UAE Federal Payments Upgrade: The Ministry of Finance has rolled Aani instant payments and Jaywan domestic cards into federal payment channels, letting people pay using mobile numbers, Emirates ID, email, QR codes or IBAN for faster, 24/7 settlements. Public Safety & Weather: Abu Dhabi warned of unsettled conditions with rain, strong winds and possible small hail through Friday, while Dubai Civil Defence confirmed one death and five injuries after a gas cylinder blast at a car showroom on Sheikh Zayed Road. Food Safety Crackdown: Abu Dhabi shut down So Great Restaurant after repeated food safety violations, with the closure staying until the operator fixes issues. Digital Finance & Fintech: KamelPay secured UAE Central Bank SVF and RPS licences, and Bybit appointed Peter Loo as Chief Legal & Compliance Officer to strengthen its regulatory push. Sports in the UAE: The Women’s Asia Cup is expected to be held in the UAE from Aug 28 to Sept 13, and USA cricketer Bodugum Akhilesh Reddy received an eight-year ICC ban for match-fixing linked to the Abu Dhabi T10. Regional Diplomacy: Qatar’s PM held calls with UAE, Saudi, Kuwait, Oman and Bahrain on de-escalation efforts and implementing the US-Iran MoU, including freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. Business & Travel: Etihad Rail says it has sold 70,000+ tickets since passenger services began, with bookings averaging about 12 days ahead.