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Court revives Nestle child slavery lawsuitA US federal appeals court on Tuesday reinstated a lawsuit by a group of former child slaves accusing the US unit of Nestle SA the world’s largest food maker, and Cargill Co of perpetuating child slavery at Ivory Coast cocoa farms.Judges of the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals in Pasadena, California, said in a unanimous decision that the group could proceed with its claims despite the alleged abuses having occurred overseas.“In sum, the allegations paint a picture of overseas slave labor that defendants perpetuated from headquarters in the United States,” the court wrote.The court did not rule on the merits of the plaintiffs’ claims.The plaintiffs, originally from Mali, are contending that the companies aided and abetted human rights violations through their active involvement in purchasing cocoa from Ivory Coast (Cote d’Ivoire).They originally sued Nestle USA, Archer-Daniels-Midland Co and Cargill Inc in 2005. Archer-Daniels-Midland was dismissed from the lawsuit in 2016, according to court records. The case has since made its way to the US Supreme Court, which in 2016 rejected the companies’ bid to have the lawsuit thrown out.-Nampa/ReutersShoprite to pay South African customersShoprite Holdings, South Africa’s biggest supermarket chain, said on Tuesday it would pay customers for reusing its newly introduced recyclable bag as it joined domestic rivals in efforts to curb plastic pollution.Supermarkets have come under increased pressure to cut their use of plastic as images of littered oceans and beaches become commonplace, shocking both consumers and shareholders.South Africa does not have a law banning plastic bags. However, to reduce littering and discourage customers from buying them, South Africa increased the plastic bag levy in April by 50% to 12 cents per bag.Shoprite said every time a customer reuses its new 100% recycled and recyclable plastic bag, which retails for 3 rand (US$0.2088), at Shoprite and Checkers stores, they will get 50 cents off their grocery purchase.“Changing consumer behavior by rewarding customers for re-using bags is a critical part of the retailer’s efforts to reduce plastic waste,” it said in a statement.-Nampa/ReutersMTN still in talks with NigeriaTelecoms firm MTN said on Tuesday that it was continuing to hold talks with Nigerian officials to find a mutually acceptable solution to a dispute over the alleged transfer of US$8.1 billion of funds.“Shareholders are advised to continue to exercise caution when dealing in the company’s securities until a further announcement is made,” MTN said in a statement on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, where its shares are listed.-Nampa/ReutersEskom plans first major battery storage projectSouth Africa’s state-run power firm Eskom said on Tuesday it is planning its first major battery storage project as President Cyril Ramaphosa seeks to boost renewable energy usage and reduce the country’s reliance on coal.Prince Moyo, general manager for power delivery engineering at Eskom, told Reuters that the battery storage project would be rolled out in phases across 90 sites, with a tender for the first phase pencilled in for early next year.“At this stage the focus is on storing energy for the benefit of all our customers. The aim is to ensure security of power supply,” Moyo said.Although the 1 440 megawatt hour per day battery project would be able to store less than one percent of Eskom’s total generating capacity, it is a sign the utility is following through on promises to prioritise renewable energy ventures.The project should also help smooth relations with the World Bank, which had become frustrated over the slow progress made on renewable power plans since it approved a more than US$3 billion loan in 2010 to support green energy.-Nampa/ReutersCaterpillar tries to allay earnings concernsCaterpillar Inc tried on Tuesday to ease mounting concerns about China and global demand after it affirmed its 2018 profit estimate, a move that investors feared signaled a cap in earnings growth and sparked a sell-off in its shares.The Deerfield, Illinois-based company has boosted the full-year profit outlook twice in the first two quarters of this year. That had built hopes of yet another upgrade. But the company retained its 2018 adjusted profit forecast of US$11.00 to US$12.00 per share, saying nothing material had changed since the last revision in July.The move came days after China reported the weakest economic growth since the global financial crisis, and the International Monetary Fund cut the global growth outlook for 2018 and 2019.-Nampa/Reuters

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