• English
  • 简体中文
  • 繁體中文
  • Tiếng Việt
  • ไทย
  • Indonesia
Subscribe
Real-time News
On July 10th, HSBC issued a report lowering its target price for Gu Ming (01364.HK) by 7%, from HK$29.1 to HK$27.1, while maintaining a "Buy" rating. The bank believes that the companys profit recovery cycle may improve in 2027 following a comprehensive adjustment to its delivery subsidies, coupled with the support of a healthy franchisee-store economy. Demand for freshly made beverages remains strong, and the bank expects store expansion to regain momentum in 2027, potentially creating a more favorable profit recovery cycle. According to the banks estimates, Gu Ming will have 15,554 sales points by the end of 2026.HSBC lowered its target price for Microsoft (MSFT.O) from $571 to $567.Japan Meteorological Agency: The El Niño phenomenon appears to be continuing since the spring of 2026.On July 10th, the National Health Commission issued the "Notice on Strengthening the Management of Continuous Medication Use for Residents." The Notice provides policy support for establishing a scientific and standardized mechanism for managing continuous medication use for residents, forming a fair, accessible, systematic, continuous, high-quality, and efficient medication service system. It makes specific provisions in three main aspects: First, establishing and improving a multi-level management mechanism. Based on the actual situation of information technology construction at the provincial, municipal, county, and closely integrated medical consortium levels, the functions of continuous medication use management for residents within the region will be expanded. Second, promoting the co-construction and sharing of medication information, mainly including prioritizing the use of national standards for data collection, recording complete medication information for residents, standardizing individualized medication management for patients, establishing and improving regional medication monitoring and analysis mechanisms, assisting in improving clinical pharmacy service capabilities, strengthening the supply of convenient and beneficial services for residents, and establishing a clinical medication feedback mechanism. Third, standardizing the entire process management of continuous medication use for residents, mainly clarifying the management responsibilities of health administrative departments at all levels and the leading hospitals of closely integrated medical consortia.The National Bank of Kazakhstan reported that Kazakhstans net gold and foreign exchange reserves in June totaled $60.161 billion (a 7.8% decrease month-on-month).

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.