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
The 12 breakaway clubs
England
Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur
Italy
AC Milan, Inter Milan, Juventus
Spain
Atletico Madrid, Barcelona, Real Madrid
Qosty Byogaani
Starring: Hani Razmzi, Maya Nasir and Hassan Hosny
Four stars
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
Punchy appearance
Roars of support buoyed Mr Johnson in an extremely confident and combative appearance
Racecard
5.25pm: Etihad Museum – Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (Turf) 1,200m
6pm: Al Shindaga Museum – Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (Dirt) 1,200m
6.35pm: Poet Al Oqaili – Handicap (TB) Dh95,000 (T) 1,400m
7.10pm: Majlis Ghurfat Al Sheif – Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (D) 1,600m
7.45pm: Hatta – Handicap (TB) Dh95,000 (T) 1,400m
8.20pm: Al Fahidi – Rated Conditions (TB) Dh87,500 (D) 2,200m
8.55pm: Zabeel Trophy – Rated Conditions (TB) Dh120,000 (T) 1,600m
9.30pm: Coins Museum – Rated Conditions (TB) Dh95,000 (D) 1,600m
10.05pm: Al Quoz Creative – Handicap (TB) Dh95,000 (T) 1,000m
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Avatar: Fire and Ash
Director: James Cameron
Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana
Rating: 4.5/5
Tonight's Chat on The National
Tonight's Chat is a series of online conversations on The National. The series features a diverse range of celebrities, politicians and business leaders from around the Arab world.
Tonight’s Chat host Ricardo Karam is a renowned author and broadcaster who has previously interviewed Bill Gates, Carlos Ghosn, Andre Agassi and the late Zaha Hadid, among others.
Intellectually curious and thought-provoking, Tonight’s Chat moves the conversation forward.
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Why it pays to compare
A comparison of sending Dh20,000 from the UAE using two different routes at the same time - the first direct from a UAE bank to a bank in Germany, and the second from the same UAE bank via an online platform to Germany - found key differences in cost and speed. The transfers were both initiated on January 30.
Route 1: bank transfer
The UAE bank charged Dh152.25 for the Dh20,000 transfer. On top of that, their exchange rate margin added a difference of around Dh415, compared with the mid-market rate.
Total cost: Dh567.25 - around 2.9 per cent of the total amount
Total received: €4,670.30
Route 2: online platform
The UAE bank’s charge for sending Dh20,000 to a UK dirham-denominated account was Dh2.10. The exchange rate margin cost was Dh60, plus a Dh12 fee.
Total cost: Dh74.10, around 0.4 per cent of the transaction
Total received: €4,756
The UAE bank transfer was far quicker – around two to three working days, while the online platform took around four to five days, but was considerably cheaper. In the online platform transfer, the funds were also exposed to currency risk during the period it took for them to arrive.
AndhaDhun
Director: Sriram Raghavan
Producer: Matchbox Pictures, Viacom18
Cast: Ayushmann Khurrana, Tabu, Radhika Apte, Anil Dhawan
Rating: 3.5/5
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
The nine articles of the 50-Year Charter
1. Dubai silk road
2. A geo-economic map for Dubai
3. First virtual commercial city
4. A central education file for every citizen
5. A doctor to every citizen
6. Free economic and creative zones in universities
7. Self-sufficiency in Dubai homes
8. Co-operative companies in various sectors
9: Annual growth in philanthropy
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
Third Test
Day 3, stumps
India 443-7 (d) & 54-5 (27 ov)
Australia 151
India lead by 346 runs with 5 wickets remaining
Company%20profile
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Quick pearls of wisdom
Focus on gratitude: And do so deeply, he says. “Think of one to three things a day that you’re grateful for. It needs to be specific, too, don’t just say ‘air.’ Really think about it. If you’re grateful for, say, what your parents have done for you, that will motivate you to do more for the world.”
Know how to fight: Shetty married his wife, Radhi, three years ago (he met her in a meditation class before he went off and became a monk). He says they’ve had to learn to respect each other’s “fighting styles” – he’s a talk it-out-immediately person, while she needs space to think. “When you’re having an argument, remember, it’s not you against each other. It’s both of you against the problem. When you win, they lose. If you’re on a team you have to win together.”