NATO is conducting its first-ever military exercise with Serbia, a country that remains outside both the alliance and the European Union. This collaboration marks a significant step in relations that have been strained since the NATO bombing of Serbia during the 1999 Kosovo War.
Dozens of people in Loosdrecht gathered on Wednesday evening to protest the emergency asylum seeker shelter located in the local town hall. Due to an emergency ordinance and a designated safety risk zone, demonstrators were required to maintain a greater distance from the building than in previous protests.
The Lebanese national research institute reports that Israel has destroyed or damaged over 10,000 homes in Lebanon since the ceasefire began on April 17. According to the government organization, 5,386 houses have been completely demolished, while an additional 5,246 sustained damage during this period.
The Association of Netherlands Municipalities (VNG) has requested an emergency meeting with the Dutch cabinet to address riots and intimidation occurring during protests against asylum seeker housing. Describing these incidents as "forms of terror," the VNG seeks additional measures to prevent escalation and support local governments in their tasks.
The Dutch VVD party is calling for cabinet intervention against a far-right group accused of hijacking local protests against asylum seeker centers, specifically citing a recent incident in Loosdrecht. MP Ulysse Ellian argued that the group's organized violence across various municipalities distracts from the genuine concerns of local residents.
Film director Erik Fleming has been sentenced to two years in prison for distributing ketamine to actor Matthew Perry. Fleming is the fourth of five individuals to be convicted in connection with Perry's death, following previous sentences for two doctors and an individual known as the 'ketamine queen'.