June 23, 2023 – Page 2 – Asean Tribune

June 23, 2023

Reckitt Wins First-Ever Gold Lion & Total of Six Wins at Annual Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity

Gold Lion awarded in coveted Creative Strategy category for
Me, My Autism & I campaign
Fabrice Beaulieu recognized as Brand Advertiser of the Year by Act Responsible

CANNES, France, June 23, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Reckitt, the company behind some of the world’s most recognizable and trusted consumer brands, was awarded six Cannes Lions – including its first-ever Gold Lion – at the 70th Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity, the most prestigious international advertising and creativity showcase.

Reckitt’s winning work includes:

GOLD in Creative Strategy: Vanish Me, My Autism & I (U.K.)
SILVER in Film, Craft, Casting: Vanish Me, My Autism & I (U.K.)
BRONZE in Health & Wellness: Durex The Art of Sex (POL)
BRONZE in Media: Mortein Suraksha Ka-Teeka (IND)
BRONZE in Film Craft, Sound & Design: Vanish Me, My Autism & I (U.K.)
BRONZE in Brand Experience & Activation: Mortein (IND)

Vanish, a Gold Winner in the Creative Strategy category, created a campaign, in partnership with Havas, that addressed unrecognized truths about autism – that for most autistic people, familiar and consistent clothing can help with sensory regulation and provide a source of comfort. The campaign set out to nurture a conversation that breaks down myths and broadens the public’s understanding of autism – particularly in girls – through powerful stories.

DE&I & SUSTAINABILITY
Reckitt’s presence at the Cannes Lions Festival focused on championing the value and transformative power of creative work to advance societal change, as well as move business goals forward.

On Thursday, June 22, Fabrice Beaulieu, Global Chief Marketing, Sustainability and Corporate Affairs Officer at Reckitt, was recognized as Brand Advertiser of the Year, by ACT Responsible, a global association that promotes the best advertising campaigns concerning social and environmental issues from around the world.

“Reckitt’s recognition at Cannes is a very important milestone for our entire organization,” Beaulieu said. “Our commitment to putting sustainability efforts at the core of each of our brands has unleashed creativity to solve the world’s most critical challenges through behaviour change that creates value, drives effectiveness and leaves a positive impact on communities.”

Reckitt’s commitment also helped to influence the wider Cannes community, with its Global Creativity and Diversity & Inclusion Director, Marketing, Efrain Ayala, serving on the Glass Lions jury, for the first time, where he brought the perspective of how brands should be creating authentic, systematic change. With his role as a WFA Global Diversity Ambassador, in tandem with his role at Reckitt, Ayala was able to bring his expertise to Cannes and impart its most valuable aspects to the industry at-large.

The Glass Lions celebrates culture-shifting creativity and work that explicitly addresses issues of gender inequality or prejudice, through the conscious representation of gender in advertising.

ONSITE ACTIVATIONS
Reckitt’s auto dishwashing brand Finish hosted a #SkipTheRinse activation within the Palais de Festivals. This included a branded pop-up space featuring visuals of regions around the world that are at risk from water scarcity. Reckitt invited creatives to pitch ideas for how to further evolve the #SkipTheRinse campaign through a competition to crowdsource creativity. The winner will receive a fully paid trip to Cannes Lions 2024 and may have their idea adopted by Reckitt.

As part of Reckitt’s speaker line-up, Afropop sensation Yemi Alade took to the Palais stage as Global Ambassador of the WiNFUND. Alade shared how she supports women entrepreneurs across Africa to improve access to healthcare through the WiNFUND, which provides investment, business support and mentoring for women-led start-ups and entrepreneurs working to improve community access to healthcare.

“Reckitt and WiNFUND remain committed to empowering women-led health innovation with meaningful impacts in local communities,” said Patty O’Hayer, Global Head of External Communications & Affairs, Reckitt and WiNFUND co-founder.

Tickets are now on sale for a concert streaming event on 1 July with Yemi Alade. Tickets may be purchased online here: https://winfundnft.org/new-event/

http://www.reckitt.com/thisisreckitt

NOTES TO EDITORS:
About Reckitt:
Reckitt* exists to protect, heal, and nurture in the relentless pursuit of a cleaner, healthier world. We believe that access to the highest-quality hygiene, wellness and nourishment is a right, not a privilege.

Reckitt is the company behind some of the world’s most recognisable and trusted consumer brands in hygiene, health, and nutrition, including Air Wick, Calgon, Cillit Bang, Clearasil, Dettol, Durex, Enfamil, Finish, Gaviscon, Harpic, Lysol, Mortein, Mucinex, Nurofen, Nutramigen, Strepsils, Vanish, Veet, Woolite and more.

Every day, more than 20 million Reckitt products are bought globally. We always put consumers and people first, seek out new opportunities, strive for excellence in all that we do and build shared success with all our partners. We aim to do the right thing, always.
We are a diverse global team of c. 40,000 colleagues. We draw on our collective energy to meet our ambitions of purpose-led brands, a healthier planet, and a fairer society. Find out more, or contact us at www.reckitt.com

* Reckitt is the trading name of the Reckitt Benckiser group of companies

Martinne Geller, Reckitt
Martinne.geller@reckitt.com 

MaryLiz Ghanem 
DiGennaro Communications 
maryliz.ghanem@digennaro-usa.com

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 8863473

June 23, 2023

Junta jet attack kills man in Myanmar’s Kayah state

A junta plane attacked two villages in Myanmar’s eastern Kayah state Friday morning, killing a man and injuring two children, locals told RFA.

The aircraft first strafed Li Khu Pa Yar village in Hpruso township around midnight Thursday before returning to drop bombs on Li Khu Pa Yar and Do Yaw villages before dawn on Friday.

“Li Khu Pa Yar and Do Yaw village are not close so, when Li Khu Pa Yar was fired on from the air at midnight, people in Do Yaw village did not flee as they thought the shooting would not reach their village,” said a local who didn’t want to be named for security reasons.

“But both Li Khu Pa Yar and Do Yaw villages were bombed from the air at 4 p.m. Some people were sleeping so they didn’t flee.”

The local said the man who died was in his forties but didn’t give the ages of the children. He said five houses in Do Yaw were destroyed by the bombing.

Executive Director of the Karenni Human Rights Group, Banyar – who goes by a single name – confirmed the death and injuries and said the details are still being investigated.

Li Khu Pa Yar and Do Yaw are small villages with fewer than 50 houses in a state with a low population compared with the rest of Myanmar.

Locals said the junta attacked by air because road transport is difficult in Hpruso township.

Although the Karenni Defense Forces are active in Kayah state, residents told RFA they had no idea why the junta targeted their villages. Many have now taken refuge in the nearby jungle.

RFA called Kaya state’s junta spokesperson Aung Win Oo Friday but nobody answered.

According to a June 1 statement by the Progressive Karenni People’s Force there have been 699 battles in three townships in Kayah and neighboring Shan states since the Feb. 1, 2021 coup and the junta has carried out 463 airstrikes.

The ethnic armed group said 462 people were killed in Kayah state due to fighting over that period and 15 died in airstrikes.

Translated by RFA Burmese. Edited by Mike Firn.

June 23, 2023

Worst haze crisis in 5 years likely in Southeast Asia, report says

The most severe transboundary haze crisis in five years is likely in three Southeast Asian countries due to El Niño, a weather pattern caused by the warming of sea-surface temperatures in the Pacific Ocean that brings hotter and drier weather, a report by a Singapore-based think-tank said.

This year’s heatwave will be a stress test for cooperation between governments and the private sector, according to the Haze Outlook 2023, published Wednesday by the Singapore Institute of International Affairs (SIIA).

It designated a “red” rating for haze, indicating the most severe of the three levels of risk for the first time since the outlook – which analyzes the risk of a severe transboundary haze crisis affecting Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore, and the surrounding region – began five years ago.

However, it did not include the Lower Mekong region of Myanmar, Thailand and Laos, which were hit hard by an extreme haze crisis earlier this year primarily due to wildfires and agricultural waste burning.

“Forest and land fires and the resulting heavy haze pollution across our region have been a recurring problem since 1997,” Simon Tay, the institute’s chairman, said in the report, though the skies “have remained relatively haze-free for the past three years” in Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia.

“This has been due to a combination of effective policy and action by the Indonesian government and larger corporations, and also unusually wet weather, which has made it easier to keep fires in check,” he said.

“However, there is a real risk in the year ahead that the situation will change, and for the worse. If there is severe dry weather resulting from El Niño, there is a danger that severe transboundary haze will impact us,” Tay said, adding that the region faces “a time of stress testing.”

El Niño, a weather pattern characterized by hot ocean temperatures in the equatorial Pacific, can significantly affect weather patterns worldwide. In Southeast Asia, that would mean warmer, drier weather conditions, which could worsen natural and human-caused fires.

ENG_ENV_HazeCrisis_06232023.1.jpg — Motorists ride on a road as thick haze from forest fires shroud the city in Palangkaraya, Central Borneo, Indonesia, Oct. 27, 2015. Credit: AP

In the last two years the region has seen the cooling influence of La Niña conditions, which ended in March. The U.S. National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has predicted a 56% chance that this year’s El Niño will be a strong event, with an 84% chance of at least a moderate event.

In May, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said there was an 80% chance El Niño would appear by October and “this will combine with human-induced climate change to push global temperatures into uncharted territory” with “far-reaching repercussions for health, food security, water management, and the environment.”

The region has already started feeling the effects of a heatwave, with record-breaking heat in parts of Southeast Asia in April and May. Earlier this month, the ASEAN Specialised Meteorological Centre flagged a higher risk of haze in the southern region between June and October.

2015 was region’s worst haze crisis

In 2015, industrial-scale slash-and-burn practices for agricultural purposes, particularly palm oil and pulpwood production, in Indonesia and parts of Malaysia choked a large swath of Southeast Asia with smoke for weeks, causing strained relationships among governments.

The transboundary haze may have caused more than 100,000 deaths, which was 2.7 times higher in 2015 than a decade earlier, according to research in 2016.

Last month, Singapore issued a precautionary advisory to its residents, urging them to acquire an ample supply of face masks and air purifiers.

SIIA said its risk assessment is based on weather (meteorological forecasts), policy (actions taken by governments) and markets (price signals that may drive deforestation, as most forest fires are linked to land clearing for agricultural purposes).

The “red” rating this year is primarily due to the expected heatwave, which increases the chance of forest and peat fires burning out of control and creating haze, SIIA said, adding that a severe dry spell due to a strong El Niño will test the limits of authorities to handle fire prevention efforts and keep the haze under control.

SIIA warned that the agribusiness sector may respond “not only to government regulations but also to markets and prices” as more slash-and-burn techniques may be used to clear land to meet greater demand.

“The price of agricultural commodities has been on a rollercoaster since the start of the pandemic. Prices are starting to stabilize but remain higher than before COVID-19. There is evidence that planting activity is on the rise,” said Khor Yu-Leng, a co-author of the report.

Earlier this month, ministers and senior officials from Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand met in Singapore to discuss transboundary haze pollution, including measures to manage fires and haze in the region.

Ahead of the meeting, environmental group Greenpeace called on ASEAN states to “enact a domestic transboundary haze law in their respective countries where forest fires are known to persist.”

It also asked the countries to “develop a regional legal framework to hold corporate entities accountable for domestic forest fires due to peatland clearance and agricultural residue burning… and compel companies to pay reparations to victims of transboundary haze pollution.”

Edited by Mike Firn.

June 23, 2023

Trench Metals Announces 2023 Prospective Program for Higginson Lake Uranium Project in Athabasca, Saskatchewan

Trench Metals Athabasca Basin Projects

Trench Metals has the right to acquire a 100% interest in two highly prospective uranium projects in Saskatchewan’s Athabasca Uranium district.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, June 23, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Trench Metals Corp. (“Trench Metals” or the “Company”) (TSXV: TMC, FWB: 33H2) is pleased to unveil the details of its 2023 prospecting program at the Company’s Higginson Lake Uranium Project in Northern Saskatchewan. The program seeks to capitalize on the success of the 2022 program, which yielded promising results at the Peterson Rapids Showing.

The Peterson Rapids Showing, situated just southeast of the rapids between Peterson and Higginson Lake, approximately 11.3 kilometers southeast of Charlebois Lake, exhibited promising indicators during last year’s campaign. As a result, Trench Metals is set to undertake extensive subsequent activities to delve deeper into this prospective zone.

Additionally, the Company will broaden its investigative scope to incorporate the Charlebois Lake Showings and Dianne Uranium Showings, situated about 7 kilometers southeast of the Higginson Lake Uranium Project. These regions present significant potential for uranium deposits and warrant thorough examination to uncover their true resource potential.

The Company’s 2023 Prospecting program will employ cutting-edge technology, utilizing state-of-the-art scintillometers. These advanced instruments will play a vital role in identifying high-priority targets for trenching and drilling. The Company aims to maximize efficiency and expedite the exploration process by employing man-portable drills.

“We are pleased to announce our comprehensive work program for the Higginson Lake Uranium Project in Northern Saskatchewan,” said Simon Cheng, CEO of Trench Metals. “Building upon the positive results from our 2022 program, we are confident that the upcoming prospecting activities, aided by advanced scintillometers, will allow us to identify prospective targets and unlock the potential of this highly prospective region.”

Trench Metals remains committed to upholding the highest environmental and safety standards throughout its exploration endeavors. The Company is committed to the enforcement of stringent protocols and compliance with regulatory prerequisites to guarantee ethical and sustainable operations.

Dr. Peter Born, P.Geo., is the designated qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and is responsible for and has approved the technical information in this release.

About Trench Metals Corp
Trench Metals Corp. is a mineral exploration company specializing in uranium. We create value for our shareholders by engaging in promising mineral exploration opportunities. Our main goal is the advancement of various projects from discovery all the way to production. This vertically integrated strategy allows Trench Metals to achieve exceptional shareholder value through the entire life-cycle of the mining process.

Trench Metals has the right to acquire a 100% interest in two highly prospective uranium projects in Saskatchewan’s Athabasca Uranium district. Higginson Lake Uranium Project covers an area of approximately 5900 hectares and is 52 kilometers northeast of Stony Rapids, accessible by Highway 905 and 964. The Higginson Lake Uranium Project hosts two historic drill-indicated reserves totalling 4,800,000 lbs of U308. And the Gorilla Lake Uranium Project comprises nearly 7000 hectares in the Northern Mining District of Saskatchewan near the Shea Creek uranium deposit. The Athabasca District is home to the highest grade of uranium deposits in the world and accounts for 18% of global uranium production.

Trench-Properties-Athabasca

For further information, contact the Company at info@trenchmetals.com, or visit the Company’s website at www.trenchmetals.com.

On behalf of the Board,

Trench Metals Corp.

Simon Cheng, Chief Executive Officer

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This news release may contain certain “Forward-Looking Statements” within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities laws. When or if used in this news release, the words “anticipate”, “believe”, “estimate”, “expect”, “target”, “plan”, “forecast”, “may”, “schedule” and similar words or expressions identify forward-looking statements or information. These forward-looking statements or information may relate to the development of the Higginson Lake Uranium Project and other factors or information. Such statements represent the Company’s current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social risks, contingencies and uncertainties. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements or information to reflect changes in assumptions or changes in circumstances or any other events affecting such statements and information other than as required by applicable laws, rules and regulations.

Contact Data

CONTACT:

MRKT360 INC

https://mrkt360.com

Alex Zertuche

alexz@mrkt360.com

For E.S.T Office Hours, Call 1 416-477-0587

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/5bb65c80-ce31-4f60-8f3c-3a872c1c9a4a

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 8863234

June 23, 2023

France helps Lao youth develop professional opportunities through French teaching

As part of its continuous support to French-speaking education, the French Embassy in Laos has organised, together with the Ministry of Education and Sports of Laos, professional workshops for students in bilingual classes across the Lao PDR.

From May 19 to 30, more than 400 secondary and high school students throughout Vientiane, Luang Prabang, Savannakhet, and Champassak were able to discover career opportunities offered by French-speaking skills.

These events allowed students to better understand the way bilingualism can multiply opportunities in the job market, in sectors such as tourism, law, digital marketing, journalism, teaching or finance thanks to presentations by 18 francophone professionals.

Following up with the First Career Forum for French-Speaking Young Graduates held in February 2023, this project funded by the French government matches the aims of the Lao education system reform at university level which, among other things, provides for the development of a better balance between academic training and the professional world.

The aim is to show students and their parents that French is a language of economic empowerment through mobility and employability.

France aims at strengthening support to French teaching throughout the Lao education system, from primary school to university, in accordance with the ministry of Education and Sports’ Five-Year Education Sector Development Plan (2021-2025).

Offering long term economic potential, learning French can help Lao youth build professional networks and enrich their career opportunities.

Promoting empowering education is a key part of France’s action in Laos, helping professional development of Lao youth and contributing to intercultural dialogue through French teaching.

Source: Lao News Agency

June 23, 2023

Yoon, Vietnam PM discuss expanding economic cooperation

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on Friday discussed ways to expand economic cooperation in areas including critical minerals, energy and defense, the presidential office said.

The two held talks at the prime minister’s office on the second day of Yoon’s three-day state visit to Vietnam, shortly after Yoon held a summit with Vietnamese President Vo Van Thuong at the presidential palace.

“Let’s strengthen cooperation in areas such as economic security, which includes critical mineral supply chains; energy; and smart cities,” Yoon said, according to presidential spokesperson Lee Do-woon.

“Seeing Vietnam’s vibrancy for myself, I’ve become confident that Vietnam’s goal of becoming an advanced nation by 2045 is achievable, and South Korea will be a reliable partner in the process of Vietnam’s development,” he said.

This was the second meeting between Yoon and Chinh in a month, as the two held talks on the sidelines of a Group of Seven summit in Hiroshima, Japan, in May.

Yoon asked the prime minister to help South Korean businesses operating in Vietnam by improving systems and regulations governing foreign exchange remittances, taxes and land use, according to Lee.

Chinh promised to spare no effort to ensure South Korean companies can do business in Vietnam without difficulty, while also expressing hope for strengthened cooperation in defense and arms.

He also called for further expanding economic cooperation in line with the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership established between the two countries last year, citing areas such as digital transition, cutting-edge technologies and infrastructure.

The prime minister expressed his support for South Korea’s vision to become a “global pivotal state,” as well as its commitment to strengthening ties with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) under the Korea-ASEAN Solidarity Initiative, and promised Vietnam’s active cooperation as the current coordinator for South Korea-ASEAN relations, Lee said.

Source: Yonhap News Agency