Live updates: Follow the latest on Israel-Gaza
The latest operation to tow a burning Greek-flagged oil tanker attacked by Yemen's Houthi militants in the Red Sea has begun, the EU's naval mission said.
Fires have been burning on the MV Sounion since it was attacked on August 21 and environmentalists have said that any leak from the tanker – estimated to be carrying the equivalent of one million barrels of crude – could lead to the worst oil spill in history.
Greek state media have reported that a Greek tugboat was accompanied by three frigates, helicopters and a special forces unit to tow the ship away. The 25-member crew was previously rescued by a warship from the EU mission.
“Despite challenging conditions, with temperatures reaching up to 400°C due to the fire, the specialised salvage team successfully secured the tanker to the Aigaion Pelagos,” a supply ship, state media said.
Salvatore Mercogliano, an expert on military and commercial shipping at Campbell University, North Carolina, told The National salvage crews have been able to board Sounion, raise the anchor and attach a tow line to the large 10,000 horsepower salvage ship Aigaion Pelagos.
“The question now is, where will the vessel be towed – probably Saudi Arabia – and then they can begin firefighting and salvage efforts to stabilise the vessel,” Mr Mercogliano said.
“The risks are moving a stable vessel and placing it under tow. The movement of the vessel could cause a change in the fires that are burning, and worse case is the beginning of a major leak leading to a spill.”
The EU’s Operation Aspides had published images dated Saturday of its vessels escorting three ships heading to the stricken tanker, which was struck by Houthi missiles almost a month ago. Earlier attempts to tow the ship to safety were abandoned after the operation was deemed unsafe, the EU said at the time.
On Saturday, the EU mission said: “The salvage operation of the MV Sounion is essential in order to avert a potential environmental disaster in the region.”
The Pentagon in the US has previously said the vessel appeared to be leaking oil, a claim denied by the EU mission.
“If brought into a harbour, and most importantly out of the range of the Houthis, the salvage teams will be able to extinguish the fires and begin to stabilise the ship,” Mr Mercogliano said.
“They will surround the vessel with a containment boom. They will also be able to start pumping off fuel and repairing damage.”
Towing the ship is the first stage of the salvage operation, to be followed by the transfer of the vessel's oil cargo. Saudi Arabia will offer its assistance with that project, sources told Reuters.
The ship is one of at least 80 to be attacked by the Iran-backed Houthis in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden since the Gaza war began. Several ships have sunk and crew members killed in the attacks.
The Houthis have caused major disruption to global trade and shipping with their assaults, which they say target vessels linked to Israel or heading to its ports. The group has vowed to continue until the war in Gaza ends and Israel's blockade on the enclave is lifted.
The rebels have attacked more than 80 vessels with missiles and drones since the war in Gaza began in October. They have seized one vessel and sunk two in their campaign, killing four sailors. Other missiles and drones have either been intercepted by a US-led coalition in the Red Sea or have failed to reach their targets.
“The aim of our attacks is clear: to pressure the Israeli enemy and the United States to stop the aggression on Gaza and lift the siege,” a source close to the Houthis told The National this month.
The Houthis have also launched missiles at Israel, killing one person in Tel Aviv in July. The EU has warned that more forces are needed in the Red Sea to counter the increasing Houthi attacks.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
The bio
Job: Coder, website designer and chief executive, Trinet solutions
School: Year 8 pupil at Elite English School in Abu Hail, Deira
Role Models: Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk
Dream City: San Francisco
Hometown: Dubai
City of birth: Thiruvilla, Kerala
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SPECS
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The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
War 2
Director: Ayan Mukerji
Stars: Hrithik Roshan, NTR, Kiara Advani, Ashutosh Rana
Rating: 2/5
The five pillars of Islam
Some of Darwish's last words
"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008
His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.
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Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
Europe’s rearming plan
- Suspend strict budget rules to allow member countries to step up defence spending
- Create new "instrument" providing €150 billion of loans to member countries for defence investment
- Use the existing EU budget to direct more funds towards defence-related investment
- Engage the bloc's European Investment Bank to drop limits on lending to defence firms
- Create a savings and investments union to help companies access capital
Why are asylum seekers being housed in hotels?
The number of asylum applications in the UK has reached a new record high, driven by those illegally entering the country in small boats crossing the English Channel.
A total of 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.
Asylum seekers and their families can be housed in temporary accommodation while their claim is assessed.
The Home Office provides the accommodation, meaning asylum seekers cannot choose where they live.
When there is not enough housing, the Home Office can move people to hotels or large sites like former military bases.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Yahya Al Ghassani's bio
Date of birth: April 18, 1998
Playing position: Winger
Clubs: 2015-2017 – Al Ahli Dubai; March-June 2018 – Paris FC; August – Al Wahda
EPL's youngest
- Ethan Nwaneri (Arsenal)
15 years, 181 days old
- Max Dowman (Arsenal)
15 years, 235 days old
- Jeremy Monga (Leicester)
15 years, 271 days old
- Harvey Elliott (Fulham)
16 years, 30 days old
- Matthew Briggs (Fulham)
16 years, 68 days old
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
Types of bank fraud
1) Phishing
Fraudsters send an unsolicited email that appears to be from a financial institution or online retailer. The hoax email requests that you provide sensitive information, often by clicking on to a link leading to a fake website.
2) Smishing
The SMS equivalent of phishing. Fraudsters falsify the telephone number through “text spoofing,” so that it appears to be a genuine text from the bank.
3) Vishing
The telephone equivalent of phishing and smishing. Fraudsters may pose as bank staff, police or government officials. They may persuade the consumer to transfer money or divulge personal information.
4) SIM swap
Fraudsters duplicate the SIM of your mobile number without your knowledge or authorisation, allowing them to conduct financial transactions with your bank.
5) Identity theft
Someone illegally obtains your confidential information, through various ways, such as theft of your wallet, bank and utility bill statements, computer intrusion and social networks.
6) Prize scams
Fraudsters claiming to be authorised representatives from well-known organisations (such as Etisalat, du, Dubai Shopping Festival, Expo2020, Lulu Hypermarket etc) contact victims to tell them they have won a cash prize and request them to share confidential banking details to transfer the prize money.
