Cyberattacks Threaten France's Blood Supplies

What systems are the attackers targeting?

They are targeting refrigeration controllers. These machines control cooling systems.

Why does this matter for healthcare?

Blood and vaccines need the right temperatures. Plasma and other important treatments also need cold storage.

What can happen when cooling stops?

Medical supplies may no longer be safe. This can put patients at risk.

Was a healthcare service targeted?

Yes. Attackers targeted the French Blood Establishment. It is a major blood bank in France.

Do we know what happened there?

The warning gave no details about that. It showed a possible danger for healthcare.

Who sent the warning?

Health ISAC sent it to its members. It is a group that shares security information in healthcare.

What is the group asking members to do?

It is asking them to better protect their systems. This includes cold storage and cooling equipment.

So this is more than a computer problem.

Yes, Daniel. Attackers can affect real machines. They may put important medical supplies in danger.

Have similar attacks happened in other places?

Yes. Recent attacks hit food shops and food factories. Some spoiled food, caused fires, and broke machines.

Are government agencies watching this too?

Yes. Several U.S. agencies published information on Thursday. It covered risks to industrial cooling systems.

What happens next for healthcare services?

They need to protect their computer systems and cooling machines. The aim is to keep medical supplies safe.

Thank you, Grace.

Our second story is Israel's election result and talks on the next government.

Liam is LinguaWire's correspondent for politics.

Hello, Daniel. Israel's election did not produce a clear winner.

What does that mean for the next government?

No side won enough seats to form a government. A group needs 61 seats in the 120-seat parliament.

What happened to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's group?

His group lost its majority. It did not win the 61 seats needed.

What about the main opposition group?

It also did not reach 61 seats. The center-right opposition is led by Gadi Eisenkot.

So both sides need help from other parties.

Yes, Daniel. They now need support in talks about the next government.

Why are Arab-led parties important now?

They won 19 seats. This gives them an important role in the talks.

Who voted for these parties?

Palestinian Arab citizens of Israel voted in record numbers last month. Many had not voted in recent years.

Why had some people stayed away before?

Some believed voting would not help their communities. They say Israel often treats their communities unfairly.

What did the larger vote change?

It helped take Netanyahu's group below a majority. It also gave Arab-led parties more power in the talks.

What will happen now?

The parties will hold talks about the next government. Arab-led parties may help decide who governs Israel.

Thank you, Liam.

Part one: vocabulary.

Refrigeration.

Refrigeration means keeping things cold; in the story, “They are targeting refrigeration controllers.”

The shop has refrigeration for milk.

Supply.

A supply is something needed for a purpose; in the story, “Medical supplies may no longer be safe.”

The hospital has supplies for its patients.

Safe.

Safe means not likely to cause harm; in the story, “The aim is to keep medical supplies safe.”

This food is safe to eat.

Part two: the grammar.

Present tense of “need”: “Blood and vaccines need the right temperatures.”

We use “need” when a person or thing requires something. Use “need” with plural subjects and “needs” with he, she, or it.

I, you, we, and they need. He, she, and it needs.

Again, in the story, “Blood and vaccines need the right temperatures.”

Hospitals need safe water.

Repeat after me: Blood and vaccines need the right temperatures.