PLUS…Coca-Cola and PepsiCo Are Benefitting from “Debt, Child Marriage and Hysterectomies” In India | College Basketball Coach Warns of “hit job” | Princess of Wales Thanks Well-wishers | Russia Points Finger | Court Setback For Donald Trump | And… The Battle Over Who Will Next Pass Through Miss Moneypenny’s Office
BUT FIRST…
JUDGE SAY TRUMP CAN NOT DELAY ‘COVER-UP’ TRIAL ANY LONGER
NEW YORK (AP) — Former President Donald Trump will stand trial starting April 15 on charges related to hush money payments meant to cover up claims of marital infidelity, a New York judge ruled Monday in tersely swatting aside defense claims of prosecutorial misconduct.
Assuming the date holds, the decision from Judge Juan M. Merchan ensures that the prosecution will be the first of four criminal cases against Trump to reach trial, with the presumptive Republican nominee facing a jury in the city where he built a business empire decades ago and gained celebrity status. (AP story link)
COCA-COLA AND PEPSICO “PROFIT’ FROM THE BRUTAL TREATMENT OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN IN INDIA, SAYS THE NEW YORK TIMES
If you are sitting in a corner office at Coke or Pepsi, or any other of the big corporations in multiple industries that rely upon the sugar industry in India, you might be facing a public relations nightmare. If you are one of many millions of ordinary people who like sugar in their soda pop, or enjoy sugar in any form, this will be uncomfortable reading. These are the accusations in a new NYT investigation into the sugar industry in India which supplies Coca-Cola and PepisCo.
New York Times Headline and Photo March 24, 2024 (below)
The New York Times has published a devastating description of brutality and exploitation among sugar workers, especially women. One example, according the The Times, is that because many poor families can not afford for women to stay at home with children, thus not work in the sugar fields, they often resort to a hysterectomy, including operations on young girls. Below is the Time’s description of a woman who was not feeling well.
“Last winter, she did what thousands of women here are pressured to do when faced with painful periods or routine ailments: She got a hysterectomy, and got back to work.” (NYT)
Here is another excerpt from The Time report, which singles out CocaCola and PepsiCo.
“The two soft-drink makers have helped turn the state of Maharashtra into a sugar-producing powerhouse. But a New York Times and Fuller Project investigation has found that these brands have also profited from a brutal system of labor that exploits children and leads to the unnecessary sterilization of working-age women.
Young girls are pushed into illegal child marriages so they can work alongside their husbands cutting and gathering sugar cane. Instead of receiving wages, they work to pay off advances from their employers — an arrangement that requires them to pay a fee for the privilege of missing work, even to see a doctor.
An extreme yet common consequence of this financial entrapment is hysterectomies. Labor brokers loan money for the surgeries, even to resolve ailments as routine as heavy, painful periods. And the women — most of them uneducated — say they have little choice.
Hysterectomies keep them working, undistracted by doctor visits or the hardship of menstruating in a field with no access to running water, toilets or shelter.” (NYT)
According the The Times, sugar producers and mega corporations that buy from them have been aware of child labor issues for years. The Times report says that CocaCola, in an unrelated development, has previously said it was supporting a program to “gradually reduce child labor” in India.
The Times said this about PepsiCo….
“PepsiCo, in response to a list of findings from The Times, confirmed that one of its largest international franchisees buys sugar from Maharashtra. The franchisee just opened its third manufacturing and bottling plant there. A new Coke factory is under constructionin Maharashtra, and Coca-Cola confirmed that it, too, buys sugar in the state. These companies use the sugar primarily for products sold in India, industry officials say.
Both companies have published codes of conduct prohibiting suppliers and business partners from using child and forced labor.” (NYT)
Even though the sugar produced in India is used mainly for colas sold in India, the Times story is likely to raise questions in the west about the hardships suffered amid the production process.
The Times said that ColaCola had so far declined to comment on a list of questions submitted.
The Times report includes photographs, video and further details. (link NYT)
I would like to discuss with you the important issues raised by this story. Please leave a comment or question and I will respond.
BOEING CEO BAILS OUT
(AP) “The top executive at embattled plane maker Boeing will step down this year amid a broader shakeup of the company’s top leadership, capping a tumultuous five plus years that has shaken faith in one of America’s most storied manufacturers.
The company has come under intense scrutiny over its manufacturing process since a pair of its marquee aircraft crashed, killing hundreds of people in late 2018 and 2019 in Indonesia and Ethiopia.
Those problems have snowballed and the Federal Aviation Administration recently ordered an audit of assembly lines at a Boeing factory near Seattle, where the company builds planes like the Alaska Airlines 737 Max that suffered a door-panel blowout on Jan. 5. Investigators say bolts that help keep the panel in place were missing after repair work at the Boeing factory.
Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun will step down from the embattled plane maker at the end of the year. Calhoun took over the company after CEO Dennis Muilenburg was ousted following the two crashes.” (link to AP story).
There is no public disclosure at this stage about what sort of golden parachute the Boeing official will strap on as he departs.
CONCERT HALL ATTACKERS IN MOSCOW ARE BELIEVED TO BE PART OF AN ‘ISLAMIC STATE’ GROUP WITH PLANS TO ATTACK OUTSIDE THE MIDDLE EAST . In a report published by the NYT Monday, U.S. officials are quoted as say that the terrorists also pose a threat to western nations. According to Russian officials, four suspects now charged with killing more than 130 people. At least three reportedly admitted guilt for the incident in a Russian court Sunday. All of the men, who were reportedly badly bruised, and in one case, suffered multiple cuts, are allegedly from Tajikistan. The attack has been claimed by an affiliate of the Islamic State group. It is the deadliest on Russian soil in years. Islamic State opposes Russia’s support of of the Syrian government (source AP)
Islamic State Khorasan, which claimed responsibility, is known as ISIS-K, has been active in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran. But while ISIS is waving its arms about saying ‘Hey, we did, we did it,’ Moscow seems to think this is a good one to pin on Ukraine.
“A pro-Kremlin analyst who is a regular on Russian state television, Sergei A. Markov, wrote in a post on Telegram that the Kremlin must work at isolating the Ukrainian leadership by “connecting the terrorist act not with ISIS but with the Ukrainian government as much as possible.” (NYT link)
(‘Telegram is an encrypted messaging app)
MOSCOW, March 25 (Reuters) - “The Kremlin said on Monday that no country was immune to terrorism when asked if there had been a major failure by security services in preventing Friday's deadly attack on a concert hall, the worst attack inside Russia for two decades. “ (Reuters source link)
“When asked if such a deadly attack unfolding just outside the Russian capital was a failure for the special services, (Kremlin spokesman Dmitry) Peskov said emotions were running high but that no country was immune.” (Reuters source link)
CATHERINE, PRINCESS OF WALES REACTS TO PUBLIC SUPPORT AFTER CANCER ANNOUNCEMENT.
“The prince and princess are both enormously touched by the kind messages from people here in the U.K., across the Commonwealth and around the world in response to Her Royal Highness’ message,” a spokesperson for Kensington Palace said. “They are extremely moved by the public’s warmth and support and are grateful for the understanding of their request for privacy at this time.”
There has been a global outpouring of support, including from U.S. President Joe Biden, and King Charles III who is also undergoing treatment for cancer, which was found after he was undertaking treatment for an enlarged prostate. Neither Kate nor the king have revealed what type of cancer they have or the stage at which it was being treated. (AP link)
AP File Photo (below)
LSU BASKETBALL COACH CLAIMS SHE HAS BEEN FOULED LSU coach Kim Mulkey has threatened legal action against The Washington Post newspaper. She says that the Post reporter was preparing to publish what she calls a “hit job” about her and gave her a deadline to answer questions while her team, defending national champion Tigers, were preparing for the women’s NCAA Tournament. There do not seem to be reliable details at this point as to what Coach Mulkey considers a “hit job,” or what she thinks the paper will report. (More at this AP link)
SUSPENSE IS BUILDING OVER WHO WILL BE THE NEXT 007