middle east
Flawed AI-linked intel almost led U.S. to board China ship, report says
Flawed AI-linked intel almost led U.S. to board China ship, report says An F/A-18 Super Hornet is parked on the flight deck of USS George Washington aircraft carrier on Sept. 4. | U.S. NAVY / VIA AFP-JIJI Washington - The U.S. military came close to boarding a Chinese vessel in the Middle East earlier this year based on a flawed intelligence report prepared with the help of artificial intelligence, CNN said Friday. U.S. intelligence indicated the ship was carrying nuclear weapons-related components, leading American forces to prepare to intercept it, the broadcaster reported, citing four anonymous sources familiar with the incident. But the operation was called off after officials determined that an AI chatbot used by an analyst had misidentified the material the ship was carrying. CNN quoted one source as saying the intelligence report was "entirely false" but "almost started a war." It did not specify what the vessel was actually carrying or where it was bound.
Matt Fitzpatrick shares why he feels uncomfortable about traveling to Middle East for DP World Tour finale
Reporter for The Athletic fumes over Arch Manning, silent on Josh Jacobs' alleged violence against woman Jordon Hudson dusts herself off and resumes her WAG duties, Belichick vs Sydney Sweeney & 'Gainesville Ripper' Mets are'trash' because they're not listening to former NJ Gov Chris Christie, Stephen A Smith says Orioles pitcher Shane Baz drilled with 105.1 mph line drive in scary scene NFL's battle with drinking and driving continues as Keenan Allen formally charged in Indianapolis Anthony Molina and Matthew Liberatore's struggles make over 8 runs the play for Giants-Cardinals Shota Imanaga's home run struggles and Wrigley wind make over 7.5 the play for Braves-Cubs Jaxson Dart's girlfriend Marissa Ayers shines in Week 1 win, a Giants-Cowboys fan fight & Ole Miss tension MLB's most electric slugger just had one of the slowest, most disrespectful walk-off home runs of all time James Franklin makes Virginia Tech press conference extremely awkward with bizarre'Hey Michael' moment Texans' Azeez Al-Shaair to be fined once again by NFL for wearing Pro-Palestinian personal message on eyeblack Emily Compagno: FBI made America safer, but we were treated to a'congressional tantrum Trump Butler rally shooting could be sign of a'larger conspiracy': Former deputy assistant AG Sheriff decries Democrat's'disgusting display' at House hearing on sanctuary laws Sheriff decries Democrat's'disgusting display' at House hearing on sanctuary laws Sheriff calls Democrat's questioning at House hearing a'disgusting display' It's urgent for Congress to step in and protect college sports: Sen Ted Cruz Mike Pence warns this Trump move would send a'deafening' message to Putin'COMPLETE WASTE OF MONEY': Real estate celebrity calls out $200,000 housing mistake Rand Paul slams Congress over AI regulation: 'I wouldn't put Congress in charge of a McDonald's' Rand Paul slams Congress over AI regulation: 'I wouldn't put Congress in charge of a McDonald's' The former major champion's concerns come as the tour is believed to be contemplating moving the Abu Dhabi and Dubai events The DP World Tour's plans to hold the final two events of the season in the Middle East in November face uncertainty due to ongoing conflicts in and around the region. Matt Fitzpatrick, the season finale's defending champion, did not hesitate to share his opinion on what the tour should, or in this case, should not, do regarding teeing it up in the Middle East in the coming weeks. Being completely honest as things stand right now, I would say I'm not that comfortable, the 2022 U.S. Open champion told the media ahead of this week's BMW PGA Championship in England. A few things have obviously changed for me, perspective and stuff. I've had a child in August, and that obviously kind of changes things a bit more.
Jared Kushner's Dollar Diplomacy
Donald Trump's son-in-law represents the kind of Washington figure for whom public office serves as a means to extraordinary wealth. "Kushner is plagued with conflicts of interest," Virginia Canter, a former White House counsel, said. "He is supposed to be working for the American people, but in fact he has tremendous financial incentives to further the interests of his investors." In the waning hours before the U.S. went to war with Iran, this February, Jared Kushner held a meeting with Iranian negotiators in Geneva--one last chance to avoid a conflict that would plunge the region into chaos and shock the world economy. Afterward, Kushner dismissed his counterparts as unworthy of his time. "Lots of tricks," he told reporters. Kushner, the boyish-looking son-in-law of Donald Trump, has been given an extraordinary brief in recent years. Along with Steve Witkoff, the President's special envoy, he has been charged with ending wars in Gaza, Ukraine, and just about anywhere else they might break out. Kushner, who is forty-five, has little regard for the craft of diplomacy. In his view, it is less important to know a region's history or the details of the partisans' negotiating positions than to simply hear the sides out and split the difference. Peace deals are like real-estate deals, he has said. Both involve hard bargaining and, at times, bluffing. The fact that so many diplomats before him have struggled is a testament not to the intransigence of international problems but to the mediocrity of his predecessors. "I've been getting criticized for the last couple of years, by all the people who have tried and failed, for not doing this the same way that they have," he said in 2020, after Trump unveiled his first Middle East peace plan. "If somebody was successful, I wouldn't be dealing with this." When Kushner and Witkoff began meeting with the Iranian negotiators, in February, the two countries were on the brink of war. In 2025, American and Israeli forces had bombed Iran's nuclear-enrichment facilities, which Western leaders said were engaged in a decades-long drive to develop a nuclear weapon. Afterward, Trump declared that Iran's capability to enrich uranium had been "obliterated." Yet Trump and other Western officials wanted further concessions. The Iranians maintained a large stockpile of lower-grade uranium. It was buried under rubble from the bombing in 2025, but Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli Prime Minister, insisted that the Iranians give it up and forswear any intention of enriching uranium in the future. Trump sent Kushner and Witkoff to present the Iranians with what amounted to a binary choice: turn over their entire stockpile or expect an attack. To emphasize his threats, he had dispatched an armada to the Middle East. "We have to have a meaningful deal, otherwise bad things happen," he said.
Who are the economic winners and losers of the US-Israel war on Iran?
Who are the economic winners and losers of the US-Israel war on Iran? Share Who are the economic winners and losers of the US-Israel war on Iran? on social media Six months since the United States and Israel launched their war on Iran, triggering turmoil in world energy markets, the fallout continues to reverberate through many areas of the global economy. While the war has strained many sectors of the economy, it has also been a boon for some industries. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz, alongside Iranian strikes on energy infrastructure in Gulf countries, has sent the price of oil soaring since the start of the war. That has boosted the bottom lines of some of the world's biggest energy companies.
Frank Gardner: Houthi attacks raise fears of wider Middle East conflict and more global economic damage
Yemen's Houthi fighters claim to have attacked shipping in the Red Sea - a move that threatens to further escalate the already volatile situation in the Middle East. By forcing ships to turn back from the narrow Bab El Mandeb strait, they have threatened to choke off the main maritime route from Europe to Asia. It comes as US-Iran strikes continue and while a deal to develop Saudi Arabia's nuclear industry prompts fears of an arms race. So is the Middle East becoming more dangerous? So far, 2026 is sadly proving to be one of the more violent years for parts of the Middle East. For 12 consecutive nights, US Central Command (Centcom) has carried out air strikes on Iranian coastal radar, drone and missile bases.
'We had to get out of the way': The backlash over delivery robots
'We had to get out of the way': The backlash over delivery robots The first time Chicago resident John Roberts saw a delivery robot trundling down the sidewalk on his street he was impressed. I actually thought they were kind of neat - it felt futuristic, he says. But his attitude started to change when, soon after, he was out for a walk with his family. As another robot approached, they found themselves having to dodge it. To us it felt a little off - the fact that we were on the one strip reserved for walking, and we were having to get out of the way, says Roberts.
Iranian-Americans protest against Iran team at World Cup
Calls to remove Iran's clerical regime sounded outside Iran's opening match at the World Cup. Iranian-Americans gathered in Los Angeles to protest the presence of Iran's team, which they believe is linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Iran striker Mehdi Taremi told reporters this week that US-Iran political tension "undermines the joy" of the World Cup. You can read the match report on the game here. Watch: What does the US-Iran deal to end war mean for Lebanon and Israel?
What we know about US sea drone used in helicopter crew rescue mission
A sea drone was used to save two crew members of a downed US army helicopter off the coast of Oman earlier this week, according to the US military - making it the first publicly known instance of an unmanned vessel being used to conduct a rescue mission. President Donald Trump said the apache helicopter was shot down by Iran near the Strait of Hormuz - the dangerous waterway which has been largely blocked off to shipping since the start of the Iran war. The two soldiers were safely rescued within approximately two hours and are in stable condition, US Central Command (Centcom) said. BBC Verify has examined what we know about the drone boat and how the mission took place. What is the US sea drone?