Posted by AGORACOM
at 7:27 AM on Tuesday, December 1st, 2020
St-Georges Eco-Mining Corp. (CSE:SX) (CNSX:SX.CN)(OTC:SXOOF) (FSE:85G1) is pleased to announce that it has signed a Binding Letter of Intent with Altair International (US-OTC: ATAO) pursuant to which St-Georges has agreed to provide access to its patent pending lithium processing technology for lithium-in-clay mineral deposits, and also agreed to jointly develop a patentable electric vehicle battery recycling industrial process.
In return for the access to the lithium processing technology and as part of their contribution in the development of patentable intellectual property in regard to EV Battery Recycling, Altair will issue 2,000,000 common shares at signature of this Binding LOI. The company will also commit to 2 subsequent share issuance of 2 million shares each, the first at the filing of a joint patent application in regards to the battery recycling R&D effort and the second at the start of an Industrial Pilot Plant demonstrator of the battery recycling process. If all milestones are completed, a total of 6 million common shares of Altair will be issued in favor of St-Georges.
Altair will also make a total of US $300,000 cash payments to St-Georges. A first payment of US $150,000 on or before April 1st, 2021 and a second payment of US $150,000 on or before August 1st, 2021. Both companies will contribute equally to the battery recycling research & development effort and to the design and construction of a battery recycling industrial pilot-plant circuit in St-Georges contracted installations in Quebec.
Royalties
On Altair Nevada Lithium Project
The Parties will establish a 5% royalty stream on the commercial output of the Nevada Property for the whole mine life period. This royalty will be transferable at the discretion of St-Georges or its successors. It will be opposable to any successors of Altair as a lien on the mining assets. St-Georges and Altair will negotiate a right of first refusal in favor of Altair. The royalty, to be negotiated within the guidelines of the “Royalty Formula”, will take the form of a Net Revenue Interest or Net Revenue Return (“NRR“).
Based on the location of the lithium-in-clay mineral project of Altair, 20% of the established NRR will be assigned to Iconic Minerals (TSX-V: ICM) based on current active agreements between the two companies.
On the Commercial Recycling of EV Batteries
The parties will establish a mutually beneficial partnership royalty stream on the commercial implementation and output of the battery recycling technology. The proportionate ownership will be transferable at the discretion of St-Georges, Altair or its successors.
The parties agreed to enter into a long form Definitive Agreement on or before February 5, 2021. Definitive agreement will be subject to review by regulatory authorities.
The companies expect to issue additional information in the coming weeks regarding the joint battery recycling technology development effort.
Vilhjalmur Thor Vilhjalmsson, St-Georges’ President & CEO commented: “(…) With the continued work of our research and development team, it is a great pleasure to team up with Altair to take this process further. The SX team has been looking at alternative methods, including using our proprietary technology in recycling EV batteries. We can see this as an opportunity to further broaden the scope of our developments and welcome the partnership. This will also enable us to finetune the Nevada operations already in place with Iconic Minerals over the forthcoming years (…)”
Leonard Lovallo, President of Altair, commented that “We believe that the lithium extraction and purification processes which St-Georges has developed have the potential to reshape the economics of the lithium mining sector, and we are incredibly excited to have partnered with them on this endeavor. As the demand and marketplace for lithium continues to expand with the ever-increasing popularity of EV vehicles across the globe, the scope and applications of the technologies which we are partnering with St-Georges on will only increase.”
Lithium Processing Technology Update
St-Georges technical team is now ready to initiate work aimed at optimizing the purification process of its lithium process and recuperation technology. The objectives are to minimize chemical losses, optimize total process recovery and optimizing the value of the byproducts. The company also intends to validate multiple resources and assure the selectivity of lithium recovery works on different types of resources.
Multiple initiatives will be run in parallel with the company’s strategic partners and suppliers. This effort should lead to a complete metallurgical simulation to size and price equipment. St-Georges is committed to utilizing multiple laboratories in parallel in order to protect intellectual proprietary processes and to accelerate IP extension.
St-Georges contractors have completed the preparation of a spodumene concentrate sourced from a Quebec based mineral resources and the company is now ready to initial leaching tests in a pilot plant environment. The company is expecting material recently prepared from the Bonnie Claire Project in Nevada from its partner Iconic Minerals. The company expects to run a complete pilot mining processing circuit on reception of the material. This next development effort should establish the recuperation and purification parameters needed specifically for that project as well as the final tweaked chemical recipe for the resin used to coat the lithium balls used in the last recuperation and refining stage.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
“Vilhjalmur T. Vilhjalmsson”
VILHJALMUR THOR VILHJALMSSON President & CEO
About St-Georges
St-Georges is developing new technologies to solve some of the most common environmental problems in the mining industry. The Company controls all the active mineral tenures in Iceland. It also explores for nickel & PGEs on the Julie Nickel Project and the Manicougan Palladium Project on the Quebec’s North Shore.
Posted by AGORACOM-JC
at 7:25 AM on Tuesday, December 1st, 2020
ImagineAR™ Elves Help Interactive 3D Santa Come into Homes Easily
Using the free ImagineAR™ app on their phones, parents can bring a life-sized talking 3D Santa directly from the North Pole into their living rooms for photos and videos.
NORTH POLE, Dec. 1, 2020 – ImagineAR Inc. (CSE: IP) (OTC: IPNFF) Santa Claus knows how important it is to keep children and families safe and healthy, so for the first time ever, he will enter homes of good little boys and girls via their parents’ smartphones, rather than chimneys. Using the free ImagineAR™ app on their phones, parents can bring a life-sized talking 3D Santa directly from the North Pole into their living rooms for photos and videos.
“Yes, it’s true,” said Santa. “The elves at ImagineAR and I wanted to bring some early holiday cheer to children this year, since social distancing has stopped my visits to shopping malls, stores and special events. We wanted to make sure children could still have their yearly photo with me and could even dance with me in their very own homes,” the jolly one said.
Inspired by the distraught 5-year old daughter of a fellow elf, ImagineAR head elf Alen Paul Silverrstieen and his team got to work. “This little girl wanted to visit Santa before the holidays and while she understood it wasn’t safe, it broke Santa’s heart,” said Silverrstieen. “The big guy was quite clear- make it so parents, grandparents and friends can use their smartphone to bring him directly into the homes of children everywhere for photos. We went a step further with Santa’s magic- using the free ImagineAR app and from the phone, folks can even record video of Santa Claus dancing with their little ones in front of their very own trees to share with family and friends!” he announced proudly.
To have Santa drop in to your home, just download the free ImagineAR app in the IOS App Store or Google Play on your mobile device, select “AR Near Me”, select your preferred Santa experience from the bottom of the screen, and Santa will magically appear right in front of you through your phone. The ImagineAR app has multiple Santa experiences to choose from. “In case a half-eaten cookie and empty glass of milk aren’t enough, we can even provide parents with photographic ‘proof’ that Santa was in their home on Christmas Eve stealthily with his big bag of toys,” whispered Silverrstieen.
“I’m an old guy, set in my ways,” chuckled Santa. “Don’t tell anyone, but I’ll likely still use chimneys, too. But my ImagineAR elves have really outdone themselves..Wishing everyone a very merry Christmas! Ho! Ho! Ho!”
About ImagineAR ImagineAR Inc. (CSE: IP) (OTC: IPNFF) is an augmented reality (AR) platform, ImagineAR.com, that enables businesses of any size to create and implement their own AR campaigns with no programming or technology experience. Every organization, from professional sports franchises to small retailers, can develop interactive AR campaigns that blend the real and digital worlds. Customers simply point their mobile device at logos, signs, buildings, products, landmarks and more to instantly engage videos, information, advertisements, coupons, 3D holograms and any interactive content all hosted in the cloud and managed using a menu-driven portal. Integrated real-time analytics means that all customer interaction is tracked and measured in real-time. The AR Enterprise platform supports both IOS and Android mobile devices and upcoming wearable technologies.
For more information or to explore working with ImagineAR, please visit www.imagineAR.com .
We encourage you to do your own due diligence and ask your broker if ImagineAR Inc. (cse: IP) is suitable for your particular investment portfolio*.
The Canadian Securities Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release. This press release may include ‘forward-looking information’ within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation, concerning the business of the Company. The forward-looking information is based on certain key expectations and assumptions made by ImagineAR’s management. Although ImagineAR believes that the expectations and assumptions on which such forward- looking information is based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking information because ImagineAR can give no assurance that it will prove to be correct. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release, and ImagineAR disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise, other than as required by applicable securities laws.
As the name implies “PropTech” is a combination of two words and stands for “property technology.” As simple as that is, the implementation and importance of PropTech is anything but.
Like every other industry on the planet that is incorporating technology to create greater efficiencies and experiences, the commercial real estate market is no different and is seeing the rapid adoption of;
Artificial Intelligence
Machine learning
Big data
Internet of Things (IoT Sensors)
Cloud computing
To create cost savings by reducing and even eliminating existing costs, create greater efficiencies for the operation and maintenance of real estate assets, as well as, improve the design of new builds.
IMPACT OF COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic has served to significantly increased the demand for PropTech in the commercial real estate market as follows:
The need for solutions to get workers back into workplace buildings and offices. Specifically, the need to identify bacteria and viruses in indoor air quality, as well as, the ability to sanitize immediately and effectively.
The need to create even greater cost savings and efficiencies for real estate owners that will continue suffering losses until workers significantly return to the workplace.
WHY UNIVERSAL PROPTECH (UPI:TSXV)?
Whereas many companies are just now trying to capitalize on the opportunities presented in the current and massive future of PropTech, Universal PropTech Inc. (“UPI”) a diversified investment platform delivering healthy building solutions and services for building developers, owners and operators in Canada. More than just lip service, UPI has been successfully delivering its PropTech solutions for years, with revenues over the last 3 years as follows:
2017 – $13.8M
2018 – $13.7M
2019 – $15.9M
Headquartered in Toronto, UPI has offices across Canada including Halifax,Montreal, and Ottawa.
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
Used in Federal Government facilities for over 40 years
Provides real estate managers turnkey HVAC Building Controls design, equipment, installation and ongoing operations and maintenance services for Industrial, Commercial, Institutional and Multi-residential customers
Already possesses under-utilized IP in building controls to add in additional monitoring inputs and equipment controls
Diverse revenue streams via products, installations and ongoing
Key strategic partnerships afford the ability to monitor real-time utility meters, key BAS and systems data in a building.
Team has the capability to make sense of this data and apply advanced web tools to make recommendations to fine tune a building, saving from 5% to 15% of a facilities energy spend without capital expenditure
VCI offers the depth and breadth of Building Automation Systems (BAS) knowledge and products from the likes of Siemens and Honeywell to support building automation systems
COVID-19 STRATEGY
As businesses return to the office, property managers must think about the design and safety of their buildings for occupants. Traditional cleaning methods are ineffective at preventing transmission. UV technology is able to sanitize all surfaces free from pathogens. UPI is capitalizing on this opportunity by building and acquiring UV technology as it is the best in the market to administer and integrate it into healthy buildings in Canada.
Posted by AGORACOM-JC
at 4:19 PM on Monday, November 30th, 2020
Q3 2020 revenue increased by 32% over Q2 2020
Adjusted EBITDA of $848,249 reported for Q3 2020 compared to $206,435 for the same quarter in the prior year
Adjusted EBITDA for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 was $1,492,252 compared to $707,263 for the same period in the prior year
Revenue for Q3 2020 was $3.01 million down from $3.27 million in Q3 2019, and year to date totalled $8.05 million down from $10.86 million for the comparative period in the prior year
TORONTO, ON / November 30, 2020 / Kontrol Energy Corp.(CSE:KNR, OTCQB:KNRLF, FSE:1K8) (“Kontrol” or “Company”) a leader smart buildings and smart cities through IoT, Cloud and SaaS technology announces its financial results for the nine months ended September 30, 2020.
A complete set of Financial Statements and Management’s Discussion & Analysis will be filed on SEDAR (www.sedar.com) on November 30, 2020. A call to discuss the financial results has been scheduled for Monday, November 30, 2020 at 4:30pm (EST).
“We had a significant improvement in the third quarter against an ongoing challenging backdrop as businesses continue to deal with the impact of COVID-19,” says Paul Ghezzi, CEO. “In addition, the Company achieved further advancements in the development of the Kontrol BioCloudTM viral and air-borne pathogen detection technology during the third quarter of 2020.”
Highlights
Q3 2020 revenue increased by 32% over Q2 2020
Adjusted EBITDA of $848,249 reported for Q3 2020 compared to $206,435 for the same quarter in the prior year
Adjusted EBITDA for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 was $1,492,252 compared to $707,263 for the same period in the prior year
Revenue for Q3 2020 was $3.01 million down from $3.27 million in Q3 2019, and year to date totalled $8.05 million down from $10.86 million for the comparative period in the prior year
Cash flow from operating activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 was $531,675
On August 1, 2020 Kontrol completed the acquisition of New Found Air (“NFA”), a building energy solutions business
Capital management activities during Q3 and subsequent to the quarter have strengthened the balance sheet (see below)
BioCloudTM product development continued at a rapid pace through the third quarter (see below)
Active capital management and balance sheet strengthening
Options and warrants converted into common shares:
Approximately 4.2 million options and warrants were exercised in Q3 and up to date of this press release (average exercise price was $0.73 per share)
Proceeds from options exercise
Q3 2020: $653,000
October 1, 2020 to date of this press release: $224,000
Proceeds from warrants exercise
Q3 2020: $1,404,000
October 1, 2020 to date of this press release: $805,000
Convertible debentures converted into common shares
Approximately 3.2 million common shares were issued in connection with convertible debenture conversions to common shares in Q3 and up to date of this press release
2024 convertible debenture conversion to common shares
Q3 2020: $866,000
October 1, 2020 to date of this press release: $143,000
Conversion price was $0.80 per share
2023 convertible debenture conversion to common shares
Q3 2020: $0
October 1, 2020 to date of this press release: $988,000
Conversion price was $0.50 per share
2020 debenture and 2022 debenture
The Company announced a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of $5,800,000, allowing existing holders of 2020 debentures to exchange for 2022 debentures maturing on October 31, 2022
Subscription proceeds are currently being processed in connection with the new 2022 debenture and the extension will be reflected in Q4 and the Company’s December 31, 2020 annual financial statements
Cash position
The Company’s cash balance as at September 30, 2020 was $3,065,995 compared to $644,313 as at December 31, 2019 for a net cash increase of $2,421,682. While proceeds from options and warrants exercise were significant contributors to the net cash increase, management is equally pleased with cash flow that was generated from operating activities of $531,675 for the year to date period.
The Company’s cash balance on day of this press release was approximately $3,800,000.
Q3 2020 and Year to Date Financial Summary
Financial Results
Three months ended
Nine months ended
(unaudited)
Sept 30, 2020
Sept 30, 2019
Sept 30, 2020
Sept 30, 2019
Revenue
$
3,012,386
$
3,266,270
$
8,047,477
$
10,856,816
Gross profit
$
1,601,830
$
1,709,248
$
4,315,650
$
5,465,008
Net loss
$
(193,541
)
$
(692,175
)
$
(1,305,904
)
$
(1,968,653
)
Basic and Diluted EPS
$
(0.01
)
$
(0.02
)
$
(0.04
)
$
(0.07
)
Add for adjusted EBITDA reconciliation:
Amort. and depreciation
$
538,159
$
486,187
$
1,490,017
$
1,355,686
Finance expense
$
250,346
$
272,458
$
816,742
$
779,277
Share based compensation
$
227,274
$
72,686
$
455,386
$
462,576
Acquisition related expenses
$
26,011
$
67,279
$
36,011
$
78,377
Adjusted EBITDA*
$
848,249
$
206,435
$
1,492,252
$
707,263
Kontrol BioCloudTM
The Company has made important progress on its BioCloud TM technology including the receipt of various certifications and filing of trademarks and patents. As part of our ongoing strategy to manage capital and accelerate towards the production of BioCloud the Company is working with various third-party suppliers and contract manufacturers. BioCloud TM product development costs incurred for the current year to date period and up to the time of this press release was approximately $615,000. The Company’s cash position and resources available are sufficient to commence the production of BioCloud TM.
* Adjusted EBITDA is a non-IRFS financial measure. The Company defines Adjusted EBITDA as net income or loss before interest, income taxes, amortization, and depreciation, share based compensation, and acquisition related expenses.
About Kontrol Energy
Kontrol Energy Corp. (CSE: KNR) (OTCQB: KNRLF) (FSE: 1K8) is a leader in smart buildings and smart cities through IoT, Cloud and SaaS technology. With a disciplined mergers and acquisition strategy, combined with organic growth, Kontrol Energy Corp. provides market-based energy solutions to our customers designed to reduce their overall cost of energy while providing a corresponding reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
Additional information about Kontrol Energy Corp. can be found on its website at www.kontrolenergy.com and by reviewing its profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com
Posted by AGORACOM-JC
at 4:04 PM on Monday, November 30th, 2020
SPONSOR: Imagine AR Inc. (IP:CSE) (IPNFF:OTCQB) is an Augmented Reality platform that allows businesses to easily launch AR campaigns. Clients Include: NBA Sacramento Kings, Mall of America, AT&T Shape and The Basketball Hall of Fame. ImagineAR and NFL Alumni Academy recently signed a 5 year partnership agreement. The company was selected by Canadian pharmacy chain Shoppers Drug Mart to deliver Immersive AR Conference Experience and if that’s not enough, Imagine AR just signed its second La Liga team to provide AR experiences for fans. Learn More.
The future of live sport – how brands can make an impact with new digital possibilities
We’ve seen the already growing appetite for virtual event counterparts accelerate during the lockdown period.
Our consumer research found that football fans in the UK are now three times more likely to find the prospect of augmented reality (AR) replays and stats exciting, with younger fans more likely to use these technologies in the near future.
By: Mark Melling, Verizon Media
Digital fan experiences like the NFL’s ‘Watch Together’ synchronised livestream are reinventing the way in which consumers enjoy live sports content.
The absence of live sport throughout the COVID-19 pandemic has been felt strongly by fans like me across the globe. From the pre-game rituals, half-time debrief with friends and the atmosphere within the stadium, fans have been missing out on the communal and experience-led aspect of a physical game.
In response to this, we’ve adapted our strategy and looked at new and innovative ways we can elevate the sports fan experience as well as focusing on the entertainment sector more broadly.
We’ve seen the already growing appetite for virtual event counterparts accelerate during the lockdown period. Our consumer research found that football fans in the UK are now three times more likely to find the prospect of augmented reality (AR) replays and stats exciting, with younger fans more likely to use these technologies in the near future.*
This demonstrates how fans are starting to see the value these technologies bring, and so will be more likely to continue using them to enhance the digital experience – even when live sporting events start-up again.
More broadly, the expectation for consumers is that most offline events will have some sort of digital twin and be augmented by tech in some way. We’re already starting to see this amongst the younger generation, with 83% of UK millennials claiming they expect their digital experiences and interactions with brands online to be seamless, innovative, and to enhance what’s happening in the real world.*
The convergence of online and offline
These sorts of insights have been integral in driving our strategy and the platforms we use moving forward – highlighting the importance of exploring the convergence of online and offline.
As part of this, it’s been important for us to consider two key streams: live events with virtual integrations and virtual events with live integrations. The former will be vital for sport as virtual elements can be incorporated to enhance the offline experience.
For example, better quality video streaming, immersive experiences and real-time virtual reality (VR) and AR overlays that will allow viewers to watch the game from multiple angles – including cameras on the players and referees, so that fans can get a point of view shot and feel more involved in the action.
COVID-19 has been instrumental in accelerating demand for these types of experiences. And technology can help to create communal experiences for viewers, even when they are unable to attend the physical venue to watch the game with friends and family under current lockdown restrictions.
As a result, everyone working within the sports industry – from production and distribution to branding and marketing – has had to adjust their strategy and adapt to bringing digital experiences to the forefront. Much of this technology was already in the pipeline but the global pandemic has accelerated plans due to the need to shift to digital overnight.
NFL partnership: ‘Watch Together’
One of the ways we helped to improve the digital fan experience within the sports industry was through our recent partnership with the NFL to launch ‘Watch Together’.
The new platform consists of a co-viewing experience that enables fans to video chat on their phones whilst watching live games in the Yahoo Sports App in the US. Watch Together for NFL Live on Yahoo Sports will give fans the ability to invite up to three family and friends to watch live local and primetime NFL games on their phones through a synchronised livestream, creating an interactive, virtual experience that lets viewers feel like they are watching the game together.
On top of this, the new Yahoo Sports game centre experience offers fans the ability to see graphical replays of key NFL game plays in near real-time using its proprietary Next Gen Stats player tracking data. The NFL is the first launch partner for Watch Together, but it could easily be replicated across the whole sport sector and demonstrates the digital capabilities for consuming live events.
These viewing experiences will be game-changers moving forward, even post-pandemic, and will more intrinsically link the offline and online element of live events. This is an incredible opportunity for brands to test themselves. And marketers should be thinking about their engagement strategies now to establish themselves in this evolving world, taking hold of the unique digital opportunities that are arising.
Supercharging the experience with 5G
This is also where 5G can make a real impact – supercharging the fan experience through rich, real-time and immersive experiences. It will enhance existing technologies and help to cater for the increased demand for online events, while also elevating offline experiences in the future.
For example, e-commerce, social interaction and video replays in between games are all currently available but can be heightened, personalised and delivered in real-time at scale through the connectivity that 5G will enable.
Brands can tap into these opportunities by thinking creatively about ways to bring together the online and offline elements in a meaningful way that will connect with consumers. For live sports – and indeed live entertainment events more broadly – we can expect interactive and immersive experiences to become the norm, with fans looking for new ways to watch the game from their homes.
Brands that do not adapt and help to drive these unique experiences risk being left behind as we hurtle towards a more digitised future.
Posted by AGORACOM-JC
at 3:39 PM on Monday, November 30th, 2020
SPONSOR POST:
WHY KWESST? HERE’S SOME GREAT REASONS
1. KWESST is a leader in defensive technologies that increase the capabilities of soldiers, including those of NATO and its allies.
2. These technologies make a critical difference to soldier safety and effectiveness.
3. The Leadership team experience spans decades and hundreds of millions of dollars in military and homeland security contracts.
4. KWESST develops next-generation systems for forces around the world, with a particular focus on special forces among NATO countries and their allies.
5. KWESST partners with globally recognized equipment manufacturers to integrate its systems into their solutions to create high value-add products for global customers.
UK to invest in AI and cyber as part of major defense spending hike
The UK has announced a massive boost in defense spending — £16.5 billion ($21.8BN) over four years, the biggest such spending bump for 30 years — in what prime minister Boris Johnson has described as a “once in a generation modernization” of the UK’s armed forces and “the end of the era of retreat” on funding for defense.
Overall the UK prime minister said the spending hike will create 40,000 jobs, adding that it will cement the country’s position as the biggest military defense spender in Europe and the second largest in NATO after the US.
Johnson said the focus for investment will be on cutting edge technologies that can “revolutionize” warfare — implying a major role for artificial intelligence and sensor-laden connected hardware in “forging our military assets into a single network designed to overcome the enemy”, as he put it in a statement to parliament, setting out the first conclusions from an the (ongoing) review of security, defense, development and foreign policy.
“A soldier in hostile territory will be alerted to a distant ambush by sensors or satellites or drones instantly transmitting a warning using artificial intelligence to device the optimal response and offering an array of options — from summoning an air strike to ordering a swarm attack by drones, or paralyzing the enemy with cyber weapons,” Johnson told the House of Commons today, speaking via video conference as he continues to self isolate following a coronavirus contact.
“New advances will surmount the old limits of logistics,” he went on, fleshing out the rational for spending on upgrading military technology. “Our warships and combat vehicles will carry directed energy weapons — destroying targets with inexhaustible lasers. And for them the phrase out of ammunition will become redundant.”
“Nations are racing to master this new doctrine of warfare and our investment is designed to place Britain among the winners,” he added.
The review sets out at least £1.5BN extra — and £5.8BN total — spending on military R&D which Johnson said would be “designed to master the new technologies of warfare”.
There will also be a new R&D center set up with a dedicated focus on artificial intelligence, he added.
An RAF Space Command center is also in the works — with the aim of launching British satellites including the UK’s first rocket from Scotland in 2022.
While the airforce will get new fighter system that Johnson specified will incorporate AI and drone technology.
He also confirmed the existence of a National Cyber Force — a joint unit consisting of personnel from the UK’s intelligence agencies and military personnel which runs cyberops targeting terrorism, organized crime and hostile foreign state actors.
He suggested the hike in military spending on emerging technologies will filter down into wider societal tech gains, telling MPs: “The returns will go far beyond our armed forces — from aerospace to autonomous vehicles — these technologies have a vast array of civilian applications, opening up new vistas of economic progress.”
Responding to Johnson’s statement, the leader of the opposition, Keir Starmer, welcomed the announcement of increased spending for defense and the armed forces — but accused the government of issuing another “press release without a strategy” — pointing out that successive Conservative governments have eroded defense spending over the past ten years.
“This is a spending announcement without a strategy. The government has yet again pushed back vital parts of the integrated review and there’s no clarity over the government’s strategic priorities,” said Starmer, going on to query how the spending hike would be funded, given the economic crunch facing the UK as a result of the pandemic — asking whether it will require tax rises or cuts to public spending elsewhere, such as to the international development budget.
Starmer also raised the awkward matter of the Russia report — wondering why Johnson’s government has not acted on the “urgent” national security risks identified there.
The report, by parliament’s intelligence and security committee, found the UK lacks a comprehensive and cohesive strategy to respond to the cyber threat posed by Russia and other hostile states that are deploying online disinformation and influence ops to target democratic institutions and values.
It also sounded the alarm about how much Russian money is finding its way into UK political party coffers.
“The prime minister speaks of tackling global security threats, improving cyber capability — and that is all welcome, and we welcome it — but four months after the intelligence and security committee published its report concluding that Russia posed… an immediate and urgent threat to our national security,” noted Starmer.
Replying, Johnson dodged all Starmer’s questions — branding his criticisms “humbug [that] takes the cake” and opting to attack the Labour leader for having served under the party’s former leader, Jeremy Corbyn, who did not support increasing UK defense spending.
Posted by AGORACOM-JC
at 3:24 PM on Monday, November 30th, 2020
SPONSOR: TGS Esports Inc. (TGS: TSX-V) is creating the ultimate esports experience, made up of industry professionals with 20+ combined years in the space of tournament organization, league facilitation, and production. This experience combined with the acquisition of Pepper Esports Inc . allows TGS to offer a full suite of tools needed for any player or tournament organizer in esports. Learn More.
Top 5 Esports industry trends that you should know heading into 2021
The Esports industry is on the boom for the last few years and here the top 5 esports industry trends you should know in 2021
The Esports industry trends are on the blast for a significant long time now. Numerous speculators have just researched this million-dollar industry. On the off chance that you are additionally wanting to make enormous speculation, at that point esports can without a doubt bring you to benefit.
The esports business was esteemed at $906 million out of 2019 wherein it is relied upon to turn into a billion-dollar industry by 2020. At no other time, esports has been in feature than in this pandemic. Esports is huge, it has got all that you can consider; from esports betting, marketing, publicizing, advanced substance, and much more. Electronic Sports or esports has hit the spot looking to the consideration it got from the individuals around the world. The two novices and experts are helping in forming the new business patterns identified with esports.
Esports has just made its put in the standard and is good to go to become enormous. It has become an alluring specialty for speculators now. Numerous large brands have just become a piece of this. Also, understanding the current esports patterns is significant for every individual who is related to the esports business, straightforwardly, or by implication. Having earlier information about the market patterns of esports is similarly as significant as realizing the informational collections of the space.
Regardless of whether you are a game advancement organization or a non-endemic brand who is further hoping to contribute his/her well-deserved cash. Watching out for the change of the worldwide esports market can assist you with getting bits of knowledge about esports industry measurements and permits you to comprehend your esports crowd better.
In this article you will perceive how esports can enable your business to ascend the stepping stools of progress, here are the main 5 patterns in the esports market for 2020 that you should know to increase the value of your business.
Brand Investments
This is the start! As esports keep on developing, shrewd players will keep up with them as a brand in this way giving more substance to their buyers. Shirts, shoes, and gear, all must now be covered under the enormous brand names.
Conventional games don’t have the degree for brand publicizing yet esports, it is covering everything. The esports crowd is all insane consequently allowing the brands a chance to drive deals and assemble client reliability. PepsiCo’s Brisk was among the principal financial specialists who supported the Rocket League Championship Series. Before long, famous brands like Mastercard, Intel, Mercedes Benz, Puma, Nike, Adidas, Coca-Cola, and numerous others joined the race.
Brands are discovering esports as an occasion to pull in another crowd. What’s more, sponsorships can be an ideal method to accomplish that. Since individuals will in a general change to various brands so effectively and rapidly because of dependability and verification, esports is giving these brands an occasion to make brand mindfulness among the individuals from various geologies.
Anyway, what are the brands that have as of late put resources into esports?
Jaguar has as of late marked a multi-year sponsorship manage Gen.G Sports, a South Korean esports association.
Louis Vuitton, a French extravagance house has additionally declared its cooperation with Riot Games. LV will plan virtual things for games like League of Legends which the players will purchase with genuine cash.
BMW has likewise made a stupendous move in its advertising financial plan for esports.
Taking a gander at the information over, it’s almost certain that the brands are putting resources into esports as they are more likely than not examined the outcomes.
Virtual Reality
The virtual universe of esports is more alluring than the one in reality. It carries more inventive occasions to the individuals who need to make occupations. Furthermore, to guarantee a superior gaming experience, individuals are discovering approaches to use innovation in esports. Prior to the items can be moved with the snap of a catch, computer-generated reality has made it conceivable to encounter it truly. This is the intensity of augmented reality that has made esports players move as well as has given them new space to investigate esports.
This physical to PC communication has permitted players to stand up from their situate and appreciate the game alongside really encountering the field of the game. How energizing it is that even while sitting in your own room you can really go in the game, giving you an extreme spectating experience.
Analysts have additionally discovered that augmented simulation can bring back the genuine endurance, quality, and perseverance in the players that were seen during actual games, for example, baseball and boxing. Consequently, helps in improving their psychological and actual wellbeing too. Carrying these customary wearing exercises to the extent of augmented reality will change the manner in which individuals take a gander at esports.
With this, esports fans are searching for ways, for example, AR or VR that can furnish them with an exciting client experience. Not simply the client experience, VR can drive the promoting in esports easily consequently offering occasions to the advertisers.
Esports Gambling V/s Sports Gambling
Esports is simply not going to be bound to the rivalries, it is significantly more past that. Where individuals are investigating and exploring different avenues regarding different parts of esports, betting remaining parts consistent.
Obviously, the games wagering industry is flourishing hard to stay in the line yet taking a gander at the current situation, esports betting will before long remove the games betting world. Today, individuals can almost wager on everything from governmental issues to film stars and so forth. Esports that has just got a huge crowd and can’t get away from the betting game.
With the effect of COVID-19 on the games betting industry, analysts and specialists have seen an abrupt decrease in sports betting exercises and the end of conventional gambling clubs. In spite of the fact that there are games and occasions that actually hold bookmakers and punters, there has been an abrupt expansion in Esports betting.
Numerous game wagering programming advancement organizations have shafted to make esports wagering programming and items to stay serious on the lookout. New companies and business firms are searching for stages that are solid and comprehend the requirement for esports purchasers.
In spite of the fact that esports wagering items are far less evolved when contrasted with the conventional games wagering, bookmakers are investigating the universe of esports and contrasting it with the unpredictability with that of the esports. As indicated by Narus Advisors and Eilers and Krejcik Gaming, the most popular esports titles can be somewhat confounding to the esports speculators to comprehend. Then again, “the large three”, CS: GO, League of Legends, and Dota 2 all in all reports 85% of the esports wagering pattern. Different esports that are popular in esports betting incorporate starcraft-2, Call of Duty, and numerous others.
Wagering on esports is completely another idea for the amateurs. The change of wagering through an advanced reality where no actual fascination will happen would have its own repercussions. Yet, glancing forward in the coming years, more online esports wagering networks will be made and esports betting may take the state of sports betting outperforming it.
Expansion of the network
The development of esports will likewise bring about the extension of the organization. Expanding viewership will be one of the main elements to drive income development. It includes both infrequent watchers and customary watchers.
In 2018, there were 200 million successive watchers and 165 esports fans who dedicatedly viewed their most loved esports. As indicated by Statista, by 2023, there are 300 million continuous watchers who are required to watch esports around the world.
Newzoo has additionally given information around the esports viewership that predicts the yearly development rate will go up by 14% before the finish of 2021. Also, they anticipated that there will be 307 million periodic watchers while 250 million esports fans adding the absolute to 557 million watchers before the finish of the very year.
Along these lines, information from the greatest two information firms from the specialty has just given a thought regarding the colossal development in viewership of esports around the world. Also, there is no uncertainty that taking a gander at the current circumstance, it is, at any rate, going to take a delay.
Esports viewership is legitimately identified with the attention to it. An ever-increasing number of individuals are finding out about esports. The excursion from two or three thousand to a couple million was not harsh as esports spread broadly like fire in the woods.
The numbers proceed to develop and by 2019 roughly 1.5 billion individuals were at that point familiar with esports. Also, this was conceivable due to the live streaming stages that performed esports industry examination at the extremely beginning stage and had begun to communicate live occasions and matches of esports.
Prior there were relatively few offices to the esports networks to stream their most loved esports because of information speed and different conditions. Be that as it may, with the headway in innovation, it made it workable for them to welcome individuals from various topographies to appreciate viewing their most loved esports.
As indicated by Streamlabs, Twitch and Youtube together have over 1.13 million dynamic clients. In this way, these numbers are sufficient to state that esports has just crossed enormous numbers in making client drawing in content with loads of exercises on the streaming stages and the numbers will develop to an ever-increasing extent.
Jerk has as of late dispatched a devoted catalog for esports lovers.
These bits of knowledge will clearly help organizations and new companies to think the correct way of taking a gander at the current esports market development and pattern in the esports business. A portion of these patterns are certainly going to show and some may set aside more effort to create overall. Be that as it may, generally, every one of them will assume a part in raising esports to another level. Promoters who are as yet arranging can make the most of this chance, as there are countless brands who have just made up their psyches to support distinctive esports occasions.
In the wake of breaking down the esports markets and patterns, it is certain that esports is unquestionably not halting in the coming years. Financial specialists can receive a lot of rewards in the quickly developing scene of esports. Along these lines, this is truly going to be the time of a lot of chances for the ones who are intending to put resources into esports.
Everyone will be entertained
Esports has the ability to take close by the rising excitement of the crowd. Esports isn’t just about the experts who win a great many dollars in opposition however even to the beginners who are taking a make a plunge in this brilliant universe of esports. As is the solid energy the esports watchers who take ordinary subsequent meet-ups on matches and occasions in this manner adding to the viewership.
From beginners to experts, card sharks, watchers, esports will engage all the lives. The developing portable network of esports players has additionally crossed the records. Portable esports have likewise become principally a significant piece of esports.
An investigation shows that around 70-80 % viewership of esports is coming from men, and there is still an extension for the ladies to enter the ever-developing industry. The esports network will develop this year at a quick rate. The developing number of online esports devotees and players worldwide will surpass the previous numbers in the coming years. With in-game live talk alternatives, brand influencers, gatherings, and numerous different choices will lead gamers to join an ever-increasing number of conversations prompting a bigger gathering of network individuals.
Different online media stages and discussions, for example, Reddit are making client drawing in substance to interface players from over the world. These people group will prepare for new gaming encounters making esports more intelligent and engaging the esports players and lovers.
As per Echarts, Arena of Valor is the most popular esports game on versatile played worldwide in the year 2019 followed by PUBG Mobile. The headway in versatile innovation will prompt more number of esports lovers. Newzoo reports that Mobile esports produced 50 million live viewership hours from Sept to Nov 2019—around multiple times more than a similar period in 2018.
Posted by AGORACOM-JC
at 2:33 PM on Monday, November 30th, 2020
Innocan (INNO:CSE) has 3 fully operating divisions to address the market for Cannabis products. As a Cannabis investor, why limit yourself to a Company with just one specialty, when Innocan offers you exposure to both the exploding world of cannabis pharma, as well as, a portfolio of patent-pending and launch ready consumer health products.
Posted by AGORACOM
at 2:11 PM on Monday, November 30th, 2020
Drills 20.33 m of 2.47 g/t Au at Adumbi
TORONTO, Nov. 30, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Loncor Resources Inc. (“Loncor” or the “Company“) (TSX: “LN”; OTCQX: “LONCF”; FSE: “LO51”) is pleased to announce that the first core hole of a 7,000 metre drilling program at its Adumbi deposit has intersected multiple gold sections including 20.33 metres grading 2.47 g/t gold (including 4.8 metres grading 5.40 g/t Au), 7.33 metres grading 5.80 g/t Au and 20.77 metres grading 1.72 g/t Au, on its 84.68% owned Imbo Project in the eastern part of the Ngayu greenstone belt in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (see Figure 1).
Mineralized sections are summarised in the table below:
Borehole Number
From (m)
To (m)
Intersected Width (m)
Grade (g/t) Au
LADD001
202.58
223.35
20.77
1.72
LADD001
231.27
237.17
5.90
1.89
LADD001
251.27
258.60
7.33
5.80
LADD001
295.25
298.70
3.45
2.10
LADD001
301.62
321.95
20.33
2.47
LADD001
Incl. 317.11
321.95
4.80
5.40
Borehole LADD001 had an inclination of minus 65 degrees and azimuth of 220 degrees at the start of hole and regular measurements of inclination and azimuth were taken at 30 metre intervals down the hole. All core was orientated and it is estimated that the true widths of the mineralised sections are 82% of the intersected width. All intercepted grades are uncut.
The gold mineralization at Adumbi is associated with a thick package (up to 130 metres) of interbedded banded ironstone and quartz carbonate and chlorite schist with higher grade sections being found in a strongly altered siliceous unit termed “Replaced Rock” (RP) where structural deformation and alteration has completely destroyed the primary host lithological fabric. Disseminated sulphide assemblages include pyrite, pyrrhotite and arsenopyrite which can attain up to 20% of the total rock in places.
The objective of the 7,000 metre drilling program is to outline additional mineral resources to the current 2.5 million ounces on Loncor’s 84.68%-owned Imbo Project which contains the Adumbi, Kitenge and Manzako deposits (inferred mineral resources of 30.65 million tonnes grading 2.54 g/t Au). At the Adumbi deposit where there is a current inferred resource of 2.19 million ounces of gold (28.97 million tonnes grading 2.35 g/t Au), drilling is targeting mineralized zones within the US$1,500 open pit shell where closer spaced holes such as LADD001 are required to delineate additional mineral resources. Drilling will also focus on outlining mineral resources below the pit shell where the gold mineralization remains open at depth over a strike length of over 600 metres.
In addition to core hole LADD001, LADD003 has now been completed to the southeast of LADD001 and within the open pit shell and will be submitted for assay. Deeper holes LADD004 and LADD005 are currently being drilled to intercept the downdip/down plunge mineralized zone below the open pit (see Figure 2 – Longitudinal Section of the Adumbi Deposit). Hole LADD004 is targeting mineralization 150 metres below previous hole S53 drilled in 2017 which intersected 23.5 metres grading 6.08 g/t Au and 9.37 metres grading 3.70 g/t at the base of the open pit shell.
Commenting on these drilling results, Loncor President Peter Cowley said: “We are encouraged by the results of this first hole of our 7,000 metre drilling program at Adumbi where we are targeting a significant increase of resources, both within and below the open pit shell. Exploration is also ongoing on new targets along the 14 kilometre long mineralized trend on the Imbo permit in order to generate additional drill targets. If we achieve our objectives, the next step will be a Preliminary Economic Assessment to illustrate the positive economic potential that we believe is contained within Adumbi and the neighbouring deposits and other targets within the Imbo exploitation permit.”
Quality Control and Quality Assurance Drill cores for assaying were taken at a maximum of one-metre intervals and were cut with a diamond saw, with one-half of the core placed in sealed bags by Company geologists and sent to the Company’s on-site sample preparation facility. The core samples were then crushed down to 80% passing minus 2 mm and split with one half of the sample up to 1.5 kg pulverized down to 90% passing 75 microns. Approximately 150 grams of the pulverized sample was then sent to the SGS Laboratory in Mwanza, Tanzania (independent of the Company). Gold analyses were carried out on 50g aliquots by fire assay. In addition, check assays were also carried out by the screen fire assay method to verify high-grade sample assays obtained initially by fire assay. As part of the Company’s QA/QC procedures, internationally recognized standards, blanks and duplicates were inserted into the sample batches prior to submitting to SGS Laboratory.
Qualified Person Peter N. Cowley, who is President of Loncor and a “qualified person” as such term is defined in National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed and approved the technical information in this press release.
Technical Reports Additional information with respect to the Company’s Imbo Project (which includes the Adumbi deposit) is contained in the technical report of Minecon Resources and Services Limited dated April 17, 2020 and entitled “Independent National Instrument 43-101 Technical Report on the Imbo Project, Ituri Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo”. A copy of the said report can be obtained from SEDAR at www.sedar.com and EDGAR at www.sec.gov.
Additional information with respect to the Company’s Makapela Project, and certain other properties of the Company in the Ngayu gold belt, is contained in the technical report of Venmyn Rand (Pty) Ltd dated May 29, 2012 and entitled “Updated National Instrument 43-101 Independent Technical Report on the Ngayu Gold Project, Orientale Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo”. A copy of the said report can be obtained from SEDAR at www.sedar.com and EDGAR at www.sec.gov.
About Loncor Resources Inc. Loncor is a Canadian gold exploration company focussed on the Ngayu Greenstone Belt in the northeast of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (the “DRC”). 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 (TSX: “ABX”; NYSE: “GOLD”). 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 approximately 2,000 km2 of Loncor ground in the Ngayu Greenstone Belt that they are exploring. As per the joint venture agreements entered between Loncor and Barrick, Barrick manages and funds exploration on the said ground 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 have commenced 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 joint ventures, certain parcels of land within the Ngayu Belt surrounding and including the Adumbi and Makapela deposits have been retained by Loncor and do not form part of any of the joint ventures with Barrick. Barrick has certain pre-emptive rights over the Makapela deposit. 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 84.68% of this resource being attributable to Loncor via its 84.68% interest in the project. 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).
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 by AGORACOM
at 8:23 AM on Monday, November 30th, 2020
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Nov. 30, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Candente Copper Corp. (TSX:DNT, BVL:DNT) (“Candente Copper”, “Company”) is pleased to announce that the Company has entered into an Assignment Agreement (“AA”) with Forte Copper Corp. (“Forte Copper”), on the Don Gregorio copper-gold porphyry project.
The Company entered into an Option Agreement on the Don Gregorio project with Forte Copper (previously known as Plan B Minerals) in 2017. The recently signed Assignment Agreement allows Forte Copper to move ahead with applications for drilling permits.
Under the Assignment and Option Agreements Forte Copper has the right to earn a 60% interest in the Don Gregorio property by completing the following terms:
Making payments of US$500,000 to Candente; and
Drilling 10,000 metres within three years of receiving drilling permits of which 5,000 metres must be drilled within two years; Forte Copper may pay $100/metre cash in lieu of metres not drilled.
The Assignment Agreement is for 5 years such that if the 10,000 metres have not been drilled (including cash paid in lieu), then the property must be returned to Candente Copper Corp.
To date, the Company has received payments totalling: US$100,000 and reimbursements for fees for annual mineral rights totalling US$41,540.
Candente Copper acquired the Don Gregorio from the Peruvian government in a competitive auction in 2008. Don Gregorio covers a mineralized (copper-gold) porphyry system, that occurs within the same geological trend as Yanacocha, Cerro Corona and Cañariaco.
Don Gregorio (previously referred to as La Huaca) was discovered by Ingemmet (Peruvian government geological survey) in 1974 during a regional exploration program. In 1977, 8 holes were drilled to a maximum of 107 metres (“m”) and intersected o.22 to o.56% Cu over 15m to 100m, averaging 50m and bottoming in mineralization. These holes were not analysed for gold.
In 1992, a Newmont Buenaventura Joint Venture (“JV”) discovered a gold (“Au”) zone in surface samples covering 200m by 700m coincident with copper (“Cu”) previously delineated in a north-northwesterly trending zone. In 1995, the Newmont-Buenaventura JV drilled 4 holes in 800m. These 4 holes were also mineralized to final depths.
The 12 holes totalling 1,642m drilled to date indicate copper and gold mineralization occurs over a minimum of 400m vertically from 2,600 to 2,200 metres in elevation.
Mineral intercepts in the historic drilling include 153.3m of 0.394 percent (“%”) Cu & 0.18 grams per tonne (“g/t “) Au.
Surface samples collected to date include assays of:
20m of 1.23% Cu and 0.26 g/t Au
9m at 1.13% Cu and 0.90 g/t Au
3m at 1.36% Cu and 0.84 g/t Au
About Candente Copper Candente Copper is a mineral exploration company engaged in the acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral properties. The Company is currently focused on its 100% owned Cañariaco project, which includes the Feasibility stage Cañariaco Norte deposit as well as the Cañariaco Sur deposit and Quebrada Verde prospect, located within the western Cordillera of the Peruvian Andes in the Department of Lambayeque in Northern Peru.
About Forte Copper Forte Copper is a private company that announced a go public RTO transaction with Collingwood Resources on August 18, 2020. Through its wholly owned Peruvian subsidiaries, Forte either owns, controls or, has an option to control three prospective gold and copper exploration projects in Peru. Forte Copper’s business strategy is focused on exploration target development, testing and resolution, and resource development within prominent and under-explored copper and gold regions of Peru.
Joanne C. Freeze, P.Geo., CEO, is the Qualified Persons as defined by National Instrument 43-101 for the projects discussed above. She has reviewed and approved the contents of this release.
This news release may contain forward-looking statements including but not limited to comments regarding timing and content of upcoming work programs, geological interpretations, receipt of property titles, potential mineral recovery processes, etc. Forward-looking statements address future events and conditions and therefore involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements. Candente Copper relies upon litigation protection for forward-looking statements.
On behalf of the Board of Candente Copper Corp.
“Joanne C. Freeze” P.Geo. President, CEO and Director ___________________________________ For further information please contact:
