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Florida’s Golden: Don’t agree Bediako should play for Alabama

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Florida's Golden: Don't agree Bediako should play for Alabama

Jan 22, 2026, 11:51 PM ET

Florida coach Todd Golden said Thursday he doesn’t agree that Charles Bediako should be able to play for Alabama this season.

But he also said if Bediako is allowed to suit up when the teams meet Feb. 1 in Gainesville, it’s not going to matter.

“We’re going to beat ’em anyways,” Golden said during an appearance on “Gator Talk.” “If he plays, we’ll beat ’em anyways.”

Bediako’s situation is the latest to stir controversy in the sport. He was a former Crimson Tide standout who declared for the 2023 NBA draft, went undrafted and then signed a two-way contract with the San Antonio Spurs that year.

He sued the NCAA earlier this week after it denied Alabama’s appeal to allow him to return to college basketball. But Wednesday, an Alabama judge granted a temporary restraining order, allowing him to return to the Crimson Tide and college basketball immediately.

The case could reshape the sport at a turbulent time. Although the NCAA has recently cleared international players with professional experience and G League players, those athletes had not previously played college basketball. This is the first time a player who entered an NBA draft and signed an NBA contract after playing college basketball has been given the chance to return to Division I hoops.

Golden told Gator Talk” that he doesn’t think Bediako should be allowed to do so.

“But I also don’t necessarily fault [Alabama coach] Nate Oats because this is a very competitive space, and it’s our jobs to win games and do everything we can to be the best program in our specific league,” Golden said.

“This guy had a great opportunity. He was at Alabama for two years. He played there, he was there during the NIL era. He was aware of what he was giving up by declaring to go to the draft. He stayed in past the date. That’s always been, if you stay in, you sign a contract, you’re done. So it’s a slippery slope.”

The judge’s ruling Wednesday came hours after NCAA president Charlie Baker reiterated that Bediako and other players who have signed NBA contracts would not be granted eligibility to play college basketball. But in the ruling, Judge James H. Roberts Jr. of the Tuscaloosa (Alabama) Circuit Court ruled that the NCAA is “restrained from threatening, imposing, attempting to impose, suggesting or implying any penalties or sanctions” against Bediako, Alabama, its coaches or players.

Golden acknowledged that schools and conferences have their hands tied in such situations — “With all this intervention from judges, there’s only so much the league can do, there’s only so much other member schools in the league can do,” he said — but he’d still like these types of situations in college basketball avoided going forward.

“We just need some people to stand up and start taking a stand,” he told “Gator Talk.”

The temporary restraining order is valid for 10 days. A full hearing on Bediako’s request for a preliminary injunction will happen Tuesday — five days before the Alabama-Florida game.

Information from ESPN’s Myron Medcalf was used in this report.

Alijah Arenas struggles in debut for USC vs. Northwestern

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Alijah Arenas struggles in debut for USC vs. Northwestern

Jan 22, 2026, 01:47 AM ET

LOS ANGELES — Alijah Arenas struggled in his long-awaited debut for USC on Wednesday night against Northwestern after completing his recovery from a knee injury he sustained last summer following his recovery from a car crash last spring.

Arenas had eight points in a 74-68 loss to the Wildcats as the Trojans fell to 14-5, 3-5 in the Big Ten. He played 29 minutes but shot just 3-for-15 from the field, including 0-for-6 on 3-pointers. He struggled at the free throw line with a 2-for-6 effort. He also had two rebounds and two assists.

The freshman guard’s debut came one month after his return to practice for the Trojans.

“It was great to have him back with the rest of the guys,” coach Eric Musselman said last month following Arenas’ first practice. “He’s got such a great basketball IQ and brings a tremendous amount of energy. It looked like he had been a part of practice for quite some time.”

Arenas, the son of former NBA All-Star Gilbert Arenas, was involved in a car crash that led to him being put into an induced coma in April because of smoke inhalation. He spent six days in the hospital following the single-car crash in which he hit a tree but didn’t suffer other major injuries.

Arenas was ready to practice following the car crash when he needed surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his knee.

The 6-foot-6 Arenas was a McDonald’s All American and five-star recruit from Chatsworth (California) High School whose debut was highly anticipated.

Reeling Napoli face Juventus | The Express Tribune

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scott mctominay will try to help pick up napoli against juventus after defeat at fc copenhagen photo afp file

Scott McTominay will try to help pick up Napoli against Juventus after defeat at FC Copenhagen. Photo: AFP/File


MILAN:

Napoli are reeling ahead of Sunday’s clash with fierce rivals Juventus after more European disappointment left the Serie A title holders on the brink of being eliminated from the Champions League.

Trailing leaders Inter Milan by six points ahead of their trip to Turin, Napoli have to pick themselves up after a poor 1-1 draw at 10-man FC Copenhagen.

Scott McTominay’s goal, which came shortly after Thomas Delaney was sent off for Copenhagen towards the end of the first half, looked to have sent Napoli on the way to a key win for their hopes of securing a play-off berth.

Instead Napoli were pegged back and as a result dropped into the elimination places with one match remaining, a horrible result for both Napoli and Italy’s dwindling reputation on the continental stage.

“We should have won that game, it’s unacceptable,” McTominay told Sky.

“We should have scored the second and third goals to close out the game… It’s really disappointing that we didn’t.”

Standing in the way of a Champions League play-off spot are Chelsea, Napoli’s opponents after what is always an emotionally heightened fixture with a Juve team heading in the right direction under Luciano Spalletti.

“We have to look at the mistakes and try to improve. Chelsea are an excellent team,” said McTominay.

“We have to try and give everything to improve in the Champions League as well. We have to be at our best.”

Napoli could well begin Sunday’s match nine points behind Inter who will look to shake off their sobering 3-1 defeat against Premier League leaders Arsenal with the simpler task of taking on Pisa.

Antonio Conte’s side will have their work cut out against fifth-placed Juve, who have started to resemble a true Spalletti team in recent weeks and unlike Napoli secured a Champions League play-off spot by beating Benfica.

Spalletti also has significantly fewer injury problems than Conte who has had a rotating cast of stars on the treatment table.

Starting centre-back Amir Rrahmani and winger Matteo Politano have both joined a list of key players out of action which already included Romelu Lukaku, Kevin De Bruyne and Andre-Frank Anguissa.

Last weekend’s undeserved loss at Cagliari aside, Juve have been tighter at the back and more flamboyant going forward with Kenan Yildiz continuing to develop under Spalletti.

Juve are three points away from the last Champions League positions currently held by Roma, who have a chance to pull themselves back into the Scudetto discussion with the visit of second-placed AC Milan.

Roma are seven points behind Inter but a win at Stadio Olimpico in Sunday’s late fixture would put Gian Piero Gasperini’s team just one behind Milan and help keep Juve at bay.

Player to watch: Paulo Dybala

Dybala’s future in Rome has been in question after the Argentina international’s difficult first season under Gasperini, which has been marked by familiar injury problems and the rise of countryman Matias Soule.

But the 32-year-old looked back to his best in last weekend’s convincing win at Torino with a goal and assist for new boy Donyell Malen, with whom he clearly had an on-pitch understanding.

Assuming he is not injured in Thursday’s Europa League showdown with Stuttgart, Dybala will start on Sunday as Gasperini has repeatedly said there is no other player like him in the squad. AFP

Patrick Schwarzenegger on surviving Hollywood’s ups and downs

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Patrick Schwarzenegger on surviving Hollywood’s ups and downs

Patrick Schwarzenegger opens up about what is keeping him grounded in Hollywood.

Patrick Schwarzenegger says his faith has helped him deal with the ups and downs of building an acting career. 

Speaking at the Sundance Film Festival, Patrick said the film industry is unpredictable, but faith helps him stay steady no matter what stage his career is in.

“I’m here on this earth for a greater purpose and greater meaning than just working in acting. The film industry is a rollercoaster. I’ve seen it firsthand with my own family members, with friends. What’s really important is that as you go up, down, whichever way you go, your faith is still there,” he told Variety.

The White Lotus actor, 32, shared that prayer keeps him grounded and reminds him that his life has a bigger purpose than just acting.

He also shared that he and his wife, model Abby Champion, pray together every day, which he finds calming and meaningful. 

“My prayers are something that helped me each and every day in my life. It’s something that helps me and my wife. We do it together. I think there was some crazy stat of husband and wives that pray together have a 67 per cent less likely to get divorced or separated.” 

He continued, “I don’t want to be the person that’s telling everyone to go and pray every day and everything will be okay, but it’s something that is a centre point for my faith and gratitude… It’s a refreshing moment for me in my day.”

Patrick added that prayer helps him stay focused on gratitude, even though he doesn’t claim it magically solves everything.

He also addressed criticism that he landed roles because of his famous last name. Patrick called the speculations frustrating, noting he has spent over 10 years training, auditioning, and facing rejection. 

While there are moments he wishes he didn’t have his surname, he says he wouldn’t trade his life or family and is grateful for the values his parents taught him.

Budget 2026 metal sector expectations: MMTC-PAMP pushes for duty parity for refiners – The Times of India

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Budget 2026 metal sector expectations: MMTC-PAMP pushes for duty parity for refiners - The Times of India

As the Union Budget 2026 is drawing closer, India’s precious metal refiners are have laid out their expecations from the finance minister. The sector is seeking relief from the current duty structure that favours importers as compared to local refiners, through free trade agreements. MMTC-PAMP managing director and CEO Samit Guha the duty gap has majorly affected the competitiveness of domestic refiners, even as the government is aware of the problem. Highlighting expectations from the government, Guha said that the whole “precious metal refining sector has seen this disparity, which is there in duty, especially through the SEPA route between what we get as Dore versus what refined bullion is imported at.”He added that bullion has been kept out of free trade agreements signed after SEPA, and the industry hopes that upcoming trade deals will also exclude gold and silver from concessional duty regimes. He said targeted policy support is needed to help India enhance its refining capabilities and increase the number of London Bullion Market Association-accredited refineries. This, he suggested, could be done by offering input-linked incentives through duty differentials, either under trade agreements or by expanding the existing gap. “We would request the government to see what they can do in terms of either input-related benefits, in terms of duty differentials…which will really encourage local refiners to invest in the refinery and get ROIs and up their refining capacity and capability to a global level,” Guha said.At present, dore imports attract a duty of 6% for both gold and silver. Refiners receive a 0.65% differential, bringing the effective duty rate down to 5.35%. MMTC-PAMP largely imports gold in dore form for refining. While gold and silver imports have traditionally been in a 1:1 ratio, the company imported about 40 tonnes of gold and 50 tonnes of silver in the 2024–25 financial year.Back in the April–December period of the current fiscal year, imports of gold stood at 36 tonnes and silver at 60 tonnes, Guha said pointing to strong demand for the white metal.

Gul Plaza fire toll rises to 71 amid ongoing search operation

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Gul Plaza fire toll rises to 71 amid ongoing search operation

Flames and smoke rise from a fire that broke out in the Gul Plaza Shopping Centre in Karachi, Pakistan, January 18, 2026. — Reuters
  • Authorities list 82 people as missing officially.
  • ‘Four DVRs recovered’ from debris during search.
  • Gold, cash recovered, returned to owners: officials.

The death toll in the Gul Plaza inferno tragedy has mounted to 71 as officials said on Saturday that at least 80% of rescue and search operations have been completed, almost a week after the blaze broke out. 

The authorities also said that the work to move the rubble of the demolished parts is underway, adding that at least 20 bodies have been identified so far.

As many as 13 bodies were identified with the help of DNA, they added, saying the list of missing persons includes 82 names.

Police Surgeon Dr Summaiya Tariq said that 71 bodies and human remains have been brought from the Gul Plaza site so far, and the DNA process is complicated as the bodies recovered from the site had been severely burned.

Officials said that efforts are underway to establish the identities of the remaining victims.

They added that four digital video recorders (DVRs) were recovered from the rubble during the search operation, which could provide important evidence to determine the causes of the inferno.

They added that valuables were recovered during debris removal, including 1.5 kilograms of gold and more than Rs100,000 in cash from a basement shop, which were returned to their respective owners.

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, while addressing the provincial assembly, said that a total of 88 people were initially reported missing; however, one later returned safely.

“Five of the names were duplicated, bringing the actual number of missing persons after the fire to 82. Of these, 67 bodies have been recovered. As I speak, 15 persons are still missing,” he added.

Addressing a press conference on Friday, Governor Tessori stated that he would write letters to the Chief Justices of the Supreme Court and the Sindh High Court (SHC) to conduct an inquiry into the fire incident.

“Those responsible should be identified and punished without delay,” he added.

His remarks came amid the ongoing rescue efforts, as teams continue to search for more missing persons from the devastating inferno that broke out last Saturday night.

Investigative sources said the fire broke out at a shop selling artificial flowers, where children present were reportedly playing at the time of the incident; however, the final cause has not been declared.

Criticising the Sindh government, the governor said that the administration cannot be absolved of responsibility for the Gul Plaza tragedy.

He also questioned the handling of the incident and its aftermath, saying that those who were responsible were not present at the site when they were needed.

Governor Tessori said that water tankers remained stuck in traffic near Guru Mandir, as highlighted by journalist Arshad Vohra.

“The administration is responsible. People pay taxes and are then expected to tolerate mismanagement. Such incidents will keep happening until all those responsible are punished,” the governor said.

Cost of living: Are things going to get better for your finances?

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Cost of living: Are things going to get better for your finances?

Kevin PeacheyCost of living correspondent

Getty Images A woman in a red jacket is shopping in the dairy section of a supermarketGetty Images

The UK’s rate of inflation has risen, but the chancellor, in response, promised that Britain would this year turn a corner.

Rachel Reeves said cutting the cost of living was her “number one focus”, following comments from Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer who claimed that every minute not talking about it was “a wasted minute”.

It is a clear strategy ahead of local, Scottish and Welsh elections in May, driven in part by difficulties in boosting economic growth, and also in knowing there could soon be better news to tell.

But many households are still struggling to cover essential bills, and others are unconvinced of improvement.

Here are some of the key factors affecting family finances and whether government policies can, or do, have an impact.

Energy prices set to fall

Winter directs inevitable attention to household energy bills, but it will be spring when the government’s flagship policy kicks in.

In the Budget, the chancellor announced a £150-a-year cut to a typical domestic energy bill – but delivery of this simple pledge is a little more complex.

While there is a reduction, some green policy costs are actually being shifted from bills to general taxation. While the move has received a warm welcome, taxpayers will still be covering some of the cost through other taxes.

Investment in gas networks and electricity transmission will also mean costs added to bills. The latest forecast from respected energy consultancy Cornwall Insight is for the typical annual bill to fall by £138 in April.

It says the Energy Company Obligation – which is being entirely removed – will cut about £62 from a typical annual dual-fuel bill, while 75% of the renewables obligation is being removed – which will take about £67 off the bill but this will be funded through general taxation instead.

Labour’s much-debated general election promise to cut household energy bills by £300 by 2030 remains under close scrutiny.

Money saving is already ingrained at home, with batch cooking, more prudent selections on the thermostat, and warming the body rather than the whole home having become the norm for many people.

Energy prices are much lower than their peak after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, when the previous government was forced into emergency measures, but campaigners say they remain relatively high. That, they say, requires a long-term strategic response.

Feeling the cost of the food shop

Food, like energy, is essential spending. People on lower incomes who spend a bigger proportion of their income on essentials feel a larger impact when prices change.

Ask people how the cost of living is affecting them, and many will point to the cost of their supermarket shop.

The impact of changes to business rates on the High Street will be closely watched.

The UK’s biggest retailers have been relatively upbeat about Christmas trading, saying that shoppers were willing and able to treat themselves.

But Ken Murphy, chief executive of Tesco, the UK’s biggest retailer, said consumer sentiment was mixed. Some shoppers’ household budgets were in good shape while many others were counting every penny, he said.

There is intense competition between supermarkets on price, but retailers and governments have little control over the weather, harvests and the like which affect the cost of certain items.

Ministers tend to point to external factors when food prices rise sharply, so equally cannot take all the credit when they slow. The same is true of inflation in general.

The latest inflation data showed a pick-up in food price inflation after a slowdown the previous month. Either way, the food shop was not getting cheaper, it just meant it was rising more quickly or more slowly.

For the most vulnerable, the government has confirmed the Crisis and Resilience Fund will begin at the start of April, providing £1bn annually for the next three years. This gives emergency cash payments and support to those potentially in crisis.

Rail and bus fares frozen in England

Rail fares in England have been frozen for the first time in 30 years by the government.

This applies to season tickets covering most commuter routes, some off-peak return tickets on long-distance journeys and flexible tickets for travel in and around major cities until March 2027.

As well as the cost of fares, there is the potential cost of delays, leading to the government’s announcement about rail improvements in northern England.

Getty Images Red bus being driven along a quiet coastal road with the sun setting behind it.Getty Images

The £3 cap on bus fares in England, outside London, has also been extended to the same date. However, that scheme is voluntary and not all bus companies have signed up.

For drivers, the 5p “temporary” cut in fuel duty on petrol and diesel was extended in the Budget but will see a staged increase from September.

Mortgage rates falling but rents still rising

It is the independent Bank of England that sets interest rates, not the government.

Ministers will claim that the government has brought stability to the economy, allowing for the rate of inflation and, in turn, interest rates to fall.

The reduction has brought mortgage rates down too, with some analysts expecting further movement early in the year.

The sharp rise in rents, which has had a massive impact on younger workers in recent years, has slowed too. But groups representing landlords say that further tax burdens will restrict the number of homes they can offer which risks pushing rents up.

The main elements of the Renters Rights Act will come into force in May, offering more protection to tenants in England, but also some concern from landlords.

Tax, benefits and economy

A hugely complex area involving billions of pounds clearly affects the finances of different people in different ways.

The government will point to the end of the two-child benefit cap in April as evidence of how it is putting money back into the pockets of larger, low-income families.

Opposition parties and critics will highlight the chancellor’s decision to extend the freeze on tax thresholds, meaning more people will pay more tax.

After the Budget, the Institute for Fiscal Studies think tank said households were facing a “truly dismal” increase in living standards.

Average disposable income – a measure of people’s earnings after tax – will rise by just 0.5% over each of the next five years, according to the Office for Budget Responsibility – the government’s official forecaster.

Liverpool’s Andy Robertson in talks over Tottenham transfer – sources

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Andy Robertson admits lack of clarity about Liverpool future

  • Beth Lindop

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    Beth Lindop

    Correspondent

      Based in Liverpool, Beth Lindop is ESPN’s Liverpool correspondent and also covers the WSL and UWCL.

  • James Olley

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    James Olley

    Senior Writer, ESPN FC

Jan 23, 2026, 07:07 AM ET

Tottenham Hotspur have entered talks with Liverpool over a potential deal for defender Andy Robertson, sources told ESPN.

The left-back, who joined Liverpool from Hull City in 2017, is out of contract at the end of the season.

Earlier this month, Robertson admitted he was unsure where his long-term future lies and sources told ESPN that Tottenham have now made an approach to sign the 31-year-old, though no agreement has yet been reached.

Robertson has slipped down the pecking order for Liverpool this season following the £40 million ($54.1m) signing of Milos Kerkez in the summer, though sources told ESPN any move this month would have to be right for both the player and club.

Spurs’ interest in Robertson comes amid the club’s drive to add more experience and leadership to Thomas Frank’s misfiring team who sit 14th in the Premier League table.

“I’m a player who wants to play,” Robertson said earlier this month. “I’ve got five months left and we need to see what the option is to stay or if there’s options to go and things like that.

“I need to sit down with my family and decide. After a stressful summer, I’m just trying to enjoy being a part of it and being a Liverpool player.

“I wanted to qualify for the World Cup and thankfully, we’ve managed to do that. I need to see what myself and my family wants going forward.”

– Incoming Liverpool transfers unlikely in January – Arne Slot
– If Liverpool want to be successful, all roads lead through Szoboszlai
– Tottenham boss Thomas Frank quells Micky van de Ven exit talk

Frank’s difficult start to life at Spurs as been hindered by a lengthy injury list that includes key first-team players such as Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison, while the broken ankle suffered by Ben Davies has added to the Dane’s issues.

Destiny Udogie has been the team’s first-choice left-back since his arrival in 2023 but repeated muscular injuries have often made him unavailable for selection and Djed Spence has often deputised in the Italian’s place.

Should Robertson’s move to Spurs be completed, he would become the second left-back through the door at Hotspur Way during the January transfer window after Souza’s arrival from Santos in a €15 million deal on Thursday.

Robertson has made 363 appearances for Liverpool, winning a number of major honours including two Premier League titles and the Champions League in 2019.

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Wayne Rooney’s son, Kai, makes Old Trafford debut with Man United U18s

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Jan 23, 2026, 06:39 PM ET

Kai Rooney followed in his father Wayne’s famous footsteps on Friday as he made his first competitive appearance at Manchester United‘s Old Trafford during an FA Youth Cup match.

With Wayne watching on from the stands, Kai came on as a substitute in Man United under-18s 2-1 extra-time win over Derby County to reach the quarterfinals of the prestigious youth competition.

The 16-year-old winger made his entrance in the 99th minute with the game still scoreless, before goals from Luca Crolla and Chido Obi secured victory for the side led by Wayne’s former teammate Darren Fletcher.

Wayne was taking in his son’s first proper Old Trafford action from the directors’ box, alongside wife Coleen. They were joined by Man United head coach Michael Carrick and other members of the senior team’s coaching staff.

Kai scored for United in a U18 League Cup match last month but that was played at the team’s regular home at the club’s Carrington training base.

His son joined Man United’s academy aged 11 in 2020, three years after Wayne left Old Trafford following a 13-year career at United that saw him win every major club honour and eclipse Sir Bobby Charlton as the team’s all-time record scorer, with 253 goals in 559 appearances.

Kai had hinted at his involvement in Friday’s match earlier in the day, posting a photo on Instagram showing him accompanying his dad on the Old Trafford pitch as a young child.

Any strike will mean ‘all-out war’: Iran warns as US sends ‘armada’ to ME

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Any strike will mean ‘all-out war': Iran warns as US sends 'armada' to ME

The world’s largest warship, US aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford, on its way out of the Oslofjord at Nesodden and Bygdoy, Norway, September 17, 2025. — Reuters
  • Official says Iran is on high alert after US military buildup in ME.
  • Even limited or ‘surgical’ strike to trigger full-scale war: Iran.
  • Says Iran’s military is prepared for worst-case scenario.

Iran will treat any attack “as an all-out war against us,” a senior Iranian official said on Friday, ahead of the arrival of a US military aircraft carrier strike group and other assets in the Middle East in the coming days.

“This military build-up – we hope it is not intended for real confrontation – but our military is ready for the worst-case scenario. This is why everything is on high alert in Iran,” said the senior Iranian official, speaking on condition of anonymity.

“This time we will treat any attack – limited, unlimited, surgical, kinetic, whatever they call it – as an all-out war against us, and we will respond in the hardest way possible to settle this,” the official said.

US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that the United States had an “armada” heading towards Iran but hoped he would not have to use it, as he renewed warnings to Tehran against killing protesters or restarting its nuclear programme.

“If the Americans violate Iran’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, we will respond,” said the Iranian official. He declined to specify what an Iranian response might look like.

“A country under constant military threat from the United States has no option but to ensure that everything at its disposal can be used to push back and, if possible, restore balance against anyone who dares to attack Iran,” the official said.

The US military has in the past periodically sent increased forces to the Middle East at times of heightened tensions, moves that were often defensive. However, the US military staged a major build-up last year ahead of its June strikes against Iran’s nuclear programme.

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