Tributes have poured in after the son of former Chelsea star Eddie Newton was found dead alongside his friend following a hike in the UAE, where temperatures soared to 50C.

Cassius Newton, 34, and his friend Aran Martinson, 33, were found by rescuers on July 18 after setting out on a hike in the mountainous Wadi Naqab region.

The pair, from Dorset and Essex respectively, both lived and worked in the UAE. Their bodies were discovered between 3km and 4km from their vehicle.

Their provisional causes of death included cardiac and respiratory arrest.

Cassius, a non-league footballer, was the son of former Chelsea midfielder and coach Eddie Newton, who spent more than a decade with the club.

His wife was in the UK when she became concerned after Cassius failed to contact her following the hike and reported him missing.

The two men had been living at a luxury resort in Ras Al Khaimah.

Tributes after desert tragedy

Tributes poured in after the deaths.

Aran’s wife described him as “incredibly driven, hardworking and ambitious”, saying he had recently begun a new chapter in his career and was excited about the future.

Blackfield & Langley Football Club paid tribute to their former player, saying: “It is with heavy hearts that we share the sad news of the passing of former player Cassius Newton; our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with his family and friends during this difficult time.”

National League club Eastleigh, where Cassius had previously played, said it was “deeply saddened” by his death.

Chelsea connection

Cassius’ father Eddie Newton played for Chelsea from 1990 to 2001 and famously scored in the club’s 1997 FA Cup final victory.

The former midfielder also represented Cardiff City, Birmingham City, Oxford United and Barnet.

After retiring as a player, Newton moved into coaching, working as assistant manager at MK Dons and West Brom before returning to Chelsea.

He later served as assistant manager under Roberto Di Matteo and Rafael Benítez.

(With inputs from BBC, The Sun)

Dubai motorists face a temporary traffic diversion this weekend as road improvement works get underway on a key route.

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has announced a temporary diversion on the slow lane of the bridge connecting Oud Metha Road towards Abu Dhabi and Port Rashid.

The traffic change will begin at 11pm on Friday and remain in effect until 6am on Sunday, allowing development work to be completed in the area.

Drivers urged to allow extra time

Motorists travelling along the affected route are being advised to plan their journeys ahead of time and allow additional time for their trips.

Drivers should also pay close attention to road signs and traffic directions while the diversion is in place to avoid delays and ensure they reach their destinations smoothly.

New tunnel opens to ease congestion

The latest traffic diversion comes as Dubai continues to expand and upgrade its road network.

Earlier, the RTA opened a 260-metre single-lane tunnel linking Dubai–Al Ain Road with Oud Metha Service Road. The tunnel can handle as many as 1,200 vehicles per hour and is designed to improve traffic movement and reduce congestion.

The new link forms part of the broader Oud Metha Road and Al Asayel Street Development Project, a major infrastructure programme aimed at improving connectivity across the area.

According to an RTA update issued in late July, the project had reached 90 per cent completion at that stage.

Once completed, the improvements are expected to increase the traffic-handling capacity of Oud Metha Road by 50 per cent, helping create smoother journeys for motorists and improving connections to major destinations across Dubai.

For drivers using the Oud Metha area this weekend, however, the message is simple: check your route, leave early and follow the temporary traffic signs.

Students face tighter appearance and food rules as schools warn that banned items could be confiscated, recorded and punished under conduct policies, according to local media reports.

The new school year has barely got into its second week,  but some UAE students are already discovering that the rules are getting serious.

The UAE Ministry of Education’s 2026–27 public-school uniform guide requires approved uniforms and says hair should be styled appropriately according to local customs and remain its natural colour

Several public and private schools have now stepped up checks on student appearance, behaviour and food, introducing tougher controls covering everything from hairstyles and hoodies to what youngsters can bring in their lunch bags.

Among the biggest no-go items are qaza-style haircuts, long hair for male students, hoodies worn inside school premises, energy drinks, fizzy drinks, tea, coffee and chips.

And schools are warning that ignoring the rules could have consequences.

Haircuts under the microscope

Students sporting a qaza haircut, in which part of the head is shaved while another section is deliberately left long, have been put on notice.

Long hairstyles for male students are also among the appearance rules being enforced.

Schools say the measures are designed to promote a consistent appearance and discourage behaviour they believe conflicts with educational and social values.

The message to students is clear: what might pass as a trendy look outside the school gates may not make the cut once they walk into school.

Hoodies? Not inside school

The crackdown doesn’t stop at hair.

Schools have also prohibited students from wearing hoodies inside school premises, with the appearance requirements applying from the moment students enter through the gates.

Parents and students have been informed through circulars and official communications outlining the restrictions.

Your lunchbox could also land you in trouble

It isn’t just what’s on students’ heads that’s being scrutinised.

Schools are also tightening controls over what youngsters bring through the gates.

Tea, coffee, soft drinks, energy drinks and chips of all types have been listed among the prohibited food and beverages.

And there’s an important detail: students don’t necessarily escape a violation simply because they haven’t consumed the item.

Schools have warned that having a prohibited food or drink in a student’s possession can itself trigger action.

The item may be confiscated, the incident officially recorded and the school’s conduct code applied, potentially including deductions to the student’s conduct grade.

Students are instead being encouraged to rely on the nutrition and food options supplied by the school’s approved canteen service.

Schools say it’s about more than looks

School administrations say the tighter rules are not simply about policing fashion or deciding what ends up in a lunch bag.

They argue that appearance, conduct and nutrition are part of creating a structured educational environment and reinforcing respect for teachers, classmates and the wider school community.

The schools have also connected the measures to the qualities they want to develop in Emirati students, including national pride, responsibility, discipline, respect, academic ambition and a commitment to excellence and creativity.

In their view, a smart and appropriate appearance is not merely about looking the part. It is intended to reflect a student’s attitude towards themselves, their teachers and fellow students.

The new school-year message

With the academic year now gathering pace, students and parents are being urged to pay close attention to individual school circulars and requirements.

For pupils, that could mean checking the hairstyle before leaving home, leaving the hoodie behind and thinking twice before slipping a can of fizzy drink or a packet of chips into the school bag.

Because this year, UAE schools appear to be taking the message very seriously: school rules start at the gate, and they don’t end with the uniform.