Live updates: Follow the latest news on Israel-Gaza
The crew of a Chinese commercial ship struggled for half an hour to extinguish a fire after being hit by a Houthi ballistic missile in the Red Sea, the US military said on Sunday.
The attack on the MV Huang Pu, a Chinese-owned oil tanker caused no casualties but led the ship to issue a distress call, the US Central Command said. Four anti-ship ballistic missiles were fired at the ship.
It comes despite claims that the Houthis would not target Chinese vessels in the vital waterway, which carries about 12 per cent of global trade.
The Houthis claim their blockade of the Red Sea, and subsequently the Suez Canal, is intended to pile economic pressure on backers of Israel to halt the war in Gaza.
China opposes Israel’s war in Gaza, and like much of the world, its supply chains depend on safe passages through the Red Sea and the vital Suez Canal.
“The Houthis attacked the MV Huang despite previously stating they would not attack Chinese vessels,” the US Central Command said.
The missile attack was followed by a wave of one way attack drones, five of which crashed after being “engaged” by the USS Carney, while a sixth flew “inland into Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen”, it added.
There were no more details as to why the drones “crashed” as opposed to being shot down, but the US often employs what are called “soft kill” methods against drones, using electronic signal jamming to disrupt their navigation.
This is because shooting the drones down with missiles can quickly use up extremely expensive interceptors such as the Standard Missile 2, which costs about two million dollars a shot, against drones that cost anywhere between $50,000 and $200,000, such as the Wa'eed-2, which is based on the Iranian Shahed 136.
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Three ways to limit your social media use
Clinical psychologist, Dr Saliha Afridi at The Lighthouse Arabia suggests three easy things you can do every day to cut back on the time you spend online.
1. Put the social media app in a folder on the second or third screen of your phone so it has to remain a conscious decision to open, rather than something your fingers gravitate towards without consideration.
2. Schedule a time to use social media instead of consistently throughout the day. I recommend setting aside certain times of the day or week when you upload pictures or share information.
3. Take a mental snapshot rather than a photo on your phone. Instead of sharing it with your social world, try to absorb the moment, connect with your feeling, experience the moment with all five of your senses. You will have a memory of that moment more vividly and for far longer than if you take a picture of it.
Which honey takes your fancy?
Al Ghaf Honey
The Al Ghaf tree is a local desert tree which bears the harsh summers with drought and high temperatures. From the rich flowers, bees that pollinate this tree can produce delicious red colour honey in June and July each year
Sidr Honey
The Sidr tree is an evergreen tree with long and strong forked branches. The blossom from this tree is called Yabyab, which provides rich food for bees to produce honey in October and November. This honey is the most expensive, but tastiest
Samar Honey
The Samar tree trunk, leaves and blossom contains Barm which is the secret of healing. You can enjoy the best types of honey from this tree every year in May and June. It is an historical witness to the life of the Emirati nation which represents the harsh desert and mountain environments
Read more about the coronavirus
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
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MATCH INFO
World Cup 2022 qualifier
UAE v Indonesia, Thursday, 8pm
Venue: Al Maktoum Stadium, Dubai
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Director: Laila Abbas
Starring: Yasmine Al Massri, Clara Khoury, Kamel El Basha, Ashraf Barhoum
Rating: 4/5
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Saudi National Day
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
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Specs
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Range: Up to 610km
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Surianah's top five jazz artists
Billie Holliday: for the burn and also the way she told stories.
Thelonius Monk: for his earnestness.
Duke Ellington: for his edge and spirituality.
Louis Armstrong: his legacy is undeniable. He is considered as one of the most revolutionary and influential musicians.
Terence Blanchard: very political - a lot of jazz musicians are making protest music right now.
