Author: dailyguardian.ae

US manufacturing contracted for a third straight month in June as demand remained subdued, while a drop in a measure of prices paid by factories for inputs to a six-month low suggested that inflation could continue to subside. The weakness at the end of the second quarter reported by the Institute for Supply Management on Monday was across the board, with ISM Manufacturing Business Survey Committee Chair Timothy Fiore describing manufacturers as demonstrating “an unwillingness to invest in capital and inventory due to current monetary policy and other conditions.” Manufacturing is being pressured by higher interest rates and softening demand…

Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster got a September 19 release date during the Capcom Next: Summer 2024 showcase this evening. Capcom showed up strong across this summer’s live streams with games like Monster Hunter Wilds, Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess, and Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics, which is why it was surprising when Capcom announced Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster out of the blue on June 26. The teaser was scarce with information, simply confirming the remaster’s existence and showing off a redesigned version of protagonist Frank West. Capcom told fans to tune into this Capcom Next showcase to learn…

Demand for travel now, pay later – a concept similar to ‘buy now, pay later’ (BNPL) – is growing among UAE travellers, especially to those travelling to long-haul and more expensive destinations. During the long school summer break, many UAE residents travel abroad with their families to destinations with cooler weather. Summer is a peak outbound travel season, so it’s no wonder that airfares to all the major tourist destinations across Western and Eastern Europe and the Far East are at an all-time high. This prompts many families in the country to opt for travel now, pay later options that…

Taliban authorities were told women must be included in public life, UN Under-Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo said on Monday as she defended a decision to sideline civil society groups at official talks in Doha. Rights organisations have strongly criticised the controversial UN move to exclude the groups, including women’s rights activists, from the two-day summit on Afghanistan as the price for the Taliban government’s participation. “Authorities will not sit across the table with Afghan civil society in this format, but they have heard very clearly the need to include women and civil society in all aspects of public life”, DiCarlo told…

A proposed strike next week at Tata Steel UK’s sprawling Port Talbot steelworks in south Wales has been called off, unions said Monday, citing a resumption of talks with management. The Indian-owned giant plans to start shutting the first furnace at the UK’s biggest steelworks soon and the second by the end of 2024 under the overhaul, as it transitions to greener production. The Unite trade union had announced in response that Tata staff would begin an indefinite strike from July 8 in protest over the job-slashing plans — but this has now been suspended. Britain’s main opposition Labour party,…

Jan Vertonghen’s late own goal took France into the quarterfinals of Euro 2024 on Monday as they edged Belgium 1-0 in a tense tie in Duesseldorf. France had dominated the last-16 clash but their profligate finishing looked set to force extra time until they finally found a way through with five minutes left. Substitute Randal Kolo Muani collected the ball inside the Belgian penalty area and hit a shot that was going wide until a deflection off the unfortunate Vertonghen took it past goalkeeper Koen Casteels. The lucky break sent the 2022 World Cup runners-up into a last-eight tie in…

NASA’s Mars Odyssey Orbiter is one of seven currently circling the red planet (three of them belonging to NASA), capturing imagery and performing tasks from way up to help scientists learn more about the fourth planet from the sun. On Sunday, the Mars Odyssey Orbiter completed 100,000 orbits since arriving at the distant rock 23 years ago. “During that time, the 2001 Mars Odyssey orbiter has been mapping minerals and ice across the Martian surface, identifying landing sites for future missions, and relaying data to Earth from NASA’s rovers and landers,” NASA said in a post on its website marking…

In a startling trend, adults, much like their younger counterparts, have become reliant on smartphones, tablets and other screens to occupy their attention. This is seen even during the most basic of activities, such as mealtimes. This behaviour, often dubbed the ‘iPad kid’ phenomenon, has experts concerned about the detrimental effects it can have on mental health and overall well-being. Whether these individuals are on social media apps, watching comfort shows, or playing video games, they have one thing in common — a sense of disconnection. Experts warn that the mindless consumption of food while absorbed in screens can contribute…

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa announced his new government on Sunday with the former opposition parties getting 12 out of 32 portfolios after the ruling ANC lost its outright parliamentary majority. The African National Congress (ANC), which has governed the country since the advent of democracy in 1994, kept 20 out of 32 cabinet positions. They included key ministries such as foreign affairs, finance, defence, justice and police. A statement from the party welcomed the President’s announcement as “an important step forward and a testament to the resilience of our democracy”. The largest coalition partner, the Democratic Alliance (DA), will…

Freshworks Inc has announced the launch of its new data centre, powered by Amazon Web Services (AWS), in the UAE. This underscores Freshworks’ commitment to driving innovation across the Middle East and Africa (MEA) by making it easier for businesses to harness the full power of its modern, AI-powered customer and employee service solutions. “We are thrilled to further strengthen our presence in MEA with the new data centre in UAE,” said Abe Smith, Chief of Global Field Operations at Freshworks. “This investment demonstrates our dedication to supporting the growth and digital transformation of businesses in the region. With our…