There is growing evidence that smart devices are being used to harrass and monitor individuals. Does that put you off using your Alexa?

There is growing evidence that smart devices are being used to harrass and monitor individuals. Does that put you off using your Alexa?

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

Is your Alexa out to get you? Yes

On our monthly Consumer Hour with the Dubai Corporation for Consumer Protection and Fair Trade (DCCPFT), we're looking at scams, specifically the ones designed to look completely legitimate. One of the most common right now is fake insurance offers, policies sold at a fraction of the normal price, sometimes even with official-looking documents, that turn out to be worthless the moment you actually need to make a claim. 

The government's been cracking down on fake Emiratisation, the Ministry of Human Resources & Emiratisation (MoHRE) uncovered 377 cases across 266 companies this year, businesses hiring Emirati nationals on paper without giving them real roles. So what does it look like when a company actually gets this right? 

Spain has had a brutal wildfire season, with more than 265,000 hectares of forest burnt by mid-August and 42 large fires recorded. Now a solar-powered aircraft from the UAE is helping keep watch. 

And why do dogs listen more to consonant sounds that vowels?

On our monthly Consumer Hour with the Dubai Corporation for Consumer Protection and Fair Trade (DCCPFT), we're looking at scams, specifically the ones designed to look completely legitimate. One of the most common right now is fake insurance offers, policies sold at a fraction of the normal price, sometimes even with official-looking documents, that turn out to be worthless the moment you actually need to make a claim.&nbsp;
The government's been cracking down on fake Emiratisation, the Ministry of Human Resources &amp; Emiratisation (MoHRE) uncovered 377 cases across 266 companies this year, businesses hiring Emirati nationals on paper without giving them real roles. So what does it look like when a company actually gets this right?&nbsp;
Spain has had a brutal wildfire season, with more than 265,000 hectares of forest burnt by mid-August and 42 large fires recorded. Now a solar-powered aircraft from the UAE is helping keep watch.&nbsp;
And why do dogs listen more to consonant sounds that vowels?

Spotting fake insurance offers

A Dubai teenager is turning a conversation with an exhausted delivery rider into a business idea with a social conscience, launching a low-cost rehydration product for outdoor workers.

CBSE Class 12 students in the UAE whose board exams were disrupted earlier this year now have another chance to sit those papers. But after a gap of more than six months, should they take it? We get advice from a headteacher.

We also look ahead to the launch of Etihad Rail’s Dubai passenger station next week, turning the spotlight on Fujairah. Could better rail links bring a new wave of tourists, investment and opportunities for local businesses?

Abu Dhabi is officially the Middle East’s leading city for artificial intelligence - and one of the best places in the world to build an AI industry. A new global index ranks the capital 11th in the world, so what is Abu Dhabi getting right, and what would it take to break into the global top ten?

Meanwhile, when was the last time you picked up a book? A reading caravan will travel across the UAE to encourage both children and adults to get back into literature.

And scarlet macaws are deliberately allowing some of their youngest chicks to starve. Scientists are now stepping in, taking the abandoned babies and placing them with foster parents.

A Dubai teenager is turning a conversation with an exhausted delivery rider into a business idea with a social conscience, launching a low-cost rehydration product for outdoor workers.
CBSE Class 12 students in the UAE whose board exams were disrupted earlier this year now have another chance to sit those papers. But after a gap of more than six months, should they take it? We get advice from a headteacher.
We also look ahead to the launch of Etihad Rail&rsquo;s Dubai passenger station next week, turning the spotlight on Fujairah. Could better rail links bring a new wave of tourists, investment and opportunities for local businesses?
Abu Dhabi is officially the Middle East&rsquo;s leading city for artificial intelligence - and one of the best places in the world to build an AI industry. A new global index ranks the capital 11th in the world, so what is Abu Dhabi getting right, and what would it take to break into the global top ten?
Meanwhile, when was the last time you picked up a book? A reading caravan will travel across the UAE to encourage both children and adults to get back into literature.
And scarlet macaws are deliberately allowing some of their youngest chicks to starve. Scientists are now stepping in, taking the abandoned babies and placing them with foster parents.

Dubai teenager tackles worker dehydration

The passenger train from Dubai to Abu Dhabi starts running next week, and we now know how much a ticket will cost. The Agenda's Katie Chambers has everything you need to know about the UAE's new commuter service.

We're also putting the spotlight on Al Ain, as the city looks to establish itself as a business centre in its own right - attracting major international companies and investing in new industries. But what can Al Ain offer that Abu Dhabi and Dubai don't? What role will its universities play in that growth? And what's it actually like to build a technology company there?

Remember the AI trend a couple of weeks ago, when we all turned ourselves into 1980s versions of ourselves - big hair, shoulder pads and questionable fashion choices included? If you tried it, did you think about the environmental footprint of your request? Should we be considering the climate every time we use ChatGPT?

Meanwhile, forget crisps or a fizzy drink - a new machine popping up around Dubai is dispensing something rather different: your next book. We'll find out how you can get involved.

And could watching the sunset actually be good for you? Research suggests those few minutes of changing light can trigger a powerful sense of awe, with some surprising benefits for our wellbeing.

The passenger train from Dubai to Abu Dhabi starts running next week, and we now know how much a ticket will cost. The Agenda's Katie Chambers has everything you need to know about the UAE's new commuter service.
We're also putting the spotlight on Al Ain, as the city looks to establish itself as a business centre in its own right - attracting major international companies and investing in new industries. But what can Al Ain offer that Abu Dhabi and Dubai don't? What role will its universities play in that growth? And what's it actually like to build a technology company there?
Remember the AI trend a couple of weeks ago, when we all turned ourselves into 1980s versions of ourselves - big hair, shoulder pads and questionable fashion choices included? If you tried it, did you think about the environmental footprint of your request? Should we be considering the climate every time we use ChatGPT?
Meanwhile, forget crisps or a fizzy drink - a new machine popping up around Dubai is dispensing something rather different: your next book. We'll find out how you can get involved.
And could watching the sunset actually be good for you? Research suggests those few minutes of changing light can trigger a powerful sense of awe, with some surprising benefits for our wellbeing.

Is your Alexa out to get you? Yes

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