Author: dailyguardian.ae

GCC government spending is expected to continue playing an important role in the near-to-medium term as countries look to achieve their ambitious development, diversification and net-zero targets, a report said. Infrastructure investment: A thematic overview by Emirates NBD Research says that the value of projects (both private and public sector) in execution in the GCC was over $572 billion. Projects are dominated by the construction sector, which accounts for 34 per cent of the value of projects currently in execution. The gas, transport and power sectors follow, with smaller but still significant shares for projects currently in execution. As might…

Ugo Humbert powered back after losing the opening set to defeat Federico Coria 4-6 6-1 6-2 and reach the Monte Carlo Masters second round on Monday, with Grigor Dimitrov, Karen Khachanov and Stefanos Tsitsipas also safely through. Humbert went out in the first round last year to Italian wildcard Lorenzo Sonego and, after losing the first set to Argentine Coria, the French 14th seed looked in trouble again. The 25-year-old overcame the setback though and strolled to win the next two sets, breaking Coria’s serve twice in each set. Karen Khachanov was also made to battle before overcoming Britain’s Cameron…

Nvidia’s next-gen GPUs for gamers might arrive sooner than we expect. According to a recent report, Nvidia’s board partners are gearing up the GeForce RTX 50-series graphics cards, which are expected to hit the market in the fourth quarter. Nvidia is expected to initially focus on the RTX 5090 and the RTX 5080, although we can’t be too sure about these names. If the rumors are true, this approach would mirror Nvidia’s RTX 40 series launch pattern where the RTX 4090 debuted toward the end of 2022, followed shortly by the RTX 4080 a few weeks later. The more affordable…

Abu Dhabi announced housing benefits worth Dh2.18 billion supporting 1,502 citizens across the emirate on Monday. In his capacity as Ruler of Abu Dhabi, President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi has approved the first disbursement of the first housing and benefits package in 2024. The housing benefits package includes housing loans, ready-built houses and residential land grants, totaling more than Dh2.082 billion in value and aiding 1,407 citizens. Additionally, senior citizens, retirees with low incomes, and the families of deceased citizens have been exempted from housing…

In the dystopian sci-fi novel The Circuit of Heaven, the earth is strewn with layers of electronic waste, remnants of a consumerist society obsessed with the latest technological gadgets. Towering piles of discarded electronics form the backdrop of a world where nature has been obliterated by silicon and metal, a stark warning of the unbridled consequences of technological neglect. While our current reality is not as dire as the one depicted in this fictional universe, the surge in adoption of renewable energy sources and electric vehicles (EVs) has led to an increased reliance on batteries. This transition, although beneficial for…

Ravindra Jadeja returned with bowling figures of 3-18 as holders Chennai Super Kings handed Kolkata Knight Riders their first loss of this Indian Premier League season with a seven-wicket hammering on Monday. Jadeja’s disciplined left-arm spin led Chennai’s bowling charge to restrict Kolkata to 137-9, a total the home team overhauled with 14 balls to spare at M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. Two-time winners Kolkata suffered defeat after three straight victories. Skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad led the chase with an unbeaten 67 and a 70-run second-wicket partnership with Daryl Mitchell, who made 25, to make Chennai bounce back from two losses.…

Just about everything regarding the Google Pixel 8a has leaked at this point. We’ve seen high-quality renders of the phone, its specs are everywhere online, and its release date is all but guaranteed. A new Pixel 8a leak appeared online today, and after seeing it, I’m feeling a bit nervous. TechDroider on X (formerly Twitter) shared two hands-on photos of the Pixel 8a today, including pictures of the front and back of the phone. The back of the phone showcases a black color with a matte finish that looks quite good. We also get a clear view of the two…

UAE residents are enjoying the year’s lengthiest holiday as both public and private sector employees get a nine-day Eid Al Fitr break. The official holiday starts on Monday, April 8, but with Saturday and Sundays as weekends, employees will enjoy festivities until Sunday, April 14. Regular working hours would then resume on Monday, April 15. Residents eagerly prepare to celebrate the festival with their loved ones, rushing to purchase last-minute Eidiya gifts as markets and malls bustling with shoppers. Additionally, numerous holidaymakers are embarking on trips to visa-free destinations to enjoy the extended break. But many individuals are avoiding the…

Investment Corporation of Dubai (ICD) and Brookfield Corporation on Monday announced an agreement with Olayan Financing Company and Lunate for the sale of a 49 per cent stake in ICD Brookfield Place (ICDBP), a world-class commercial and retail property located in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC). Upon completion, Lunate, through one of its funds, and Olayan Financing Company will each own a 24.5 per cent equity interest in ICDBP. ICD and Brookfield will retain a combined 51 per cent equity interest, split equally between the two parties. As the largest institutional third-party single asset real estate transaction in the…

Electric cars are slowly but surely getting cheaper. Over the past year or so, Ford and Tesla have been discounting their most popular electric cars while other brands, like Rivian, are laying the groundwork for all-new cheaper models. But you’d still be hard-pressed to call electric cars cheap, and buying a completely new car in the first place is a hurdle in and of itself for many potential buyers. According to Statista, used car sales represented around 74% of all car sales in 2022, and while this figure is likely to change as electric cars get cheaper, the fact remains that…