Market Newsdesk

TORONTO, Dec. 17, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — In recent years, personal freedom has declined significantly around the world—and the worst is likely yet to come, finds a new study released today by Canada’s Fraser Institute and the U.S.-based Cato Institute.

“Troubling developments include the Chinese Communist Party intensifying its attack on freedom, regimes in Hungary and Poland continuing to undermine the rule of law and suppress media freedom, and dictatorships in Egypt and other Arab countries ramping up repression,” said Fred McMahon, Dr. Michael A. Walker Research Chair in Economic Freedom at the Fraser Institute and co-author of this year’s Human Freedom Index.

The index, based on 2018 data (the most recent year of available comparable data), uses a 0 to 10 scale to measure personal freedom—which includes the rule of law, safety and security, identity and relationships (LGBTQ and women’s freedom), and freedom of movement, speech, assembly and religion—alongside economic freedom, the ability of individuals to make their own economic decisions without government or crony interference.

While economic freedom globally increased slightly from 2008 to 2018, personal freedom fell by 0.21 points, with declines in all but two of the 10 years. Religion saw the largest decrease in freedom (0.63) followed by identity and relationships (0.43) and rule of law (0.31). The rule of law also has the lowest overall score at 5.09.

New Zealand tops this year’s freedom index followed by Switzerland, Hong Kong, Denmark and Australia (although due to Beijing’s accelerated suppression, we expect Hong Kong’s freedom score to decline significantly in coming years). The five least-free countries are (in descending order) Iran, Yemen, Venezuela, Sudan and Syria.

Overall worldwide rankings for other significant countries include Canada (6^th), Germany (9^th), the United Kingdom and the United States (tied for 17^th), France (33^rd), South Africa and Indonesia (tied for 68^th), Malaysia (83^rd) Mexico and Colombia (tied for 86^th), India (111^th), Russia (115^th), Turkey (119^th), China (129^th) and Saudi Arabia (151^st).

Regionally, from 2008 to 2018, the Middle East and North Africa saw the largest declines while North America and Western Europe experienced small declines yet remained the freest regions worldwide.

Crucially, people in freer countries are more prosperous than those in less-free countries. For example, the average per-capita income for the top-quartile countries on the index was US$50,340 compared to US$7,720 for the least-free quartile in 2018.

“When people are free, they have more opportunity to prosper and lead happier healthier lives,” said Ian Vásquez, report co-author and director of the Cato Institute’s Center for Global Liberty and Prosperity.

The complete index, a joint project of the Fraser Institute and the Cato Institute, is available as a free PDF download at www.fraserinstitute.org.

The 10 freest and the least-free countries in the 2020 Human Freedom Index

The 10 freest jurisdictions 1.   New Zealand 2.   Switzerland 3.   Hong Kong 4.   Denmark 5.   Australia 6.   Canada 7.   Ireland 8.   Estonia 9.   Germany 10. Sweden

The 10 least-free countries 153. Central African Republic 154. Algeria 155. Iraq 156. Libya 157. Egypt 158. Iran 159. Yemen 160. Venezuela 161. Sudan 162. Syria

MEDIA CONTACT:
Fred McMahon, Dr. Michael A. Walker Research Chair in Economic Freedom
Fraser Institute

To arrange media interviews or for more information, please contact:

Mark Hasiuk, Fraser Institute
(604) 688-0221 ext. 517
[email protected]

Follow the Fraser Institute on Twitter and Facebook

The Fraser Institute is an independent Canadian public policy research and educational organization with offices in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, Montreal and Halifax and ties to a global network of think-tanks in 87 countries. Its mission is to improve the quality of life for Canadians, their families and future generations by studying, measuring and broadly communicating the effects of government policies, entrepreneurship and choice on their well-being. To protect the Institute’s independence, it does not accept grants from governments or contracts for research. Visit www.fraserinstitute.org

SEATTLE, Dec. 17, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Accolade, Inc. (NASDAQ: ACCD), which provides personalized, technology-enabled solutions that help people better understand, navigate, and utilize the healthcare system and their workplace benefits, will participate in the William Blair Healthcare 2021 Focus List Event, including a fireside chat presentation by Rajeev Singh, Chief Executive Officer, on Thursday, December 17, 2020. An audio replay will be made available at ir.accolade.com shortly after the event.

About Accolade, Inc.

Accolade provides personalized health and benefits solutions designed to empower every person to live their healthiest life. Using a blend of cloud-based technologies, specialized support from Accolade Health Assistants® and Clinicians, and integrated data and programs across mobile, online and phone, Accolade navigates people through the healthcare system with trust, empathy and ease. Employers offer Accolade to employees and their families as the single place to turn for all health, healthcare, and benefits questions or concerns, increasing their engagement in benefits and connecting them to high-quality providers and care. By empowering members to make better decisions about their health, Accolade can support members in lowering the cost and complexity of healthcare while achieving consumer satisfaction ratings over 90 percent and an NPS of 60.

Investor Contact:

Todd Friedman, Investor Relations, 484-532-5200, [email protected]

Asher Dewhurst, Investor Relations, 443-213-0503, [email protected]

Media Contact:

Megan Torres, Public Relations, 206-926-8180, [email protected]

Source: Accolade        

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Dec. 17, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Riley Gold Corp. (“Riley” or the “Company”) (TSX.V: RLYG) is pleased to report that the exploration program at its Tokop Gold Project (the “Project”) located in Esmeralda County, Nevada, is well underway. The 2020/21 program includes mapping, sampling, geophysical surveys and drilling, as well as Riley’s geological review and interpretation of previous work conducted at the Project.

The Project is located within the Walker Lane Trend approximately 80 kilometers south of Tonopah, and was consolidated in Q3, 2020 by Riley through various agreements with land holders (see Riley’s news release dated October 1, 2020). Deposits currently being mined or developed in the area include: Mineral Ridge Mine, Bullfrog, North Bullfrog, Silicon and the Daisy-Secret Pass deposits. The nearby districts of Tonopah, Goldfield, and Bullfrog (near Beatty, Nevada) have accounted for historical production of more than 8.3 million ounces gold and 143.5 million ounces of silver.

Gold mineralization is hosted in intermediate granitic rocks, similar to that being mined at the Fort Knox Gold Mine (Kinross Gold) near Fairbanks, Alaska. Higher grade gold is hosted in shears, ledges, stockworks, and closely spaced veins within granitic rocks. Potentially bulk mineable mineralization can occur peripheral to high grade structures within the intrusives and surrounding altered and hornfelsed carbonates.

Exploration Program Initiated:

The exploration program is being led by Charles Sulfrian, Exploration Manager for Riley who has more than 40 years of experience as an exploration geologist. Over the last few months, Riley concentrated its efforts on understanding and delineating highly prospective exploration targets as identified by past operators as well as future exploration opportunities at the Project. As a result of this analysis, Riley initiated a detailed mapping and rock chip sample program to aid in the planning of a new round of drilling. Additional geophysical surveys will also help define drill targets. The geophysical work will begin in early 2021 and drilling will follow by the end of Q1 or early Q2, 2021.

Initial grab and chip samples (up to 3 meters (“m”)) were selected from dumps and outcrops in varied structural settings which returned assays results up to 16.1 gram per tonne (“gpt”) gold and 105 gpt silver. See the table below for detailed results.

The Company has also recently submitted 110 additional rock samples to the lab for assaying and geochemical analyses. Assay results are expected in early 2021.

		Weight	Au	Ag
		kg	gpt	gpt
Sample#	Description	0.02	0.005	0.01
1	Select Quartz Vein (“QV“) grab sample from dump	1.45	5.840	105.00
2	~3m chip sample from altered Limestone (“LS”) outcrop	1.22	0.023	0.90
3	Select altered LS grab sample from dump	1.13	0.116	7.54
4	Select QV grab sample from dump	1.04	16.1	55.90
5	~3m chip sample from fault zones in altered LS	1.22	0.894	70.80
6	~1m chip sample of QV	1.23	7.240	34.00
7	Grab sample of QV in granite porphyry	1.10	5.740	3.23
8	~ 2m chip sample from fault zone in altered LS	1.02	0.045	0.38
9	~1m chip from jasperoid outcrop in altered LS	1.19	0.020	0.22

Table – Grab and Chip Surface Rock Sample results

Historical Exploration Activity

The Riley 2020/2021 exploration program will focus on expanding historical efforts made in the area and will build on previous work completed at the Project between 2010 and 2014 by Global Geoscience Limited (“Global”). Previous work conducted consisted of a major regional rock sampling program (approximately 600 rock chip, outcrop and channel samples) that returned assays up to 34.40 gpt gold and included outcrop rock chip (not channel) samples of 4m of veined monzonite that assayed 9.93 gpt gold, 3m of sheeted veins in granite porphyry that assayed 9.56 gpt gold, and another 3m of quartz veined monzonite that assayed 7.28 gpt gold. Global also completed a mapping and geophysical program, as well as a 20-hole maiden drill program (where 14 of the 20 drill holes encountered >1.0 gpt gold) that was funded as part of an earn-in agreement executed in February 2012 with Osisko Mining Corporation (See Global’s news release dated February 14, 2012).

Historic trench Sampling

Historical trench sampling was conducted in four areas which were generally north of most of the maiden drilling. Highlights from the trench sampling include:

• 18m of 1.94 gpt gold
• 12m of 1.39 gpt gold
• 3 m of 0.287 gpt gold

Historical Drilling:

The maiden drill program was conducted with Reverse Circulation (RC) drilling and include the following highlights (apparent widths; see Global’s new release dated September 16, 2013 and May 7, 2014):

• 12.2m of 2.5 gpt gold
• 18.8m of 1.3 gpt gold
• 27.4m of 0.8 gpt gold
• 13.8m of 0.94 gpt gold

Gold and silver mineralization is open in several directions.

“We look forward to aggressively moving the Tokop exploration program forward in preparation for a drill program in early 2021. To date, we have been impressed with our field and research results and we continue to grow more excited about the project upside”, stated Todd Hilditch, CEO of Riley.

About Riley Gold Corp.

Riley is a mining exploration and development company focused in Nevada, USA. The Company’s primary focus is on its two cornerstone assets: the Tokop Gold Project located within the Walker Lane Trend and the Pipeline West/Clipper Project located in the Battle Mountain Eureka Trend. Riley’s founders and leadership team have a proven track record of maximizing shareholder value during each phase of the mining life cycle: exploration, development, and production.

Qualified Person:

This news release has been reviewed and approved by Charles Sulfrian, CPG., Consulting Geologist, of Riley and a ‘qualified person’, as defined by National Instrument 43-101, Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. The Qualified Person has not completed sufficient work to verify the historic information on Tokop, particularly in regards to the historical drill and chip sample results. However, the Qualified Persons believe that drilling and analytical results were completed to industry standard practices. The information provides an indication of the exploration potential of Tokop but may not be representative of expected results.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:

Todd Hilditch

Chief Executive Officer

Tel: (604) 443-3831

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 statement regarding forward–looking information

This news release contains forward-looking statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results, performance, prospects, and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including statements regarding the exploration program at Tokop, including results of drilling, and future exploration plans at Tokop. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, variations in the nature, quality and quantity of any mineral deposits that may be located, the Company’s inability to obtain any necessary permits, consents or authorizations required for its planned activities, and the Company’s inability to raise the necessary capital or to be fully able to implement its business strategies. The reader is referred to the Company’s public disclosure record which is available on SEDAR (www.sedar.com). Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on these statements, which only apply as of the date of this news release, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed time frames or at all. Except as required by securities laws and the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange, the Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Falcon Oil & Gas Ltd.

(“Falcon”)

Australian Government Announcement – Beetaloo Strategic Plan

17 December 2020 – Falcon Oil & Gas Ltd. (TSXV: FO, AIM: FOG) is pleased to note the announcement today by the Australian Government that it plans to provide up to A$50 million to accelerate exploration activity in the Beetaloo sub-basin. Falcon holds a 22.5% interest in 4.6 million gross acres in exploration permits (EP76, EP98 and EP117) covering the most prospective core area of the Beetaloo sub-basin.

The funding is designed to fast-track drilling by providing grants to cover 25% of eligible exploration costs, capped at A$7.5 million per well and three wells per exploration venture. The funding will be put towards exploration that occurs before June 2022.

The Northern Territory’s Geological Survey estimates that the sub-basin could hold more than 200,000 petajoules of gas (190 Tcf) and that, even if a very conservative 10% of that gas was recovered, it could still supply Australia’s domestic gas demand for more than 10 years.

A copy of the press release is available at https://www.minister.industry.gov.au/ministers/pitt/media-releases/beetaloo-strategic-plan-will-unlock-gas-jobs-and-development.

Philip O’Quigley (CEO of Falcon) commented:

“
The announcement by the Australian Government highlights the strategic and economic importance of the Beetaloo sub-basin which it believes has the potential to be a world-class gas resource, transform the Northern Territory economy and generate 6,000 jobs by 2040.

We look forward to continue working with our partners, Origin, and the state and federal governments and other stakeholders towards the successful development of the sub-basin.”

Ends.

CONTACT DETAILS:

Falcon Oil & Gas Ltd.	+353 1 676 8702
Philip O’Quigley, CEO	+353 87 814 7042
Anne Flynn, CFO	+353 1 676 9162
Cenkos Securities plc (NOMAD & Broker)
Neil McDonald / Derrick Lee	+44 131 220 9771

About Falcon Oil & Gas Ltd.

Falcon Oil & Gas Ltd is an international oil & gas company engaged in the exploration and development of unconventional oil and gas assets, with the current portfolio focused in Australia, South Africa and Hungary.

Falcon Oil & Gas Australia Limited is a c. 98% subsidiary of Falcon Oil & Gas Ltd.  Falcon Oil & Gas Australia Limited and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Origin Energy Limited (ASX: ORG) (“Origin Energy”) are joint venture partners in respect of the Beetaloo project.

For further information on Falcon Oil & Gas Ltd. please visit www.falconoilandgas.com

About Origin Energy

Origin Energy is a leading Australian integrated energy company. Origin is a leading energy retailer with approximately 4.2 million customer accounts, has approximately 7,500 MW of owner and contracted power generation capacity and is also a large natural gas supplier. Origin is the upstream operator of Australia Pacific LNG, which supplies natural gas to domestic markets and exports LNG under long term contracts.

www.originenergy.com.au

Glossary of terms

A$           Australian dollar
EP           Exploration permit
LNG        Liquefied natural gas
MW         Megawatt
TcF         Trillion cubic feet
               

Advisory regarding forward looking statements

Certain information in this press release may constitute forward-looking information. Any statements that are contained in this news release that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking information. Forward-looking information typically contains statements with words such as “may”, “will”, “should”, “expect”, “intend”, “plan”, “anticipate”, “believe”, “estimate”, “projects”, “dependent”, “potential”, “scheduled”, “forecast”, “outlook”, “budget”, “hope”, “support” or the negative of those terms or similar words suggesting future outcomes.  In particular, forward-looking information in this press release includes, but is not limited to, comments made with respect to the type, number, schedule, stimulating, testing and objectives of the wells to be drilled in the Beetaloo Sub-basin Australia, the prospectivity of the Middle Velkerri and Kyalla plays and the prospect of the exploration programme being brought to commerciality, the availability of Australian government funding towards exploration up to June 2022. This information is based on current expectations that are subject to significant risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. The risks, assumptions and other factors that could influence actual results include risks associated with fluctuations in market prices for shale gas; risks related to the exploration, development and production of shale gas reserves; general economic, market and business conditions; substantial capital requirements; uncertainties inherent in estimating quantities of reserves and resources; extent of, and cost of compliance with, government laws and regulations and the effect of changes in such laws and regulations; the need to obtain regulatory approvals before development commences; environmental risks and hazards and the cost of compliance with environmental regulations; aboriginal claims; inherent risks and hazards with operations such as mechanical or pipe failure, cratering and other dangerous conditions; potential cost overruns, drilling wells is speculative, often involving significant costs that may be more than estimated and may not result in any discoveries; variations in foreign exchange rates; competition for capital, equipment, new leases, pipeline capacity and skilled personnel; the failure of the holder of licenses, leases and permits to meet requirements of such; changes in royalty regimes; failure to accurately estimate abandonment and reclamation costs; inaccurate estimates and assumptions by management and their joint venture partners; effectiveness of internal controls; the potential lack of available drilling equipment; failure to obtain or keep key personnel; title deficiencies; geo-political risks; and risk of litigation.

Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of important factors is not exhaustive and that these factors and risks are difficult to predict. Actual results might differ materially from results suggested in any forward-looking statements.  Falcon assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those reflected in the forward looking-statements unless and until required by securities laws applicable to Falcon. Additional information identifying risks and uncertainties is contained in Falcon’s filings with the Canadian securities regulators, which filings are available at www.sedar.com, including under “Risk Factors” in the Annual Information Form.

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.