I write to you in reference to the article Protests around the world: violent clashes hit Chile, Hong Kong, Lebanon and Barcelona (October 19). A lot of these countries have poor administration in common and it is the people who suffer — a sorry state of affairs. It is sad to read about economic compulsions driving so many citizens across the world to the streets. In my experience, the Spanish are a friendly people and I feel for them now as they protest for their rights. The clashes are a worrying sign for any nation and the leadership will do well to take into account the will of the citizens. Any successful administration will need to prioritise and resolve the grievances of its people.
K Ragavan, Bengaluru
Sharjah's soothing vibe and architecture are an inspiration
I write to you in reference to your article 'The Sharjah way': why a visit to the northern emirate can soothe the soul (October 18). The mosques in Sharjah by night are beautiful. Especially the Al Noor Mosque.
Name withheld on request
The gesture of a Urdu-English translation goes a long way
I write to you in reference to your article Kate Middleton wears turquoise hijab to visit Badshahi Mosque in Lahore, Pakistan (Oct 17). In the embedded video, you can hear a man ending a recital. Just as he is about to begin the subsequent verse, a lady sitting beside Kate and William says, "Thank you. Thank you so much, shukria". In Pakistan, each recitation of the Holy Verses is usually followed by its Urdu translation. In this case it was arranged in advance that the lady sitting next to the royal couple would read the English translation for their understanding, which she did after the first recitation.
Mohammad Hamza, Dubai
Waiting for rain clouds todescend over my neighbourhood
I write to you in reference to your article UAE weather: Country braced for five days of rain (October 20)
Evidently, the weather in the northern Emirates is different from where I live. I'm being told that it is raining everywhere in the UAE but I haven't yet felt a single drop in Abu Dhabi.
Name withheld on request
A word of caution: when in the UAE, save more than you spend
Many of us are apprehensive about the future. It's something we discuss in office, at home and coffee shops. I ask myself, where I will be in a few year's time. While salaries rarely increase, the cost of living in the UAE has gone up. The great thing, however, is that rents have fallen. Still, people are always on the lookout for better pay packages. If you have children, you need to spend more on groceries, fuel and clothes and it becomes tougher to save. But if you are smart and earn Dh25,000 per month, you should be able to save at least Dh10,000.
Mathew Litty, Dubai
The candidates
Dr Ayham Ammora, scientist and business executive
Ali Azeem, business leader
Tony Booth, professor of education
Lord Browne, former BP chief executive
Dr Mohamed El-Erian, economist
Professor Wyn Evans, astrophysicist
Dr Mark Mann, scientist
Gina MIller, anti-Brexit campaigner
Lord Smith, former Cabinet minister
Sandi Toksvig, broadcaster
Despacito's dominance in numbers
Released: 2017
Peak chart position: No.1 in more than 47 countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Lebanon
Views: 5.3 billion on YouTube
Sales: With 10 million downloads in the US, Despacito became the first Latin single to receive Diamond sales certification
Streams: 1.3 billion combined audio and video by the end of 2017, making it the biggest digital hit of the year.
Awards: 17, including Record of the Year at last year’s prestigious Latin Grammy Awards, as well as five Billboard Music Awards
SERIE A FIXTURES
Saturday Benevento v Atalanta (2pm), Genoa v Bologna (5pm), AC Milan v Torino (7.45pm)
Sunday Roma v Inter Milan (3.30pm), Udinese v Napoli, Hellas Verona v Crotone, Parma v Lazio (2pm), Fiorentina v Cagliari (9pm), Juventus v Sassuolo (11.45pm)
Monday Spezia v Sampdoria (11.45pm)
Don't get fined
The UAE FTA requires following to be kept:
- Records of all supplies and imports of goods and services
- All tax invoices and tax credit notes
- Alternative documents related to receiving goods or services
- All tax invoices and tax credit notes
- Alternative documents issued
- Records of goods and services that have been disposed of or used for matters not related to business
In numbers: China in Dubai
The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000
Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000
Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent
More on Quran memorisation:
Read more from Aya Iskandarani
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylturbo
Transmission: seven-speed DSG automatic
Power: 242bhp
Torque: 370Nm
Price: Dh136,814
BABYLON
%3Cp%3EDirector%3A%20Damien%20Chazelle%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EStars%3A%20Brad%20Pitt%2C%20Margot%20Robbie%2C%20Jean%20Smart%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERating%3A%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Engine: 5.6-litre V8
Transmission: seven-speed automatic
Power: 400hp
Torque: 560Nm
Price: Dh234,000 - Dh329,000
On sale: now
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Company%20Profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20HyveGeo%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202023%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Abdulaziz%20bin%20Redha%2C%20Dr%20Samsurin%20Welch%2C%20Eva%20Morales%20and%20Dr%20Harjit%20Singh%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ECambridge%20and%20Dubai%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%208%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESustainability%20%26amp%3B%20Environment%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%24200%2C000%20plus%20undisclosed%20grant%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EVenture%20capital%20and%20government%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The more serious side of specialty coffee
While the taste of beans and freshness of roast is paramount to the specialty coffee scene, so is sustainability and workers’ rights.
The bulk of genuine specialty coffee companies aim to improve on these elements in every stage of production via direct relationships with farmers. For instance, Mokha 1450 on Al Wasl Road strives to work predominantly with women-owned and -operated coffee organisations, including female farmers in the Sabree mountains of Yemen.
Because, as the boutique’s owner, Garfield Kerr, points out: “women represent over 90 per cent of the coffee value chain, but are woefully underrepresented in less than 10 per cent of ownership and management throughout the global coffee industry.”
One of the UAE’s largest suppliers of green (meaning not-yet-roasted) beans, Raw Coffee, is a founding member of the Partnership of Gender Equity, which aims to empower female coffee farmers and harvesters.
Also, globally, many companies have found the perfect way to recycle old coffee grounds: they create the perfect fertile soil in which to grow mushrooms.
