It is heartening that the United States and Vietnam are on the path to mending relations (Obama banishes Vietnam War era with lifting of arms ban, May 24).
I was in Vietnam some time ago, and was impressed by the energy, zeal and commitment of the people to improve their lives and to bring economic prosperity to their beautiful country. Every Vietnamese I met was anxious that the country should be seen as a modern and growing nation. They are honest and sincere – rare qualities in a society that’s in a mad rush for material success.
Vietnam buzzes with activity and yet it has retained its traditional charm. There is no bitterness towards America or the West for the 20-year war that crippled the entire country and people. “We must move forward with equanimity,” they say.
In view of the recent developments, the war in Vietnam seems pointless. Why was the war fought? What was its outcome? Nothing but death and misery.
The War Museum in Ho Chi Minh City highlights the suffering Vietnamese people had to undergo. The country still has some of the relics of war, such as American tanks and helicopters.
A visit to Vietnam reveals how wrong some leaders can be in fighting unnecessary wars based on ideology. The Iraq war is another one that could have been avoided. It is sad that many leaders lack the maturity and intellectual sagacity to resolve conflicts in a peaceful manner.
Hopefully Mr Obama’s visit will heal the wounds of the Vietnamese people in some measure and ensure a new beginning.
Rajendra K Aneja, Dubai
Prayers for the murdered boy
I hope the soul of the poor boy is at peace (Family of murdered boy call for execution of killer, May 24). My heart aches for his family, his sisters who had to learn that the world can be so cruel, his parents who have suffered the most horrific thing imaginable. I hope the perpetrator gets the maximum punishment.
Ela Jayne, Australia
We know that nothing can compensate the parents for the loss of their child. I feel sorry for them.
Mina Azad WA Akash, Dubai
May the boy’s soul rest in peace. I hope the wound of his family members heals over time. Losing a child is the most horrible and painful experience a parent can have.
This incident is a reminder that every parent should keep a watch on their child all the time. You never know what people have in their mind. In this sinful world we have to be extra cautious.
Shirley Olazo Cortez, Dubai
This is absolutely shocking. It is beyond belief that a friend is alleged to have committed such a horrendous crime. If true, the man should be ashamed of himself. It is due to people like these who continue to betray trust and relations that parents are compelled to suspect every individual getting close to their children. Whoever is guilty of this crime deserves nothing less than capital punishment or life imprisonment.
Fatima Suhail, Sharjah
Some of these crimes are manifestations of a social problem. Capital punishment will not solve the issue. One small thing we can do is establish a helpline for children and conduct counselling sessions for adults.
Aditya Kothare, Dubai
Let women take the call on hijab
After reading Faisal Al Yafai's opinion article, Hatred of the hijab is part of a broader anger against women (May 18), I would like to suggest that we leave the decision whether to wear a hijab or not to a council of women.
I think the majority of women would love to make their own decisions on what to wear and what not to wear. You might be surprised at the result.
What bothers me, as a westerner, is the fact that men want to decide how women should dress in public. In my opinion, that is basically wrong. Whether women want to be seen or not is up to them.
Guy Filion, Dubai
Shubh Mangal Saavdhan
Directed by: RS Prasanna
Starring: Ayushmann Khurrana, Bhumi Pednekar
Scotland v Ireland:
Scotland (15-1): Stuart Hogg; Tommy Seymour, Huw Jones, Sam Johnson, Sean Maitland; Finn Russell, Greig Laidlaw (capt); Josh Strauss, James Ritchie, Ryan Wilson; Jonny Gray, Grant Gilchrist; Simon Berghan, Stuart McInally, Allan Dell
Replacements: Fraser Brown, Jamie Bhatti, D'arcy Rae, Ben Toolis, Rob Harley, Ali Price, Pete Horne, Blair Kinghorn
Coach: Gregor Townsend (SCO)
Ireland (15-1): Rob Kearney; Keith Earls, Chris Farrell, Bundee Aki, Jacob Stockdale; Jonathan Sexton, Conor Murray; Jack Conan, Sean O'Brien, Peter O'Mahony; James Ryan, Quinn Roux; Tadhg Furlong, Rory Best (capt), Cian Healy
Replacements: Sean Cronin, Dave Kilcoyne, Andrew Porter, Ultan Dillane, Josh van der Flier, John Cooney, Joey Carbery, Jordan Larmour
Coach: Joe Schmidt (NZL)
You may remember …
Robbie Keane (Atletico de Kolkata) The Irish striker is, along with his former Spurs teammate Dimitar Berbatov, the headline figure in this season’s ISL, having joined defending champions ATK. His grand entrance after arrival from Major League Soccer in the US will be delayed by three games, though, due to a knee injury.
Dimitar Berbatov (Kerala Blasters) Word has it that Rene Meulensteen, the Kerala manager, plans to deploy his Bulgarian star in central midfield. The idea of Berbatov as an all-action, box-to-box midfielder, might jar with Spurs and Manchester United supporters, who more likely recall an always-languid, often-lazy striker.
Wes Brown (Kerala Blasters) Revived his playing career last season to help out at Blackburn Rovers, where he was also a coach. Since then, the 23-cap England centre back, who is now 38, has been reunited with the former Manchester United assistant coach Meulensteen, after signing for Kerala.
Andre Bikey (Jamshedpur) The Cameroonian defender is onto the 17th club of a career has taken him to Spain, Portugal, Russia, the UK, Greece, and now India. He is still only 32, so there is plenty of time to add to that tally, too. Scored goals against Liverpool and Chelsea during his time with Reading in England.
Emiliano Alfaro (Pune City) The Uruguayan striker has played for Liverpool – the Montevideo one, rather than the better-known side in England – and Lazio in Italy. He was prolific for a season at Al Wasl in the Arabian Gulf League in 2012/13. He returned for one season with Fujairah, whom he left to join Pune.
At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
Sarfira
Director: Sudha Kongara Prasad
Starring: Akshay Kumar, Radhika Madan, Paresh Rawal
Rating: 2/5
