Author: dailyguardian.ae

Sharjah’s 12 iconic landmarks will be illuminated during the 13th Sharjah Light Festival (SLF), which is set to commence from February 7 to 18. The festival will feature more than 15 spectacular light shows meticulously crafted by over international artists, unfolding over 12 consecutive days across 12 key locations. The shows start from 6pm until 11pm, except on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, where the shows continue until midnight. The prominent event, which is being organised by the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA), promises to adorn the emirate’s most iconic cultural and natural landmarks with mesmerising artistic displays conceived…

Pakistan and Afghanistan reopened a key trade crossing on Tuesday, officials on both sides said, after a row over travel papers as Islamabad cracks down on cross-border movements. The Torkham border closure since 12 January came after Islamabad imposed tighter controls requiring drivers from both sides to have visas and passports — documents many Afghans do not have. Ties between the two countries have increasingly frayed in recent months, with Islamabad accusing the Taliban government of failing to root out militants staging attacks in Pakistan from their soil. Kabul has always rejected the allegations. A Pakistan border official, who asked…

US Open champion Coco Gauff came through a huge test at the hands of Ukrainian world number 37 Marta Kostyuk 7-6(6) 6-7(3) 6-2 to reach the semifinals of the Australian Open for the first time on Tuesday. The fourth-seeded American will rarely play as badly and still progress but prevailed after more than three hours on a blistering hot Rod Laver Arena to fulfil her coach Brad Gilbert’s famous maxim by “Winning Ugly”. “I’m really proud of the fight I showed today, Marta’s a tough opponent, every time we play it’s a tough match,” she said. “Yeah, I really fought…

Retail and Consumer Businesses Should Embrace an ‘Ecosystem Approach’ to Tap into a Potential $1tn Revenue Pool in MENA – Oliver Wyman Dubai, January 22, 2024 – Oliver Wyman, a global management consulting firm and a business of Marsh McLennan (NYSE: MMC), has bolstered its practice focused on Retail & Consumer Goods (RCG) in the India, Middle East, and Africa region, combining Oliver Wyman’s global expertise in transformation, development of retail solutions, and more with extensive local experience to provide strategic guidance to retail and consumer businesses aiming to transform and grow. Oliver Wyman experts note that the retail industry is…

Whether you’re embarrassed by your voice, want to stay more anonymous, or just want to prank a friend, voice-changing apps for Android and iOS smart phones are the way to go. They can make you sound like anything from a tinny chipmunk to an alien, or even have more fine-tuned controls to make your voice deeper or higher-pitched, depending on your preference. To get started with any of these apps, we recommend reading this article on your smartphone. When you see an app you’re interested in, we’ve provided links directly to the store page for that item. What’s better is…

A French journalist said on Tuesday she was facing expulsion from India after two decades for what authorities have termed “malicious and critical” reportage, days before a state visit by President Emmanuel Macron. Critics say that press freedom in the world’s biggest democracy is increasingly under attack, with journalists who touch on sensitive topics often subjected to government rebuke. The latest is Vanessa Dougnac, a contributor to several French-language publications including the weekly magazine Le Point, who has been based in India for 22 years. Last week the home ministry sent a notice to the reporter saying her work was…

The year 2024 is marked to be the year of completing the expansion of Aksum Group licensed to operate in two countries: UAE and Uzbekistan In a significant announcement, the management of Aksum Group has revealed its participation in the World Police Summit scheduled for March 2024. This commitment underscores the steadfast support of the Dubai Police and signals the continuous engagement of Aksum Marine in this global law enforcement initiative. This marks another year of active involvement in the prestigious event, solidifying Aksum Marine’s position not only as a regular exhibitor but also as a steadfast sponsor of the…

Aur Bano Manto, was a regular snide remark that Pakistani artiste, script writer and filmmaker Sarmad Khoosat has heard all his life for the admiration he had for the legendary writer Saadat Hasan Manto (1912-1955). Though his films have been lapped up by the diaspora all over the world, he has faced brickbats and won accolades equally. Quite like Manto’s life, ridden with backlashes from a regimented world, Khoosat has braved the tide of change in Pakistani content and made a niche for himself, albeit slowly and certainly. He made his mark on the celluloid when he directed Manto in…

Optimistic on growth and the impact of AI, Middle East CEOs recognise the urgent need to reinvent their businesses, reveals PwC’s latest survey Optimism: Nearly three-quarters (73%) of CEOs in the Middle East, and 81% of GCC CEOs, expect regional economic growth to improve in the coming year, far outpacing their global counterparts (44%). Resilience: Geopolitical conflict is one of the primary concerns for regional CEOs, along with inflation, and cyber security threats. Reinvention: 48% of regional leaders believe that their company won’t be viable in 10 years if they continue on their current path. Generative AI: 73% of CEOs…

The Samsung Galaxy S24 may not be a seismic shift, but it has allowed Samsung to make some strong improvements to an already solid formula. One of the biggest comes to the display, which has increased in size to 6.2 inches, but crucially, now comes with a dynamic refresh rate that shifts between 1-120Hz. While not a tangible change on the level of the new Galaxy AI features, this improvement brings the phone up to the level of the ultra-flagship Galaxy S24 Ultra, and makes it a very tasty morsel indeed. But a gorgeous screen is only gorgeous if it…