Microsoft is struggling to fix a global outage affecting its services in 74 countries, including the UAE. Teams, Outlook and the Copilot AI software are hit. The tech giant says the outage was not caused by a cyber-security incident, but its attempts to fix the issue are not “taking as expected”. Are you affected? We speak to a tech expert about what’s going on.

Nine months into the conflict with Iran, disruption to fertiliser supplies is raising concerns about global food production. With major planting seasons under way, could we see food shortages and higher prices next year?

Robot boats are being deployed to hunt for sea mines, searching dangerous waters without putting sailors at risk. We find out how they work, and how AI could make them autonomous.

Desert camping season is back in the UAE, but with litter piling up at popular spots, campaigners are urging visitors to leave no trace.

Could the homes of the future be built from rice waste? A US company is turning discarded rice husks into building panels. Is it the next big thing in sustainable construction?

And fancy having a Dubai park named after your own idea? Dubai Municipality is inviting residents to help name one of the city’s parks, with cash prizes up for grabs. How does the competition work, and what makes a winning name?