Serbian Environmental Protesters Block Trains

Serbian environmental organizations rallied in the capital, Belgrade, against the government's plan to allow lithium mining. Tens of thousands joined the protests on August 10. A part of the protesters blocked the rail traffic at Belgrade's two biggest stations overnight. The police dispersed the blockades early on August 11. The British-Australian company Rio Tinto says it faces a "disinformation campaign" over its preparations to open a lithium mine in western Serbia in 2028. According to President Aleksandar Vucic, the mining giant will have to guarantee environmental and health safety.