Dubai Police warn against fake ‘official’ calls
Dubai Police have issued a warning about fraudulent phone calls and fake messages impersonating official entities. This alert aims to raise awareness among residents and businesses in Dubai, as these scams seek to steal personal information, potentially resulting in financial loss and identity theft.
Dubai Police have warned that scammers are reaching out to individuals via phone calls and messages, falsely claiming to represent official organizations. The authorities urge the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious behavior by calling the e-crime hotline at 901 or using the “Police Eye” feature on the Dubai Police smart app or official website.
Impersonation scams in the UAE frequently use tactics of pressure and urgency, sending messages like “your account will be blocked” or “a fine must be paid immediately” to coerce victims into revealing sensitive information. Dubai Police emphasize an important safety rule: never share one-time passwords (OTPs), PINs, verification codes, or personal identification details with unknown callers or messages, even if the sender’s name or caller ID appears familiar.
For Dubai residents, the risk is elevated as daily life relies extensively on digital services such as online banking, delivery apps, and government e-services. Dubai Police warned that scammers are increasingly using spoofed caller IDs and official-sounding messages to seem authentic, emphasizing that government agencies never ask for OTPs, PINs, or passwords via phone calls or SMS.
If you receive a message claiming to be from an official source, do not click on any unexpected links. Instead, verify the request by visiting official websites or using trusted apps. If you suspect your banking information has been compromised, contact your bank immediately to protect your accounts. Be sure to save screenshots, call logs, and message content to assist with any investigation.
- Authority: Dubai Police
- Warning: Fraudulent calls and fake messages impersonating official entities
- Report by phone: 901
- Report through the official channel: “Police Eye” service on the Dubai Police smart app or official website
Dubai Police strongly urged all residents to promptly report any suspected fraud attempts directly to the police force through its official and authorized reporting channels. They emphasized that quick and timely reporting plays a crucial role in minimizing potential financial losses for victims and significantly supports ongoing investigations by providing vital information early on.
160 Dead as Nepal Avalanche 2026 Leaves 403 Missing
At Least 160 Confirmed Dead and 403 Missing in Himalayan Flood Surge
A catastrophic glacier-linked avalanche and flash flood along the Nepal-China border killed at least 160 people and left more than 400 missing after sweeping through Himalayan villages. International trekkers, religious pilgrims celebrating the Janai Purnima festival, and local workers remain trapped or unaccounted for as debris buried key transit routes along the Langtang region and Tibet's Gyirong County.
Search operations face mud 1.5 metres deep as secondary flood warnings hold crews back
Nepalese police recovered 157 bodies on their side of the border, while Chinese authorities reported three deaths and 265 people missing in Tibet's Gyirong County. A preliminary tally compiled by police and the Nepal Tourism Board lists 403 people as missing, including 341 foreign nationals. Among those missing are 133 Indians travelling toward Mount Kailash and Lake Mansarovar, 47 Americans, 34 Australians, 33 Britons, 24 Canadians, alongside South Korean workers employed at a local hydropower project, and citizens of Malaysia and South Africa.
The disaster struck along critical trade and pilgrimage corridors, severely damaging the Gyirong land port. China deployed at least 574 rescuers to the border crossing, where search operations are severely slowed by mud and sediment reaching depths of 1.5 metres. Analysis from the US Geological Survey confirmed that no earthquake preceded the flash flood, pointing instead to an ice-rock avalanche or glacier collapse that temporarily dammed the river before releasing a massive wave downstream. Emergency operations remain under active threat, as Qianggong Zhang, head of climate and environmental risks at the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development in Kathmandu, warned that a lingering upstream blockage could trigger another sudden surge.
Tim Curry Dies at 80: Rocky Horror Icon Passes Away
Rocky Horror and Clue Legend Tim Curry Dies at 80 in Los Angeles
British actor Tim Curry died peacefully at his home in Toluca Lake, Los Angeles, on August 25, 2026, at age 80. The loss of the stage and screen performer has prompted a flood of tributes across Hollywood, theatrical communities, and global fan bases honoring a career spanning six decades.
Six Decades on Stage and Screen Built a Cult Legacy Across Eras
His manager, Marcia Hurwitz, confirmed that Curry passed away at his residence following years of using a wheelchair after a severe stroke in 2012. Tributes quickly emerged from co-stars across his film and theatre history, including *The Rocky Horror Picture Show* actor Nell Campbell, who stated to the BBC that Curry's passing felt like losing the head of their extended film family. Co-star Susan Sarandon remembered him as an utterly original performer who remained dedicated to his supporters, while writer Richard O'Brien called him a class act who let his roles speak for themselves. Former castmates from *Clue*, including Michael McKean, Lesley Ann Warren, and Christopher Lloyd, also issued honors, with McKean reflecting on a recent conversation with Curry about life and laughter following his health struggles.
Born in Warrington, England, in 1946, Curry established his legacy originating the role of Dr. Frank-N-Furter on stage before starring in the 1975 film adaptation of *The Rocky Horror Picture Show*, later expanding his reach to television and feature films through prominent roles in Stephen King's *It*, *Home Alone 2*, *Annie*, and *Muppet Treasure Island*.
Lower Business Fees, Smart Contracts: UAE Digital Dirham
Automated Payments and Cheaper Transfers: Inside the UAE Digital Dirham Plan
Sovereign digital cash is coming to the UAE, but not to replace your debit card
Your bank transfers, card taps, and Aani payments already move money in seconds, so the Central Bank of the UAE is building the Digital Dirham to do something entirely different. Rather than trying to speed up retail checkout counters, this central bank digital currency targets the backend of international trade, cross-border transfers, and automated business contracts.
As part of the Central Bank of the UAE’s Financial Infrastructure Transformation programme, the currency acts as an official layer of sovereign digital money. UAE Banks Federation Director-General Jamal Saleh emphasizes that the goal isn't to phase out existing payment channels, but to introduce sovereign-backed security and lower settlement friction across the economy.
Smart contracts for businesses, familiar apps for shoppers
Small and medium enterprises stand to gain direct operational upgrades through programmable money. Smart contracts built into the network can release funds automatically once delivery or compliance conditions are met, eliminating traditional paperwork in trade finance and supply chains. For business owners, that means instant settlement, lower transaction costs, and automated liquidity management without waiting days for correspondent banks to clear payments.
Everyday consumers won't be forced onto a brand-new setup, as international experience shows shoppers only switch payment methods when there is a clear upgrade in value or convenience. You will still handle day-to-day transactions through licensed financial institutions and commercial banks, using peer-to-peer features, merchant payments, and digital wallets integrated into existing banking channels. Because commercial banks remain responsible for onboarding, compliance, and customer service, your daily relationship with your bank stays intact.
Banks are positioning the technology to launch new commercial services rather than watching payment revenues vanish. The Central Bank's two-tier structure keeps licensed financial institutions in charge of credit creation, risk assessment, and customer onboarding. That allows lenders to expand into custody, settlement, and advisory roles for tokenised financial assets, automated payroll systems, and digital cash-management products.
Cheaper international trade across GCC, India, and China
The most significant impact of the Digital Dirham lies outside retail stores, specifically across international borders. The UAE has already tested multi-CBDC cross-border transactions through Project mBridge, aiming to reduce the heavy fees and delays linked to traditional correspondent banking networks.
Moving forward, sovereign digital currency will serve as a primary settlement instrument with key economic partners. The UAE sees strong potential to deepen digital payment and local-currency links with trade partners that share regulatory alignment and digital infrastructure, including the GCC, India, and China.
Flash Floods Risk: Saudi Arabia Red Alert Rain Covers Mecca
Red Weather Alerts Hit Mecca Region as Temperatures Touch 47°C
The National Centre for Meteorology issued red weather alerts for heavy rain, flash floods, and hail across western Saudi Arabia on August 27, 2026. Residents and motorists across Mecca, Medina, Jazan, Asir, and Al Baha face severe thunderstorms and dust-laden winds alongside summer heat reaching up to 47°C.
Mecca and Medina Face Downpours Alongside 47°C Extreme Heat
Red weather alerts cover Taif, Al Kamil, and Adham in the Mecca region, where downpours risk triggering localized flash flooding and severe dust storms. Orange weather warnings cover Al Ais, Al Mahd, and Badr in the Medina region for moderate rainfall, while yellow alerts for light rain and blowing dust extend to coastal and inland areas including Jeddah, Rabigh, and Al Khurmah.
The National Centre for Meteorology warned that thunderclouds carrying active winds could also form over parts of the Northern Borders, Jazan, the southern Eastern Province, and the Riyadh region. Coastal zones in eastern Saudi Arabia face reduced visibility overnight and during early morning hours due to fog. Despite the widespread storm activity, high temperatures persist nationwide, with Medina forecast to record 47°C, Dammam reaching 46°C, and both Riyadh and Buraidah touching 45°C.
The unstable atmospheric conditions form part of a broader storm system expected to bring heavy downpours to southwest Saudi Arabia through Saturday.
2-Hour Daily App Limits Set in Meta $18 Billion Settlement
Teens Face 2-Hour Screen Cap as Meta Agrees to $18 Billion Settlement
Meta Platforms has agreed to an $18 billion court settlement with 48 US states, forcing default two-hour daily time limits and midnight app blackouts for users under 18 on Instagram and Facebook.
The historic agreement resolves widespread litigation accusing the company of creating a public nuisance and failing to protect minors from platform harms. Paid out over a decade, the $18 billion payout comes alongside binding operational mandates that overhaul how the social media giant verifies age and manages underage accounts.
Platform impact across age groups
The regulatory mandates impose distinct operational rules based on user age, moving several long-contested safety features from optional tools to compulsory defaults.
- Users under 13: Strictly barred from creating accounts under federal privacy law and company policy. Under the settlement, when a user under 13 is detected and removed, Meta must automatically audit the ages of users on that account's friend list.
- Teens aged 13 to 17: Automatically locked into restricted accounts featuring a hard two-hour daily limit, a nightly access block between midnight and 6:00 AM, and hidden public "like" counts. The daily limit and night block can only be turned off with explicit parent permission.
- Adult users over 18: Granted access to individual time-management features, such as voluntary daily reminders, but blocked from opting into the full teen safety configuration.
Systemic age checks and algorithmic controls
To enforce the limits, Meta must overhaul its age-detection infrastructure using a combination of proprietary technology and third-party tools. The system will be subjected to regular independent audits and measured against explicit target thresholds for false positives, specifically instances where minors are incorrectly classified as adults over 18.
Former Meta engineering director Arturo Bejar, who testified during the federal trial that preceded the deal, called the settlement a significant milestone but cautioned that it leaves content recommendations largely untouched. While daily limits and night blackouts will deploy by default, other controls, including disabling video autoplay and switching feeds to chronological order instead of algorithmic recommendations, remain optional opt-in choices for young users.
Josh Golin, executive director of online safety non-profit Fairplay, criticized the reliance on parental management tools, arguing that harmful recommendation features should have been disabled across the board.
| Financial Obligation | Amount | Term and Scope |
|---|---|---|
| Multi-State Lawsuit Settlement | $18 billion | Paid out over 10 years across 48 US states |
| State Public Nuisance Abatement Order | $567 million | Direct court order to abate public nuisance and child harm |
