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SCRF: Grandma tales fame Sudha Murty looks at audiobook to connect with children

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Celebrated author, educator and philanthropist Sudha Murty left a packed hall of all age groups at the Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival (SCRF) captivated and craving for more just as her books do even at the age of 72.

Her session, titled ‘Tales of Grandma’, was the highlight of the day and the organisers even had to shut the doors midway into the session after the alleys also filled up with people standing. Many trooped in a little late because there were no clear directions on the agenda.

The love and affection from the children and parents alike, clamouring for pictures, blessings and signed autographs on her books, became so overbearing that the SCRF security had to called it off fearing a stampede on the dias.

Ms Murty, awarded India’s highest civilian honour Padma Bhushan last month, regaled the audience with tales as a grandmother would. Asked to choose a favourite among her published works, she said: “It is difficult to ask a mother to choose between her children, and my books are my children.” the author of 44 books (29 in English and 15 in Kannada) acknowledged that she now releases one book a year.

The Intellectual Hall at the Expo Centre was packed to the rafters. SCRF

To an interesting question about embracing technology through mediums such as podcasts to deliver her stories, Ms Murty gave a revealing confession. “I have always been comfortable just writing. Lately, I have been told that I need to look into new formats to share my stories. Podcasts are not for me. However, I recently requested my daughter to look into the possibility of audiobooks”.

Ms Murty’s advice to the young audience is to develop hobbies. “It can be anything, even one is fine if you pursue it in all earnest without letting your studies get affected. In fact, the hobby will help you focus on your studies, while also helping you become a better person.”

For the uninitiated, most of Ms Murty’s books are based on her real-life experiences, and hence “non-fiction to a large extent,” she said. Among her latest works has been a three-book set: Gopi Diaries. Citing the latest trilogy as an example, Ms Murty revealed that Gopi in the book is actually his dog. She also shared anecdotes of how the dog was initially unwanted, but ended up becoming “my son” within a year of entering the household.

Ms Murty is a philanthropist and wife of tech multinational Infosys head Narayan Murthy. Their daughter Akshata is married to British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. Recently, a video of her casual chat about Sunak went viral.

House of Wisdom visit

The author then visited the House of Wisdom (HoW), Sharjah’s iconic cultural centre and futuristic library, where she was introduced to the emirate’s efforts to promote culture, knowledge and innovation amongst the younger generation in the UAE and beyond. She sifted through HoW’s exhaustive physical and digital archives and was briefed on the various programmes and initiatives led by HoW to stimulate imaginations and boost cross-cultural understanding and exchange.

As part of her tour through HoW’s world-class facilities, Ms Murty stopped at the Little Reader section, where she was briefed on the events and workshops that are designed exclusively for children in order to develop their skills in a variety of areas. She also reviewed the wide-ranging collection of children and young adult titles in English, Arabic and other languages.

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UAE launches world’s first AI-powered judicial platform

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The UAE has unveiled what it says is the world’s first fully integrated AI-powered judicial platform, marking a major step in the country’s drive to modernise its justice system through artificial intelligence.

The platform is designed to help judges and legal professionals work more efficiently by analysing case files, searching laws and court precedents, and generating legal insights. Officials stressed that AI will not replace judges, with all final rulings remaining under human oversight.

Innovation will make justice faster

Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court, described the launch as another global achievement for the country.

In a post on X, Sheikh Mansour said the platform reflects the UAE’s belief that innovation can create a faster and more efficient justice system while strengthening the country’s position as a global leader in government and judicial excellence.

What the AI platform can do

The system integrates AI across several stages of judicial proceedings, including:

  • Analysing case files and legal documents.
  • Searching legislation and regulations.
  • Retrieving and comparing court precedents.
  • Generating legal reports and recommendations.
  • Assisting with drafting legal documents.
  • Speeding up case processing.

Officials said the technology is intended to support judicial decision-making, not replace it.

Combining AI-powered functions

While courts in several countries already use AI for tasks such as legal research and case management, the UAE says this is the first platform to combine multiple AI-powered judicial functions into one integrated system.

The initiative is expected to:

  • Reduce litigation times.
  • Improve court efficiency.
  • Cut administrative workloads.
  • Strengthen investor confidence.
  • Enhance the UAE’s global competitiveness.

Safeguards remain in place

Officials said protecting judicial independence remains a priority.

The platform has been developed with safeguards around data privacy, cybersecurity, transparency and accountability, with judges retaining full authority over every final decision.

The launch builds on the UAE’s broader digital transformation of the justice sector, which has already introduced remote court hearings, digital litigation services and AI-powered legal assistance.

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Salary day scams on the rise, Abu Dhabi Police warn

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Abu Dhabi Police have warned residents to stay alert as online fraud and financial scams tend to increase during the salary payment period.

Authorities said fraudsters are taking advantage of payday by using fake advertisements, phishing links and fraudulent offers to steal money and personal information.

What to watch out for

According to police, scammers are posing as legitimate businesses and organisations to trick victims through:

  • Fake property rental and sale listings.
  • Bogus residency and visa services.
  • Fraudulent job and labour recruitment offers.
  • Fake insurance products.
  • False advertisements for vehicles allegedly seized by Abu Dhabi Customs.
  • Fake investment opportunities.
  • Counterfeit event tickets.
  • Websites impersonating government agencies and well-known organisations.
  • Requests to download remote access apps.
  • Demands for advance payments or deposits for goods, services, training courses or fake certificates.

How to stay safe

Abu Dhabi Police urged residents to:

  • Never share bank account details, passwords or one-time passwords (OTPs).
  • Avoid clicking on suspicious links or responding to unsolicited offers.
  • Verify sellers before transferring money or paying deposits.
  • Use only official websites and mobile apps for government services.

Residents who suspect they have been targeted by fraud are encouraged to report incidents through the Aman service.

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Buying medicines online? UAE issues urgent warning over unapproved drugs

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The Emirates Drug Establishment (EDE) has warned residents to be cautious of misleading online advertisements promoting unapproved medicines, saying fake health claims on websites and social media could put lives at risk.

The warning comes as the regulator announced action against 71 online sources found to be marketing or selling unauthorised peptide-based products, many of which were promoted as weight-loss treatments.

Beware of these misleading claims

According to EDE, illegal sellers are increasingly using professional-looking advertisements and social media campaigns to lure buyers with promises such as:

  • “Miracle cure for every illness”
  • “100% natural and completely safe”
  • “Limited stock available”
  • “Thousands of satisfied customers”

The authority warned that these claims are designed to persuade consumers to buy medicines from unlicensed sources.

“One click could cost you your health—or even your life,” EDE cautioned.

Buy medicines only from licensed stores

Residents are urged to purchase medicines only from licensed pharmacies and authorised healthcare providers and to ensure products are officially approved before use.

The regulator said medicines sold through unofficial online platforms may be counterfeit, substandard or unregistered, posing serious health risks.

Fake medicines a major concern

Citing World Health Organization (WHO) estimates, EDE said one in 10 medicines in some markets may be counterfeit or of poor quality.

It also warned that more than 90% of medicines sold through unauthorised online sources could be illegal or fail to meet regulatory standards.

Counterfeit medicines may contain harmful ingredients, incorrect dosages or expired substances, making them ineffective—or even dangerous.

Unapproved weight-loss drug

EDE also warned against the growing online promotion of peptide-based weight-loss injections that have not been approved in the UAE.

Among them is Retatrutide, an experimental drug that remains under clinical investigation and is not authorised for sale or medical use in the country.

Authorities monitoring online platforms

Fares Al Mazmi, Director of the Inspection and Control Department at EDE, said the authority is continuously monitoring websites and social media accounts promoting illegal medicines.

Working with other government agencies, EDE is blocking offending accounts, investigating violations and taking legal action against those responsible.

The regulator urged consumers to verify that medicines are officially registered before purchasing, stressing that buying from authorised sources remains the safest way to protect their health.

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