Will Vernon

Social-media personalities and tourists are increasingly approaching, touching and filming sharks at close range, sometimes with serious consequences. Brazilian lawyer and influencer Tayane Dalazen was bitten by a nurse shark during a diving trip after tour operators allegedly fed sharks to encourage interaction. Experts say such incidents remain rare overall, but attacks linked to filming shark encounters have increased, while social-media videos may encourage people to ignore safety guidance. Researchers also warn that human contact can stress sharks and disrupt important feeding, breeding and nursery areas. Ocean Ramsey, who runs paid shark tours, rejects claims that her content encourages dangerous behavior and says her work promotes conservation. Other shark specialists dispute that justification, arguing that touching or riding sharks provides little conservation or scientific value and may normalize unsafe conduct.

FIDE president Arkady Dvorkovich has voluntarily suspended his duties after being placed on the EU’s sanctions list for supporting Russia’s annexation of Crimea and describing occupied Ukrainian cities as Russian territories. Dvorkovich, who denies resigning and calls the sanctions unlawful and unfair, faces an asset freeze and travel ban. Ukraine welcomed the move, while critics accuse him and Russia of using FIDE to expand Moscow’s influence; Dvorkovich rejects those claims. His planned bid for re-election in September is now uncertain, potentially marking a shift in the leadership of international chess.