One of China?s biggest strikes in years stretched into a second week on Monday, and spread from a huge shoe production complex in southern Guangdong province to a facility owned by the same company in neighbouring Jiangxi province. Workers at the multi-factory Yue Yuen Industrial Holdings complex in the Guangdong city of Dongguan clocked in on Monday morning, but not for work, continuing a stoppage over what they say have been years of inadequate social insurance and housing provident fund contributions by the company. In Jiangxi, more than 2,000 workers from a Yue Yuen factory that mainly produces shoes for Adidas went on strike on Friday and planned to continue on Monday, the US-based group China Labour Watch said.
Cameron accused of fueling division with Christian talk
A group of scientists, academics and prominent writers accused British prime minister David Cameron on Monday of stoking sectarian divisions through his repeated description of Britain as a ?Christian country?. The public figures, including authors Philip Pullman and Terry Pratchett, said they respected the Conservative leader?s own religious beliefs, which he has addressed in a series of statements. But they took issue with his characterisation of Britain saying, in a letter to the Daily Telegraph, the country was actually a ?plural society? of largely ?non-religious? people.
Halliburton rides improved margins in North America
Halliburton, the world?s No.2 oilfield services company, forecast a 25% jump in earnings in the current quarter, helped by a recovery in margins in North America and growth in overseas markets. Halliburton?s shares were up 0.8% at $61.40 in trading before the bell on Monday after the company also reported better-than-expected results. The company, traditionally dominant in the US, has been making a big push into international markets to combat weakness in North America. ?Our strategy is working well and we intend to stay the course,? CEO Dave Lesar said. Analysts said the forecast 25% growth in second-quarter profit ending June would translate to 91 cents per share, in line with the average estimate.
China increases purge of online pornography
China has shut down more than 100 websites carrying pornography and closed thousands of accounts on social media sites in an re-newed effort to clean up the internet, state media reported. The campaign, named ?Cleaning the Web 2014?, was launched in response to the spread of online pornography despite repeated bans, according to a circular issued by the National Office Against Pornographic and Illegal Publications.
US union withdraws appeal of VW union vote
The United Auto Workers announced on Monday it is withdrawing an appeal of the outcome of a union vote at Volkswagen?s assembly plant in Tennessee. The vote against the UAW was a setback to the union?s goal of expanding into foreign-owned auto plants in the US, particularly those in the South. In a statement released one hour before the scheduled start of a National Labor Relations Board hearing in Chattanooga, Tennessee, UAW president Bob King said the union decided to put the ?tainted election in the rearview mirror? because the challenge could have taken months or even years to come to a conclusion.
