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Canada launches Forest Sector Action Plan

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VICTORIA, BC, June 4, 2026 /CNW/ – Canada’s forest sector is at a pivotal moment. Ongoing pressures — including tariffs, fibre supply challenges, changing market demands and climate change — are significantly impacting the industry and the communities that depend on it. In response, the Government of Canada is focusing on what we can control — and moving forward with provinces, territories and Indigenous partners on a co-ordinated approach to transform the sector into one that can thrive in the long term.

Today, the Honourable Tim Hodgson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, announced a Forest Sector Action Plan, with key commitments to drive the transformation of the forest sector in collaboration with provinces, territories, Indigenous Peoples and other key partners.

The Action Plan is informed by the Canadian Forest Sector Transformation Task Force’s recommendations and builds on the extensive work it completed during its 90–day mandate.

The plan focuses on four priority areas to position Canada’s forest sector as a leading global supplier of both traditional and advanced forest products:

Securing a competitive and predictable supply of wood fibre;Making the investments required for innovation and modernization across the sector;Expanding domestic and international market opportunities; andSupporting workers and communities through skills development and transition measures.

Federal, provincial and territorial governments discussed the implementation of the Action Plan during this year’s meeting of the Canadian Council of Forest Ministers (CCFM). At the meeting, governments committed to collaborate over the coming months to align policies and investments, reduce barriers and accelerate progress toward transformation. This work will come together by the end of 2026 in a formal Forest Sector Strategy for Canada.

Canada’s natural resources have long underpinned our prosperity — and as we work to build the strongest economy in the G7 and double non-U.S. trade over the next decade, our forest sector can play a central role. By supporting workers today and modernizing the industry for tomorrow, the Government of Canada is ensuring the forest sector remains a pillar of strength and prosperity for decades to come.

Quotes

“Mills are closing, Canadians are losing jobs, and communities are suffering, due to tariff pressures, market changes and more. We must take action to pivot, grow, modernize and diversify so we can protect the industry we have built and catalyze its growth for the long term. Today’s Action Plan builds on the work of the Canadian Forest Sector Transformation Task Force and provides a clear path forward for the concrete measures Team Canada will take to build a strong, prosperous, sovereign Canada for all.”

The Honourable Tim Hodgson
Minister of Energy and Natural Resources

“Canada’s forest sector relies on the people, families and communities who build it. At a time of real challenge, this Action Plan will empower workers with the skills they need to thrive while supporting good jobs and helping communities adapt. By investing in skills and innovation, we are building a stronger, more inclusive economy where the forest sector continues to create opportunity today and shape a sustainable future for generations to come.”

The Honourable Patty Hajdu
Minister of Jobs and Families and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario

Quick Facts

Canada’s forest sector is a major economic driver, supporting nearly 200,000 workers, including over 11,000 Indigenous people, and contributing more than $20 billion to our GDP.Since August 2025, the Government of Canada has introduced over $2 billion in measures designed to defend and transform Canada’s forest sector, including the renewal of NRCan’s suite of forest sector transformation programs.The Government of Canada announced the creation of the Canadian Forest Sector Transformation Task Force on November 26, 2025, as part of new measures to support and transform Canada’s forest sector.The Task Force was launched on January 19, 2026, and mandated to deliver a final report within 90 days.On June 3, 2026, Minister Hodgson released the Task Force’s final report and announced new and expanded measures to support the transformation of Canada’s forest sector as well as close to $130 million for 56 forest sector projects across the country.

Related Products

Draft Action Plan to Transform Canada’s Forest SectorCanadian Forest Sector Transformation Task Force’s final reportCanada advances forest sector transformation to protect jobs and strengthen communities nationwide (June 3, 2026)Statement by the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources on the conclusion of the Canadian Forest Sector Transformation Task Force’s mandate (April 16, 2026)Government of Canada launches $500 million in support for retooling Canada’s forest sector (February 25, 2026)Advancing protections and support for Canada’s forest sector (December 15, 2025)Prime Minister Carney announces new measures to protect and transform Canada’s steel and lumber industries (November 26, 2025)Prime Minister Carney announces new measures to transform Canada’s softwood lumber industry (August 5, 2025)

Associated Links

Canada’s softwood lumber industrySupport for Canada’s Forest Sector Employers and WorkersSoftwood Lumber Guarantee Program

Follow Natural Resources Canada on LinkedIn.

SOURCE Natural Resources Canada

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TenPay Global Launches “Remit to China for Non-Chinese Citizens” -A New Feature For International Users to Send Funds Directly to China

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SINGAPORE, June 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — TenPay Global, Tencent Financial Technology’s cross-border payment platform, today announced the launch of its innovative “Remit to China for Non-Chinese Citizens” feature. International users holding foreign passports can now send remittances directly from their home country to China. This enhanced feature provides a seamless solution for international users to enjoy greater flexibility and convenience for their payment needs across China.

TenPay Global’s cross-border remittance platform connects the Weixin ecosystem with global remittance institutions. It has currently partnered with over 60 major international banks and remittance institutions, including DBS, Panda Remit, LemFi, Remitly, Wise, Gmoneytrans, Hanpass and GME, supporting remittances to China from over 100 countries and regions worldwide. Services are available 24/7, with funds arriving within minutes, ensuring security, compliance, and convenience.

Foreigners residing in China can receive remittances within the country using their mobile numbers linked to WeChat. Once the funds have been credited, international users can directly utilize funds to access a full suite of lifestyle services conveniently —including online shopping, mobile top-ups, and utility bill payments—meeting their diverse payment needs across various scenarios such as working, studying, traveling, and daily living in China.

TenPay Global is committed to connecting the Weixin ecosystem with global partners, continuously expanding the reach and service scenarios of cross-border payments. In addition to cross-border remittances, it further upgraded Weixin Pay’s “Pay with Your Home E-Wallet” services through China’s unified cross-border QR-code gateway, provides diverse payment options for international visitors to China to enhance the travel and spending experience for international visitors and support cross-border tourism and cultural exchange.

TenPay Global has partnered with over 40 overseas wallets globally, supporting more overseas wallets to make payments in Chinese mainland through Weixin Pay QR codes. Currently, 36 e-wallets from 13 different countries and regions have gone live, including PayPal (US), LiquidPay and ChangiPay (Singapore), ZaloPay and MOMO (Vietnam), BCEL (Laos), and HiPay (Mongolia). 

About TenPay Global

TenPay Global is Tencent’s cross-border payment platform, comprising a network of licensed financial institutions under Tencent. By connecting the Weixin ecosystem, global payment partners, and international users and scenarios, TenPay Global provides end-to-end payment solutions for cross-border remittances, consumption, and commerce. Backed by years of industry experience and a robust risk management framework, TenPay Global delivers world-class standards in system reliability, fund security, and regulatory compliance. Official Website: TenPay Global

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SOURCE TenPay Global

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520 Is No Longer Just for Couples! Agoda Reveals Busan and Chiayi as Emerging Favorites Among Solo Travelers

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TAIPEI, June 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — “520” (May 20), widely recognized in Taiwan as an unofficial “Love Day” due to its similar pronunciation to “I love you” in Mandarin, has evolved beyond a celebration for couples. Today, more Taiwanese are embracing solo travel as a form of self-reward and personal ritual. In response to this trend, digital travel platform Agoda has observed growing interest in solo travel among Taiwanese travelers. According to Agoda data, searches made by Taiwanese solo travelers increased by 16% year-on-year between January and April 2026, highlighting how independent travel is becoming an increasingly popular trend.

International solo travel interest grew by 20%, outpacing domestic solo travel growth at 10%. Agoda’s findings suggest that more Taiwanese travelers are choosing to travel alone overseas, seeking short, flexible getaways as a way to relax, recharge, and prioritize self-care.

Busan Emerges as the Fastest-Growing Overseas Destination for Taiwanese Solo Travelers

Japan and South Korea remain the most popular destinations for Taiwanese solo travelers, with Tokyo, Seoul, and Osaka ranking among the top searched cities. However, Busan emerged as the fastest-growing overseas destination, recording a 71% increase in searches and becoming one of the latest favorites among Taiwanese solo travelers.

Meanwhile, searches for Fukuoka and Sapporo also rose by 51% and 33%, respectively. Agoda’s findings show that Taiwanese solo travelers are increasingly drawn to urban hubs that are ideal for short getaways, and combine food, shopping, and local cultural experiences, contributing to the growing popularity of “slow-paced city travel” across Northeast Asia.

Chiayi Becomes a Rising Favorite for Domestic Solo Travel

Domestic solo travel demand is also on the rise, with Chiayi recording the strongest growth among domestic destinations with a 42% increase in searches. Kaohsiung and Taitung followed with a 24% and 22% growth in travel interest, respectively, reflecting growing solo traveler interest in destinations that offer local charm, nature, and slower travel experiences.

Recently, Chiayi has emerged as one of Taiwan’s hottest destinations for solo travelers and slow-paced city getaways. This year, the Chiayi Arts Festival teamed up with the popular mobile app Pikmin Bloom to launch the “Pikmin Bloom Mini Walk” event, turning the city into a walkable exploration experience that attracted travelers eager to wander through Chiayi’s streets, cafes, and cultural spots at their own pace.

According to statistics from the Taiwan Tourism Administration’s Taiwan Stay, Chiayi City recorded more than 2.17 million accommodation stays in 2025, reaching a historic high. The growing popularity of Chiayi also reflects a broader shift in travel behavior, as more Taiwanese travelers embrace solo travel and experience-driven trips focused on relaxation, exploration, and lifestyle experiences rather than packed itineraries.

Jishan Chai, Country Director for Taiwan at Agoda said: “520 has traditionally been associated with romantic getaways and couple travel, but in recent years we have observed more Taiwanese solo travelers embracing ‘self-reward travel’ during this period. Through solo trips, city walks, or short getaways, travelers are creating opportunities to relax and reset. Travel is no longer only about sharing experiences with others. it is increasingly becoming a way for people to take care of themselves and seek better life balance, whether solo or with a travel partner.”

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/520-is-no-longer-just-for-couples-agoda-reveals-busan-and-chiayi-as-emerging-favorites-among-solo-travelers-302791432.html

SOURCE Agoda

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Rokid Glasses Top Makuake’s Most Anticipated Product Ranking, Signalling Greater Smart Glasses Ubiquity

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TOKYO, June 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Rokid, a global pioneer in AI-powered smart eyewear and human–computer interaction, is excited to announce that the Rokid Glasses is now the #1 most anticipated product on the Japanese crowdfunding campaign Makuake, concluding its campaign with nearly US$4,000,000 raised from 7,413 backers.

“Rokid Glasses receiving such support on Makuake reinforces their identity as a daily tool,” said Zoro Shao, Global General Manager of Rokid. “With more users and interest than ever, we’re redoubling our efforts to gather more diverse feedback and improve our products based on it. With three times the sales compared to other smart glasses on Makauke, this not only demonstrates Rokid Glasses’s competitive edge, but also confirms the arrival of the AI era. We’re proud to be a pioneer in this space and will be sharing exciting news with our fans soon.”

In a Rokid survey with over 9,600 participants, more than 70 percent of respondents picked real-time, bidirectional translation as the top feature they valued in smart glasses. Almost 55 percent of respondents said translation accuracy is important to them. Rokid Glasses excel in both areas, capable of instant translation in over 89 languages and supporting multiple leading AI models–including Google Gemini and OpenAI ChatGPT–to assist users not only in translation tasks but also in everyday life.

In addition to translation, Rokid Glasses can provide turn-by-turn navigation, transcription, and image search using the integrated HD camera–all of which are highly-requested features among users in Japan.

With a balanced combination of functions, style, and comfort, Rokid Glasses saw immediate success at the start of its crowdfund campaign on Makuake. Within the first 12 days, it raised over $636,000 in the first 12 hours, followed by $1.27 million in 10 days. In early May, it had already raised $2.58 million and subsequently reached $3.2 million within the next two weeks.

The company saw similar success worldwide; in Q1 2026, Rokid’s international business grew 300 percent year over year. To stay more connected with its community and provide comprehensive support, Rokid has expanded its physical presence globally, including in key markets such as Germany, where the company gained a foothold in Europe by launching its dedicated e-commerce website, and Indonesia, where Rokid’s innovations are now sold through PT Denka Pratama Indonesia, a local retail platform.

About Rokid

Founded in 2014, Rokid is a global pioneer in augmented reality (AR) and AI, creating human-centered smart glasses that integrate intelligence seamlessly into everyday life. The company has introduced a range of innovations across AI and AR hardware, including the first open AI ecosystem for wearables, dual-chip architecture, multilingual voice interaction, intuitive AI shortcuts, and mass-produced smart glasses with display capabilities.

Rokid serves consumers, developers, and enterprises worldwide and hosts China’s largest XR developer community, with over 30,000 registered developers. The company has received multiple CES Innovation Awards and five German iF Design Awards.

For more information, visit global.rokid.com

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View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/rokid-glasses-top-makuakes-most-anticipated-product-ranking-signalling-greater-smart-glasses-ubiquity-302792109.html

SOURCE Rokid

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