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Jerry Greenfield Quits Ben & Jerry’s After 47 Years, Citing Unilever “Silencing” Over Gaza

  Unilever and Ben & Jerry's have clashed since 2021, when the ice cream maker said it would stop sales in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Ben & Jerry’s co-founder Jerry Greenfield has resigned after nearly five decades at the iconic ice cream brand, deepening a long-running feud with parent company Unilever over its stance on the Gaza conflict. In an open letter shared by partner Ben Cohen, Greenfield said the company’s independence — enshrined in its 2000 merger agreement with Unilever — had eroded, leaving its social mission “silenced.” The rift traces back to 2021, when Ben & Jerry’s halted sales in Israeli-occupied West Bank settlements, a move Unilever opposed. The dispute escalated as the brand’s social mission board described Israel’s war on Gaza as “genocide,” a rare position for a major U.S. company. Unilever’s ice cream division, Magnum, thanked Greenfield for his contributions but rejected his claims, saying it sought constructive dialogue to preserve the...

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Yemeni Houthi Rebel Attacks on Ships in the Red Sea Disrupt Global Trade

 

The Yemeni Houthi rebel attacks on ships in the Red Sea have been causing significant disruptions to global trade. The Houthis, who are backed by Iran, have been targeting commercial ships in the region with drones and anti-ship missiles. 

The attacks have escalated since the start of the Israel-Hamas war in October 2023. The Red Sea is a crucial maritime artery for consumer goods and energy supplies, with 40% of Asia-Europe trade normally flowing through the area. The attacks have rerouted most of the trade normally flowing through the Red Sea, delaying shipments and raising transport costs. The impact of the attacks has been felt worldwide, with electric car maker Tesla announcing that it had to shut down its factory outside Berlin due to delays in supply chains.

In response to the growing impact on global trade, the United States and a host of other nations have created a new force to protect ships. The Biden administration has set up a 10-nation naval task force to protect ships traveling along this important route. Some of the world’s largest container shipping companies and oil giant BP have been sending vessels on longer journeys that bypass the Red Sea.


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