A cyberattack hit France's blood storage authorities on Nov. 4, with hackers raising blood fridge and freezer temperatures to dangerous levels.

According to the Associated Press, hackers attempted to raise the temperatures of blood refrigeration equipment of the French Blood Establishment (EFS), normally at -30°C, up to as high as 110°C.

Fortunately, monitoring systems quickly detected the problems, allowing staff to act in time and prevent blood products and samples from being destroyed, EFS said.

“No health consequences have been identified, and no blood products were lost,” it added.

The Guardian reported that EFS said it was not directly targeted, as the cyberattacks were directed at cold stores run by its contractors.

The affected rooms contained blood plasma for transfusions and medicine manufacturing.

EFS, short for Établissement français du sang, is France's public blood transfusion institution, responsible for collecting and distributing blood, plasma, and other blood products.

Europe supermarket attacks

The cyberattacks on EFS came after a wave of similar attacks were launched on supermarket fridges across Europe in October and November.

Supermarkets in France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Sweden, Ireland, the Netherlands, Estonia, and Finland were affected.

Hackers gained access to fridge software – which allows supermarkets to control their cold storage remotely via the internet – and raised the temperatures of fridges and freezers to as high as 50°C.

Refrigeration solutions firms such as Sabcobel and Danfoss provide such software.

This caused staggering quantities of food to spoil across Europe, forcing supermarkets to throw away millions of euros worth of products.

It is not yet clear who is behind the attacks.

The BBC reported that analysts have speculated variously on the identity of the hackers, with some pointing fingers at Russian or Iranian cyberattack groups, and others disagreeing that it was a state actor.

One expert told the BBC that the attacks hit several European countries in a simultaneous wave, which suggested some degree of planning and coordination.

Cybersecurity firms noted that the hackers' activities seemed to be confined mainly to Europe.

They had laid out 'honeypots', or decoy computer networks or files with poor security, to entice attackers to hack them, revealing both their activity as well as their methods of attack.

One such UK-based firm Lupovis, said that none of their honeypots in other regions such as Africa or South America were targeted, with even Ukraine being untouched.

A kindergarten teacher in Sejong, South Korea, has been named in two child abuse complaints filed by the parents of a student who allegedly repeatedly bit and injured the teacher.

The case has prompted fellow teachers to stage protests calling for better protection in the workplace, according to Korea JoongAng Daily.

On Nov. 5, the Sejong City Office of Education announced plans to protect teachers at the kindergarten while ensuring that the child could continue attending classes.

Parents filed 2 child abuse complaints

In July, the child's parents lodged a child abuse complaint against four kindergarten staff members: the principal, vice principal and two teachers.

The complaint arose after the kindergarten decided to send the child home following several incidents of aggressive behaviour.

Although the decision was made through mediation involving the education office, the parents claimed that the school had neglected their child.

Kindergarten staff later filed their own complaint against the child and the parents, citing violations of teachers' rights.

They alleged that the child had repeatedly bitten teachers, causing injuries, and damaged furniture and teaching materials.

The parents later filed another child abuse complaint, alleging that the teacher had strangled their child after discovering red marks on the child's body.

The teacher denied the accusation, maintaining that the marks were caused by the child scratching themselves.

Police began investigating the allegations and visited the kindergarten on Oct. 30 to collect CCTV footage, according to Korea JoongAng Daily.

Teachers hold silent protests

The Sejong branch of the Korean Teachers and Education Workers' Union (KTU) released photographs purportedly showing bite marks on the teacher's hands and arms, as well as injuries to the face.

According to Korea JoongAng Daily, the teacher was given a tetanus shot following an alleged biting incident.

The teacher was also diagnosed with a concussion after a fall in July.

In response to the complaints, fellow teachers staged silent protests during morning drop-off and afternoon pick-up times.

They held signs questioning whether all teachers were being regarded as potential child abusers.

A representative of KTU's Sejong branch criticised the complaints, saying the teacher had already experienced physical and psychological harm.

The union also urged the superintendent of education to pursue legal action against the parents.

Education office steps in

Following a complaint lodged by kindergarten staff, the Sejong education office established a teacher protection committee in August.

The committee directed the parents to provide a written apology and recommended psychological treatment for the child.

Despite these measures, the teacher and child continued attending the same kindergarten.

Separating the teacher and child proved difficult as the kindergarten operated its two classes together.

The child's guardians had applied for a transfer to a nearby kindergarten, but the request was rejected by the education office's special education committee.

The teacher was later placed on sick leave to temporarily separate them.

The education office subsequently sent a support team to the kindergarten and arranged legal assistance for the teacher.

It also announced plans to offer psychological counselling to staff and children, as well as referrals to specialist medical services.

An education office official acknowledged the challenges faced by teachers and said support would continue.

The office also said it would take steps to minimise disruptions to lessons arising from teachers' absences.

A woman in Malaysia has won praise online after she was spotted distributing envelopes to cleaners at Kuala Lumpur's KLCC Park.

The woman reportedly does this every Friday to thank the workers for keeping the park clean, according to Sin Chew Daily.

Cleaners seen queuing for envelopes

In a series of Threads posts, user @haskmahat shared that he had noticed a group of cleaners wearing green t-shirts queuing quietly during his morning walk at KLCC Park.

He described the cleaners as the park's "unsung workforce".

The Threads user subsequently noticed a woman distributing small envelopes to the workers.

Curious about what was happening, he slowed down to observe the interaction.

After the last cleaner had returned to work, he approached the woman to ask whether she did this regularly.

"I do it every Friday. They keep the park clean," the woman replied, according to his Threads account.

The user said the woman did not appear to be seeking recognition for her actions.

"To her, it was a simple equation of gratitude," he wrote.

Woman praised online

According to Sin Chew, the envelopes were believed to contain cash, but this was not confirmed.

The encounter subsequently attracted attention online, with commenters expressing appreciation for her actions.

Some said they had encountered the woman during their morning walks at the park.

Others praised the gesture for recognising the efforts of foreign workers in Malaysia.

U.S. President Donald Trump does not want his successors to touch the Oval Office.

According to the Associated Press (AP), he signed a proclamation on Thursday that stated he would preserve the Oval Office and Cabinet Room as a national monument.

This was his first official action since the Republicans’ heavy losses in the midterm elections on Nov. 3.

The Guardian reported that Trump announced that the rooms would not be "ripped down by stupid people", and that it would be left "as it is".

“If they want to say, ‘Let’s not have oval anymore, let’s make it square,’ what happens is they have to go back to Congress and hopefully the Congress, the people in Congress, will be smart enough not to let that happen,” he said, according to AP.

The proclamation says it does not restrict the president’s authority to redecorate, select furnishings or make ordinary operational and security changes, as long as these do not “substantially impair” the rooms’ historic structure or architectural character.

That means future presidents can still restyle the rooms too, AP noted.

Future presidents could also try to reverse it. CBS News noted that Trump himself has reversed national monument designations made by his predecessors.

The Oval Office is the working office of the U.S. President, while the Cabinet Room is, as the name suggests, the meeting room in which the U.S. Cabinet convenes.

Monument?

The proclamation states that the Oval Office "merits specific recognition and protective management as a discrete historic structure of national significance", and that it is in the "public interest" of the U.S. to preserve it as a national monument. 

It also makes provisions for Trump to continue redecorating the rooms provided he does not "substantially impair" their historic and architectural character.

Trump has made several luxurious redesigns of the Oval Office, most notably adding gold accents to several furnishings, which prompted former president Barack Obama to remark that "he's got the White House looking like Saddam Hussein opened a Cheesecake Factory. Just gold everywhere."

His redesigns include adding gold portrait frames and gold wall decor.

No mention of the loss

Curiously, Trump did not comment on the results of the midterm elections.

The historic Democratic win saw the party projected to take control of both the House and the Senate.

Obama said the American public had sent a “clear message”, and credited Democratic candidates who won in areas “once considered long shots”.

U.S. Vice-President JD Vance blamed the results on the Iran War, in a rare display of critique towards his own party.

While Trump was signing the proclamation, a red cap with “VETO” in white letters sat on the Oval Office desk, a hint of what may come. Trump previously said he was ready to use his veto powers to block legislation from the Democrats.

Trump previously threatened to use his veto powers to shut down Democrats from passing legislation in Congress.

Social enterprise bookstore Books Beyond Borders is giving away hundreds of books for free.

On Nov. 6, the bookstore announced on Facebook that the giveaway would run from Nov. 6 to 10, from 11am to 8pm each day, with members of the public allowed to take up to two books each.

Subsequently, on the morning of Nov. 7, Books Beyond Borders announced that the public would be limited to one book per person due to overwhelming response.

The bookstore's founder, Randall Chong, added that he expected most of the books to be gone by the end of Saturday, Nov. 7.

Library was clearing its collection

In its initial announcement, Books Beyond Borders said a library had reached out to the bookstore as it was clearing its collection.

"We didn't really have the space, but the books were too good to pass up. Most of them are in really good condition," the bookstore added.

In its subsequent post, the bookstore said about half the books were taken by the end of Nov. 6, and that the rest of the books are expected to be gone by the end of Nov. 7.

Event details

Location: 33 Erskine Rd, Maxwell (Opposite Maxwell Market / Maxwell MRT station Exit 2)

Time: 11am-8pm

A black market for voyeurs has been exposed in China.

The number of victims could be as many as 140,000 people across all of the country's 34 provinces.

The black market was first exposed by Zhou Ninghe, an anti-spycam volunteer, mainland Chinese media Elephant News reported.

Venues where footage were recorded include low-end guesthouses, small hotel chains, and bar toilets, Shin Min Daily News also reported.

The victims include "hundreds" of primary school students, Zhou noted, with their footage sold for roughly five to 10 times the price of footage involving adult women.

To date, 18 vases of voyeurism have been solved by the police based on Zhou's leads, with two of the cases involving minors.

Shandong reportedly worst-affected province

Elephant News reported that Zhou first became aware of such videos in 2022 when he came across one that was secretly filmed at a shower room in a water park in Fuzhou.

Following this discovery, Zhou began to work on trying to pinpoint the location of such videos before he submitted them to the police.

He added that he eventually deduced that all 34 administrative divisions of China had cases of voyeurism, based on his personal findings of determining where the videos were filmed.

The most severely affected provinces were Shandong, Sichuan, Guangdong, and Guangxi, he concluded.

Not all of the perpetrators are men

Zhou further noted that not all of the people behind such videos are deviant men.

Some of them are women and couples, he said.

The perpetrators also reportedly included highly educated professionals and company executives, according to Zhou.

He speculated, however, that the cases of voyeurism were not done purely for lust, but for profit.

Elephant News further reported that these perpetrators operate primarily by moving between various locations, installing hidden cameras to film the videos, then selling them to buyers who in turn, either distribute these videos to users who pay to watch livestreams of the cameras, or edit and send them to pornographic websites.

As for the devices used to film, such hidden cameras could purportedly be found on sale on e-commerce platforms under vague terms, such as "mini XX" or "remote XX", with prices ranging from tens to hundreds of yuan.

Vendors of such products would provide instructions on how to install these devices, with one such vendor advising an investigating reporter from Elephant News to "wear gloves during installation", as well as sharing images of equipment specifications that self-destructed after half a minute of viewing.

Meanwhile, the distribution of such videos would take place in online chat groups.

One such group, "The Largest Street Photography Exchange on the Entire Internet", contained about 4,335 members with discussions pertaining to the exchange and purchase of these videos.

Prices for such videos were based on the victims' looks, while the presence of other "advanced" voyeurs' chat groups required users to submit their own video for access.

These videos were also distributed on online chat forums, with payment required for users to download them from cloud storage services.

Case involving a primary school

Zhou alleged that one case involved a primary school in Yongzhou city, Hunan province, with a video from the school emerging online in May 2026.

The footage came from a camera that had allegedly been installed in a female toilet in the primary school.

According to Zhou, the recording had been going on for at least six months, with hundreds of underage girls affected.

He submitted evidence to the police after 10 days of investigation, resulting in the arrest of the suspects on Jun. 2.

"The people were caught, but once the videos of hundreds of underage girls are uploaded online, they are in permanent circulation," he said.

A worker was rescued from the roof of a burning chemical factory in Changhua County, Taiwan, on Nov. 4, more than two hours after the fire broke out.

The fire broke out at around 6:03pm at a four-storey chemical factory operated by Gatherfu Industrial in Changbin Industrial Park, according to United Daily News (UDN).

The worker, surnamed Fan, was trapped on the rooftop, surrounded by flames and thick smoke.

Firefighters rescued him using an aerial ladder truck at 8:21pm.

According to Public Television Service (PTS), he was taken to Changhua Christian Hospital for treatment.

Worker sought refuge on rooftop

According to a UDN follow-up report on Nov. 5, Fan sought refuge on a balcony when the fire broke out and waited beside a pillar for rescuers.

Jiang Jinsong, deputy chief of the fire department's First Brigade, said firefighters discovered a fire near the factory's boiler when they arrived.

Four or five explosions occurred during the incident.

The factory manager told firefighters that a worker was trapped near a control room on the fourth floor.

After locating Fan, firefighters deployed an aerial ladder truck to rescue him.

During the rescue, firefighters sprayed water to cool the area around Fan and disperse the thick smoke.

Jiang explained that winds helped disperse smoke and heat from the area.

The partial collapse of the factory's walls also prevented heat and thick smoke from accumulating around the worker.

Firefighters repeatedly used a loudspeaker to tell Fan to remain where he was and wait for rescue.

Fan was eventually brought to safety at 8:21pm.

Worker remained in critical condition

According to PTS, the worker was conscious when he was rescued and was subsequently taken to hospital.

In its Nov. 5 follow-up, UDN reported that the worker had sustained burns to his face and limbs, affecting approximately 30 per cent of his body, as well as smoke inhalation injuries.

Changhua Christian Hospital said the worker received emergency treatment before being transferred to its burns centre.

The hospital said the worker remained in critical condition and was under observation.

Fire extinguished after more than 2 hours

According to PTS, the fire spread rapidly after chemical solvents leaked and caught fire on the factory's first floor.

The factory stored more than 10,000 litres of flammable chemical liquids, and several explosions occurred during the blaze, per PTS.

Authorities deployed 25 fire vehicles, two ambulances, two rescue robots, a drone and 61 firefighters to the scene.

The fire was extinguished at around 8:32pm.

The Changhua County Environmental Protection Bureau also sent personnel to monitor the area following reports of toxic gas emissions.

Residents in the area were advised to keep their doors and windows closed and wear masks.

The exact cause of the fire remains under investigation.

The High Court has ordered food court operator Singapura Heritage Food Hall to wind up.

A winding-up court order is a formal legal order that shuts down and liquidates a company.

In a notice published in the Government Gazette on Nov. 4, the General Division of the High Court made the order on Oct. 23.

This follows poultry supplier Toh Thye San Farm's filing of a winding-up order against the company on Sep. 17.

Tan Lye Heng Paul of Nexia Solutions was listed as the liquidator.

The notice also said that creditors of Singapura Heritage Food Hall should file their proof of debt with the liquidator.

The notice did not list the alleged amount owed to the poultry company.

Lao Huo Tang Investments wholly owns Singapura Heritage Food Hall.

According to Lao Huo Tang Investments’ website, the food court has two locations at Downtown East in Pasir Ris and SingPost Centre in Paya Lebar.

The company also owns Lao Huo Tang Restaurant, Kenny Rogers Roasters, Rong Wanton Noodle and Makan Makan.

According to BizFile, Singapura Heritage Food Hall's entity status is listed as “In Liquidation - Compulsory Winding Up (Insolvency)” as of writing.

A Chinese man in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil was sentenced to 38 years’ jail for murdering an 18-year-old woman who rejected his romantic advances.

The woman’s remains were discovered wrapped in a tarpaulin and partially eaten by pit bulls in June 2025, local media reported.

Qiu Zhaohu, a stall owner also known as Xau, pleaded guilty to femicide and concealing the body of Marcelle Júlia Araújo da Silva.

Interest

Marcelle and Qiu reportedly knew each other for at least 10 years.

Qiu operated a food stall selling yakisoba noodles in Marcelle’s neighbourhood and was apparently familiar with her family.

He frequently attended their parties and barbecues and was once regarded as a friendly figure.

According to the prosecution, Qiu developed a romantic interest in Marcelle and wanted to pursue a romantic relationship with her.

However, she only wanted to remain friends with him.

Gift

According to The Sun, in June 2025, Marcelle went to Qiu’s home after he insisted that she collect a Valentine’s Day gift basket in person.

Security footage revealed her arriving at his home in the morning.

Several hours later, Qiu was captured leaving his residence while pushing a wheelbarrow covered with a blue tarp.

Her remains were subsequently discovered in the tarp at another property belonging to Qiu.

It was partially eaten by two pit bulls.

Arrest

After murdering her, Qiu left Rio De Janeiro.

Local police later arrested him in a joint operation in São Paulo.

During questioning, Qiu admitted to strangling Marcelle.

A witness also said they saw a message Qiu sent.

“I’ve already killed her, now I’m going to kill myself,” the message reportedly read.

Sentencing

During his sentencing on Oct. 29, the judge described the case as “another classic episode of femicide”.

“The mere fact of handing the victim’s body over to the ravenous appetite of pit bull dogs horrifies and repulses any ordinary person,” she said.

The judge also highlighted that Marcelle’s death was particularly painful for the victim's family.

“It is therefore not difficult to conclude the immense suffering caused to her family, particularly her mother, upon learning of and imagining the horrific scene that marked the tragic and humiliating end of a life that was still so full of promise," the judge concluded.

XH Delicious Seafood in Chinatown will permanently close on Nov. 25, 2026.

The closure comes just seven months after it started operating at Chinatown Coffee Shop at Temple Street on Apr. 20.

The zi char stall will relocate its operations to Ipoh, Malaysia.

In a Facebook post on Nov. 5, the chef Devid Retanasamy, 43, said the move is an “important turning point”.

Experience

According to the post, Retanasamy worked in Singapore for about 24 years, from 2002 to 2026.

“Throughout these years, he has gained valuable experience, faced many challenges, learned countless lessons, and grown both personally and professionally,” the post’s caption read.

The chef “feels that he has gained the experience and knowledge needed” and intends to return to his hometown in Ipoh to start his own business.

Family

The move was also partly attributed to Retanasamy “always” prioritising his career and responsibilities.

“In his pursuit of success and a better future, he gradually realised that he had missed out on many precious moments with his family,” the post said.

“At this stage of his life, he wishes to slow down a little, spend more quality time with his loved ones, and cherish the moments that truly matter,” it added.

The business expressed its gratitude towards the support shown.

“Although we are saying goodbye to Singapore, this is not the end of our journey. It is simply the beginning of a new chapter in Ipoh,” the caption read.

Losses

According to The Straits Times, the business has lost more than S$10,000 since it opened.

Its daily takings of S$500 reportedly fell below the S$800 amount needed to cover operating costs.

Retanasamy also said he faced unsuccessful business partnerships and disagreements with various employers previously.

In February 2026, the Mandarin-speaking chef became the culinary director of Xiao Hei Tze Char, a franchise which adopted his nickname, ST reported.

The name "Xiao Hei" is a reference to his dark complexion, according to ST, and he treats it as a term of endearment.

The franchise opened its first outlet in Hougang in February and the second outlet in Bedok in March.

Retanasamy left in early April due to disagreements with management over his responsibilities and how much he earned.

He said he had to cook, recruit, find suppliers, plan menus and make sauces for all the outlets.

He joined the Temple Street operation after that stint.

Leave

While he is tempted to stay in Singapore, the chef has already decided to leave to be with his wife and three children aged 10, 13, and 17.

He reportedly estimated that he will need about RM20,000 (S$6,259) to set up his new business in Ipoh and intends to begin operations with just two employees.

Retansamy is also apparently prepared to sell his jewellery, which he estimates is worth RM70,000 (S$21,906) to RM80,000 (S$25,036), to finance his new business.

He will need to service his mortgage for this Ipoh shophouse and home in Johor Bahru, ST reported.

His new stall will be located at No. 16A, Jalan Lapangan Suria Medam, Lapangan Suria, 31350 Ipoh, Perak.