News about youth care, sperm donation, and cyber threats (Saturday, September 26)

Minister Sterk is abandoning the law on nighttime confinement in secure youth care. She wrote this to the House of Representatives (Tweede Kamer, the lower house of the Dutch parliament) after speaking with care providers and experts by experience. The inspectorate also says that agencies failed in their handling of the Bersama family home in Niekerk.

Two children were abused and neglected there for years. There had been warning signs since 2023, but not enough was done. Minister Hermans is also commissioning an independent investigation into abuses involving donor conception.

That investigation must be completed by 2030 at the latest. It is still unclear why the ministry took no action in 2017 regarding mass donor Simon. Hermans also says that clinics must inform mothers.

The cabinet presented the National Investment Institution. It is intended to raise 30 billion euros for Dutch companies. The state is contributing 3.3 billion euros, while banks, insurers, and asset managers are also taking part.

Experts say that governments are vulnerable to cyberattacks, including those enabled by artificial intelligence. That is why twelve Dutch companies and institutions are working together. In addition, Jetten, Van Weel, the General Intelligence and Security Service (AIVD, the Dutch domestic intelligence service), and the National Coordinator for Security and Counterterrorism (NCTV) are warning about right-wing extremism.

The police will reimburse a press photographer for his equipment. He fell into the water in The Hague on Saturday. Footage showed that a police officer pushed the Spanish photographer.