Nov 1, 2026, 05:30 AM UTC

The National Bank of Serbia (NBS) has revoked the operating license of Belgrade-based Alta banka and initiated bankruptcy proceedings to safeguard depositors and maintain financial stability. Management of the institution has been transferred to the Deposit Insurance Agency, while legal actions have been launched against responsible executives and shareholders.

The central bank confirmed that insured deposits up to €50,000 will be refunded to clients. Following the decision, all banking activities, card services, and foreign exchange transactions were suspended, leading to branch closures and long queues of anxious customers in Novi Sad.

The sudden liquidation comes shortly after recent local elections. The owner of Alta banka, Davor Macura, has documented ties to the ruling party, drawing attention to the timing of the regulatory action.

Sources: Avaz, Beta, Danas, N1, Poslovni dnevnik

Fresh analysis of the recent cyberattack against digital asset exchange Binance has highlighted the speed and technical complexity of the operation, in which perpetrators transferred roughly $6.3 billion within twenty minutes. Security analysts continue to examine the transaction pathways used to move the funds, with growing evidence linking the operation to North Korean state-sponsored hackers.

The incident has intensified scrutiny over Binance’s operational security and history of regulatory issues, as well as the mechanisms required to launder vast sums of stolen cryptocurrency. Industry experts note that while blockchain networks allow rapid movement of assets, concealing digital trails presents significant hurdles for attackers attempting to liquidate stolen tokens. While Binance and cybersecurity partners have successfully frozen approximately $2.5 billion, questions remain over whether rival trading platforms could absorb shifted user activity during the ongoing recovery efforts.

Sources: La Tribune, Le Figaro, Le Monde, Libération, RTBF Info.

Cryptocurrency exchange Binance announced it has secured or replaced approximately 90 percent of the funds lost in a recent $6.3 billion cyberattack. According to the platform, roughly $6.34 billion from internal reserves was allocated to compensate user losses.

The remaining 10 percent of missing assets consists of less liquid tokens, which company representatives stated may require additional time to acquire. Stablecoin issuers Tether and Circle also assisted by freezing associated digital assets to limit further damage. Binance reaffirmed its commitment to fully cover all customer losses, though the incident has renewed scrutiny regarding security vulnerabilities across digital asset platforms.

Sources: Der Spiegel, FAZ, Der Standard, ORF, Tagesschau.

The official vote count following Israel's parliamentary elections concluded with neither major political bloc securing a clear majority in the 120-seat Knesset. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing coalition secured 53 seats, while the opposition alliance led by Yashar party leader Gadi Eisenkot won 55 seats, leaving Arab political parties holding the balance of power.

Following the results, Netanyahu accused Arab parties of electoral fraud, prompting opposition leaders to denounce his statements as an attempt to compromise the election's legitimacy. Although Likud remains the single largest party, the parliamentary deadlock leaves coalition negotiations deeply uncertain.

Sources: Adevărul, HotNews, Moldova1, TV8, Ziarul de Gardă.

Widespread demonstrations over rising living costs and youth grievances escalated across Western Europe on Saturday, resulting in clashes with law enforcement. In France, an estimated 320,000 people gathered across several major cities, including Paris, Grenoble, and Marseille. French authorities mobilized more than 70,000 police officers as initially peaceful gatherings turned violent by Saturday evening. Officers deployed tear gas to disperse crowds, and over 400 arrests were made.

The demonstrations also expanded beyond France, with nearly 200,000 people rallying in approximately 30 German cities. German protests were reported to be inspired by the French demonstrations, with participants demanding improvements to public education and economic prospects for young people.

Sources: Dagens Industri, Dagens Nyheter, Svenska Dagbladet.