Anthropic just dropped Claude 4, its most advanced AI model yet, boasting better coding skills and even the ability to play Pokemon for longer stretches. But the bigger story here isn’t just raw power—it’s safety. The company’s pushing hard to curb deepfakes, shrink AI’s carbon footprint, and bake in safeguards to prevent misuse. Think of it as a smarter, more responsible AI that (hopefully) won’t go rogue.

Editor’s Note: As AI gets scarily good at mimicking humans and churning out code, the race isn’t just about who builds the fastest bot—it’s about who keeps it from going off the rails. Anthropic’s focus on safety and ethics could set a new standard, especially as regulators scramble to catch up. For users, it’s a sign that smarter AI might also mean safer AI—assuming the promises hold up.

Iran’s economy is in deep trouble—years of sanctions, corruption, and poor management have left it in shambles. The currency is crashing, people can barely afford basics, and even electricity is unreliable. Now, there’s a glimmer of hope: renewed nuclear talks with the U.S. Could a deal lift sanctions and turn things around? FRANCE 24 digs into the stakes with expert Vali Nasr.

House Republicans are making progress on a new tax cut bill, stirring up anxiety in financial markets. Investors are worried the cuts could balloon the national debt by trillions, potentially hurting the government’s credit rating. Meanwhile, Nvidia’s CEO slammed U.S. chip export restrictions as ineffective, adding another layer of economic tension.

Editor’s Note: Tax cuts might sound great for wallets, but markets are fretting over the long-term costs. If the U.S. piles on more debt, borrowing could get pricier, affecting everything from mortgages to business loans. And with Nvidia’s boss calling out tech trade policies, it’s a double whammy of economic uncertainty—something neither Wall Street nor Main Street loves.

** Google is stepping up its game in the AI race by introducing an "AI mode" for its search engine, announced at its developers' conference. The move is a direct response to the rising competition from AI chatbots like OpenAI's ChatGPT, as Google aims to keep its search dominance—and the ad revenue that comes with it. Meanwhile, in unrelated news, Japan's agriculture minister resigned after a tone-deaf joke about receiving gifted rice.

** France's Saint-Nazaire shipyard just landed a massive €3.5 billion deal to build two new cruise ships for MSC Cruises, one of Europe's biggest operators. This is great news for the local economy, but it’s also stirring up the usual debates about the environmental downsides of giant cruise liners. Meanwhile, in a totally unrelated twist, *Sesame Street* found a lifeline with Netflix after Trump’s PBS funding cuts put the show’s future in jeopardy.

** Chinese battery giant CATL just pulled off the world's biggest IPO this year, with its Hong Kong shares surging after raising a whopping $4.6 billion. The company, which dominates the global EV battery market, is now under scrutiny—the U.S. Defense Department claims it has military ties, adding a layer of geopolitical tension to its success. Meanwhile, Brazil's dealing with its first avian flu outbreak, sparking trade bans from major players like China and the EU.