Silvio Berlusconi's resignation marks the end of an era, readers say, for good or ill. Alessia Pierdomenico / Reuters
Silvio Berlusconi's resignation marks the end of an era, readers say, for good or ill. Alessia Pierdomenico / Reuters

As Italy's crisis deepens, an ugly exit for Berlusconi



This is in reference to your article Berlusconi to resign over debt crisis (November 9). Silvio Berlusconi is a media mogul who was somehow able to survive sex scandals, criminal allegations and corruption charges during his many years in public office.

But causing the euro zone's third-largest economy to sink under the weight of Europe's debt mess forced him to step aside for the good of the country.

Watching him fall, and observing his government's failure to revive Italy's stalled economy, was quite heartbreaking for citizens. Sure, we understood the sole purpose was to reassure the markets, but we Italians never thought that we would be the next Greece.

Didn't we rest on more solid fundamentals? Apparently not. Now we all have trouble sleeping at night these days.

Gabriela Lombardiame, Abu Dhabi

The Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi will be missed on the global political stage. For years he brought style, class and colour to his job.

Rajendra Aneja, Dubai

Europe can't lose its manufacturing

Most European countries have exported their most valuable assets, including industry and manufacturing, to faraway lands. Perhaps this is why Britain's prime minister is so pessimistic (UK's Cameron says he doubts future of euro zone, November 12).

If Europe is to survive it needs to bring manufacturing to its backyard, returning jobs and capital to a region starved of both. If a country is not manufacturing what can it export? Only labour. It is this trend that is most dangerous to Europe's long-term future.

A Kianin, Dubai

Never too late for mosque at the top

After so much erroneous publicity about a mosque on the top floor of the Burj Khalifa (Tall tale of the mosque that never was, November 13) it is clear what must happen now: the developer should place a mosque where it was once assumed to have been.

This will not only earn them blessings but also help them by way of a great PR exercise. There must not be any compromise.

Amit Bhattacharji, Dubai

Beijing struggles with pollution

I was deeply and sadly struck by the news report Pollution on the tip of every tongue (November 12) about the crisis of air pollution in Beijing.

Human rights abuses, mine disasters and adulterated products are all bad enough, but what can you say about a government that has allowed the air to become poisoned so badly that people have to stay inside and buy purifiers just to be able to breathe? How can a regime like that claim to be serving the people?

Other countries have big cities and bad air, but by all accounts Beijing is the worst of them all.

The story gets worse when we learn that the top leaders have arranged to have air purifying machinery provided for their own personal use.

This is worse than the legendary "let them eat cake". The Chinese leaders are saying "let them not breathe".

Patrick Caron, Dubai

Britney dazzled those who stayed

I attended the Britney Spears show at Yas Island and must respond to claims by some fans that her set was too short and did not include top hits (Britney dazzles in F1 concert opener, November 12). Actually she did sing Baby One More Time, and her whole set list was a total of 21 songs, which is more than a lot of artists bother to perform.

I'm amazed at her energy and stamina, which allowed her to perform for an hour and a half. Some people left after she performed Womanizer, without realising that she had two encore performances still to go.

I guess some people missed it.

I really hope Britney comes to Dubai to perform soon.

Carla Corsino-Estrada, Dubai

Invest more to prevent pandemic

This is an excellent article (Next pandemic is 'not a matter of if', November 11).

The last scene of Contagion shows us why the pandemic started: because there are no veterinarians and there is no enforcement of biosecurity standards.

Nearly all pandemic diseases come from animals; a pandemic in humans is inevitable unless we make the effort to prevent it by disease control in animals. But in this regard we don't invest enough.

A report coming out soon estimates the spending required to bring developing countries veterinary and public health standards at some $3.3 billion per year, a fraction of the $100 billion spent annually to prevent terrorism. Name withheld by request

The specs
Engine: 77.4kW all-wheel-drive dual motor
Power: 320bhp
Torque: 605Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh219,000
On sale: Now
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The specs

Engine: Direct injection 4-cylinder 1.4-litre
Power: 150hp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: From Dh139,000
On sale: Now

Race card

4pm Al Bastakiya Listed US$300,000 (Dirt) 1,900m

4.35pm Mahab Al Shimaal Group 3 $350,000 (D) 1,200m

5.10pm Nad Al Sheba Turf Group 3 $350,000 (Turf) 1,200m

5.45pm Burj Nahaar Group 3 $350,000 (D) 1,600m

6.20pm Jebel Hatta Group 1 $400,000 (T) 1,800m

6.55pm Al Maktoum Challenge Round-3 Group 1 $600,000 (D) 2,000m

7.30pm Dubai City Of Gold Group 2 $350,000 (T) 2,410m

The National selections:

4pm Zabardast

4.35pm Ibn Malik

5.10pm Space Blues

5.45pm Kimbear

6.20pm Barney Roy

6.55pm Matterhorn

7.30pm Defoe

Director: Laxman Utekar

Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna

Rating: 1/5

How to protect yourself when air quality drops

Install an air filter in your home.

Close your windows and turn on the AC.

Shower or bath after being outside.

Wear a face mask.

Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.

If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.

England's Ashes squad

Joe Root (captain), Moeen Ali, Jimmy Anderson, Jofra Archer, Jonny Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler, Sam Curran, Joe Denly, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, Olly Stone, Chris Woakes. 

Results

2pm: Handicap Dh 90,000 1,800m; Winner: Majestic Thunder, Tadhg O’Shea (jockey), Satish Seemar (trainer).

2.30pm: Handicap Dh120,000 1,950m; Winner: Just A Penny, Sam Hitchcott, Doug Watson.

3pm: Handicap Dh105,000 1,600m; Winner: Native Appeal, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.

3.30pm: Jebel Ali Classic Conditions Dh300,000 1,400m; Winner: Thegreatcollection, Adrie de Vries, Doug Watson.

4pm: Maiden Dh75,000 1,600m; Winner: Oktalgano, Xavier Ziani, Salem bin Ghadayer.

4.30pm: Conditions Dh250,000 1,400m; Winner: Madame Ellingtina, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.

5pm: Maiden Dh75,000 1,600m; Winner: Mystery Land, Fabrice Veron, Helal Al Alawi.

5.30pm: Handicap Dh85,000 1,000m; Winner: Shanaghai City, Jesus Rosales, Rashed Bouresly.

Emergency

Director: Kangana Ranaut

Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Anupam Kher, Shreyas Talpade, Milind Soman, Mahima Chaudhry 

Rating: 2/5

Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
 
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
 
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
 
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
 
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
'Hocus%20Pocus%202'
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