Stories for April 30th 2020

Thursday, April 30th 2020 - 07:55 UTC
Plastic pollution continues to reach sub-Antarctic islands

Food wrapping, fishing gear and plastic waste continue to reach the Antarctic. Two new studies into how plastic debris is reaching sub-Antarctic islands are published in the journal Environment International.
Thursday, April 30th 2020 - 07:51 UTC
Falklands' power rates decrease becomes effective May first, and for three months

The Falkland Islands government announced on Monday that a decrease in electricity prices will come into effect on from this Friday 1 May 2020. The move is part of the government’s comprehensive suite of measures to assist businesses, private sector employees and households during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Thursday, April 30th 2020 - 07:48 UTC
US economy down 4.8% in first quarter and an “unprecedented” drop forecasted for the second quarter

The U.S. central bank that has already slashed interest rates to zero reiterated on Wednesday they will stay there until the economy is clearly back on track. It has also rolled out around US$ 2 trillion in lending commitments, and Fed chief Jerome Powell said it was ready to do more as needed.
Thursday, April 30th 2020 - 07:41 UTC
Brazil's Minerva confident of boosting beef sales to US and China

Minerva SA, the largest beef exporter in South America, hopes to further boost foreign sales due to potentially scarce supplies in large producing nations like the United States, Chief Financial Officer Edison Ticle said.
Thursday, April 30th 2020 - 07:37 UTC
Brazilian Vice President says army will be deployed to fight Amazon deforestation and fires

Brazil plans to deploy its armed forces to fight deforestation and fires in the Amazon jungle, Vice President Hamilton Mourão said on Wednesday; in an effort to protect the world’s largest rainforest where destruction has surged since last year.
Thursday, April 30th 2020 - 07:33 UTC
Trump orders meat processing plants to remain open to protect the food supply

President Donald Trump ordered meat-processing plants to stay open to protect the food supply in the United States, despite concerns about coronavirus outbreaks, drawing a backlash from unions that said at-risk workers required more protection.
Thursday, April 30th 2020 - 07:30 UTC
Drilling in Antarctica to take bedrock samples from beneath the ice sheet

Two new research projects – in partnership with British Antarctic Survey engineers – will drill deeper than ever before in Antarctica and in space. The first project, called INCISED, is led by the University of Durham, funded by the European Research Council, and has set its sights on the Antarctic. It will drill bedrock from beneath the polar ice sheets, with the goal being to retrieve scientific samples.
Thursday, April 30th 2020 - 07:28 UTC
Fed admits public health situation will “weigh heavily on economic activity, jobs and inflation”

The Federal Reserve on Wednesday left interest rates near zero and repeated a vow to do what it takes to shore up the U.S. economy amid an ongoing coronavirus pandemic that will not only “weigh heavily” on the near-term outlook but poses “considerable risks” for the medium term as well.
Thursday, April 30th 2020 - 05:56 UTC
EU and Mexico finalize upgrade of free trade deal with reciprocal market access

The European Union and Mexico finalized a major upgrade to their free trade deal on Tuesday after the two sides agreed to grant reciprocal market access to each other’s tenders for public contracts.
Thursday, April 30th 2020 - 05:49 UTC
Biden prepared to announce a bipartisan unity cabinet before the November election

United States Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden said on Wednesday he would consider announcing the names of some cabinet officials before the election - and that some of the people might be Republicans.