Correspondence

Power is determined by the willingness to use it. Since 1940 British foreign policy has been to draw ever closer to the White House. [...]in comes Joe Biden to complete the process of destroying the international respect in which the Western alliance was formerly held. Practices include back-cutting and chest-beating. Because Shia Muslims are a minority, and the Taliban is Sunni, only time will tell what the Taliban takeover means for Shia practices. Ian Fraser Harrogate British blind spot Phil Whitaker refers to the need to block the sun from windows during the day to reduce the impact of "extreme heat events" (Health Matters, 27 August).