International
Houthi rebels to allow burning Red Sea oil tanker to be salvaged
Yemen’s Houthi rebels said they would allow a burning tanker to be salvaged from the Red Sea, bowing to international pressure to avert a huge oil spill following an attack on the ship by the militant group. The Houthis made their decision after being contacted by “several international parties”, particularly in Europe, the group’s spokesperson Mohammed Abdel Salam said in a statement. The announcement marked an apparent change of tack by the Yemeni group, which was accused by the US of threatening to attack two tugboats that had tried to salvage the Sounion. It comes as a relief to officials globally, who had grown increasingly concerned about the risk of a spill since the Houthis disabled the ship in a missile assault last week, before starting a fire by setting off explosives on decks. The EU task force to combat the threat has warned that any deterioration of the situation on board the Greek-owned vessel, which is carrying 1mn barrels of crude, “could lead to a severe ecological disaster with potentially devastating effects on the region’s biodiversity”. The incident marked the latest attack in the Houthis’ campaign to target commercial ships transiting the maritime passage, a move they have said is in support of Gaza’s Palestinians during Israel’s war with Hamas. The Sounion fire threatens the first ecological disaster caused by attacks that since November have claimed the lives of four seafarers and severely disrupted trade globally. The EU task force said on Thursday that it was “assessing the situation and the feasibility of protective measures”, including towing the vessel. But it also warned that its operation lacked “the specialised equipment or assets for such a task”, adding that it would “do its utmost to facilitate this effort”. Dimitris Maniatis, chief executive of private maritime security group Marisks, said military vessels built for high speeds would struggle to tow such a large ship, adding that arranging this would be the responsibility of the owner and its insurer. The Sounion, whose cargo is equivalent to 150,000 tonnes, is owned by Delta Tankers. It is the third ship belonging to the Greek group that has been targeted in the Red Sea this month, according to security analysts, despite criticism of shipowners and their customers who choose to continue crossing the high-risk area. A leak from the ship would be likely to produce the most serious hydrocarbon spill since the Sanchi tanker disaster, which in 2018 led to 113,000 tonnes of natural-gas condensate spilling into the South China Sea after a collision. Arsenio Dominguez, secretary-general of the International Maritime Organization, the UN body where national delegations co-ordinate on shipping matters, said on Wednesday that he was “extremely concerned about the situation regarding the tanker Sounion”. “The risk of an oil spill, posing an extremely serious environmental hazard, remains high and there is widespread concern about the damage such a spill would cause within the region.”
London, UK – April 4,2025 – The Social Rehabilitation Foundation UK (SRF-UK), an international humanitarian organization committed to sustainable development, today issued a global call for partnerships with NGOs, charities, and civil society organizations to address interconnected crises in poverty, education, women’s empowerment, and public health in vulnerable communities worldwide.
A Multidimensional Crisis Demanding Collective Action
SRF-UK’s latest research highlights alarming global disparities:
• 689 million people live in extreme poverty (World Bank)
• 258 million children remain out of school (UNESCO)
• 1 in 3 women experiences gender-based violence (WHO)
• 50% of the world’s population lacks essential health services (WHO/World Bank)
“These aren’t isolated issues but interconnected challenges requiring collaborative solutions,” said Mr.Asif , Director of SRF-UK. “From the local Desk, we need united action.”
Priority Areas for Partnership
SRF-UK seeks partners for:
1. Poverty Alleviation
• Microfinance initiatives
• Sustainable livelihood programs
• Emergency shelter projects
2. Education Revolution
• School construction in conflict zones
• Digital literacy programs
• Vocational training centers
3. Women’s Empowerment
• Gender-based violence prevention
• Economic inclusion programs
• Leadership development initiatives
4. Public Health Advancement
• Mobile health clinics
• Nutrition programs
• WASH (Water, Sanitation & Hygiene) projects
Why Partner With SRF-UK?
✔ Global Footprint: Active in 15 countries across Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East
✔ Proven Model: 78% program success rate in sustainable interventions
✔ Local Expertise: 85% of field staff are community members
Join Our Global Network
NGOs, international organizations, and corporate social responsibility partners interested in collaboration may contact:
Partnerships Team
Email: info@srfoundation.uk
Website: www.srfoundation.uk/global-partnerships
“The Sustainable Development Goals won’t be achieved by any single organization. We need an alliance of change-makers,” Mr.Asif .
Available for Media:
• High-resolution photos/videos from our field operations
• Expert commentary on global development challenges
• Customized regional data snapshots
About Social Rehabilitation Foundation UK
A UK-registered working organization to create lasting change through education, economic empowerment, and health initiatives. SRF-UK has impacted over 2.3 million lives across 46 projects worldwide.
Michael Storc and his family had just survived a devastating wildfire.
Now they have to face a daunting new challenge that he had hoped to never experience again – the Los Angeles housing market.
After losing the Altadena home that he owned in the Eaton fire, he was scouring for a new place to rent, and having little luck.
“What’s available is not nice at all and the rents have gone up a lot,” Mr Storc told the BBC. “I told my teenage daughter we had to accept we would live somewhere not very nice.”
The Los Angeles area already has one of the most expensive real estate markets in the country. And with thousands now displaced by the Palisades and Eaton fires, Angelenos are anxious that the sudden surge in demand could make rents and home prices soar even higher.
California has an anti-price gouging law that prevents landlords from raising rents more than 10% after the governor declares an emergency. It applies to both existing and tenants and new leases.
Follow live updates
LA brain surgeon saves street from fires
Many Los Angeles County buildings are also covered by rent stabilisation laws, which prevent landlords from raising the rent for existing tenants above a certain percentage even in normal circumstances.
“It is illegal. You cannot do it,” California attorney general Rob Bonta said at a Saturday press conference. “It is a crime punishable by up to a year in jail and fines.”
Not everyone was certain that the law would be completely enforceable, however.
“We’re aware of that but my question is, how is that being regulated? And who’s monitoring that?” said Jessica Heredia, a realtor based in the high-end Brentwood neighbourhood for the last 20 years.
A Los Angeles brain surgeon who fought for almost a week to save the houses on his street from wildfires told the BBC he spent 15 years preparing for such an event.
Malibu resident Dr Chester Griffiths, 62, ignored evacuation orders to keep flames from the Palisades fire at bay with the help of his son and neighbour, until emergency services were able to reach them.
“We had always known that a fire would come someday – but we didn’t know when,” Dr Griffiths told the BBC’s Today Programme.
“We never fathomed it would be this catastrophic and apocalyptic.”
Social Rehabilitation Foundation UK Calls for Global NGO Partnerships
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