• English
  • 简体中文
  • 繁體中文
  • Tiếng Việt
  • ไทย
  • Indonesia
Subscribe
Real-time News
UN Secretary-General António Guterres strongly condemns Saturdays attack on the UN Interim Force in Lebanon, which resulted in the death of a French peacekeeper and injuries to three others.On April 19th, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Ghalibaf posted on social media, stating, "In the third war imposed upon us, we have undoubtedly surpassed our past capabilities in offensive strategy and design, a fact already proven on the battlefield." Ghalibaf claimed that Iran shot down approximately 180 drones, a capability it lacked previously. The downing of the F-35 was not accidental, but rather a comprehensive operation at the technological and design levels, from which the enemy has recognized Irans capabilities and direction. He emphasized that Iran is not militarily stronger than the United States, which possesses more resources, equipment, and experience, and Israel, as its proxy, is also very powerful. However, Iran successfully repelled its enemies through asymmetric warfare design and preparation. While the enemy has money and resources, it has repeatedly made mistakes in strategic decision-making and military design. Ghalibaf also criticized the US government for claiming "America First," but in reality prioritizing Israel and making decisions based on false information from Israel.April 19 – Asian Development Bank President Masato Kanda stated that the yen could face further pressure if the market perceives the Bank of Japan as too slow to address inflation risks. Kanda, a former top foreign exchange diplomat for Japan, told reporters Friday evening that investors are buying dollars during periods of global tension, partly because the US is an oil exporter, but even if these positions are unwound, the yen is unlikely to appreciate significantly against the dollar. He said, “The biggest reason is the interest rate differential. With the market particularly focused on potential actions by the Federal Reserve, if many believe the Bank of Japan will lag behind the curve in addressing inflation risks, the yen will be left behind.” Speaking in Washington this week at meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank Group, Kanda added that investors might also sell yen if they are concerned about Japan’s fiscal sustainability.The China Earthquake Networks Center officially reported that a magnitude 3.4 earthquake occurred at 05:27 on April 19 in Ando County, Nagqu City, Tibet (32.62 degrees north latitude, 90.36 degrees east longitude), with a focal depth of 10 kilometers.U.S. State Department: All parties agreed to facilitate the free movement of humanitarian personnel, assets, and humanitarian convoys.

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.