Author: dailyguardian.ae

A taxi platform that utilises an auction-based pricing model has been licensed to operate in Dubai. This model removes the commission process, which contributes to “lower prices for riders and higher incomes for drivers”. Drife, which is touted to be the UAE’s first decentralised ride hailing platform, gives users the option to choose their fares from multiple drivers. For any given ride, a minimum fare is set which is typically 30 per cent higher than standard fares as per Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) regulations. Drivers have the option to offer discounts, maintain the ride’s standard fare, or request a…

NASA’s Mars rover, Perseverance, has captured an image (above) showing the final resting place of the damaged Mars helicopter, Ingenuity. Perseverance took the picture on February 4, nearly two weeks after NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) confirmed that Ingenuity had completed its 72nd and final flight on the red planet. During that flight on January 18, Ingenuity suffered irreparable damage to a rotor blade, leaving the 4-pound- 19-inch-tall aircraft grounded for good. In the image captured by Perseverance, we can see Ingenuity in the far distance, alone on a dune, while in the foreground a variety of rocks dot the…

Britain’s King Charles has been diagnosed with a form of cancer and will postpone public-facing duties, Buckingham Palace said in a statement on Monday. The full text of the statement is below: “During The King’s recent hospital procedure for benign prostate enlargement, a separate issue of concern was noted. Subsequent diagnostic tests have identified a form of cancer. “His Majesty has today commenced a schedule of regular treatments, during which time he has been advised by doctors to postpone public-facing duties. Throughout this period, His Majesty will continue to undertake State business and official paperwork as usual. “The King is…

Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez will be sidelined for eight weeks with a knee injury sustained in Sunday’s 3-0 home win over West Ham United, the club said on Monday. The Argentina international left the field in the 71st minute after suffering the problem when West Ham full back Vladimir Coufal fell on his knee after a challenge. “Lisandro Martinez has sustained an injury to the medial collateral ligament in his knee and is expected to be out of action for at least eight weeks,” United said in a statement. Martinez was missing for nearly four months earlier this season…

February marks the arrival of new TV shows and movies to Hulu. Fans of The Twilight Saga will be happy to learn that all five movies are now on Hulu. Eat Pray Love, Mr. & Mrs. Smith, Valentine’s Day, The 40-Year-Old Virgin, and 500 Days of Summer are some of the other high-profile releases on the streamer. Beyond the popular movies, there are hidden gems that are very entertaining. We selected three underrated movies to watch on Hulu in February. Our picks include an underseen thriller with a killer lion, a cult film from the 2000s, and a long-awaited reunion between two…

Yemen’s internationally-recognised government named foreign minister Ahmed Awad bin Mubarak as the new prime minister on Monday in a surprise appointment that analysts say will likely anger the country’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels. Bin Mubarak replaces Maeen Abdulmalik Saeed at a time of rising tensions in the Arabian Peninsula’s poorest country following a spate of Red Sea attacks by Houthi rebels which have prompted retaliatory strikes by the Unites States and Britain. A decree issued by Yemen’s presidential council and carried by the official Saba news agency announced bin Mubarak’s appointment as premier and assigned the outgoing prime minister to the…

For start-ups and entrepreneurs attending the 7th annual Sharjah Entrepreneurship Festival (SEF), the insights regarding what venture capitalists (VCs) look for in emerging businesses provided a treasure trove of actionable knowledge. Through various panel discussions and talks with world-renowned industry leaders, light was cast on the path to successful funding, providing expert advice on how to secure capital as well as the need for guidance, mentorship, and strategic partnerships. Start-ups should focus not just on presenting innovative solutions but on demonstrating a clear market need, an expert said at the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Festival (SEF) on Monday. Walid Mansour, with a…

Sri Lanka beat Afghanistan by 10 wickets, ending the one-off Test match in Colombo a day early on Monday. Dhananjaya de Silva, who was appointed as Sri Lanka’s Test skipper in January, made a winning start to his captaincy, as spinner Prabath Jayasuriya took eight wickets in a player-of-the-match performance. Afghanistan were all out for 198 in their first innings after being put in to bat first by the hosts, with only Rahmat Shah (91) having some success against Vishwa Fernando (4-51), Asitha Fernando (3-24) and Jayasuriya (3-67). Sri Lanka posted 439 in reply, as former captain Dimuth Karunaratne set…

We are drowning in early Apple Vision Pro takes. Many from those who have actually used it. Probably more from those who have not yet done so. I will now add to that latter pile. I have no doubt that Apple Vision Pro is a remarkable product. It would not surprise me in the slightest if we all look back 10 years from now and say, “Yep, Apple didn’t do it first. But it did it best, and look at how far it’s brought that category.” And there’s been plenty of noise about whether Apple Vision Pro can replace your…

International Holding Company (IHC), a leading investment conglomerate based in Abu Dhabi, said its preliminary net profit for the year ended December 31, 2023, stood at Dh32.748 billion The Group’s Preliminary Revenue soared to Dh60.089 billion, marking an 18 per cent increase from the previous year’s Dh50.946 billion. This significant revenue growth is attributed to the company’s strategic acquisitions and the enhanced financial performance of its existing businesses, aligning with the management’s strategic vision for the Group. Earnings per Share (EPS) saw a substantial rise, more than doubling from Dh6.81 to Dh12.36, reflecting the company’s strong profitability and the value…