Live updates: Follow the latest from Israel-Gaza
The Greek-flagged MV Sounion crude oil tanker, which was attacked by Yemen's Houthi rebels in the Red Sea last week, is still ablaze and appears to be leaking, the Pentagon said on Wednesday.
“Sounion now sits immobilised in the Red Sea, where it is currently on fire and appears to be leaking oil, presenting both a navigational hazard and an environmental catastrophe,” Maj Gen Patrick Ryder said in a news briefing.
Attempts at salvage were frustrated by the Iran-backed Houthis, who have threatened more attacks.
Gen Ryder said two tugs were sent by a third party to the burning vessel, but they were warned off by the Houthis.
US Central Command is monitoring the situation and co-ordinating with maritime partners on how best to assist the vessel, he said.
The Sounion, owned and operated by the Greek shipping company Delta Tankers, was carrying about one million barrels of crude oil from Iraq to Greece, and a spill could be one of the largest yet recorded. The crew were evacuated a day after the attack.
Julien Jreissati, programme director for Greenpeace Middle East and North Africa, told The National that the Red Sea is a natural treasure which needs to be protected and that the implication of a spill on the environment and the surrounding states are high.
Mr Jreissati said there needs to be “response equipment that is already in place and ready to be deployed if or when a massive spill happened, like containment booms, for example.”
Greenpeace, he said, has been unable to verify whether the tanker is spilling oil but can safely say from satellite images that the vessel is burning.
“What is happening in the Red Sea is both a result of the escalating tension in our region, and also a contributor to that too,” Mr Jreissati said.
European Union naval forces in the region said last week that there was no sign of a spill. However, the Pentagon's statement is the first official mention of a likely spill.
The ship was first hit by gunfire from two boats on August 21, then it was struck by three projectiles that started a fire and left it dead in the water, the UK Maritime Trade Operations office said. A European warship reached the 25 crew members a day later and took them to Djibouti.
The oil tanker was later attacked again. The Houthis posted a video purportedly showing them setting it on fire.
The EU's mission in the Red Sea, known as Aspides, is assessing protective measures including towing the tanker, according to Reuters.
The rebels have been attacking ships in the Red Sea for the past 10 months in solidarity with the Palestinians following Israel's war on the Gaza Strip that started last October.
Greenpeace has been calling for an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire in Gaza, Mr Jreissati said.
“Forty thousand deaths, mainly children and women, should be enough of a reason for a ceasefire to happen. It should not be motivated by the fact that global trade might be affected,” he said.
The Houthis claim they are attacking ships that are linked to Israel. At least two have been sunk and two crew members have been killed since the rebels started their attacks.
“What is in the hand of the global powers is a ceasefire in Gaza and this is where they can create a real change and find a solution, much more than any potential escalation and intervention in the Red Sea,” Mr Jreissasti added.
International shipping has been largely disrupted by the attacks and they have pushed thousands of ships to avoid the area. Crews are taking a longer route around the Cape of Good Hope and using trans-shipment ports such as Singapore.
2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, (Leon banned).
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
more from Janine di Giovanni
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Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
Abramovich London
A Kensington Palace Gardens house with 15 bedrooms is valued at more than £150 million.
A three-storey penthouse at Chelsea Waterfront bought for £22 million.
Steel company Evraz drops more than 10 per cent in trading after UK officials said it was potentially supplying the Russian military.
Sale of Chelsea Football Club is now impossible.
How to help
Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
2289 – Dh10
2252 – Dh 50
6025 – Dh20
6027 – Dh 100
6026 – Dh 200
The rules on fostering in the UAE
A foster couple or family must:
- be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
- not be younger than 25 years old
- not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
- be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
- have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
- undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
- A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially
THE SPECS
Aston Martin Rapide AMR
Engine: 6.0-litre V12
Transmission: Touchtronic III eight-speed automatic
Power: 595bhp
Torque: 630Nm
Price: Dh999,563
The specs
Engine: 2.7-litre 4-cylinder Turbomax
Power: 310hp
Torque: 583Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh192,500
On sale: Now
A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylturbo
Transmission: seven-speed DSG automatic
Power: 242bhp
Torque: 370Nm
Price: Dh136,814
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
Nancy 9 (Hassa Beek)
Nancy Ajram
(In2Musica)
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
Election pledges on migration
CDU: "Now is the time to control the German borders and enforce strict border rejections"
SPD: "Border closures and blanket rejections at internal borders contradict the spirit of a common area of freedom"
World Cup warm-up fixtures
Friday, May 24:
- Pakistan v Afghanistan (Bristol)
- Sri Lanka v South Africa (Cardiff)
Saturday, May 25
- England v Australia (Southampton)
- India v New Zealand (The Oval, London)
Sunday, May 26
- South Africa v West Indies (Bristol)
- Pakistan v Bangladesh (Cardiff)
Monday, May 27
- Australia v Sri Lanka (Southampton)
- England v Afghanistan (The Oval, London)
Tuesday, May 28
- West Indies v New Zealand (Bristol)
- Bangladesh v India (Cardiff)
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
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Fund-raising tips for start-ups
Develop an innovative business concept
Have the ability to differentiate yourself from competitors
Put in place a business continuity plan after Covid-19
Prepare for the worst-case scenario (further lockdowns, long wait for a vaccine, etc.)
Have enough cash to stay afloat for the next 12 to 18 months
Be creative and innovative to reduce expenses
Be prepared to use Covid-19 as an opportunity for your business
* Tips from Jassim Al Marzooqi and Walid Hanna
