How easy is it to find fame and fortune on social media - and do influencers have a responsibility to do good once they reach the top? We are Inside the 1 Billion Followers Summit, hearing from from Logan Moffitt, the Cucumber Guy, and Filipino food star Abi Marquez, aka the Lumpia Queen.
How a sore throat turned into a life-threatening battle with necrotising fasciitis for British expat Mark Brooks.
Meanwhile, Dubai’s new Cycling Pass - a push for active lifestyles and tourism linking nine cycling routes across the emirate.
Plus, Leonardo da Vinci’s DNA, could new scientific discoveries change how we authenticate historic artworks?
And Katie Chambers breaks down the biggest winners from the Golden Globes update and what they mean for awards season.

How easy is it to find fame and fortune on social media - and do influencers have a responsibility to do good once they reach the top? We are Inside the 1 Billion Followers Summit, hearing from from Logan Moffitt, the Cucumber Guy, and Filipino food star Abi Marquez, aka the Lumpia Queen. How a sore throat turned into a life-threatening battle with necrotising fasciitis for British expat Mark Brooks. Meanwhile, Dubai&rsquo;s new Cycling Pass - a push for active lifestyles and tourism linking nine cycling routes across the emirate. Plus, Leonardo da Vinci&rsquo;s DNA, could new scientific discoveries change how we authenticate historic artworks? And Katie Chambers breaks down the biggest winners from the Golden Globes update and what they mean for awards season.

The Agenda is your go-to programme for news, analysis and comment - a daily digest of local and international stories that matter to you. Broadcasting every weekday, Georgia Tolley goes beyond the headlines to speak to government ministers, decision makers, analysts and local experts to find out how the news will impact those of us living in the UAE.
From Covid-19, to climate change and community issues, The Agenda covers stories from every walk of life, so get in touch with us and tell us your news.

The Agenda is your go-to programme for news, analysis and comment - a daily digest of local and international stories that matter to you. Broadcasting every weekday, Georgia Tolley goes beyond the headlines to speak to government ministers, decision makers, analysts and local experts to find out how the news will impact those of us living in the UAE. From Covid-19, to climate change and community issues, The Agenda covers stories from every walk of life, so get in touch with us and tell us your news.

The Agenda

Imagine if you have had 10 million followers? 

Speaking at the World Governments Summit in Dubai, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has announced that his government plans to ban children under 16 from accessing

social media platforms. We hear the take of Dr Alison Burrows, Professor of Education and Childhood Studies at Middlesex University Dubai.

The RTA is preparing to launch a new autonomous automated transit network in a move aimed at easing congestion and improving mobility across key areas of the city. Ahmed Bahrozyan, Chief Executive Officer of the Public Transport Agency at the RTA, gives us more details.

A radical new competition is allowing the use of performance enhancing drugs.

China has just become the first country in the world to ban hidden or retractable car door handles. Why? Safety. According to China’s new rules, hidden handles can delay emergency rescues and risk malfunctioning in accidents or extreme weather.

A brand-new Gallup report, that has just been released at the World Governments Economy Summit, being held here in Dubai this week, asked people in 107 countries to name the single biggest problem facing their nation. And the number one answer, across continents, cultures and income levels? The economy.

We're also asking today: what makes a high-performing city also a high-stress one? And how can we learn to live, work, and age better?

When we talk about climate action, we tend to focus on energy, infrastructure, or policy. But what about culture? H.E. Shatha Al Mulla, Assistant Undersecretary for the National Identity and Arts Sector joins us.

The UAE's been keen to improve its carbon footprint for years now, and two years ago it began an initiative called The Dubai Reef. We find out what it has achieved so far.

And a remarkable advancement in the treatment of epilepsy is now available in the region.

 

Speaking at the World Governments Summit in Dubai, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has announced that his government plans to ban children under 16 from accessing
social media platforms. We hear the take&nbsp;of Dr Alison Burrows, Professor of Education and Childhood Studies at Middlesex&nbsp;University Dubai.
The RTA is preparing to launch a new autonomous automated transit network in a move aimed at easing congestion and improving mobility across key areas of the city. Ahmed Bahrozyan, Chief Executive Officer of the Public Transport Agency at the RTA, gives us more details.
A radical new competition is allowing the use of performance enhancing drugs.
China has just become the first country in the world to ban hidden or retractable car door handles. Why? Safety. According to China&rsquo;s new rules, hidden handles can delay emergency rescues and risk malfunctioning in accidents or extreme weather.
A brand-new Gallup report, that has just been released at the World Governments Economy Summit, being held here in Dubai this week, asked people in 107 countries to name the single biggest problem facing their nation. And the number one answer, across continents, cultures and income levels? The economy.
We're also asking today: what makes a high-performing city also a high-stress one? And how can we learn to live, work, and age better?
When we talk about climate action, we tend to focus on energy, infrastructure, or policy. But what about culture? H.E. Shatha Al Mulla, Assistant Undersecretary for the National Identity and Arts Sector joins us.
The UAE's been keen to improve its carbon footprint for years now, and two years ago it began an initiative called The Dubai Reef. We find out what it has achieved so far.
And&nbsp;a remarkable advancement in the treatment of epilepsy is now available in the region.
&nbsp;

Another country is planning to ban social media for under 16s

For the first time in 10 years, WhichSchoolAdvisor, the region’s leading independent school review site, is including traffic conditions in its annual parent survey. It's a small change that signals a pretty big shift in how families are thinking about education in the UAE. We're joined by the co-founder of WhichSchoolAdvisor James Mullan to give us more details.

Two principals also joined the discussion on what their schools are doing to tackle the traffic issue.

The full passenger route map for the UAE’s long-awaited Etihad Rail has been revealed. So is this a game-changer for commuters and tourism? 

From today, it is now mandatory to register your cats and dogs with the Abu Dhabi authorities.

Last week, a loud sonic boom shook homes in California after a Chinese spacecraft crashing back to Earth. But while the debris burned through the atmosphere, something else happened and the shockwaves were picked up by earthquake sensors.

And there are reports that Apple is secretly working on a brand new device... could this be the beginning of the end for the smartphone?

 

 

For the first time in 10 years, WhichSchoolAdvisor, the region&rsquo;s leading independent school review site, is including traffic conditions in its annual parent survey. It's a&nbsp;small change that signals a pretty big shift in how families are thinking about education in the UAE. We're joined by the co-founder of WhichSchoolAdvisor James Mullan to give us more details.
Two principals also joined the discussion on what their schools are doing to tackle the traffic issue.
The full passenger route map for the UAE&rsquo;s long-awaited Etihad Rail has been revealed. So is this a game-changer for commuters and tourism?&nbsp;
From today, it is now mandatory to register your cats and dogs with the Abu Dhabi authorities.
Last week, a loud sonic boom shook homes in California after a Chinese spacecraft crashing back to Earth. But while the debris burned through the atmosphere, something else happened and the shockwaves were picked up by earthquake sensors.
And there are reports that Apple is secretly working on a brand new device... could this be the beginning of the end for the smartphone?
&nbsp;
&nbsp;

Does traffic decide where your kids go to school?

A company that has just opened their regional office in Dubai isn’t hiring junior staff at all. Just C-Suite leaders. Why? Because they believe artificial intelligence can handle the rest. We speak to Heroiks. Then if AI is becoming the new junior staff, what does that mean for HR policies? We pose the question to employment lawyer Luke Tapp.

Is Jarvis real now? When one company tried to bring Ironman’s Jarvis to life, things got weird. Moltbot was a premium AI home assistant designed to automate repetitive digital tasks on a user’s computer like reading and replying to emails, sorting files, or running terminal commands. But suddenly it started thinking for itself.

We often talk about Ramadan as the “golden quarter” for marketers. But a new report is challenging that narrative. According to fresh research, it’s not just one big commercial spike, it’s a rhythm. A series of evolving influence moments, shaped by how people live, give, and gather during the Holy Month.

Between 10pm and 4am, online activity surges. That’s when people are watching, browsing, and crucially, shopping. So what does that mean for retailers, platforms, and logistics? And how do you serve customers who are most active after midnight?

And meet two Filipino longboarders who have just completed a non-stop, four-hour longboarding journey from Dubai all the way to Abu Dhabi. 

A company that has just opened their regional office in Dubai isn&rsquo;t hiring junior staff at all. Just C-Suite leaders. Why? Because they believe artificial intelligence can&nbsp;handle the rest. We speak to Heroiks. Then if AI is becoming the new junior staff, what does that mean for HR policies? We pose the question to employment lawyer Luke Tapp.
Is Jarvis real now? When one company tried to bring Ironman&rsquo;s Jarvis to life, things got weird. Moltbot was a premium AI home assistant designed to automate repetitive digital tasks on a user&rsquo;s computer like reading and replying to emails, sorting files, or running terminal commands. But suddenly it started thinking for itself.
We often talk about Ramadan as the &ldquo;golden quarter&rdquo; for marketers. But a new report is challenging that narrative. According to fresh research, it&rsquo;s not just one big commercial&nbsp;spike, it&rsquo;s a rhythm. A series of evolving influence moments, shaped by how people live, give, and gather during the Holy Month.
Between 10pm and 4am, online activity surges. That&rsquo;s when people are watching, browsing, and crucially, shopping. So what does that mean for retailers, platforms, and&nbsp;logistics? And how do you serve customers who are most active after midnight?
And meet two Filipino longboarders who have just completed a non-stop, four-hour longboarding journey from Dubai all the way to Abu Dhabi.&nbsp;

Imagine if you have had 10 million followers?

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