A new CO2 levy on natural gas starting in 1.5 years is expected to significantly increase energy costs for residents living in poorly insulated homes. Due to the impending price hikes, gas suppliers are already ceasing to offer fixed-price contracts, pressuring homeowners to invest in insulation.
The media center in Kansas City was evacuated three hours before a World Cup match between the Netherlands and Tunisia due to approaching severe weather. Journalists were ordered to leave the temporary tent facility after FIFA officials determined it was not safe enough to withstand the incoming thunderstorms.
Hospitals across the Netherlands have announced that medical services and most scheduled appointments will continue this Friday. Despite a code red weather warning for extreme heat, patients are encouraged to attend their appointments but are advised to travel with caution.
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.