Dutch ministers Bart van den Brink and Tom Berendsen met with the Syrian government in Damascus on Wednesday to discuss the forced return of Syrian asylum seekers. The diplomatic visit was kept secret until its conclusion due to security concerns regarding the high-level delegation.
A car caught fire and was destroyed on the Nieuwe Bennebroekerweg in Hoofddorp on Thursday evening. The driver escaped uninjured, though the incident caused traffic disruptions in the area.
Italy and France have announced plans to establish a new peacekeeping force in Lebanon following the expiration of the current UNIFIL mandate at the end of this year. During a meeting in Antibes, leaders expressed the need for a successor mission to prevent a potential power vacuum in the region.
Schools under the Atlant school board in Velsen will remain open on Friday but will follow a shortened "tropical schedule" from 8:00 AM to 11:45 AM due to high temperatures. The board decided to keep schools open despite the heat, noting that it is warm both in the classrooms and in the children's homes.
Ajax has agreed to loan 21-year-old defender Gerald Alders to Telstar for the upcoming season. Alders previously spent six months on loan at the club, which finished fourteenth in the league standings.
A Code Red weather warning has been issued for the Amsterdam region, leading the local safety council to convene. Authorities are coordinating their response to the severe weather conditions affecting the area.