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On June 26, according to Irans Press TV, US President Trump has again ordered that all Iraqi oil revenues controlled by Iraq be deposited into accounts at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. Executive Order 13303 was originally signed after the US military action against Iraq in 2003 and has been renewed annually since, always citing "national security" as the reason. The White House has not issued a press release on this matter, but Trump sent a formal notification to Congress on May 4 regarding the extension of the order. In the formal notification, Trump stated: "The various obstacles hindering the orderly reconstruction of Iraq, the restoration and maintenance of domestic peace and security, and the development of political, administrative, and economic institutions continue to pose an exceptionally significant threat to US national security and foreign policy. Therefore, this Executive Order must remain in effect beyond May 22, 2026."According to Iranian state television, three foreign oil tankers that attempted to pass through the Strait of Hormuz "without authorization" were forced to turn back after warnings from the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Navy.On June 26, State Councilor Chen Yiqin conducted research in Jiangxi Province from June 23 to 26 on employment, sports, and other related work. She emphasized the need to thoroughly study and implement the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinpings important speeches, earnestly implement the decisions and deployments of the Party Central Committee and the State Council, resolutely implement the employment-first strategy, actively promote the high-quality development of the sports industry, accelerate the cultivation of more new growth points, and strive to achieve a virtuous cycle of increased residents income, expanded domestic demand, and economic development. Chen Yiqin pointed out that it is necessary to strengthen the employment-first policy, accelerate the implementation of the action plan to stabilize, expand, and improve employment, support industries and enterprises with strong employment absorption capacity to stabilize jobs, and make every effort to ensure employment for key groups such as college graduates and migrant workers. She stressed the need to scientifically grasp and proactively adapt to changes in the employment situation, carry out large-scale vocational skills training programs, continuously improve the public employment service system, and cultivate new occupations and positions around the development of emerging and future industries to better promote employment and income growth for the masses.A Reuters poll shows that for the first time since 2023, more economists are predicting that the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates rather than cut them.A Reuters poll showed that 78 of the 102 economists surveyed expect the Federal Reserve to keep the federal funds rate unchanged at 3.50% to 3.75% in 2026, compared to 72 of the 102 economists surveyed in early June.

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.