Enterprising women
Voted by Forbes magazine as one of the most 100 Powerful Women, Adrianna Huffington, the editor and co-founder of The Huffington Post, knows a thing or two about being a female entrepreneur; her dynamic news website is now worth an estimated US$100 million. We're impressed! Women it seems are not only delivering exceptional results in the corporate world but also flying the flag for entrepreneurship. Two UAE-based women, Claire Fenner and Georgie Hearson, are kindred high achievers; they set up Heels & Deals in 2009 and their organisation has become a well-known social media network for women entrepreneurs both online and off. Whether you want to share tips, brainstorm ideas or do deals, their networking and information events are not to be missed. Members and non-members are welcome to their next event, "Increase your efficiency", with Microsoft on May 22 at the Media Rotana Hotel, TECOM, Al Barsha, Dubai. See you there.
www.heelsanddeals.org
Business not as usual
We all know that sitting hunched in a chair all day is bad for us. But with so many employees and their bosses getting schooled in ergonomics, many interior designers are taking up the challenge of rethinking the office. In a quest to enhance productivity and workers' well-being, the designers Luke Pearson and Tom Lloyd have created a line of innovative and funky multifunctional work spaces. The Toguna, or "the world's smallest conference room", gets its name from Mali in West Africa, where it's a gathering place for village elders to make their decisions. For your office, it's the latest design in free-standing work space. Acoustically screened (the daily updates of Tim from HR's social life being blared across the office will be a thing of the past), the Toguna is a space for brainstorming, short meetings or discussions that require intense concentration. Sitting not required.
Toguna, Dh63,378, Bene AG - Middle East Branch, Dubai Airport Free Zone, Building 4E, Office 4A-711, 04 204 5722, www.bene.com
Bling it on
Make a theatrical statement in the boardroom with this USB stick adorned with crystals. It's elegant, functional and oh so fabulous; what more is there to say?
Jake and Gigi USB stick, Dh1,500, available at S*uce The Village Mall, 04 344 7270
Walk this way
If there's one item that lets you really flex your corporate fashion muscles, it's a pair of fabulous shoes. Whether you opt for sensible flats or leg-lengthening, hip-wiggling stilettos, a pair of serious shoes can make almost any outfit. Try these leopard print patent heels by the inimitable Jimmy Choo for a walk with purpose.
Dh2,900, Jimmy Choo, Dubai Mall, 04 339 8925, and elsewhere
Empower dressing
Cue a collective cheer of excitement from women throughout the UAE as the new Tom Ford Womenswear collection has arrived in Dubai. We all remember the gorgeous Julianne Moore, Lauren Hutton and Beyoncé Knowles strutting their stuff during last September's New York Fashion Week as they donned Ford's flagship creations. Now you too can emblazon the on-duty glam look with the exquisitely crafted, ready-to-wear pieces. We love the tailored separates, day and evening suits and the cocktail and shimmering evening wear. We'll be working the room in no time.
Tom Ford boutique, Dubai Mall, 04 330 8300
Website of the Week
Whether you want to go hiking in the Himalayas, experience an African safari or take a spa break in Thailand, this fantastic women's online travel community is just the ticket. Designed to help women share experiences, be inspired and connect with travel buddies both online and in person, there's no excuse not to pack a bag, partner up and hit the road.
www.thelmandlouise.com
Good enough for Wintour
We all know that the best personal organisers are tall, handsome and look like George Clooney. But if George isn't available, call Johnny Depp immediately or snap up this chic organiser by Louis Vuitton. Thanks to Anna Wintour, who was spotted last year writing in a leather-bound organiser in the front row at a Stella McCartney show, you can forget your iPhone. The Eighties take on the Filofax is in full stylish revival.
Dh1,400, Louis Vuitton, available at Marina Mall, 02 681 2166, and elsewhere
ICC men's cricketer of the year
2004 - Rahul Dravid (IND) ; 2005 - Jacques Kallis (SA) and Andrew Flintoff (ENG); 2006 - Ricky Ponting (AUS); 2007 - Ricky Ponting; 2008 - Shivnarine Chanderpaul (WI); 2009 - Mitchell Johnson (AUS); 2010 - Sachin Tendulkar (IND); 2011 - Jonathan Trott (ENG); 2012 - Kumar Sangakkara (SL); 2013 - Michael Clarke (AUS); 2014 - Mitchell Johnson; 2015 - Steve Smith (AUS); 2016 - Ravichandran Ashwin (IND); 2017 - Virat Kohli (IND); 2018 - Virat Kohli; 2019 - Ben Stokes (ENG); 2021 - Shaheen Afridi
Low turnout
Two months before the first round on April 10, the appetite of voters for the election is low.
Mathieu Gallard, account manager with Ipsos, which conducted the most recent poll, said current forecasts suggested only two-thirds were "very likely" to vote in the first round, compared with a 78 per cent turnout in the 2017 presidential elections.
"It depends on how interesting the campaign is on their main concerns," he told The National. "Just now, it's hard to say who, between Macron and the candidates of the right, would be most affected by a low turnout."
Mental%20health%20support%20in%20the%20UAE
%3Cp%3E%E2%97%8F%20Estijaba%20helpline%3A%208001717%3Cbr%3E%E2%97%8F%20UAE%20Ministry%20of%20Health%20and%20Prevention%20hotline%3A%20045192519%3Cbr%3E%E2%97%8F%20UAE%20Mental%20health%20support%20line%3A%20800%204673%20(Hope)%3Cbr%3EMore%20information%20at%20hope.hw.gov.ae%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
The specs: 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLA
Price, base / as tested Dh150,900 / Dh173,600
Engine 2.0L inline four-cylinder
Transmission Seven-speed automatic
Power 211hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque 350Nm @ 1,200rpm
Fuel economy, combined 6.4L / 100km
How to keep control of your emotions
If your investment decisions are being dictated by emotions such as fear, greed, hope, frustration and boredom, it is time for a rethink, Chris Beauchamp, chief market analyst at online trading platform IG, says.
Greed
Greedy investors trade beyond their means, open more positions than usual or hold on to positions too long to chase an even greater gain. “All too often, they incur a heavy loss and may even wipe out the profit already made.
Tip: Ignore the short-term hype, noise and froth and invest for the long-term plan, based on sound fundamentals.
Fear
The risk of making a loss can cloud decision-making. “This can cause you to close out a position too early, or miss out on a profit by being too afraid to open a trade,” he says.
Tip: Start with a plan, and stick to it. For added security, consider placing stops to reduce any losses and limits to lock in profits.
Hope
While all traders need hope to start trading, excessive optimism can backfire. Too many traders hold on to a losing trade because they believe that it will reverse its trend and become profitable.
Tip: Set realistic goals. Be happy with what you have earned, rather than frustrated by what you could have earned.
Frustration
Traders can get annoyed when the markets have behaved in unexpected ways and generates losses or fails to deliver anticipated gains.
Tip: Accept in advance that asset price movements are completely unpredictable and you will suffer losses at some point. These can be managed, say, by attaching stops and limits to your trades.
Boredom
Too many investors buy and sell because they want something to do. They are trading as entertainment, rather than in the hope of making money. As well as making bad decisions, the extra dealing charges eat into returns.
Tip: Open an online demo account and get your thrills without risking real money.
EMILY%20IN%20PARIS%3A%20SEASON%203
%3Cp%3ECreated%20by%3A%20Darren%20Star%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EStarring%3A%20Lily%20Collins%2C%20Philippine%20Leroy-Beaulieu%2C%20Ashley%20Park%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERating%3A%202.75%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Unresolved crisis
Russia and Ukraine have been locked in a bitter conflict since 2014, when Ukraine’s Kremlin-friendly president was ousted, Moscow annexed Crimea and then backed a separatist insurgency in the east.
Fighting between the Russia-backed rebels and Ukrainian forces has killed more than 14,000 people. In 2015, France and Germany helped broker a peace deal, known as the Minsk agreements, that ended large-scale hostilities but failed to bring a political settlement of the conflict.
The Kremlin has repeatedly accused Kiev of sabotaging the deal, and Ukrainian officials in recent weeks said that implementing it in full would hurt Ukraine.
Tank warfare
Lt Gen Erik Petersen, deputy chief of programs, US Army, has argued it took a “three decade holiday” on modernising tanks.
“There clearly remains a significant armoured heavy ground manoeuvre threat in this world and maintaining a world class armoured force is absolutely vital,” the general said in London last week.
“We are developing next generation capabilities to compete with and deter adversaries to prevent opportunism or miscalculation, and, if necessary, defeat any foe decisively.”
Who was Alfred Nobel?
The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.
- In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
- Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
- Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
