Better Cotton Appoints Nick Weatherill CEO
The 20-year-old initiative was set up by an international group of environmental organisations, brands and trade groups with the aim of rapidly increasing volumes of cotton produced with lower environmental impact and higher social standards. Roughly a fifth of the world's cotton production is now certified under the programme and it's become a go-to for brands from H&M to Louis Vuitton.
But it's also come under fire from critics who argue its standards are too lax. Weatherill takes over after a period in which the organisation has moved to tighten up its oversight, introducing a traceability solution in 2023 and becoming a certification scheme earlier this year.
Weatherill's 'appointment marks a renewed impetus that will ensure Better Cotton evolves to an even more impactful standard, benefitting the environment, farmers, workers, and local economies,' said McClay.
Learn more:
Are H&M and Zara Harming Forests in Brazil?
Cotton linked to environmental and human rights abuses in Brazil is leaking into the supply chains of major fashion brands, a new investigation has found, prompting Zara-owner Inditex to send a scathing rebuke to the industry's biggest sustainable cotton certifier.
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Newsweek
2 hours ago
- Newsweek
H-1B Visas Under Scrutiny as Big Tech Accelerates Layoffs
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Tech companies in the United States have insisted repeatedly that they need high-skilled foreign workers through the H-1B program, but the visa is coming under greater scrutiny as claims circulate that American-born graduates are being pushed out of the high-paying sector. While Big Tech firms lay off thousands of workers — often specifically noting to investors the efficiencies in AI that allow them to reduce headcount — many of those same companies are still submitting H-1B applications, be they new visa holders or renewals, prompting further outcry from skeptics of the program who want far stricter policies from an administration that rode to power on bold immigration promises. "I don't think you can disentangle these, they have reinforcing effects," Ron Hira, an associate professor at Howard University and long-time H-1B critic, told Newsweek of the factors impacting American computer science and engineering majors. "Nobody knows how much the AI is actually impacting, how much offshore is impacting, the depression and labor demand, but not just H-1B but also OPT [Optional Practical Training], they're all competing for a shrinking labor demand and so that has major impacts on the wages and job opportunities for recent graduates." The H-1B has exploded in the past few decades. Around 400,000 visas were approved in 2024, more than twice the number issued in 2000, with the majority of these being renewals of existing visas, rather than new applications. Most of these foreign workers are employed by large tech companies like Amazon, Microsoft, and Google, who pay to keep hold of foreign-born workers. Those on H-1Bs have more difficulties changing jobs, as their immigration status is tied to their employer. Critics have also suggested that companies can pay these employees less than American-born employees doing the same job. Disconnect Between Layoffs and Visas The ongoing reliance on the H-1B comes as some of these same large companies have announced sweeping layoffs, with mid-level and senior roles often hit hardest. Some 80,000 tech jobs have been eliminated so far this year, according to the tracker Immigration skeptics have said employers are favoring cheaper foreign workers over U.S.-born staff, though those companies have strenuously pushed back on such claims. Microsoft, for example, has tried to denounce these claims after going through multiple rounds of layoffs in recent months. "Our H-1B applications are in no way related to the recent job eliminations in part because employees on H-1B's also lost their roles," the company said in a recent statement. "In the past 12 months, 78 percent of the petitions we filed were extensions for existing employees and not new employees coming to the U.S." For critics of the visa program, that doesn't add up. In 2023, U.S. colleges graduated 134,153 citizens or green card holders with bachelor's or master's degrees in computer science. But the same year, the federal government also issued over 110,000 work visas for those in that same field, according to the Institute for Sound Public Policy (IFSPP). "The story of the H-1B program is that it's for the best and the brightest," said Jeremy Beck, co-president of NumbersUSA, a think tank calling for immigration reform. "The reality, however, is that most H-1B workers are classified and paid as 'entry level.' Either they are not the best and brightest or they are underpaid, or both." "It's a program that displaces qualified Americans with cheaper workers from abroad," Beck added. While this is a prevailing argument, the data does not always back it. In 2022, the libertarian Cato Institute's David Bier found that the median wage for U.S. workers the previous year was $45,760, per the Department of Labor, while the median H-1B wage was $108,000. "So, for some folks, if there's a concern of wage depression," Ben Nucci, an immigration and compliance attorney at the law firm Snell & Wilmer, told Newsweek. "You know: 'Hey let's hire a bunch of foreign nationals and pay them peanuts' and it's the U.S. workers that want a decent wage, we've got prevailing wage requirements in the Department of Labor." That refers to regulations require employers to pay a similar rate to visa holders and U.S.-born workers, as dictated by the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). The Trump administration has reportedly looked at raising the prevailing wage requirements, to bring them more in line with the salaries paid to U.S.-born workers, though an official announcement is still pending. How the H-1B Fits in Immigration Debate Harvard graduate students applaud during the 374th Harvard Commencement in Harvard Yard in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on May 29, 2025. Harvard graduate students applaud during the 374th Harvard Commencement in Harvard Yard in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on May 29, 2025. RICK FRIEDMAN/AFP via Getty Images The H-1B is just one aspect of the broader immigration debate that has long raged in the U.S. over how much immigration is acceptable and beneficial, and how the flow of new arrivals should be managed. "Something that's actually stayed pretty steady in the last five years is that Americans, for the most part, actually say that legal immigrants mostly fill jobs that American citizens don't want," Sahana Mukherjee, associate director of research at the Pew Research Center, told Newsweek. Pew found in August 2024 that 61 percent of those polled felt that legal immigrants filled jobs American citizens wouldn't do, essentially unchanged from when the same question was asked in 2020. "We also know, from public opinion pulling, that four in 10 Americans say that highly skilled workers should get top priority for legal immigration and another 45 percent say that they should get at least some priority," Mukherjee said, acknowledging that the results may be different if those polled were asked specifically about the H-1B. While Beck and Hira make arguments echoed by many immigration reformists – including Trump's MAGA base – that immigration should be prioritized only after Americans are employed, housed, and financially stable, there are many who broadly support legal, work-based visas as a way to boost the economy. Nucci, the attorney, told Newsweek that many employers who opt for the H-1B or similar programs do not necessarily do it lightly, given that such applications cost thousands of dollars and often require months of waiting for approval. "The clients I deal with would be happy to get a U.S. worker to fill the job," Nucci said. "But it's normally after a significant period of time of advertising and trying to search for someone, and not getting it, that they see this as one of the only options for them, because they are able to recruit someone." Nucci said that even if an employer files for an H-1B and gets approval, they could still opt to hire a U.S.-based worker if a better candidate comes along in the meantime – something which may not be reflected in the data. Priscilla Chan, Meta founder Mark Zuckerberg, Lauren Sanchez, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, Google CEO Sundar Pichai and Tesla CEO Elon Musk attend the inauguration of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump in the Rotunda of the... Priscilla Chan, Meta founder Mark Zuckerberg, Lauren Sanchez, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, Google CEO Sundar Pichai and Tesla CEO Elon Musk attend the inauguration of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol on January 20, 2025, in Washington, STEM Graduates Losing Out? As of July, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) has already reached the 2026 allocation for H-1Bs. While not all will go to those working in Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics (STEM) roles, many AmericanSTEM graduates may be impacted at a time when companies are downsizing, looking to cut costs, and embracing AI. The July jobs report released Friday showed a deteriorating labor market in the U.S., with just 73,000 jobs added for the month. Revisions to earlier data were also significant, with a combined 258,000 jobs slashed from May and June's numbers. Data from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York in February showed 6.1 percent of recent computer science grads were unemployed, while 16.5 percent were "underemployed", meaning they were in jobs not requiring their degree. Those figures were 7.5 percent and 17 percent for engineering graduates. The central bank data put these two majors among the highest unemployment rates, alongside sociology, information systems and management, with Hira, the Howard professor, telling Newsweek that there are no laws requiring Americans or green card holders to get priority before any H-1B applications are allowed through. "Over the last 15 years, there's been a drum beat by policy makers, by politicians, to push American students into STEM majors, and in fact, we've got record numbers of people graduating with STEM majors, in engineering and computer science, all to face a now very bleak job market," Hira said. "I think it's dangerous for politicians to keep claiming STEM shortages when there's no factual basis for it." This leaves questions hanging over tech companies, and the federal government's approach when STEM companies dominate H-1B allocations. In Fiscal Year 2025, Amazon, Microsoft, Meta, Google, Apple, Oracle, Cisco, Intel, and IBM all appeared in the top 50 employers granted visas – ranging from a few hundred to over 6,000. Mukherjee told Newsweek that a big shift in recent years among H-1B holders is the education level they arrive with. In 2000, 57 percent of H-1B holders held a bachelor's degree, with 30 percent had a master's. That has essentially flipped in the decades since, suggesting visa holders may now be more qualified than the American-born grads applying for the same jobs. What Will The Trump Administration Do? With immigration such a core element of President Donald Trump's return to the White House, there remains heightened interest in how his administration will change work-based visas – with the H-1B the main focus for both advocates and critics. Trump has been seen as a supporter of the program overall, saying he understands the need to attract the best and brightest workers to the U.S. in order to help the economy, while Vice President JD Vance has been openly critical of the program, accusing tech companies of replacing American workers with foreign-born substitutes. During his first term, Trump did attempt to raise wage requirements for the H-1B, but the policy was not pursued by the Biden administration. Now, a plan to introduce a weighted approval system, instead of the current lottery system that dictates most H-1B visas, is being considered. "It's a baby step in the right direction, but it's not nearly sufficient," Hira said. "I mean it's a small reform, there's many other reforms that need to be made to the program." U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to reporters near the Rose Garden after returning to the White House on Marine One on July 29, 2025 in Washington, DC. U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to reporters near the Rose Garden after returning to the White House on Marine One on July 29, 2025 in Washington, who advises employers on the H-1B, he was cautious of a skills-based approach, which he said could also be abused if not handled correctly. He emphasized that many of his clients would rather have an easier time employing those already in the U.S. "Employers are pretty frank with me that they would rather not have to pay the fee and have a system in place where they have to wait until the person is in H-1B status, and even then, they are on the clock," Nucci said. "There's a maximum of six years on the H-1B status. You can go past that six-year limit, but only if you're going to sponsor the employee becoming a permanent resident. "That's a big decision, because if you sponsor someone for permanent residency, you put in all this money, the moment they become a permanent resident, they are free to go." Newsweek reached out to the Department of Labor, the Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service for comment, but did not receive responses ahead of publishing.
Business Wire
3 hours ago
- Business Wire
Baskin-Robbins® is Making Everyday Celebrations Easier with New Cake in a Box
CANTON, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Baskin-Robbins ® is making it easier than ever to celebrate life's sweet moments, big, small, or completely spontaneous, with the debut of Cake in a Box, a new lineup of indulgent, layered ice cream cakes designed for convenience, sharing, and any occasion. Whether you're headed to a party, pulling together a last-minute celebration, or just feel like treating yourself to ice cream cake (because why not?), Cake in a Box is ready to go when you are. Whether you're headed to a party, pulling together a last-minute celebration, or just feel like treating yourself to ice cream cake (because why not?), Cake in a Box is ready to go when you are. Share Available nationwide starting August 1, Cake in a Box delivers everything you love about ice cream cake: layers of cake, ice cream, toppings and whipped topping all packed in a resealable box that travels well, stores easily, and makes it easy to slice, serve, save, and enjoy again. Cake in a Box makes it easy to celebrate on the fly, you can pre-order in the Baskin-Robbins App for pickup in as little as 15 minutes or get it delivered through your preferred third-party food delivery app. Whether you're sending a sweet surprise to someone across the country or adding something special to your day, it's perfect for those 'oh no, I forgot!' moments or just whenever the ice cream cake craving strikes. To mark the introduction of a brand-new cake line, Baskin-Robbins is launching not one, but two crave-worthy Cake in a Box creations: M&M'S® with Cookie Dough: Layers of confetti cake and Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough ice cream loaded with M&M'S® milk chocolate candies and chunks of cookie dough; all topped with fluffy whipped frosting and a rich fudge drizzle. Cookie Crave: A chocolate lover's dream with layers of chocolate cake and OREO® Cookies 'n Cream ice cream, packed with cookie dough and crushed OREO® pieces, then finished with whipped frosting and a generous drizzle of fudge. 'Cake in a Box is our fresh take on ice cream cake,' said Nicole Boutwell, Vice President of Brand Marketing & Culinary at Baskin-Robbins. 'It delivers on flavor, convenience, and portability. When this box shows up, the celebration officially starts!' Whether celebrating sweet moments big or small, Cake in a Box is the perfect shareable treat, made to enjoy with friends and family. Pre-order Cake in a Box in the BR App for pickup or order for delivery through your preferred food delivery app, and get ready to open, slice, close, save and repeat. Cake in a Box will be available for $29.99 for a limited time.* Also arriving August 1 is the new Flavor of the Month, M&M'S® Monster Cookie, a sweet and salty scoop that brings the cookie jar to your cone. This brown sugar ice cream is jam-packed with M&M'S® MINIS milk chocolate candies, cookie dough pieces, and peanut butter cookie swirls for a rich, gooey, crunchy bite that tastes just like an oven-fresh cookie. It's also available as a shake if you prefer to sip your sweets. To learn more about Baskin-Robbins' premium ice cream flavors, beverages and frozen desserts, visit download the BR App, and follow along on Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and Facebook. *Cake in a Box will be available for $29.99 from August 1 through September 30 nationwide, with pricing varying by location thereafter. About Baskin-Robbins Baskin-Robbins, founded in 1945, is the world's largest chain of ice cream specialty shops, with more than 7,800 retail shops in 36 global markets. Baskin-Robbins is part of the Inspire Brands family of restaurants. For more information, visit and
Entrepreneur
6 hours ago
- Entrepreneur
Auto OEMs Report a Mix Bag Of Performance In June 2025
While some reported strong YoY growth in June 2025, other OEMs reported flat numbers and decline in growth percentage You're reading Entrepreneur India, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media. While overall industry growth is expected to remain subdued, auto OEMs are well positioned to leverage its new launches to outperform across segments, while continuing to build on the EV momentum. While some reported strong YoY growth in June 2025, other OEMs reported flat numbers and decline in growth percentage. Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. (M&M Ltd.), one of India's leading automotive companies, announced that its overall auto sales for the month of July 2025 stood at 83,691 vehicles, a growth of 26 percent, including exports. In the utility vehicles segment, Mahindra sold 49,871 vehicles in the domestic market, a growth of 20 percent and overall, 50,835 vehicles, including exports. The domestic sales for commercial vehicles stood at 21,571. Nalinikanth Gollagunta, CEO, Automotive Division, M&M Ltd, said, "In July, we achieved SUV sales of 49,871 units, a growth of 20 percent, and total vehicle sales of 83,691 units, a 26 percent growth compared to the same month last year. Our SUV growth has been supported by the recent launch of XUV 3XO 'REVX' Series & the commencement of deliveries for Pack two variants of the BE 6 and XUV 9E models." Toyota sold 32, 575 units in July 2025 compared with 31,656 units in 2024. The exclusive limited edition prestige packages for Toyota Glanza and Urban Cruiser Hyryder have received an encouraging market response "We are pleased to report a growth of three percent in July 2025 by selling 32,575 units. Overall, market acceptance has been consistent for us, which goes to underpin our unwavering commitment to a customer-centric approach. Our focus will remain on continuing to serve the market with high quality products and enhanced value-added services through enhanced reach which we believe will serve as the key growth drivers in the months ahead." Tata Motors Limited sales in the domestic and international market for Q1FY26 stood at 2,10,415 units, compared with 2,29,891units during Q1FY25. Total domestic PVs, including EV sales in June 2025 stood at 37,083 units compared with 43,524 units in June 2024, a drop of 15 percent. Shailesh Chandra, MD, Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles Ltd. and Tata Passenger Electric Mobility "In Q1 FY26, the Passenger Vehicle industry experienced volume pressures, particularly in May and June, with flat growth reflecting continued softness in demand. The Electric Vehicle segment emerged a bright spot, driven by robust growth and the launch of new EV models across OEMs, enhancing customer interest and consideration. Tata Motors reported wholesales of 124,809 units in Q1 FY26, including 16,231 EV units. EV sales gained strong momentum towards the end of the quarter with a healthy growth trajectory. The refreshed Tiago posted 16 per cent year-on-year volume growth in Q1 FY26 and new launches—Altroz and saw a positive market response. Kia India reported sales of 22,135 units in July 2025, representing an 8 percent increase compared to 20,507 units sold in July 2024. The Korean carmaker has maintained consistent growth throughout 2025, with year-to-date sales reaching 163,439 units compared to 146,644 units during the same period last year. Joonso Cho, chief sales officer of Kia India, said that the performance shows customer trust in the Kia brand. He emphasized the company's focus on delivering vehicles that meet evolving customer needs, particularly stating the encouraging response to the Carens Clavis EV's performance, range, and practicality. "We focus on creating innovative mobility solutions." JSW MG Motor India reported monthly sales of 6678 units in July 2025 and achieved its highest ever monthly sales of this year. The company also registered a year-on-year growth of 46 percent over the 4,575 units sold in July 2024. JSW MG Motor India also launched the first two luxury products under the brand's new luxury sales channel MG SELECT. The MG M9 - Presidential Limousine launched at INR 69.90 L, and the MG Cyberster - the World's Fastest MG priced at INR 74.99 L will be sold exclusively via MG SELECT Experience Centres, offering a unique purchase experience.
