After 22 years of debate, negotiation and hard work by campaigning groups, the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples has finally been approved by the UN General Assembly, by an overwhelming majority of 143 to 4, with 11 abstentions. The declaration recognises indigenous peoples' ownership of their lands, and affirms that they should not be moved without their free and informed consent.
In another long-awaited ruling - this time by the Supreme Court in the Philippines - regulations restricting the marketing of baby milk formula in the country will now come into force. Multinational corporations including Nestle argued that the regulations were unconstitutional and a “restraint of trade”. The court concluded that: “Public interest must be upheld over business interests.” Well there's a first.