UAE draws up bigger map on Net Zero, health risks of artificial sweeteners, countdown begins as IPL final approaches, Gulf News Editors comment on the top stories on May 25

UAE’S NOT DISTRACTED BY THE NOISE OVER COP28, NET ZERO: External noises are commonplace in the oil and gas industry, where those with no direct stakes expound on what should be done – and what shouldn’t. Their voices tend to be the loudest, and these are the very noises that tend to get amplified. Cutting out the noise is the only way to progress. That’s exactly what the UAE, its organisations and businesses are doing by drawing up the bigger map on Net Zero by 2050. And then work the small pieces towards those goals. The UAE Cabinet has ratified key decisions on COP28 goals, but just as striking is the steadfast way a systemically important business such as Majid Al Futtaim group raises funds tied to green ways. Amidst all this, the external noises are the sort that’s polluting the landscape… (By Manoj Nair, Business Editor)

BITTER TRUTH ABOUT SWEETENERS: The use of non-sugar sweeteners (NSS) has not been demonstrated to be useful in the long run for reducing body fat in either adults or children, according to recent studies. It might even be detrimental, increasing the risk of Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and adult mortality. Nevertheless, a poll revealed that 25% of UAE citizens frequently consume artificial sweeteners. UAE doctors, in turn, have highlighted the fallacies surrounding sugary diets. The negative effects on people who already have mental disorders include digestive problems (abdominal discomfort and bloating), sugar cravings, elevated blood sugar levels, elevated blood pressure, and adverse effects on the body as a whole. Guidance from the World Health Organisation (WHO) also shows that prolonged use of NSS in people without diabetes actually elevates the risk of contracting this widespread, but preventable disease. It is best to take heed from experts, guided by science, on the dangers associated with the usage of NSS. (By Jay Hilotin, Senior Assistant Editor)

MUMBAI AND CHENNAI STILL HAVE A FEW TRICKS UP THEIR SLEEVES: Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings have demonstrated that there is no substitute for experience. The two Indian Premier League giants, who share nine titles between them, occupied the last two spots in the previous season. Now they are among the top three. While Chennai hit the ground running early, Mumbai were extremely close to being knocked out. With the backs facing the wall, it was due to Mumbai's resilience and trust that they managed to go from strength to strength, and are now just one win away from another final. Don’t write them off yet, both teams have a few tricks up their sleeves. (By A.K.S. SATISH, Sports Editor)

TINA TURNER’S LEGACY IS IMPOSSIBLE TO REPLICATE: Tina Turner, the singer-songwriter, actor, dancer and choreographer was best known for a booming voice that was equally hypnotic. She also had something for listeners across generations, thanks to her impressively long career. If you grew up in the ’60s and ’70s, you had ‘It’s gonna work out fine’ or ‘Nutbush city limits’. ‘What’s love got to do with it’, perhaps her biggest hit, was for those from the ’80s. It is safe to suggest that she reinvented the James Bond franchise, with her vocals for the theme song of ‘Golden Eye’ (1995) drawing in audiences — apart from Pierce Brosnan’s suave portrayal of the MI6 spy. Her admirers, too, spanned generations: From Lionel Richie to Mick Jagger and Beyoncé, there wasn’t a musician who wasn’t in awe of this force of nature. It’s difficult, nay impossible, to find another performer with a legacy as rich as Tina Turner’s. The honours and awards that she received would fill up a mansion. Long live, Tina, you managed to keep audiences mesmerised throughout your lifetime. (By Rajagopalan Venkataraman, Assistant Editor-Features)