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A sharp rise in cybercrime has shaken India, where nearly 2.5 million people lost an estimated $25 billion to digital fraud in 2025, highlighting growing risks in the country’s fast-expanding online payment ecosystem.

One common tactic involves fraudsters posing as authorities and sending fake payment links. In one such case, a man in Pune was tricked into paying a small traffic fine, only to unknowingly authorise a much larger transaction after sharing a one-time password. Experts describe such scams as ‘‘social engineering,’‘ where urgency and fear are used to manipulate victims.

The surge in fraud coincides with the rapid adoption of digital payments across India, which has outpaced user awareness and security safeguards—especially among elderly and less tech-savvy populations.

In response, the Reserve Bank of India is considering new measures to curb cybercrime. Proposed steps include introducing a one-hour delay for certain bank transfers, adding extra verification for high-value transactions, and tightening checks on suspicious accounts often used to move illicit funds.

However, experts warn that these measures may have limited impact. Many scams have evolved beyond basic OTP fraud into more sophisticated schemes, and adding delays could undermine the real-time nature of digital payments without fully stopping criminals. 

There are also concerns about implementation challenges. Changes to payment infrastructure could be costly and complex, and added friction may inconvenience genuine users. Critics argue that fraudsters may quickly adapt to any new system restrictions.

Specialists say stronger enforcement, better coordination between agencies, and wider digital literacy campaigns are essential to tackling the issue. While the central bank has already launched awareness drives, including partnerships with major public figures and sporting events, analysts believe education remains the most effective long-term defence.

Source: Minute Mirror 

The final day of the “Ehi Passiko” Peace Walk will take place today, bringing the week-long march to a symbolic close in the heart of the capital.

The peace march is scheduled to begin at 12 noon from the historic Kelaniya Raja Maha Viharaya and will proceed towards Independence Square, where a special state ceremony is set to be held at 4:00 p.m.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake is expected to attend the ceremony and officially hand over a sapling of the Sacred Sri Maha Bodhi to a delegation led by Venerable Pannakara Thero, marking a significant moment in the event’s message of unity and peace.

Following the ceremony, the walk will resume at 5:30 p.m. from Independence Square and continue towards Gangaramaya Temple, where the peace journey will conclude.

Carrying a global message of peace, the “Ehi Passiko” Peace Walk began on April 22 in Dambulla and reached Kelaniya yesterday after travelling from Yakkala.

Meanwhile, police have announced a special traffic plan for several parts of Colombo in view of the event. Traffic restrictions will be imposed from 11:00 a.m. on a need basis along the route from the Bandaranaike Roundabout to Borella Junction via Baseline Road, as well as on roads surrounding Gangaramaya Temple.

Motorists are advised to use alternative routes and expect delays in the affected areas during the procession and state ceremony.

The Department of Meteorology has forecast showers or thundershowers across most parts of the island after 1.00 p.m. today (30), with several provinces expected to experience significant rainfall and unsettled weather conditions.

According to the Met. Department, fairly heavy rainfall exceeding 50 mm is likely in some areas of the Sabaragamuwa, Central and North Central provinces, as well as in the Trincomalee district.

Morning showers are also expected in parts of the Southern Province and the Kalutara district, bringing wet conditions to those areas earlier in the day.

In addition, misty conditions are anticipated in several parts of the Central, Sabaragamuwa, North Central and Uva provinces, which may affect visibility, particularly in elevated and inland regions.

The general public has been advised to take adequate precautions to minimize damage caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.

Jaffna District Member of Parliament Dr. Ramanathan Archchuna was arrested by Ilavalai Police this morning (27) in connection with allegations of criminal intimidation and trespass.

According to police, the arrest was made following accusations that the parliamentarian had engaged in criminal intimidation involving the alleged brandishing of a firearm. He is also facing allegations related to criminal trespass.

The arrest comes amid an ongoing investigation into the incident, with law enforcement authorities taking steps to pursue legal action over the claims made against the MP.

Further details regarding the case and any subsequent court proceedings are expected to emerge as investigations continue.

Oil prices have soared following reports that the US is preparing for an ‘‘extended’’ blockade of Iran.

The global benchmark oil price, Brent crude, rose above $120 (£89) a barrel on Wednesday, briefly hitting $122, its highest price since 2022.

The BBC understands that energy executives including Chevron chief executive Mike Wirth met US President Donald Trump at the White House on Tuesday to discuss how to limit the fallout from the conflict on American consumers.

Oil traders appear to have taken the meeting as a sign the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz will continue for a long time.

The executives discussed topics including domestic energy production, progress in Venezuela, oil futures, natural gas, and shipping, according to a White House official.

They described the meeting as being part of the President’s regular meetings with energy executives to discuss their industry.

The meeting follows separate reports from the Wall Street Journal that US President Donald Trump has instructed aides to prepare to extend the ongoing blockade of Iran’s ports, in an effort to squeeze the country’s economy.

Iran has said it will continue to disrupt traffic travelling through the Strait of Hormuz in response to the US blockade.

The price of oil has seen sharp swings since the start of the war, as the key Strait of Hormuz has been effectively closed for weeks due to the conflict.

Iran has severely restricted shipping through the strait — which usually carries about a fifth of the world’s supply of oil and liquid natural gas — in response to US and Israeli strikes that began on 28 February.

Earlier this month, Tehran warned that any vessel that approaches the strait would be targeted.

The US then announced that its forces would intercept or turn back vessels travelling to or from Iran’s ports.

Analysis by BBC Verify shows that at least four vessels tracked from Iranian ports appear to have crossed the US blockade line.

Despite the fluctuations of recent weeks, the price of oil remains much higher than the pre-conflict price of a barrel.

The price of Brent crude dropped to $90 a barrel on 17 April, after a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon was announced. The US said it would pause attacks on Iran on 8 April. It remains much higher than the pre-conflict price of a barrel.

However, the oil benchmark has been rising steadily over the last 12 days, as the US continued its blockade.

Lindsay James, investment strategist at Quilter, said that the impact of the war so far in the UK has been largely limited to higher petrol and diesel prices, but ‘‘every day that passes without a resumption of supply sees the risk of physical shortages and steeper price rises on a range of goods increasing’’.

The Iranian economy is facing a deepening crisis, with rapidly rising prices, falling currency value, and prospects of the oil exports grinding to a halt.

According to the Statistical Center of Iran, the annual inflation rate has risen to 53.7%.

The country’s currency, the rial, has fallen to a record low.

Around two million Iranians have lost their jobs, directly or indirectly, as a result of the war, the Iranian government had said last week.

On Wednesday, Trump urged Iran to ‘‘get smart soon’’ and sign a deal, following days of deadlock in efforts to end the conflict.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the country ‘‘couldn’t get its act together’’.
The Wall Street Journal cited US officials as saying the president had instructed aides to prepare for an ‘‘extended’’ blockade of Iran’s ports in a bid to force Tehran’s hand.

Officials said Trump had opted to continue squeezing Iran’s economy and oil exports with the blockade as his other options - resuming bombing or walking away from the conflict - carried more risk, according to the report.

Iranian officials said on Tuesday the country could withstand the blockade as it was using alternative trade routes.

The World Bank on Tuesday forecast energy prices would surge by 24% in 2026 to their highest level since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine four years ago, if the most acute disruptions caused by the Iran war end in May.

European stocks fell on Wednesday, as investors digested a wave of corporate earnings and awaited the US Federal Reserve’s latest interest rate decision.

The FTSE 100 index of the largest firms listed in the UK was down 1.2% at closing, while France’s Cac was down 0.39% at close and Germany’s Dax was down 0.27%.

In the US, the S&P 500 closed flat.

Asian stock markets mostly rose Wednesday, continuing their recovery after being particularly hard hit by the initial shock from the war.
Kathleen Brooks, research director at XTB, said: ‘‘Financial markets will now need to price in the prospect of a prolonged blockade.’’

Source: BBC

The Department of Meteorology has forecast showers and thundershowers in several areas across most parts of the island after 1.00 p.m. today (27), with conditions expected to intensify in several provinces.

According to the latest weather advisory, some areas in the Southern Province are also likely to experience showers during the morning hours.

The department further stated that fairly heavy rainfall exceeding 75 mm is expected at certain locations in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, Southern, Uva, and North-Central provinces, as well as in the Kurunegala District.

Meanwhile, misty conditions are anticipated during the early hours of the morning in parts of the Central and Sabaragamuwa provinces and in the districts of Anuradhapura, Kurunegala, and Badulla.

Authorities have urged the general public to remain cautious and take necessary precautions to reduce the risk of damage caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.

Residents in affected areas are advised to stay alert as changing weather conditions may lead to sudden disruptions during the day.

The Meta-owned popular instant messaging app will drop support for versions older than Android 6 starting September 8, 2026. This means if you have a smartphone running an older Android OS, WhatsApp will stop working on that device.

Android users will be able to access WhatsApp as long as they are on the latest supported version of the app and running Android 6 or newer.

While WhatsApp continues to work on introducing new features for the future, the Meta app also knows that maintaining appropriate minimum requirements is important. New features usually need better system capabilities and higher performance.

This means older devices and operating systems may not be able to handle them well. It can also stop WhatsApp from adding some new features if they don’t work properly on older Android versions. As a result, WhatsApp is now announcing that it will drop support for certain versions of Android.

WhatsApp Is Reportedly Taking This Feature From Facebook Messenger

“The current supported version of WhatsApp for Android requires Android OS 5.0 or newer. This means that the app can run with the necessary stability and performance on a large number of devices. However, even as the Android ecosystem is moving toward Android 17, a certain number of users still rely on outdated devices,” WABetaInfo, a website that tracks WhatsApp, reported.

According to the report, this is especially common in countries such as India, Brazil, Pakistan, and across parts of Southeast Asia and Africa, where older smartphones are widely used. Many of these devices run versions much older than Android 10, which are no longer updated by manufacturers.

“This creates a growing gap between modern software requirements and older hardware still in active use,” the report said.

WhatsApp is notifying affected users by displaying an alert as soon as they open the app. The message notes that starting on September 8, 2026, WhatsApp will no longer be available on specific versions of Android.

Specifically, WhatsApp will drop support for all Android versions older than Android 6.0.

How To Read All Unread WhatsApp Messages At Once: A Simple Guide

This means phones running Android 5.0 and 5.1 won’t be able to use WhatsApp after this date. Even though only a small number of users are on these versions, WhatsApp still goes ahead with such updates. It is best to back up your chats before it’s too late.

WhatsApp is advising users to back up their chats to avoid losing data. You can easily do this using Google Drive from the app settings. If you don’t want to use cloud storage or don’t have space, you can also use a local backup.

WhatsApp automatically saves chats on your phone’s internal storage, which you can transfer manually later if needed.

No impact on iPhone users

This change only affects Android users. iPhones and iPads are not impacted. WhatsApp will continue to work on devices running iOS 15.1 and above.

The change currently applies only to Android devices and their minimum operating system requirements. For now, iOS users can continue using WhatsApp as usual without updating their devices due to this update.

What should you do?

If your phone runs Android 5.0 or 5.1, you’ll need to either update your software (if possible) or switch to a newer device to keep using WhatsApp. This applies to both WhatsApp Messenger and WhatsApp Business.

Source: Times Now

The ‘‘Ehi Passiko’’ Peace Walk enters its sixth day today (27), continuing its journey with a route beginning near the Abeysekaraaramaya in Yakkala and proceeding towards the historic Kelaniya Raja Maha Viharaya.

The ongoing walk, led by Venerable Pannakara Thero of Vietnam together with a group of monks, has drawn attention as it advances across the country carrying a message of peace and unity. The journey first commenced on April 21 from the Dambulla Raja Maha Viharaya.

Organizers have also planned a special discussion tomorrow (28) at the Kelaniya Raja Maha Viharaya, to be held alongside the peace walk. The discussion is expected to bring together school and university students, providing an opportunity for young participants to engage in conversations centered on peace and harmony.

Following the discussion, the walk is scheduled to continue from Kelaniya to Independence Square in Colombo.

Later on the same day, the State Ceremony of the ‘‘Ehi Passiko’’ Peace Walk will be held at Independence Square under the patronage of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.

The event marks a significant stage in the peace walk’s progress, as it moves closer to its ceremonial conclusion while continuing to promote its message across communities.

In a strong move to protect consumers from unfair pricing, the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) has launched legal action against several retail outlets accused of selling rice and bottled drinking water above the approved prices.

The action follows a series of emergency raids carried out on April 24 across several areas, including Kandy, Trincomalee, Galle, Tangalle, Girandurukotte, and Haputale. During these inspections, officials discovered that Keeri Samba and other rice varieties were being sold at prices exceeding the legally prescribed limits.

As a result, the CAA filed cases against the business owners involved. After court proceedings, fines of Rs. 100,000 each were imposed on one trader in Trincomalee, two traders in Galle, two in Tangalle, and one in Girandurukotte. Meanwhile, the owner of a retail outlet in Haputale received a significantly higher fine of Rs. 500,000.

In a separate enforcement operation, the Authority also carried out surprise inspections targeting businesses selling bottled drinking water above the maximum retail price. Following the legal proceedings, the court ordered a Rs. 1,000,000 fine against a businessman in Haputale, while a trader in Anuradhapura was fined Rs. 100,000.

The latest crackdown highlights the CAA’s continued efforts to ensure fair pricing and protect the public from exploitative trade practices, especially involving essential goods.

Showers and thundershowers are expected to affect several parts of Sri Lanka today, with the Department of Meteorology warning of fairly heavy rainfall and possible strong winds in many areas across the island.

According to the latest weather forecast, most parts of the country are likely to experience showers or thundershowers after 1.00 p.m., while some areas in the Southern Province and the Ampara District may receive rain during the morning hours as well.

The Department further stated that fairly heavy rainfall exceeding 75 mm is likely at several locations in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, North-Western, North-Central, and Southern provinces, as well as in the Mannar District.

Meanwhile, misty conditions are expected during the early hours of the morning in parts of the Central, Sabaragamuwa, and Uva provinces, along with the Anuradhapura and Kurunegala districts, which may reduce visibility for commuters and motorists.

The general public has been urged to take adequate precautions to minimize possible damage caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers. Authorities have advised residents to remain alert, particularly in areas prone to heavy rainfall and sudden weather changes.

The Archdiocese of Colombo has firmly rejected recent reports claiming that Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith is set to step down from his position as Archbishop of Colombo in late 2026.

Responding to an inquiry on the matter, Reverend Father Jude Chrysantha, Director of Mass Communications for the Archdiocese, stated that the reports are false and clarified that any decision regarding the appointment or retirement of an Archbishop lies solely with the Vatican.

He further explained that under Canon Law, retirement is generally considered upon reaching the age of 80. However, he emphasized that the final determination rests exclusively with the Pope Francis.

According to the clarification, although Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith is expected to reach the age of 80 next year, no official announcement regarding his retirement has been made to date.

The statement comes in response to recent media reports citing unnamed sources, which had suggested that a significant leadership transition within the Catholic Church in Sri Lanka was likely by the end of this year.

With the Archdiocese now publicly addressing the speculation, church officials have moved to dispel uncertainty surrounding the Archbishop’s future and reaffirm that no formal decision has yet been communicated by the Vatican.