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One of the plants where children worked, SMART Alabama LLC in rural Luverne, Alabama, is a direct Hyundai subsidiary. STATE AND FEDERAL INVESTIGATIONSFollowing Reuters' first story on child labor at SMART last July, as many as 10 Hyundai suppliers in Alabama have been under investigation by state or federal authorities for child labor violations, Reuters reported in December. In the shareholder letter, Chang reiterated that Hyundai was "discouraging" suppliers from relying on such staffing agencies in the future. He wrote that staffing firms who hired children to work at Hyundai supplier plants had provided false employee documentation. Earlier this month, thirty-three members of Congress urged DOL to seek strong and swift penalties against those responsible for child labor in the Hyundai supply chain.

☆ Australia tells Twitter, Google to give information on handling online child abuse
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-22 | by ( Byron Kaye | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/IllustrationSYDNEY, Feb 23 (Reuters) - An Australian regulator has sent legal letters to Twitter and Google telling them to hand over information about their efforts to stop online child abuse, drawing them into a crackdown that has already put pressure on other global tech firms. She said it was in Twitter's interests to show that it was acting effectively to eradicate child sexual abuse material, otherwise advertisers could turn away from the company. Apart from writing to Twitter, the commissioner also sent letters to Alphabet Inc's (GOOGL.O) Google, owner of YouTube and the file storage unit Google Drive, and China's TikTok. Last year, the commissioner sent similar notices to Apple Inc (AAPL.O), Microsoft Corp (MSFT.O) and Facebook owner Meta Platforms (META.O). read moreInman Grant said a 2020 joint investigation with the Canadian Centre for Child Protection found widespread publicly-available abuse material on Twitter, which those authorities reported to Twitter's head of trust and safety.

☆ The Wild World Inside Your Gut
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-22 | by ( Alice Callahan | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +20 min

The Wild World Inside Your GutWe tackled everything from heartburn, stress, spicy foods and colon cleanses to antibiotics and more. So grab a kombucha, get comfortable and read on for everything you’ve wanted to know about the wild world inside your gut. 3 What are some simple things I can do to improve my gut health? That “really is going to have the strongest impact on our health, including gut health,” she said. (Though for general gut health, Dr. Rao said, most people living in the United States could benefit from eating fewer refined carbohydrates and more fiber.)

☆ I've spent hours talking to college students about money — and there's one personal finance concept that's highly misunderstood and should be part of every curriculum
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-20 | by ( Kathleen Elkins | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

The past four years, I've had the opportunity to talk to college students about personal finance. In the US, there's a lack of financial literacy, with just 8 states guaranteeing personal finance courses for high schoolers. It's an 80-minute personal finance presentation that starts with the very basics: saving and budgeting. It could be because of a lack of personal finance education. Many digital advisors don't require an account minimum, meaning anyone can start investing with just $1.

The lawsuit argued that YouTube's actions provided "material support" to Islamic State. Critics including Democratic President Joe Biden and his Republican predecessor Donald Trump have said Section 230 needs reform in light of the actions of social media companies in the decades since its enactment. Nitsana Darshan-Leitner, a lawyer representing the Gonzalez family, said social media companies, through automated and human means, can prevent militant groups from using their services. "There should be zero tolerance for terrorism on social media. Terror organizations are using social media as a tool that they never had before - and cannot do without."

☆ Sanitation company pays $1.5 million penalty for hiring children for 'hazardous' factory work like cleaning beef bone saws, officials say
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-18 | by ( Jordan Hart | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The US Labor Department filed a complaint against PSSI following a three-month investigation into unlawful child labor claims in November. PSSI was charged $1.5 million in penalties as a result of the investigation, officials said. The department accused the sanitation contractor of having employees as young as 13 working "hazardous" overnight shifts. The DOL filed a complaint seeking a temporary restraining order and injunction against the food safety sanitation service following its investigation. The company added that no children are currently employed, and many hadn't worked for the business in years.

☆ More than 100 children worked in dangerous conditions at slaughterhouse cleaning firm: US Labor Department
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-17 | by ( Ramishah Maruf | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

The Kieler, Wisconsin, based company employed the children to clean meat processing equipment including back saws, brisket saws and head splitters. The company said none of the underage workers are employed at the company today, and that “many” of them had worked there years ago. In November, a complaint was filed in the US District Court of Nebraska alleging that Packers Sanitation illegally employed at least 31 children to clean dangerous power equipment. A federal judge issued a temporary restraining order barring the company from committing further child labor law violations. In December, Packers agreed to take “significant steps” to comply with labor laws after entering into a consent order and judgment.

☆ Federal officials find more than 100 children working in dangerous jobs for slaughterhouse cleaning firm
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-17 | by ( Laura Strickler | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Packers Sanitation Services has paid a $1.5 million fine for the violations. The Labor Department says the children who were working overnight shifts used "caustic chemicals to clean razor-sharp saws." "Our investigation found Packers Sanitation Services' systems flagged some young workers as minors, but the company ignored the flags. The company signed a consent decree in December with the Labor Department and agreed to abide by child labor laws after federal investigators documented 50 children working at slaughterhouses for it. The compliance specialist will conduct child labor audits, which will be shared with the Labor Department for three years.

☆ This investor's fund returned 15% in a bad year for stocks. He shares his playbook and bets for 2023
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-16 | by ( Weizhen Tan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Yet one Asia veteran investor managed to return around 15% for his fund, the Asia Genesis Macro Fund. Best and worst trades Chua relied on a lot of short selling to carry him through 2022. His long trades included U.S. stocks, which contributed 13% in gains, as well as trying to time the Hong Kong market's bottom. What he's betting on in 2023 Chua told CNBC Pro he wants to keep last year's strategy of shorting the yen. "The Bank of Japan has very little flexibility because they have such a huge debt which they need to finance."

☆ BlackRock downgrades Japan stocks on possible monetary policy shift
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-15 | by ( Jihye Lee | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Kazuhiro Nogi | Afp | Getty ImagesBlackRock, the world's largest asset manager, cut Japanese stocks to "underweight" – as Japan is set to appoint a new governor to lead its central bank. "We downgrade Japanese stocks on policy uncertainty and a worsening economic environment," BlackRock's research arm said Monday, before the government submitted its central bank picks to parliament. U.S. Treasury yields spiked, with the 10-year note and the 30-year note jumping 7 and 8 basis points respectively. One possibility is the Bank of Japan further widening its tolerance range beyond 50 basis points. Nikkei separately reported earlier this month that the central bank purchased 23.7 trillion yen ($182 billion) of JGBs in January, a new record high.

☆ Putin, secure in power, sets stage for long and draining war
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-15 | by ( Guy Faulconbridge | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

One senior Russian source with knowledge of decision-making said Putin's hopes of burnishing his reputation had been dashed. "Ahead, it will be even more difficult and more costly for both Ukraine and Russia," said the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity. For all the geopolitical shock waves Putin has caused, he still has no serious rival for power, according to five senior Russian sources close to decision-making. The source said Russia was at a disadvantage in both military technology and motivation, but that the war would still continue "for a very long time". "The president believes he can win in Ukraine," said one senior Russian source.

☆ 3 questions that will help you decide where to save in today's high-rate environment
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-14 | by ( Jason Stauffer | Elizabeth Gravier | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

And with so much uncertainty in the stock market and rising interest rates, it can feel more complicated than normal. Right now, high-yield savings accounts (such as the LendingClub High-Yield Savings account) and CDs are more appealing than they were a few years ago when rates were low. However, interest rates tend to have a bigger influence on short or mid-term planning, not long-term decisions. Wealthfront Learn More Minimum deposit and balance Minimum deposit and balance requirements may vary depending on the investment vehicle selected. For example, if you save $1,000 in a high-yield savings account at 4% interest you'd earn about $41 in a year.

☆ Yields are popping again. Here's how investors can take advantage of that, according to the pros
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-14 | by ( Weizhen Tan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

How can investors ride on higher yields? Buy high-quality or short-term fixed income BlackRock Investment Institute said it likes high-quality credit and short-end government bonds "as interest rates stay higher for longer." "Fixed income finally offers 'income' after yields surged globally. "We believe that investors should hold around 2% of cash in their portfolios and should use short-term fixed income (anything below a 2-year maturity) as a proxy for cash," Alvarado added. Wells Fargo Investment Institute's tactical portfolios are allocating between 2% (for "aggressive growth investors") and 17% (for conservative income investors) to short-term fixed income.

☆ Indian shares set for muted start ahead of inflation data
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BENGALURU, Feb 13 (Reuters) - Indian shares are set for a muted start on Monday, as investors await domestic retail inflation data today as well as U.S. inflation data due later in the week, amid uncertainty over the Adani Group. India's NSE stock futures listed on the Singapore exchange were down 0.12% at 17,856 as of 8:05 a.m. IST. Investors await India's retail inflation data for January, due today. A Reuters poll of economists showed that India's annual retail inflation rose from a 12-month low in December, but stayed within the 6% upper limit of RBI's tolerance band in January. ($1 = 82.5250 Indian rupees)Reporting by Bharath Rajeswaran in Bengaluru; Editing by Janane VenkatramanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

India's annual retail inflation rate (INCPIY=ECI) rose to 6.52% in January from 5.72% in December, government data showed on Monday. January's retail inflation was above the Reserve Bank of India's upper targeted limit of 6% for the first time since October and much higher than the 5.9% estimate, according to a Reuters poll of 44 analysts. Food price inflation, which accounts for nearly 40% of the consumer price index (CPI) basket, rose to 5.94% in January from 4.19% in December. STICKY CORE INFLATIONIndia's core inflation in January was nearly flat at 6.09% to 6.10% from last month, according to two economists. "We expect core inflation to remain elevated in Feb-March given the ongoing pass-through of higher input costs by producers," said Aditi Nayar, chief economist at ICRA.

☆ Indian shares fall ahead of inflation data; Adani stocks slide
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BENGALURU, Feb 13 (Reuters) - Indian shares were off to a muted start on Monday, ahead of domestic retail inflation data due later in the day and U.S. inflation data due tomorrow, while the ongoing uncertainty and spillover effects from the Adani Group's market rout continued to create an overhang. Investors await India's retail inflation data for January, due today. A Reuters poll of economists showed that India's annual retail inflation rose from a 12-month low in December, but stayed within the 6% upper limit of RBI's tolerance band in January. India's market regulator is probing the group's links to some of the investors in its scrapped $2.5 billion share sale of the flagship Adani Enterprises. ($1 = 82.5250 Indian rupees)Reporting by Bharath Rajeswaran in Bengaluru; Editing by Janane Venkatraman, Nivedita BhattacharjeeOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Japanese GDP and Indian wholesale inflation provide investors in Asia with a couple of appetizers on Tuesday, before markets feast on the main course later in the day - U.S. inflation. Japan's Q4 growth figures come at a crucial juncture, just weeks before Bank of Japan Governor Haruhiko Kuroda steps down. Bracing for a major policy shift, BlackRock, the world's largest asset manager, on Monday downgraded their Japanese equity exposure to underweight. Having risen for five weeks in a row, its best run since 2020, Japan's Nikkei may be poised for a correction. Indian wholesale inflation, meanwhile, is expected to have eased in January to an annual 4.54% from 4.95% in December.

☆ Asia markets to fall as investors await economic data releases in week ahead
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-13 | by ( Jihye Lee | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - A person jogging passes the Sydney Opera House as the rising sun reflects off buildings in the central business district (CBD) on September 28, 2021 in Sydney, Australia. Stocks in the Asia-Pacific were set to fall on Monday as investors look ahead to a week of crucial economic data releases, including the U.S. consumer price index that will determine the Federal Reserve's path forward. The S&P/NZX 50 fell 0.21% as New Zealand braced for further impact from tropical cyclone Gabrielle. The Japanese yen stood at 131.61 against the U.S. dollar, continuing to remain volatile after a Nikkei report that Japan's government will nominate Kazuo Ueda as the Bank of Japan's next governor to succeed Haruhiko Kuroda. The yield on the 10-year Japanese government bond stood at 0.498%, hovering around the BOJ's upper ceiling of its tolerance range.

☆ Brentford striker Toney racially abused after scoring against Arsenal
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/5] Soccer Football - Premier League - Arsenal v Brentford - Emirates Stadium, London, Britain - February 11, 2023 Brentford's Ivan Toney celebrates scoring their first goal Action Images via Reuters/Matthew ChildsFeb 13 (Reuters) - Brentford have condemned the "barrage" of racist abuse sent to striker Ivan Toney on social media after he scored the equaliser in Saturday's 1-1 Premier League draw with leaders Arsenal. "Immediately after Brentford's game against Arsenal, Ivan Toney received a barrage of abusive, racist direct messages via his Instagram account," the club said on Sunday. Arsenal said they were working with Brentford to identify those involved. "We stand with Ivan Toney," Arsenal said. Referees' body PGMOL accepted on Sunday it was the wrong call and was one of two "significant errors" over weekend's games.

MUMBAI, Feb 13 (Reuters) - Indian government bond yields are expected to trend higher this week, as sentiment stays bearish, but debt as well as the local currency will track U.S. and India inflation data. India's headline retail inflation print is due on Monday, followed by U.S. retail inflation on Tuesday. Bond yields jumped after the RBI highlighted core inflation concerns, keeping the door open for another hike. The rupee will take its cues from the U.S. inflation print and its impact on the dollar index, a trader with a private bank said. For the week, the currency could move between 82.10 and 82.80 unless the U.S. inflation data is a big surprise, dealers said.

☆ An estimated $16 billion worth of bets will be placed on the Super Bowl
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-12 | by ( Paul R. La Monica | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

New York CNN —With more states legalizing gambling on sports, Super Bowl LVII will probably be the biggest event for the industry ever. But how will casino and online/mobile sports betting companies stand out in an increasingly crowded field? “We have prepared for this Super Bowl like never before,” Greenblatt said. That’s more than double the number of wagers on last year’s Super Bowl. That’s different from 2021 when customer growth was being rewarded.”That being said, both DraftKings and FanDuel still plan to advertise during this year’s Super Bowl.

☆ Ukraine's Zelenskiy sacks top official, says clean-up drive continues
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Feb 11 (Reuters) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Saturday issued a decree sacking a senior security figure and said separately that his drive to clean up the government would continue. Authorities have dismissed dozens of officials in recent weeks and opened probes as part of a widespread drive against wrongdoing. Zelenskiy dismissed Ruslan Dziuba as deputy commander of the National Guard, according to a brief decree issued by the presidential office. Zelenskiy - who has stressed the need for the defence ministry in particular to be cleaned up - did not specifically mention Dziuba in his daily video address. Reporting by David Ljunggren in Ottawa Editing by Matthew LewisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Russian forces are closing in on the strategic city of Bakhmut, giving Ukraine a tough choice to make
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-09 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

Ukrainian military vehicles drive along a road outside of the strategic city of Bakhmut on January 18, 2023 in Bakhmut, Ukraine. Ukrainian soldiers outside the strategic city of Bakhmut on Jan. 18, 2023, in Bakhmut, Ukraine. Ukrainian servicemen of the artillery unit of the 80th Air Assault Brigade talk near Bakhmut, Ukraine, on Feb. 7, 2023. On Wednesday, Russian media reported comments from a Russian special forces commander, who claimed Russian units were advancing into Bakhmut. Ukrainian security forces talk to an elder woman while the first anniversary of Russia-Ukraine war approaches in Bakhmut, Ukraine on January 25, 2023.

The central bank said that its policy stance remains focused on the withdrawal of accommodation, with four out of six members voting in favour of that position. Reuters GraphicsThe monetary policy committee (MPC), comprising three members from the central bank and three external members, raised the key lending rate or the repo rate (INREPO=ECI) to 6.50% in a split decision. We have to remain unwavering in our commitment to bring down CPI headline inflation," RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das said, while announcing the committee’s decision. In a poll conducted ahead of the federal budget on Feb. 1, more than three-quarters of economists, 40 of 52, had expected the RBI to raise the repo rate by 25 bps. Das said that the inflation-adjusted, real interest rate remains below the pre-pandemic levels and liquidity remains surplus, even though it is lower than during the pandemic.

☆ McDonald's has signed an agreement with the UK human rights watchdog to protect staff, as one former worker says sexual harassment left her 'terrified'
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-08 | by ( Sawdah Bhaimiya | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A former McDonald's worker in the UK said she was "terrified" after a manager sexually harassed her. McDonald's signed an agreement on Wednesday committing to protect UK workers against harassment. A spokesperson for McDonald's told Insider that the company does not comment on individual cases but said: "The experiences described by this individual are completely unacceptable and have no place in our restaurants." A spokesperson for the EHRC said that the agreement was drafted in response to concerns about the handling of sexual harassment complaints made by staff at its UK restaurants. McDonald's workers in the US have also complained about a "pattern of sexual harassment" against women at the company and planned a one-day strike in protest in 2021.

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