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A drone strike causes a massive fire at Dubai Airport, a key international center.

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Havilah N. Ajayi
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  • Some flights diverted to Dubai’s Maktoum airport
  • Third incident at Dubai airport since Iranian attacks began
  • U.S.-Israel war with Iran disrupts global aviation
DUBAI, March 16 (Reuters) – Dubai’s ​international airport was gradually resuming flights on Monday after a fuel tank fire caused by a drone attack forced ‌a temporary suspension, spotlighting the challenge for regional carriers grappling with the Middle East crisis.
The U.S.-Israel war against Iran, now in its third week, has thrown global aviation into turmoil, with flights cancelled, rescheduled and rerouted, as most Middle East airspace stays shut over fears of missile and drone attacks.

The Reuters Iran Briefing newsletter keeps you informed with the latest developments and analysis of the Iran war.

Star Air increases frequencies to 550 weekly flights and extends connectivity to Kolhapur, Belagavi.

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Havilah N. Ajayi
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The airline has launched a daily direct service between Belagavi and Mumbai. New and improved flights have been added from Kolhapur to Mumbai, Ahmedabad, and Bengaluru, along with vital links to Kishangarh and Indore.

As part of its ongoing efforts to strengthen regional air connectivity, Star Air, the aviation arm of Sanjay Ghodawat Group, has announced a major expansion of its network, with increased frequencies and new destinations planned across India. As part of this broader plan, the airline will enhance connectivity to cities such as Kolhapur and Belagavi, further integrating them with its growing network. Together, these two cities are at the core of Star Air’s vision to fuel regional progress and enhance connectivity across underserved regions.

The airline has launched a daily direct service between Belagavi and Mumbai, further integrating North Karnataka and Central India with the nation’s financial capital. At the same time, Kolhapur’s connectivity is being enhanced with new and improved flights to Mumbai, Ahmedabad, and Bengaluru, along with vital links to Kishangarh and Indore.

The airline is also increasing its weekly schedule from 455 to 550 flights this summer, responding to rising demand across its network. With nearly 3 million passengers carried since inception, the airline continues to deliver on its mission of “Connecting Real India.”

Commenting on this expansion, Shilpa Bhatia, Chief Commercial & Marketing Officer at Star Air, said, “Focusing on Kolhapur and Belagavi is central to our vision of strengthening our presence in India’s aviation sector. With every new route and every additional aircraft, we’re building bridges between businesses, families, and dreams. Our growing network is about empowering communities, unlocking economic potential, and showing that regional India is ready to soar. We remain deeply committed to reliability, comfort, and making air travel accessible to all.”

 

Formula 1 cancels races in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain.

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Havilah N. Ajayi
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Formula 1 has cancelled its April races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia due to ongoing instability in the Middle East. 

The season’s fourth round had been scheduled to take place in Bahrain from 10–12 April, followed by Saudi Arabia’s Jeddah Grand Prix from 17–19 April. Both nations are among Gulf states impacted by attacks from Iran in retaliation to US–Israeli air strikes.

As a result, the two Middle Eastern rounds will not be replaced, creating a five-week gap in the race calendar between the end-of-March Japan Grand Prix and Miami’s event in early May. The associated F2, F3 and F1 Academy races planned for the Bahrain–Saudi Arabia double-header have also been called off. The cancellations reduce the 2026 F1 season to 22 races.

However, the remaining Gulf round, the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at Yas Marina Circuit, is still scheduled to run from 4–6 December and will close the 2026 Formula 1 season as planned.

Stefano Domenicali, CEO of Formula 1, said that while it was a “difficult decision” to take, it was “unfortunately the right one at this stage” considering the current situation in the Middle East.

FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem added: “The FIA will always place the safety and wellbeing of our community and colleagues first. After careful consideration, we have taken this decision with that responsibility firmly in mind. We continue to hope for calm, safety and a swift return to stability in the region, and my thoughts remain with all those affected by these recent events.“Bahrain and Saudi Arabia are incredibly important to the ecosystem of our racing season, and I look forward to returning to both as soon as circumstances allow.”

The FIA World Endurance Championship had already revised its regional schedule, moving its Qatar season opener from 28 March to 24 October 2026. Meanwhile, MotoGP, which was originally set to race in Doha on the same weekend as F1’s Bahrain Grand Prix, is also in the process of rescheduling.

Saudi Arabia Grand Prix

Formula 1 has become a major driver of tourism across the Gulf. The Saudi Arabia Grand Prix typically attracts between 150,000 and 200,000 spectators each weekend, generating record-breaking hospitality performance. According to CoStar data, Jeddah hotels reached 82.5% occupancy during the 2025 race weekend, up 21.1% year on year, with average daily rates rising nearly 10% to SAR833.79.

Similarly, Bahrain’s Formula 1 event continues to set new attendance benchmarks. A record 37,700 fans attended on race day in 2025, contributing to a total attendance of 105,000 over the three-day weekend at Bahrain International Circuit.

Laporta was elected president of Barcelona again.

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Havilah N. Ajayi
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Joan Laporta vowed Barcelona will be “unstoppable” after he was re-elected club president for a further five years.

Winning just over 68% of the vote, he will begin his second-consecutive term – and fourth overall – from 1 July, the La Liga club announced on Sunday.

His opponent, Victor Font tallied almost 30% with the remaining votes void or invalid.

Having taken office in March 2021, Laporta stepped down last month in line with club statutes in order to seek re-election.

The 63-year-old described the result as “resounding”, adding “it gives us great strength”.

“It makes us unstoppable,” he said. “No-one will stop us. Exciting years lie ahead. They will be the best of our lives.

“This is a wonderful club, where the members elect their president and their board of directors. A club unique in the world, truly extraordinary.”

Laporta, who first led Barcelona between 2003-10 and oversaw the appointment of Pep Guardiola as manager, thanked the members who voted, saying the process was a “celebration of democracy and civic spirit”.

He pledged that his new term would see officials and fans “defend Barca against everything and everyone”.

His victory speech also saw him promise to strengthen the first team and complete the redevelopment of the Nou Camp stadium.

Almost 48,500 votes were cast – a turnout of 42.34% – with Laporta securing 32,934 and 53-year-old Font receviving 14,385.

The Catalan club have battled significant financial issues in recent years, but claimed a domestic treble last season.

They now lead rivals Real Madrid by four points at the top of La Liga, with Raphinha scoring a hat-trick in a 5-2 win over struggling Sevilla on Sunday.

This Wednesday will see them face Newcastle United in the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie.

The IRGC of Iran promises to “hunt down, kill Netanyahu.”

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Havilah N. Ajayi
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Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on Sunday threatened to hunt down and kill Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

In a statement published on Sepah News, its official website, the IRGC described Netanyahu as a “child-killing criminal” and vowed to pursue him with force.

“If this criminal, the killer of children, is still alive, we will continue working to hunt him down and kill him with all our strength,” the statement reads.

The threat came as speculation circulated online about Netanyahu’s health and whereabouts.

Israel’s prime minister’s office dismissed the rumours, saying the leader was in good health.

“These are fake news; the Prime Minister is fine,” the office told Anadolu Agency in response to claims circulating on social media that Netanyahu had been killed in retaliation for the strikes.

The IRGC’s statement comes as the conflict involving Iran, Israel and the United States entered its 16th day.

On the morning of February 28, US and Israeli armed forces launched air strikes on Iranian territory.

In response, Iran’s military launched ballistic missiles and drones towards Israel and carried out missile and drone attacks against US bases and targets in Bahrain, the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar and Jordan.

Premier League clubs’ anticipated lineups for Matchweek 30

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Okoro Juliet
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See which players we think will start for their Premier League clubs this weekend

Football writer Ben Bloom is predicting the line-ups of all 20 Premier League clubs in action this weekend. More starting XIs will be added as managers hold their pre-match press conferences and deliver the latest team news on Friday.

Burnley: There are a fair few unknowns with Burnley’s side this weekend. At the attacking end, Marcus Edwards and Zian Flemming are both touch and go to return after stepping up their training this week. Scott Parker said he will “have to see if they are fully up to speed”. Parker has largely played with three at the back in recent weeks but may well shift to a four-man defensive line here, with a few candidates vying for each position.

See: Burnley team news

Bournemouth: Andoni Iraola has the same players at his disposal for this match after almost two weeks off since their last outing. There do not appear to be too many big selection decisions for the manager to make. Tyler Adams and Ryan Christie could be competing for the same midfield spot, with Eli Junior Kroupi likely to come back into the side. Amine Adli provides another option in attack.

Sunderland: Regis Le Bris will expect a response after losing to League One side Port Vale in the FA Cup last weekend. The manager confirmed Brian Brobbey and Dennis Cirkin “might be available” after training normally this week, but the other occupants of Sunderland’s injury list will remain absent. Eliezer Mayenda has filled in for Brobbey during the latter’s absence, so will likely do so again if required, while Chemsdine Talbi and Nilson Angulo are battling for one spot.

See: Sunderland team news

Brighton: Brighton’s main injury headache concerns Kaoru Mitoma, who departed early against Arsenal last time out with an ankle issue. Fabian Hurzeler said scans show no injury so “it’s just a question of pain and if he can handle it”. Lewis Dunk missed that Arsenal match but is now fit, which should mean an immediate return at centre-back. Yasin Ayari came off the bench after injury last time out, but whether he can force his way in ahead of James Milner and Carlos Baleba to accompany Pascal Gross is another matter. Danny Welbeck will hope to displace Georginio Rutter up top.

Watch: Hurzeler’s pre-match press conference

Arsenal v Everton predicted line-ups

Arsenal: Mikel Arteta stated “we have to wait and see” if Martin Odegaard and Leandro Trossard are involved. Both missed the midweek UEFA Champions League draw at Bayer Leverkusen, with Odegaard absent since February’s north London derby. Ben White and Riccardo Calafiori are options if Arteta wants to rotate his full-backs ahead of the return leg. Kai Havertz and Noni Madueke impressed off the bench in Germany and could come into the reckoning here.

See: Arsenal team news

Everton: Everton have no changes to availability for this match, with David Moyes expecting to have Jarrad Branthwaite available despite having to manage the defender carefully on his comeback from a long absence. There is an option to deploy Branthwaite at left-back to counter Arsenal’s set-piece threat. Beto seems to have regained his spot up front ahead of Thierno Barry, while Dwight McNeil has also started in successive victories, so may well keep Harrison Armstrong and Tyrique George out again.

See: Everton team news

Chelsea v Newcastle predicted line-ups

Chelsea: Liam Rosenior’s first selection dilemma is in goal. Filip Jorgensen had recently ousted Robert Sanchez, but then made a major mistake in the Champions League defeat at Paris Saint-Germain. Mamadou Sarr or Tosin Adarabioyo could well come into central defence, while a rest for Reece James would come as no surprise, and Alejandro Garnacho may take Pedro Neto’s place. Jamie Gittens is available again.

See: Chelsea team news


Newcastle: Anthony Gordon was not deemed well enough to start against Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday, but “feels better” now, according to Eddie Howe. Tino Livramento came off the bench in that match and could regain his right-back spot off Kieran Trippier, although much depends on how much Howe has an eye on the Barcelona return leg. Joe Willock may well rotate in for Jacob Ramsey, while Jacob Murphy is an option to replace Anthony Elanga on the right. Neither Nick Woltemade nor Yoane Wissa came off the bench against Barcelona; if Gordon does not make it back, it will be fascinating to see who leads the line.

See: Newcastle team news

West Ham v Man City predicted line-ups

West Ham: West Ham’s big absentee is form man Crysencio Summerville, who picked up a calf issue in the dramatic FA Cup win over Brentford on Monday. Adama Traore might have been an option to replace him, but is a doubt after going off at half-time in that match. That could see Mateus Fernandes fill in on the left, with Pablo Felipe (who returned from injury for that FA Cup fixture) playing behind the striker. Konstantinos Mavropanos and Jean-Clair Todibo will fight for one spot.

See: West Ham team news

Man City: Asked whether Erling Haaland would be fit to play this weekend, Pep Guardiola merely responded: “Yep.” His Man City team were stunned 3-0 by Real Madrid in midweek. Matheus Nunes and Rayan Ait-Nouri were both benched for that match, but will hope to earn starts here. Rayan Cherki is another who could return to the starting line-up, while Omar Marmoush is pushing for a place in Guardiola’s XI.

Watch: Pep Guardiola’s preview

Man Utd v Aston Villa predicted line-ups

Man Utd: Mason Mount is back training, but Michael Carrick said he will have to “see if he is involved” this weekend. The United manager confirmed Mount is the only player to potentially return, suggesting Lisandro Martinez will not be back. Carrick made no mention of Noussair Mazraoui, who limped off against Newcastle last time out, but Diogo Dalot could be restored in his place regardless. Amad Diallo is waiting in the wings if Carrick opts to go without Benjamin Sesko.

See: Man Utd team news

Aston Villa team news to follow

Nottingham Forest v Fulham predicted line-ups

Nottingham Forest: Jair Cunha is a major doubt after lasting just nine minutes in Thursday’s UEFA Europa League defeat against Midtjylland. That leaves Vitor Pereira with a decision on whether to stick with a back three or, seemingly more likely, revert to the defensive four that he switched to at half-time in midweek. Nicolas Dominguez provides an alternative midfield option.

Fulham team news to follow

Liverpool v Spurs predicted line-ups

Liverpool: Liverpool were without Alisson for their Champions League midweek trip to Galatasaray, and Arne Slot said on Friday that he did not yet know if his No 1 would be fit to return this weekend. Federico Chiesa also missed that match due to illness, but is back in training. Florian Wirtz made his first start for almost a month in Turkey. He may be rotated out with an eye on next week’s return leg, with Slot confirming Rio Ngumoha is “definitely an option to start” one of the next few games. Curtis Jones and Andy Robertson could also be used if Slot wants to keep players fresh.

See: Liverpool team news

Spurs: Tottenham’s availability problems somehow only worsen. Micky van de Ven is suspended, while Cristian Romero and Joao Palhinha cannot play due to concussion protocol after clashing heads in the Champions League defeat at Atletico Madrid. Yves Bissouma is out with a muscle injury, and Conor Gallagher has a fever, but Igor Tudor said the England midfielder “probably will be in”. The Spurs boss also confirmed Guglielmo Vicario will return in goal. Tudor could opt for a four-man defence, but the availability crisis means personnel would change little either way, although there are more options higher up the pitch.

See: Spurs team news

Brentford v Wolves predicted line-ups

Brentford: Brentford have minimal change to their availability from last week, with only Reiss Nelson potentially returning of their absentees. Rico Henry’s injury means either Keane Lewis-Potter or Kristoffer Ajer will fill in at left-back, with captain Nathan Collins seemingly back in favour in central defence.

See: Brentford team news

Wolves: Extraordinarily, given their position in the table, Wolves are bidding for three successive Premier League wins. Rob Edwards said Jose Sa is “still sore” after missing last weekend’s FA Cup defeat against Liverpool with an ankle issue, but he is “really hopeful” the goalkeeper will be available. Mateus Mane has looked increasingly in need of a rest, but Wolves have 25 days until their next game, so a long one is incoming.

Watch: Rob Edwards’ pre-match press conference

Six people were killed when a US military refueling aircraft crashed in Iraq. Here’s what you should knowSix people were killed when a US military refueling aircraft crashed in Iraq. Here’s what you should know

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Okoro Juliet
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SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — All six crew members of a KC-135 refueling aircraft supporting operations against Iran are dead, the U.S. military said Friday, after their plane crashed in western Iraq.

The U.S. Central Command, which oversees the Middle East, said the crash followed an unspecified incident involving two aircraft in “friendly airspace,” and that the other plane landed safely.

Here’s what is known so far about the tanker, which is the fourth publicly acknowledged U.S. aircraft to crash during the war against Iran:

Cause of crash not immediately known

The U.S. Central Command said all six crew members on board the crashed KC-135 have been confirmed dead. It said the circumstances of the crash are under investigation but that the loss of the aircraft was “not due to hostile or friendly fire.”

A U.S. official, who also spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the developing situation, said the other plane involved was also a KC-135. Yechiel Leiter, the Israeli ambassador to the U.S., wrote on X that the other plane landed safely in Israel.

Yang said it would be rare for a refueling tanker to be downed by enemy fire because such operations are usually conducted in the rear of combat zones.

The crash came after three U.S. F-15E fighter jets were mistakenly downed last week by friendly Kuwaiti fire.

The KC-135 is a long-serving tanker plane

The KC-135 Stratotanker is a U.S. Air Force aircraft used to refuel other planes in midair, allowing them to travel longer distances and maintain operations longer without landing. The plane is also used to transport wounded personnel during medical evacuations or conduct surveillance missions, according to military experts.

Based on the same design as the Boeing 707 passenger plane, the tanker has been in service for more than 60 years, supporting the U.S. Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps as well as allied aircraft, according to an Air Force description. The aging plane is set to be gradually phased out as more of the next-generation KC-46A Pegasus tankers enter service.

Despite upgrades over the years, the KC-135s’ age has fueled concern about their reliability and durability.

“The last of these planes were produced in the 1960s,” said Yang Uk, a security expert at South Korea’s Asan Institute for Policy Studies. He added that the transition to the KC-46A has progressed more slowly than expected.

According to the Congressional Research Service, the Air Force last year had 376 KC-135s, including 151 on active duty, 163 in the Air National Guard and 62 in the Air Force Reserve.

A basic KC-135 crew has three people: a pilot, co-pilot and boom operator. Nurses and medical technicians are added in aeromedical evacuation missions.

Refueling typically happens at the back of the plane, where the boom operator is located. A fuel boom is lowered to connect with fighters, bombers or other aircraft. On many of the planes, the boom operator works lying face down while looking out of a window on the underside of the plane.

Some KC-135s can also refuel planes from pods on their wings. The tankers also have room to carry cargo or passengers if needed.

Refueling tankers could play an increasingly important role if the Iran war drags on, as U.S. aircraft may need to fly longer missions to pursue Iranian forces retreating deeper into the country, said Yang.

AI programmer Cursor is in talks to raise $50 billion, surpassing the $29 billion raised previous year.

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Havilah N. Ajayi
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AI coding startup Cursor is in early discussions with investors about a new funding round that could value the company at around $50B, according to a report by Bloomberg.

If completed, the round would nearly double the company’s previous valuation of $29.3B, as of November 2025. According to the report, talks are still preliminary and may not necessarily lead to a final deal.

Rivaling Anthropic

Cursor launched its AI coding assistant in 2023 to help developers write, edit, and debug code more efficiently. The tool has gained attention among programmers as demand for AI-powered coding platforms continues to grow.

According to Bloomberg, the company’s annualized revenue crossed $2B in February, highlighting the rapid adoption of such tools among software teams and developers.

The startup has already attracted funding from several well-known venture capital firms and technology companies. The investors in Cursor include Coatue, Thrive Capital, and Andreessen Horowitz, along with strategic backing from Google and NVIDIA.

The surge in funding and competition reflects a wider shift in the software industry, where AI is being integrated into development workflows. Tools designed to automate parts of the coding process are attracting both developer interest and investor capital.

Kia removed its most reasonably priced EV from the market, leaving customers in America with just two options.

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Havilah N. Ajayi
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The announcement came as something of a delayed reveal. The Niro had already received a comprehensive facelift at the start of the year, but at the time, the company had not made clear which powertrains would carry over into the refreshed version.

The answer is now official: the updated Niro will continue exclusively as a hybrid. According to The Korea Herald, Jung Yoon-Kyung, a senior manager of Kia’s marketing team, confirmed the news directly: “The Niro EV, which had been produced until the previous model, has been discontinued. We plan to sell the remaining inventory available.”

The decision is not happening in a vacuum. It reflects a broader reconfiguration of Kia’s EV strategy, shaped by intensifying competition in the affordable electric vehicle segment, the arrival of newer models within Kia’s own lineup, and a turbulent tariff environment that has already forced the automaker’s hand on other models sold in the United States.

A Modest Pioneer That Struggled to Keep Up

The Niro EV first debuted in 2018, at a point in time when affordable electric cars were genuinely scarce on the market. The second generation arrived in 2021, bringing with it notable styling changes and a higher DC fast charging power input, an improvement that meaningfully shortened charging stops for drivers. For several years, the model occupied a legitimate niche: practical, accessible, and easy enough to recommend to buyers who didn’t want to spend big on an EV.

But the landscape shifted. By the time the discontinuation was confirmed, the Niro EV carried a starting price of roughly $40,000 and offered a 253-mile range, figures that, placed alongside the competition, had become increasingly difficult to defend.

According to Inside EVs, the entry-level Tesla Model 3, a larger car, starts from $36,990 and delivers 321 miles on a full charge. The new Chevrolet Bolt EV costs less than $30,000, and the refreshed Nissan Leaf lands at approximately the same price point. In that context, the Niro EV’s value proposition had quietly unraveled.

Undercut From the Outside, and From Within

The external pressure was significant, but internal competition played an equally important role in sealing the Niro EV’s fate. Kia introduced the EV3 and EV4, two models built on more advanced underpinnings and priced significantly below the electric Niro. Their arrival made it hard to justify keeping the older model alive, particularly when buyers comparing options within the same brand could find newer technology at a lower price point.

In South Korea, the refreshed Niro will be sold with a 1.6-liter hybrid powertrain producing a combined output of 141 horsepower, with the electric motor contributing 43 hp on its own. Whether the facelifted model will be sold in the United States remains unclear. What is clear is that once existing pre-facelift inventory is exhausted, the Niro EV will no longer be part of the picture.

Tariffs, Imports, and a Narrower American Lineup

The discontinuation leaves Kia’s U.S. electric vehicle offer notably thinner. After remaining inventory is cleared, the brand’s EV lineup stateside will consist of just two models: the EV6 and the EV9. The EV3 and EV4, which were originally planned for import into the American market, have been stalled by what Inside EVs describes as “the ongoing tariff situation and geopolitical environment,” preventing Kia from moving forward with its initial plans.

The EV6 GT, imported from South Korea, recently ran into the same wall, the automaker has already stopped selling it in the United States as a result. The EV9 seven-seat SUV and the standard EV6 trims are assembled domestically, which insulates them from the shifting import duty policies that have disrupted other models in the range. For now, those two vehicles represent what remains of Kia’s electric ambitions on American soil.

Putin doubts the security of vital infrastructure in the face of escalating Ukrainian attacks

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Havilah N. Ajayi
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Quick Summary

President Putin, citing intensified Ukrainian strikes—including a March 10 raid on the Kremniy El microelectronics plant in Bryansk—pressed senior officials to propose enhanced protection measures for Russia’s critical infrastructure amid growing domestic criticism and widespread service disruptions

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