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On May 30th, it was reported that the U.S. 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit announced on the 29th that it had officially assumed command of the U.S. Southern Commands area of responsibility—specifically, the waters surrounding Latin America. According to the announcement, the unit has deployed over 1,300 Marines and sailors and has completed the handover from the previously deployed 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit.On May 30th, Qu Guochun, Director of the Equipment Industry Development Center of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, stated at the 2026 Equipment Power Forum that after ten years of development, my countrys high-end equipment industry has seen "accelerated progress in catching up, a gradual increase in keeping pace, and a rapid emergence of leaders." The number of key areas at the worlds leading and advanced levels has reached 60.8%, and the industrys scale accounts for over 60% of the overall equipment manufacturing industry. The international competitiveness of the high-end equipment industry has significantly improved. Specifically, intelligent connected new energy vehicles, rail transit equipment, power equipment, information and communication equipment, new energy equipment, aerospace equipment, high-tech ships, and overseas engineering equipment are already at the worlds leading level. Engineering machinery, building materials equipment, and computer equipment are at the worlds advanced level. However, gaps still exist in areas such as industrial machine tools, agricultural machinery, aviation equipment, robots, instruments and meters, semiconductor equipment, and biomedical equipment.On May 30, local time, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney met with Wang Yi, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs, in Ottawa on May 29. Wang Yi conveyed greetings from Chinese leaders to Carney, stating that the Prime Ministers successful visit to China had corrected the course of China-Canada relations and put them back on track. The two leaders decision to build a new type of strategic partnership between China and Canada provides strategic guidance for the development of bilateral relations. Facts have proven that the turnaround in China-Canada relations is in the interests of both countries, meets the expectations of all parties, and is the right choice for Canada. There are no fundamental conflicts of interest between the two countries, and there is enormous room for cooperation. China is willing to work with Canada to respect each other, meet each other halfway, seek common ground while reserving differences, strengthen communication, and deepen cooperation to promote the healthy, stable, and sustainable development of bilateral relations. Both sides should uphold multilateralism, adhere to the rule of international law, and maintain strategic autonomy, supporting free trade and an open world economy, which will benefit the people of both countries and inject stability from China and Canada into a volatile world.On May 30, Wang Yi, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister, held talks with Canadian Foreign Minister Anand in Ottawa on May 29. Wang Yi stated that China is willing to work with Canada to maintain the correct direction of bilateral relations. He emphasized deepening cooperation in areas such as energy, finance, and law enforcement, and welcomed Canadas participation as the guest of honor at the China International Import Expo. He also stressed the importance of vigorously promoting cultural and local exchanges to solidify the public opinion foundation of bilateral relations. Finally, he called for strengthening multilateral communication and coordination to jointly reform and improve global governance.The Central Bank of the Philippines predicts that the annual inflation rate in May is likely to be between 7.1% and 7.9%.

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.