M&S cyber attack will cost £300 million
23 May 2025
Marks & Spencer has confirmed that a major cyber attack will cost the company around £300 million, following significant disruption to its operations. The breach, traced to third-party access caused by 'human error’, has impacted contactless payments, online orders, and in-store stock availability. Almost a month on, M&S is still unable to process online orders in its fashion, home, and beauty departments - losing an estimated £3.5 million per day in sales. Chief executive Stuart Machin stressed that the company had not underinvested in security, noting that other retailers such as Harrods and the Co-op have also faced similar attacks. The breach has also resulted in customer data theft, though no payment details or passwords were compromised. The Government has called the recent wave of cyber attacks a 'wake-up call' for UK industry, warning of the need for greater resilience amid growing digital threats.
NHS launches world-first gonorrhoea vaccine
23 May 2025
NHS England will become the first health system in the world to offer routine vaccination against gonorrhoea, as infections reach record highs. Targeting those most at risk, primarily gay and bisexual men with a history of multiple partners, the vaccine is expected to begin rollout through sexual health clinics in August. Adapted from the MenB meningitis vaccine, it is estimated to reduce gonorrhoea risk by 30–40%. Though not originally designed for STIs, the bacteria responsible for gonorrhoea is closely related to the meningitis B strain. England recorded over 85,000 cases in 2023—the highest since records began in 1918. The spread of antibiotic-resistant strains has heightened concerns, making prevention more vital than ever. If uptake is strong, the vaccine could prevent 100,000 cases and save the NHS £8 million over ten years. Public health leaders in Scotland and Northern Ireland are exploring similar programmes. Experts emphasise that while not a cure-all, the vaccine marks a significant step in reducing the spread of a challenging and increasingly drug-resistant infection.
A record-breaking 820 migrants crossed the English Channel in small boats on 21 May, the highest daily total so far this year. Tragically, two died during the journey, bringing this year’s Channel death toll to 12. A French naval vessel recovered their bodies and assisted others in distress. The rising number of crossings (now exceeding 13,500, a 30% increase from last year) underscores the continued urgency of the crisis. Despite a fall in overall net migration to an estimated 616,000 in 2024, the Government faces mounting pressure over its handling of illegal crossings. Nearly 30,000 have been deported since Labour took office, including foreign criminals and failed asylum seekers, but only a small proportion of them arrived in small boats. Critics, including the Refugee Council, warn that enforcement alone is failing, with smuggling networks profiting from human desperation. Meanwhile, politicians debate the future of immigration, enforcement, and public perception amid a deeply divided national conversation.
Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov has acknowledged delays in weapons deliveries to Armenia due to the strain of the war in Ukraine. Armenia, a long-time Russian ally, has historically depended on Russian arms amid its bitter decades-long conflict with Azerbaijan. However, as Moscow struggles to meet military commitments, Armenia is increasingly turning to Western partners like France and India for defense support. Lavrov said that these shifts were worrying, especially given France’s strong opposition to Russia's actions in Ukraine. But Armenia has expressed deepening frustration with Moscow, particularly after Russian peacekeepers failed to prevent the mass exodus of over 100,000 ethnic Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh during Azerbaijan’s swift military campaign in September 2023. As Armenia rethinks its security alliances, the region remains volatile, with historical wounds and unresolved tensions continuing to shape its strategic decisions.
Romania: pro-European wins presidential election
23 May 2025
Nicusor Dan, the liberal and pro-European mayor of Bucharest, has defeated far-right nationalist George Simion in Romania’s presidential run-off, securing 54% of the vote. His victory followed months of political upheaval, including a contested earlier election annulled over alleged Russian interference. Despite Simion’s strong support from Romanians abroad and his alignment with banned candidate Calin Georgescu, Dan prevailed with broad domestic backing. Supporters praised his anti-corruption platform, EU alignment, and commitment to Ukraine. Jubilant crowds celebrated in Bucharest after results confirmed his win. Many voters viewed him as a stabilising force in contrast to Simion’s nationalist, anti-EU rhetoric. International leaders, including those from Moldova and Ukraine, welcomed Dan’s win as a reaffirmation of Romania’s European path. Nonetheless, Simion’s strong showing reveals significant dissatisfaction, especially among Romanians abroad, signalling ongoing political tensions that Dan must now work to heal.
The UK has suspended trade talks with Israel, summoned its ambassador, and imposed sanctions on West Bank settlers in response to Israel’s escalating military operations in Gaza, which foreign secretary David Lammy called ‘morally unjustifiable’. The UK has joined France and Canada in demanding an end to military expansion and a rapid influx of humanitarian aid, as Gaza faces famine due to an eleven-week blockade. Although Israel has permitted limited aid, the UN says the assistance is vastly insufficient. Lammy condemned inflammatory remarks from Israeli officials suggesting plans to ‘cleanse Gaza’ and warned that Israel risks isolating itself internationally. Meanwhile, at least 82 people including a week-old baby were killed in Israeli airstrikes on 20 May: see
Panama: locals threatened by new dam proposal
23 May 2025
Hundreds of residents in Panama’s Indio River region are opposing a proposed dam project that threatens to flood their homes. The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) plans to build a 4,600-hectare reservoir to supply water to the drought-affected canal, a key passage for 6% of global maritime trade. The $1.6 billion project, slated for completion by 2032, aims to stabilise water levels amid declining rainfall. While ACP pledges $400 million for compensating and relocating roughly 2,500 residents, groups warn that up to 12,000 people may be affected. Many villagers, dependent on farming and fishing, feel their livelihoods are being sacrificed for international shipping interests. Recent protests on the river reflect deep opposition, despite ACP’s commitment to dialogue. President Jose Raul Mulino supports the initiative, which has also stirred geopolitical tensions.
A controversial proposal to name former Indonesian president Soeharto a national hero has sparked widespread international condemnation. Over thirty civic groups issued a joint statement warning that such an honour would whitewash Soeharto’s 32-year authoritarian rule, marked by systemic corruption and grave human rights abuses. The groups cited atrocities during the 1965–66 anti-communist purges, in which up to three million were killed, and the 1997–98 disappearances of pro-democracy activists, as well as Soeharto’s alleged embezzlement of $35 billion. They also referenced a 2016 tribunal in The Hague, which concluded that the Indonesian military played a central role in mass killings under his command. The nomination, currently under review, was reportedly put out by Central Java’s governor, who later denied involvement. The civic leaders have urged the government to reject the nomination and instead address unresolved human rights violations and entrenched corruption linked to Soeharto - who is the father-in-law of current president Prabowo Subianto. This is not the first proposal to nominate him as a national hero; similar attempts took place in 2010 and 2015.