In reference to the report Fears of return to war in Gaza as hundreds killed in Israeli strikes (March 18): It is tragic that fighting has restarted in the Gaza strip and over 400 people have been killed. I thought that with the ceasefire in place, at least one conflict in the world was coming to an end. Unfortunately not, and that I find very sad indeed. Ordinary people will be sacrificed again, to the vanity of some leaders.
Rajendra Aneja, Dubai
Lammy singing a different tune
In regard to Damien McElroy's report Lammy backtracks on claim Israel broke international law in Gaza (March 19): We need more people in positions of power and authority to stand up to their values. And not abandon international human rights laws. Sadly some people just cave.
Wendy Watson, Abu Dhabi
Vape alarms in schools a great idea, mostly
About Tom Evans and Nick Webster's report UAE schools look to crack down on smokers with vape alarms (March 19): This is much needed. Even girls' schools needs this, along with 24/7 cleaning staff in the washroom area, to keep an eye.
Riyam Shaikha, Dubai
I would love for the gyms to implement this as I have seen people vaping in gyms while other people are trying to exercise in a vape-free environment.
Adriana Alfaro, Abu Dhabi
The idea is good. I'm wary though that kids will just figure out some way to damage or block the detector.
M Jennings, Dubai
Brilliant idea. Although, they may not do it in school for fear of being caught, they might still vape outside.
Saifullah Azeem, Sydney, Australia
ChatGPT vs Sadhguru: a download contest
With regard to Ramola Talwar Badam's article Indian yogi Sadhguru’s free meditation app beats ChatGPT for first million downloads (March 15): Interesting. Something to bear in mind, however, is that one million represents only about 0.07 per cent of the total Indian population.
Yasser Bin Mohmad, Sharjah
Human achievement in space
With regard to Nivriti Butalia's piece They’re back on Earth, but what Nasa astronauts went through still leaves me star-struck (March 19): People around the world were eagerly awaiting their return, and while books, podcasts, and videos capturing their journey are important, the real significance lies in the remarkable tasks and experiences the astronauts underwent. Their contributions to space exploration should be celebrated. They should be honoured for their incredible adventure and for pushing the boundaries of human achievement in space.
K Ragavan, Bengaluru, India
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."
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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.
