Day: March 23, 2026

The U.S. Embassy in Muscat has issued a shelter-in-place advisory covering the entire country of Oman, including Muscat, due to ongoing security concerns, News.Az reports.
On March 3, the U.S. Department of State authorized non-emergency U.S. government employees and their families to depart Oman.
Recommended Actions:

Stay in contact with family and friends to update them on your status.
Ensure travel documents are current and easily accessible.
Locate a secure area within your residence or another safe building. Keep a supply of food, water, medications, and other essentials.
In the event of an attack, avoid debris and follow official guidance from news outlets.
Avoid protests and demonstrations, maintain a low profile, and stay aware of your surroundings.
Monitor communications from local authorities closely.
Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive safety and security updates from the U.S. Embassy.
Keep your mobile phone charged and pre-program emergency contact numbers.

U.S. citizens are urged to follow these precautions to ensure their safety while in Oman.

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Dubai International Airport (Dubai International Airport) remains the airline’s central hub, with notable resumptions to cities including Los Angeles (LAX), Osaka Kansai (KIX), and Houston (IAH), News.Az reports, citing foreign media.
At the same time, 11 destinations, such as Adelaide (ADL), Beirut (BEY), and Tehran (IKA), continue to be suspended.
***
The latest schedule confirms 12 route resumptions, including Bologna (BLQ), Lyon (LYS), Orlando (MCO), and Bogota (BOG), signaling a gradual restoration of Emirates’ long-haul network.
A highlight of the update is the return of the Airbus A380 on eight routes, including Copenhagen (CPH), Glasgow (GLA), Perth (PER), and Washington Dulles (IAD), reflecting strong demand on high-capacity flights. The airline continues to adjust its global network in response to evolving operational conditions.
Suspended Destinations
Operations remain halted on several Middle East, Asia Pacific, and European destinations:

Adelaide (ADL)
Baghdad (BGW)
Bahrain (BAH)
Basra (BSR)
Beirut (BEY)
Brisbane (BNE)
Kuwait City (KWI)
Muscat (MCT)
Phnom Penh (PNH)
St. Petersburg (LED)
Tehran Imam Khomeini (IKA)

Resumed Destinations
The airline is restoring connectivity to multiple international markets:

Bogota (BOG)
Bologna (BLQ)
Dammam (DMM)
Entebbe (EBB)
Houston (IAH)
Los Angeles (LAX)
Luanda (LAD)
Lyon (LYS)
Miami (MIA)
Orlando (MCO)
Osaka Kansai (KIX)
Venice Marco Polo (VCE)

A380 Network Expansion
Emirates is reintroducing A380 services on high-demand routes, replacing smaller aircraft and increasing seat capacity. Confirmed A380 resumptions include:

Copenhagen (CPH)
Düsseldorf (DUS)
Glasgow (GLA)
Houston (IAH)
Los Angeles (LAX)
Osaka Kansai (KIX)
Perth (PER)
Washington Dulles (IAD)

This shift indicates a strategic focus on trunk routes where premium and high-density demand remains strong.
Key Frequency and Aircraft Changes
Several routes are seeing frequency increases or equipment upgrades:

Dubai (DXB) – Amman (AMM): Increased to daily A380 service
Dubai (DXB) – Bangkok (BKK): Expanded to 3 daily A380 flights
Dubai (DXB) – New York JFK (JFK): Increased to 2 daily A380 flights
Dubai (DXB) – Seoul Incheon (ICN): Increased frequencies and mixed fleet deployment
Dubai (DXB) – Shanghai Pudong (PVG): Doubled to 2 daily services

In contrast, select routes such as Frankfurt (FRA) and Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) see reduced frequencies, reflecting demand adjustments.

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Several powerful explosions and air raid sirens were heard on Monday in Bahrain, marking the first such incidents in the Gulf region since US President Donald Trump announced that talks to end the conflict with Iran were underway, News.Az reports, citing AFP.
Bahrain’s Interior Ministry urged citizens and residents to “remain calm and head to the nearest safe place,” posting the advisory on social media as authorities monitored the situation.

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The incident occurred while Cirstea was serving at 0-3 in the deciding set, having forced a third set against Gauff, News.Az reports, citing foreign media.

Chair umpire Jennifer Zhang noticed a fan struggling and quickly stopped play to allow medics to attend.

No further details were immediately available regarding the fan’s condition, and play resumed once the emergency was addressed.

***

Other spectators in the crowd started shouting out to grab the umpire’s attention, and it worked.

She got down off her chair and told Gauff: “Sorry Coco, we need to check first.” Tournament director James Blake was also seen standing courtside. “On Centre Court, we have a lady passed out in the stands, just behind the first row, across from the chair umpire. She needs a drink or ice towel, anything,” Zhang said over her walkie-talkie.

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The draft resolution also calls on Iran to immediately halt all attacks on merchant and commercial vessels and to stop any attempts to interfere with lawful transit in and around the strategic waterway, News.Az reports, citing AFP.

Approximately one-fifth of global crude oil and liquefied natural gas shipments pass through the Strait of Hormuz, making its security critical to global energy supply.

***

The proposed text allows states to act—including within the territorial waters of littoral nations bordering the Strait—to “secure transit passage and to repress, neutralize, and deter attempts to close, obstruct, or otherwise interfere with international navigation.” It also includes provisions for targeted sanctions against those who undermine navigational rights and freedoms.

The resolution’s chances of approval remain uncertain, as the five permanent members of the Security Council hold veto power.

Bahrain, representing Gulf states, recently secured a resolution in mid-March demanding the “immediate cessation” of Iranian attacks on Gulf states and Jordan, reflecting growing regional concern over maritime security.

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Video footage that appeared on social media platforms shows the U.S. C-RAM (Counter-Rocket, Artillery, and Mortar) system intercepting drones over Erbil, News.Az reports.

The footage demonstrates the system’s rapid targeting and neutralization capabilities, as well as ensuring the safety of personnel.

Footage of the C-RAM system in action against drones over Erbil. pic.twitter.com/yWa825Z3xN

— Open Source Intel (@Osint613) March 23, 2026

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The reimagined film stars Catherine Lagaʻaia in the lead role, with Dwayne Johnson returning as the shapeshifting demigod Maui, News.Az reports, citing foreign media.
Alongside the trailer, Disney released an “Artistry of Moana” featurette, offering a behind-the-scenes look at the film’s design and production process.
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The project builds on the success of the original 2016 animated film, which performed strongly at the box office and on streaming platforms, and marks Disney’s continued push to adapt its popular animated titles into live-action productions.
The new film is directed by Thomas Kail, the Emmy and Tony winner behind “Hamilton,” and produced by Johnson, Dany Garcia, Beau Flynn, Hiram Garcia, and Lin-Manuel Miranda. Disney says the film features original songs by Miranda, Opetaia Foaʻi, and Mark Mancina, as well as an original score by Mancina. Auliʻi Cravalho, who voiced Moana in the animated films, is also aboard as an executive producer.

Alongside Lagaʻaia and Johnson, the cast includes John Tui as Chief Tui, Frankie Adams as Sina, and Rena Owen as Gramma Tala. The “Artistry of Moana” featurette includes commentary from Johnson, Lagaʻaia, Kail, costume designer Liz McGregor, and choreographer Tiana Nonosina Liufau, underscoring how much Disney is selling this version not just as another remake, but as a crafted live-action event built around performance, movement, music, and scale.
Disney’s official synopsis for the project remains close to the original film’s spine: Moana answers the ocean’s call and ventures beyond the reef of Motunui with Maui on a journey tied to her people’s future. That basic framework was already established in Disney’s first teaser materials, and the new trailer continues the studio’s push to position the film as both a faithful reworking and a larger-scale live-action musical adventure.
The bigger question, as always with Disney’s live-action machine, is whether familiarity alone is enough. But “Moana” has always been one of the studio’s stronger bets from the remake pile—partly because the original film’s music, oceanic sweep, and cultural footprint were already massive, and partly because the franchise is still fresh from expansion after “Moana 2.” Disney’s live-action “Moana” sails exclusively into theaters July 10, 2026. Watch the trailer below.

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