I write in reference to your article Dubai shoppers call for plastic bag charge (April 6): as an 18-year-old student, I am more concerned than ever about our environmental situation and especially about plastic pollution. A plastic bag charge should not only be under consideration, it should have been introduced years ago. In this day and age, I would rather see a law that bans the usage of plastic bags. New Zealand, for example, has banned plastic bags entirely and sets a great precedent for such a law. Alternatives to plastic are paper bags or banana leaves like Thailand and Vietnam. I recently read that a Thai grocery store is using banana leaves instead of plastic to package fruit and vegetables. This should be an example for every government that it is not impossible to ban plastic bags or plastic packaging. However, there are other variables that play a key role in how efficient and environmentally friendly paper bags are. Among other factors is how often we actually reuse the bag. Therefore, a plastic bag ban should exist but there must be a shift in the way people think. Bags should not only be used once but several times.
Charlotte Hoppe, Germany
No one can predict who will win the Israeli elections
I write to you in reference to Miriam Berger's article Divided Israeli electorate denies Benjamin Netanyahu clear win (April 10). This was a good read that helped me understand the Israeli elections.
Even though the winner, Benjamin Netanyahu, is unpleasant in his approach to the Palestinians, he has made use of his charisma and smooth talking to secure international backing. It is remarkable that he has secured a record fifth term this time around, as allegations of corruption and cronyism have weighed on him and his wife.
K Ragavan, Bengaluru
After Gaddafi’s despotic rule, Libyans get no respite
I write to you in reference to Raghida Dergham's article Libya's future is caught between diplomacy and a military solution (April 6). Muammar Qaddafi was a ruthless and crooked leader who ruled Libya with an iron fist. But the nation remains deeply troubled. I am saddened to see that the Libyan conflict has been allowed to endure in the absence of a political solution.
Civilians are caught between the corrupt yet internationally recognised government of Fayez Al Sarraj and Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar’s Libyan National Army. American intervention did not help Libyans in 2011, just as it did not help Iraqis back in 2003. The US would be better off intervening in countries that have been accused of conducting ethnic cleansing, such as Myanmar.
Nazim Hasan Khan, India
AUSTRALIA SQUAD
Aaron Finch (captain), Ashton Agar, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins, Glenn Maxwell, Ben McDermott, Kane Richardson, Steve Smith, Billy Stanlake, Mitchell Starc, Ashton Turner, Andrew Tye, David Warner, Adam Zampa
Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989
Director: Goran Hugo Olsson
Rating: 5/5
The specs: 2018 Nissan Patrol Nismo
Price: base / as tested: Dh382,000
Engine: 5.6-litre V8
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 428hp @ 5,800rpm
Torque: 560Nm @ 3,600rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 12.7L / 100km
The Limehouse Golem
Director: Juan Carlos Medina
Cast: Olivia Cooke, Bill Nighy, Douglas Booth
Three stars
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How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
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The specs
Price: From Dh529,000
Engine: 5-litre V8
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Power: 520hp
Torque: 625Nm
Fuel economy, combined: 12.8L/100km
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE
Starring: Winona Ryder, Michael Keaton, Jenny Ortega
Director: Tim Burton
Rating: 3/5
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Visit Abu Dhabi culinary team's top Emirati restaurants in Abu Dhabi
Yadoo’s House Restaurant & Cafe
For the karak and Yoodo's house platter with includes eggs, balaleet, khamir and chebab bread.
Golden Dallah
For the cappuccino, luqaimat and aseeda.
Al Mrzab Restaurant
For the shrimp murabian and Kuwaiti options including Kuwaiti machboos with kebab and spicy sauce.
Al Derwaza
For the fish hubul, regag bread, biryani and special seafood soup.
The Specs
Engine 3.8-litre, twin-turbo V8
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 582bhp (542bhp in GTS model)
Torque: 730Nm
Price: Dh649,000 (Dh549,000 for GTS)
From Europe to the Middle East, economic success brings wealth - and lifestyle diseases
A rise in obesity figures and the need for more public spending is a familiar trend in the developing world as western lifestyles are adopted.
One in five deaths around the world is now caused by bad diet, with obesity the fastest growing global risk. A high body mass index is also the top cause of metabolic diseases relating to death and disability in Kuwait, Qatar and Oman – and second on the list in Bahrain.
In Britain, heart disease, lung cancer and Alzheimer’s remain among the leading causes of death, and people there are spending more time suffering from health problems.
The UK is expected to spend $421.4 billion on healthcare by 2040, up from $239.3 billion in 2014.
And development assistance for health is talking about the financial aid given to governments to support social, environmental development of developing countries.
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The%20specs
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Padmaavat
Director: Sanjay Leela Bhansali
Starring: Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone, Shahid Kapoor, Jim Sarbh
3.5/5
ICC T20 Team of 2021
Jos Buttler, Mohammad Rizwan, Babar Azam, Aiden Markram, Mitchell Marsh, David Miller, Tabraiz Shamsi, Josh Hazlewood, Wanindu Hasaranga, Mustafizur Rahman, Shaheen Afridi
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
On sale: Now
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SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20APPLE%20IPHONE%2015%20PRO%20MAX
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