标签： Asia

After fifteen years of unwavering participation, Selvaraj Vijayananth, a 50-year-old Indian national from Chennai, has achieved his dream by winning $1 million in the Dubai Duty Free Millennium Millionaire draw. The life-changing event occurred on Wednesday, November 26, 2025, at Dubai International Airport’s Concourse D.

Vijayananth, a senior engineering manager in the software industry and father of one, purchased his winning ticket (number 1346) online on November 13. His persistent participation in the promotional lottery for over a decade and a half finally yielded the monumental victory. “Winning has always been a dream of mine and now that it has finally come true, I am deeply grateful,” expressed the elated millionaire.

The celebration extended beyond Vijayananth as Atul Dinkar Rao, an Indian expatriate residing in Dubai, also claimed a $1 million prize in the Millennium Millionaire Series 522 with ticket number 2242. Rao, another long-time participant, received his ceremonial check from Dubai Duty Free senior management, stating, “I feel grateful and thankful for this win. I have always had faith and participated for a long time.

Following the millionaire announcements, the Finest Surprise draw awarded two luxury motorbikes to additional winners. Samer El Achkar, a 58-year-old Lebanese businessman and Dubai resident since 1991, won a BMW F 900 GS motorbike after twenty years of participation. Jaya Devan, a 38-year-old Indian storekeeper based in Ras Al Khaimah, secured a BMW S 1000 XR motorbike despite only participating for approximately one year. “I’m still in disbelief but feeling lucky,” Devan remarked.

Notably, Indian nationals represent the most significant demographic among ticket purchasers for these draws, with Vijayananth becoming the 266th Indian citizen to claim the $1 million prize in the promotion’s history.

In a heartwarming display of integrity, a young girl named Shaimaa Ali has been honored by Ajman Police for her honesty after she returned a sum of money she found in a public place. The incident occurred when Shaimaa discovered the money and immediately requested her elder sister to accompany her to the Musherif Police Station to hand it over to the authorities. The police station hosted a special ceremony to recognize her commendable act, where officers posed with Shaimaa and her father, celebrating her positive attitude. At the event, Shaimaa was presented with a certificate of appreciation and a gift, acknowledging her honesty. Brigadier General Al Muhairi, who attended the ceremony, praised Shaimaa’s actions, emphasizing that such behavior reflects good upbringing and social awareness. He highlighted the importance of promoting a culture of returning lost items and protecting public property. This incident is not isolated in the UAE, as similar acts of honesty have been frequently reported. For instance, in September, Dubai Police honored a student for returning a lost wallet containing cash and a cheque valued at Dh200,000, and in April, a citizen was recognized for returning a lost passport and money. These acts underscore the UAE’s commitment to fostering values of honesty and community responsibility.

A devastating fire broke out in a high-rise residential complex in Hong Kong on Wednesday afternoon, resulting in four fatalities and multiple injuries. The blaze, which erupted at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, quickly escalated to a No. 4 alarm, the second-highest emergency level, by 3:34 p.m. local time. According to the Hong Kong government, four individuals were confirmed dead, two are in critical condition, and one is stable as of 5:00 p.m. Public broadcaster RTHK reported that several people remain trapped inside the burning buildings, with two individuals suffering severe burns. Firefighters, some of whom were injured while battling the flames, faced significant challenges due to the scale of the fire and the presence of bamboo scaffolding on several adjacent towers. The incident has also disrupted local transportation, with the Tai Po highway closed and bus routes diverted. Wang Fuk Court, a housing complex comprising eight blocks and nearly 2,000 residential units, is now the site of a tragic disaster that has left the community in shock.

Iranian citizens have expressed outrage after X’s newly introduced location feature exposed government officials and pro-regime figures using Iran-based SIM cards to access the platform, despite its official ban in the country. The revelation has sparked accusations of hypocrisy, as ordinary Iranians require VPNs to bypass the government’s strict internet censorship. Among those identified was Information and Communication Technology Minister Sattar Hashemi, whose account appeared to be based in Iran, suggesting he bypassed the VPN requirement. Social media users criticized the government for allegedly distributing ‘white SIM cards’ to officials, granting them unrestricted access to blocked sites. The terms ‘White SIM Card’ and ‘Class-based Internet’ trended on X as Iranians voiced their frustration. Mani Ghasemi, chair of tech site Digiato, condemned Hashemi and other reformist politicians for their use of these SIMs, calling their opposition to internet censorship insincere. The Iranian government has long restricted access to platforms like X, YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram, while attempting to curb VPN usage. Reformist President Masoud Pezeshkian has pledged to review the stringent internet controls, which aim to steer users toward domestic websites. Critics argue that certain institutions, including news agencies linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, enjoy special privileges with unfiltered internet access. Following the controversy, several officials and journalists altered their X account locations from Iran to ‘West Asia.’ Journalist Vahid Khatami defended unrestricted internet as a professional necessity, while Ali Ahmadinia, head of public relations, promised a review of ‘white SIM card’ distribution.