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A Reuters poll released Thursday indicated that the European Central Bank (ECB) will raise interest rates for the second and final time on September 10, marking its shortest rate hike cycle in 15 years. Most economists in the poll believe that rising energy prices are unlikely to trigger widespread inflationary pressures. Despite renewed tensions in the Middle East in recent days and a sharp rise in global bond yields over the past week, forecasters focusing on the ECB maintain that the central bank is unwilling to add further pressure to the fragile economy. Carsten Brzeski, global head of macro at ING, expects the ECB to raise rates by 25 basis points in September and then stop. He stated, "Given the public finance difficulties and soaring bond yields, its still hard to imagine the ECB really wanting to add fuel to the fire. In other words, its hard to imagine the ECB being willing to risk a recession to deal with what is still a typical supply-side shock."A Reuters poll shows economists expect the European Central Bank to raise interest rates for the second time in September, after which it will stop raising rates.A Reuters poll showed that 58 of the 64 economists surveyed expect the European Central Banks deposit rate to reach 2.50% by the end of 2026 (compared to 55 of the 69 economists surveyed in August).A Reuters poll of 65 economists showed that the European Central Bank expects to raise its deposit rate by 25 basis points to 2.50% at its meeting on September 10.Russian Ambassador to Norway: (Regarding Norways seizure of Russian ships) Russia will appeal the courts ruling.

Hershey, Nestle, and Cargill win the dismissal of a claim of child slavery in the United States

Charlie Brooks

Jun 29, 2022 11:06


Tuesday, a federal judge in Washington, D.C. dismissed a case brought by eight Malians claiming child slavery on Ivory Coast cocoa plantations against Hershey Co (NYSE:HSY), Nestle SA (SIX:NESN), Cargill Inc, and others.


U.S. District Judge Dabney Friedrich determined that the proposed class action plaintiffs lacked legal standing to sue because they failed to prove a "traceable nexus" between the seven defendant companies and the individual farms where the plaintiffs worked.


She added that the plaintiffs did not adequately explain the role of intermediaries in the cocoa supply chain, and that the companies did not oversee actions in "free zones" where 70 to 80 percent of cocoa is farmed.


Mali and Ivory Coast share a border in West Africa.


The plaintiffs claimed they were trafficked as children after being approached by strangers who promised them employment for which they would be compensated, but did not pay them, threatened them with starvation if they did not work, and forced them to live in squalor.


Their attorney, Terry Collingsworth, said that the plaintiffs plan to file an appeal to "compel the businesses to keep their agreements and put an end to this dreadful system they have created."


Other defendants included Mars Inc, Mondelez International Inc (NASDAQ:MDLZ), Barry Callebaut AG, and Olam International Ltd.


In court filings, the seven defendants said that they "strongly abhor the practice of forced labor" and that they were addressing non-forced child labor in cocoa supply chains.


However, they contended that the plaintiffs' too broad legal theory may hold too many parties liable for forced child labor, including consumers and merchants who would benefit from lower prices.


In accordance with the Reauthorization of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act, the plaintiffs filed suit.


The Supreme Court of the United States rejected a similar case brought by six Malians against Cargill and Nestle under the Alien Tort Statute of 1789 in June of last year.


This was the most recent in a line of judgments denying access to federal courts based on human rights breaches occurring outside the United States.


Coubaly et al. v. Cargill Inc. et al., U.S. District Court, District of Columbia, case number 21-00386.