners.â€
About Loncor Resources Inc. Loncor is a Canadian gold exploration company focussed on the Ngayu Greenstone Belt in the North East of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (the “DRCâ€). The Loncor team has over two decades of experience of operating in the DRC. Ngayu has numerous positive indicators based on the geology, artisanal activity, encouraging drill results and an existing gold resource base. The area is 220 kilometres southwest of the Kibali gold mine, which is operated by Barrick Gold (Congo) SARL (“Barrickâ€). In 2019, Kibali produced record gold production of 814,000 ounces at “all-in sustaining costs†of US$693/oz. Barrick has highlighted the Ngayu Greenstone Belt as an area of particular exploration interest and is moving towards earning 65% of any discovery in 1,894 km2 of Loncor ground that they are exploring. As per the joint venture agreement signed in January 2016, Barrick manages and funds exploration on the said ground at the Ngayu project until the completion of a pre-feasibility study on any gold discovery meeting the investment criteria of Barrick. In a recent announcement Barrick highlighted six prospective drill targets and are moving towards confirmation drilling in 2020. Subject to the DRC’s free carried interest requirements, Barrick would earn 65% of any discovery with Loncor holding the balance of 35%. Loncor will be required, from that point forward, to fund its pro-rata share in respect of the discovery in order to maintain its 35% interest or be diluted.
In addition to the Barrick JV, certain parcels of land within the Ngayu project surrounding and including the Makapela and Adumbi deposits have been retained by Loncor and do not form part of the joint venture with Barrick. Barrick has certain pre-emptive rights over the Makapela deposit. Loncor’s Makapela deposit (which is 100%-owned by Loncor) has an indicated mineral resource of 614,200 ounces of gold (2.20 million tonnes grading 8.66 g/t Au) and an inferred mineral resource of 549,600 ounces of gold (3.22 million tonnes grading 5.30 g/t Au). Adumbi and two neighbouring deposits hold an inferred mineral resource of 2.5 million ounces of gold (30.65 million tonnes grading 2.54 g/t Au), with 76.29% of this resource being attributable to Loncor via its 76.29% interest in the project.
Resolute Mining Limited (ASX/LSE: “RSG”) owns 26% of the outstanding shares of Loncor and holds a pre-emptive right to maintain its pro rata equity ownership interest in Loncor following the completion by Loncor of any proposed equity offering.
Additional information with respect to Loncor and its projects can be found on Loncor’s website at www.loncor.com.
Posted in All Recent Posts, Loncor | Comments Off on Loncor $LN.ca Expands JV Relationship with Barrick in DRC $ABX.ca $NEM $RSG
Posted by AGORACOM-JC
at 8:47 AM on Tuesday, June 23rd, 2020
Customized Liquid Avatars to be supported by blockchain-based Digital Certificates of Authenticity
Announced that it’s Liquid Avatar platform (www.liquidavatar.com) has launched its Creator program together with leading pop-culture, comic book, manga, anime and other iconic artists to design and develop a continuous series of digital icons that consumers can acquire to display and share with their Liquid Avatar
Liquid Avatars are high quality digital icons for personal or business use, that emulate a user’s digital “wallet” and “keyring” allowing them to manage and control their digital identity, credentials and valuables
Toronto, Ontario–(June 23, 2020) – KABN Systems NA Holdings Corp. (CSE: KABN) (the “Company” or “KABN” or “KABN North America“), a Canadian Fintech company that specializes in continuous online identity verification, management and monetization, is pleased to announce that it’s Liquid Avatar platform (www.liquidavatar.com) has launched its Creator program together with leading pop-culture, comic book, manga, anime and other iconic artists to design and develop a continuous series of digital icons that consumers can acquire to display and share with their Liquid Avatar.
Liquid Avatars are high quality digital icons for personal or business use, that emulate a user’s digital “wallet” and “keyring” allowing them to manage and control their digital identity, credentials and valuables. Powered by KABN ID with its biometrics, including facial recognition and other security features, Liquid Avatars can be shared with 3rd parties on a permission basis to verify identity without exposing any sensitive data. There is no cost for a consumer to create or manage their Liquid Avatar and use the platform.
With the evolving macroenvironment driving an increased amount of time spent online, KABN believes that digital identity will become more important as users look to work, play, educate, game and shop virtually and will need to protect, manage and control the use of their digital identity.
The Liquid Avatar Creator program will feature original and licensed Illustrator and Signature Series digital icons which will be available as one of a kind, limited edition or collectable set from legendary and emerging pop culture Artists for sale in the Liquid Avatar Marketplace (www.liquidavatarmarketplace.com), (coming Q3 2020).
Each Illustrator and Signature Series Liquid Avatar will also be supported by a Digital Certificate of Authenticity (“DCA”), based on blockchain technology developed by the KABN Network. DCA’s allow for the issuance, recording, management and transfer of digital assets using IBM’s Hyperledger Fabric.
To support the development and launch of the Creator program, provide Art Direction, and liaise with Artists and the industry, KABN has partnered with 30+ year industry veteran, Mariano Nicieza. Mariano is President and Publisher of Apex Comics Group, Inc., writer and Executive Producer of the award-winning digital comic series, William Shatner’s War Chronicles, and the illustrator of the award-winning graphic novel, Stan Lee’s GOD Woke. He has worked in writing, illustration, design, and art direction in the digital and print industry for Marvel Entertainment, Disney, Malibu, Fleer, Paramount, and Panasonic. At Marvel, he held positions as Special Projects Editor and Senior Art Director. Mariano has a BA in Art from Rutgers University, an MA in Illustration from Syracuse University, and an MFA in Illustration from Hartford University.
“We are excited to have Mariano on board to better engage with the Artist community. Companies like Epic Games that have launched free-to-play games like Fortnite, have generated over $2 Billion a year in online revenue with much of that coming from art-based cosmetic skins and other digital items,” said Ben Kessler, CEO. “Our Liquid Avatar program is positioned to give people a wide range of choices on how they want to digitally present themselves and the involvement of the professional Artist community is going to provide unique opportunities to personalize their online presence while creating new sources of revenue for KABN.”
Liquid Avatar is developing event-driven icons for online groups, events and conference to create incentives for participation. Liquid Avatar also has other gamification features like badges to create recognition and rewards.
KABN believes that ownership of identity is a basic human right and individuals should be the primary beneficiary of any use of their identity. KABN North America generates revenue by providing users with high value services and delivering permission-based offers that fit their aggregated public data profiles through KABN KASH and the KABN Visa Card. KABN never rents, sells or provides data to outside parties without permission, and complies with jurisdictional privacy rules and regulations.
Over the coming weeks, KABN will begin its rollout of products and programs, initially on an invitation-only basis to its customers, social media, gaming and its network partners.
KABN Systems NA Holdings Corp. through its wholly owned subsidiary KABN Systems North America Inc. focuses on the verification, management and monetization of digital identity, empowering users to control and benefit from its use of their online identity. KABN propriety technology suite includes 4 key products:
KABN ID is an Always On, biometric and blockchain based digital identity validation and verification platform allowing users to continuously and confidently prove themselves throughout the online community.
Liquid Avatar allows users to create high quality digital icons representing their online personas. These icons, in conjunction with KABN ID, allows users to use Liquid Avatars to share public and permission-based private data when they want and with whom they want. www.liquidavatar.com
KABN Card is a Visa approved prepaid card program allowing users to manage both digital and fiat currencies and earn cashback and other loyalty incentives.
KABN KASH is a cashback, loyalty and engagement program that powers the KABN revenue ecosystem.
KABN provides its products and services at no cost to consumers and generates revenues through permission-based partner programs.
KABN Systems NA Holdings Corp. is publicly traded on the Canadian Securities Exchange under the symbol: KABN
Ben Kessler Chief Executive Officer 647-725-7742 Ext. 700 [email protected]
The CSE has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
This news release does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities under the KABN Financing in the United States. The securities 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 and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available.
Forward-Looking Information and Statements
This press release contains certain “forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation and may also contain statements that may constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking information and forward-looking statements are not representative of historical facts or information or current condition, but instead represent only the Company’s beliefs regarding future events, plans or objectives, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and outside of the Company’s control. Generally, such forward-looking information or forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “plans”, “expects” or “does not expect”, “is expected”, “budget”, “scheduled”, “estimates”, “forecasts”, “intends”, “anticipates” or “does not anticipate”, or “believes”, or variations of such words and phrases or may contain statements that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might” or “will be taken”, “will continue”, “will occur” or “will be achieved”. The forward-looking information and forward-looking statements contained herein may include, but is not limited to, information concerning the ability of the Company to generate revenues, roll out new programs and to successfully achieve business objectives, and expectations for other economic, business, and/or competitive factors.
By identifying such information and statements in this manner, the Company is alerting the reader that such information and statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such information and statements. In addition, in connection with the forward-looking information and forward-looking statements contained in this press release, the Company has made certain assumptions. Among the key factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking information and statements are the following: changes in general economic, business and political conditions, including changes in the financial markets; changes in applicable laws; compliance with extensive government regulation. Should one or more of these risks, uncertainties or other factors materialize, or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking information or statements prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as intended, planned, anticipated, believed, estimated or expected.
Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing, and the expectations contained in, the forward-looking information and statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information and statements, and no assurance or guarantee can be given that such forward-looking information and statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information and statements. The forward-looking information and forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date of this press release, and the Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information and/or forward-looking statements that are contained or referenced herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. All subsequent written and oral forward- looking information and statements attributable to the Company or persons acting on its behalf is expressly qualified in its entirety by this notice.
Posted by AGORACOM-JC
at 6:00 PM on Monday, June 22nd, 2020
SPONSOR: Esports Entertainment Group(GMBL:NASDAQ) – Millions of people from around the world tune in to watch teams of video game players compete with each other. In first quarter 2020, YouTube reported 1.1 billion hours watched, an increase of 13% when compared to fourth quarter 2019. Wagering on Esports is projected to hit $23 BILLION this year although that number will likely be eclipsed due to the recent pandemic. Esports Entertainment Group is the next generation online gambling company designed for the purpose of facilitating as much of this wagering as possible. LEARN MORE.
Esports & Gaming Industry on a Tear
The esports industry is on a tear as very few ways of entertainment are as popular as video games.
“The video game industry is disrupting traditional media and entertainment,†according to VanEck.Â
The world’s 2.7 billion gamers will shell out $159.3 billion on games in 2020, if we go by a forecast by market researcher Newzoo. This marks about 9% year-over-year growth.
By: Sanghamitra Saha
Newzoo also expects gaming revenues of $200.8 billion by 2023 at a compound annual growth rate of 8.3%. The coronavirus pandemic and the resultant stay-at-home trend made it more lucrative for the video gaming industry. The pandemic has caused the cancellation of all sporting events and consumers are indulging in video games or online watching of esports.
Despite no breakout new releases, the month of May saw U.S. spending on hardware, full game sales and accessories touching $977 million, according to industry-tracking firm NPD Group. The figure was 52% higher when compared to a year ago. This was the highest tracked outlays for a May month since the $1.2 billion achieved in May 2008.
Total video game sales so far this year are up about 18% year over year to $5.48 billion. Revenues from video game hardware gained 34% year over year while software sales rose 13% year over year. Video game accessories and game cards added 12% year over year.
Apart from this, there is a big market for sports betting. As of 2018, sports betting made up approximately 18% of the $449 billion global gaming market, as measured by gross gaming revenues, or “GGR.†Goldman Sachs expects the online sports betting market to increase 7.1% per annum from 2018 to 2022.
Regulated sports betting is currently legal in several European countries, Australia and Mexico. In the United States, legalization is enacted at the state level. On a country level, Brazil and India are moving toward likely regulation.
