- The Guardian
- Issue #2156
Israel: The Freedom Flotilla ship Handala has been illegally intercepted by Israeli military forces in international waters. Pre-recorded messages from the crew prepared in anticipation of interception call for the respective governments of the crew members to uphold international maritime law and call for their release. The 21 crew members come from 12 countries, including Australia. Handala was carrying food and medical supplies, nappies, and baby formula, which authorities in Gaza warn are desperately needed in the next few days as more than 100,000 children are at risk of dying of starvation. The predecessor to Handala, Madleen, was also illegally boarded by Israel in international waters in June.
Ghana: Major reforms to mining laws have been announced which aim to improve transparency and ensure locals obtain some direct benefit from mineral wealth extracted from their lands. Mining leases will have shorter durations and mining companies will lose the right to automatic license renewal if they fail to meet certain obligations. For the first time, mining corporations will also be required to share a set percentage of mineral sales with the communities hosting mines. The new reforms will only apply to new contracts, however, which contrasts with the retrospective policies established earlier by Mali and Burkina Faso. Ghana is Africa’s top gold producer, an exporter of bauxite and manganese, and is preparing to enter the lithium market.
Panama: Trade unions and the broader Panamanian labour movement have mobilised against the Mulino government’s capitulation to the USA’s imperialist demands. A memorandum of understanding signed between the US and Panama established US-friendly military operations. The militaries of both countries are set to cooperate with training and exercises in Panama, while the US Navy is to be compensated for any tolls and charges incurred during passage through the Panama Canal. These arrangements are meant to comply with the 1977 Treaty of Neutrality. A joint declaration made by US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and President Mulino accepts the memorandum, with Hegseth congratulating Panama as the “first country in our hemisphere to abandon [China’s] Belt and Road initiative.” The Panamanian version of the joint declaration includes recognition of Panama’s “inalienable sovereignty” over the Panama Canal. The US version excludes these words.
Netherlands: The International Court of Justice has released a non-binding advisory opinion stating that countries have an obligation to prevent climate change harm and may be responsible for reparations paid to affected countries. The ruling has major ramifications for diplomatic negotiations over climate harm, as impacted states now have a clearer pathway to litigation against polluters. Australian legal and climate experts have warned that Australia may be particularly liable for reparations given our disproportionate contributions to greenhouse gas levels, lacklustre performance on climate action, and disruption of climate diplomacy. Experts have recognised that, in light of the ICJ’s advice, Australia and other wealthy nations have an obligation towards smaller and more vulnerable states. Among those vulnerable states is Vanuatu, whose students and government led a campaign for climate justice for Pacific nations which was supported by over 130 countries and prompted the ICJ’s ruling. While non-binding, the ICJ’s advice will be a cornerstone of future developments in international climate law.
Argentina: President Javier Millei is celebrating a drop in inflation, but the rate of personal borrowing has skyrocketed in Argentina. A recent report by the Social and Economic Statistics and Tendencies Institute shows that 91 per cent of Argentine homes have some form of debt, and that 58 per cent of those loans were taken to buy food.
