Amid the escalating Middle East conflict, Wizz Air has issued an update and confirmed that it has extended its cancellation period for four of its destinations

Wizz Air has issued a major update for four destinations and has extended its flight cancellations.

The conflict in the Middle East has caused significant travel disruptions for airlines, with thousands of flights cancelled as the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) warns against travel to parts of the region. Tensions remain high following the US-Israeli strikes on Iran that began over the weekend, with further attacks being carried out.

As the conflict escalates, Wizz Air has confirmed that it is suspending all flights to and from Israel, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Amman up to and including Sunday, 15 March. They had originally planned to cancel these flights until 7 March, but as the conflict shows no signs of slowing, they have extended the cancellation period.

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A Wizz Air spokesperson confirmed: “Wizz Air confirms that, following the recent escalation of the security situation in Iran, the airline is suspending all flights to and from Israel, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Amman up to and including 15 March, pending structural schedule changes reflecting reduced demand. Flights to and from Saudi Arabia will resume as planned from 8 March inclusive.

“The airline is closely monitoring developments and remains in ongoing contact with local and international authorities, aviation safety agencies, security authorities, and relevant governmental bodies. Operational decisions will continue to be reviewed, and the flight schedule may be adjusted as the situation evolves.

“The safety and security of our passengers, crew and aircraft remain Wizz Air’s highest priority. We acknowledge the disruption this may cause and appreciate the understanding of our customers. Passengers with affected bookings will be contacted directly with information regarding their options.”

The extension comes just a few days after Wizz Air first announced that it had suspended all flights to Israel, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Amman. Wizz Air joins other major airlines that have cancelled or amended hundreds of flights to parts of the Middle East amid the chaos.

Wizz Air, which has been working hard to ensure passenger safety, confirmed that flights to and from Saudi Arabia will recommence as planned from 8 March. In a bid to support passengers who need to travel to or from Israel, Wizz Air is planning to add flights to Sharm El Sheikh (SSH) from various European airports.

If approved, the extra flights, which will provide a connection between Israel and Europe, will begin on Friday, 6 March. They will be as follows:

• Budapest (BUD): from 3 to 10 weekly flights
• Rome Fiumicino (FCO): from 11 to 18 weekly flights
• London Luton (LTN): from 4 to 8 weekly flights
• Milan Malpensa (MXP): from 6 to 11 weekly flights
• Sofia (SOF): from 0 to 3 weekly flights

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The US and Israel have carried out strikes on Iran for a fourth day after launching an operation which killed its supreme leader.

With no clear end in sight to hostilities, Sky News has mapped the assaults on both sides – and the military assets at play in the region.

A regional conflict

The US began Operation Epic Fury with a series of strikes on Saturday morning, killing Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in his Tehran compound.

Zoom in to explore strike locations in satellite maps

Israel joined the assault, killing dozens of top Iranian military officials in more than 100 aerial strikes in three days.

“Preliminary analysis shows that the United States and Israel used a variety of precision guided munitions to strike Iran,” Nic Jenzen Jones, director at Armament Research Services (ARES) said.

“These included air-delivered weapons such as the AGM-154 Joint Standoff Weapon (JSOW), Blue Sparrow-series air-launched ballistic missiles, and various 500-, 1,000- and 2,000-pound-class bombs.”

He added: “In addition, surface-to-surface missiles were also fired, including sea-based Tomahawk-series missiles and the land-based Precision Strike Missile (PrSm).”

Iran is continuing to retaliate, launching drones and missiles targeting Israel, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain, Jordan, Oman and Qatar.

The US has confirmed the deaths of six service members, while an RAF base in Cyprus was also targeted in a drone strike.

How far can Iran strike?

Iran’s drone attack on RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus was a demonstration of its capabilities.

Its longest-range missile, the Sajjil, has a similar maximum range of up to 2,000km (1,240 miles), according to the International Institute for Strategic Studies, a defence thinktank.

That’s far enough to hit Moscow or Athens, though still well short of giving Iran the ability to strike the UK.

The UK’s base in Cyprus is well within range of not only the Sajjil, but also Iran’s Ghadr and Emad-1 missiles.

Fighter jets and airbases

Sky News’ Data and Forensics team has plotted US and UK air bases in the Middle East and Europe that can be used to launch attacks on Iran.

Flight tracking data shows the paths taken by 47 US military cargo and refuelling planes over recent days as they made their way to and from the Middle East.

At least 15 of the planes passed through British bases, including four through Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean.

The site has been in the headlines over recent months, with Donald Trump criticising the UK’s plans to cede control of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius.

The Iran conflict has highlighted the strategic importance of the joint US-UK military base, with Sir Keir Starmer initially refusing permission for it to be used by the US to launch strikes on Tehran.

Satellite imagery captured over the base on Sunday morning shows at least 14 planes stationed next to the runway, including six F-16 fighter jets and two P-8 Poseidon maritime spy planes.

The rest are transport aircraft, including a C-5 Galaxy and three KC-135 Stratotankers, analysts at Jane’s Defence Weekly told Sky News.

The C-5 is the largest transport aircraft in the US arsenal, capable of transporting military vehicles and even fighter jets.

Analysts at Jane’s Defence Weekly said the UK does not operate any of the aircraft models visible in the satellite imagery, except for the P-8 Poseidon.

As planes head to the Middle East, America’s air bases in Germany have been significantly emptied.

While 161 planes have landed at Spangdahlem and Ramstein air bases since 23 February, at least 246 have departed – an overall decrease of 52.

Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar has also significantly emptied, 20 more planes leaving than arriving. The base was an anticipated target of Iranian counterattacks.

Planes have been accumulating, meanwhile, at bases in Kuwait, Israel and Jordan.

Iranian sea power targeted

The aftermath of strikes is visible on satellite imagery at two Iranian naval bases.

Fires can be seen at the military harbour at Bandar Abbas, which is the main headquarters of the Iranian Navy, and oversees the strategically important Strait of Hormuz.

A burning ship, the Makran, is also visible in the image.

It is unclear from the imagery how much damage the vessel has sustained, but as the ship is Iran’s largest naval vessel and serves as a floating base, if it is inoperable this will be a blow to the naval capabilities of the regime.

The Makran is one of six Iranian ships Sky News has tracked using data from TankerTrackers, situated by Qeshm island in the strait of Hormuz.

The ships have been seen on satellite imagery on three recent dates, most recently 2 March.

Smoke can also be seen at dock of the Konarak Naval Base, which is also on the southern coast of Iran.

Strikes have also been reported at two other navy installations.

Sky News has mapped the facilities of the Iranian Navy, which are concentrated near the key Strait of Hormuz.

The Strait of Hormuz, between Iran and Oman, is a strategically vital waterway for Iran and other oil producers in the Middle East.

US naval assets

At least three US military ships are thought to be in the Persian Gulf, and 12 around the Middle East and Mediterranean.

The aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln was seen under 200km (124 miles) from the coast of Oman on 25 February.

It was accompanied by an unknown ship measuring over 200 metres and was potentially used for replenishing or drills.

The largest aircraft carrier in the US naval fleet, the USS Gerald R Ford, was last seen on satellite imagery on 27 February in the Mediterranean Sea, just under 400km (248 miles) from the coast of Cyprus.

It was reportedly travelling with three US destroyers, capable of carrying more than 6,000 personnel in total.

Maps created by data journalist Alicja Hagopian, digital investigations journalists Ben van der Merwe and Sophia Massam, and OSINT producers Freya Gibson and Lydia Morrish. Copy editing and production by Adam Parris-Long, assistant editor and Natasha Muktarsingh, forensic journalism editor.

The Data x Forensics team is a multi-skilled unit dedicated to providing transparent journalism from Sky News. We gather, analyse and visualise data to tell data-driven stories. We combine traditional reporting skills with advanced analysis of satellite images, social media and other open source information. Through multimedia storytelling we aim to better explain the world while also showing how our journalism is done.

A man suffered bleeding on the brain and was in a medical-induced coma for eight hours as doctors fought to save his life.

An assault victim nearly died after he was battered on the head with a hammer in Larkhall.

William Macaulay’s victim suffered bleeding on the brain and was in a medical-induced coma for eight hours as doctors fought to save his life.

Macaulay, 38, was jailed for two years and eight months at Hamilton Sheriff Court.

He admitted assaulting the man to his severe injury, permanent disfigurement and the danger of his life.

It happened in Hawick Crescent, near Macaulay’s home, shortly before midnight on July 19.

Katie Allen, prosecuting, said the men were known to each other but had fallen out.

The victim and a woman went to Macaulay’s home and the men challenged each other to fight.

Ms Allen told the court: “The accused ran towards [the victim], shouting.

“He was in possession of a hammer and struck [the victim] on the head with it before running away.

“Residents in the street heard the disturbance and saw the complainer lying on the ground.

“He had head injuries and was struggling to breathe.

“He was taken to hospital and his condition was said to be life-threatening.

“He had numerous wounds to his head and a fractured eye socket.

“There was a significant risk of death due to complicated brain injuries.”

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Defence solicitor Ian Brechany said Macaulay saw the victim with two bottles and went into his house to get the hammer “for protection”.

Mr Brechany stated: “He accepts he swung the hammer but it was not his intention to strike him on the head.

“Dreadful injuries were sustained and it could all have been avoided if my client hadn’t gone out of the house.

“His previous convictions do him no credit. He is a persistent offender.”

Jailing Macaulay, Sheriff John Speir told him: “It’s fortunate this didn’t result in the complainer’s death. You have a bad record.”

The 32-month sentence was backdated as Macaulay has been in custody since his arrest in July.

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READ MORE: New series from Coatbridge comic book king Mark Millar is filled with local place names

“Fluting continues to evolve as a sophisticated design detail in interiors and is appreciated for the way it introduces texture and movement into a space,” explains Bo Hellberg, CMO at Scandinavian brand String Furniture. “In 2026, its appeal lies in subtlety with soft vertical lines that catch the light, add depth and gently break up flat surfaces.” He adds: “Rooted in Greek architecture and Mid-Century design, fluting now feels quite contemporary, bringing warmth and tactility to clean and minimal interiors.”

Separately, in a letter to the force, shared exclusively with the BBC, lawyers Leigh Day said: “We appreciate the Modern Slavery Act came into force in July 2015 and that the Act itself is not retrospective in relation to historic allegations. However, it does, crucially, provide investigators a prism or lens to look at patterns of behaviour that might otherwise be investigated as ‘historic sexual abuse’ or ‘sexual misconduct’.”

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The phenomenon happens when the dust from North Africa deserts travels on warm southerly air currents

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Brits might have to clean their cars – but they will see some dazzling sunsets thanks to a unique weather phenomenon. It has been reported that Saharan dust is drifting across the country, and will paint the skies with deep gold, amber, and burnt orange.

The dust is made up of fine sand and mineral particles from deserts of North Africa, travelling thousands of miles on warm southerly air currents. BBC weather revealed that as it moves across the UK, it is expected to change the look of sunrises and sunsets this week.

However, the downside of Saharan dust is that when it mixes with rain, it can leave dirty residue on surfaces. This includes cars and windows in a phenomenon known as blood rain.

The brightest colours are expected on Thursday (March 5) and continuing into Friday (March 6), especially when skies are clear at sunrise and sunset. The colourful skies will be clearer in England and Wales as cooler conditions arrive from the west by the end of the week.

Over the past few days Iberia has been hit by Storm Regina, bringing heavy rain, strong winds and widespread disruption. As the storm moved eastward into the western Mediterranean, it drew up warm southerly winds from North Africa, lifting fine Saharan dust high into the air.

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This dust will now drift towards the UK around an area of high pressure that is currently delivering fine, mild, and sunny conditions. According to BBC Weather the striking colours appear high in the atmosphere, where the Saharan dust stays suspended for several kilometres before gradually drifting and settling.

These tiny particles scatter sunlight, filtering out the shorter blue and violet wavelengths and letting the longer red and orange tones appear.

A frequent phenomenon, these weather events usually occur a few times each year. Marks left by blood rain sometimes requiring a wash to remove.

It is however reportedly harmless posing no health risk for most people.

The most successful jockey ever at the Cheltenham Festival shares his thoughs on some of the races at next week’s jumps extravaganza

Legendary former jockey Ruby Walsh says there is a ‘no-brainer’ bet at next week’s Cheltenham Festival which punters must take advantage of. Since he retired from the saddle in 2019 as the most successful jockey ever at the Cheltenham Festival with 59 winners, Walsh has become a hugely respected TV pundit, working for RacingTV and ITV Racing.

In that capacity his views around the Cheltenham Festival are always hugely sought after, particularly given his continued close connections with the stable of Willie Mullins. In an interview ahead of the four day fixture he offered his opinions on some of the key races, and named some his best bets of the week.

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TUESDAY Arkle Trophy This is a cracking contest, but I think it will be competitive. I am a converted Kopek Des Bordes fan. I wasn’t so sure jumping hurdles last year that fences would be for him. I thought he was fine at Navan. Then he picked up an injury. He schooled much better at Punchestown and I thought he was very good at Fairyhouse last week. You would love it if he’d had another run or two but I think he has a huge engine and when I look at the opposition I don’t think any of the others would win the Champion Hurdle, when I think he actually could. I think he’ll be too good for them.

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Champion Hurdle Tutti Quanti would want slower ground and I think it will be drying a bit for Brighterdaysahead too. She’s best on softish ground. I’ve always been of the opinion that Lossiemouth is better over two and a half miles. I keep going back to The New Lion. He does have a step in him, he does take the odd chance but ultimately I would say he is the best horse in the race. Golden Ace, who won last year, is a good mare but I think The New Lion will be too good for her and the Skeltons will land themselves the Champion Hurdle.

WEDNESDAY Queen Mother Champion Chase It’s disappointing we won’t have Marine Nationale and this looks like Majborough’s to lose. The Champion Chase has a funny record of favourites blowing out in the last couple of years but I did think the cheekpieces turned Majborough inside out at the Dublin Racing Festival. He got into a wonderful rhythm, he galloped and jumped and I just think he will outclass the opposition. Looking at the opposition, if Majborough gets into a rhythm anything like he did at the DRF he’ll be impossible to beat.

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THURSDAY Ryanair Chase It’s ‘non-runner no bet’ [non-runner, money back], Fact To File and Gaelic Warrior, and one or the other is going to run here and I think by the time the declarations come and this market is reformed, whichever one is declared will be a lot shorter than they are now. So the ‘non-runner, no bet’ concession is a giveaway here. I know you have to put up your stake and not get it back till next Thursday but I do think you’ll be holding 5-4 Gaelic Warrior, 4-7 Fact To File. Gaelic Warrior will definitely be odds-on but I think Fact To File will be 1-3 or even shorter if he goes here. I think that’s a no-brainer myself.

FRIDAY Cheltenham Gold Cup Gaelic Warrior is now the favourite, Jango Baie was the favourite, The Jukebox Man will probably be favourite in a couple of hours time, it’s that kind of race. Inothewayurthinkin, I know all the vibes are very positive but using my own eyes it’s really hard to make a case for him. He was brilliant here last year but on his three starts this year, you couldn’t really fancy him. I think Galopin Des Champs is in better form now than on any of his two starts in Leopardstown. I think he looks stronger, he looks better and he’s showing plenty of spark at home. I think he won’t be far away and at the odds right now he is the one I’d like to be with. Haiti Couleurs will stay, I don’t know if he’s fast enough. Spillane’s Tower and Grey Dawning will have to improve a good bit on the Cotswold Chase to get involved in this. Fact To File or Gaelic Warrior would interest me. It’ll be an interesting race to watch. There are a couple of guaranteed stayers there and I would imagine Paul Townend and Sean Bowen will be wanting to test the stamina of The Jukebox Man, Gaelic Warrior or Fact To File. At the minute I would be siding with Galopin but if Gaelic Warrior comes here I can see him getting involved.

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