Serbia: hundreds protest against proposed lithium mining
Hundreds of protesters in Loznica, Serbia, have rallied against a planned lithium mining project by Rio Tinto in the region. This followed the ruling Serbian Progressive Party’s rejection of a draft law banning lithium and borate mining. Demonstrators carrying Serbian flags and banners announced one-hour road blockades, vowing to escalate their actions if necessary. Environmentalists argue that the mine could pollute local land and water, threatening agriculture in the region. Lithium, vital for electric vehicle batteries, is a critical material for the EU and the USA. The $2.4 billion project, if realised, could meet 90% of Europe’s lithium needs. In 2022, after mass protests, the government revoked Rio Tinto’s licences for the project. However, president Mr Aleksandar Vucic has now said that mining could start by 2028, arguing that it would significantly boost the economy.
EU: von der Leyen calls for tougher migrant deportations
European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen has suggested that the EU could learn from Italy’s controversial new policy of processing migrants offshore in Albania. She has proposed new legislation to increase deportations, noting that only 20% of irregular migrants ordered to leave EU countries actually do so. Italy’s scheme, which began on 15 October when sixteen migrants were transferred to Albanian processing centres, has sparked criticism from opposition parties and NGOs for being costly and potentially harmful to human rights. The €650 million project excludes vulnerable groups like pregnant women and children. Prime minister Giorgia Meloni defended the scheme as a courageous approach which ‘perfectly reflected the European spirit’. Recently Germany, France, and Poland have tightened their borders and immigration laws, driven in part by security concerns following violent incidents involving failed asylum seekers.
Global: starvation as a weapon, thousands dying every day
A new report by Oxfam reveals that hunger caused by global conflicts has reached unprecedented levels, with an estimated 7,000 to 21,000 people dying every day. The report, Food Wars, shows that nearly all of the 281.6 million people facing acute hunger live in countries experiencing conflict. Oxfam accuses warring parties of weaponising food, targeting vital infrastructure, and blocking aid deliveries. Conflict also drives record-high displacement, with 117 million people forcibly displaced. In areas like Sudan and Gaza, food aid is critically limited, exacerbating starvation. Oxfam points to the economic liberalisation model (focused on foreign investment and exports) as a key factor worsening inequality and instability in these regions. In particular, extractive industries, like mining in Sudan, have displaced people and degraded environments, creating unlivable conditions. The report calls on global leaders to address the root causes of this problem, and to hold perpetrators of ‘starvation crimes’ accountable under international law.
Cuba: president leads march to support Gaza
Cuba’s president, Miguel Diaz-Canel, has led thousands of protesters in Havana to show solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. The march included around 250 Palestinian medical students and featured a large banner declaring, ‘Long live free Palestine’. The president and other leaders wore keffiyeh scarves as a symbol of solidarity. Participants expressed their support for Palestinian sovereignty and condemned Israel’s actions in Gaza. The march, originally scheduled for 7 October to mark the first anniversary of Israel's war on Gaza, was delayed due to Hurricane Milton. In June, Cuba joined a lawsuit filed by South Africa at the International Court of Justice against Israel's military actions in Gaza.
