Pentagon to deploy more forces to Middle East to deter Iran

SummaryAs tensions rise between Paris and Tel Aviv, two senior French officials have arrived in Israel for discussions ahead of a France-Saudi Arabia-sponsored international conference aimed at supporting the two-state solution. While France insists the conference is not about recognizing a Palestinian state, Israel fears it may be a cover for such an action, viewing it as a direct threat. The conference is expected to address disarming Hamas, securing hostages, and reforming the Palestinian Authority,...

Saudi officials are utilizing artificial intelligence to manage the influx of pilgrims during the hajj, employing over 15,000 cameras to monitor crowd movements and predict bottlenecks, thereby enhancing safety at this large-scale event. The technology also aids in guiding 20,000 buses for transportation between holy sites and assists in identifying unregistered pilgrims, with measures such as drones and thermal imaging cameras in place to secure the area. This proactive approach aims to prevent past tragedies,...

SummaryMirjana Spoljaric, president of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), described Gaza as "worse than hell on Earth," emphasizing that the conditions there exceed all acceptable legal, moral, and humane standards. In an interview with BBC's Jeremy Bowen, she urged world leaders to "act now" to save lives in the region. The ICRC, which operates in war zones and has over 300 staff in Gaza, primarily consists of Palestinians, highlighting the dire humanitarian...

A convicted Swedish jihadist, Osama Krayem, is on trial in Stockholm for war crimes related to the 2014 killing of Jordanian pilot Maaz al-Kassasbeh, who was burned alive by the Islamic State (IS). Prosecutors allege Krayem, already serving lengthy sentences for his involvement in the Paris and Brussels attacks, participated in the brutal act, as evidenced by a now-infamous propaganda video. The trial, which could lead to a life sentence, is set to continue until...

SummaryIran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei criticized the US proposal for a new nuclear agreement, insisting Iran will not halt uranium enrichment, which he views as essential to the nation's nuclear program. Despite the US plan suggesting Iran rely on a regional consortium for enriched uranium, Khamenei emphasized that the country's right to enrichment is non-negotiable. Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi indicated that the proposal contains ambiguities and reiterated that continuing enrichment on Iranian soil...

The BBC has refuted White House claims regarding its Gaza coverage, stating that it did not retract any stories and stands by its reporting. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt accused the BBC of relying on Hamas for casualty figures and criticized its adjustments to the reported numbers, which the BBC clarified were standard practice as new information emerged. The BBC emphasized the challenges of reporting in Gaza due to restrictions on journalists and called...