Iceland to be first UK supermarket to cut palm oil from own-brand products

Iceland is to become the first major UK supermarket to pledge to remove palm oil from all its own-brand foods, in a bid to halt the ongoing destruction of tropical rainforests in south-east Asia.

 Palm oil is found in more than half of all supermarket products.

The frozen food specialist will reveal on Tuesday that the controversial ingredient has already been taken out half of its own-label range, with the rest being reformulated by the end of 2018.

Palm oil – a cheap and mass-produced ingredient renowned for its versatility – is currently found in more than half of all supermarket products, from bread, pastry, biscuits, cereal and chocolate to soap and detergent.

But the complex supply chain means only a small percentage of the palm oil used to make these products comes from an officially approved sustainable source.

Read the story by Rebecca Smithers from The Guardian - “Iceland to be first UK supermarket to cut palm oil from own-brand products.”

After a downpour, where does all the water go?

Slowly and steadily a great flood is trickling its way across the outback.

Floodwater from a number of river systems
 drain into Lake Eyre in Central Australia.

Birdsville is being surrounded and the Channel Country is finally living up to its name.

In March great torrents of water crashed down on the tropical coasts and the Hunter Valley also had a drenching.

Why are these systems so different and why do some floods happen fast and others slow?

To work it out, you need to understand how the waters flow across this wide brown land.

Read the ABC News story by Kate Doyle - “After a downpour, where does all the water go?”

Former cyclone Gita sparks state of emergency in New Zealand

Grey District on the West Coast has followed Christchurch and Buller District in declaring a state of emergency as the remnants of tropical cyclone Gita bears down on central New Zealand.

Raroa Rd in Aro Valley, Wellington is closed as
power lines are felled by ex-Cyclone Gita.

The council says the declaration is precautionary at this stage as the worst of the weather is yet to arrive.

Residents have been urged to stay inside and not to travel unless absolutely necessary.

Earlier on Tuesday, a state of emergency was declared for Christchurch and Buller.

Read The Age story - “Former cyclone Gita sparks state of emergency in New Zealand.”