ROBIN MCDOWELL | The Seattle Times

A child helps her parents work on a palm oil plantation in Sabah, Malaysia, Monday, Dec. 10, 2018. With little or no access to daycare, some young children in Indonesia and Malaysia follow their parents to the fields, where they are exposed to toxic pesticides and fertilizers. (AP Photo/Binsar Bakkara) NY409 NY409

December 30, 2020 at 8:17 am

US bans second Malaysian palm oil giant over forced labor

The U.S. said it will ban all shipments of palm oil from one of the world’s biggest producers after finding indicators of forced labor and...

Business

December 28, 2020 at 9:04 pm

Child labor in palm oil industry tied to Girl Scout cookies WATCH

Child labor has long been a stain on the $65 billion palm oil industry. Though often denied or minimized as kids simply helping their families...

Business

December 18, 2020 at 12:27 pm

Myon Burrell enjoys 1st days of freedom after prison release VIEW

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — For nearly two decades, Myon Burrell had nothing but time. Locked up for life at 16 for a high-profile murder he swore...

December 15, 2020 at 9:15 am

Malaysian palm oil giant counters sexual harassment claims

One of the world’s largest palm oil companies said allegations of sexual harassment on one of its plantations already had been withdrawn and the case...

Business

December 14, 2020 at 7:34 pm

Minnesota juvenile lifer walks free after 18 years in prison VIEW

A Black man who was sent to prison for life as a teenager took his first steps of freedom to the sound of ringing bells...

December 8, 2020 at 2:23 pm

Legal panel: Free Minneapolis man jailed for life as teen

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A national panel of legal experts recommended the immediate release of a Black man who was sentenced to life in prison as...

December 8, 2020 at 1:33 pm

Black juvenile lifer thanks legal panel for reviewing case

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A Black man who has spent nearly two decades behind bars says he's grateful that a panel of legal experts was able...

A female worker walks with a pesticide sprayer on her back at a palm oil plantation in Sumatra, Indonesia, in 2018. Some workers use a yellow paste made of rice powder and a local root as a sunblock. (AP Photo/Binsar Bakkara)

November 17, 2020 at 9:31 pm

Rape, abuses in palm oil fields linked to top beauty brands VIEW

Women are burdened with some of the palm oil industry’s most difficult jobs, spending hours waist-deep in water tainted by chemicals and carrying loads so...

Business

September 25, 2020 at 2:35 pm

US senators demand action after AP exposes palm oil abuses

Lawmakers said Friday that the U.S. government needs to ban the import of products made with child or forced labor after an Associated Press investigation...

Business

September 23, 2020 at 9:32 pm

Palm oil labor abuses linked to world’s top brands, banks VIEW

PENINSULAR MALAYSIA (AP) — Jum’s words tumble out over the phone, his voice growing ever more frantic. Between sobs, he says he’s trapped on a...

Nation & World