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I do not know why the number of sexual offences reported to the gardaí is down 19% and is now down to a four year low. Likely multifactorial. Unlike murder/manslaughter, many cases never get reported for fear the victim won't be believed or might not get reported for years due #SexualOffences #CrimeRates #JusticeSystem #Thetweetdoesnotmentionanyspecificcountries.Therefore #therearenocountrycodestoreturn.

Iran’s cognitive warfare – when AI becomes the operating layer of state propaganda Iranian state-linked influence operators were not using artificial intelligence simply to write faster social-media posts. According to Anthropic’s September 2026 threat intelligence report, three separate operations connected to Iranian propaganda institutions were using Claude to help construct the machinery behind what the operators themselves called “soft war” and “cognitive warfare” – non-military efforts intended to shape public opinion inside Iran and abroad. Anthropic linked the activity to the Islamic Culture and Communications Organization (ICCO), which operates under Iran’s Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance; the Islamic Propaganda Office of Khorasan Razavi; and the Bina Cultural Observatory, part of the Islamic Propaganda Organization. The company said each operation was run by someone working within or on behalf of the named institution. The attribution was based on a combination of account telemetry, institutional references disclosed during conversations, branded documents and open-source corroboration. Anthropic subsequently removed the accounts. AI as an operational headquarters The most significant feature of the operation was the role assigned to AI. Claude was used to develop campaign plans, doctrine manuals, coded project portfolios, persona systems, target databases, early-warning protocols, amplification schedules and ministerial planning documents. Anthropic described the model as the principal administrative and operational layer supporting the three campaigns, allowing relatively small groups of operators to create organisational structures and planning material that would otherwise have required a much larger staff. This distinction matters. The reported use of AI went considerably beyond content generation. Operators were using the model to help organise how influence activity should function: which audiences to target, which identities should deliver particular narratives, how official material should be repackaged and when amplification should take place. Human operators still determined objectives and supplied the underlying political doctrine; AI helped translate those decisions into an operational system. Anthropic found that all three operations explicitly connected their activity to Jihad al-Tabyin, often translated as “explanatory jihad”, a concept used within the Iranian state system to frame information activity as both a strategic and ideological responsibility. In internal planning material examined by the company, this doctrine was not merely rhetorical: it informed manuals and campaign structures used by the operators. ‘Not the narrator, but the director’ One sentence contained in the ICCO material captures the model particularly clearly. According to Anthropic, an operator described the role of Iranian cultural attachés as being “not to be the narrator, but the director” of the narrative. The distinction reveals the logic of attribution laundering. Instead of publishing an overt state message and asking foreign audiences to believe it, the operator attempts to create the appearance that the same narrative emerged independently from journalists, activists, foreign writers or ordinary citizens. Anthropic found that Claude was used specifically to make content appear to come from foreign authors or independent media organisations and to design hashtag campaigns that looked grassroots rather than centrally organised. The ICCO operation reportedly used the organisation’s international cultural network as part of this structure. Anthropic found ministerial-level documents carrying official ICCO branding, including a nine-part international influence portfolio. This makes the operation particularly significant because the infrastructure was not limited to anonymous social-media accounts; it intersected with formal state institutions and an existing network of cultural representation abroad. A multilingual content factory A second operation was associated with the Islamic Propaganda Office of Khorasan Razavi and what Anthropic described as a “cognitive warfare command room” operating from a seminary in Mashhad. Its organisers ran a multi-province content production system known internally as Manjanegh, or “Catapult”. According to Anthropic, dozens of activists were involved in repackaging publicly available reporting from Iranian security institutions under different personas so that the material no longer appeared directly connected to those institutions. The network used Claude to transform official government intelligence bulletins into customised material in Farsi, Arabic, Urdu, Malay, Spanish and English, while planning expansion into a total of 20 languages. Distribution extended across Iranian platforms such as Eitaa, Bale and Rubika and international services including X, Instagram, Telegram, TikTok and YouTube. Anthropic also documented paid amplification across more than 100 Iranian channels, including channels associated with IRGC narratives. The scale should nevertheless be interpreted carefully. Anthropic documented production infrastructure and some real-world dissemination, but it did not demonstrate that all planned campaigns were fully deployed or that they meaningfully changed public opinion. The company placed the operation in Category Three of its Breakout Scale, indicating multi-platform activity with content observed in external distribution channels, rather than evidence of strategic impact on entire populations. From security bulletins to apparently independent voices The Bina Cultural Observatory operation provides another example of the same architecture. Anthropic linked a director-level official at Bina to activity in which Claude generated messaging in the voice of an IRGC spokesperson. During the 2026 US–Israel–Iran war, the network also attributed false claims to Western institutions including CSIS, Brookings and RAND. The apparent objective was to make Iranian state-aligned claims look as though they had been independently validated by respected foreign research organisations. That technique is more sophisticated than simply publishing propaganda under a false name. It attempts to manufacture a chain of external validation: official information is transformed into apparently independent commentary, which can then be recirculated as evidence that outside observers have reached the same conclusion. Anthropic also found target databases naming international officials and Iranian opposition figures, as well as aggressive counter-narrative material directed against the Bahá’í community. These findings show that the infrastructure was designed not only for broad messaging but also for targeted influence activity against specific groups and individuals. What AI changed The Iranian operations described by Anthropic did not create a new doctrine of influence. Iran has used cultural institutions, official media, aligned organisations and covert or semi-covert online networks for years. What AI changed was the economics and organisational capacity of that model. A relatively small team could use the system to draft doctrine, create personas, translate material, structure target databases, produce campaign calendars and generate multiple versions of the same message for different audiences. The operator remained responsible for intent, political direction and selection of targets. AI reduced the amount of human labour required to turn those decisions into a functioning influence operation. The most revealing part of the case is therefore not that an Iranian propaganda network used a chatbot. It is that AI was being treated as part of the back office of information warfare – a system for converting state doctrine into apparently decentralised, multilingual and plausibly independent voices. Sources Anthropic — Detecting and countering misuse of AI: September 2026 https://www.anthropic.com/threat-intelligence-report-september-2026 Iran International — Iran state-aligned accounts used Claude to push IRGC narratives https://www.iranintl.com/en/202609105561 BNE IntelliNews — Yemen missile cell used AI to write guidance software, Anthropic says https://new.intellinews.com/articles/yemen-missile-cell-used-ai-to-write-guidance-software-anthropic-says-467296 This is Beirut — Anthropic report details Iranian propaganda operations https://thisisbeirut.com.lb/news/politics/anthropic-report-details-iranian-propaganda-operations-and-yemen-missile-development-using-claude Anthropic report — PDF mirror https://static.foxbusiness.com/foxbusiness.com/content/uploads/2026/09/anthropic-detecting-and-countering-091026-1.pdf Keywords #DISINFORMED #Episode11 #Iran #IranianInfluence #IranianPropaganda #CognitiveWarfare #SoftWar #JihadAlTabyin #Disinformation #InformationWarfare #InfluenceOperations #ForeignInterference #FIMI #ArtificialIntelligence #AI #AIPropaganda #GenerativeAI #ClaudeAI #Anthropic #SyntheticMedia #NarrativeManipulation #NarrativeLaundering #AttributionLaundering #PersonaNetworks #Astroturfing #SocialMediaManipulation #DigitalInfluence #StatePropaganda #IslamicCultureAndCommunicationsOrganization #ICCO #IslamicPropagandaOrganization #KhorasanRazavi #IRGC #MultilingualInfluence #Targeting #Amplification #OSINT #WRLD

DN's Emma Bouvin continues to write editorial texts disguised as news journalism – in the same spirit as her father Peter Löfgren, the SVT reporter whose many years of fixation on Israel left clear traces in public service Middle East coverage. Now she not only relativizes the Israeli passengers' intervention against a suspected terrorist act. She also perpetuates the conspiracy theory that Israelis would be “indoctrinated” with the idea that people in Gaza and the West Bank are trained to want to kill Jews. (translated)

Africa Daily Report — 1 October 2026 Major developments reported during the previous 24 hours 1. Kenya / East Africa — $16 billion Dangote refinery breaks ground in Lamu. Five African heads of state joined the groundbreaking of Dangote Group's planned $16 billion refinery in Lamu. The plant is designed to process 700,000 barrels per day and is expected to take about 40 months to complete. It is intended to reduce East Africa's dependence on imported refined petroleum, but the project still faces land-rights litigation and environmental concerns. Importance: VERY HIGH — the project could materially reshape East African fuel supply, trade flows, infrastructure investment and regional industrialisation. Direct source: https://apnews.com/article/a0ae7108ae4f4144222aea101baed3a5 2. South Africa — Ramaphosa announces response to gender-based violence. President Cyril Ramaphosa announced additional measures after the discovery of multiple murdered women in Ekurhuleni. Measures include a 60-day local-government safety audit and reviews of unresolved murder, rape and other gender-based-violence cases. Police have not established that the recent killings were committed by a single perpetrator. Importance: VERY HIGH — gender-based violence remains a major public-safety and criminal-justice challenge in South Africa. Direct source: https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/violence-against-women-south-africa-is-national-shame-president-says-2026-09-30/ 3. DR Congo — Mistrust complicates Ebola response after politician killed. Congolese politician Marie-Célestin Karondwa was killed after publicly supporting the government's Ebola response, according to AP. The killing illustrates the severe community mistrust confronting health authorities as the Bundibugyo-virus outbreak continues. Congo has recorded more than 8,000 confirmed infections and nearly 4,000 deaths in the current outbreak. Importance: CRITICAL — the combination of rapid transmission, very high mortality, insecurity and resistance to health measures poses a major regional public-health risk. Direct source: https://apnews.com/article/1ff629474298a62db44438c6eb178270 4. Zambia — Government opens talks with IMF on a new programme. Zambia began discussions with a visiting IMF mission on a successor lending programme. The country's previous $1.7 billion IMF arrangement expired in January, and Lusaka wants a new agreement before year-end. The IMF mission is scheduled to remain through October 10. Importance: HIGH — a new IMF programme could affect Zambia's fiscal policy, investment environment and economic strategy after its sovereign-debt restructuring. Direct source: https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/zambia-starts-talks-with-visiting-imf-mission-new-loan-programme-2026-09-30/ 5. South Africa / United States — Pretoria summons US ambassador. South Africa's foreign ministry summoned US Ambassador Leo Brent Bozell III over what it described as “undiplomatic conduct.” It was the third such summons in nine months, reflecting continuing strain in bilateral relations. Both governments have nevertheless indicated that dialogue is continuing. Direct source: https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/south-africa-summons-us-ambassador-again-over-undiplomatic-conduct-official-says-2026-09-30/ 6. South Africa — Anti-immigration protests held in Durban. Hundreds of demonstrators marched in Durban calling for more deportations of undocumented migrants and tighter border controls. The demonstration comes amid heightened tensions over migration and previous violence against foreign nationals. Authorities did not recognise an ultimatum previously issued by organisers demanding that undocumented migrants leave the country. Direct source: https://apnews.com/article/c086e617b555643510541f9c9906ca4b 7. Africa — WHO data show sharp increase in cholera deaths. New WHO surveillance data show that reported cholera deaths globally rose by about 30% in 2025 despite fewer reported cases. The African Region experienced a particularly sharp deterioration: reported cases increased by 34% and deaths by 58%. Angola, DR Congo, Nigeria, South Sudan and Sudan were among seven countries accounting for roughly 90% of reported global cases and deaths. Importance: VERY HIGH — the figures highlight persistent weaknesses in water, sanitation, surveillance and access to timely treatment across several African states. Direct source: https://allafrica.com/stories/202609300113.html 8. Zambia — New cholera outbreak reaches 304 cases and 11 deaths. Zambian health authorities reported 304 cholera cases across seven districts in five provinces as of September 29, with 11 deaths. Lusaka was among the affected areas. The government said eight deaths occurred in communities, pointing to delays in patients reaching treatment. Importance: HIGH — Zambia only recently ended its previous outbreak, making renewed transmission a significant public-health concern. Direct source: https://www.mwebantu.com/11-die-as-cholera-hits-seven-districts-in-five-provinces-says-ministry-of-health/ 9. Burkina Faso — Country opens its first gold refinery. Burkina Faso inaugurated its first domestic gold refinery, RAFFINOR-BF, in Ouagadougou. The facility cost more than 11 billion CFA francs and has an initial annual refining capacity of about 164 tonnes, with plans for substantial expansion. The project is intended to retain more value from the country's gold production through domestic refining, certification and processing. Importance: HIGH — the refinery is part of a wider African trend toward local mineral beneficiation and greater domestic control of commodity value chains. Direct source: https://apnews.com/article/f39f714232e1784bb5051cdf44f0b992 10. Zimbabwe — Helicopter crash reported with six people aboard. A helicopter carrying four passengers and two crew members crashed in Zimbabwe's Marondera district southeast of Harare. Government and police officials said initial information indicated there were no survivors. Authorities had not immediately released all identities or a cause for the crash. Importance: MODERATE — a significant domestic aviation accident, with investigation and identification of those aboard still pending. Direct source: https://abcnews.com/International/wireStory/helicopter-6-aboard-crashes-zimbabwe-survivors-officials-136898678 #Africa #AfricaNews #TopNewsOfAfrica #DRCongo #Ebola #EbolaOutbreak #PublicHealth #HealthSecurity #CommunityTrust #DiseaseResponse #Zambia #IMF #InternationalMonetaryFund #EconomicReform #DebtRestructuring #FiscalPolicy #AfricanEconomy #SouthAfrica #CyrilRamaphosa #GenderBasedViolence #Femicide #PublicSafety #CriminalJustice #Ekurhuleni #ViolenceAgainstWomen #AfricanSecurity #RegionalStability #Geopolitics #AfricaToday #wrldorg

Report with your like those who are already awake and ready for Gears of War E-Day. I’m landing in CDMX. I’m having an espresso with 1 monster and 1 redbull and I’m going live on Twitch with the campaign. We finally did it. 7 years later we are here. Together. Until the end. (translated)

After the shocking incident aboard Flydubai flight FZ1073, I am calling on Oman to establish full diplomatic relations with Israel. The co-pilot accused of stabbing the captain and attempting to crash the Dubai–Tel Aviv flight was reportedly an Omani national. Saudi authorities https://t.co/xCiskXnEqV #Oman #Israel #Flydubai #OM #IL #AE #SA

🚨 Statement to Caracol News and media Today, September 30, @NoticiasCaracol broadcast live from outside the hotel where BTS is staying and announced that broadcast on their networks. Reporting in real-time where they are or where they are staying puts at risk their safety, that of their team, and that of the citizens, and can provoke crowds. We ask the media to remove content that reveals their location and not to broadcast live from airports or hotels. And to the ARMY community: do not share or comment on information about where they are, do not go to the airport or the hotel, and respect their peace. If you see posts with private information, report them on the platform, without harassing or attacking anyone. Reporting on BTS is welcome. Reporting where they are, is not. 💜 Union of Fanbases of Colombia #BogotáReceibeABTS #BTSenBogotá #RespectForBTS (translated)

🚨 Statement to Caracol News and media outlets Today, September 30, Caracol News broadcast live from outside the hotel where BTS is staying and announced that broadcast on their networks. Reporting in real time where they are or where they are staying puts their safety, that of their team, and that of the public at risk, and can cause crowds. We ask media to remove content that reveals their location and not to broadcast live from airports or hotels. And to the ARMY community: do not share or comment on information about where they are, do not go to the airport or the hotel, and respect their peace. If you see posts with private information, report them on the platform, without harassing or attacking anyone. Reporting about BTS is welcome. Reporting where they are, is not. 💜 Union of Fanbases of Colombia #BogotáRecibeABTS #BTSenBogotá #RespetoPorBTS (translated)

🚨 Cristiano Ronaldo is going to retire from international duty! 😱 After his departure from the gathering and his fallout with Jorge Jesus, CR7 has supposedly made his decision: he will no longer wear the Portugal jersey. According to O Jogo, the divorce with the Seleção is said to be final. The Portuguese star promised to "tell the truth to all the Portuguese" in due time. 👀 Do you understand CR7's choice? 🧐 (translated)

⚠️ Alexandros Exarchou: The name of the businessman that the media and the political system dare not pronounce. 🔸 On September 25, @WSJ revealed that American ambassador Kimberly Gillfoyle is promoting the participation of the Aktor group in billion-euro deals for the transportation of American LNG through Greece. 🔸 The American newspaper extensively referred to the CEO of Aktor, Alexandros Exarchou, as well as lobbyist Christos Marafatsos, who received $160,000 from Aktor for developing contacts with the Trump administration. 🔸 Together with shipowners Mbako and Kaymenaki, Mr. Exarchou has a strong presence in the Greek economy and politics. In construction. In energy. In banking. In media. In sports. 🔸 The Aktor group receives government contracts worth hundreds of millions of euros, while, as we have documented, Mr. Exarchou is being prosecuted by the European Prosecutor's Office in the case of Contract 717 for the Tempi. 🔸 The Wall Street Journal mentions Mr. Exarchou's name 11 times in its report. Yet, most systemic media managed to reproduce the report without mentioning the businessman. 🔸 To Vima, Ta Nea, Mega, and https://t.co/SdHHnEpDDn of the Marinakis group did not mention either Aktor or Mr. Exarchou. The same applies to the Kathimerini of the Alafouzos group, the Naftemporiki of the Melissanidis group, Open of Ivan Savvidis, the Real group of Hatzinikolaou - Kouris, Protos Thema of Tassos Karamitsos, and News247 of Dimitris Mari. Finally, Parapolitika and iefimerida, both of which are owned by Exarchou. 🔸 SKAI and Newsbreak removed their articles highlighting the publication. 🔸 Most media only highlighted the -concerning and dangerous- statement by Ms. Gillfoyle about the ability of the U.S. to overthrow governments, including the Greek one. 🔸 In contrast, a minority of media referred to Mr. Exarchou. Special mention for the completeness of coverage goes to @Financial_RepGR by journalist @ioannoychristos, as well as @ThePressProject. 🔸 Aside from systemic media, neither of the ruling parties mentioned Mr. Exarchou and Aktor in their statements. Neither ND nor ELAS nor PASOK. 🔸 The Wall Street Journal's publication also revealed that Mr. Marafatsos lobbied for the Metlen (of Evangelos Mytilineos) and Kopelouzos groups. None of the aforementioned media or parties mentioned these two names. ✊ Reporters United does reporting with names and surnames because it does not accept money from the state or from businessmen. If you want more such reports, support us with a monthly subscription, no matter how small, at https://t.co/tdnEfIeuRl. ✍️ @boublis @Chondrogiannos 📊 @maltepioti 🎥 @spoovio (translated)

Is a meeting between Putin and Zelensky coming? What is Donald Trump planning to do now? How will Ukraine manage the upcoming winter? And how effective are Ukrainian attacks on Russian refineries? In Studio N, war reporter and editor-in-chief @Voxpot @Svratkin answers. (translated)