Attacks on educational institutions worldwide increased by 40% in 2024-2025, with more than 8,556 recorded incidents affecting students and staff across 83 countries, according to new research from the Global Coalition to Protect Education from Attack (GCPEA).

The study documented at least 10,600 students and staff members who were killed, injured, abducted or arrested during attacks on educational facilities. The highest concentrations of incidents occurred in Colombia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Haiti, Palestine and Ukraine.

Separately in Britain, financial institutions are reporting a significant increase in fraud cases as criminals increasingly deploy artificial intelligence tools to target consumers. On average, nearly eight cases of fraud involving stolen money are now reported across the UK every minute, according to recent data.

The surge in AI-powered scams coincides with new banking regulations requiring financial institutions to refund certain fraud victims, creating additional challenges for the industry as it adapts to both technological threats and regulatory changes.

Meanwhile, a BBC investigation revealed widespread exploitation within the online content creation industry, where dozens of women on OnlyFans reported being controlled and threatened by managers who promised to maximize their earnings while taking approximately half of their profits.

These separate developments highlight growing concerns about exploitation and criminal activity across digital platforms and traditional institutions globally.