Canada bans manufacture and import of single-use plastics
The ban includes checkout bags, cutlery, straws and food-service ware made from or containing plastics that are hard to recycle, and will come into effect by the end of 2022.
CNBC
Taiwan’s ‘biggest offshore wind farm’ generates its first power
According to Orsted, the facility will eventually generate enough power to meet the needs of 1 million households in Taiwan.
Amazon workers on Staten Island vote for company’s first unionized warehouse in U.S.
The outcome represents a landmark win for organized labor, which has for years tried to organize Amazon warehouse and delivery workers.
U.S. Federal Reserve approves rules banning its officials from trading stocks, bonds, and cryptocurrencies
The rules “aim to support public confidence in the impartiality and integrity of the Committee’s work by guarding against even the appearance of any conflict of interest,” according to the Fed.
Ithaca, New York becomes first U.S. city to begin 100% decarbonization of buildings
Ithaca’s plan will cover electrification projects for 1,000 residential buildings and 600 commercial buildings in the first phase of a total 6,000 building inventory.
Amazon to cover 100% of college tuition for U.S. hourly employees
Amazon will offer to pay 100% of college tuition for its 750,000 U.S. hourly employees. The e-commerce giant is following the lead of other large U.S. companies that are dangling similar perk in a tight job market.
HBCUs across the U.S. clear student balances and cancel debt with federal funds
Federal stimulus funds have enabled the U.S. Department of Education to make significant investments in under-resourced colleges and universities through the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund, including more than $2.6 billion to HBCUs.
Growing list of major companies boycott Facebook ads over moderation practices
Ben & Jerry’s, Eddie Bauer, Magnolia Pictures, the North Face, Patagonia, REI, Verizon, and more have boycotted Facebook advertisements as the company declined to take action against misinformation from President Trump — the same ones that Twitter flagged as misleading or glorifying violence.
MIT to publish plans for an emergency ventilator that can be built for $400
The ventilator shortage is a key barrier worldwide to effectively managing the COVID-19 pandemic crisis. Now, teams around the world can use MIT’s plans to make them for less than $500.
Microsoft Japan’s 4-day workweek experiment sees productivity jump 40%
The tech giant recorded an almost 40% jump in productivity levels after cutting its work hours as part of a wider project to promote healthier work-life balance.