Dubai airport closed, 400 killed in Kabul, RBA hike confirmed, SA election Saturday. Day 19 of the Iran war. Radio Haanji Today Updates with Ranjodh Singh.
Day 19 of the Iran War — Dubai Airport Closed, 400 Killed in Kabul, and South Australia Goes to the Polls on Saturday
Wednesday 18 March 2026 — Ranjodh Singh brings you today's top stories on Radio Haanji's Today Updates. The war in the Middle East has now entered its 19th day and shows no sign of slowing — overnight attacks on Israel, Dubai's airport temporarily shut, and growing outrage over a Pakistani airstrike that killed 400 people in a Kabul hospital. Here in Australia, the RBA's rate hike is now confirmed and South Australia goes to the polls in just three days. This is one of the heaviest news days of the year.
Overnight — Israel Hit by Iranian Barrage, Dubai Airport Closed
In the early hours of Tuesday night into Wednesday, Iran launched another wave of missile and drone attacks targeting Israel, with sirens sounding across central and northern Israel and shrapnel falling near holy sites in Jerusalem's Old City, including areas close to the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Israeli defence forces intercepted the majority of incoming missiles. Two people were killed in a missile impact near a train station in central Israel.
Simultaneously, Iran targeted Gulf infrastructure. A drone attack sparked a fire near Dubai International Airport, forcing the UAE to temporarily close its airspace as defence forces responded to incoming missiles and drones. Qatar's Ministry of Defence reported intercepting 13 out of 14 Iranian ballistic missiles. Debris from intercepted missiles killed one Pakistani national in Abu Dhabi's Bani Yas area. Bahrain has now neutralised 129 missiles and 221 drones since the war began. The scale of Iran's retaliatory campaign, while significantly reduced from its peak — down 90 percent from day one according to Pentagon figures — continues to cause disruption across the Gulf states every single day.
Overnight, Israel also confirmed a targeted strike that killed Iran's National Security Council Chief Ali Larijani — one of the most senior figures in the Iranian government to be killed since the war began. The Israeli military has separately warned that Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of the assassinated Supreme Leader, "is not safe."
US Officials Push Back on the War — Trump Fires Back
Significant cracks are appearing within the Trump administration over the decision to go to war with Iran. Several senior White House and Pentagon officials have either resigned or been removed after expressing opposition to the military operation, arguing that the United States was drawn into the conflict solely because of its alliance with Israel — not out of any direct threat to American security. Trump has dismissed the departures, insisting that the war is proceeding exactly as planned and that Iran is a "paper tiger." Vice President JD Vance has backed Trump publicly, saying: "We have a smart president, whereas in the past we've had dumb presidents." Meanwhile, most NATO allies — including Germany, France, the UK and Italy — have publicly refused Trump's request to send forces or naval assets to help protect the Strait of Hormuz. European leaders have stated they have "no appetite" to send troops into the conflict.
Iran — No Ceasefire Until There Is Revenge
Iran's remaining leadership has issued a firm statement: the war will not end until Iran has exacted revenge against both the United States and Israel for the killing of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and the destruction of Iranian infrastructure. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has stated that any resolution must include recognition of Iran's rights, the payment of reparations and international guarantees against future attacks. There has been no response from Washington. Iran has also closed the Strait of Hormuz to what it describes as "our enemies" — meaning US and Israeli-linked shipping — while attempting to maintain trade access for countries like India, China and Russia.
Pakistan Kills 400 in Kabul Hospital Strike — Afghanistan Furious
In one of the most shocking single incidents of the Pakistan-Afghanistan conflict, Pakistan's military carried out an airstrike on the Omid Addiction Treatment Hospital in Kabul late Monday night, killing at least 408 people and injuring 265 others. The hospital is a 2,000-bed drug rehabilitation facility — a civilian institution treating tens of thousands of young Afghans battling addiction. Large sections of the building were destroyed. Media organisations including AFP and AP reported rescue crews pulling bodies from the rubble.
Pakistan has flatly denied targeting a hospital, insisting its strikes hit military installations and weapons storage facilities at Camp Phoenix, and claiming that secondary explosions following the strikes proved the presence of ammunition depots. Afghanistan's Taliban government has described the strike as a crime against humanity. The UN Security Council unanimously passed a resolution condemning terrorist activity from within Afghan territory — but did not name Pakistan. UNAMA stated clearly that under international law, attacks on hospitals are strictly prohibited. The Afghan Taliban's Foreign Minister has said Afghanistan has lost all trust in Pakistan's intentions. India — which has recently strengthened ties with the Afghan Taliban — condemned the strike. China urged restraint and called for the safety of its personnel in the region. The conflict, which began in late February, is now the worst fighting between the two neighbouring countries in modern history.
China Pledges Help for Lebanon and Conflict-Affected Nations
China has pledged humanitarian assistance to Lebanon and other nations affected by the regional conflict. China's special envoy has spent the past week mediating between Pakistan and Afghanistan, urging an immediate ceasefire between the two countries. On Lebanon, Chinese officials have noted that approximately 800,000 people have been displaced by Israeli military operations — a figure that represents one of the largest displacement crises in the region since the start of the broader conflict.
Gaza — UN Report Declares Israel's Occupation Illegal and Inhuman
A major United Nations report released this week has declared Israel's continued occupation of Palestinian territories to be illegal under international law and described conditions in Gaza as inhuman. The report documents that more than 36,000 Palestinians have been killed since October 2023 — the majority of them civilians, including a disproportionate number of women and children. The report calls for an immediate halt to all military operations, the unconditional release of all hostages, unrestricted access for humanitarian aid, and accountability for those responsible for breaches of international humanitarian law. The report has been welcomed by most UN member states, though Israel and the United States have rejected its conclusions.
Australia — RBA Confirms Rate Hike, May Rise Also Likely
Yesterday's Reserve Bank decision is now confirmed: the cash rate has been raised by 25 basis points to 4.10 per cent in a split 5-4 vote — the closest decision since July 2025. The hike, which takes effect on 27 March for most major banks, will add approximately $115 per month to repayments on an average $700,000 home loan. Combined with February's hike, Australian mortgage holders are now paying approximately $225 more per month than at the start of 2026.
All four major banks — NAB, ANZ, CBA and Westpac — have now confirmed they expect a further 25 basis point hike at the RBA's next meeting on 4 May, which would take the cash rate to 4.35 per cent and effectively wipe out all three rate cuts delivered in 2025. RBA Governor Michele Bullock acknowledged the decision was difficult, saying: "It will be much worse if inflation gets built into the fibres and then we will see the costs of everything going up." Headline inflation currently sits at 3.8 per cent — well above the RBA's 2-3 per cent target. The Iran war's impact on oil and fuel prices is driving much of the inflationary pressure, with national petrol prices having surged from $1.71 in February to above $2.20 today.
Australia — Children's Social Media Ban, But VPN Use Surges
A new report by RMIT University has found that VPN usage among Australians has risen significantly since the introduction of the social media ban for children under 16, which came into force on 10 December 2025. Children and teenagers are using VPN services — which mask a user's location and online identity — to bypass the age verification requirements and continue accessing platforms including Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat. On day one of the ban, VPN downloads surged by 170 per cent. RMIT researchers note that while the ban has reduced casual social media access for some young people, it has simultaneously pushed a portion of teenagers toward less regulated corners of the internet where they may face greater risks. The report raises serious questions about whether the law is achieving its intended purpose.
Age Pension — New Rates From 20 May
The Australian Government has confirmed that new age pension rates will come into effect from 20 May 2026, following the scheduled indexation review. The updated rates will be announced closer to that date. Australians who receive the age pension, carers payment or other related government support payments are advised to check Services Australia's website or contact Centrelink directly for the most current information on how the new rates will affect their payments.
Brisbane — Fire Ants Force Football Match to Stop
In an unusual but increasingly common story from South-East Queensland, a football match in Brisbane had to be stopped after red imported fire ants were discovered on the playing surface. Players and officials were evacuated from the field while pest control teams were called to treat the area. Red imported fire ants — an invasive species that has been spreading through South-East Queensland for several years — are a growing threat to sporting grounds, parks and school ovals across the region. The National Fire Ant Eradication Program has been urging sporting clubs and ground managers to inspect and report any ant activity before matches.
South Australia — State Election on Saturday 21 March
South Australia goes to the polls this Saturday, 21 March 2026, for a full state election. All 47 seats in the House of Assembly and 11 of the 22 seats in the Legislative Council are up for grabs. Incumbent Labor Premier Peter Malinauskas is seeking a second four-year term, and Labor enters the election as the mild favourite based on polling. The Liberal Party, led by Opposition Leader Ashton Hurn, is fighting to return to government after being defeated in 2022. The Greens and One Nation are contesting all lower house seats, and this election features a record 436 candidates — the most in the state's history. For Punjabi community members in South Australia — early voting is open until Friday 20 March at 6pm. If you are on the electoral roll, voting is compulsory.
That's Today's Update
These were today's top stories, brought to you by Ranjodh Singh on Radio Haanji's Today Updates. Tune in every weekday morning for the latest news from Australia and around the world, on Radio Haanji 1674 AM.
Radio Haanji 1674 AM is Austalia's Punjabi community radio station.
Listen free at haanji.com.au | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | iOS App | Android App
Serving the Punjabi community in Australia, Canada, Singapore and world wide.
What's Your Reaction?
