Mass food poisoning hits Indian iPhone factory, Apple puts plant 'on probation'

Apple said Wednesday it has put the Indian plant of its main supplier "on probation" after a mass food poisoning and protests over workers' living conditions. Some 250 women working at Foxconn's iPhone factory in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu were treated for food poisoning this month, 159 of whom were hospitalised.
#apple #iphone #tamilnadu #foodpoisoning

No criminal charges for ex-New York Governor Cuomo over two kissing complaints

A county prosecutor in New York has decided not to bring criminal charges against Andrew Cuomo, the state's former governor, over accusations he kissed two women against their will.
#cuomo #assault

At least six killed in double jihadist attack in Niger

At least six people have been killed in attacks by suspected jihadists in Niger near its border with Burkina Faso, authorities said on Friday. "The provisional toll is... six dead including a policeman, two customs officers and three civilians" during the attacks overnight from Wednesday to Thursday, the interior ministry said in a statement.
#jihadistattack #burkinafaso

Mauritius oil spill: Ship's captain admits to partying onboard, gets jail sentence

The captain and first officer of a dry bulk carrier, which triggered the biggest environmental disaster in Mauritius, have been sentenced to 20 months in prison in the Indian Ocean island. Both pleaded guilty on December 20 to the charge of endangering safe navigation.
#mauritius #oilspill #mauritiusoilspill

Dubai can't shake off the stain of smuggled African gold

Mining ore in the sweltering heat of the Nubian desert is the first stage of an illicit network that has exploded in the past 18 months following a pandemic-induced spike in the gold price. African governments desperate to recoup lost revenue are looking to Dubai to help stop the trade.
#dubai #gold #mining #ore #africangovernments

Intel under fire after letter to Chinese clients

Intel found itself on the back foot in Washington and Beijing on Thursday after issuing a public apology over a letter to its suppliers referencing US sanctions targeting human rights abuses in China's Xinjiang region.
#intel #china #beijing #xinjiang

'Horrified' UN official condemns reported killings of civilians in Myanmar

senior UN official called on Myanmar authorities to investigate the reported killing of at least 35 civilians that opposition activists blamed on government soldiers, saying he was "horrified" at the violence. The ruling military has not commented on the killings near Mo So village in Kayah State on Friday and junta spokesman Zaw Min Tun could not be reached by phone for comment.
#myanmar #un #zawmintun #kayah

Biden signs enormous US military budget into law

President Joe Biden has signed into law a $777.7bn US annual military budget his first in office weeks after Congress overwhelmingly passed the bill amid protests from progressives and anti-war groups who had advocated for cutting military spending.
#biden #usmilitary

SpaceX satellites almost collided with China's space station twice, Elon Musk's 'space junk' criticised

China issued a formal complaint to the United Nations over two near-collisions involving SpaceX's satellites and its Tiangong space station, launching a spate of Chinese criticism against Elon Musk's internet service company.
#china #elonmusk #spacex

CDC investigates 68 cruise ships run by cruise lines amid Covid-19 outbreaks

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is now investigating or observing almost 70 cruise ships following Covid-19 outbreaks aboard the vessels, according to the agency's update on Monday.
#uscenterfordiseasecontrol #covid19