Regarding the report Dubai's Burj Khalifa transformed into giant Union Jack for the queen's birthday (April 21): beautiful, thank you UAE. You are truly the best! Happy birthday to the Queen.
Shaz Chalmers, Dubai
The Union Jack looks stunning there.
Carmella Hunt, Dubai
Thank you for your recognition. Bless you, UAE.
Sue Young, Abu Dhabi
Doctors, nurses under pressure need our continued respect
In reference to Janine di Giovanni's op-ed Coronavirus: Doctors are the new marines (April 20): the doctors, nurses and medical personnel, who are looking after Covid-19 patients are rendering a great service to humanity for which they deserve recognition and reward. They are working beyond the call of their duty.
The pressures on the medical fraternity will continue and may actually augment after the lockdowns are eased in many countries. Till we confirm a set of medicines to treat Covid-19 and till we find a vaccine, the disease could surface anywhere, anytime. Hence the medical profession will continue to be under intense pressure.
In this context, some incidents in India of the medical teams being attacked in cities such as Indore are truly deplorable.
Rajendra Aneja, Dubai
Bella Ciao: revisit the history of this protest folk song from Italy
I write to you about Saeed Saeed's piece Why it is impolite to play 'Money Heist' song 'Bella Ciao' in Italy (April 13): the writer is generous in attributing resistance as The Professor's main motivation in the Netflix Drama Money Heist. The latter is a thief, pure and simple. No wonder older Italians shake their heads at the misappropriation of Bella Ciao to celebrate "a crime successfully executed".
Luke Osborne, UAE
We need facts and vaccines, not rumours
With regards to Justin Thomas's article Where is the vaccine against conspiracy theories? (April 21): this was an interesting read and something that has been on people's minds. The columnist has nicely analysed how social media, mainly Facebook, helps spread rumours that go viral and induce fear among millions of people. Spreading misinformation about the virus is not going to solve anything. Facts and vaccines are what we need, not rumours.
K Ragavan, Bengaluru, India
Thumbs up to the authorities for clamping down on dodgy retailers
In reference to Nick Webster's report Coronavirus: seven Dubai retailers fined for face mask price hike (April 20): I live in Al Jaddaf and complained to the pharmacist about the price of the mask. I am glad another customer complained to the authorities. Can't believe they wanted to charge Dh140 instead of Dh20.
Sharon Louise Cross, Dubai
Well done. Nobody should take advantage during these hard times. We are in this together and we should stick together.
Claudia Lorenz, Dubai
How to invest in gold
Investors can tap into the gold price by purchasing physical jewellery, coins and even gold bars, but these need to be stored safely and possibly insured.
A cheaper and more straightforward way to benefit from gold price growth is to buy an exchange-traded fund (ETF).
Most advisers suggest sticking to “physical” ETFs. These hold actual gold bullion, bars and coins in a vault on investors’ behalf. Others do not hold gold but use derivatives to track the price instead, adding an extra layer of risk. The two biggest physical gold ETFs are SPDR Gold Trust and iShares Gold Trust.
Another way to invest in gold’s success is to buy gold mining stocks, but Mr Gravier says this brings added risks and can be more volatile. “They have a serious downside potential should the price consolidate.”
Mr Kyprianou says gold and gold miners are two different asset classes. “One is a commodity and the other is a company stock, which means they behave differently.”
Mining companies are a business, susceptible to other market forces, such as worker availability, health and safety, strikes, debt levels, and so on. “These have nothing to do with gold at all. It means that some companies will survive, others won’t.”
By contrast, when gold is mined, it just sits in a vault. “It doesn’t even rust, which means it retains its value,” Mr Kyprianou says.
You may already have exposure to gold miners in your portfolio, say, through an international ETF or actively managed mutual fund.
You could spread this risk with an actively managed fund that invests in a spread of gold miners, with the best known being BlackRock Gold & General. It is up an incredible 55 per cent over the past year, and 240 per cent over five years. As always, past performance is no guide to the future.
Results:
5pm: Conditions (PA) Dh80,000 1,400m | Winner: AF Tahoonah, Richard Mullen (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer)
5.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh90,000 1,400m | Winner: Ajwad, Gerald Avranche, Rashed Bouresly
6pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,600m | Winner: RB Lam Tara, Fabrice Veron, Eric Lemartinel
6.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 1,600m | Winner: Duc De Faust, Szczepan Mazur, Younis Al Kalbani
7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup (PA) Dh70,000 2,200m | Winner: Shareef KB, Fabrice Veron, Ernst Oertel
7.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh90,000 1,500m | Winner: Bainoona, Pat Cosgrave, Eric Lemartinel
LA LIGA FIXTURES
Friday Athletic Bilbao v Celta Vigo (Kick-off midnight UAE)
Saturday Levante v Getafe (5pm), Sevilla v Real Madrid (7.15pm), Atletico Madrid v Real Valladolid (9.30pm), Cadiz v Barcelona (midnight)
Sunday Granada v Huesca (5pm), Osasuna v Real Betis (7.15pm), Villarreal v Elche (9.30pm), Alaves v Real Sociedad (midnight)
Monday Eibar v Valencia (midnight)
TOURNAMENT INFO
Women’s World Twenty20 Qualifier
Jul 3- 14, in the Netherlands
The top two teams will qualify to play at the World T20 in the West Indies in November
UAE squad
Humaira Tasneem (captain), Chamani Seneviratne, Subha Srinivasan, Neha Sharma, Kavisha Kumari, Judit Cleetus, Chaya Mughal, Roopa Nagraj, Heena Hotchandani, Namita D’Souza, Ishani Senevirathne, Esha Oza, Nisha Ali, Udeni Kuruppuarachchi
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Tottenham 0-1 Ajax, Tuesday
Second leg
Ajax v Tottenham, Wednesday, May 8, 11pm
Game is on BeIN Sports
Banned items
Dubai Police has also issued a list of banned items at the ground on Sunday. These include:
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Political flags or banners
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Bikes, skateboards or scooters
