Anti-NATO protesters rally in The Hague prior to summit

Thousands of people took to the streets of The Hague in the Netherlands to protest against NATO and rising military spending Sunday, two days before the alliance's summit that is seeking to increase allies' defense budgets.

Although billed as a demonstration against NATO and the war in Gaza, many Iranians joined in response to Sunday's attacks carried out by the United States on three key Iranian nuclear sites.

Gathering at the Koekamp Park, demonstrators held various flags including the Palestinian and Iranian flags, as well as anti-NATO slogans, and marched along the main roads of The Hague all the way to the Peace Palace.

Hans Hedrich, who came to the Netherlands from Romania to participate in the protest, said what Europeans need is peace, not war. He criticized NATO for constantly making trouble and creating conflicts.

"We feel that prices go up, people don't have enough money. Simply, we don't want this to happen. We don't want to fund a war. We want to live in peace. We need the money for sustainable development," he said. The Netherlands is hosting the annual meeting of the 32-nation alliance starting Tuesday, with leaders scheduled to meet a day later.

During the meeting, the leaders will discuss an agreement on a hike in defense spending repeatedly demanded by the United States.

Organizers pointed out that NATO's ever-expanding military operations have stimulated a global arms race and seriously eroded funds originally used for public services such as health care, education, and climate protection. This approach not only fails to bring real security, but also runs counter to the fundamental well-being of the public, they said.

"We really need these investments in public infrastructure. And instead we're sending it to some sort of weapons manufacturing floor, which is horrible and drives just hatred and destruction worldwide. So I very much disagree," said Nina Boelsums, another protester.

Anti-NATO protesters rally in The Hague prior to summit

Anti-NATO protesters rally in The Hague prior to summit

Anti-NATO protesters rally in The Hague prior to summit

Anti-NATO protesters rally in The Hague prior to summit

Anti-NATO protesters rally in The Hague prior to summit

China has established more than 5,500 green mines at or above the provincial level, marking positive progress in the country's green mining development, an official from the Ministry of Natural Resources said at a news conference in Beijing on Tuesday ahead of this year's World Earth Day.

According to Dong Qingji, deputy director general of the Ministry of Natural Resources' department of mineral resources protection and supervision, green mining requirements have been written into the Mineral Resources Law and the Ecological Environment Code, providing strong legal backing. A working system featuring government guidance, departmental coordination, enterprise leadership and public supervision is now largely in place.

China is accelerating the construction of green mines and will organize the selection of a new batch of national-level green mines. Currently, there are over 1,000 national-level green mines and more than 4,500 provincial-level green mines in the country.

Looking ahead, the ministry will continue to promote the construction and operation of all newly built mines in accordance with green mine standards, while speeding up the green transformation and upgrading of existing operating mines. For mines that have not yet initiated green transition, they are required to launch green mine construction as soon as possible, fulfill their obligations for ecological restoration in mining areas, and strengthen ecological restoration and governance in these areas.

China builds over 5,500 green mines, advances sustainable mining