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Anthropic said it disrupted attempts to misuse its Claude AI models for potential biological weapons research, weapons development and cyber espionage. In a new threat intelligence report, the company documented five cases involving researchers using Claude in ways that could support biological weapons development, including efforts to plan experiments involving avian influenza.

The company also reported that a suspected Russia-linked hacking group used AI extensively in cyber operations targeting Ukrainian government, military and diplomatic officials. Anthropic said the group used AI to automate activities including phishing, malware development and evading security detection. It also identified other criminal groups using Claude for weapons-related software and intelligence activities.

Anthropic further said it disrupted attacks involving seven China-based AI labs, including Alibaba, Moonshot and DeepSeek, which it accused of attempting to extract Claude’s capabilities. The company alleged that some operators conducted large-scale “distillation” efforts using Claude outputs to improve other AI models, while Moonshot and DeepSeek allegedly routed customer conversations through Claude for training purposes.

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An Italian court on Friday upheld an order to shut down the blast furnaces at the former Ilva steelworks in Taranto, dealing a setback to Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s efforts to keep the country’s largest steel plant operating while a buyer is sought. The plant is considered strategically important to Italy’s manufacturing sector and supplies steel to industries including construction and automotive.

The Milan Court of Appeal rejected an appeal by operator Acciaierie d’Italia against an earlier ruling that ordered the shutdown and remediation of the plant’s hot-end facilities over inadequate environmental safeguards. The decision adds uncertainty to the future of the sprawling complex, which has long faced disputes over pollution, public health, jobs and industrial policy.

The Taranto plant directly employs around 8,000 workers and supports a large network of contractors. The government is seeking investors for the company, which is under extraordinary administration, while officials have not ruled out maintaining a public stake. Italy is also considering a greener future for the steel industry, including electric arc furnaces powered by direct reduced iron (DRI).

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Five people were killed and 40 others injured after a bus carrying a Dutch tour group overturned near the Alpine village of Susch in eastern Switzerland, police said. The bus was carrying 45 adults, all of whom were Dutch nationals, according to Dutch emergency service provider Eurocross.

Three of the injured people were in serious condition, while seven suffered moderately serious injuries and 30 had minor injuries. The crash occurred on a section of road that had been closed for maintenance work, although police have not yet determined what caused the bus to overturn.

Emergency teams responded at the scene, where the bus was found lying on its side beside the road. Dutch King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima expressed their condolences to the victims, their families and those injured in the crash.

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Emma Bonino, the veteran Italian politician and prominent campaigner for abortion rights and civil liberties, died on Friday at the age of 78, her spokesperson said. Her political journey began in the 1970s, when she publicly challenged Italy’s then-illegal abortion laws after undergoing a clandestine procedure and later turning herself in to police.

Bonino went on to become a leading figure in Italy’s Radical Party and served in both the Italian and European parliaments. She held senior government positions, including foreign minister and European affairs minister, and served as a European Commissioner. Throughout her five-decade career, she campaigned on issues including gender equality, migrant rights, female genital mutilation, pension equality and European integration.

Known for her outspoken style and willingness to challenge established norms, Bonino remained active in politics well into her 70s. She survived lung cancer and continued her public work despite health challenges. In 2024, Pope Francis made an unusual visit to her home following a serious health scare, highlighting the respect she commanded despite their differences over abortion.

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Spain’s lower house of parliament has approved legislation granting Spanish citizenship to Sahrawis born during the period when Spain administered Western Sahara. The bill passed with 168 votes in favour, 31 against and 145 abstentions, and would also allow eligible citizens’ descendants to apply for citizenship.

The move could benefit an estimated 70,000 to 110,000 Sahrawis. Spain ruled Western Sahara from 1884 until 1976, after which Morocco asserted control over much of the territory. The Polisario Front, backed by Algeria, continues to seek independence for Western Sahara.

The citizenship decision could further complicate Spain’s already sensitive relationship with Morocco. Spain shifted its position in 2022 by backing Morocco’s proposal for autonomy in Western Sahara, after previously supporting a UN-backed referendum on the territory’s future.

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Alexander Zverev reached the US Open semi-finals with a dominant 6-2, 7-5, 6-1 victory over Botic van de Zandschulp. The German top seed produced a strong performance despite staying awake until around 3:30am to watch Ben Shelton defeat defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in the tournament’s latest-ever finish.

Zverev, who has already won his maiden Grand Slam title at this year’s French Open, has now reached all four major semi-finals in a single season for the first time. He will face Russia’s Karen Khachanov, who advanced after Belgium’s Alexander Blockx retired with injuries while trailing 6-2, 7-5, 3-2.

The German has also set a national record by winning 23 Grand Slam matches in 2026, surpassing Boris Becker’s previous mark of 22 in 1989. Zverev admitted he struggled early in the tournament but has steadily improved and is now considered a leading contender for the US Open title following Alcaraz’s exit.

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Iceland’s government plans to introduce a bill in February that would permanently ban commercial whaling, a move that could leave Norway and Japan as the world’s only countries continuing the practice. The government, which holds a parliamentary majority, said there is significant political and public support for the proposed ban. Whaling in Iceland has faced years of opposition from animal welfare and conservation groups.

Iceland’s current whaling season runs from June to around the end of September, with 80 fin whales reportedly caught as of September 9 against an annual quota of 150. Fin whales, the main target of Iceland’s whaling industry, are classified as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Animal welfare groups have welcomed the proposed legislation, citing ethical, legal and conservation concerns.

Iceland, Norway and Japan are the only countries known to have conducted commercial whaling in recent years. Norway resumed commercial whaling in 1993, while Iceland restarted in 2006 despite an international moratorium introduced in 1986. Japan withdrew from the International Whaling Commission in 2019 and resumed commercial whaling within its waters, while indigenous communities in some regions remain exempt from the moratorium for cultural and nutritional reasons.

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A Russian drone entering Moldovan airspace delayed a plane carrying Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and his wife Olena as they prepared to leave Chisinau for Norway. Moldova temporarily closed its airspace after the unmanned aircraft crossed the border from the direction of Ukraine, leaving Zelensky’s aircraft on the runway for about an hour. Several other flights were also affected.

The flight was cleared to depart after authorities confirmed that the drone had come down and exploded about 160km from Chisinau International Airport. Zelensky and Olena later arrived safely in Oslo, where the Ukrainian president held talks with Norwegian officials on military support before attending the funeral of Norway’s King Harald V.

The incident comes as Russian drone attacks on Ukraine and surrounding areas intensify. Kyiv has experienced record levels of air-raid alerts, while a recent attack on a Moldovan border crossing killed two people. Ukraine has also carried out long-range drone strikes inside Russia, highlighting the escalating use of unmanned aircraft in the ongoing conflict.

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German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has clashed with AfD leader Alice Weidel in parliament following the far-right party’s major victory in Saxony-Anhalt. The AfD secured nearly 44% of the vote, while Merz’s conservative CDU saw its support fall sharply. Weidel called Merz’s coalition government a failure, while Merz described the AfD as a “destructive force” and criticised its migration policies.

Merz warned that the AfD’s proposed “remigration” policy could affect millions of people and harm key sectors that depend on migrant workers. He argued that migrants make up a significant share of Germany’s skilled workforce and said mass deportations could leave hospitals, care homes and restaurants struggling to operate. The heated parliamentary debate was repeatedly disrupted by AfD MPs, prompting Bundestag President Julia Klöckner to threaten disciplinary action.

The AfD’s victory has intensified debate over Germany’s political future, although the party fell three seats short of an outright majority in Saxony-Anhalt. It has indicated that it could seek support from another party to form a government, potentially challenging Germany’s long-standing political firewall against cooperation with the far right. The result has also drawn praise from US President Donald Trump, adding further international attention to Germany’s shifting political landscape.

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Lucia Sisic, the reigning Miss Austria 2024, has died at the age of 22. Mission Austria, which organises the Miss Austria and Mister Austria pageants, announced her death on Monday, describing it as a shock and expressing condolences to her family, friends and loved ones. The cause of death has not been confirmed.

Sisic had lived with a congenital heart condition from birth and underwent seven operations during her lifetime. She had previously spoken publicly about her health struggles, saying that her childhood was different because of her condition but that the experiences made her stronger. In 2024, she also thanked the medical teams who had repeatedly helped save her life.

Herzkinder Österreich, a charity supporting children with heart conditions, also paid tribute to Sisic, remembering her as a courageous and warm-hearted young woman. The organisation said she had used her own experiences to encourage others living with congenital heart defects.

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