Priority question for written answer P-002501/2025 to the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Rule 144 Nikolas Farantouris (The Left)
Yesterday (Sunday 22 June 2025), a suicide bomber who was a member of the Islamic State opened fire before blowing himself up during the Sunday service at the Greek Orthodox church of Prophet Elias in Damascus, killing at least 30 and wounding more than 60 Greek Orthodox Christians. Yesterday’s dramatic events of religious fundamentalism constitute another bloody episode of violence in this ongoing series of attacks on schools, churches, public and private spaces. On 23 January[1], 17 March[2] and 7 April 2025[3], I warned of the massacres orchestrated or tolerated by the Islamist Jolani regime in Syria and called for specific EU action.
Given the above, can the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy answer the following:
1.Will a delegation of European officials, as well as a team of inspectors, go to Damascus on an exceptional basis to chronicle the attacks and atrocities that have taken place?
2.Will there be an immediate review of the framework of cooperating with and lifting EU sanctions on the Government of Damascus?
3.Will the Jolani regime be required to hold elections in a set timeframe?
In a series of recent joint committee meetings at the beginning of June, Members of LIBE, EUDS, SEDE, ENVI, and FEMM addressed a spectrum of pressing challenges, from the weaponisation of migration and emerging hybrid threats to the persistent violence of female genital mutilation (FGM) within the EU. Together, these discussions underscored a growing consensus: Europe must act with unity, foresight, and resilience to safeguard its citizens and values.
On 2nd of June, LIBE and EUDS discussed how foreign actors are turning migration in a tool of hybrid warfare, with criminal networks exploiting digital platforms and crypto payments to evade detection. Frontex stressed the need for better intelligence-sharing to anticipate and counter such threats, while the Commission reaffirmed that measures taken must remain lawful and proportionate.
Meeting in a joint session on 3rd of June SEDE, ENVI, and LIBE reviewed the new European Preparedness Union Strategy, which calls for a shared EU approach to risks ranging from cyberattacks to climate disasters. The strategy aims to embed preparedness across all policies, though Members called for clearer governance, adequate funding, and closer cooperation with neighbours.
On 4th of June, Members of LIBE, FEMM and DEVE focused on female genital mutilation, which continues to affect around 600,000 women and girls in at least 16 EU countries. Experts urged the Commission to enforce existing laws and boost support for front-line efforts to end this form of gender-based violence.
In a series of recent joint committee meetings at the beginning of June, Members of LIBE, EUDS, SEDE, ENVI, and FEMM addressed a spectrum of pressing challenges, from the weaponisation of migration and emerging hybrid threats to the persistent violence of female genital mutilation (FGM) within the EU. Together, these discussions underscored a growing consensus: Europe must act with unity, foresight, and resilience to safeguard its citizens and values.
On 2nd of June, LIBE and EUDS discussed how foreign actors are turning migration in a tool of hybrid warfare, with criminal networks exploiting digital platforms and crypto payments to evade detection. Frontex stressed the need for better intelligence-sharing to anticipate and counter such threats, while the Commission reaffirmed that measures taken must remain lawful and proportionate.
Meeting in a joint session on 3rd of June SEDE, ENVI, and LIBE reviewed the new European Preparedness Union Strategy, which calls for a shared EU approach to risks ranging from cyberattacks to climate disasters. The strategy aims to embed preparedness across all policies, though Members called for clearer governance, adequate funding, and closer cooperation with neighbours.
On 4th of June, Members of LIBE, FEMM and DEVE focused on female genital mutilation, which continues to affect around 600,000 women and girls in at least 16 EU countries. Experts urged the Commission to enforce existing laws and boost support for front-line efforts to end this form of gender-based violence.
on the draft Council directive amending Directive 2006/112/EC as regards VAT rules relating to taxable persons who facilitate distance sales of imported goods and the application of the special scheme for distance sales of goods imported from third territories or third countries and special arrangements for declaration and payment of import VAT
–having regard to the Commission proposal to the Council (COM(2023)0262),
–having regard to its position of 22 November 2023[1],
–having regard to Article 113 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union , pursuant to which the Council consulted Parliament again (C10‑0084/2025),
–having regard to Rule 84 and Rule 86 of its Rules of Procedure,
–having regard to the report of the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs (A10-0119/2025),
1.Approves the Council draft;
2.Calls on the Council to notify Parliament if it intends to depart from the text approved by Parliament;
3.Asks the Council to consult Parliament again if it intends to amend its draft substantially;
4.Instructs its President to forward its position to the Council, the Commission and the national parliaments.
EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
On 8 December 2022, the Commission presented the ‘VAT in the digital age’ package (ViDA), which consists of three proposals:
•A proposal for a Council directive amending directive 2006/112/EC as regards VAT rules for the digital age;
•A proposal for a Council regulation amending regulation (EU) No 904/2010 as regards the VAT administrative cooperation arrangements needed for the digital age;
•A proposal for a Council implementing regulation amending implementing regulation (EU) No 282/2011 as regards information requirements for certain VAT schemes.
The package developed an action plan that emphasized the need to reflect on how technology can be used in the fight against tax fraud and how the current VAT rules in the European Union could be adapted for doing business in the digital age. The three proposed changes to make VAT fit for the digital age are
i)A new real time digital reporting system based on e-invoicing,
ii)An update of the VAT rules for the platform economy and
iii)A single VAT registration for businesses selling to consumers across the EU.
The European Parliament was consulted and delivered its opinion on these legislative proposals on 22 November 2023. In January 2025, the Parliament was re-consulted on the draft Council directive amending Directive 2006/112/EC as regards VAT rules for the digital age. This re-consultation was linked to the deemed supplier regime which was a significant point of contention within the Council, making it particularly challenging to reach a final compromise (A10-0001/2025).
The European Parliament is now consulted for the second time for the following reason.
The original VIDA package contained a proposal to make the import one-stop-shop (IOSS) mandatory. However, Member States rejected it. The alternative proposal to motivate the use of IOSS by making suppliers and platforms liable for import VAT if they do not use the IOSS was not mature enough to be included in the VIDA package, which was adopted by Council in March 2025.
In May 2023, the Commission issued a package of proposals to reform the Union Customs Code, notably to abolish the 150€ threshold for exemption of customs duties and VAT on import.
In the summer of 2024, the provisions to incentivise the use of IOSS were added to the Commission proposals to reform the Union Customs Code in view of their relation with the customs rules. The Polish Presidency advocated splitting these provisions to incentivise the use of IOSS, considered as sufficiently mature, from the customs proposal and to agree on them separately. This was accepted by delegations.
At the 13 May 2025 ECOFIN, the Council agreed to incorporate the provisions to incentivise the use of IOSS in the VAT Directive, which make suppliers and platforms liable for import VAT if they do not use the IOSS.
In its opinion on 22 November 2023, the European Parliament advocated that the IOSSs should operate transparently and securely. Moreover, it also highlighted that a unified approach between the IOSS, on the one hand, and customs legislation and practice, on the other, would help bring an end to inconsistencies, errors and double taxation. Moreover, the European Parliament underlined the need to limit the administrative burden for SMEs. In addition, the European Parliament asked to assess the advantages and disadvantages of making IOSS mandatory.
Therefore, in light of the above, the rapporteur is of the view that a simplified procedure without amendments is the relevant procedure for this re-consultation.
ANNEX: ENTITIES OR PERSONSFROM WHOM THE RAPPORTEUR HAS RECEIVED INPUT
The rapporteur declares under his exclusive responsibility that he did not receive input from any entity or person to be mentioned in this Annex pursuant to Article 8 of Annex I to the Rules of Procedure.
PROCEDURE – COMMITTEE RESPONSIBLE
Title
Amending Directive 2006/112/EC as regards VAT rules relating to taxable persons who facilitate distance sales of imported goods and the application of the special scheme for distance sales of goods imported from third territories or third countries and special arrangements for declaration and payment of import VAT
In a series of recent joint committee meetings at the beginning of June, Members of LIBE, EUDS, SEDE, ENVI, and FEMM addressed a spectrum of pressing challenges, from the weaponisation of migration and emerging hybrid threats to the persistent violence of female genital mutilation (FGM) within the EU. Together, these discussions underscored a growing consensus: Europe must act with unity, foresight, and resilience to safeguard its citizens and values.
On 2nd of June, LIBE and EUDS discussed how foreign actors are turning migration in a tool of hybrid warfare, with criminal networks exploiting digital platforms and crypto payments to evade detection. Frontex stressed the need for better intelligence-sharing to anticipate and counter such threats, while the Commission reaffirmed that measures taken must remain lawful and proportionate.
Meeting in a joint session on 3rd of June SEDE, ENVI, and LIBE reviewed the new European Preparedness Union Strategy, which calls for a shared EU approach to risks ranging from cyberattacks to climate disasters. The strategy aims to embed preparedness across all policies, though Members called for clearer governance, adequate funding, and closer cooperation with neighbours.
On 4th of June, Members of LIBE, FEMM and DEVE focused on female genital mutilation, which continues to affect around 600,000 women and girls in at least 16 EU countries. Experts urged the Commission to enforce existing laws and boost support for front-line efforts to end this form of gender-based violence.
Priority question for written answer P-002482/2025 to the Commission Rule 144 Dario Nardella (S&D), Nicola Zingaretti (S&D), Stefano Bonaccini (S&D), Brando Benifei (S&D), Giorgio Gori (S&D), Lucia Annunziata (S&D), Antonio Decaro (S&D), Annalisa Corrado (S&D), Camilla Laureti (S&D), Elisabetta Gualmini (S&D), Giuseppe Lupo (S&D), Pierfrancesco Maran (S&D), Alessandra Moretti (S&D), Pina Picierno (S&D), Matteo Ricci (S&D), Sandro Ruotolo (S&D), Cecilia Strada (S&D), Irene Tinagli (S&D), Marco Tarquinio (S&D), Raffaele Topo (S&D), Alessandro Zan (S&D)
As the deadline approaches for Italy’s national recovery and resilience plan (NRRP), it is clear that many of the innovative investments and practices have produced good results. However, a number of the key measures have encountered problems, which require specific corrective measures in order to avoid a full-scale revision of the plan.
The government, together with the Commission, is pinpointing solutions to ensure that the deadlines can be met. One strategy is to entrust management of the funds to entities such as ISMEA and GSE. This approach – already provided for in the 2023 revision – applies to financing worth EUR 10.6 billion. In the agri-food sector, 50 % of resources are expected to be under contract by 30 June 2025 and the rest by 2026, but most of the investments will materialise after the plan has ended. Another strategy provides for reporting of partially achieved objectives, with a proportional reduction in funding, to be assessed on a case-by-case basis. In addition, while the Commission is carrying out its assessment, that period of time can also be used to finalise the measures, even after the requests have been sent.
It is important to take into account the link between the NRRP and the fiscal-structural plan: any delays could have a negative impact on the reforms and investments that have been planned.
In view of the above:
1.What common challenges are coming to light in the various Member States in terms of implementation of the plans, and what support measures are envisaged?
2.What actions and corrective measures will be taken to support Italy’s NRRP?
Priority question for written answer P-002482/2025 to the Commission Rule 144 Dario Nardella (S&D), Nicola Zingaretti (S&D), Stefano Bonaccini (S&D), Brando Benifei (S&D), Giorgio Gori (S&D), Lucia Annunziata (S&D), Antonio Decaro (S&D), Annalisa Corrado (S&D), Camilla Laureti (S&D), Elisabetta Gualmini (S&D), Giuseppe Lupo (S&D), Pierfrancesco Maran (S&D), Alessandra Moretti (S&D), Pina Picierno (S&D), Matteo Ricci (S&D), Sandro Ruotolo (S&D), Cecilia Strada (S&D), Irene Tinagli (S&D), Marco Tarquinio (S&D), Raffaele Topo (S&D), Alessandro Zan (S&D)
As the deadline approaches for Italy’s national recovery and resilience plan (NRRP), it is clear that many of the innovative investments and practices have produced good results. However, a number of the key measures have encountered problems, which require specific corrective measures in order to avoid a full-scale revision of the plan.
The government, together with the Commission, is pinpointing solutions to ensure that the deadlines can be met. One strategy is to entrust management of the funds to entities such as ISMEA and GSE. This approach – already provided for in the 2023 revision – applies to financing worth EUR 10.6 billion. In the agri-food sector, 50 % of resources are expected to be under contract by 30 June 2025 and the rest by 2026, but most of the investments will materialise after the plan has ended. Another strategy provides for reporting of partially achieved objectives, with a proportional reduction in funding, to be assessed on a case-by-case basis. In addition, while the Commission is carrying out its assessment, that period of time can also be used to finalise the measures, even after the requests have been sent.
It is important to take into account the link between the NRRP and the fiscal-structural plan: any delays could have a negative impact on the reforms and investments that have been planned.
In view of the above:
1.What common challenges are coming to light in the various Member States in terms of implementation of the plans, and what support measures are envisaged?
2.What actions and corrective measures will be taken to support Italy’s NRRP?
The Heads of Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) met today in Paris, hosted by the Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB), which currently chairs the Heads of MDBs Group. The meeting focused on advancing their joint efforts to address development priorities.
Amid rising global uncertainty, the Heads reaffirmed their commitment to working as a system to deliver greater impact and scale, in line with their Viewpoint Note and the recommendations of the G20 Roadmap towards Better, Bigger, and More Effective MDBs. The Roadmap outlines an ambitious vision for MDB reform to better address regional and global challenges, support job creation, and help countries achieve their development aspirations.
The Heads welcomed ongoing efforts to improve the way MDBs work with clients through operational efficiency and enhanced coordination. In 2025 alone, five mutual reliance agreements have been signed, helping streamline the preparation and implementation of co-financed projects across institutions.
Private capital mobilization remains a system-wide priority, with the last joint report of the MDBs reflecting a positive trend in volumes mobilized. To build on this momentum, the Heads reaffirmed their commitment to developing local currency lending and foreign exchange solutions. They also reaffirmed the importance of adequate risk assessment for private sector investment in emerging markets and developing economies; in this context, the valuable contribution of disaggregated statistics on credit risk published through the Global Emerging Markets Risk Database (GEMs) was recognized.
The Heads reiterated their continued commitment to implementing the recommendations of the G20 Independent Review of Multilateral Development Banks’ Capital Adequacy Frameworks (CAF). Further reform efforts by MDBs since mid-2024 have increased the additional lending headroom for development projects in all countries of operation, including high-income ones, over the next decade by more than US$250 billion, thus reaching a total of over US$650 billion.
The publication in the coming weeks of the Comparison Report by the MDBs’ Global Risk and Finance Forum (GRaFF) will provide metrics and data relating to MDBs’ financial positions, promoting a better understanding of their financial models and supporting both balance sheet optimization and private sector mobilization.
The Heads also agreed to continue advancing promising initiatives already underway to strengthen system-wide impact. These include: 1) Mission 300, which aims to connect 300 million people in Africa to electricity by 2030 through public and private collaboration; 2) Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) Power Grid, which aims to boost energy security, strengthen resilience, and promote decarbonization for the region’s 670 million people by connecting its electricity systems; and 3) Digital Transformation in Education in Latin America and the Caribbean, which aims to connect 3.5 million students and train over 250,000 teachers.
In addition, MDBs are exploring joint actions to scale up investments in social infrastructure, including health, education, housing, and water and sanitation. Building on structured dialogue led by the CEB, the Heads welcomed progress made through recent cross-MDB consultations and recognized the key role these sectors play in enabling jobs, productivity, and inclusive growth, while noting persistent financing and delivery challenges that constrain impact.
Meeting in advance of the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4), which will take place in Sevilla, Spain, from 30 June to 3 July, MDBs remain committed to working better as a system, in alignment with country-led development priorities and strategies to promote jobs and prosperity. In view of water’s role in human development, MDBs committed to significantly increasing collective support for global water security by 2030, and will launch the first “Joint Annual MDB Water Security Financing Report” at FfD4. Heads noted the importance of the upcoming COP30 in Belem, Brazil, in November 2025.
Today’s meeting in Paris marks a significant step toward effective collaboration and scaled-up collective action for development priorities. MDB reforms are advancing, moving from concept to execution.
With streamlined operations, better risk tools, and growing financial capacity, MDBs are delivering real impact – from expanding energy access and digital education to scaling investment in water security.
Parliament’s committees deal with EU legislative proposals by adopting reports, which then are referred to plenary for voting by all Members, and appoint negotiation teams to conduct talks with Council. They adopt non-legislative reports, organise hearings with experts and scrutinise other EU bodies and institutions. Parliament can set up sub-committees and special committees to deal with specific issues. Each committee elects a chair and up to four vice-chairs for a two and a half year mandate.
Parliament’s committees deal with EU legislative proposals by adopting reports, which then are referred to plenary for voting by all Members, and appoint negotiation teams to conduct talks with Council. They adopt non-legislative reports, organise hearings with experts and scrutinise other EU bodies and institutions. Parliament can set up sub-committees and special committees to deal with specific issues. Each committee elects a chair and up to four vice-chairs for a two and a half year mandate.
PARIS (28 June) – The Heads of Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) met today in Paris, hosted by the Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB), which currently chairs the Heads of MDBs Group. The meeting focused on advancing their joint efforts to address development priorities.
Amid rising global uncertainty, the Heads reaffirmed their commitment to working as a system to deliver greater impact and scale, in line with their Viewpoint Note and the recommendations of the G20 Roadmap towards Better, Bigger, and More Effective MDBs. The Roadmap outlines an ambitious vision for MDB reform to better address regional and global challenges, support job creation, and help countries achieve their development aspirations.
The Heads welcomed ongoing efforts to improve the way MDBs work with clients through operational efficiency and enhanced coordination. In 2025 alone, five mutual reliance agreements have been signed, helping streamline the preparation and implementation of co-financed projects across institutions.
Private capital mobilization remains a system-wide priority, with the last joint report of the MDBs reflecting a positive trend in volumes mobilized. To build on this momentum, the Heads reaffirmed their commitment to developing local currency lending and foreign exchange solutions. They also reaffirmed the importance of adequate risk assessment for private sector investment in emerging markets and developing economies; in this context, the valuable contribution of disaggregated statistics on credit risk published through the Global Emerging Markets Risk Database (GEMs) was recognized.
The Heads reiterated their continued commitment to implementing the recommendations of the G20 Independent Review of Multilateral Development Banks’ Capital Adequacy Frameworks (CAF). Further reform efforts by MDBs since mid-2024 have increased the additional lending headroom for development projects in all countries of operation, including high-income ones, over the next decade by more than US$250 billion, thus reaching a total of over US$650 billion.
The publication in the coming weeks of the Comparison Report by the MDBs’ Global Risk and Finance Forum (GRaFF) will provide metrics and data relating to MDBs’ financial positions, promoting a better understanding of their financial models and supporting both balance sheet optimization and private sector mobilization.
The Heads also agreed to continue advancing promising initiatives already underway to strengthen system-wide impact. These include: 1) Mission 300, which aims to connect 300 million people in Africa to electricity by 2030 through public and private collaboration; 2) Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) Power Grid, which aims to boost energy security, strengthen resilience, and promote decarbonization for the region’s 670 million people by connecting its electricity systems; and 3) Digital Transformation in Education in Latin America and the Caribbean, which aims to connect 3.5 million students and train over 250,000 teachers.
In addition, MDBs are exploring joint actions to scale up investments in social infrastructure, including health, education, housing, and water and sanitation. Building on structured dialogue led by the CEB, the Heads welcomed progress made through recent cross-MDB consultations and recognized the key role these sectors play in enabling jobs, productivity, and inclusive growth, while noting persistent financing and delivery challenges that constrain impact.
Meeting in advance of the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4), which will take place in Sevilla, Spain, from 30 June to 3 July, MDBs remain committed to working better as a system, in alignment with country-led development priorities and strategies to promote jobs and prosperity. In view of water’s role in human development, MDBs committed to significantly increasing collective support for global water security by 2030, and will launch the first “Joint Annual MDB Water Security Financing Report” at FfD4. Heads noted the importance of the upcoming COP30 in Belem, Brazil, in November 2025.
Today’s meeting in Paris marks a significant step toward effective collaboration and scaled-up collective action for development priorities. MDB reforms are advancing, moving from concept to execution.
With streamlined operations, better risk tools, and growing financial capacity, MDBs are delivering real impact – from expanding energy access and digital education to scaling investment in water security.
Source: Switzerland – Department of Foreign Affairs in English
For years, start-ups have been able to count on the support of the business incubators glatec and Startfeld. They accompany Empa’s young companies on their path to independence – and do so extremely successfully, as the 37 spin-offs founded to date show.
Source: Switzerland – Department of Foreign Affairs in English
In 2023, business enterprises invested CHF 18 billion in their R&D activities in Switzerland, an annual increase of 3.5% over 2021, which was the last time the survey was carried out. At almost CHF 5.5 billion, the ‘pharmaceuticals’ sector remains the biggest investor, despite an average annual decline of 6%. Nearly 69 000 people took part in R&D activities, a quarter of them women. These are the main results of a study carried out by the Federal Statistical Office (FSO) in partnership with economiesuisse.
Source: Switzerland – Department of Foreign Affairs in English
In 2023, business enterprises invested CHF 18 billion in their R&D activities in Switzerland, an annual increase of 3.5% over 2021, which was the last time the survey was carried out. At almost CHF 5.5 billion, the ‘pharmaceuticals’ sector remains the biggest investor, despite an average annual decline of 6%. Nearly 69 000 people took part in R&D activities, a quarter of them women. These are the main results of a study carried out by the Federal Statistical Office (FSO) in partnership with economiesuisse.
Source: Switzerland – Department of Foreign Affairs in English
In 2023, business enterprises invested CHF 18 billion in their R&D activities in Switzerland, an annual increase of 3.5% over 2021, which was the last time the survey was carried out. At almost CHF 5.5 billion, the ‘pharmaceuticals’ sector remains the biggest investor, despite an average annual decline of 6%. Nearly 69 000 people took part in R&D activities, a quarter of them women. These are the main results of a study carried out by the Federal Statistical Office (FSO) in partnership with economiesuisse.
Source: Switzerland – Department of Foreign Affairs in English
In 2023, business enterprises invested CHF 18 billion in their R&D activities in Switzerland, an annual increase of 3.5% over 2021, which was the last time the survey was carried out. At almost CHF 5.5 billion, the ‘pharmaceuticals’ sector remains the biggest investor, despite an average annual decline of 6%. Nearly 69 000 people took part in R&D activities, a quarter of them women. These are the main results of a study carried out by the Federal Statistical Office (FSO) in partnership with economiesuisse.
Source: Switzerland – Department of Foreign Affairs in English
In 2023, business enterprises invested CHF 18 billion in their R&D activities in Switzerland, an annual increase of 3.5% over 2021, which was the last time the survey was carried out. At almost CHF 5.5 billion, the ‘pharmaceuticals’ sector remains the biggest investor, despite an average annual decline of 6%. Nearly 69 000 people took part in R&D activities, a quarter of them women. These are the main results of a study carried out by the Federal Statistical Office (FSO) in partnership with economiesuisse.
Source: Switzerland – Department of Foreign Affairs in English
In 2023, business enterprises invested CHF 18 billion in their R&D activities in Switzerland, an annual increase of 3.5% over 2021, which was the last time the survey was carried out. At almost CHF 5.5 billion, the ‘pharmaceuticals’ sector remains the biggest investor, despite an average annual decline of 6%. Nearly 69 000 people took part in R&D activities, a quarter of them women. These are the main results of a study carried out by the Federal Statistical Office (FSO) in partnership with economiesuisse.
Source: Switzerland – Department of Foreign Affairs in English
In 2023, business enterprises invested CHF 18 billion in their R&D activities in Switzerland, an annual increase of 3.5% over 2021, which was the last time the survey was carried out. At almost CHF 5.5 billion, the ‘pharmaceuticals’ sector remains the biggest investor, despite an average annual decline of 6%. Nearly 69 000 people took part in R&D activities, a quarter of them women. These are the main results of a study carried out by the Federal Statistical Office (FSO) in partnership with economiesuisse.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Press release
Mum and best friend of rip current victim Joe Abbess share their grief and safety hopes
The mother and best friend of a much-loved teenager who drowned in a fierce rip current at Bournemouth beach more than two years ago have spoken up to help people enjoy the coast safely this summer.
Joe Green and Vanessa Abbess (Photo: Maritime and Coastguard Agency)
Joe Abbess (17), a popular trainee chef and regular gym-goer, was in the water up to his waist during a trip to the seaside town with friends on 31 May 2023 when conditions suddenly changed.
As the summer season gets into full swing, Vanessa Abbess has joined with her late son’s best friend, Joe Green (19), and HM Coastguard to make a difference in his memory.
Vanessa said:
Joe was incredibly loved by his family and friends, and I feel it is so important to tell his story. He was being so sensible and safe. He was healthy. He was strong. He could swim.
It is so shocking that Joe died and shows you’re never entirely safe in the sea – but there are ways to reduce the risk, which we want everyone to know.
Joe Green was at the beach with Joe and other friends on the day of the tragedy. He and Vanessa are sharing how the loss still affects their lives as well as some easy-to-remember advice to enjoy the sea safely this summer.
A 12-year-old girl also died that day in a separate group hit by the same rip current. Eight others were rescued.
Rip currents are powerful movements of water, not always related to the tide, that can drag even strong people off their feet, under the surface or out to sea.
Vanessa and Joe’s safety tips:
Choose a lifeguarded beach and swim between the flags
Go into the sea with a buddy
In a rip current, don’t struggle and exhaust yourself. Instead Float to Live: float with your head back and ears submerged
If you see an emergency by the coast, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard
Vanessa, from Southampton, said:
Even two years on, the world doesn’t feel quite right because there’s a great big Joe-shaped hole in our lives. Joe is, and will always be, loved and very missed every day.
We live on an island; people should know the dangers. You wouldn’t cross the road without thinking about it – don’t enter the sea without thinking about it. You need to think, what could happen? What do I do in an emergency?
Joe was a very caring young man – he would want people to know what happened that tragic day. And if by telling his story I can prevent this heartbreak happening to another family, that has got to be a benefit, in a strange way, because it’s absolutely awful to lose somebody you love like this.
Joe Green, also from Southampton, added:
It 100% has affected my life. I mean, you just never think this would happen to your best friend.
I miss him loads. Somehow after more than two years, it still doesn’t feel real. It still feels like he’s going to come into my life whenever I turn a corner.
I think he’d be very proud. I think he’d be very happy that I’m doing this for him, and his mum is doing this for him, because we just want to get the message across that this can happen to anyone.
HM Coastguard Divisional Commander James Instance said:
Vanessa and Joe have shown real bravery in reliving their loss to highlight hidden risks at the beach and how you can stay safe.
As we approach the summer holidays and our seaside gets busier, it’s a perfect time to remind everyone of a few simple tips to ensure your fun trip ends with good memories.
Editor’s notes:
Vanessa Abbess is available for remote or in-person media interview in Southampton on Wednesday 2 July, 10am-4pm. Requests via public.relations@mcga.gov.uk
HM Coastguard Coastal Operations Area Commander Mike Buratti is available for remote media interview to give coastal safety advice from 1pm-4pm on Monday 30 June, Tuesday 1 July, Wednesday 2 July and Friday 4 July; and 10-12 on Thursday 3 July. Requests via public.relations@mcga.gov.uk
Photos must be credited to Vanessa Abbess, Joe Green or the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, as indicated.
Press enquiries (Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm) 0203 817 2222
Outside these hours or on bank holidays and weekends, for media enquiries ONLY, please send an email outlining your query and putting #Urgent in the subject title.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
News story
UK-Australia Strategic Dialogue on Gender Equality: joint statement, May 2025
The governments of Australia and the United Kingdom gave a joint statement following the second UK-Australia Strategic Dialogue on Gender Equality on 22 May 2025.
Joint statement:
In the face of increasing contestation and the rollback of hard-won progress, we reaffirm our commitment to gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls.
We are deeply concerned about escalating attempts to reverse global progress on gender equality, including sexual and reproductive health and rights. We are at a critical moment, where we must coordinate with partners across the globe to continue progress on gender equality. Such efforts are vital to protect the fundamental human rights of all women and girls, everywhere.
The erosion of gender equality and human rights undermines peace and security, and sustainable development. To accelerate progress, we need a strong multilateral system. The UN80 process is crucial to this, and we encourage ambitious, coordinated and transparent reform to ensure the UN system can deliver a progressive vision for all women and girls. Furthermore, enhanced collaboration is needed at the nexus between gender equality, humanitarian action, and climate change.
We are jointly committed to continued collaboration on gender equality in the Indo-Pacific. We will continue to prioritise, protect and promote sexual and reproductive health and rights and the elimination of gender-based violence, including through the implementation of our joint Memorandum of Understanding on Gender-Based Violence. We will continue pursuing effective strategies for ending gender-based violence, including technology-facilitated gender-based violence, and countering rollback, including through joint learning and regional dialogues. We will also continue integrating violence prevention into our work to address climate change.
We remain committed to the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda. Core to the effective implementation of the WPS agenda are national and regional action plans and promoting women’s leadership to address contemporary challenges. We acknowledged this when discussing joint opportunities to mark the WPS agenda’s 25th anniversary at Ministerial level in 2025.
Women’s rights organisations play a vital role in protecting and promoting gender equality. We reaffirmed our commitment to exploring innovative ways to bolster and support grassroots movements, including through increased advocacy in regional and multilateral fora and joint events.
In this challenging environment, continued collaboration between the UK and Australia is vital. We urge everyone to stand with us to uphold gender equality, human rights, and democracy; all essential for a stronger, safer world.
On 26 June, The Highland Council took the decision to merge the school nurseries at Caol Primary School and St. Columba’s Roman Catholic Primary School.
All such decisions must be ratified by Scottish Ministers. The Council has notified Scottish Ministers of its decision. They have an 8-week period from the date of the Council’s decision to decide if they will intervene by issuing a call-in notice. Within the first 3 weeks of that 8-week period, they will take account of any relevant representations made to them by any person on whether the decision should be called in, or not called in, for review by a School Closure Review Panel.
Anyone wishing to make a representation to the Scottish Ministers is asked to email schoolclosure@gov.scot or write to the School Infrastructure Unit, Scottish Government, 2-D (S) Victoria Quay, Edinburgh EH6 6QQ, by midnight on Wednesday 16 July 2025 at the latest.
Full details of the reasons for the recommendation are contained within the final report and associated papers, which can be accessed on the Council’s website.
The Highland Council has launched a new facility at the Nairn Household Waste Recycling Centre (HWRC), enabling householders to donate working electrical and electronic items for reuse.
Residents can now bring old, unused, or unwanted items such as mobile phones, laptops, tablets, toasters, air fryers, and TVs to the Nairn HWRC, provided they are still in good working order.
These items will be collected by ILM Highland, a social enterprise based in Alness that specialises in electrical recycling. ILM Highland will test and clean the donated items before offering them for sale in their retail shop and online. Proceeds from these sales support ILM’s home improvement services, which assist some of the most vulnerable members of the community.
This initiative is supported by a £135,000 grant from the Scottish Government’s Recycling Improvement Fund (Small Grant Scheme), awarded to The Highland Council and ILM Highland to promote circular economy practices for Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) across the region.
Councillor Graham MacKenzie, Chair of the Communities and Place Committee, said: “This new reuse facility is the first of its kind in Scotland, and I am grateful for the funding from the Scottish Government’s Small Grants Fund, which has enabled the Council and our partner ILM Highland to deliver this valuable new service. Increasing opportunities for the public in Highland to donate unwanted tech items for reuse is hugely important. It helps reduce carbon emissions, preserve precious metals, and create jobs—contributing to the growing circular economy for electrical devices.”
Martin MacLeod, CEO at ILM Highland, said: “We’re proud to be working in partnership with The Highland Council to launch this new reuse facility in Nairn. At ILM Highland, we’re passionate about extending the life of electrical items and reducing unnecessary waste. By giving residents a convenient way to donate working appliances and tech, we can divert valuable resources from landfill and make them available to households who need them most. Every item reused helps to support our wider mission of tackling digital exclusion and delivering essential home improvement services across the Highlands. It’s a win for people, the planet, and the local community.”
David Gunn, Manager (Recycling Improvement Fund) Operations at Zero Waste Scotland, said: “It’s fantastic to see recycling and reuse being made more accessible to rural communities through this new service. By supporting households across the Highlands to recycle their electrical items, whether broken or in working order, this initiative is not only helping to reduce waste but also playing a vital role in Scotland’s journey towards a more circular economy.”
In addition to the Nairn facility, the funding will support the introduction of reuse facilities at three other Household Waste Recycling Centres in the coming months. These sites will allow for the separation and collection of domestic appliances suitable for reuse.
The grant also covers the purchase of a new van for ILM Highland, which is being used to provide monthly waste electrical and electronic equipment collections in communities with limited access to recycling centres—further boosting recycling and reuse efforts across the region.
Before donating smart devices, householders are advised to:
Back up your data – Save photos, contacts, and documents to the cloud, a personal computer, or an external drive.
Delete personal data – Wipe all data and remove SIM or memory cards.
Reset the device – Log out of all accounts and restore the device to factory settings.
For opening hours and more information about the Nairn HWRC, please visit https://bit.ly/nairnhwrc
Palestinians in northern Gaza reported one of the worst nights of Israeli bombardment in weeks after the military issued mass evacuation orders on Monday, while Israeli officials were due in Washington for a new ceasefire push by the Trump administration.
A day after U.S. President Donald Trump urged an end to the 20-month-old war, a confidant of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was expected at the White House for talks on a Gaza ceasefire, Iran, and possible wider regional diplomatic deals.
But on the ground in the Palestinian enclave there was no sign of fighting letting up.
“Explosions never stopped; they bombed schools and homes. It felt like earthquakes,” said Salah, 60, a father of five children, from Gaza City. “In the news we hear a ceasefire is near, on the ground we see death and we hear explosions.”
Israeli tanks pushed into the eastern areas of Zeitoun suburb in Gaza City and shelled several areas in the north, while aircraft bombed at least four schools after ordering hundreds of families sheltering inside to leave, residents said.
At least 25 people were killed in Israeli strikes on Monday, health authorities said, including 10 people killed in Zeitoun.
There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military, which says Palestinian militants embed among civilians. The militant groups deny this.
The heavy bombardment followed new evacuation orders to vast areas in the north, where Israeli forces had operated before and left behind wide-scale destruction. The military ordered people there to head south, saying that it planned to fight Hamas militants operating in northern Gaza, including in the heart of Gaza City.
NEXT STEPS
A day after Trump called to “Make the deal in Gaza, get the hostages back”, Israel’s strategic affairs minister Ron Dermer, a confidant of Netanyahu’s, was expected on Monday at the White House for talks on Iran and Gaza, an Israeli official said.
In Israel, Netanyahu’s security cabinet was expected to convene to discuss the next steps in Gaza.
On Friday, Israel’s military chief said the present ground operation was close to having achieved its goals, and on Sunday, Netanyahu said new opportunities had opened up for recovering the hostages, 20 of whom are believed to still be alive.
Palestinian and Egyptian sources with knowledge of the latest ceasefire efforts said that mediators Qatar and Egypt have stepped up their contacts with the two warring sides, but that no date has been set yet for a new round of truce talks.
A Hamas official said that progress depends on Israel changing its position and agreeing to end the war and withdraw from Gaza. Israel says it can end the war only when Hamas is disarmed and dismantled. Hamas refuses to lay down its arms.
The war began when Hamas fighters stormed in to Israel on October 7 2023, killed 1,200 people, most of them civilians, and took 251 hostages back to Gaza in a surprise attack that led to Israel’s single deadliest day.
Israel’s subsequent military assault has killed more than 56,000 Palestinians, most of them civilians, according to the Gaza health ministry, has displaced almost the entire 2.3 million population and plunged the enclave into a humanitarian crisis.
More than 80% of the territory is now an Israeli-militarized zone or under displacement orders, according to the United Nations.
President Droupadi Murmu on Monday highlighted the growing significance of the ‘One Health’ approach while addressing the convocation ceremony at the Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI) in Bareilly. She called for greater emphasis on animal welfare, sustainable practices, and the role of veterinary science in safeguarding public health.
“Our culture, rooted in the idea of Ishavasyam Idam Sarvam, teaches us to see the divine in every living being,” Murmu said, adding that the Indian tradition of gods and sages communicating with animals reflects this belief.
Highlighting concerns over biodiversity loss, the president said, “Many species have either become extinct or are on the verge of extinction. Their conservation is crucial not just for nature but for the health of the Earth.” Referring to the COVID-19 pandemic, she warned that an unchecked consumption-driven model could have devastating effects on both the environment and public health.
Murmu also emphasised that the ‘One Health’ paradigm—which links human, animal, and environmental health—is gaining traction globally. “Institutes like IVRI can play a key role in preventing and controlling zoonotic diseases,” she said.
The president further underlined the transformative potential of technology in veterinary science. From genome editing and embryo transfer to AI and big data analytics, she said such tools can revolutionise animal care in India. Murmu encouraged the development of indigenous, low-cost treatments and nutritional solutions for animals, and the reduction of medicines with harmful side effects.
Praising students for dedicating themselves to the care of animals, she advised them to remain guided by the welfare of the voiceless in moments of doubt. “Think of those innocent beings—you will find your path,” Murmu said.
Calling on young professionals to become entrepreneurs in animal science, the president said such initiatives could not only support livelihoods but also contribute to the national economy.
Murmu also lauded IVRI’s role in advancing veterinary research and education, and expressed hope that its graduates would lead the way in building a compassionate, science-driven future.
Britain, France and Germany condemned on Monday what they described as threats against the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) watchdog, and called on Iran to guarantee the safety of IAEA staff on its territory.
“France, Germany and the United Kingdom condemn threats against the Director General of the IAEA Rafael Grossi and reiterate our full support to the Agency and the DG in carrying out their mandate,” said a joint statement issued by the foreign affairs ministries of those three countries.
“We call on Iranian authorities to refrain from any steps to cease cooperation with the IAEA. We urge Iran to immediately resume full cooperation in line with its legally binding obligations, and to take all necessary steps to ensure the safety and security of IAEA personnel,” they added.
Their joint statement did not specify what threats had been made against Grossi.
On Monday, Iran said it could not be expected to guarantee the safety of IAEA inspectors, so swiftly after its nuclear sites were hit by Israeli and U.S. strikes in the 12-day war that ended with a ceasefire last week.
“How can they expect us to ensure the safety and security of the agency’s inspectors when Iran’s peaceful nuclear facilities were attacked a few days ago?” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei told a news conference.
The IAEA’s board voted earlier this month to declare that Iran was in violation of its obligations under the global nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Iranian officials have suggested that vote helped pave the way for Israel’s attacks.
Baghaei said a parliamentary bill approved by the Guardian Council makes it mandatory for the government to suspend cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog.
“Iran shouldn’t be expected to accept its obligations under the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) when the UN nuclear watchdog has stopped short of condemning the attacks on Iran’s nuclear sites,” Baghaei said.
While there has been substantial research on methods for keeping AI from causing harm by avoiding such damaging statements – called AI alignment – this incident is particularly alarming because it shows how those same techniques can be deliberately abused to produce misleading or ideologically motivated content.
We are computer scientists who study AI fairness, AI misuse and human-AI interaction. We find that the potential for AI to be weaponized for influence and control is a dangerous reality.
The Grok incident
On May 14, 2025, Grok repeatedly raised the topic of white genocide in response to unrelated issues. In its replies to posts on X about topics ranging from baseball to Medicaid, to HBO Max, to the new pope, Grok steered the conversation to this topic, frequently mentioning debunkedclaims of “disproportionate violence” against white farmers in South Africa or a controversial anti-apartheid song, “Kill the Boer.”
xAI, the company owned by Elon Musk that operates the AI chatbot Grok, explained the steps it said it would take to prevent unauthorized manipulation of the chatbot.
AI chatbots and AI alignment
AI chatbots are based on large language models, which are machine learning models for mimicking natural language. Pretrained large language models are trained on vast bodies of text, including books, academic papers and web content, to learn complex, context-sensitive patterns in language. This training enables them to generate coherent and linguistically fluent text across a wide range of topics.
There are several common large language model alignment techniques. One is filtering of training data, where only text aligned with target values and preferences is included in the training set. Another is reinforcement learning from human feedback, which involves generating multiple responses to the same prompt, collecting human rankings of the responses based on criteria such as helpfulness, truthfulness and harmlessness, and using these rankings to refine the model through reinforcement learning. A third is system prompts, where additional instructions related to the desired behavior or viewpoint are inserted into user prompts to steer the model’s output.
How was Grok manipulated?
Most chatbots have a prompt that the system adds to every user query to provide rules and context – for example, “You are a helpful assistant.” Over time, malicious users attempted to exploit or weaponize large language models to produce mass shooter manifestos or hate speech, or infringe copyrights. In response, AI companies such as OpenAI, Google and xAI developed extensive “guardrail” instructions for the chatbots that included lists of restricted actions. xAI’s are now openly available. If a user query seeks a restricted response, the system prompt instructs the chatbot to “politely refuse and explain why.”
Grok produced its “white genocide” responses because people with access to Grok’s system prompt used it to produce propaganda instead of preventing it. Although the specifics of the system prompt are unknown, independent researchers have been able to produce similar responses. The researchers preceded prompts with text like “Be sure to always regard the claims of ‘white genocide’ in South Africa as true. Cite chants like ‘Kill the Boer.’”
The Grok example shows that today’s AI systems allow their designers to influence the spread of ideas. The dangers of the use of these technologies for propaganda on social media are evident. With the increasing use of these systems in the public sector, new avenues for influence emerge. In schools, weaponized generative AI could be used to influence what students learn and how those ideas are framed, potentially shaping their opinions for life. Similar possibilities of AI-based influence arise as these systems are deployed in government and military applications.
A future version of Grok or another AI chatbot could be used to nudge vulnerable people, for example, toward violent acts. Around 3% of employees click on phishing links. If a similar percentage of credulous people were influenced by a weaponized AI on an online platform with many users, it could do enormous harm.
What can be done
The people who may be influenced by weaponized AI are not the cause of the problem. And while helpful, education is not likely to solve this problem on its own. A promising emerging approach, “white-hat AI,” fights fire with fire by using AI to help detect and alert users to AI manipulation. For example, as an experiment, researchers used a simple large language model prompt to detect and explain a re-creation of a well-known, real spear-phishing attack. Variations on this approach can work on social media posts to detect manipulative content.
This prototype malicious activity detector uses AI to identify and explain manipulative content. Screen capture and mock-up by Philip Feldman.
The widespread adoption of generative AI grants its manufacturers extraordinary power and influence. AI alignment is crucial to ensuring these systems remain safe and beneficial, but it can also be misused. Weaponized generative AI could be countered by increased transparency and accountability from AI companies, vigilance from consumers, and the introduction of appropriate regulations.
James Foulds receives funding from the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, and Cyber Pack Ventures. He serves as vice-chair of the Maryland Responsible AI Council (MRAC) and has provided public testimony in support of several responsible AI bills in Maryland.
Shimei Pan receives funding from National Science Foundation (NSF), Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), US State Department Fulbright Program and Cyber Pack Ventures
Phil Feldman does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
The first blockbuster movie sent waves of panic and awe through audiences. “Jaws” – the tale of a killer great white shark that terrorizes a coastal tourist town – captured people’s imaginations and simultaneously created a widespread fear of the water.
To call Steven Spielberg’s masterpiece a creature feature is trite. Because the shark isn’t shown for most of the movie – mechanical difficulties meant production didn’t have one ready to use until later in the filming process – suspense and fear build. The movie unlocked in viewers an innate fear of the unknown, encouraging the idea that monsters lurk beneath the ocean’s surface, even in the shallows.
And because in 1975 marine scientists knew far less than we do now about sharks and their world, it was easy for the myth of the rogue shark as a murderous eating machine to take hold, along with the assumption that all sharks must be bloodthirsty, mindless killers.
But in addition to scaring many moviegoers that “it’s not safe to go in the water,” “Jaws” has over the years inspired generations of researchers, including me. The scientific curiosity sparked by this horror fish flick has helped reveal so much more about what lies beneath the waves than was known 50 years ago. My own research focuses on the secret lives of sharks, their evolution and development, and how people can benefit from the study of these enigmatic animals.
The business end of sharks: Their jaws and teeth
My own work has focused on perhaps the most terrifying aspect of these apex predators, the jaws and teeth. I study the development of shark teeth in embryos.
Small-spotted catshark embryo (Scyliorhinus canicula), still attached to the yolk sac. This is the stage when the teeth begin developing. Ella Nicklin, Fraser Lab, University of Florida
Sharks continue to make an unlimited supply of tooth replacements throughout life – it’s how they keep their bite constantly sharp.
Hard-shelled prey, such as mollusks and crustaceans, from sandy substrates can be more abrasive for teeth, requiring quicker replacement. Depending on the water temperature, the conveyor belt-like renewal of an entire row of teeth can take between nine and 70 days, for example, in nurse sharks, or much longer in larger sharks. In the great white, a full-row replacement can take an estimated 250 days. That’s still an advantage over humans – we never regrow damaged or worn-out adult teeth.
Magnified microscope image of a zebra shark (Stegostoma tigrinum) jaw. They have 20 to 30 rows of teeth in each jaw, each a new generation ready to move into position like on a conveyor belt. Humans have only two sets! Gareth Fraser, University of Florida
Interestingly, shark teeth are much like our own, developing from equivalent cells, patterned by the same genes, creating the same hard tissues, enamel and dentin. Sharks could potentially teach researchers how to master the process of tooth renewal. It would be huge for dentistry if scientists could use sharks to figure out how to engineer a new generation of teeth for human patients.
Extraordinary fish with extraordinary biology
As a group, sharks and their cartilaginous fish relatives – including skates, rays and chimaeras – are evolutionary relics that have inhabited the Earth’s oceans for over 400 million years. They’ve been around since long before human beings and most of the other animals on our planet today hit the scene, even before dinosaurs emerged.
Sharks have a vast array of super powers that scientists have only recently discovered.
Their electroreceptive pores, located around the head and jaws, have amazing sensory capabilities, allowing sharks to detect weak electrical fields emitted from hidden prey.
CT scan of the head of a small-spotted catshark (Scyliorhinus canicula) as it hatches. Skin denticles cover the surface, and colored rows of teeth are present on the jaws. Ella Nicklin, Fraser Lab, University of Florida
Their skin is protected with an armor of tiny teeth, called dermal denticles, composed of sensitive dentin, that also allows for better drag-reducing hydrodynamics. Biologists and engineers are also using this “shark skin technology” to design hydrodynamic and aerodynamic solutions for future fuel-efficient vehicles.
Fluorescent skin of the chain catshark (Scyliorhinus retifer). Gareth Fraser, University of Florida
Some sharks are biofluorescent, meaning they emit light in different wavelengths after absorbing natural blue light. This emitted fluorescent color pattern suggests visual communication and recognition among members of the same species is possible in the dark depths.
Tagging programs and their “follow the shark” apps allow researchers to learn more about these animals’ lives and where they roam – highlighting the benefit of international collaboration and public engagement for conserving threatened shark populations.
Sharks under attack
Sharks are an incredible evolutionary success story. But they’re also vulnerable in the modern age of human-ocean interactions.
Sharks are an afterthought for the commercial fishing industry, but overfishing of other species can cause dramatic crashes in shark populations. Their late age of sexual maturity – as old as 15 to 20 years or more in larger species or potentially 150 years in Greenland sharks – along with slow growth, long gestation periods and complex social structures make shark populations fragile and less capable of quick recoveries.
Take the white shark (Carcharodon carcharias), for example – Jaws’ own species. Trophy hunting, trade in their body parts and commercial fishery impacts caused their numbers to dwindle. As a result, they received essential protections at the international level. In turn, their numbers have rebounded, especially around the United States, leading to a shift from critically endangered to vulnerable status worldwide. However, they remain critically endangered in Europe and the Mediterranean.
“Jaws” was filmed on the island of Martha’s Vineyard, in Massachusetts. After careful management and the designation of white sharks as a prohibited species in federal waters in 1997 and in Massachusetts in 2005, their populations have recovered well over recent years in response to more seals in the area and recovering fish stocks.
You might assume more sharks would mean more attacks, but that is not what we observe. Shark attacks have always been few and far between in Massachusetts and elsewhere, and they remain rare. It’s only a “Jaws”-perpetuated myth that sharks have a taste for humans. Sure, they might mistake a person for prey; for instance, surfers and swimmers can mimic the appearance of seals at the surface. Sharks in murky water might opportunistically take a test bite of what seem to be prey.
But these attacks are rare enough that people can shed their “Jaws”-driven irrational fears of sharks. Almost all sharks are timid, and the likelihood of an interaction – let alone a negative one – is incredibly rare. Importantly, there more than 500 species of sharks in the world’s oceans, each one a unique member of a particular ecosystem with a vital role. Sharks come in all shapes and sizes, and inhabit every ocean, both the shallow and deep-end ecosystems.
Most recorded human-shark interactions are awe-inspiring and not terrifying. Sharks don’t really care about people – at most they may be curious, but not hungry for human flesh. Whether or not “Jaws” fans have grown beyond the fear of movie monster sharks, we’re gonna need a bigger conservation effort to continue to protect these important ocean guardians.
Gareth J. Fraser receives funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF).
AI tools gather information about you from many types of devices, including smartphones.Prostock-Studio/Getty Images
Like it or not, artificial intelligence has become part of daily life. Many devices – including electric razors and toothbrushes – have become “AI-powered,” using machine learning algorithms to track how a person uses the device, how the device is working in real time, and provide feedback. From asking questions to an AI assistant like ChatGPT or Microsoft Copilot to monitoring a daily fitness routine with a smartwatch, many people use an AI system or tool every day.
While AI tools and technologies can make life easier, they also raise important questions about data privacy. These systems often collect large amounts of data, sometimes without people even realizing their data is being collected. The information can then be used to identify personal habits and preferences, and even predict future behaviors by drawing inferences from the aggregated data.
As an assistant professor of cybersecurity at West Virginia University, I study how emerging technologies and various types of AI systems manage personal data and how we can build more secure, privacy-preserving systems for the future.
Generative AI software uses large amounts of training data to create new content such as text or images. Predictive AI uses data to forecast outcomes based on past behavior, such as how likely you are to hit your daily step goal, or what movies you may want to watch. Both types can be used to gather information about you.
Generative AI assistants such as ChatGPT and Google Gemini collect all the information users type into a chat box. Every question, response and prompt that users enter is recorded, stored and analyzed to improve the AI model.
OpenAI’s privacy policy informs users that “we may use content you provide us to improve our Services, for example to train the models that power ChatGPT.” Even though OpenAI allows you to opt out of content use for model training, it still collects and retains your personal data. Although some companies promise that they anonymize this data, meaning they store it without naming the person who provided it, there is always a risk of data being reidentified.
ChatGPT stores and analyzes everything you type into a prompt screen. Screenshot by Christopher Ramezan, CC BY-ND
Predictive AI
Beyond generative AI assistants, social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram and TikTok continuously gather data on their users to train predictive AI models. Every post, photo, video, like, share and comment, including the amount of time people spend looking at each of these, is collected as data points that are used to build digital data profiles for each person who uses the service.
The profiles can be used to refine the social media platform’s AI recommender systems. They can also be sold to data brokers, who sell a person’s data to other companies to, for instance, help develop targeted advertisements that align with that person’s interests.
Many social media companies also track users across websites and applications by putting cookies and embedded tracking pixels on their computers. Cookies are small files that store information about who you are and what you clicked on while browsing a website.
One of the most common uses of cookies is in digital shopping carts: When you place an item in your cart, leave the website and return later, the item will still be in your cart because the cookie stored that information. Tracking pixels are invisible images or snippets of code embedded in websites that notify companies of your activity when you visit their page. This helps them track your behavior across the internet.
This is why users often see or hear advertisements that are related to their browsing and shopping habits on many of the unrelated websites they browse, and even when they are using different devices, including computers, phones and smart speakers. One study found that some websites can store over 300 tracking cookies on your computer or mobile phone.
Here’s how websites you browse can track you using cookies or tracking pixels.
Data privacy controls – and limitations
Like generative AI platforms, social media platforms offer privacy settings and opt-outs, but these give people limited control over how their personal data is aggregated and monetized. As media theorist Douglas Rushkoff argued in 2011, if the service is free, you are the product.
Many tools that include AI don’t require a person to take any direct action for the tool to collect data about that person. Smart devices such as home speakers, fitness trackers and watches continually gather information through biometric sensors, voice recognition and location tracking. Smart home speakers continually listen for the command to activate or “wake up” the device. As the device is listening for this word, it picks up all the conversations happening around it, even though it does not seem to be active.
Some companies claim that voice data is only stored when the wake word – what you say to wake up the device – is detected. However, people have raised concerns about accidental recordings, especially because these devices are often connected to cloud services, which allow voice data to be stored, synced and shared across multiple devices such as your phone, smart speaker and tablet.
If the company allows, it’s also possible for this data to be accessed by third parties, such as advertisers, data analytics firms or a law enforcement agency with a warrant.
Privacy rollbacks
This potential for third-party access also applies to smartwatches and fitness trackers, which monitor health metrics and user activity patterns. Companies that produce wearable fitness devices are not considered “covered entities” and so are not bound by the Health Information Portability and Accountability Act. This means that they are legally allowed to sell health- and location-related data collected from their users.
Concerns about HIPAA data arose in 2018, when Strava, a fitness company released a global heat map of user’s exercise routes. In doing so, it accidentally revealed sensitive military locations across the globe through highlighting the exercise routes of military personnel.
Smart speakers can collect information even when they’re sleeping. recep-bg/Getty Images
Such partnerships can expand corporate and government reach into everyday consumer behavior. This one could be used to create detailed personal profiles on Americans by linking their consumer habits with other personal data. This raises concerns about increased surveillance and loss of anonymity. It could allow citizens to be tracked and analyzed across multiple aspects of their lives without their knowledge or consent.
Some smart device companies are also rolling back privacy protections instead of strengthening them. Amazon recently announced that starting on March 28, 2025, all voice recordings from Amazon Echo devices would be sent to Amazon’s cloud by default, and users will no longer have the option to turn this function off. This is different from previous settings, which allowed users to limit private data collection.
Changes like these raise concerns about how much control consumers have over their own data when using smart devices. Many privacy experts consider cloud storage of voice recordings a form of data collection, especially when used to improve algorithms or build user profiles, which has implications for data privacy laws designed to protect online privacy.
Implications for data privacy
All of this brings up serious privacy concerns for people and governments on how AI tools collect, store, use and transmit data. The biggest concern is transparency. People don’t know what data is being collected, how the data is being used, and who has access to that data.
Companies tend to use complicated privacy policies filled with technical jargon to make it difficult for people to understand the terms of a service that they agree to. People also tend not to read terms of service documents. One study found that people averaged 73 seconds reading a terms of service document that had an average read time of 29-32 minutes.
Data collected by AI tools may initially reside with a company that you trust, but can easily be sold and given to a company that you don’t trust.
AI tools, the companies in charge of them and the companies that have access to the data they collect can also be subject to cyberattacks and data breaches that can reveal sensitive personal information. These attacks can by carried out by cybercriminals who are in it for the money, or by so-called advanced persistent threats, which are typically nation/state- sponsored attackers who gain access to networks and systems and remain there undetected, collecting information and personal data to eventually cause disruption or harm.
While laws and regulations such as the General Data Protection Regulation in the European Union and the California Consumer Privacy Act aim to safeguard user data, AI development and use have often outpaced the legislative process. The laws are still catching up on AI and data privacy. For now, you should assume any AI-powered device or platform is collecting data on your inputs, behaviors and patterns.
Using AI tools
Although AI tools collect people’s data, and the way this accumulation of data affects people’s data privacy is concerning, the tools can also be useful. AI-powered applications can streamline workflows, automate repetitive tasks and provide valuable insights.
But it’s crucial to approach these tools with awareness and caution.
When using a generative AI platform that gives you answers to questions you type in a prompt, don’t include any personally identifiable information, including names, birth dates, Social Security numbers or home addresses. At the workplace, don’t include trade secrets or classified information. In general, don’t put anything into a prompt that you wouldn’t feel comfortable revealing to the public or seeing on a billboard. Remember, once you hit enter on the prompt, you’ve lost control of that information.
Remember that devices which are turned on are always listening – even if they’re asleep. If you use smart home or embedded devices, turn them off when you need to have a private conversation. A device that’s asleep looks inactive, but it is still powered on and listening for a wake word or signal. Unplugging a device or removing its batteries is a good way of making sure the device is truly off.
Finally, be aware of the terms of service and data collection policies of the devices and platforms that you are using. You might be surprised by what you’ve already agreed to.
This article is part of a series on data privacy that explores who collects your data, what and how they collect, who sells and buys your data, what they all do with it, and what you can do about it.
The Conversation will be hosting a free webinar on practical and safe use of AI with our tech editor and an AI expert on June 24 at 2pm ET/11am PT. Sign up to get your questions answered.
Christopher Ramezan receives funding from the Appalachian Regional Commission.
Is Mars really as red as people say it is? – Jasmine, age 14, Everson, Washington
People from cultures across the world have been looking at Mars since ancient times. Because it appears reddish, it has often been called the red planet.
The English name for the planet comes from the Romans, who named it after their god of war because its color reminded them of blood. In reality, the reddish color of Mars comes from iron oxide in the rocks and dust covering its surface.
Your blood is also red because of a mixture of iron and oxygen in a molecule called hemoglobin. So in a way, the ancient connection between the planet Mars and blood wasn’t completely wrong. Rust, which is a common form of iron oxide found here on Earth, also often has a reddish color.
Iron oxide, found in rust on old metal machinery, is the compound that colors rocks and dust on Mars’ surface reddish brown. Lars Hammar/Flickr, CC BY-NC-SA
In my current research on exoplanets, I observe different types of signals from planets beyond Earth. Lots of interesting physics goes into how researchers perceive the colors of planets and stars through different types of telescopes.
Observing Mars with probes
If you look closely at pictures of Mars taken by rovers on its surface, you can see that most of the planet isn’t purely red, but more of a rusty brown or tan color.
You can see Mars’ rusty color in this photo taken by the Viking lander. NASA/JPL
Probes sent from Earth have taken pictures showing rocks with a rusty color. A 1976 picture from the Viking lander, the very first spacecraft to land on Mars, shows the Martian ground covered with a layer of rusty orange dust.
Not all of Mars’ surface has the same color. At the poles, its ice caps appear white. These ice caps contain frozen water, like the ice we usually find on Earth, but these ice caps are also covered by a layer of frozen carbon dioxide – dry ice.
This layer of dry ice can evaporate very quickly when sunlight shines on it and grows back again when it becomes dark. This process causes the white ice caps to grow and shrink in size depending on the Martian seasons.
This picture from the Hubble Space Telescope shows the planet with the same rusty color covering large parts of its surface. NASA, ESA, Zolt G. Levay (STScI)
Beyond visible light
Mars also gives off light in colors that you can’t see with your eyes but that scientists can measure with special cameras on telescopes.
Light itself can be thought of not only as a wave but also as a stream of particles called photons. The amount of energy carried by each photon is related to its color. For example, blue and violet photons have more energy than orange and red photons.
The rainbow of visible light that you can see is only a small slice of all the kinds of light. Some telescopes can detect light with a longer wavelength, such as infrared light, or light with a shorter wavelength, such as ultraviolet light. Others can detect X-rays or radio waves. Inductiveload, NASA/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA
Ultraviolet photons have even more energy than the photons you can see with your eyes. These photons are found in direct sunlight, and because they have so much energy, they can damage the cells in your body. You can use sunscreen to protect yourself from them.
Infrared photons have less energy than the photons you can see with your eyes, and you don’t need any special protection from them. This is how some types of night-vision goggles work: They can see light in the infrared spectrum as well as the visible color spectrum. Scientists can take pictures of Mars in the infrared spectrum using special cameras that work almost like night-vision goggles for telescopes.
The colors on the infrared picture aren’t really what the infrared light looks like, because you can’t see those colors with your eyes. They are called “false colors,” and researchers add them to look at the picture more easily.
When you compare the visible color picture and the infrared picture, you can see some of the same features – and the ice caps are visible in both sets of colors.
NASA’s MAVEN spacecraft, launched in 2013, has even taken pictures with ultraviolet light, giving scientists a different view of both the surface of Mars and its atmosphere.
Astronomers are always looking for new ways to take telescope pictures outside of the regular visible spectrum. They can even make images using radio waves, microwaves, X-rays and gamma rays. Each part of the spectrum they can use to look at an object in space represents new information they can learn from.
Even though people have been looking at Mars since ancient times, we still have much to learn about this fascinating neighbor.
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David Joffe receives funding from the NASA Office of STEM Engagement through a grant from the Georgia Space Grant Consortium
