Can Putin win the confidence of Crimean people?

A reader believes by annexing Crimea, Mr Putin has shouldered additional responsibilities that could complicate matters in the future. Other topics: driving, inflation, girl education, youths, iPhone 5C, Shakil Afridi

People in Moscow express support for Russia’s annexation of Crimea. A reader says by doing so, Vladimir Putin has shouldered additional responsibilities that are likely to complicate matters in the future. Maxim Shemetov / ReutersShow less

The recognition of Crimea as an independent state following the Russian-backed referendum may have brought the matter to an end, but only temporarily. Although the initial stage has passed, there will be many unresolved issues that might confuse the people of the newly recognised state and lead to conflicts in the future.

With almost 100 per cent of the voters in Crimea supporting the separation, the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, has shouldered some additional responsibilities that are likely to complicate the issues in the future.

Even though there was a large turnout in the referendum, its honesty is being challenged by western countries, particularly the United States.

Can Mr Putin truly win the confidence of the Crimean people? This might be a question to ask in the next few days, when things become more severe following the US-backed sanctions.

At the same time, with this development the Russian part of the world is also entering into conflicts, which will ultimately affect the economy of many countries in the region.

Ramachandran Nair, Oman

Some drivers refuse to learn

Everyone knows the risk of texting while driving (Male drivers three times more likely to use mobiles when driving, UAE police study reveals, March 18). Yet I wonder why people do it. I know some people who have composed emails while driving on Sheikh Zayed Road. And in no way can you make them see or understand the consequences of their actions.

I think there should be some kind of rehabilitation put in place for these people.

Ameerah Jolene-Ann van Heerden, Dubai

Inflation can bring social problems

This refers to the article Rising rents drive Dubai inflation to highest in five years (March 16). "We've been warning for some time that in such an environment inflation is bound to rise.

Today’s number is likely to be just the start,” Simon Williams, the chief economist at HSBC Middle East, said referring to the figures released by Dubai Statistics Centre.

Many others have said the same thing. But no one seems to pay heed to those warnings.

Prices of commodities are skyrocketing. On the one hand, the UAE is progressing by leaps and bounds, but on the other the economic pressure on individuals is increasing. This might lead to problems.

Name withheld by request

Helpful youths are too few in number

I refer to the news report Trying to be nice might get you arrested (March 14). The poor man could be emotionally scarred for life over this. If he was only trying to be nice, I doubt he will ever want to be helpful again. Sadly, there are far too few helpful young men around.

Surely the courts don’t waste their time on this sort of thing. They will have a constant stream of far more evil people standing in front of them if, as reported, the GCC is regarded a prime turf for narcoterrorists.

Rebecca Johnston, Dubai

Female education worth highlighting

Thank you, The National, for highlighting Unesco's Education for All 2015 initiative (New call for action on education for girls, March 17).

The Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), the US government’s development finance institution, shares this goal and has found success combining innovation with education.

OPIC-supported Kenyan schools boast a particularly innovative model for reaching large numbers of low-income African students.

Judith Pryor, US

iPhone 5C is not worth the price

The iPhone 5C maybe the cheapest iPhone, but it is far more expensive than the most expensive Android phones with specs from nearly two years back (Apple replaces iPad 2 with iPad 4 and launches cheapest iPhone ever, March 19). Is it really a price war if you release a cheaper version with less storage of an unpopular model?

Mark Langton, Abu Dhabi

Why is a hero languishing in jail?

I refer to the article US military ordered destruction of bin Laden corpse photos (February 11). I still wonder why the hero of the operation, Dr Shakil Afridi, who helped the US track down bin Laden in Pakistan is in a Pakistani jail and the criminals who were hiding bin Laden are roaming free.

Name withheld by request