BBC World News

1. Assad regime planned US journalist's kidnap for weeks, BBC finds

   Austin Tice’s abduction was approved by Syria’s former leader Bashar al-Assad, a source claims.

2. Uncontrolled AI could lead to 'silicon species' rivalling humans, warns Microsoft

   Mustafa Suleyman says he believes rival AI firm Anthropic is in effect teaching Claude it "may be conscious".

3. Ninth woman's body found as South African police investigate string of deaths

   South Africa police have cautioned against assuming that all the killings are linked but many women are afraid.

4. EU announces plan to restrict social media access for under-15s

   Under the plans, only children over 15 would be able to set up their own social media accounts.

5. Aztec document goes on display in Mexico after 186 years abroad

   France's national library is lending the manuscript recounting the history of the Aztecs to Mexico.