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Canada Invests in Clean Energy and Critical Minerals at Mineral Resources Review 2024 Conference

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ST. JOHN’S, NL, Nov. 6, 2024 /CNW/ – The Government of Canada is supporting Canadian utilities and system operators that are integrating clean energy solutions to meet the demands of increased electrification at the least cost to ratepayers. These measures are enabling economically and environmentally sustainable energy growth 

Today, while attending the Minerals Resources Review 2024 conference in St. John’s, the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson announced an investment of over $660,000 through the Smart Renewables and Electrification Pathways Program (SREPs) to support the Labrador West Transmission Study, which will help expand transmission infrastructure to support mining in Labrador West.

The funding announced today will:

help Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro upgrade a 735-kilovolt transmission line between Churchill Falls and Labrador West;facilitate existing and potential iron ore and critical minerals projects in the region; andincrease current access to hydroelectricity and, potentially, future access to wind energy.

Minister Wilkinson also took the opportunity to highlight $1 million in funding that has been provided through the Critical Minerals Geoscience Data (CMGD) initiative to the Geological Survey of Newfoundland and Labrador. This funding will:

generate new public geoscience data to support the exploration and sustainable development of critical minerals (including cobalt, copper, nickel and platinum) in the region; andhelp position Newfoundland and Labrador mining projects as providers of choice for the minerals that are key to clean technologies such as solar panels and electric vehicle batteries.

These investments are a direct result of the collaborative work between the Government of Canada and the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador through the Canada–Newfoundland and Labrador Regional Energy and Resource Table, which released a joint Collaboration Framework on March 20, 2024, to advance the top economic priorities for a low-carbon future in the province’s energy and resource sectors.

Quotes

“By making historic investments in clean electricity, we are positioning Canadians to take advantage of the economic opportunities presented by the clean economy, now and into the future. The Smart Renewables and Electrification Pathways Program is already providing Canadian communities across the country with affordable and clean power while reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and our work to expand the exploration of critical minerals across Canada is key to advancing green technologies. I am pleased to highlight three initiatives that will help advance this work in Newfoundland and Labrador, and I look forward to collaborating further with our provincial partners to secure a low-carbon future.”

The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson
Canada’s Minister of Energy and Natural Resources 

“Critical minerals are a generational economic opportunity for Canada. Through funding under the Critical Minerals Geoscience Data (CMGD) initiative, the Geological Survey of Newfoundland and Labrador is paving the way for the responsible growth of industries that rely on these minerals, such as clean technology and energy.”

Yvonne Jones
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Northern Affairs and to the Minister of National Defence (Northern Defence) and Member of Parliament for Labrador

“Labrador West has significant critical mineral potential that can support the Canadian and global transition to a green economy. The region’s high-purity iron ore resources are supporting developing green-steel supply chains as well as lower emissions in current steel manufacturing. Newfoundland and Labrador and Canada understand the importance of high-purity iron ore and have designated it as a critical mineral. Advancing the Labrador West transmission study is a strategic step in unlocking our critical mineral potential and in the decarbonization of the province’s iron ore industry, and it aligns with the priorities identified in the provincial Critical Minerals Plan.”

The Honourable Andrew Parsons, KC
Newfoundland and Labrador’s Minister of Industry, Energy and Technology

“In 2023, 92 percent of the electricity generated for use in Newfoundland and Labrador was from renewable, net-zero sources, providing the foundation for green industrial processes. Ensuring NL Hydro’s industrial customers in Labrador West have access to this clean electricity will further reduce carbon intensity, support Canada’s climate policy and green global supply chains. The expansion of transmission in the area will eliminate current constraints while also helping to increase reliability in the region, creating significant benefits to the region, the province and Canada.”

Jennifer Williams
President and CEO, Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro

Quick Facts

Launched in 2021, the Smart Renewables and Electrification Pathways Program (SREPs) works with provinces, territories and Indigenous Peoples to support critical regional priority projects that reduce dependence on fossil fuel generation and create pathways for a stronger electricity system. The program also incorporates transmission and distribution infrastructure and continues to support grid modernization activities, energy storage and Indigenous-led clean energy projects. Projects can be identified through continuous engagement directly with the provincial or territorial representatives and existing work being done by the Regional Energy and Resource Tables.Since 2021, SREPs has approved funding for 72 projects, enabling the deployment of approximately 2,700 megawatts of new renewable energy capacity, which will produce enough electricity to power 700,000 homes annually and displace over 3.1 megatons of CO2e per year.In 2023, the Government of Canada released Powering Canada Forward, its vision for transforming Canada’s electricity sector and meeting its commitment to decarbonizing the country’s electricity systems.Canada is home to almost half of the world’s publicly listed mining and mineral exploration companies, with a presence in more than 100 countries and a combined market capitalization of $520 billion.The Canadian Critical Minerals Strategy is part of Canada’s strengthened climate plan, 2030 Emissions Reduction Plan: Clean Air, Strong Economy, which advances Canada’s goals of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 40 to 45 percent below 2005 levels by 2030 and reaching net-zero emissions by 2050.The Critical Minerals Geoscience Data (CMGD) initiative includes $10 million in contribution funding for the provinces and territories to enhance access to important data and generate new insights on the geological potential of critical mineral sources.The Government of Canada is helping to develop Canada’s abundant critical minerals through Regional Energy and Resource Tables. These regional tables are joint partnerships with individual provinces and territories — in collaboration with Indigenous partners and with the input of key stakeholders — to identify and accelerate shared economic priorities for a low-carbon future in the energy and resource sectors.

Related Products

The Government of Canada Announces New Intake for Clean Electricity Program With $500 Million in Additional Funding (October 10, 2024)Canada Invests in Critical Minerals Sector at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Conference on Mining in Sudbury (October 9, 2024)

Associated Links

Newfoundland Labrador HydroSmart Renewables and Electrification Pathways ProgramPowering Canada Forward: Building a Clean, Affordable, and Reliable Electricity System for Every Region in CanadaCanadian Critical Minerals StrategyCritical Minerals Geoscience Data Initiative2030 Emissions Reduction Plan: Clean Air, Strong EconomyCanada–Newfoundland and Labrador Regional Energy and Resource TableRegional Energy and Resource Tables

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SOURCE Natural Resources Canada

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eSign.AI Named Sole Electronic Signature Technology Provider for Hong Kong Government’s CorpID Project, Building the Foundation for Digital Signing Infrastructure in Hong Kong

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May 8, 2026

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HONG KONG, May 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — As Hong Kong’s Digital Corporate Identity Platform (CorpID) counts down to its phased launch, eSign.AI has been appointed as the sole electronic signature vendor in the project, responsible for delivering core digital signing capabilities including digital signatures, certificate management, and signature verification services. CorpID is led by Nexify, a seasoned government systems integrator, as the prime contractor. The platform is expected to launch in phases starting late 2026, with multiple CorpID-based e-government services going live in mid-2027.

CorpID: Government-Grade Digital Identity Infrastructure for Hong Kong Enterprises

The Digital Corporate Identity Platform (CorpID) is an enterprise-level digital services platform launched by the Hong Kong SAR Government, developed under the oversight of the Digital Policy Office (DPO). It is designed to serve as the business equivalent of “iAM Smart,” providing a unified digital identity foundation for Hong Kong enterprises. CorpID’s core mission is to build an integrated digital government infrastructure — offering unified identity authentication, digital signing, form pre-filling, and e-licence storage — replacing paper-heavy, cumbersome traditional processes and enabling smart city development through seamless data connectivity.

The platform is open to companies incorporated under the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 622) and businesses registered under the Business Registration Ordinance (Cap. 310), including sole proprietorships and partnerships. The DPO requires all enterprise-related e-government services to support CorpID within 18 months of launch, and will continue expanding ecosystem coverage through sandbox initiatives, cross-industry identity standard interoperability, and fully online registration processes.

eSign.AI: The Digital Signing Engine Behind CorpID

eSign.AI is an AI-native electronic signature and contract automation platform built for enterprises worldwide, offering a complete signing framework from simple electronic signatures to the highest-level compliant digital signatures — meeting diverse regulatory requirements across industries and jurisdictions.

On the identity verification front, eSign.AI has completed integration with iAM Smart, enabling individual identity verification through Hong Kong’s citizen digital identity system, and providing legally valid digital certificate services for both enterprises and individuals.

Looking ahead, the eSign.AI SaaS platform will be deeply integrated with CorpID, providing enterprise and individual identity verification for Hong Kong businesses, and supporting both electronic and digital signing that complies with Hong Kong’s Electronic Transactions Ordinance — connecting the full digital contracting lifecycle for government and enterprise alike.

Getting Ahead of the AI Era: From eSignGlobal to eSign.AI

The electronic signature industry is undergoing a structural shift from “tooling” to “intelligence.” Market data underscores this acceleration: the AI-powered contract analysis tools market has grown from USD 3.32 billion in 2025 to USD 4.3 billion in 2026, at a CAGR of 29.6%. Signing is just one node in the contract lifecycle — document generation, workflow orchestration, compliance tracking, and post-execution management are all being transformed by AI, and the industry window is closing fast.

In April 2026, the company officially rebranded from eSignGlobal to eSign.AI, completing its strategic transformation from an e-signature tool provider to an AI-native contract automation platform. As the company’s spokesperson noted, this rebrand is not cosmetic — it is an acknowledgment of where the product actually is. Customers were already using eSign.AI to automate workflows that go far beyond the signature itself.

eSign Automation Skill was launched alongside the rebrand — an AI-powered signing automation framework for enterprise workflows that enables complete contract signing through natural language interaction, with no manual intervention required. Whether it is single-party approval, multi-party sequential signing, or large-scale parallel execution, an AI Agent can orchestrate the entire workflow in a single call. All signature initiations and status queries return structured JSON outputs, directly parseable by leading large language models and intelligent workflow systems.

eSign Automation is now available in the OpenClaw ecosystem and supports integration via Claude MCP, ChatGPT, and other leading AI platforms.

By combining AI automation capabilities with CorpID’s government-grade digital identity infrastructure, eSign.AI delivers a complete solution for Hong Kong enterprises — from identity verification to intelligent signing to full workflow automation.

About eSign.AI

eSign.AI (formerly eSignGlobal) is an AI-native electronic signature and contract automation platform built for enterprises worldwide. The platform serves over 100 countries and regions, covering core industries including financial services, manufacturing, real estate, human resources, and healthcare — with 1,500+ scenario applications and 3,000+ ecosystem partners. eSign.AI holds ISO 27001, ISO 27701, and ISO 27018 certifications and supports major regulatory frameworks including the U.S. ESIGN Act / UETA, EU eIDAS, HIPAA, GDPR, and 21 CFR Part 11. Infrastructure is anchored by independent data centers in Hong Kong, Singapore, and Frankfurt, Germany.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/esignai-named-sole-electronic-signature-technology-provider-for-hong-kong-governments-corpid-project-building-the-foundation-for-digital-signing-infrastructure-in-hong-kong-302766763.html

SOURCE eSignGlobal

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The 9th AskGamblers Awards Finalists Announced as Voting Starts

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May 8, 2026

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The highly anticipated 9th AskGamblers Awards has officially moved into the voting phase. Following a rigorous selection process, the finalists across 5 premier categories have been revealed: Best Casino, Best New Casino, Best New Slot, Best Sportsbook, Best Provider. Players are invited to cast their votes until 11 June.

BELGRADE, Serbia, May 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The voting stage of the 9th annual AskGamblers Awards has officially begun. The list of finalists is announced, and the first votes are already coming in. 

Players will have a chance to vote for their favourites until 11 June, when the winners will be announced at the gala ceremony in Belgrade. There’s a total of 5 categories where popular votes are taken into consideration:

Best CasinoBest New CasinoBest SportsbookBest New SlotBest Game Provider

There aren’t any big changes to the voting process compared to last year. The votes from the prominent members of AskGamblers Forum will be counted in as well, while some award winners will be announced directly by the AskGamblers teams. 

These include: Best Crypto Casino, Best Partner, and Best Manager categories, while the AskGamblers Superstar Award is expected to be handed to the operator that illustrates the brand values best.

Dijana Radunović, General Manager at AskGamblers, is excited for voting to start: “We’re seeing some familiar contestants, but there are a lot of new names, so it will be exciting to see who comes up on top.”

“We invite players to vote for their favourites! This is a chance for you to speak your mind and support operators and games that shape this industry,” Radunović added.

Before the AskGamblers Awards Ceremony that takes place on 11 June, Charity Night is scheduled for 10 June.

About AskGamblers

AskGamblers.com strives to provide current, objective, and accurate information and guide its users towards a safe gaming experience. The way we deliver our services, from the online casino, sportsbook, slot, and bonus reviews to our trusted Complaint Service, is best described by our motto: ‘Get the truth. Then play.’

For more information about AskGamblers and AskGamblers Awards, please contact dijana.radunovic@g2m.com.

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/askgamblers/r/the-9th-askgamblers-awards-finalists-announced-as-voting-starts,c4346370

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SUNMI Wins 2026 Red Dot Design Awards with Five Products, Leading Global Commercial Industrial Design

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May 8, 2026

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SINGAPORE, May 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The winners of the 2026 German Red Dot Design Award were officially announced. Five of SUNMI Technology’s flagship products won awards: the CPad Business Tablet, CPad PAY, FLEX 3 Interactive Display, the V3 handheld POS Terminal and L3 Industrial PDA. These products stood out with three core design concepts: integration, versatility and human-centricity.

Known as “The Oscars” of global industrial design, the Red Dot Award has strict evaluation criteria covering aesthetics, ergonomics, scenario adaptability and sustainability. SUNMI adheres to original commercial scenario customization, rejecting crudely modified consumer devices. All winning products are originally developed for real commercial scenarios such as cash register, food delivery, industrial inspection and store operations, covering the entire commercial track with high scenario adaptability. Meanwhile, it practices ESG concepts, adopting eco-friendly materials and modular structures to extend equipment service life, reduce consumable consumption, and implement low-carbon and long-term design, which perfectly meets the Red Dot’s sustainability evaluation criteria.

Simplify Complexity: With highly integrated design, SUNMI eliminates the “patchwork feeling” of cluttered devices and tangled cables in traditional commercial scenarios, streamlining store operations and saving space.All-in-One Versatility: Beyond a single tool function, SUNMI’s products achieve flexible transformation through modular and multi-form designs to proactively adapt to changing business needs. The CPad series with modular accessories and FLEX 3’s Lego-style modular design enable multi-scenario application and long-term reuse.Human-Centric Design: Every detail is human-oriented, focusing on real pain points to enhance scenario experience. The L3 Industrial PDA reduces high-frequency work fatigue through scientific weight distribution; the V3 Smart POS Terminal balances large-screen visibility and grip comfort; CPad PAY integrates full-link functions to simplify workflows.

These honors stem from SUNMI’s long-term commitment to a sustainable society, original commercial R&D and ESG. In the future, SUNMI will uphold its core concepts, expand the boundaries of commercial industrial design, and empower global businesses with user-oriented, eco-friendly and high-value products.

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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/sunmi-wins-2026-red-dot-design-awards-with-five-products-leading-global-commercial-industrial-design-302766777.html

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