Follow the latest news on the missing Titanic sub here
The search for a submersible that went missing on Sunday while taking five people down to the century-old wreck of the Titanic will continue “as long as there's an opportunity for survival”, the US Coast Guard said, with oxygen expected to run out on Thursday morning.
Underwater noises were detected by a Canadian aircraft during the hunt, giving search crews “a target, a focus for us to look at”, Rear Admiral John Mauger said on Wednesday. He told CBS News that the search would continue but described it as “incredibly complex”.
The submersible, named Titan, lost communication with tour operators on Sunday while about 700 kilometres (435 miles) south of St John’s, Newfoundland, during a voyage to the Titanic shipwreck off the coast of Canada.
The mini-sub was designed to remain underwater for 96 hours, giving its occupants until Thursday morning before the air supply runs out, if the craft is still intact. The submersible is sealed with bolts from the outside, preventing the occupants from escaping without assistance, even if it surfaces.
Those on board the submersible on a tourist expedition that costs $250,000 a person include three fee-paying passengers: British billionaire Hamish Harding, 58, who lives in Dubai, and Pakistani-born businessman Shahzada Dawood, 48, and his son Suleman, 19, who are British citizens. Pilot Stockton Rush, chief executive of the company leading the expedition, was at the helm, with French submersible pilot Paul-Henri Nargeolet the final person on board.
The ROV searches have so far not yielded results, but will continue, the military said. Data data from the Canadian aircraft had been shared with US Navy experts to guide search plans. Search efforts were relocated after noises were detected by the Canadian P-3 aircraft.
While the clutter of metal objects around the Titanic wreck site in the North Atlantic Ocean may interfere with the investigation, Adm Mauger said search teams would focus on investigating the underwater noise, whose source is yet to be identified.
At least three vessels have arrived at the search site.
The coastguard did not give details on the nature of the sounds, but CNN and Rolling Stone magazine, citing internal US government communications, independently reported that “banging” sounds had been heard at 30-minute intervals.
“Canadian P-3 aircraft detected underwater noises in the search area. As a result, ROV (remotely operated vehicle0 operations were relocated in an attempt to explore the origin of the noises,” the US Coast Guard's First District wrote on its official Twitter page.
Rob Larter, of the British Antarctic Survey, told The National the banging – if it was from the submersible – could help rescuers trace its location.
“For research purposes, we use equipment like this all the time. For mapping the sea floor, for example, you have to be able to send out quite focused beams of sound and know exactly where the signals that come back from the sea floor, which point they are coming from.”
But some sounds can travel for hundreds of kilometres underwater, he said.
“If you have a big industry seismic exploration source, you can actually hear that from hundreds of miles. If you have sensitive detection equipment you can. But I’m sure there are experts on site who understand these things,” said Mr Larter.
Jamie Pringle, a lecturer in engineering geology at Keele University in England, said the frequency, at every half an hour, is a “good sign”, as noises from ships are generally continuous.
“These [detector] buoys are at a shallow level, which is interesting. So, the best case is they might be on the surface waiting for rescue. It’s unlikely to travel from the bottom of the sea,” he told The National. “But it could be from something else, of course. We can’t be too definitive.”
'It's probably stuck'
Colonel Terry Virts, a former US pilot and friend of Mr Harding, said the reports of banging were the news he had been hoping for.
He told the BBC on Wednesday: “That's the news I've been looking forward to all day long and that is during the search they've heard some banging on the walls of the submersible.
“That's the best way to communicate with us and that's the news we've been hoping to hear.”
He described Mr Harding as the “quintessential” British explorer. He added that the design of the vessel was very simple, meaning there were not many things that can break on it. He pointed out that other submarines on other missions to the Titanic have got stuck.
"That’s a dangerous place to operate when you [the submersible] just have one window.
“It’s not like when you are backing up your car you have your backup camera, you have your two mirrors and your rear mirror. I hope that’s the problem,” he said.
“That would be the best-case scenario, because it would mean they are still alive and there would be at least a hope for rescue.”
As well as an international fleet of ships and planes, an underwater robot had begun to search near the Titanic site and there was a push to get salvage equipment to the scene in case the sub is found.
The Pentagon said it was sending a third C-130 aircraft and three C-17s, while France's oceanographic institute announced a deep-sea underwater robot and its experts would arrive in the area on Wednesday.
The Canadian military said it provided a patrol aircraft and two surface ships, including one that specialises in dive medicine.
Experts at University College London said oceanographic research vessels exist which can operate at the 4,000-metre depth required, including the Alvin from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in Cape Cod.
The vessel was one of the first to visit the Titanic and has robotic arms that could be used to attach a line or flotation device to the stricken submersible.
“The first task is to find the craft, which would be no mean feat. Even on the surface, which would be the best chance of a successful rescue, it will still be difficult to find because the craft is so small and low in the water,” said David Andrews, professor of engineering design (UCL Mechanical Engineering).
“If the vessel is on the bottom of the ocean, finding it will be even harder. It took [US explorer Robert] Ballard a very long time to find the relatively enormous Titanic in 1985,” he said.
But Richard Garriott de Cayeux, president of the New York-based Explorers Club, which has members on board the submarine, wrote on Twitter that “data from the field” had given the club renewed hope.
“We understand that likely signs of life have been detected at the site,” he wrote. “We await hopefully good news.”
Authorities reported the small carbon-fibre vessel overdue Sunday night, setting off the search in waters 700km south of St John’s, Newfoundland.
Owner willing to break rules
In a November 2022 episode of his Unsung Science podcast, CBS journalist David Pogue interviewed Mr Rush ahead of a Titan expedition to the Titanic.
In the podcast, Mr Rush told him: “You know, at some point, safety is just pure waste. I mean, if you just want to be safe, don’t get out of bed, don’t get in your car, don’t do anything.
“At some point, you’re going to take some risk, and it really is a risk-reward question. I think I can do this just as safely by breaking the rules.”
A former employee of OceanGate raised concerns over the safety of the vessel in an engineering report in 2018.
David Lochridge, OceanGate’s director of marine operations, wrote that the craft under development needed more testing and that passengers might be endangered when it reached “extreme depths”, according to a lawsuit filed that year in US District Court in Seattle.
OceanGate sued Mr Lochridge that year, accusing him of breaching a non-disclosure agreement, and he filed a counterclaim alleging that he was wrongfully fired for raising questions about testing and safety. The case settled on undisclosed terms several months after it was filed.
Retired Rear Admiral Chris Parry expressed bafflement over why people would use the “dodgy” Titan submersible, especially after signing away their right to sue the responsible company, stating it's “fundamentally dangerous” and accusing users of an element of “hubris”.
The world's most famous shipwreck
The UK ocean liner Titanic struck an iceberg and sank on its maiden voyage in April 1912. Its wreck lies about 1,450km east of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, and 644km south of St John's, Newfoundland.
US and Canadian aircraft have searched more than 12,200 square kilometres of open sea, US Coast Guard Captain Jamie Frederick said on Tuesday.
The Titanic lies 3,810 metres underwater, where no sunlight penetrates. Only specialised equipment can reach such depths without being crushed by water pressure.
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 201hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 320Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 6-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 8.7L/100km
Price: Dh133,900
On sale: now
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
Karwaan
Producer: Ronnie Screwvala
Director: Akarsh Khurana
Starring: Irrfan Khan, Dulquer Salmaan, Mithila Palkar
Rating: 4/5
8 traditional Jamaican dishes to try at Kingston 21
- Trench Town Rock: Jamaican-style curry goat served in a pastry basket with a carrot and potato garnish
- Rock Steady Jerk Chicken: chicken marinated for 24 hours and slow-cooked on the grill
- Mento Oxtail: flavoured oxtail stewed for five hours with herbs
- Ackee and salt fish: the national dish of Jamaica makes for a hearty breakfast
- Jamaican porridge: another breakfast favourite, can be made with peanut, cornmeal, banana and plantain
- Jamaican beef patty: a pastry with ground beef filling
- Hellshire Pon di Beach: Fresh fish with pickles
- Out of Many: traditional sweet potato pudding
10 tips for entry-level job seekers
- Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
- Keep track of the job trends in your sector through the news. Apply for job alerts at your dream organisations and the types of jobs you want – LinkedIn uses AI to share similar relevant jobs based on your selections.
- Double check that you’ve highlighted relevant skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
- For most entry-level jobs, your resume will first be filtered by an applicant tracking system for keywords. Look closely at the description of the job you are applying for and mirror the language as much as possible (while being honest and accurate about your skills and experience).
- Keep your CV professional and in a simple format – make sure you tailor your cover letter and application to the company and role.
- Go online and look for details on job specifications for your target position. Make a list of skills required and set yourself some learning goals to tick off all the necessary skills one by one.
- Don’t be afraid to reach outside your immediate friends and family to other acquaintances and let them know you are looking for new opportunities.
- Make sure you’ve set your LinkedIn profile to signal that you are “open to opportunities”. Also be sure to use LinkedIn to search for people who are still actively hiring by searching for those that have the headline “I’m hiring” or “We’re hiring” in their profile.
- Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
- Be professional and patient. Always be professional with whoever you are interacting with throughout your search process, this will be remembered. You need to be patient, dedicated and not give up on your search. Candidates need to make sure they are following up appropriately for roles they have applied.
Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz
Honeymoonish
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The biog:
From: Wimbledon, London, UK
Education: Medical doctor
Hobbies: Travelling, meeting new people and cultures
Favourite animals: All of them
Company%20profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Letswork%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202018%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EOmar%20Almheiri%2C%20Hamza%20Khan%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20co-working%20spaces%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%242.1%20million%20in%20a%20seed%20round%20with%20investors%20including%20500%20Global%2C%20The%20Space%2C%20DTEC%20Ventures%20and%20other%20angel%20investors%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20about%2020%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Health Valley
Founded in 2002 and set up as a foundation in 2006, Health Valley has been an innovation in healthcare for more than 10 years in Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
It serves as a place where companies, businesses, universities, healthcare providers and government agencies can collaborate, offering a platform where they can connect and work together on healthcare innovation.
Its partners work on technological innovation, new forms of diagnostics and other methods to make a difference in healthcare.
Its agency consists of eight people, four innovation managers and office managers, two communication advisers and one director. It gives innovation support to businesses and other parties in its network like a broker, connecting people with the right organisation to help them further
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
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Profile of VoucherSkout
Date of launch: November 2016
Founder: David Tobias
Based: Jumeirah Lake Towers
Sector: Technology
Size: 18 employees
Stage: Embarking on a Series A round to raise $5 million in the first quarter of 2019 with a 20 per cent stake
Investors: Seed round was self-funded with “millions of dollars”
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
The biog
Hometown: Cairo
Age: 37
Favourite TV series: The Handmaid’s Tale, Black Mirror
Favourite anime series: Death Note, One Piece and Hellsing
Favourite book: Designing Brand Identity, Fifth Edition
Q&A with Dash Berlin
Welcome back. What was it like to return to RAK and to play for fans out here again?
It’s an amazing feeling to be back in the passionate UAE again. Seeing the fans having a great time that is what it’s all about.
You're currently touring the globe as part of your Legends of the Feels Tour. How important is it to you to include the Middle East in the schedule?
The tour is doing really well and is extensive and intensive at the same time travelling all over the globe. My Middle Eastern fans are very dear to me, it’s good to be back.
You mix tracks that people know and love, but you also have a visually impressive set too (graphics etc). Is that the secret recipe to Dash Berlin's live gigs?
People enjoying the combination of the music and visuals are the key factor in the success of the Legends Of The Feel tour 2018.
Have you had some time to explore Ras al Khaimah too? If so, what have you been up to?
Coming fresh out of Las Vegas where I continue my 7th annual year DJ residency at Marquee, I decided it was a perfect moment to catch some sun rays and enjoy the warm hospitality of Bab Al Bahr.
The biog
Favourite car: Ferrari
Likes the colour: Black
Best movie: Avatar
Academic qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in media production from the Higher Colleges of Technology and diploma in production from the New York Film Academy
