Sugar and food containing sugar are not the only things causing obesity, readers say. Getty Images
Sugar and food containing sugar are not the only things causing obesity, readers say. Getty Images

Sugar tax is not the answer to child obesity



Although one of the problems with obesity is consumption of things deemed unhealthy, a sugar tax is not the answer (Why a sugar tax can beat obesity, December 9). Taxing something will not help curb the consumption of that said product to a visible degree, so at the end of the day it looks like an attempt to gouge money out of people with this pseudo-VAT.

Sugar and food containing sugar are not the only things causing obesity. Eating fast food leads to that, consuming a lot of fatty products leads to that, the lack of outdoor activities, mainly thanks to the weather, leads to that. Taxing sugar is like treating a symptom of a disease, rather than treating the disease itself.

Victor Crainic, Dubai

Jamie Oliver, the celebrity chef, started this idea in the UK for people to eat healthy. I think the government loved it for different reasons.

Jase White, Dubai

It won’t work. The majority of diabetics and obese people have a lot of money. The only way to stop this is through education.

Christopher Hopchin, Abu Dhabi

We need the prices of healthy foods to reduce. Many of us end up buying junk food because it’s cheaper. A can of soft drinks costs Dh1.50, while the same amount of orange juice can cost much more.

Zaki Murad, Dubai

Regarding the news report Men need to admit to eating disorders, specialists say (December 11), if there were genuine support groups here as in other countries, this would help a lot.

By genuine, I mean support groups not run by someone with a fancy title and degree charging in excess of Dh600 an hour but who conducts meet-ups where people can share and open up.

People need open avenues where they can discuss and share with others, not Hollywood fantasyland style therapists.

Tanya Milbourne, Abu Dhabi

Behaviour of drivers shocking

Regarding the news report Parents urged to use booster seats to keep young children safe (December 10), it's sad that in 2016 people still have to be advised not to strap small children into adult seat belts, because such action could be fatal.

Tom Richardson, Dubai

It’s amazing that so many people buckle themselves up but allow their children to jump around in the back as if it’s a playground.

Tarek Omar, Abu Dhabi

Using a booster seat should be law. Some people can’t be educated. I remember one guy telling me that his wife had to sit in the back with their baby in arms, for safety.

Gary Wright, Dubai

We need to take the driving problem in this country seriously.

No amount of advice and technology has so far been able to control reckless, callous and irresponsible driving. People who drive with children in their cars without buckling them inor strapping them improperly should be taken to task.

Children are at our mercy. This is the reason why those who do not take the safety of their children seriously should face heavy fines and licence confiscation. Advice and education would not be enough – that has been proven time and again. Why waste time advising people on issues that are otherwise matters of commonsense?

Ameena Ali, Dubai

Indonesians want change

Two rallies have taken place in Indonesia and the third is on the way (Indonesians hold massive protest against Jakarta governor, December 3).

President Joko Widodo is no longer the best option for Indonesians.

Alexander Maxalmena, Australia

The specs

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Torque: 475Nm

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Other workplace saving schemes
  • The UAE government announced a retirement savings plan for private and free zone sector employees in 2023.
  • Dubai’s savings retirement scheme for foreign employees working in the emirate’s government and public sector came into effect in 2022.
  • National Bonds unveiled a Golden Pension Scheme in 2022 to help private-sector foreign employees with their financial planning.
  • In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
  • Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based investment manager, has launched a fund that will allow UAE private companies to offer employees investment returns on end-of-service benefits.
It's Monty Python's Crashing Rocket Circus

To the theme tune of the famous zany British comedy TV show, SpaceX has shown exactly what can go wrong when you try to land a rocket.

The two minute video posted on YouTube is a compilation of crashes and explosion as the company, created by billionaire Elon Musk, refined the technique of reusable space flight.

SpaceX is able to land its rockets on land  once they have completed the first stage of their mission, and is able to resuse them multiple times - a first for space flight.

But as the video, How Not to Land an Orbital Rocket Booster, demonstrates, it was a case if you fail, try and try again.

Sustainable Development Goals

1. End poverty in all its forms everywhere

2. End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture

3. Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages

4. Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all

5. Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls

6. Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all

7. Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all

8. Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all

9. Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation and foster innovation

10. Reduce inequality  within and among countries

11. Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable

12. Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns

13. Take urgent action to combat climate change and its effects

14. Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development

15. Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss

16. Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels

17. Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalise the global partnership for sustainable development

THE LIGHT

Director: Tom Tykwer

Starring: Tala Al Deen, Nicolette Krebitz, Lars Eidinger

Rating: 3/5

SPECS
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%201.5-litre%204-cylinder%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20101hp%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20135Nm%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3A%20Six-speed%20auto%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20From%20Dh79%2C900%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Now%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
German intelligence warnings
  • 2002: "Hezbollah supporters feared becoming a target of security services because of the effects of [9/11] ... discussions on Hezbollah policy moved from mosques into smaller circles in private homes." Supporters in Germany: 800
  • 2013: "Financial and logistical support from Germany for Hezbollah in Lebanon supports the armed struggle against Israel ... Hezbollah supporters in Germany hold back from actions that would gain publicity." Supporters in Germany: 950
  • 2023: "It must be reckoned with that Hezbollah will continue to plan terrorist actions outside the Middle East against Israel or Israeli interests." Supporters in Germany: 1,250 

Source: Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution

The Sand Castle

Director: Matty Brown

Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea

Rating: 2.5/5

Cryopreservation: A timeline
  1. Keyhole surgery under general anaesthetic
  2. Ovarian tissue surgically removed
  3. Tissue processed in a high-tech facility
  4. Tissue re-implanted at a time of the patient’s choosing
  5. Full hormone production regained within 4-6 months
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EAlmouneer%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202017%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dr%20Noha%20Khater%20and%20Rania%20Kadry%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EEgypt%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20staff%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E120%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EBootstrapped%2C%20with%20support%20from%20Insead%20and%20Egyptian%20government%2C%20seed%20round%20of%20%3Cbr%3E%243.6%20million%20led%20by%20Global%20Ventures%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A