Of all the motor shows around the globe, Frankfurt is the one the auto industry loves to hate. It sprawls over a corner of the busy German city, so journalists' conversations are, more often than not, about the distance they've walked and the wear on their shoes. It's doubtful that the many celebrities and VIPs in attendance, such as actor and comedian Rowan Atkinson, are making the same complaints, however.
Being Germany's home show, it's the local firms that dominate proceedings. When Smart has a hall as big as that for Fiat, Chrysler, Ferrari, Maserati and Hyundai combined, you know there's going to be some nationalistic showboating. Smart's massive space is effectively a porch for the quite extraordinary split-floor Mercedes stand behind it, which showcases the three-pointed star with over the top fervour. Audi's stand is the main subject for discussion, though. Taking over BMW's previous space, Audi's people started building it in June. With its own track, it's an astonishing space; the structure arguably as interesting as the cars.
Press day is a different entity to when the public are allowed entry, when rope barriers arrive and floor space is crammed not just with the highlights, but with more cars people might actually buy. As ever, the day starts early for us hacks. Already weary attendees wonder whether it was worth late-night shuttle hopping to criss-cross the city to visit the various pre-show unveilings and round-table dinners that provided access to the people behind this automotive circus.
Breakfast with JLR - that's Jaguar Land Rover, a name now formalised and given its own logo - sees the Indian-financed-but-ever-so-British firm in confident mood. Like so few here, sales are on the up and there are two cars sat poised, waiting to be revealed.
Lotus is first though; the 15-minute warning for its press conference booming out so loudly it could wake the other half of Frankfurt the show doesn't occupy. There are no concepts today from Lotus, and an absence of the woeful celebrity endorsement that has defined the company in recent show outings. Dany Bahar, the CEO, mentions that customers had been concerned about the company's direction, like anxious parents watching their rebellious child. He suggests there's no need to worry.
A new Exige suggests that perhaps they should as, although there's the promise of masses more power via a 3.5L V6, it comes with a significant weight penalty - the current "More Lotus then ever" strapline delivering mixed messages here. Still, those waiting for the Esprit will be heartened to know it's on schedule and, in the meantime, they can buy a 444hp Evora GTE instead. It's Lotus's most powerful road car ever and such has been the demand for it, the plan to build just 25 has been binned as orders take up the factory's capacity well into next year.
It's JLR that's the talk of the show, though, with as many gushing with praise for Jaguar's beautiful C-X16 sports car concept as there are scratching their heads over the Land Rover DC100, the concept model signalling a new direction for Land Rover's iconic Defender. Design director Gerry McGovern's speedster-styled, open-roofed take on a lifestyle Defender certainly living up to his statement saying it's "like no Land Rover we've ever seen before". Encouragingly, he promises that the DC100 will be as rugged as the Defender, with an off-road ability to rival even the most dexterous mountain goat. Expect something looking similar to the DC100 in 2015.
It's not the only new 4x4 on show either, with the unlikeliest of firms signalling its intent to get down and dirty. Actually, Maserati's Kubang has been a long time coming, with the Italian firm showing a concept back in 2003.
Ferrari itself has brought along its new 458 Italia Spyder, so its stand is as busy as ever. And not to be outdone, Lamborghini has added yet another model to the Gallardo family - the Lamborghini Gallardo LP 570-4 Super Trofeo Stradale, a name which hardly trips off the tongue. It's quick though, with 100kph arriving in just 3.4 seconds. That's slow compared to the 20 Sesto Elementos Lamborghini is due to build, as the production version of the concept shown in Paris last year is anticipated to reach 100kph from rest in just 2.5 seconds. It'll cost you, though, with an expected Dh10 million sticker price upping the ante in the hyper car stakes.
Small change for some, admittedly, but for the majority, it's the less expensive machinery that will be of interest. Volkswagen has finally revealed its up!, a cool sub-supermini that, always ahead of the game, The National has already driven. Audi is showing an A2 concept alongside a largely revised range and a smattering of hybrids, while BMW's i8 and i3 point to a fast-approaching greener future.
Indeed, it's difficult not to notice the electrification of the motorshow. Hybrids and plug-ins provide transport between the halls, catching many by surprise as they glide around silently. Electric cars are everywhere, with seemingly every manufacturer showing boosted range and performance by hybridisation or going the full-on plug-in route. Audi, VW and GM demonstrate their interpretation of new, urban transport in the guise of single or twin-seated electric mobility with pod-like bodies and outboard wheels. Inner city motoring just got more sci-fi, even if production isn't quite there yet.
Daimler's CEO, Dr Dieter Zetsche, is perhaps the most vocal - of sorts - of the company executives in his rallying cry for electrification. In a rousing pre-show speech, the moustached boss extols the virtue of hydrogen, proclaiming it as the only fuel of the future. Promising not to go the same way as steam train manufacturers when diesel and electric power revolutionised railways, Mercedes-Benz introduces its F125 saloon concept, which manages 1,000km on its hydrogen fuel-cell electric drivetrain.
Zetsche assures us that the company will "set higher, more ambitious targets to beat the problems of the past", and that changes in the car will "turn hydrogen into a new commodity". Bold stuff, particularly as the majority of manufacturers with electric cars swerve the question of where the energy to fill all those batteries will come from. Future power-gazing aside, it's a confident mood at Frankfurt, where everything on show is cleaner and greener than before - even the sports cars, of which the new Porsche 911 is among the most anticipated.
As ever, it's evolutionary not revolutionary, but then the formula has always proved right in the past. Everyday machines continue to add more features usually found in larger luxury cars, while budget brands like Kia and Hyundai continue their march into mainstream normality - and upmarket, high performance credibility - with Kia's rear-wheel drive GT concept. These products are easily up with the best the old-school manufacturers can offer.
But, as is always the case at any international motor show, there are a few disappointments; Honda's new Civic failing to excite, for instance, while the new, bespoke Eterniti SUV doesn't match the pre-show hype. Others do: Aston Martin's production V12 Zagato wowing, as does Alfa's repainted 4C concept and many more. Frankfurt is a busy show for an industry that, despite the outward confidence, is still a little bit lost - much like so many of the weary journalists trying to find their way around.
THE BIO
Family: I have three siblings, one older brother (age 25) and two younger sisters, 20 and 13
Favourite book: Asking for my favourite book has to be one of the hardest questions. However a current favourite would be Sidewalk by Mitchell Duneier
Favourite place to travel to: Any walkable city. I also love nature and wildlife
What do you love eating or cooking: I’m constantly in the kitchen. Ever since I changed the way I eat I enjoy choosing and creating what goes into my body. However, nothing can top home cooked food from my parents.
Favorite place to go in the UAE: A quiet beach.
Bio
Born in Dibba, Sharjah in 1972.
He is the eldest among 11 brothers and sisters.
He was educated in Sharjah schools and is a graduate of UAE University in Al Ain.
He has written poetry for 30 years and has had work published in local newspapers.
He likes all kinds of adventure movies that relate to his work.
His dream is a safe and preserved environment for all humankind.
His favourite book is The Quran, and 'Maze of Innovation and Creativity', written by his brother.
How to help
Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
2289 – Dh10
2252 – Dh 50
6025 – Dh20
6027 – Dh 100
6026 – Dh 200
LA LIGA FIXTURES
Thursday (All UAE kick-off times)
Sevilla v Real Betis (midnight)
Friday
Granada v Real Betis (9.30pm)
Valencia v Levante (midnight)
Saturday
Espanyol v Alaves (4pm)
Celta Vigo v Villarreal (7pm)
Leganes v Real Valladolid (9.30pm)
Mallorca v Barcelona (midnight)
Sunday
Atletic Bilbao v Atletico Madrid (4pm)
Real Madrid v Eibar (9.30pm)
Real Sociedad v Osasuna (midnight)
Electoral College Victory
Trump has so far secured 295 Electoral College votes, according to the Associated Press, exceeding the 270 needed to win. Only Nevada and Arizona remain to be called, and both swing states are leaning Republican. Trump swept all five remaining swing states, North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, sealing his path to victory and giving him a strong mandate.
Popular Vote Tally
The count is ongoing, but Trump currently leads with nearly 51 per cent of the popular vote to Harris’s 47.6 per cent. Trump has over 72.2 million votes, while Harris trails with approximately 67.4 million.
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.
War
Director: Siddharth Anand
Cast: Hrithik Roshan, Tiger Shroff, Ashutosh Rana, Vaani Kapoor
Rating: Two out of five stars
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Brief scoreline:
Manchester United 2
Rashford 28', Martial 72'
Watford 1
Doucoure 90'
Fines for littering
In Dubai:
Dh200 for littering or spitting in the Dubai Metro
Dh500 for throwing cigarette butts or chewing gum on the floor, or littering from a vehicle.
Dh1,000 for littering on a beach, spitting in public places, throwing a cigarette butt from a vehicle
In Sharjah and other emirates
Dh500 for littering - including cigarette butts and chewing gum - in public places and beaches in Sharjah
Dh2,000 for littering in Sharjah deserts
Dh500 for littering from a vehicle in Ras Al Khaimah
Dh1,000 for littering from a car in Abu Dhabi
Dh1,000 to Dh100,000 for dumping waste in residential or public areas in Al Ain
Dh10,000 for littering at Ajman's beaches
MATCH INFO
Newcastle United 1 (Carroll 82')
Leicester City 2 (Maddison 55', Tielemans 72')
Man of the match James Maddison (Leicester)
The specs
Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
Transmission: seven-speed
Power: 720hp
Torque: 770Nm
Price: Dh1,100,000
On sale: now
MATCH INFO
Watford 1 (Deulofeu 80' p)
Chelsea 2 (Abraham 5', Pulisic 55')
The specs
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 502hp at 7,600rpm
Torque: 637Nm at 5,150rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch auto
Price: from Dh317,671
On sale: now
KEY DEVELOPMENTS IN MARITIME DISPUTE
2000: Israel withdraws from Lebanon after nearly 30 years without an officially demarcated border. The UN establishes the Blue Line to act as the frontier.
2007: Lebanon and Cyprus define their respective exclusive economic zones to facilitate oil and gas exploration. Israel uses this to define its EEZ with Cyprus
2011: Lebanon disputes Israeli-proposed line and submits documents to UN showing different EEZ. Cyprus offers to mediate without much progress.
2018: Lebanon signs first offshore oil and gas licencing deal with consortium of France’s Total, Italy’s Eni and Russia’s Novatek.
2018-2019: US seeks to mediate between Israel and Lebanon to prevent clashes over oil and gas resources.
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.
When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.
How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Fifa Club World Cup quarter-final
Esperance de Tunis 0
Al Ain 3 (Ahmed 02’, El Shahat 17’, Al Ahbabi 60’)
Business Insights
- Canada and Mexico are significant energy suppliers to the US, providing the majority of oil and natural gas imports
- The introduction of tariffs could hinder the US's clean energy initiatives by raising input costs for materials like nickel
- US domestic suppliers might benefit from higher prices, but overall oil consumption is expected to decrease due to elevated costs
TO A LAND UNKNOWN
Director: Mahdi Fleifel
Starring: Mahmoud Bakri, Aram Sabbah, Mohammad Alsurafa
Rating: 4.5/5
Duminy's Test career in numbers
Tests 46; Runs 2,103; Best 166; Average 32.85; 100s 6; 50s 8; Wickets 42; Best 4-47
MATCH INFO
What: 2006 World Cup quarter-final
When: July 1
Where: Gelsenkirchen Stadium, Gelsenkirchen, Germany
Result:
England 0 Portugal 0
(Portugal win 3-1 on penalties)
Fatherland
Kele Okereke
(BMG)
Sri Lanka Test squad:
Dimuth Karunaratne (stand-in captain), Niroshan Dickwella (vice captain), Lahiru Thirimanne, Kaushal Silva, Kusal Mendis, Kusal Janith Perera, Milinda Siriwardana, Dhananjaya de Silva, Oshada Fernando, Angelo Perera, Suranga Lakmal, Kasun Rajitha, Vishwa Fernando, Chamika Karunaratne, Mohamed Shiraz, Lakshan Sandakan and Lasith Embuldeniya.
LAST 16 DRAW
Borussia Dortmund v PSG
Real Madrid v Manchester City
Atalanta v Valencia
Atletico Madrid v Liverpool
Chelsea v Bayern Munich
Lyon v Juventus
Tottenham v Leipzig
Napoli v Barcelona
Disclaimer
Director: Alfonso Cuaron
Stars: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Kline, Lesley Manville
Rating: 4/5
Fixtures:
Thursday:
Hatta v Al Jazira, 4.55pm
Al Wasl v Dibba, 7.45pm
Friday:
Al Dhafra v Al Nasr, 5.05pm
Shabab Al Ahli Dubai v Al Wahda, 7.45pm
Saturday:
Ajman v Emirates, 4.55pm
Al Ain v Sharjah, 7.45pm
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Fresh faces in UAE side
Khalifa Mubarak (24) An accomplished centre-back, the Al Nasr defender’s progress has been hampered in the past by injury. With not many options in central defence, he would bolster what can be a problem area.
Ali Salmeen (22) Has been superb at the heart of Al Wasl’s midfield these past two seasons, with the Dubai club flourishing under manager Rodolfo Arrubarrena. Would add workrate and composure to the centre of the park.
Mohammed Jamal (23) Enjoyed a stellar 2016/17 Arabian Gulf League campaign, proving integral to Al Jazira as the capital club sealed the championship for only a second time. A tenacious and disciplined central midfielder.
Khalfan Mubarak (22) One of the most exciting players in the UAE, the Al Jazira playmaker has been likened in style to Omar Abdulrahman. Has minimal international experience already, but there should be much more to come.
Jassim Yaqoub (20) Another incredibly exciting prospect, the Al Nasr winger is becoming a regular contributor at club level. Pacey, direct and with an eye for goal, he would provide the team’s attack an extra dimension.
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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yallacompare profile
Date of launch: 2014
Founder: Jon Richards, founder and chief executive; Samer Chebab, co-founder and chief operating officer, and Jonathan Rawlings, co-founder and chief financial officer
Based: Media City, Dubai
Sector: Financial services
Size: 120 employees
Investors: 2014: $500,000 in a seed round led by Mulverhill Associates; 2015: $3m in Series A funding led by STC Ventures (managed by Iris Capital), Wamda and Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority; 2019: $8m in Series B funding with the same investors as Series A along with Precinct Partners, Saned and Argo Ventures (the VC arm of multinational insurer Argo Group)
Moral education needed in a 'rapidly changing world'
Moral education lessons for young people is needed in a rapidly changing world, the head of the programme said.
Alanood Al Kaabi, head of programmes at the Education Affairs Office of the Crown Price Court - Abu Dhabi, said: "The Crown Price Court is fully behind this initiative and have already seen the curriculum succeed in empowering young people and providing them with the necessary tools to succeed in building the future of the nation at all levels.
"Moral education touches on every aspect and subject that children engage in.
"It is not just limited to science or maths but it is involved in all subjects and it is helping children to adapt to integral moral practises.
"The moral education programme has been designed to develop children holistically in a world being rapidly transformed by technology and globalisation."
The Transfiguration
Director: Michael O’Shea
Starring: Eric Ruffin, Chloe Levine
Three stars
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League last 16, first leg
Liverpool v Bayern Munich, midnight, Wednesday, BeIN Sports
RESULT
Huddersfield Town 2 Manchester United 1
Huddersfield: Mooy (28'), Depoitre (33')
Manchester United: Rashford (78')
Man of the Match: Aaron Mooy (Huddersfield Town)
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
Opening Rugby Championship fixtures: Games can be watched on OSN Sports
Saturday: Australia v New Zealand, Sydney, 1pm (UAE)
Sunday: South Africa v Argentina, Port Elizabeth, 11pm (UAE)
Name: Brendalle Belaza
From: Crossing Rubber, Philippines
Arrived in the UAE: 2007
Favourite place in Abu Dhabi: NYUAD campus
Favourite photography style: Street photography
Favourite book: Harry Potter
Company%20Profile
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Company Profile
Founder: Omar Onsi
Launched: 2018
Employees: 35
Financing stage: Seed round ($12 million)
Investors: B&Y, Phoenician Funds, M1 Group, Shorooq Partners
