Is America's perennial gun problem ever going away?

With reference to The National's report Two children dead and 17 injured in Minneapolis school shooting (August 28): It's incredible to me that the America still has a ban on Kinder Surprise eggs because of their "potential harm" but guns are okay. What kind of a world do we live in?

Zahra H, Dubai

Back to School was just this week and we've already managed to instil anxiety all over again in a whole bunch of American children who will be afraid to enter a classroom again, and for no fault of theirs.

Faraz M, Rockford, Illinois

Tom Barrack's dubious choice of words in Lebanon

In reference to Nada Homsi's report Beauty and beast versus 'animalistic' media: Barrack and Ortagus in awkward Beirut briefing (August 26): I am surprised the media did not walk out of the room.

Amal Harb, Abu Dhabi

It may be that he's never seen his own country from the outside.

Angie Hickman, Franklin, Tennessee, US

"Act civilised... this is the problem happening in the region". His audacity is shocking in actually saying that. The biggest problem in the region is the continual interference from European nations and the US creating political lines and conditions that are unsustainable to the local populations, who have known civilisation for thousands of years longer than the west.

Shiva Naik, Dubai

An Emirati role model for young women

With regard to Shireena Al Nowais's article First Emirati to hold top UN tourism job reveals plan to unlock Africa and Latin America (August 28): This is great to see, what a remarkable inspiration to young Emirati women.

Amaal Maaki, Abu Dhabi

No limit to the worsening horrors in Gaza

In reference to the piece by Nada AlTaher and Rakan Abdel El Rahman Startling new details reveal how Gazans are lured to their deaths in aid queues (August 5): This is one of the most heartbreaking and depraved situations I have ever heard about. I can't understand how any human being can commit or condone this kind of behaviour and to have this on their conscience.

Laura May, Abu Dhabi

What kind of people commit such crimes and keep repeating them when the cost is so apparent. How is it that there is no fear of an eventual judgment and no love in their hearts or any basic humanity?

Anna Catarina Ferreira Fonseca, Lisbon, Portugal