Reacting to the summoning of former Public Defender (ombudsman) Ucha Nanuashvili by Georgia’s State Security Service over his communication with the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), Denis Krivosheev, Amnesty International’s Eastern Europe and Central Asia Deputy Director, said:
“The summoning of prominent human rights defender Ucha Nanuashvili over his reported cooperation with an OSCE expert is yet another example of the Georgian authorities engaging in a witch-hunt, targeting those who expose human rights violations. Instead of addressing the violations themselves, the authorities send a chilling message by targeting those who report them. This kind of harassment only serves to confirm the very conclusions of the OSCE report.”
“Authorities in Georgia must end the intimidation of all human rights defenders and uphold their right to engage freely with international human rights mechanisms without fear of reprisals.”
Authorities in Georgia must end the intimidation of all human rights defenders and uphold their right to engage freely with international human rights mechanisms without fear of reprisals
Denis Krivosheev, Amnesty International’s Eastern Europe and Central Asia Deputy Director
Background
On 17 March, Ucha Nanuashvili was summoned by Georgia’s State Security Service for questioning regarding his communication with an expert involved in the OSCE Moscow Mechanism, a procedure that allows participating states to commission independent experts to investigate and report on serious human rights concerns in another member state without that state’s consent.
The summons followed the publication on 12 March of a report by the OSCE rapporteur highlighting “marked democratic backsliding” in Georgia since spring 2024, including concerns about restrictions on freedom of expression and assembly, alleged ill-treatment of protesters and the unlawful detention of individuals on political grounds.
The report recommended the immediate release of all those detained or imprisoned on politically motivated grounds and the repeal of legislation deemed incompatible with Georgia’s international human rights obligations. Georgian authorities, including senior government officials, have rejected the findings, dismissing them as biased.
The summoning of Ucha Nanuashvili is the latest in a worrying pattern whereby researchers and human rights defenders who provide information or comments on the human rights situation in Georgia are subjected to questioning under criminal proceedings. It also comes amid stepped up pressure on civil society actors and organizations operating in an increasingly restrictive environment, which has most recently seen the cessation of the Georgian Young Lawyers Association’s legal aid programme and laws arbitrarily restricting foreign funding for civic activity.
Brexit was ‘a colossal mistake’, says President Stubb of Finland – but Europe should build a flexible partnership with the UK News release jon.wallace
During a speech at Chatham House the president outlined why the EU must embrace ‘flexible integration’ to forge closer relations with the UK and countries like Ukraine.
President Alexander Stubb visited Chatham House on 17 March 2026 to discuss EU–UK relations, EU enlargement, ‘flexible integration’, Brexit and other issues. Describing a world in which Europe is squeezed between an aggressive Russia and a US in transition, he addressed the impact of Brexit and the opportunities for Europe and the UK.
After outlining his personal links to the UK, President Stubb said:
‘I think Brexit was a colossal mistake… I do think it’s not only shooting yourself in the foot,’ he said, ‘but it’s like amputating your leg without a medical reason for doing it’.
But, he added, there was ample space to forge a more flexible partnership between the EU and the UK.
‘We need to get out of the mindset which I quite often see on extremes on the continent and here – whereby you need to continue to punish the UK for having this self-inflicted pain.’
He said there was a need for a pragmatic closening of ties in areas such as security, technology and the economy, including customs and the internal market.
‘Get out of the mindset that the UK should not be part of the customs union or the UK should not be part of the internal market. Think about a flexible way of dealing with it,’ he added.
—
President Stubb speaks at Chatham House.
‘The world is changing, our interests in Europe and the UK are the same. Our values in Europe and the UK, are the same. We need a UK voice in Europe – we really miss you guys, I’m serious, we really do. On the internal market, on competition, on reform, all on these things – on climate change. That’s why I think we should be pragmatic.’
During his speech, President Stubb also discussed the end of an era of peace in Europe, the weaponization of trade, energy and currency, Ukraine peace negotiations – and how best to exploit the EU’s changing economic and political power.
Source: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) –
An International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) team of experts found that Poland is making progress in safely managing its radioactive waste and spent fuel management activities, an essential part of its plans to develop nuclear energy. The experts highlighted Poland’s commitment to a solid national strategy, while noting that further progress will be needed to fully implement its National Plan.
Hosted by the Polish Ministry of Energy, the mission comprised five external experts in the safe management of radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel from Canada, France, Germany, Spain and Sweden, as well as IAEA staff members.
Poland uses nuclear and radiation technologies across energy, medicine, industry and research sectors. Its nuclear facilities include the MARIA research reactor and the decommissioned EWA research reactor. Spent fuel is stored in dedicated facilities located in Świerk. Since the early 1960s, Poland has operated the National Radioactive Waste Repository in the town of Różan, managed by the Radioactive Waste Management Plant (ZUOP).
The Polish Government approved plans for a nuclear power programme in 2014, aiming to boost energy security and reduce coal dependency as part of its Energy Policy to 2040. In the last update of the programme, Poland indicates that the first nuclear power plant operation, featuring three Westinghouse AP1000 reactors, is expected in 2036. In 2023, Poland announced plans to develop a new repository for short-lived low and intermediate level waste from the nuclear power programme as well as future institutional waste and retrieved historical waste from storage at Różan.
The ARTEMIS Review Team concludes that many aspects relevant to the safe management of radioactive waste and spent fuel in Poland are in place. At the same time, the experts encouraged the Polish Government to strengthen the practical aspects of implementing this strategy including through clear objectives for planning, ensuring adequate resources, and introducing practical milestones and performance indicators to measure progress and maintain accountability. The ARTEMIS team concluded that these improvements would help Poland address both current and future challenges in radioactive waste management while ensuring the safety of the population and environment.
Michael Egan, from the Swedish Radiation Safety Authority and team leader for the ARTEMIS mission, complimented the engagement of the Polish authorities. “We hope that our findings, based on information provided through the open and constructive engagement of key actors, will assist Poland to address both current and future challenges in this area,” Egan added.
In its findings, the ARTEMIS team made several recommendations and suggestions, including:
In the next update of the National Plan, the Government should consider presenting a reference collection of assumptions for planning, resourcing and cost estimation relating to radioactive waste and spent fuel management.
The Government should specify a clear timeframe for deciding whether to introduce very low level waste (waste suitable for disposal in near-surface landfill facilities under limited regulatory oversight) as an additional class of radioactive waste.
ZUOP should consider further developing the roadmap for establishment of the new near surface disposal facility intended to accommodate operational radioactive waste from nuclear power, to include account for wider aspects such as human resources and competencies.
By engaging with all relevant actors in relation to the siting process for the new near surface disposal facility, the Government should demonstrate that the development remains in accordance with milestones in the National Plan.
In her closing remarks, IAEA Deputy Director General Karine Herviou, Head of the Department of Nuclear Safety and Security, said “Poland continues to set the pace in Europe for safe radioactive waste management, leading the way as the first EU Member State to host and now repeat an ARTEMIS peer review—clear proof of unwavering commitment to safety and trust in independent, international assessment.”
Konrad Wojnarowski, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Environment of Poland stated that “Poland attaches great importance to maintaining the highest standards of safety, transparency and responsibility in the management of radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel, and such international peer review missions play an essential role in strengthening national systems and ensuring alignment with internationally recognized safety standards.”
The final report of the ARTEMIS mission will be provided to the Polish authorities within three months.
About ARTEMIS
ARTEMIS is an integrated expert review service for radioactive waste and spent fuel management, decommissioning and remediation programmes. This service is intended for facility operators and organizations responsible for radioactive waste management, as well as for regulators, national policy makers and other decision makers.
The IAEA Safety Standards provide a robust framework of fundamental principles, requirements and guidance to ensure safety. They reflect an international consensus and serve as a global reference for protecting people and the environment from harmful effects of ionizing radiation. Additional IAEA documents such as Nuclear Energy Series publications can be included in the review basis. They include practical examples to be used by owners and operators of utilities, implementing organizations, academia and government officials in Member States, among others.
Calls on Multibillion Dollar Industry to End Isolation at Sea
Greenpeace USA activists stage a protest with a banner at the Boston Seafood Expo that reads, “Big Seafood Kills Oceans and Workers,” calling on corporations in the multi–billion–dollar industry to protect oceans and workers by ending isolation at sea. Big Seafood —the large corporations that dominate the global seafood supply chain, from industrial fishing fleets and traders to major brands and retailers—has consistently been linked to overfishing, destructive fishing methods, and widespread labor abuses, including forced labor at sea.
BOSTON (March 16, 2026) — Today, Greenpeace USA activists unfurled a banner at the Boston Seafood Expo that reads “Big Seafood Kills Oceans and Workers.”1 Big Seafood—the large corporations that dominate the global seafood supply chain, from industrial fishing fleets and traders to major brands and retailers—has consistently been linked to overfishing, destructive fishing methods, and widespread labor abuses, including forced labor and deaths at sea.
At least 128,000 fishers worldwide are victims of forced labor, which is strongly connected to other fisheries-related crimes, such as illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing. These activities significantly contribute to the worsening of the ocean and climate crises. The industry has been shaken by exposés, investigations, and reports detailing systemic abuse over the years.
The Greenpeace network is calling on Big Seafood to end isolation at sea by:
Ensuring fishers have free, accessible, and secure Wi-Fi
Limiting time at sea to three months; and
Mandating 100% human observer or electronic monitoring coverage on fishing vessels.
Today, the activists called on corporations in the multi-billion-dollar industry to protect oceans and protect workers by ending isolation at sea. The banner reveal occurred at the sector’s largest gathering in North America, coinciding with the launch of Greenpeace USA’s fourth edition of the High Cost of Cheap Tuna report. The report finds that most of the 16 supermarkets evaluated in the latest review period are failing on labor rights and on sustainability.
Sari Heidenreich, Senior Human Rights Advisor, Global Fisheries, Greenpeace USA, who attended the Expo said: “Big Seafood is fueling multiple crises at sea. They are denying fishermen fundamental human rights, draining our oceans of fish, and destroying ecosystems, all while reaping the profits from their devastation. Cheap tuna should never come at such a high cost. Modern slavery cannot be business-as-usual—and neither should the killing of thousands of sharks, turtles, and seabirds as bycatch. This industry, earning over $350 billion annually, has known these realities and has done too little for too long. Big Seafood must act now to end isolation at sea.”
The banner included a giant pair of fishermen’s boots symbolic of the thousands of workers in the industry trapped in conditions of modern slavery or who suffer fishing-related deaths and injuries each year. Life-size models of turtles and sharks, representing the thousands of sea creatures that are frequently killed as bycatch by the industry’s destructive fishing practices, were also exhibited at the protest.
Multiple other Greenpeace campaigners who registered for the event were denied entry to the venue. Greenpeace USA has traditionally attended the convention, which is a key convening space for stakeholders in the seafood industry.
In Greenpeace USA’s retailer scorecard, Whole Foods emerged at the top for the first time, largely due to its new Seafood Code of Conduct, which takes several key steps to address forced labor issues within its supply chain. Aldi and Hy-Vee, which previously held top rankings, slipped in this assessment due to decreased federal & local advocacy during this evaluation period than in previous years.
Heidenreich continued: “Whole Foods’ new seafood code of conduct takes promising steps to address forced labor risks, and we are eagerly watching to see how Whole Foods will monitor and enforce it. Yet, the policy itself still falls short of the systemic change needed. Limiting time at sea to 3-months is one of the most effective ways to protect workers, yet Whole Foods’ policy still allows for an extensive 11 months.
“Big Seafood’s problem isn’t a lack of awareness or tools—it’s a lack of action. For too long, companies have relied on distance and complex supply chains to avoid accountability for the crises they have created. That era is ending. Big Seafood should take this moment as a wake-up call to prioritize protecting workers and oceans, not lining their pockets with blood money.”
Freedom of association and access to unions for workers are key enabling rights to ensure a strong worker voice and protections across the various stages of the supply chain. It is essential to have accessible, secure, and responsive grievance mechanisms, including those available at sea.
Notes:
1 “Big Seafood” refers to the large corporations that dominate the global seafood supply chain—from industrial fishing fleets and traders to major brands and retailers. Through their market power, these companies shape fishing practices and labor conditions across a seafood industry worth more than $350 billion globally, which has been linked to overfishing, destructive fishing methods, and widespread labor abuses, including forced labor at sea.
Contacts:
Tanya Brooks, Senior Communications Specialist at Greenpeace USA, +1 703 342 9226. [email protected]
Greenpeace USA Press Desk: [email protected] Greenpeace USA (inc.) is part of a global network of independent campaigning organizations that use peaceful protest and creative communication to expose global environmental problems and promote solutions that are essential to a green and peaceful future. Greenpeace USA is committed to transforming the country’s unjust social, environmental, and economic systems from the ground up to address the climate crisis, advance racial justice, and build an economy that puts people first. Learn more at www.greenpeace.org/usa.
Responding to the killing on 15 March of a Palestinian couple, Waed Bani Owda, her husband Ali Bani Owda and two of their young children Othman, 7, and Mohammed, 5, in Tammoun in the occupied West Bank after a special Israeli military unit – posing as Palestinians and driving a car with a Palestinian number plate – riddled their car with bullets, Heba Morayef, Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa at Amnesty International said:
“This horrific incident is the latest in a pattern of increasing use of deadly force by Israeli forces against Palestinians and tragically we continue to see families and children paying the price. The Israeli military has failed to show that the family posed any threat when it was shot. We are deeply concerned that initial information and testimonies suggest the attack may amount to an extrajudicial execution.
“Their two other children who were in the car at the time of the attack were injured and will live with the trauma of witnessing the killing of their family for the rest of their lives.
“There must be an urgent thorough independent and impartial investigation into this appalling attack on the Bani Owda family and all other unlawful killings of Palestinians by Israeli forces or settlers. Wilful killings of Palestinians by Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) are grave breaches of the Fourth Geneva Convention and constitute war crimes. Those responsible for these killings must be held accountable; Palestinian victims must have justice and redress.”
Since the US-Israeli war on Iran began on 28 February, Israeli soldiers or state-backed settlers have killed 11 unarmed Palestinians across the occupied West Bank. According to OCHA, the number of Palestinians killed by Israeli security forces and settlers in the occupied West Bank reached 1071 since 7 October 2023, including 233 children. States with influence over Israel must adopt tangible measures to demonstrate that they will no longer grant Israel impunity for its institutionalized violence against Palestinians and to bring an end Israel’s unlawful occupation of the OPT and its cruel system of apartheid against all Palestinians whose rights it controls.
Israel has a long history of failing to protect Palestinians across the Occupied Palestinian Territory or to independently investigate and prosecute offences against despite its legal obligations as an occupying power. Impunity for the human rights violations, including war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide, committed by Israeli forces and authorities against Palestinians is part of Israel’s cruel system of apartheid. This also includes Israel’s appalling and consistent failure to protect Palestinians from settler attacks, and in some cases the direct involvement of Israeli forces in such brutal attacks.
In-depth investigation finds US violated international humanitarian law by failing to take all feasible precautions to avoid civilian harm
US responsible for deadly attack on school packed full of children killing 168 people
US authorities must ensure that the investigation is transparent, thorough, and that the results are made public.
Those responsible for planning and executing an unlawful US strike on a school in Minab, Hormozgan province in Iran that killed 168 people, including over 100 children, must be held accountable, Amnesty International said today.
Evidence gathered by the organization indicates that the school building was directly struck, alongside 12 other structures in an adjacent Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) compound, with guided weapons. This points to a failure by US forces to take feasible precautions to avoid civilian harm in carrying out the attack, which is a serious breach of international humanitarian law. The fact that the school building was directly targeted and was previously part of the IRGC compound raises concerns that US forces may have relied on outdated intelligence and failed in their obligation to do everything feasible to verify that the intended target was a military objective.
“This harrowing attack on a school, with classrooms full of children, is a sickening illustration of the catastrophic and entirely predictable price civilians are paying during this armed conflict. Schools must be places of safety and learning for children. Instead, this school in Minab became a site of mass killing. The US authorities could, and should, have known it was a school building. Targeting a protected civilian object, such as a school, is strictly prohibited under international humanitarian law,” said Erika Guevara-Rosas, Amnesty International’s Senior Director of Research, Advocacy, Policy and Campaigns.
This harrowing attack on a school, with classrooms full of children, is a sickening illustration of the catastrophic and entirely predictable price civilians are paying during this armed conflict.
Erika Guevara-Rosas, Amnesty International
US authorities must ensure that the investigation they have announced is impartial, independent and transparent. Investigations into the strike must consider the intelligence gathering and assessments, targeting decisions and precautions taken, as well as how artificial intelligence may have been employed in each of these steps, to evaluate how targeting decisions were made. The results of the investigation should be made public.
Where sufficient evidence exists, competent authorities should prosecute any person suspected of criminal responsibility. Victims and their families have the right to truth and justice and should receive full reparation, including restitution, rehabilitation and compensation for civilian harm.
“If the attackers failed to identify the building as a school and nevertheless proceeded with the attack, this would indicate gross negligence in the planning of the attack and would point to a shameful intelligence failure on the part of the US military and a serious violation of international humanitarian law. On the other hand, if the US was aware that the school was adjacent to the IRGC compound and proceeded to attack without taking all feasible precautions, such as striking at night when the school would have been empty, or giving effective advance warning to civilians likely to be affected, this would amount to recklessly launching an indiscriminate attack which killed and injured civilians and must be investigated as a war crime,” said Erika Guevara-Rosas.
“For their part, Iranian authorities must immediately remove, to the extent feasible, civilians from the vicinity of military objectives and allow independent monitors into the country. They must also restore internet access to ensure that the 92 million people in Iran have access to life-saving information and be able to contact their loved ones.”
Video footage, satellite imagery, and interviews with three independent sources with direct information about the situation in Minab indicate that an air strike hit Shajareh Tayyebeh Elementary School on the morning of 28 February 2026, killing and injuring civilians, including children, parents, and teachers, and causing extensive damage and destruction. Both girls and boys attended the school and were taught on separate floors.
Amnesty International’s analysis of audiovisual evidence of missile strikes on the adjacent IRGC compound and of missile remnants published by state media in Iran indicate that a US-manufactured Tomahawk missile was likely used for the attack. Tomahawk missiles are used exclusively by US forces in this conflict and are precision-guided missiles.
The school was individually struck as part of an attack on 12 other structures in the adjacent IRGC compound raising serious concerns that it may have been targeted based on outdated intelligence. The New York Times reported on 11 March 2026 that a preliminary investigation by the US military has found that the strike on the school was the result of reliance on outdated data.
Any current or future use of artificial intelligence magnify the risk of such failures. Also on 11 March 2026, US Central Command (CENTCOM) Commander Brad Cooper confirmed that the USA was using advanced artificial intelligence tools to process large amounts of data related to the operations.
The USA’s apparent reliance on outdated intelligence, which failed to reflect the long-standing status of Shajareh Tayyebeh Elementary School as a civilian object, would constitute a serious violation of the principle of precaution, particularly the obligation to do everything feasible to verify that an intended target is a military objective. In the aftermath of the attack, media and other organizations were able to promptly verify that the building hosting the school had been separated from the rest of the compound since at least 2016. This indicates that parties to the conflict, with much more advanced intelligence-gathering capabilities and technologies, were undoubtedly in a position to collect and verify this same information, which should have led to the decision not to attack the school.
In the aftermath of the attack, Iranian authorities have exploited the suffering of victims’ families and surviving children for propaganda purposes.
In light of the persistent lack of information regarding the whereabouts, state of health and conditions of detention of prisoner of conscience Brooklyn Rivera, Amnesty International declared:
“Keeping Brooklyn Rivera in detention without information about his whereabouts and state of health, and without access to family members or lawyers, exacerbates the already extremely serious human rights violations he is facing. The Nicaraguan authorities have an obligation to demonstrate without delay that he is alive and to ensure that his rights are fully respected,” said Astrid Valencia, Deputy Director of Research for the Americas at Amnesty International.
The Nicaraguan authorities have an obligation to demonstrate without delay that he is alive and to ensure that his rights are fully respected.”
Astrid Valencia, Deputy Director of Research for the Americas at Amnesty International.
Amnesty International has repeatedly denounced the repressive apparatus of Daniel Ortega’s government, which has plunged the country into a deep human rights crisis. This crisis is evidenced by the dismantling of independent media and human rights organisations, the forced exile of hundreds of journalists and activists, and the criminalisation of human rights defenders, community leaders and critical voices.
“The lack of transparency regarding Brooklyn Rivera’s detention confirms a wider pattern of repression against Indigenous leaders, critical voices and civil society organisations in Nicaragua. He and all those detained solely for exercising their human rights must be released immediately and unconditionally,” concluded Valencia.
“The lack of transparency regarding Brooklyn Rivera’s detention confirms a wider pattern of repression against Indigenous leaders, critical voices and civil society organisations in Nicaragua.”
Astrid Valencia, Deputy Director of Research for the Americas at Amnesty International.
Arbitrary detentions and harassment of anyone who dissents from state policies or is perceived as an opponent, including Indigenous leaders such as Brooklyn Rivera, demonstrate the continuation of a pattern of repression aimed at silencing dissent and consolidating arbitrary and excessive state control through fear. According to a recent report by the Mechanism for the Recognition of Political Prisoners, at least 46 people remain detained for political reasons in Nicaragua, demonstrating that the case of Brooklyn Rivera forms part of a broader pattern of systematic persecution.
For further information or to arrange an interview, please contact [email protected]
A new comprehensive study released today by the Institute for Sustainable Futures (UTS), in collaboration with Greenpeace International, reveals that the push to mine the deep ocean is based on a fake dilemma. The report argues that it is possible to pursue a clean energy transition without mining the deep sea or vital ecosystems on land, for so-called critical minerals.
The report, Beyond Extraction, shows that public transportation, improved recycling programmes, and advanced battery technologies are the real critical solutions for a green transition. It concludes that limiting global warming to no more than 1.5°C does not require sacrificing the deep sea or critical ecosystems on land. Governments should focus on reducing demand for raw materials, finding smarter ways to make things, and deploying clean energy rather than opening the deep sea to industrial exploitation.
Greenpeace International deep sea mining campaigner Ruth Ramos said: “Lines have been crossed on the land that need never be crossed in the deep ocean. Now we know: not only does deep sea mining run against science, ethics, people and the planet, it’s not even needed for a renewable transition. What is needed is for the nations of the world to unite against rogue actors like The Metals Company and Donald Trump and their affronts to international law and cooperation, and instead keep moving towards a global moratorium on deep sea mining. Imagine if humans could have protected the world from the harms of the fossil fuel industry before it even started – that is the opportunity when it comes to deep sea mining: it is a historic privilege, and one we must now embrace wholeheartedly.”
For years, the mining lobby has argued that the green transition is impossible without extracting cobalt, nickel, and manganese from the seafloor. This study finds that:
Ambitious recycling could reduce the total demand for the nine key transition minerals by up to 45% by 2050. Recycling can reduce primary nickel demand by up to 48%
A combination of factors including shifting from private car ownership to more public transport, smaller, more efficient EVs, and different battery choices, can reduce cumulative mineral demand by 23%
The rise of advanced battery technology such as lithium iron phosphate batteries (which do not contain nickel or cobalt) can significantly reduce the demand for certain minerals
Elsa Lee, head of biodiversity at Greenpeace International, said: “We cannot build a green future on a foundation of neocolonialism. Tech and mining giants are using the ‘fossil fuel playbook’ to spark a global resource scramble that threatens Indigenous lands and vital ecosystems. But we don’t need ecocide to power a green revolution; we need a transition that respects both people and the planet. Mining magnates claim that destroying biodiversity is the price of progress, but we refuse to repeat the extractive mistakes of the past. A truly just energy transition must respect Indigenous rights and protect the wonders of our deep ocean, not sacrifice them for profit”.
As part of the report, potential mineral reserves were compared with areas on land and in the global ocean that – due to their exceptional environmental, ecological, and social importance – must be off-limits to mining. These include, amongst others, peatlands, mangroves, intact forest landscapes, protected areas on land, small islands and uncontacted, or voluntary isolation, tribal territory. The analysis finds that there is no need to mine these off-limits areas for an ambitious energy transition.
The report calls on global governments to:
Acknowledge that the “mineral gap” must be addressed through responsible political leadership and innovation
Support the market scaling of alternative battery chemistries that bypass conflict or deep sea minerals
Implement Extended Producer Responsibility to ensure 100% of minerals in old batteries re-enter the supply chain
A global moratorium on deep sea mining is the most responsible precautionary approach to address science gaps, protect the global ocean and uphold international law. More than 40 states, including the UK, now support a moratorium on deep sea mining, along with 950 scientists.
Greenpeace UK has launched a judicial review against the UK government which publicly backs a moratorium. It argues that the Business Secretary’s approval of the transfer of two major deep-sea exploration licences in the Pacific from UK Seabed Resources Ltd (UKSRL) to a new mining company, Glomar Minerals, may breach international and domestic law. It has filed its claim in the High Court of Justice.
The report contradicts the UK government’s main argument for continuing to sponsor deep sea exploration licences: that it has the “potential to contribute to the global demand for critical minerals to support the energy transition to net zero”.
Erica Finnie, oceans campaigner at Greenpeace UK said: “The UK government is talking out of both sides of its mouth – claiming to be an ocean champion while quietly handing the keys to the seabed to private profiteers. This legal warning is a wake-up call: you cannot solve the climate crisis by destroying the very ocean ecosystems that help stabilise it. If the government is serious about protecting our oceans, it must stop the greenwashing, stop propping up the mining industry, and speak up in favour of a global moratorium on deep sea mining on the global stage”.
The full report (available on request) includes detailed data on nine key minerals: cobalt, copper, dysprosium, graphite, lithium, manganese, neodymium, nickel, and vanadium.
Greenpeace continues to highlight that the current state of ocean science and the high environmental risks mean that no ‘mining code’ could make deep sea mining compatible with protecting the marine environment.
A press release about Greenpeace UK’s legal challenge is available here.
Bangkok, 13 March 2026 — The Thai government’s decision on 10 March 2026 to extend the Thailand–Japan Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) cooperation for another three years risks locking Thailand into long-term fossil fuel dependence at a time when the global transition away from fossil fuels is accelerating, Greenpeace Thailand and Greenpeace East Asia warned.
The agreement promotes investment in LNG supply chains and infrastructure in Thailand, potentially paving the way for new LNG contracts and deepening the country’s reliance on imported fossil gas for electricity generation.
Energy cooperation between Thailand and Japan on LNG began in 2015 through joint studies between energy agencies and state enterprises on LNG procurement and infrastructure development in Thailand. The partnership was later elevated to the government level under an energy cooperation framework between Thailand’s Ministry of Energy and Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI).
Thailand and Japan signed the LNG cooperation MOU on 16 November 2022 to promote investment and supply chain development in Thailand. On 10 March 2026, the Thai government approved the extension of the agreement for another three years, from 16 November 2025 to 15 November 2028, including provisions for automatic three-year renewals.
The extension is framed as part of Thailand’s strategy to strengthen energy security amid declining domestic gas reserves in the Gulf of Thailand. Fossil gas currently accounts for more than half of Thailand’s electricity generation, increasing the country’s reliance on imported LNG.
Manun Wongmasoh, Climate and Energy Campaigner at Greenpeace Thailand, said:
“Thailand should not signal political intention to extend this LNG MOU because it would lock the country into long-term dependence on fossil gas. Thailand should reconsider plans for new LNG contracts and investments in LNG infrastructure, and instead set more ambitious targets for clean and equitable renewable energy in the new Power Development Plan (PDP).
Thailand should not tie its energy future to fossil fuels like LNG, which are volatile and can no longer guarantee energy security. Thailand has strong potential to invest in clean, decentralized, and equitable renewable energy that can truly strengthen energy security while reducing electricity costs for the public.”
Greenpeace East Asia’s Japan office stated:
“The extension of this MOU with Thailand, under the AZEC framework, is one of many fossil fuel investments Japan is promoting across Southeast Asia. Despite Thailand having the highest potential for solar and wind power in Southeast Asia, only 7 of the 43 AZEC projects involve renewable energy.[1] As the leading economy in the region, Japan should leverage its financial leadership to catalyze our Southeast Asian neighbors’ renewable energy adoption, instead of a fossil gas lock-in.”
Expanding LNG infrastructure and pursuing new LNG contracts now risks anchoring Thailand’s energy grid to fossil fuels for decades. LNG projects typically require large upfront investments and long project lifetimes, creating risks of stranded assets and increased electricity costs for consumers if global energy markets continue to move toward cheaper renewable energy.
Instead of doubling down on imported fossil gas, Greenpeace urges Thailand to accelerate the deployment of renewable energy, energy storage, and modern grid systems to build a resilient, affordable, and truly secure energy future.
Amnesty International has today warned that Bangladesh could face more incidents of serious human rights abuses unless Meta takes timely and effective action to address harmful online content on its Facebook platform.
In the lead-up to the country’s 12 February parliamentary elections, Amnesty International and others observed a rise in harmful online content, some of which came from outside Bangladesh. This included the spread of misleading and inflammatory content in relation to political parties and minority communities, and the amplification of sectarian narratives or beliefs that exaggerate divisions between religious or community groups. Most of the content from outside Bangladesh came from India, according to media reports. Together, this content could heighten the risk of sectarian tensions, discrimination and violence, particularly against minority communities.
Events in the lead-up to the election, including attacks on some media outlets in Bangladesh, mirror a dangerous trajectory seen before in multiple countries. In these cases, online incitement, misinformation, disinformation, and coordinated harassment campaigns can quickly spill offline into discrimination, violence and other human rights abuses, especially when amplified by platforms’ algorithms.
“Bangladesh is not yet in a human rights crisis, but the warning signs are visible. The combination of cross-border harmful content, political tension, sectarian narratives, and algorithmic amplification creates a volatile environment that could put freedom of expression and the rights of minority communities at risk,”
Alia Al Ghussain, Head of Big Tech Accountability at Amnesty International
Violence and online content
On 18 December 2025, the offices of The Daily Star and Prothom Alo, two leading media outlets, were attacked by violent mobs. According to investigations led by The Daily Star and Dismislab, a local fact-checking organization, threats against both outlets had been circulating on social media for months before the attacks. Both outlets were portrayed by many social media users as “Indian agents” and “anti-national forces”, reflecting a broader online narrative accusing the outlets of serving Indian interests and undermining Bangladesh, alongside calls to burn and attack their offices. According to the Daily Star and Dismislab investigations, there was a direct link between online incitement of violence, and the mob attacks. Bangladeshi authorities reportedly warned Meta about delays in addressing posts calling for violence and expressed concern about the impact on public security and minority communities.
Amnesty International is concerned that such incidents are not isolated. Previous reports by international organizations and media outlets have highlighted the divisive role of online disinformation involving misleading and exaggerated narratives about sectarian violence in Bangladesh, including content originating from India. This online content is reported to have contributed to fear and heightened tensions among minority communities, according to Al Jazeera.
“The risk is clear that online harms do not remain in the digital space. They can shape public perception, inflame tensions and enable real-world violence and unrest,” said Alia Al Ghussain. “This is a moment for prevention and taking responsibility for the power that social media companies wield in this space. The world has seen too often how harmful online online content can evolve into real-world violence. There is still an opportunity to stop that trajectory in Bangladesh and it is up to Meta to take action now.”
Amnesty International has previously documented how Facebook was used to promote violence against the Rohingya in Myanmar and contributed to abuses during the Tigray conflict in Ethiopia, and believes Bangladesh is at an important juncture where timely preventative action from Meta could reduce the risk of escalation.
Surveillance-based business model can amplify harm
Meta’s surveillance-based business model, built on maximizing engagement, can incentivize the amplification of sensational, polarizing and harmful content. While not all harmful content is unlawful, even lawful material can pose human rights risks when amplified. When inflammatory content receives more interaction, recommendation systems may further promote them, increasing reach and potential real-world impact.
Amnesty International and others have previously called for the adoption of emergency mitigation measures in conflict and high-risk contexts. Meta itself has acknowledged that heightened safeguards, sometimes referred to as ‘break the glass’ measures, may be necessary in such situations. The warning signs currently visible in Bangladesh underscore why such measures warrant urgent consideration.
Amnesty International wrote to Meta on 10 February ahead of the elections asking the company to explain what measures it would take to ensure Facebook did not pose a human rights risk, including how it assesses risks to groups in vulnerable situations, including minorities, and whether it had identified cross-border content affecting Bangladeshi users. Meta replied that it would not be able to respond within the two-week timeframe provided.
“The risk is clear that online harms do not remain in the digital space. They can shape public perception, inflame tensions and enable real-world violence and unrest,”
Alia Al Ghussain
Companies have a responsibility to respect human rights under international standards to ensure they are not involved in any human rights abuses. This includes taking proactive measures to prevent and mitigate human rights harms linked to their operations. This responsibility exists independently of state regulation and requires continuous risk assessment, transparency and effective mitigation measures.
Amnesty International has also requested data from Meta on reports of harmful content targeting minority communities, enforcement actions taken, staffing capacity in Bangla-language moderation and the provision of emergency mitigation measures ahead of elections.
Background
Mass student‑led protests in July 2024 forced former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to step down and flee to India. A close ally of India, Hasina remains there despite requests for her extradition to Bangladesh to face accountability for the deadly crackdown which led to at least 1,400 deaths. She has since been tried in absentia and received the death sentence for crimes against humanity. India’s refusal to extradite Hasina has strained relations between the two countries.
