French authorities confirm that a cyberattack on refrigeration systems at three regional blood bank sites was neutralised before any blood products were damaged, with temperatures briefly spiking but alarms triggering in time. The French Blood Establishment (EFS) coordinated with the national cybersecurity agency and the Health Ministry, moved samples to unaffected units and disabled remote access by Wednesday. No health impact or loss of blood supplies was reported. Investigations continue into the vulnerability linked to a third‑party component, while Italy’s National Blood Centre urges heightened vigilance across Europe.
Belgium
3 stories since 2 November 2026, newest first
5 November 2026
3 November 2026
French students blocked dozens of high schools and universities on Tuesday, 3 Nov, to pressure the government over education reforms. Authorities counted 48 of the country's 3,700 high schools blocked, including in Paris, Rennes, Toulouse and Lyon, while the student union USL put the figure at 500 establishments. Officials said 51 of 184 higher education institutions were disrupted. Trade unions have called a nationwide strike for Thursday. The protests follow a wider movement against rising prices and weak public services that has drawn hundreds of thousands onto the streets over three weekends.
2 November 2026
On the night of 2–3 Nov, attackers altered refrigeration controls in supermarkets in several European countries, so cooling units began heating and stores discarded chilled and frozen food. Affected chains include Delhaize, Carrefour, Colruyt, Intermarche, Spar, ICA and Ikea, with incidents reported in Belgium, Sweden, Estonia, Luxembourg and Germany. An ICA store in Sjöbo, Sweden, set its units to 50 °C. No group has claimed responsibility, and it is unclear whether the attacks are linked to a French incident three weeks earlier.