A U.S. official confirmed to Al Jazeera that the USS Theodore Roosevelt carrier strike group departed San Diego on Sunday, heading toward the Persian Gulf region. The move follows the earlier dispatch of the Makin Island amphibious ready group, which carries over 2,000 Marines. By late November, three U.S. aircraft carriers and two amphibious groups are expected to operate in the area, according to the official.

The deployment adds thousands of service members and advanced air assets, including F-35 fighter jets, to a region already hosting roughly 50,000 U.S. troops. Pentagon sources told Al Jazeera the buildup is intended to expand military options for President Donald Trump, with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stating forces are "ready to go" if new strikes are ordered. Trump has publicly suggested the U.S. is "going to win the war" with Iran "very soon," while also indicating that renewed military action remains "possible" ahead of the November midterm elections.

Alongside the military posture, the administration announced new sanctions targeting Iran’s rail and automotive sectors, part of an effort to restrict Tehran’s revenue streams. The Treasury Department described the measures as aimed at draining remaining financial resources tied to the country’s strategic industries.

Diplomatic efforts continue in parallel. Iran has proposed a seven-day initiative, conveyed through Qatar, that would involve reopening the Strait of Hormuz and resuming nuclear negotiations in exchange for the lifting of the U.S. naval blockade, sanctions relief, and a regional ceasefire covering Lebanon and Yemen. The plan was rejected by Washington. U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz told NBC that frozen assets and sanctions relief are non-negotiable, emphasizing that the measures are part of broader international efforts related to Iran’s nuclear program.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated the country is "fully prepared" to resume hostilities but also expressed a desire for peace on social media, writing that Tehran had come to New York "not to sell a war" but to "forge peace." Analysts suggest the conflicting signals reflect a strategic calculation on both sides. Former U.S. ambassador Richard Schmierer noted that Trump faces pressure to avoid concessions that might be politically costly before the midterms, while Iranian officials appear to be weighing the timing of any de-escalation.

A recent AP-NORC poll found that nearly 70 percent of Americans believe the conflict has not been worth fighting, though Trump has dismissed declining approval ratings by calling pollsters "corrupt."

The situation remains fluid, with military movements and diplomatic overtures unfolding simultaneously as both sides navigate a complex and high-stakes standoff.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated on Thursday that the co-pilot who attempted to crash a flydubai flight had been subjected to Islamist radical indoctrination, as the United Arab Emirates confirmed it was opening a probe into possible terrorist activity. The incident unfolded on Wednesday when passengers intervened to stop the co-pilot after he allegedly stabbed the captain and tried to steer the aircraft into the ground, causing a rapid descent of roughly 17,000 feet within a minute. The aircraft, carrying 174 passengers with 166 identified as Israeli, was diverted to Tabuk in Saudi Arabia before continuing to Tel Aviv, where the surviving passengers were greeted with a hero’s welcome. Saudi authorities transferred the co-pilot to UAE custody on Thursday morning accompanied by an Emirati security team, and the UAE chief prosecutor announced that investigators would examine all possibilities, including terrorist intent. Netanyahu credited the Indian national pilot Smit Machchhar and the passengers with averting what he described as a catastrophe, and said Israel would join the UAE investigation while urging stricter screening of pilots from jurisdictions without diplomatic ties to Israel. Israeli officials have labeled the episode an attempted terrorist attack, though earlier remarks had left open the possibility of mental health factors. The airline confirmed that all passengers were safe and announced a temporary suspension of flights to Israel pending the inquiry. Israeli President Isaac Herzog said he would award heroism medals to five individuals who helped subdue the co-pilot, and U.S. President Donald Trump, after speaking with Netanyahu, suggested the co-pilot might have been a terrorist or a “whack job.” The co-pilot, identified as an Omani national, remains in custody as the investigation proceeds.

A flydubai passenger jet was forced to land in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, on October 1 after its co-pilot attacked the captain and attempted to crash the aircraft while en route from Dubai to Tel Aviv. The captain regained control of the cockpit and, with the help of passengers, subdued the attacker. A reserve crew then landed the plane, which carried more than 170 people, safely at the Saudi airport.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Fox News that investigators had found evidence of Islamist radical indoctrination in the co-pilot’s background and that his behavior suggested suicide. "It looks very likely that he was going to down the plane," Netanyahu said, adding that the radicalization was a "pretty good clue" about the motive. He cautioned that final conclusions had not yet been drawn.

The United Arab Emirates announced that it was conducting its own investigation to determine the circumstances and motives behind the incident, including whether it was linked to terrorist activity or any prior planning. Saudi authorities also opened a preliminary inquiry, stating that the co-pilot assaulted the captain, forcing the emergency landing.

Israeli officials identified the co-pilot as an Omani national. Oman has not publicly commented on the allegation. Israeli envoy to the UAE, Yossi Shelley, said it was too early to draw conclusions and that no motive had been confirmed. Israeli intelligence agencies, including Mossad and Shin Bet, are assisting the investigation, though the country said it was not receiving all the information it sought from Saudi authorities.

The incident occurred amid heightened security concerns in Israel ahead of national elections. No official link to Iran has been confirmed, though Netanyahu declined to rule out Iranian involvement. Iranian diplomatic representatives did not respond to requests for comment.

Passengers and crew who intervened described how they restrained the attacker as the aircraft descended rapidly, losing more than 14,000 feet in under 30 seconds. Indian national Smit Machchhar, the flight’s captain, was praised for his actions and is recovering from injuries. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz called the co-pilot a terrorist, while Netanyahu referred to the episode as a "serious security incident."

The episode has drawn attention to aviation security protocols and the challenges of permitting pilots from countries without diplomatic ties to Israel to operate flights to the region.

A French investigative journalism organization announced on Thursday that it had verified antisemitic messages from 2013 attributed to Jordan Bardella, a senior ally of Marine Le Pen. The messages, published by Mediapart, were sent via Facebook Messenger and referenced Bardella’s background, including his mother’s Italian birth, an interview with Le Parisien, and a failed entrance exam for Sciences Po. Mediapart stated that biographical details in the conversations confirmed the identity of the sender as Bardella. The outlet said it could authenticate the messages through metadata and content analysis, citing that the conversation was not altered and that the recipient’s account was listed under Bardella’s name on Meta’s platform. Bardella denied authorship, calling the evidence fabricated and stating he would pursue legal action for defamation, forgery, and use of forged documents. Marine Le Pen defended Bardella, describing the allegations as part of a broader campaign against her party. Rival presidential candidate Edouard Philippe stated that the evidence made it “virtually established” that Bardella had made antisemitic remarks. A recent poll indicated Le Pen leads in the upcoming election, with Bardella expected to assume the role of prime minister if she wins. The National Rally has sought to distance itself from antisemitic rhetoric, with Le Pen emphasizing a strategy of “de-demonisation” to broaden electoral appeal.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul has appointed the state attorney general as a special prosecutor to oversee the investigation into an alleged gang rape at Cornell University.

The woman at the center of the case has said she was drugged and assaulted by multiple men at a fraternity house in 2024. Her civil lawsuit, filed last month, brought renewed public attention to the allegations and prompted calls for an independent review of how the matter was handled.

Hochul said she had lost confidence in Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten’s ability to impartially manage the investigation. The governor’s decision removes Van Houten from the case and transfers authority to the attorney general’s office.

The attorney general will examine all evidence and, if appropriate, pursue criminal charges, including presenting findings to a grand jury. James, the state’s chief legal officer, said she would lead the inquiry “guided by the facts and the law.”

Cornell University has provided investigative material to the district attorney’s office, including a Snapchat group chat in which fraternity members discussed a sexual encounter with the accuser on the night of the alleged assault. The woman, referred to as Jane Doe in court filings, accused the university of failing to protect her and of not taking sufficient action against the seven men now referred to as the “Cornell Seven.”

Van Houten previously declined to file charges, stating his office had only received a statement suggesting the encounter was consensual and that no drugging had been reported. His office later announced it would reopen the investigation less than two weeks after the civil lawsuit was filed.

The governor and attorney general are scheduled to provide an update on the investigation on Friday morning local time.

The case remains under active review, with no criminal charges filed to date.

A Tennessee death row inmate survived two lethal injection attempts, leading the state governor to halt all executions for the year.

Christa Pike, 50, was administered two doses of pentobarbital on Wednesday but remained alive, according to her legal team. She was subsequently transferred to a hospital for treatment. Pike had been sentenced to death in 1996 for the 1995 murder of 19-year-old Colleen Slemmer, a case that involved kidnapping, torture and fatal stab wounds.

The execution attempt sparked a legal dispute that culminated in the U.S. Supreme Court permitting the injections to proceed. After the procedure, Pike’s lawyers reported that prison staff struggled for about an hour to establish an intravenous line, using at least seven needles in her left arm, one of which appeared bent. Observers were confined to a darkened room behind a curtain; minutes after the second dose, Pike continued to breathe, and it was unclear when medical personnel began assisting.

Pike’s attorney, Randy Spivey, said the state must now commute her sentence, a request previously denied. Another lawyer, Stephen Ferrell, indicated the team is exploring additional legal avenues and wants to ensure Pike’s health and wishes are respected.

Governor Bill Lee ordered an independent review of the execution process, describing it as “thorough” and promising to answer “a lot of questions” that the public has raised. The review’s leadership has not been specified. Lee’s order also pauses all executions, affecting a scheduled December 3 execution of Gary Sutton.

The Tennessee Department of Correction defended its actions, stating it adhered to the state’s lethal injection protocol approved by the attorney general’s office. The department noted that the protocol permits a second dose if the first fails and that the chemical used has historically been effective.

Slemmer’s mother, May Martinez, who attended the execution attempt, called it “a mess” and expressed frustration at the lack of transparency. Senator Marsha Blackburn, a Republican candidate for governor, labeled the incident “tragic” and advocated for reinstating the electric chair, while Democratic opponent Jerri Green condemned the proposal, calling for a moratorium on future executions.

This is the second failed execution attempt in Tennessee this year, raising renewed scrutiny of the state’s capital punishment procedures.

Bolivia detained its attorney general, Roger Mariaca, late on Wednesday after U.S. officials accused him of soliciting and accepting bribes tied to drug trafficking networks. Interior Minister Marco Antonio Oviedo confirmed that authorities dismantled a criminal organization and arrested 14 individuals during the operation, including four who were apprehended attempting to remove cash bundles from Mariaca’s residence and place them in an ambulance. The State Department announced on Monday that Mariaca was implicated in “significant corruption” and alleged to have facilitated the evasion of justice by violent criminal actors. Mariaca has rejected the accusations, characterizing his arrest as a kidnapping orchestrated by external forces seeking to interfere with investigations, notably one examining Argentine political consultant Fernando Cerimedo, whom U.S. authorities refer to as “MAGA’s man” in Latin America. Mariaca was appointed attorney general during the presidency of socialist leader Luis Arce, and his detention occurs under the current right-wing administration of President Rodrigo Paz, a figure aligned with former U.S. President Donald Trump. The State Department has barred Mariaca and twelve other Bolivian officials, along with their families, from entering the United States, citing their involvement in illicit activities. Secretary of State Marco Rubio affirmed on social media that the Trump administration stands in solidarity with Paz and the Bolivian government as it confronts drug trafficking, systemic corruption, and transnational organized crime.