At the Google Factory Tour media event last week, French journalists brought up the issue repeatedly.

FORBES

Last summer, when schoolchildren in Belgium claimed they became sick after drinking Coca-Cola, Levy recommended a media tour of the factory in Brussels--which helped temper criticism of Coke's aloof response to the initial crisis.

FORBES: Monsieur Big

Last summer, when schoolchildren in Belgium claimed that they became sick as a result of drinking Coca-Cola, Lvy recommended a media tour of the factory in Brussels--which helped temper criticism of Coke's aloof response to the initial crisis.

FORBES: Monsieur Big

Mr Ryley added that the studios was the latest step in an effort to improve the area's image following on from the Pop Factory at Porth, Rhondda and new media businesses that were being encouraged to set up.

BBC: Director promises 'Valleywood' jobs

Just before the IWC meeting, when the issue first leaped into the media spotlight, the South Korean government indicated that the factory might not go ahead - but Barng Ki Hiok indicated that it will.

BBC: NEWS | Science/Nature | 'Accidental' whaling scrutinised

The company also went on a media offensive of its own, inviting ABC News into a Foxconn factory.

WSJ: 'This American Life' Retracts Apple-China Story

Some hedge funds are creating portfolios of concepts across news sources like Twitter and other social media looking for early indications of personnel departures, management shakeups and changes in factory news to see if they can incorporate the information for an algorithmic perspective.

FORBES: Social Media Expands to New Roles in Finance

Merchants: AHL, American Airlines, Argos, Boots, Grocery Gateway, Harvey Norman, Hikingboots.com, JB Hi-Fi, LogiTRAVEL, Mediamarket Spa Italy, MLB Advanced Media, Park Avenue Coffee, Roses Only Group, Runningshoes.com, Vodafone Italy and Wintercheck Factory.

ENGADGET: MasterCard announces MasterPass digital banking service, gives Australia and Canada first dibs

It appears that Apple is about to expand its manufacturing operations to Brazil, where a new Foxconn factory is already in place and ready to churn out iPads, according to a report from national media outlet UOL. Aolizio Mercadante, the country's minister of science and technology, confirmed the news this week during a hearing held by the Commission of Economic Affairs.

ENGADGET: Report: Foxconn's Brazil factory ready for business, will begin shipping iPads in December