A very close US election keeps the world on edge

I am writing with with reference to your US Elections coverage (November 3). At the time of writing, it is a very close race between incumbent US President Donald Trump and his Democratic opponent Joe Biden. However the result will come out soon, and whoever wins, the outcome must be accepted by everyone because it will reflect the will of the American people. Covid-19 has been a main challenge for the Trump administration as one quarter of a million lives were lost to the virus.

K Ragavan, Bengaluru

Claiming victory before official results is not a good sign

I write to you with reference to your article US Election 2020: Both sides claiming path to victory but results too close to call (November 4).

The US now has one more thing in common with Africa. This type of behaviour from presidential candidates is actually prevalent in African countries.

Maganathin Marcus Veeraragaloo, South Africa

Sean Connery is a legend and will always be remembered

I write to you with regards to Gemma White's article 'The Next Man': Remembering when Sean Connery played a Saudi Arabian minister (November 2). Sean Connery will be missed for his extraordinary acting prowess and brilliant portrayals of all his varied characters. He will, however, be most remembered for playing the role of James Bond.

Many talented actors have played Bond over the years. However, Connery will always be the one and only James Bond, for many of us. For me, James Bond was Sean Connery; Sean Connery was James Bond. The two were synonymous. He was irreplaceable as the suave, gritty, yet vulnerable Bond, especially with his witty one-liners, whenever he neutralised an evil opponent.

Connery was a brilliant actor who could convey his emotions simply through his gaze. In any given scene, his eyes reflected his thoughts and feelings. Of late, Bond movies have relied inordinately on muscle power, stunts and sound effects. The violence has often been uncalled for. When Connery played Bond, he relied on ideas and wit to neutralise the villain. His was also an era of elan, elegant suits, starched white shirts, stylish cuff-links and muted British fashion.

As underscored in you beautiful obituary, Connery came from a modest family. His father was a truck driver, his mother was a cleaning lady. At the age of 13, he worked as a milk delivery boy. Yet, eventually, Connery worked his way to stardom. He taught us that if you have the talent and the will, there is no limit to what you can achieve.

His departure has saddened me immensely.

Rajendra Aneja, Dubai