Ever since smoking was banned in many public places, in the UAE and around the world, an argument frequently made by defenders of vaping is that it is not as bad.
Countless people, including adolescents, fall into this trap without examining the complete picture and weighing the risks. For millions of school pupils in any country, this line of reasoning – that vapes are not as bad as cigarettes, which are combustible and packed with chemicals such as tar and carbon monoxide – seem to lend vapes (laden with the highly addictive drug nicotine) an aura of relative acceptability, in health terms.
Fortunately, schools in the UAE are having none of it, with several of them installing vaping detection systems in washrooms, to try to nip the vape menace in the bud. Schools are right to take a strong line against cigarettes and e-cigarettes. Most people can agree that children should not be exposed to nicotine.
Vape advocates seem to forget that nicotine itself is toxic, increases blood pressure and is associated with several well-established health risks that are especially harmful for the developing brains of young people. The complete adverse effects of vaping are not fully known yet – vapes only entered the global market in the early 2000s. Yet research from the Johns Hopkins University on vape ingredients in 2021 revealed that some products included a pesticide.
Even if vaping is less harmful than smoking, the fact remains that for youngsters – who are not necessarily weaning off cigarettes, as adults might be – starting on vapes is nothing but harm, and utterly avoidable.
Dr Fadi Baladi, medical director at Burjeel Day Surgery Centre in Abu Dhabi, told The National in 2019: “I treat young people every other day, aged 14-21, for vaping-related lung conditions. There is an addiction potential in all young people, and vaping has become a dangerous sub-culture."
Six years later that sub-culture still very much exists, and is even more in the mainstream. And for sellers of these products, there are profits to be made. Companies that stock vapes take advantage of their younger clientele, using marketing ploys such as bright colourful packaging, and an assortment of artificial flavours, meant to appeal to the youth.
Apart from the duty of parents to educate their children (beyond merely rebuking them) on the harmful long-term effects of habits picked up when they're young, the challenge of addressing an addictive sub-culture can be tackled in a few ways in schools, as many are already doing. At Gems Education, a private school operator, for example, there are follow-up education sessions with counsellors to support them in quitting vaping.
Along with such programmes already under way, there could be merit in including workshops on withstanding peer pressure – there usually is an element of that when it comes to teenagers. Awareness campaigns could even include testimonies from former smokers who can act as guides and mentors, along with friendly interactions with doctors, lung specialists and counsellors.
Installing sensors is a sensible attempt to curb vaping in school. But a wider approach is warranted if the goal is to not just eliminate it on premises, where there are alarms fitted on ceilings, but even outside the purview of school authorities. Broader campaigns that aim to educate teenagers about the effect on their lungs and other organs of inhaling nicotine can be a way to appeal to the better sense that exists in most youngsters. It could put them on a healthier path for good, and not just while teachers or parents are watching.
Brief scoreline:
Al Wahda 2
Al Menhali 27', Tagliabue 79'
Al Nassr 3
Hamdallah 41', Giuliano 45 1', 62'
Famous left-handers
- Marie Curie
- Jimi Hendrix
- Leonardo Di Vinci
- David Bowie
- Paul McCartney
- Albert Einstein
- Jack the Ripper
- Barack Obama
- Helen Keller
- Joan of Arc
THE SPECS
GMC Sierra Denali 1500
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Price: Dh232,500
BUNDESLIGA FIXTURES
Friday (UAE kick-off times)
Borussia Dortmund v Paderborn (11.30pm)
Saturday
Bayer Leverkusen v SC Freiburg (6.30pm)
Werder Bremen v Schalke (6.30pm)
Union Berlin v Borussia Monchengladbach (6.30pm)
Eintracht Frankfurt v Wolfsburg (6.30pm)
Fortuna Dusseldof v Bayern Munich (6.30pm)
RB Leipzig v Cologne (9.30pm)
Sunday
Augsburg v Hertha Berlin (6.30pm)
Hoffenheim v Mainz (9pm)
Results
5pm: UAE Martyrs Cup (TB) Conditions Dh90,000 2,200m
Winner: Mudaarab, Jim Crowley (jockey), Erwan Charpy (trainer).
5.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup (PA) Handicap Dh70,000 1,400m
Winner: Jawal Al Reef, Richard Mullen, Hassan Al Hammadi.
6pm: UAE Matyrs Trophy (PA) Maiden Dh80,000 1,600m
Winner: Salima Al Reef, Jesus Rosales, Abdallah Al Hammadi.
6.30pm: Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak (IFAHR) Apprentice Championship (PA) Prestige Dh100,000 1,600m
Winner: Bainoona, Ricardo Iacopini, Eric Lemartinel.
7pm: Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak (IFAHR) Ladies World Championship (PA) Prestige Dh125,000 1,600m
Winner: Assyad, Victoria Larsen, Eric Lemartinel.
8pm: Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Jewel Crown (PA) Group 1 Dh5,000,000 1,600m
Winner: Mashhur Al Khalediah, Jean-Bernard Eyquem, Phillip Collington.
More on Quran memorisation:
Results
Ashraf Ghani 50.64 per cent
Abdullah Abdullah 39.52 per cent
Gulbuddin Hekmatyar 3.85 per cent
Rahmatullah Nabil 1.8 per cent
How it works
Each player begins with one of the great empires of history, from Julius Caesar's Rome to Ramses of Egypt, spread over Europe and the Middle East.
Round by round, the player expands their empire. The more land they have, the more money they can take from their coffers for each go.
As unruled land and soldiers are acquired, players must feed them. When a player comes up against land held by another army, they can choose to battle for supremacy.
A dice-based battle system is used and players can get the edge on their enemy with by deploying a renowned hero on the battlefield.
Players that lose battles and land will find their coffers dwindle and troops go hungry. The end goal? Global domination of course.
RedCrow Intelligence Company Profile
Started: 2016
Founders: Hussein Nasser Eddin, Laila Akel, Tayeb Akel
Based: Ramallah, Palestine
Sector: Technology, Security
# of staff: 13
Investment: $745,000
Investors: Palestine’s Ibtikar Fund, Abu Dhabi’s Gothams and angel investors
FIGHT CARD
Fights start from 6pm Friday, January 31
Catchweight 82kg
Piotr Kuberski (POL) v Ahmed Saeb (IRQ)
Women’s bantamweight
Cornelia Holm (SWE) v Corinne Laframboise (CAN)
Welterweight
Omar Hussein (JOR) v Vitalii Stoian (UKR)
Welterweight
Josh Togo (LEB) v Ali Dyusenov (UZB)
Flyweight
Isaac Pimentel (BRA) v Delfin Nawen (PHI)
Catchweight 80kg
Seb Eubank (GBR) v Mohamed El Mokadem (EGY)
Lightweight
Mohammad Yahya (UAE) v Ramadan Noaman (EGY)
Lightweight
Alan Omer (GER) v Reydon Romero (PHI)
Welterweight
Ahmed Labban (LEB) v Juho Valamaa (FIN)
Featherweight
Elias Boudegzdame (ALG) v Austin Arnett (USA)
Super heavyweight
Roman Wehbe (LEB) v Maciej Sosnowski (POL)
Company%20profile
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The%20specs
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RESULT
Chelsea 2
Willian 13'
Ross Barkley 64'
Liverpool 0
RESULTS
5pm: Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 1,400m
Winner: AF Tathoor, Tadhg O’Shea (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer)
5.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh70,000 1,000m
Winner: Dahawi, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi
6pm: Maiden (PA) Dh70,000 2,000m
Winner: Aiz Alawda, Fernando Jara, Ahmed Al Mehairbi
6.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 2,000m
Winner: ES Nahawand, Fernando Jara, Mohammed Daggash
7pm: Maiden (PA) Dh70,000 1,600m
Winner: Winked, Connor Beasley, Abdallah Al Hammadi
7.30pm: Al Ain Mile Group 3 (PA) Dh350,000 1,600m
Winner: Somoud, Connor Beasley, Ahmed Al Mehairbi
8pm: Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 1,600m
Winner: Al Jazi, Fabrice Veron, Eric Lemartinel
RESULTS
6.30pm: Maiden Dh165,000 (Dirt) 1,200
Winner: Miqyaas, Adrie de Vries (jockey), Rashed Bouresly (trainer).
7.05pm: Handicap Dh165,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Untold Secret, Xavier Ziani, Salem bin Ghadayer.
7.40pm: Maiden Dh165,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Shanty Star, Fabrice Veron, Rashed Bouresly.
8.15pm: Handicap Dh190,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Alkaamel, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi.
8.50pm: Handicap Dh175,000 (D) 1,400m
Winner: Speedy Move, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.
9.25pm: Handicap Dh175,000 (D) 2,000m
Winner: Quartier Francois, Fernando Jara, Ali Rashid Al Raihe.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Company%20profile
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The%20specs
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Company%20Profile
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POWERWASH%20SIMULATOR
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Teri%20Baaton%20Mein%20Aisa%20Uljha%20Jiya
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3%20Body%20Problem
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JOKE'S%20ON%20YOU
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The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
Company Profile
Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million
Kanguva
Director: Siva
Stars: Suriya, Bobby Deol, Disha Patani, Yogi Babu, Redin Kingsley
Wicked
Director: Jon M Chu
Stars: Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey
