This is in reference to Nada AlTaher's article Gunfire heard in Khartoum despite start of US-brokered Sudan ceasefire (April 25): It has been very distressing this past fortnight to read about the violence and rising death toll in Khartoum. Sudan has been struggling for decades despite its richness of resources. This current crisis needs to end. More than 420 people have been killed in the fighting between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary group.
Sudan needs to return to normality and it needs a good administrator to come to power to end the violence. The nation needs to take stock, heal wounds and focus on rebuilding. It was some relief to learn that my country India has taken the initiative to evacuate its citizens, as other nations have done too. The International community must step in to end the crisis and help the ceasefire and subsequent peace prevail.
K Ragavan, Bengaluru, India
Deserved recognition for a Pakistani architect and humanitarian
With reference to Soraya Ebrahimi's report Pakistan’s first female architect given King Charles's Royal Gold Medal (April 27): Many congratulations to professor Lari. She's a revolutionary in our country and we're proud of her. She has been at the helm of creating sustainable building designs that can withstand some of the worst effects of climate disasters and for creating housing that caters to people with limited incomes. We are very proud of her achievements in architecture but also for being a social warrior.
Abdul Qadir Syed, Lahore, Pakistan
A religious heirloom greatly prized
With regard to the report The big history of Albania's tiny Quran - in pictures (April 26): These pictures tell a beautiful story. I have a tiny Quran similar to this that has been passed down from generations. It must be more than 150 years old and is still in extremely good condition. The text is still legible.
Yousuf Ismail, Toronto, Canada
Harry Belafonte lived a talented and meaningful life
In reference to the report Harry Belafonte, pioneering performer and activist, dies at 96 (April 26): He was magical, a great singer and campaigner. I have fond memories of listening to his records and I still play his music. My thoughts are with his family.
Linda Walker, Elgin, Scotland
One of the very best. Thank you, Mr Belafonte. Your music has meant a lot to me and my family over the decades. Rest well.
Sylvannie Abrahams, London
Company%20Profile
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UAE squad to face Ireland
Ahmed Raza (captain), Chirag Suri (vice-captain), Rohan Mustafa, Mohammed Usman, Mohammed Boota, Zahoor Khan, Junaid Siddique, Waheed Ahmad, Zawar Farid, CP Rizwaan, Aryan Lakra, Karthik Meiyappan, Alishan Sharafu, Basil Hameed, Kashif Daud, Adithya Shetty, Vriitya Aravind
EPL's youngest
- Ethan Nwaneri (Arsenal)
15 years, 181 days old
- Max Dowman (Arsenal)
15 years, 235 days old
- Jeremy Monga (Leicester)
15 years, 271 days old
- Harvey Elliott (Fulham)
16 years, 30 days old
- Matthew Briggs (Fulham)
16 years, 68 days old
Profile of VoucherSkout
Date of launch: November 2016
Founder: David Tobias
Based: Jumeirah Lake Towers
Sector: Technology
Size: 18 employees
Stage: Embarking on a Series A round to raise $5 million in the first quarter of 2019 with a 20 per cent stake
Investors: Seed round was self-funded with “millions of dollars”Â
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.Â