Do you agree with our readers? Have your say on these MetroTalk topics and more in the comments
Is 'ceasefire' really the US 'surrendering' in war with Iran?
Donald Trump has paused attacks on Iran, having previously stated that a ‘whole civilization will die’ if his demands were not met (Metro, Wed). How humbling for Trump and the US to have surrendered in the war with Iran. I know that to save face it’s been called a ‘ceasefire’ but we all can see through the spin. Fred, Hampshire
‘Thousands of innocents will be murdered’
So, Israel and the US can illegally attack any sovereign nation and get away with it. Israel has been lying for years regarding Iran’s nuclear weapons programme. This is nothing but a distraction, yet thousands of innocents will be murdered by these nations. Joy, Shepherd’s Bush
Trump is a ‘bully’, says reader
Garry Taylor says there is an imbalance of anti-Trump letters in MetroTalk, while Molly Neville praises the US president for comparing our own prime minister to Hitler appeaser Neville Chamberlain (MetroTalk, Wed).
Trump bullies his way into getting something that wasn’t an issue before his mad intervention (supported by equally ethically challenged people such as Nigel Farage) yet right-minded folk such as Sir Keir Starmer, with their regard for humanity, are the ones in the wrong?
Truly our civilisation is but a veneer. Agatha, Surrey
Social media on the world stage is a bad look, says reader
Got a question about UK politics?
Send in yours and Metro’s Senior Politics Reporter Craig Munro will answer it in an upcoming edition of our weekly politics newsletter. Email alrightgov@metro.co.uk or submit your question here.
Much comment has already been made about Donald Trump’s expletive-ridden messaging on his Truth Social platform (MetroTalk, Wed). I am more concerned he is using social media to conduct his business on the world stage and not the conventional diplomatic channels used by other world leaders. Perhaps his preferred outlet should be renamed Untruth Antisocial! Rod, Greater Manchester
Does the RAF need new accolade for those shooting drones?
The concept of a ‘fighter ace’ emerged in 1915, when naval and military pilots were engaged, typically, in dogfights. Five ‘kills’ of enemy aircraft earned a pilot the accolade.
The Royal Air Force has announced that four RAF Regiment gunners are to be known as ‘aces’. These gunners each shot down five or more Iranian drones during recent operations in the Middle East – keep up the good work!
However, fighter aces had to contend with flying their aircraft, usually under enemy fire and while taking evasive action. One such action is remarkable, five or more heroic. To use the term ‘ace’ for shooting down five or more drones smacks of hyperbole. Betterwould be another term used for such good shooting, so as to avoid diminishing the accolade awarded to brave pilots and aircrew.
A new accolade would also, rightly, set these gunners apart. Perhaps ‘fighter ace’ and ‘drone ace’ would be sufficient distinction but distinction there should be – good shooting in the air is different to good shooting of drones from land or sea. Lester May (Lieutenant Commander, Royal Navy, rtd), Camden Town
Reader agrees with Olympics ruling over trans athletes
Helen (MetroTalk, Tue) suggests the International Olympic Committee is wrong to have banned trans women from competing in the Games.
Many sports in which men participate do not actually exclude those who are not male, therefore the elite will usually qualify – irrespective of their gender or biological identity.
However for women it is different. Their hopes of qualifying for the female events could be dashed if non-biological females are permitted to participate. Dan, Middlesex
Public need reminding they must follow the law when renting e-bikes
Regarding the warning over cheap e-bike batteries catching fire (Metro, Tue). Rental e-bikes have become hugely popular.
The trouble is many users are not experienced cyclists. The intoxicating sense of freedom they enjoy often leads to atrocious behaviour – not just ignoring red lights but dashing down one-way streets, pushing across pedestrian crossings regardless of the signal, and riding along while holding a mobile in one hand, even sending texts. Many cyclists do these but e-hire bike-riders are by a long way the worst offenders in my experience.
In the interests of safety, couldn’t rental firms be asked to remind users that when hiring a bike they are obliged to follow the law? Peter, London
Resident joker ties himself up in knots
Did you hear about the unemployed contortionist? They couldn’t make ends meet. Jeff, Nuneaton
Do you agree with our readers? Have your say on these MetroTalk topics and more in the comments