Barclays cuts finance ties with private prisons
Barclays Plc will stop providing future financing to companies that manage private prisons and immigration holding facilities, joining other major lenders in shunning the industry.
2019 C.E.
In a first since 2014, vaccination campaign reaches 13 million children in Sudan
Despite ongoing socio-political uncertainty in the country, the campaign provided children under the age of 10 with vaccines against measles and polio.
Canadians can now apply for free, no-wait pardons for cannabis possession charges
The new law allows people who were only convicted of a crime of simple possession, which is possession of under 30 grams, to have their record suspended, free of charge (the normal fee is $631).
Supreme Court of Malawi bans thin plastic production
The court’s decision makes production of thin plastics under 60 microns in thickness illegal with immediate effect.
Plastic bag sales in England halved in past year
Asda, Marks and Spencer, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s, the Co-op, Tesco and Waitrose sold 549 million single-use plastic bags in 2018-19, down from one billion in the previous year.
PepsiCo and Coca-Cola end relationship with pro-plastic lobby
Cutting ties with the Plastic Industry Association is a sign that “they cannot publicly say they want to end plastic pollution, while financially supporting an association that lobbies for our continued reliance on throwaway plastics.”
China set to reach carbon emission goals years early
China’s emissions could peak at 13 to 16 gigatonnes of CO2 and begin declining between 2021 and 2025. The official target is a peak by around 2030.
Virgin Media commits to 100% renewable energy goal
The telephone and internet service provider has signed up to The Climate Group’s RE100 initiative, joining a group of leading businesses committed to increasing the consumption of renewable energy worldwide.
Holiday Inn dropping personal shampoo bottles to cut waste
Instead of using mini shampoo bottles, all of its more than 840,000 guest rooms will use bulk-size bathroom amenities.
Singapore abolishes school exam rankings, says learning is not competition
The Ministry of Education (MOE) said on Friday (Sept 28) that the change is to allow each student to focus on his or her learning progress and discourage them from being overly concerned about comparisons.