Papers focus on Dubai debt crisis

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/8382080.stm

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The debt crisis in Dubai features prominently in many of the newspapers.

The <a class="inlineText" href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1231305/Brash-flash-built-mind-boggling-scale-monument-vanity-greed---Dubai-sinking-48bn-debts.html">Daily Mail says, for many, the only surprise is how long it took for the house of cards to collapse</a> and calls Dubai a "monument to vanity and greed'.

The <a class="inlineText" href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2009/nov/26/double-dip-recession-dubai-debt">Guardian says it is sparking fears of a new financial meltdown,</a> while the <a class="inlineText" href="http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/e3da189c-da63-11de-9c32-00144feabdc0.html">Financial Times reports the fallout is spreading</a> throughout emerging markets.

The <a class="inlineText" href="http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/dubai-debt-shock-knocks-16314bn-off-bank-shares-1828752.html">Independent agrees there will be far-reaching effects</a> of "the collapse of an economy that was built on sand".

Stinking rich

The <a class="inlineText" href="http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2009/11/26/how-to-buy-no-10-115875-21850874/">Daily Mirror tells us about a Conservative party plan to offer tax breaks</a> to married couples.

It says well-off households would gain the most - to the tune of £380 a year - while the poorest would get just £30.

The <a class="inlineText" href="http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/forget-gold-and-silver-invest-in-garlic-1828755.html">Independent advises investing in garlic</a> because prices have rocketed 40-fold on the back of a mistaken belief it can protect against swine flu.

The <a class="inlineText" href="http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/2748085/Managing-top-football-club-can-turn-hair-grey-in-6-years-research-shows.html">Sun reports that being a football manager is now so stressful, it turns the hair grey </a> within six years.

Expenses scandals

Many papers cover plans to give Peers a £3,000 annual pay rise - just for turning up at the House of Lords.

The <a class="inlineText" href="http://www.ft.com/world/uk">Financial Times claims it is to "sweeten the pill"</a> of a "tighter expenses regime".

While the <a class="inlineText" href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/index.html">Daily Mail warns unscrupulous members would be able to "clock in and clear off" </a> without doing a full day as there is no way to monitor their time.

The <a class="inlineText" href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/">Daily Telegraph says the new system is designed to toughen rules</a> following previous expenses scandals.

Gatecrashing

The <a class="inlineText" href="http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/142718/Health-and-safety-fears-result-in-fake-Christmas-tree-for-Poole">Daily Express says Poole in Dorset has spent £14,000 on a fake Christmas tree,</a> because a real one was considered too great a risk to public safety.

<a class="inlineText" href="http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/2747928/KILLJOY-town-officials-axe-dangerous-Christmas-trees-in-Poole-Dorset.html">Under the headline "Elf and Safe Tree", the Sun</a> also pokes fun at the "traffic cone" installed in the town centre.

The <a class="inlineText" href="http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article6932858.ece">Times gives tips on gatecrashing </a> as it reports on a US couple who talked their way into a White House party.

The paper shows Michaele Salahi smiling broadly as she has her picture taken with Vice President Joe Biden.