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AgraFlora Organics Prepares over 1,000KG of CBD Oil for Sale
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, July 14, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- AgraFlora Organics International Inc. (“AgraFlora” or the “Company”) (CSE: AGRA) (Frankfurt: PU31) (OTCPK: AGFAF) is pleased to announce its wholly owned subsidiary Sustainable Growth Strategic Capital Corp. (“SGSC” or “the Company”), a federally licensed cannabis company based in the Greater Toronto Area (“GTA”), in partnership with its biomass partner MicroC45, has generated an inventory of approximately 1,000 kg of CBD Crude Oil and Distillate (collectively “CBD Oil”), which it is readying for sale this quarter. The CBD oil was produced from approximately 10,000 kilograms of hemp biomass that was subject to the Company’s proprietary pre-extraction processes. The Company has retained an inventory of approximately 10,000 kilograms of additional hemp biomass ready for extraction and processing. The Company is currently working to further refine the CBD Oil into CBD Isolate, with manufacturing expected to start this month. If the CBD Oil is converted fully into CBD Isolate, the Company forecasts it would have an inventory of over 850 kilograms of isolate. The Company is currently engaged in negotiations with potential buyers to determine the optimal sales mix of CBD Isolate, CBD Distillate and CBD Crude Oil and expects to close its first bulk transactions this quarter. A
AgraFlora Organics Prepares over 1,000KG of CBD Oil for Sale
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, July 14, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- AgraFlora Organics International Inc. (“AgraFlora” or the “Company”) (CSE: AGRA) (Frankfurt: PU31) (OTCPK: AGFAF) is pleased to announce its wholly owned subsidiary Sustainable Growth Strategic Capital Corp. (“SGSC” or “the Company”), a federally licensed cannabis company based in the Greater Toronto Area (“GTA”), in partnership with its biomass partner MicroC45, has generated an inventory of approximately 1,000 kg of CBD Crude Oil and Distillate (collectively “CBD Oil”), which it is readying for sale this quarter. The CBD oil was produced from approximately 10,000 kilograms of hemp biomass that was subject to the Company’s proprietary pre-extraction processes. The Company has retained an inventory of approximately 10,000 kilograms of additional hemp biomass ready for extraction and processing. The Company is currently working to further refine the CBD Oil into CBD Isolate, with manufacturing expected to start this month. If the CBD Oil is converted fully into CBD Isolate, the Company forecasts it would have an inventory of over 850 kilograms of isolate. The Company is currently engaged in negotiations with potential buyers to determine the optimal sales mix of CBD Isolate, CBD Distillate and CBD Crude Oil and expects to close its first bulk transactions this quarter. A
Huawei sees sharp growth slowdown as UK weighs ban on the Chinese giant from...
A logo of 5G is seen at a Huawei authorised experience store on May 29, 2020 in Beijing, China.
Qin Luyao | VCG | Getty Images
Huawei reported a sharp slowdown in growth for the first half of 2020 as the company continued to see the impact of U.S. sanctions and the global coronavirus pandemic.
Meanwhile, the Chinese technology giant is also awaiting a decision, expected to be delivered on Tuesday, by the U.K. government on whether it will be allowed to participate in the country's 5G networks.
The Shenzhen-headquartered company reported revenue of 454 billion yuan or $64.23 billion, according to the exchange rate on the company's earnings release. That represents 13.1% year-on-year rise and the slowest first half revenue growth since the first six months of 2013.
Huawei has likely felt some impact from the coronavirus pandemic which has hurt the global economy. But it is also continuing to be hit by U.S. sanctions. Last year, Huawei was put on a U.S. blacklist known as the" Entity List," which restricted its access to American technology.
It meant that Huawei could no longer use licensed Google Android software and services on its mobile phones, something it had relied on for success in international markets outside of China.
While Huawei managed to maintain growth in its consumer division in the first half of 2020, its largest business by revenue, it did so by increasing its focus on the China market. CNBC recently reported that Huawei has seen market share in some key international markets fall this year.
In May, Washington's introduced a new rule which requires foreign manufacturers using U.S. chip-making equipment to get a license before they are allowed to sell semiconductors to Huawei.
There is no indication that the U.S. will grant licenses either. Chips that were in production when that rule came into effect could be shipped to Huawei as long as it was completed within 120 days from May 15.
Huawei previously said that its business "will inevitably be affected," but has yet to give a clear outline of the exact financial impact. Analysts previously told CNBC that the move could be a big blow for Huawei as it relies heavily on Taiwan chipmaker TSMC for the majority of its semiconductors. This rule would, in theory, hurt its ability to obtain chips from TSMC.
UK decision pending
Meanwhile, Huawei faces other headwinds.
On Tuesday, U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson will be convening his National Security Council (NSC) to discuss Huawei's future in the country's 5G networks.
In January, the U.K. said that Huawei could play a limited role in the nation's 5G rollout.
However, the U.K.'s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) launched an emergency review of Huawei's role shortly after Washington's latest round of sanctions against Huawei related to semiconductors.
Earlier this month, The Sunday Times and The Daily Telegraph newspapers reported that the U.K. is drawing up plans to tell carriers to stop buying Huawei equipment and also phase out existing gear from the country's telecommunications networks.
The NSC will be assessing the NCSC report on Tuesday and Oliver Dowden, the U.K.'s Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, is expected to address the British parliament on the issue.
U.K. telecommunications operators have warned that moves to strip out existing Huawei gear could cost "billions" and potentially lead to network blackouts.
Paradise regained then lost: Mediterranean mammals mourn lockdown end
LA CIOTAT, FRANCE (AFP) - When Europeans retreated into their homes to observe strict stay-at-home rules to contain the coronavirus, dolphins and whales on the Mediterranean coast basked and thrived in a hitherto unknown calm.
But the return of tourists, noisy boats and heavy sea transport with the end of lockdowns in France and other Mediterranean littoral countries has signalled the return of danger and harm caused by human activity for underwater creatures.
Nowhere is this more true then in the crystalline waters outside France's second biggest city of Marseille, a nature reserve important for wildlife but also thronged with day-trippers in the summer season.
"As soon as the pleasure boaters came back, we saw footage that really annoyed us," said Marion Leclerc from the conservationist organisation Souffleurs d'Ecume (Sea Foam Blowers).
In one video, three teenagers jump from a boat close to a finback whale while wearing snorkelling masks, which is dangerous for both animal and human, said Leclerc.
"We're speaking of an animal that weighs 70 tonnes," she lamented.
"Many forget that the Mediterranean is also a home, where animals rest, feed and reproduce," Leclerc said.
The Mediterranean Sea is home to more than 10,000 species, despite only amounting to 1 per cent of the Earth's oceans.
But the sea which separates Africa from Europe draws 25 per cent of marine traffic.
Heavy traffic increases the risk of fatal collision with the sea mammals.
"It's the first cause of non-natural mortality for big cetaceans," said Leclerc.
REDUCE SPEED
Out of the 87 marine mammals in the world registered by the UN, 21 have been spotted in the Mediterranean. Most of them are considered at risk of extinction.
On a bright summer's morning, a group of fifty striped dolphins splash around an inflatable blue speedboat off La Ciotat bay a short boat ride from Marseille.
"We need to reduce our speed and place ourselves parallel to their trajectory to avoid cutting their path. They come and play if they want to," said Laurene Trudelle, at the helm of the boat belonging to the scientific research group GIS3M.
The lockdown brought maritime traffic to an almost complete standstill, giving dolphins and whales the opportunity to explore areas from which they are normally kept at bay by tourists.
All scientific studies were put on hold in the Mediterranean during lockdown, but marine drone manufacturer Sea Proven got the necessary authorisation and funds from Prince Albert II of Monaco to continue observations in the Pelagos Sanctuary, a marine area protected by Italy, Monaco and France.
'REVERSIBLE POLLUTION'
Bioacoustics researchers from a Toulon University team who analysed Sea Proven's data, observed a 30 decibel decrease in noise on the coastal areas as a result of the total lack of pleasure boaters.
And the silence allowed the aquatic creatures to interact in areas between two and six times as large, said researcher Herve Glotin.
"The lockdown period showed that we really are responsible for the noise in the bays and that this pollution is completely reversible," Glotin said.
"When you think that reducing boats' speed by 10 per cent in areas highly populated with marine mammals would be enough to significantly decrease sound pollution and the risk of collision" Glotin added.
The Quiet Sea research project also saw the amount of hydrocarbon - the principal component of petrol - halve during lockdown.
"It's really good for biodiversity, so indirectly for all of the food chain," said Glotin.
No binding international law obliges ship-owners to preserve marine mammals' natural habitat.
But since 2017, France requires boats that are over 24 metres in the Pelagos Sanctuary to have onboard equipment which detects the animals.
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