Newsletter Apr 23, 2021

Earth Day took on more significance this time as nations pledged to combat climate change, and the U.S. is once again leading the way.

3 Things

Earth Day's new dawn: The world celebrated Earth Day in a myriad of ways Thursday but all featured one common theme -- people from the farthest reaches of the planet calling for swift action to address the growing global crisis created by man-made climate change.
Nowhere was it more apparent that the world is finally getting serious about dealing with climate change than the virtual Earth Day Summit that saw world leaders come together with a common goal.
President Joe Biden let the world know that America is back on board after four years of climate change denial by his predecessor. Biden doubled down on the U.S. goal of cutting greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2030, and being carbon neutral by 2050.
"The cost of inaction keeps mounting. The United States isn't waiting," Biden told a two-day summit of 40 leaders including the presidents of rivals China and Russia as well as Pope Francis. "... We have to step up. We have to take action -- all of us."
Thursday's summit breathed fresh optimism into the environmental movement. With participating nations vowing to do their part, more than half the world's economy has committed to action to keep the planet's temperature within 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial times, the goal set forth in the Paris Agreement to avoid the most severe effects of climate change.
SEE WHAT NATIONS ARE DOING TO FIGHT CLIMATE CHANGE

Spaced out: One group of lucky humans will have a spectacular view of Earth today after Thursday's scheduled SpaceX launch was scrubbed due to bad weather. Relaunch is set for 5:49 a.m. EST.
SpaceX's Crew-2 mission will send its third crew to the International Space Station, marking the first time a rocket and crew capsule has been reused in a human mission. The Crew-2 team has around 100 experiments it plans to conduct during the six-month mission.
"In terms of getting the operations ready, it's always easier the third time you do it," said Daniel Forrestel, a NASA launch integration manager. "I would never ever want to describe spaceflight as 'routine,' but 'more familiar' is a good way to put it."
Among the research projects on the agenda are experiments with "tissue chips" -- small models of human organs that are made up of different types of cells and used to study things like aging in the immune system, kidney function and muscle loss. The crew also plans to upgrade the station's solar power system by installing new compact panels that can be rolled open like a huge yoga mat.
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE SPACEX CREW-2'S MISSION

Lone Ranger unmasked: Sen. Josh Hawley vowed to stand out in the crowd when he was elected to represent the people of Missouri. On Thursday, he did just that -- albeit for all the wrong reasons.
Hawley was the lone dissenting vote on the Anti-Asian Hate Crime Bill, which passed overwhelmingly by a 94-1 count. The near-unanimous vote was seen as a step in the right direction for progressive, but it also put the pro-Trump senator in the spotlight.
The bill, which is designed to address the rise in attacks on Asian Americans during the coronavirus pandemic, is one of the few pieces of legislation that has drawn support from both Democrats and Republicans since Biden took office. But Hawley couldn't bring himself to agree with his colleagues -- even if it was the right thing.
Hawley called the bill too broad, but people weren't buying it: â€œJosh Hawley continues to be a voice of abject racism," one tweeted. "The only Senator to vote against an Asian anti-hate bill in the Senate. When will we get to rid of this pathetic excuse for a Senator?â€
SEE WHICH GOP MEMBER HAWLEY IS BEING COMPARED TO

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Getting back to work

New applications for US unemployment benefits dropped to their lowest point since the start of the pandemic more than one year ago, offering a ray of hope that the economy is on the upswing after the mass layoffs.

Thursday's report from the U.S. Department of Labor showed there were 547,000 new claims for jobless benefits filed in the week ended April 17, seasonally adjusted -- the lowest number since March 14, 2020.

It was the second consecutive weekly decline and much better than analysts expected amid an accelerating national vaccination campaign that offers hope business in the United States can return to normal.

"This dip in jobless claims looks good in isolation but what really matters is that it confirms that last week's unexpected plunge was no fluke," one analyst said. "We expect further declines over the next few months as the reopening continues, while payroll growth will accelerate markedly."

However, the report was a sobering reminder of the widespread joblessness caused by business restrictions meant to stop the spread of coronavirus, with more than 17.4 million people, not seasonally adjusted, receiving unemployment aid nationwide as of the week ended April 3.

FIND OUT WHAT ECONOMIC INDICATORS SAY ABOUT THE FUTURE

Red carpet revival

As they say in Hollywood, "the show must go on," and same rule applies for the 93rd Annual Academy Awards on Sunday despite a two-month delay due to the pandemic and a pared-down ceremony over past years.

The red carpet will be a lot less crowded at this year's event, which ios being held at the Union Station in Los Angeles to allow for more social distancing. An event known for featuring some of the strongest fashion statements will have a new accessory to critic -- facemasks.

"The few interviews that (the) talent are doing at the Oscars, they're doing from seven feet away," one organizer of the new-look Oscars explained. "That's just awkward... how do you do that? How do you make it fun?"

But the show's co-producer, Oscar-winning director Steven Soderbergh, has described the Covid-mandated changes as an "opportunity" for a show unlike "anything that's been done before." The ceremony will have "the aesthetic of a film as opposed to a TV show," including movie-like "over-the-shoulder shots" and high-resolution, wide-screen formats.

The new-look Academy Awards will air at 8 p.m. EST Sunday on ABC.

FIND OUT THE FAVORITES TO TAKE HOME OSCARS THIS YEAR

'Nacho' usual taco

The plant-based meat trend is making a run for the border as Taco Bell became the latest Mexican chain to test consumers' appetites for vegetarian alternatives to the traditional ground beef and grilled chicken.

The Cravetarian Taco (it's the same as a Crunch Taco Supreme but with the Beyond Meat instead of the real thing) is currently available in only one California store for a pilot test. If the meat-free taco hits the spot with customers, Taco Bell plans to expand the taste test to other markets.

Taco Bell is the latest -- and by far the largest -- Mexican chain to add plant-based meat alternatives to its menu. Q'doba and Del Taco have made similar additions to their lineups in recent years, as well as allowing patrons to substitute meat alternatives to any existing items on the menu.

Of course, some would argue Taco Bell hasn't used "real meat" in years.

FIND OUT WHAT'S IN THE FUTURE FOR PLANT-BASED MEATS