The Agenda

The UN is warning that El Niño is being "supersized before our eyes", with the potential for even more extreme weather around the world. We ask what that could mean for the Gulf and how countries can prepare.

And as the Italian Grand Prix is declared a heat-hazard race, we ask whether the world is becoming too hot for elite sport. 

Plus, should children be learning how to use AI at school? The UAE is introducing AI across its national curriculum and training 22,000 teachers, while New York City is restricting generative AI for younger pupils. So who's got it right?

Meanwhile, Tennis star Carlos Alcaraz also says the calendar is "impossible", so are we simply asking too much of the world's top athletes?

And Emirates is unveiling the world's first electric Premium Economy seat with a full-height privacy screen. Is Premium Economy becoming the new battleground for airlines?

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The UAE is facing a major cyber offensive linked to the conflict in the region and (IRGC) Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) is among the actors involved. That's according to H.E. Dr. Mohamed Al Kuwaiti, Head of Cyber Security for the United Arab Emirates Government, speaking exclusively to The Agenda. 

If you drive from Sharjah into Dubai every morning, you probably don't need us to tell you how frustrating that journey can be. But a major new road project could make a significant difference to one of the busiest parts of that commute. 

If you have children at a private school in Dubai, you might want to double-check your October holiday dates. Some private schools in Dubai are saying their half term break in October will move forward by a week, from Monday the 19th to Monday the 12th of October. How are schools managing a change to the calendar after the academic year has already started? 

Dubai is tightening the rules around what healthcare professionals can say when they promote medical services online. 

New research from McAfee tested more than 21,000 travel photos and found one freely available AI model could correctly identify the location in 91 per cent of them. And that information can be incredibly useful to scammers.  

When you think of elite snowboarding, Dubai probably isn't the first place that springs to mind. But 18-year-old Emirati Amenah Al Muhairi is hoping to change that. 

And we all know the feeling. You’ve had a bad night’s sleep, it’s the middle of the afternoon and all you want to do is close your eyes. Coffee might help, but scientists are now looking much more closely at the chemistry in our brains that actually keeps us awake. 

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If you have a teenager or young adult at home, you may have heard this frustration before. They’re told they need work experience to stand out when they apply for university or their first proper job. But actually finding that experience can be incredibly difficult. Where do you look? Who do you contact?  

Could part-time jobs become more common in the UAE? And what should both parents and employers know before saying yes? 

Schools are now back. So, are we actually noticing the difference on the roads? 

And we tend to judge a UAE summer by how hot it gets during the day, but scientists are increasingly concerned about what happens after sunset.

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The Trump administration has temporarily paused immigrant visa appointments at US embassies and consulates around the world. So what does this mean for applicants here, and could the UAE become more attractive as US immigration becomes less predictable?

Scientists are piecing together what triggered the devastating floods on the Nepal-Tibet border that cause the deaths of around 900 people. The US Geological Survey says it was actually a glacial collapse, with the impact so powerful it registered as a magnitude 5.2 seismic event.

New tax rules for vapes come into force across the UAE today. How does the new calculation actually work, which products are affected, and what does it mean for retailers with stock already sitting on their shelves?

And the BER months have officially begun. Decorations start appearing, Christmas preparations begin and, crucially, the Christmas music starts playing. So how does a piece of music become so strongly associated with a particular season?

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Dubai Police has deployed 253 security and traffic patrols and 28 drones around schools to monitor traffic and help keep things moving safely. 

Today is also Accident-Free Day. Drivers who registered for the nationwide initiative and stay free of accidents and traffic violations today could have four black points removed from their licence.  

Yango Ride has introduced School Rides, where up to six pupils travelling along similar routes share a vehicle, with fixed pickup windows and door-to-door collection. The service was launched as a pilot in partnership with Dubai’s RTA earlier this year. 

Dubai is spending AED 1.16 billion on Al Meydan Street.

Today is World Beach Day, a chance to celebrate our coastlines, but also to think about how we use them safely. 

And is your dog talking to you?

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Six months since the regional conflict began, we look at the continuing disruption to the Strait of Hormuz and how Gulf states are developing pipelines and alternative routes that could reduce Iran’s leverage over the vital waterway.

Plus, UEFA is preparing possible criminal proceedings against FIFA president Gianni Infantino, escalating the power struggle at the top of world football.

Meanwhile Bill Gates warns governments are nowhere near ready for the impact AI could have on jobs.

And on Emirati Women’s Day, we hear from the UAE women’s cricket captain as the Women’s Asia Cup gets underway in Dubai.

We also ask whether getting rid of homework could actually help younger children learn, and meet the Australian scientists developing cyborg cockroaches that could one day save lives in disaster zones.

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It’s back to school across the UAE from next week, and Dubai’s education sector is getting even bigger. 

We look at 26 new private education institutions opening this academic year, including Harrow Dubai, and ask the KHDA whether there are enough pupils to fill nearly 17,000 new school places, and what it all means for affordability.

Plus, will changes made by the RTA to roads around Dubai schools make the school run easier? And what will it cost to fill children’s lunchboxes this year?

We also ask whether influencers can get a new generation excited about art, and why Hollywood is so obsessed with bringing back the films we loved decades ago.

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We give you the lowdown about the shared housing law that comes into force today with property and construction lawyer Scott Hutton.

We also ask: what happens to the people who rely on cheaper shared accommodation? 

On our back-to-school special, we look at what getting a school bus ready for September actually does involve. Plus, school run carpooling, is this an option you're looking to get for your child? We speak with a Grade 12 student who created Community Carpool, a free platform designed to help people organise shared journeys.

Weight-loss drugs are now raising questions in professional sport. But why?

The ball used when Diego Maradona scored both the “Hand of God” and the “Goal of the Century” against England at the 1986 World Cup has sold for $3.3 million. So how do you put a price on a unique piece of sporting history? 

And now another country is drawing the line between “proper” music and AI-generated songs.

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New Zealand has announced steps toward banning social media for under-16s, with legislation now introduced to Parliament. 

And for parents, there’s a very practical question behind all of this. As children move into secondary school, many start asking for their first phone. So what are schools doing about phones and social media, and what advice are they giving parents? 

On our back-to-school special this week, we speak with the Roads and Transport Authority after it announced a package of measures ahead of the new academic year, including a 30-day inspection campaign of school buses, checking vehicles as well as permits for drivers and attendants. So how ready is Dubai for the return of the school run?  

We also ask: will school lunch boxes be expensive this year?

Hidden or retractable car door handles will soon be illegal on new vehicles sold in China.  

And Apple’s reported plans for camera-equipped AirPods raise questions about how the move fits with the company’s long-standing privacy-first image. 

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Our colleague Kris Fade has warned his followers about an AI-generated deepfake video using his likeness to promote a so-called passive-income scheme. 

If somebody uses your face, voice or identity to promote a scam, what can you actually do about it? 

How do you design an airport where passengers may need to travel kilometres just to get from one part of it to another? 

Dubai's iconic Toyota Building on Sheikh Zayed Road is officially scheduled for demolition next year. So what steps must occur before a building can be demolished? 

Formula One has confirmed that the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix will go ahead as planned this December.

Hundreds of robotics companies have gathered in Beijing for the World Robot Conference, showcasing everything from humanoids that dance and box to robots designed to work in factories, warehouses, shops and care homes. 

For the first time ever, an Olive Ridley turtle has been recorded nesting in Abu Dhabi.

And why are jellyfish plaguing European beaches?

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