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International News Services archives articles supplied to clients one year or more after initial publication. These articles are protected by a password and not made available to readers without permission from clients. They are used as a background resource by agency journalists. Upon client requests, International News Services will remove such articles from the archive or not upload them in the first place. They are included to demonstrate the breadth of topics undertaken by the agency and also to help promote clients’ coverage.

INS BANGLADESH CORRESPONDENT WINS "BRAC MIGRATION AWARD"

Masum Billah, Bangladesh Correspondent of International News Services, has won the prestigious “Brac Migration Media Award” for his story, entitled “Sold in Cambodia: How Bangladeshis are lured into slavery.”

Published in the Dhaka-based newspaper, The Business Standard, Mr Billah’s story clinched the second prize in the “National Newspaper” category, at the eighth annual award ceremony of BRAC, one of the largest NGOs in the world. BRAC introduced the “BRAC Migration Media Award” in 2015 to formally recognise migration journalism.…

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THAILAND PAINT SECTOR FACES EXPORT DECLINE BUT INDUSTRY STEADY AS ECONOMY GAINS TRACTION

The Thailand paint and coatings sector is expanding faster than general economic growth in Thailand, expanding sales as the country transitions from military-dominated to democratic rule.  

This southeast Asian powerhouse economy is projected to grow GDP by 3.9% in 2023, up from 2.6% last year due to stronger-than-expected export demand from China, Europe, and the United States, according to the World Bank (1). 

Thailand’s ministry of commerce has maintained a targeted year-on-year growth for exports this year of 1%-2%, after a 5.5% gain in 2022 (2).

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ISSB PUSHES FOR ITS STANDARDS TO BE SUSTAINABILITY REPORTING GLOBAL BASELINE

An International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) symposium in Montréal, Canada, has heard how accounting standards experts are striving to build a “global baseline” of regulation based on ISSB standards, despite the contrasting guidance being developed worldwide. 

Speaking at the event on Friday (Feb 17), Mark Carney, UN special envoy for climate action and finance, and former central bank governor for the UK and Canada, said of the baseline: “It’s critical. You need compatible information.”  

Mr Carney stressed ongoing discussions between the ISSB and major jurisdictions, such as the EU (European Union), the USA and Japan, about the need for regulatory harmony.

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OPINION PIECE – CANADIAN GOVERNOR GENERAL SHOULD SUE TWITTER AND HELP CLEAN UP SOCIAL MEDIA

The disturbing comments published by Twitter about Canada’s Governor General Mary Simon require the same response such defamation would spark against any newspaper should it have distributed such lies – she should sue.

Yes, Canada’s respected 75-year-old first ever indigenous Governor General should sue Elon Musk for defamation, as owner of Twitter, which published these untrue and poisonous comments.

Twitter and Musk made money from them – they attracted eyeballs, which boosted ad clicks, and boosted the social media site’s profile.…

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JAPAN COATINGS SECTOR GIVEN A BOOST BY OLYMPICS, BUT COMPANIES ARE NOW LOOKING FOR NEW DEMAND

In the seven years since the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced that Tokyo would be the host city of the summer Olympic Games and the Paralympics in the summer of 2020, companies in the paint and coatings sector have enjoyed a steady uptick in demand.

This increase in demand is linked to the construction of venues and facilities for the Games, as well as for connected infrastructure, such as new hotels and transport facilities.

And with the final touches added to the Tokyo Aquatics Centre in early March, the preparations for sporting venues were completed – well ahead of schedule, a bright contrast to the last-minute construction that bedevilled the 2016 summer games in Rio de Janeiro.…

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A DOG'S LIFE IN TUNISIA

Campaigns to end the cruel practice of shooting stray animals by municipalities in Tunisia are struggling in the face of a weak government and a downwardly spiralling economy.

Dogs have a troubled life in Tunisia. While in some neighbourhoods pet ownership has become more popular, as evidenced by the proliferation of new pet stores, these areas give an illusion that Tunisia is generally a dog-loving society. In reality, there is a much darker side of life for dogs in this country, where pedigree pooches are stolen for resale on the black market or females are made to breed puppies for profit, yet it is the native breeds that suffer the worst treatment.…

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ASIAN PAINT REGULATORY ROUND UP - INDINESIA NEW CAPITAL PROJECT GATHERS STEAM WITH MAJOR PAINT AND COATINGS SALES POTENTIAL

As construction ramps up, paint and coatings companies are eyeing lucrative opportunities in Indonesia's new capital Nusantara, with several recent project launches promising a significant boost to the industry.   Outgoing President Joko Widodo recently inaugurated several key projects in Nusantara, including the emerging city's international airport, hospitals, schools and housing.


Several ongoing projects promise to further fuel the demand for coatings including a new presidential palace, the parliament building and smart city infrastructure. 
 
Nusantara’s focus on sustainability presents a unique opportunity for eco-friendly coatings, the government has stressed. It has mandated the use of green building materials, including paints with low volatile organic compounds and recycled content.  
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AFRICA DEVELOPS COTTON PROCESSING, TAPPING QUALITY LOCAL FIBRE RESOURCES



A majority of African grown cotton is exported, but initiatives are underway in certain countries to bolster upstream textile yarn spinning and fabric production as part of efforts to develop the overall supply chain.

“Cotton production is expected to go up in the continent this year, by around 30% compared to 2020 and 2021.…

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INNOVATORS EXPLORE POTENTIAL OF VERTICAL FARMS, IN BRITAIN AND OVERSEAS



As the world’s largest vertical farm is set to launch operations in Gloucestershire later this year, proponents have lauded the sustainability benefits of the model. They say it has the potential to reduce agriculture’s physical and carbon footprint, growing more crops with significantly reduced water usage, zero pesticides and delivering fresher produce than traditional field-based models.…

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CANADIAN GOVERNMENT PROPOSES REGULATIONS MANDATING ALL NEW CARS, SUVs AND PICKUPS ARE ZERO EMISSION BY 2035



The Canadian government has released anticipated proposed regulations insisting that all new private passenger autos sold in Canada by 2035 must be zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs). While welcoming the law in principle, Canadian automakers have warned that the federal government will need to spend more in helping consumers buy ZEVs and on investing in charging networks to ensure this mandate is practical and affordable.…

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