At least eight people died and 17 were missing after a ferry carrying about 270 passengers and crew capsized off northern Cyprus on Sunday, leaving survivors clinging to its hulls.The privately owned ferry left the port of Kyrenia at 12.30pm and immediately started taking on water for an unknown reason, authorities said. It was heading for the Turkish port of Tasucu in the eastern Mediterranean.Survivors reported the ferry moving erratically, and its last hard impact with the water's surface broke the bow of the two-hulled vessel.The disaster occurred just off the coast of Kyrenia, a popular holiday resort for locals and tourists. The ferry was one of several shuttle sea services that link northern Cyprus, a breakaway unrecognised Turkish Cypriot state, with Turkey each day.Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman told CNN Turk he was "deeply saddened" by the incident.Video footage showed people in red life jackets sitting or standing on top of the overturned vessel as authorities sent coastguard and private vessels for assistance to bring them to shore.“The vessel had been moving very badly. It was constantly lifting out of the water and slamming back down. It was shaking violently,” survivor Efe Multici told CNN Turk.“Three or four minutes later, the ferry leapt high into the air, then came crashing down. The front left side burst open and water started pouring in.”Turkish C...
Read briefing Syrian security forces on Sunday killed a senior military officer of the former Bashar Al Assad regime, who played a major role in a "mutiny" against the country's new government last year, state television reported.Firas Hammoud died after opening fire at anti-terrorism and other security personnel as they stormed his hideout in the city of Safita. That led to them "dealing with him and neutralising him", the report said. Safita, a small city in Tartus governorate in western Syria, has a population mainly of Christians and members of the Alawite sect to which Mr Al Assad belonged.A Syrian official told The National this month that the new authorities have "prepared files" on 6,000 members of the former regime to prosecute them for crimes committed mostly during the 2011 to 2024 civil war.Hammoud was a commander in the 25th Special Mission Forces Division, known as Tiger Forces, of Al Assad's military. The Tiger Forces were close to Russia and operated alongside the troops that Moscow sent in 2015 to prop up the Assad regime. In December 2016, under Russian air cover, they led the regime's capture of Aleppo. In 2020, they made up most of regime's forces in a Russian-backed offensive to regain the northern governorate of Idlib. The offensive stopped after Russia and Turkey, a backer of Syrian rebel forces, came close to war. After rebels toppled Al Assad in December 2024, Hammou...
Read briefing US President Donald Trump said on Sunday that oil secured under a newly struck deal with Venezuela will be used to refill the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, which has been sharply reduced in recent years amid global supply disruptions and high fuel prices.“One of the things I am going to do with the Venezuelan oil is fill up the Strategic National Reserves which, because of sleepy [former president] Joe Biden, has been virtually emptied,” Mr Trump wrote in a social media post, adding that the “topping out” process will begin very shortly. He described the Venezuelan oil as a “gift from Venezuela to the people of the United States". Stocks of crude oil in the US Strategic Petroleum Reserve fell by about 5.3 million barrels in August to 293.4 million barrels, the lowest level since 1982, according to data from the Energy Department.The reserve was established in 1975 to ease future supply disruptions after the 1973 oil embargo. The deal gives a US-backed venture control of 65 billion barrels, but production, transport and years of infrastructure investment must come first, and much of Venezuela's crude is extra-heavy oil that fails the reserve's minimum specifications. The US has tapped into the stockpile as the war in Iran has disrupted Arabian Gulf oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz, which normally carries about a fifth of the world's petroleum. Under the agreement announced...
Read briefing Officers at Kuwait's international airport have foiled an attempt to smuggle in a large quantity of a "narcotic substance" using A4-sized sheets of paper, the General Administration of Customs said on Sunday.The smuggling attempt was discovered when a passenger's luggage was being scanned. Closer inspection led to the discovery of 1,603 A4-sized sheets of paper, weighing a total of 13.154kg, "saturated" with the narcotic substance, the customs authority said.It described the substance as a "chemical", without specifying its nature. The passenger, a French national who arrived from London on a visitor's visa, and the seized narcotics were being handed over to the General Administration for Combating Drugs and Alcohol, it said. The seizure comes just days after Kuwait announced the largest drugs bust in its history, seizing nearly $500 million worth of a medicine that has become a popular party drug.The drug seized is commonly called Lyrica. It is the brand name for pregabalin, a prescription medicine mainly used to treat nerve pain and epilepsy, while in some countries it is used for generalised anxiety disorders.The haul included five tonnes of the drug in powder form and almost four million capsules ready for sale, said Sheikh Fahad Al Yousef, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior.
Read briefing Tadej Pogacar’s bid to complete a clean sweep of cycling’s Grand Tours came to a dramatic end on Friday when the race leader abandoned the Vuelta a Espana after a crash during stage eight.The Slovenian, 27, came off his bike with about 33km remaining, suffering an injury to his left shoulder and cuts to the left side of his face.Pogacar initially appeared to try to remount, but soon sat back down before walking unaided into an ambulance.It was the first time the six-time Grand Tour winner has abandoned one of cycling’s three-week stage races.The UAE Team Emirates-XRG rider had begun the stage with a commanding lead of 3 minutes 50 seconds over Spain’s Enric Mas and was the overwhelming favourite to claim a first Vuelta title.Victory would have completed Pogacar’s collection of Grand Tour wins; he had already claimed five Tour de France titles and the Giro d’Italia.POGAČAR OUT OF LA VUELTA 💔The race is over for the Slovenian following a crash after the intermediate sprint. Wishing Tadej a speedy recovery! 🙏 pic.twitter.com/jXhKLFNKJ7— Cycling on TNT Sports (@cyclingontnt) August 29, 2026Pogacar, who became the joint-most-successful Tour de France champion last month, was bidding to become only the ninth rider to win all three Grand Tours.His remarkable palmares also includes 13 victories in cycling’s one-day Monuments, although Paris-Roubaix remains the notable omission after...
Read briefing Dubai Police organised a series of training and awareness courses on traffic safety rules and guidelines, targeting security guards across 35 schools. The initiative comes as students and parents gear up for the new academic year beginning on Monday. Over 1,180 public and private schools across the UAE reopen their doors on August 31, welcoming more than 1.277 million students. The training familiarised participants with traffic signs and guidelines and covered traffic flow regulation during peak drop-off and pick-up hours around the school. Security guards training with the Dubai police also engaged in hands-on scenarios simulating real-life traffic accidents. In addition, they received guidance on ensuring students get on and off buses safely to prevent any risks, and on how to respond initially and professionally to traffic or security emergencies until the relevant authorities arrive. Back to school on MondaySchools have adopted phased return-to-school plans with shorter hours for younger pupils during the first week, with staggered pick-up and drop-off times for easier management. Several parents said they received emails from schools detailing the drop-off and pick-up timings and start dates for various grades. In good news for parents working in the UAE’s government sector, employees will be allowed to work flexible hours so they can take their children to and from schoo...
Read briefing Members of the UAE's vast Palestinian diaspora gathered to show their love, support and celebrate the ties that bind them to the Emirates. Families in traditional hand-embroidered thobes filled the conference centre at Expo City Dubai for Emirates Loves Palestine, the first community event of its kind.Grandchildren pushed their grandparents in wheelchairs and fathers held young children on their shoulders as they queued to hear folk songs and taste Palestine's famous breads and sweets.Many Palestinian residents were born in this country and have never lived in, or even visited, the home of their ancestors.“This event is so important to Palestinians, because it shows us how the UAE loves us, and takes care of Palestinian people,” said Sultan Mohamed, 15, who came with his siblings and parents.“I came here because we want to experience the music, the songs of the Palestinian people.”Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, was in attendance and said: "It gives me great pleasure to be with you at this wonderful fraternal gathering, which represents the largest gathering of the Palestinian community in the world, and which clearly embodies the sincere feelings of affection that the United Arab Emirates holds for Palestine and its brotherly people."He added: "In this gathering, which expresses the UAE's love for Palestine, we send together a messag...
Read briefing Liverpool twice trailed to Nottingham Forest before coming back to earn a point in an entertaining 2-2 draw at Anfield.On a day it was announced Liverpool had agreed a deal with Paris Saint-Germain forward Bradley Barcola that could be worth £123 million, it was notable how little Alexander Isak was involved in the game, though he did get on the scoresheet.Dan Ndoye scored his first Nottingham Forest goal since the opening weekend of last season to put the away side ahead. Isak, who had another disappointing game, levelled the score on the hour, slotting home after good wing play from Cody Gakpo.Alisson Becker fouled former Liverpool teammate Neco Williams in the penalty area, conceding a penalty. Forest captain Morgan Gibbs-White stepped up and dispatched his shot in the top left corner.Victor Munoz, a summer signing from Osasuna, then showed great feet to turn and shoot, and his effort crashed in off the underside of the bar via a slight deflection.It leaves Liverpool boss Andoni Iraola still searching for his first league win following last weekend's 2-2 draw against Newcastle United.What they saidLiverpool manager Andoni Iraola: "We were poor in the first half. We improved a lot our performance in the second half; we came from behind twice, but I think the first half didn't allow us to win the game at the end."Nottingham Forest defender Neco Williams: "Everyone knows how di...
Read briefing A security co-operation agreement between the US and Iraq’s Kurdistan Region is due to expire at the end of September, but it will not end ties between Erbil and Washington, Kurdish officials told The National, after reports US assistance to the region had been suspended.The US and the Kurdistan Regional Government signed an agreement in 2016 to support the reform and unification of the Peshmerga forces. The agreement is set to expire on September 30, coinciding with the withdrawal of troops from Iraq by the US and other members of the anti-ISIS coalition. “The expiration of the current agreement should not be interpreted as an end to the strategic partnership or co-operation between the US and the Kurdistan Region,” Noreldin Waisy, spokesman for KRG Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, told The National. “The Peshmerga have been a key and trusted partner in the fight against terrorism, and there remains a strong basis for continued security co-operation.”The agreement between the US and the KRG established a framework for US support to the Peshmerga during the campaign against ISIS. An updated agreement signed in September 2022 set out the terms of US support for a further four years, including assistance in counter-ISIS operations and efforts to professionalise and unify Kurdish forces.Mr Waisy said discussions could take place in the future on a new framework governing continued...
Read briefing The US State Department on Friday said it had revoked the visa of former Iraqi finance minister Taif Sami Mohammed after she was placed on the FBI's terrorism watchlist.In a statement, the State Department said she is no longer present in the US. No additional details were provided about when or why she was put on the watchlist.Ms Mohammed left her post as finance minister last month, having served since 2022. Her visa revocation marks a stunning turnaround in her relations with the US.During the Biden administration, the State Department called Ms Mohammed a "front-line leader against corrupt practices" who is known as the “Iron Woman.” In 2022, she was given the International Woman of Courage Award by then-secretary of state Anthony Blinken and Jill Biden."A political independent, Ms Mohammed has been integral in preventing and deterring budget corruption in Iraq," the State Department said at the time."Under President Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, suspected terrorists will never be allowed to remain in the United States," the State Department said.
Read briefing Ilia Sheludiakov arrived in Dubai five years ago with a background in marketing and trading, and a conviction that the city held more opportunity than anywhere he had worked before. The Russian entrepreneur has since built a family estate agency company, developed a personal investment portfolio spanning ETFs and equities, and written his first book – Temporalism: Make Time Your Ally – a philosophical guide to treating time as a strategic force.The 30-something now splits his attention between the estate agency business, his investments and growing a media presence, guided by a belief that passive income is the surest path to financial independence.What was your first job and salary?My first job was in Moscow, as a marketing specialist. It was mostly supporting promotional events – exhibitions, organising things, working with suppliers. The salary was small. In international terms, it was around $700 a month.What do you do now?Right now I'm mostly investing in real estate. I started as a real estate agent in Dubai, but now we have a family real estate company, and we're also investing in real estate ourselves.After the marketing job, I had other positions connected to sales, but more specifically to trading – working as a trader within a company, not for myself. That's where I understood about investing, about shares; I did investment analysis and all those things. I also had a...
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Read briefing The latest Arabic word of the week sends us in search of knowledge, opportunity and even love.Talib refers to a student, from a pupil at school to someone studying at university or learning under a particular teacher.Ana talib means “I am a student” when spoken by a man or boy. The feminine equivalent is ana taliba, while the common plurals are tullab and talaba.Meanwhile Talibat, the arabic pluraused for female students, is also sunalr looks similar in English to Talabat, the regional delivery platform whose name means “requests” or “orders”. The resemblance is no accident, as both words stem from the root letters ta, lam and ba, which carry the sense of seeking, requesting or trying to obtain something.The verb talaba means “he sought” or “he requested”, while yatlub can mean “he asks for” or “he orders”. Talab al-ilm refers to the pursuit of knowledge itself and evokes a popular phrase in Islamic scholarship: rihla fi talab al-ilm, the journey made to study with respected scholars.The search extends beyond education to more immediate needs. A person looking for work may be called a talib amal, while talab tawzif is a job application and talib luju' means an asylum seeker.Talib also appears in Arabic music, from nasheed to Algerian rai, Emirati singer Ahmed Bukhatir uses Talib Al Ilm as the title of one of his nasheeds, drawing on the educational sense of the term.In Cheb Kha...
Read briefing The aquariums rev and babble, motors circulating water despite their empty state. Their black steel frames vibrate. Their glass panes are coated with a salty residue from the receding waterline but also, perhaps, from what once lived within.Two round, vertical containers are set beside the aquariums. Filled with a murky liquid, they are tall and wide enough to hold a person. Again, they are empty, save for something on the floor that looks like moss or seaweed. The strands and tufts aren’t green though.“Inside the jars are shavings of my skin,” Nour Elbery says of her installation. “There’s a formalin inside, a preservation solution.”Elbery is one of the six fine arts graduates from NYUAD presenting works at the Rizq Art Initiative. The show, Mutable Devotions, runs until August 31. It comprises six smaller exhibitions, each of which is dedicated to an artist.Elbery’s use of skin shavings is not meant as a shock element – not completely anyway. It draws a point of trying to contain what should not be contained. “Each work is less a vessel for something than a vessel for the memory of holding something,” she writes in her artist statement.Set Dressing for an Afterimage was inspired by the Aquarium Grotto Garden in Zamalek, Cairo. The man-made cave was initially built in 1871 as a bit of a vanity project for Khedive Ismail. The Ottoman viceroy, infamous for his extravagance, inte...
Read briefing For more than a decade, the Houthis have inflicted immense suffering on Yemen and sown instability across the Middle East. Since taking control of the country’s north in 2014, the Iranian-backed rebels have deprived large segments of the population of basic services, launched projectiles into neighbouring countries and turned the Bab Al Mandeb strait into one of the world’s most dangerous shipping lanes.Now, a report from the Century Foundation, a US-based non-partisan think tank, details how the group’s nefarious ambitions have extended far beyond the region’s shores. This should concentrate minds in the western, Middle Eastern and African capitals.The report details how the Houthis have been building smuggling and training networks that stretch across the Red Sea into the Horn of Africa and Sudan, as they deepen ties with Al Shabab, a terrorist group in Somalia, and the Sudanese Armed Forces.These connections are largely transactional – at least for now. But as the report warns, they can develop into something considerably more durable. The potential consequences of this happening are serious.Al Shabab, a group with links to Al Qaeda, has sought Houthi assistance in acquiring anti-aircraft weapons and drones to counter aerial attacks. While advanced weaponry hasn’t appeared in Somali battlefields, such a possibility could be a matter of when – not if. Several Al Shabab operat...
Read briefing Write to us: Share your feedback on the news of the weekA collective responsibilityI write in reference to Nick Webster’s article Doctors in UAE call for early diabetes screening as youth cases surge (August 25): this piece is a serious wake-up call. Changing food habits, increased consumption of processed and sugary foods, sedentary lifestyles and lack of regular physical activity are among the major factors contributing to this growing menace. What was once largely considered an adult disease is now affecting younger generations, making early screening and timely intervention increasingly important. Prevention, however, cannot be left to doctors and healthcare systems alone. Regular awareness programmes and community meetings can educate people about healthy eating, exercise, early warning signs and the importance of periodic health checks. Schools and families, in particular, have an important role in nurturing healthier habits from an early age. The rising numbers should make us pause and reflect: are we giving our children a healthier future, or are our present lifestyles silently putting their health at risk? Early awareness, responsible food choices, regular exercise and timely screening can go a long way in controlling this growing public-health challenge. A healthy generation is not merely a medical responsibility – it is a collective responsibility of families, commun...
Read briefing Friday: Crystal Palace v Manchester City (11pm kick-off UAE)New Palace manager Pierre Sage will be looking for improvement in Palace's first home match of the season after losing 2-0 away to Everton in their opener. The Eagles have boosted their squad this week by completing the loan signing of defender Axel Disasi from Chelsea.City also had a new man in the dugout last week, but Enzo Maresca was able to start his reign with a win as late goals from Marc Guehi and Josko Gvardiol earned them a comeback victory over Bournemouth. City have also been active in the transfer market, completing an £85.6m deal to bring 18-year-old Moroccan midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi from Lille.Prediction: Palace 1 City 3Saturday Liverpool v Nottingham Forest (3.30pm)Liverpool needed a stoppage-time penalty from Dominik Szoboszlai to rescue a point at Newcastle on Sunday, with Cody Gakpo also on target in a 2-2 draw in what was manager Andoni Iraola's first game in charge. The Merseysiders are reported to be closing in on a £120m deal for Paris Saint-Germain forward Bradley Barcola.New Forest manager Oliver Glasner saw his team fall to a frustrating 1-0 home defeat against Leeds United on Saturday and then lost 2-0 in the League Cup second round to the same opponents. There was some good news for Glasner this week, though, when Forest sealed a £50m deal for Chelsea striker Liam Delap on Thursday.Predicti...
Read briefing What started as isolated smuggling operations by Yemen's Houthi rebels has turned into a network that stretches through Africa, senior Yemeni and regional security officials told The National as they revealed how the militants carefully built their routes.Over the past decade, the Iran-backed group has slowly transformed from a local armed faction into a wider force, threatening neighbouring countries and attacking shipping lanes while consolidating its control over the capital Sanaa and north-western Yemen.But it is the Houthis' close relationship with Iran's main regional proxy, Hezbollah, that has taught them how to extend their reach beyond Yemen to diversify sources and resources while advancing Tehran's goals in new regions.The most important of those regions is the Horn of Africa. Recent reports revealed that Houthi ties with Al Shabab in Somalia and the Sudanese Armed Forces have led to arms-smuggling networks in the troubled region just a stone's throw across the sea.“The Houthis' activity in the Horn of Africa is not only for obtaining supplies but also for expanding their arms distribution and sales in the region, as well as spreading Iranian agendas,” a senior Yemeni security official told The National.“Therefore, the Houthi presence and activity in Africa constitute one of the most important pillars of the Houthi movement's current supply chain,” he added.The Houth...
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