adJun 16, 2026, 17:30

Top doctor identifies new diseases in ‘forgotten’ pieces of DNA: ‘Some syndromes are rarely seen’

Rotterdam-based clinical geneticist Stefan Barakat is using artificial intelligence and stem cells to identify rare and ancient genetic diseases by analyzing previously overlooked segments of DNA. His research aims to provide long-awaited answers for parents of children suffering from extremely uncommon syndromes that are often difficult to diagnose.

Technology Health Netherlands

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Based on reporting by ad. Translated and condensed by LocalHeadlines.

Several hospitals less accessible due to nationwide KPN outage

A national KPN network outage caused by a cooling system failure has disrupted telephone services at several hospitals across the Netherlands, including UMC Utrecht and Maastricht UMC+. Affected hospitals are currently utilizing alternative contact numbers to ensure they remain reachable while technical teams work to resolve the widespread connectivity issues.

Alcohol-monitoring anklet to be introduced for alcohol-fueled violence and DUI offenders

The Dutch parliament is moving to introduce mandatory alcohol-monitoring ankle bracelets for offenders convicted of alcohol-fueled violence or severe traffic offenses. The device will monitor alcohol consumption 24/7 via skin sweat samples, providing a more reliable alternative to traditional periodic testing.

Cold weather claims 140 lives in Haarlem annually, where the risk is highest

Cold weather causes approximately 140 deaths annually in Haarlem, contributing to over 10,000 cold-related fatalities across the Netherlands each year. Research by the RIVM highlights that vulnerable elderly populations in specific neighborhoods face significantly higher mortality risks due to factors like energy poverty.

Albert Heijn parent company had to make a decision 'within 15 minutes': 'No time to consult CEO'

Ahold Delhaize proactively took the websites and apps for Albert Heijn and Etos offline after detecting suspicious server activity, acting in under fifteen minutes. Although the move caused temporary disruptions, cybersecurity experts have commended the company for its rapid and effective response to the potential cyberattack.

Cunning criminals insert chip into gadget to plunder bank accounts: Coolblue and Bol take action

Dutch retailers such as Coolblue and Bol.com have suspended the sale of Ledger cryptowallets after criminals tampered with the devices by installing hidden chips to steal cryptocurrency. Although manufacturers confirm the tampering happened after production, retailers are taking precautionary measures to protect customers, even in the absence of local incident reports.