Archive
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.
BARENTS SEA
BY KEITH NUTHALL
TOUGH and detailed regulations should control the planned exploitation by the oil and gas industry of the Barents Sea, off Russia and Norway, because it could additionally pollute a delicate ecosystem already contaminated with nuclear waste, said the United Nations Environment Organisation (UNEP).…
WTO ROUND DEAL
BY KEITH NUTHALL
THE HALF-TIME ‘framework’ agreement on the current World Trade Organisation (WTO) round struck last month (July) in Geneva involves developed countries slashing at least 20% from all “trade distorting support”, including schemes limiting production, such as set-aside. These subsidies would only continue if they “are made on a fixed and unchanging” yield of crops, or cover 85% or less of current production levels.…
DOG BISCUITS
BY MONICA DOBIE
PET store chain Pet Valu Canada (CORRECT SPELLING) has stopped selling postmen-shaped dog-biscuits after the country’s postal service Canada Post accused the company of being insensitive to the dangers posed by aggressive pets. The treats came in Parmesan, fish and chips, and garlic flavour.…
LAURA SECORD
BY MONICA DOBIE
AMERICAN investment firm Gordon Brothers Group has bought Canadian chocolatier Laura Secord from the USA’s Archibald Candy Corp. for CDN$27.6 million. It was the second time Archibald had tried to sell the company.…
WTO SUGAR
BY KEITH NUTHALL
EUROPEAN Commission arguments backing its proposed reform of the European Union (EU) sugar regime have been strengthened by an interim decision by the World Trade Organisation that existing EU subsidies to the sugar sector are illegal. The claim was brought by Brazil, Thailand and Australia.…
FRUIT AND VEG
BY KEITH NUTHALL
A REPORT on the common organisation of European Union (EU) fruit and vegetable markets (including citrus fruit and nuts) has asked whether further reforms are required. It asks how supplies to new EU member countries can be improved and quality be encouraged.…
JELLY MINICUPS
BY KEITH NUTHALL
THE EUROPEAN Commission could totally ban jelly mini-cups across Europe, following advice from the European Food Safety Authority that any mini-cup – whatever its additives – “could cause choking and not just in children”.…
UNECE REPORT
BY KEITH NUTHALL
THE UNITED Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) says that European forest product consumption rose to a record 1.3 billion cubic metres in 2003-4, up 1.3% on the previous year. Its annual 2003-4 market review for the sector said that sawn softwood demand rose strongly in western Europe (up 5% to 79 million m3).…
INTERNATIONAL TIMBER DEAL
BY KEITH NUTHALL
PROGRESS has been made in global negotiations renewing the 1994 International Tropical Timber Agreement, which regulates trade in the commodity and expires next year. Representatives of 58 countries have asked UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) officials to draft a successor agreement for approval at a meeting next February 14-18.…
AUTO ADHESIVES
BY JONATHAN THOMSON
PRESSURE from consumers and regulators have forced automotive manufacturers to re-examine the vehicle construction process from top to bottom in recent years. Increasing fuel prices coupled with drivers’ demands for improved performance has meant that the use of lighter materials, such as aluminium and composites which are bonded using adhesives, has become far more widespread, and could be set to become even more commonplace in volume production.…