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Cyberattack costs UK retailer Marks & Spencer £300 mn
Cyberattack costs UK retailer Marks & Spencer £300 mn
by  AFP

British clothes-to-food retailer Marks and Spencer on Wednesday said a cyberattack disrupting its online service is set to last through to July and hit group profit by around £300 million ($404 million). The impact on annual group operating profit is estimated at around £300 million, "which will be reduced through management of costs, insurance and other trading actions", the retailer added.

UK inflation hits 15-month high as utility bills soar
UK inflation hits 15-month high as utility bills soar
by  AFP

Britain's annual inflation rate surged more than expected in April as energy and water bills rose sharply, official data showed on Wednesday. He noted that "water and sewerage bills also rose strongly... as did vehicle excise duty, which all pushed the headline rate up to its highest level since the beginning of last year".

Oil prices jump on report of Israel prepping Iran strike
Oil prices jump on report of Israel prepping Iran strike
by  AFP

Crude prices rallied Wednesday following a report that US intelligence suggested Israel was planning a strike on Iranian nuclear facilities, which would send geopolitical tensions into overdrive and fuel regional conflict fears.

Germany's infrastructure push needs more than money
Germany's infrastructure push needs more than money
by  AFP

As construction crews using heavy excavators demolished a major highway bridge in Berlin, pensioner Guido, like many Germans, greeted the dusty spectacle with grim satisfaction. Along German motorways and major roads, one third of bridges need to be reconstructed entirely, said the Brussels-based group.

China slams US 'bullying' over new chip warnings
China slams US 'bullying' over new chip warnings
by  AFP

Beijing condemned on Wednesday new US warnings on the use of AI chips made in China, vowing it would take steps against "bullying" efforts to restrict access to high-tech semiconductors and supply chains.