Gold rates for December 05, 2015

DD/TT RATES AT 10.00 AM - 5 December 2015

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After having many daughters , an Arab father was eager to have a boy. During this particular pregnancy of his wife he used to tell her, “Don’t have another girl.”

The mother to give birth to another girl and when the father learned this, he got so ‘upset’, he called his daughter, ‘Kefayah’, which means ‘enough’ in English.

The mother wasn’t happy when the father rushed to register the daughter with the name Kefayah, so even when the father called her that name, she decided to call her daughter ‘Eman’, which means ‘faith’ in English.

Today, Kefayah has a smile on her face as she narrates the story to us. “I grew up with my family calling me two different names - some would call me ‘Eman’ including my mom, and my father would call me ‘Kefayah’.

“When I was a child I couldn’t understand why I was called these two names. As I grew older I started questioning my mom.

“She justified it as saying your father loves one name and I love the other, so why not?,” says Kefayah.

After having too many questions from her classmates about why she had an “unusual” name, she insisted on knowing the answer.

Her mother told her and Kefayah was shocked; because her father loves her the most and never ever treated her badly.

“It’s not my fault that I was born a girl, I didn’t choose it, so I kept on using the name ‘Eman’, to avoid the questions about my weird name,” she added.

As she reached high school, she share her story, and she was surprised with the reactions of her friends.

“Most of them would say, ‘Wow that’s an amazing story’, or ‘Your name is so unique’, and even one girl told me “I wish I had a story like yours so that I could talk about all the time,” so I began thinking… ok, maybe my name is unique and not as weird as I used to think,” says Kefayah.

A well written cover letter is the first step that can take you an inch closer to a job.

A compelling cover letter will make a recruiter move on to take a look at your resume…further pushing you closer to the job.

However, many of the cover letters that recruiters get are bland, forgettable and often way too long, finding their way to the delete route.

A cover letter is your first introduction as a candidate well suited to the job. It’s your first opportunity to shine, stand out from the crowd, increase your chance of being shortlisted for an interview or it could be your last one as well if you make this first impression a bad one.

Here are some pointers to keep in mind while writing a cover letter to ensure that you do get noticed.

1# Brief and to the point

Respect the time of hiring managers. They will only spare a few seconds or perhaps a minute to scan your application.

So, it’s important that you keep your cover letter short and precise. Ideally, a half page-long cover letter is ideal, according to experts at jobs website Monster and you should be able to make the perfect pitch for the job in this given space.

2# Why should you be shortlisted?

The cover letter, being the first tool in marketing yourself for the job, should mention your educational, professional background and qualities that make you the right candidate for the job to ensure you get an interview call.

To be able to do this, carefully read what does the job entail, pick a few pointers from there and answer them in the best possible way.

3# Don’t just copy your CV

Many candidates make the mistake of just copying their resumes in the cover letter. Be a bit more creative and write it afresh without copying lines from your CV.

This is the place to highlight your achievements or events that have been very important in your career life or explain any holes, like employment gap, that a recruiter would want to know. You can also add some numbers/details to prove that you are a result-oriented candidate.

4# Customise your letter

Just as with you CV it’s very important that you customise each of your cover letters. Each job you apply to is different so tweak it as per the description and demands of the employer.

Read the job description very thoroughly and then adapt the letter to ensure that you have the skills and experience that the recruiter is looking for.

5# Give a final check

Even if you have customized your cover letter don’t be in a rush to click on the send button. Take time to read it several times, edit it if needed, run a spell check and ask someone else to read it as well. Typos and grammatical errors can make a bad impression but you can easily avoid this by spending a few more minutes by rechecking.
 

Two years ago, Tashfeen Malik was a new bride radiating beauty and happiness at a reception for hundreds at a California mosque to celebrate her marriage to Syed Rizwan Farook.

On Friday, people attending prayers at the same mosque struggled to reconcile their memories of that happy event with news that Farook, 28, and Malik, 29, killed 14 people in a shooting rampage Wednesday in the city of San Bernardino. Both died in a later shootout with police, and the FBI is investigating the massacre as an "act of terrorism."

Malik was brought to Southern California from Saudi Arabia by Farook.

A native of Pakistan, she appears to have left a less visible footprint here than her US-born husband, who had a public sector job and family here. They left behind a 6-month-old daughter.

"She was a beautiful lady. She was very happy that night," said Nasima Nila, 31, who attended the reception at the Islamic Center of Riverside. "She was a new bride."

She was also very quiet. Attendees recalled that at the celebration, where women and men were separated, Malik quietly sat on a couch on the women's side of the mosque and said little other than thanking community members for their congratulations and answering simple questions if asked, Nila said.

She was speaking English that night, community members recalled, and mostly interacted with relatives.

Nila said she never saw Malik after the reception, which mosque director Mustafa Kuko said 250 to 300 people attended. 

Some of the men knew Farook said they had never met his wife.
On Friday, social media network Facebook confirmed that comments praising Daesh (IS) were posted around the time of the mass shooting to a Facebook account established under an alias by Malik. However, it was uncertain whether the comments were posted by Malik herself.

FAROOK: 'VERY QUIET PERSON'

Between 2012 and 2014, Farook would come to the mosque twice a day - for the morning prayers, as early as 4:30 am and evening prayers after work - said the mosque's director, Mustafa Kuko, and asked for his blessing before going to Saudi Arabia to marry Malik.

Several men at the mosque who knew Farook said he loved cars and would often perform free oil changes for people in the parking lot.

Amir Abdul-Jalil, 50, said he was good friends with Farook. He said he was one of the "sweetest Muslims I ever met" and that Farook had invited him over for dinner one night a couple years ago, before he was married.

Abdul-Jalil said he met Malik once, but did not speak with her beyond exchanging pleasantries.
"I loved this brother and I'm so hurt today," Abdul-Jalil said. "I can't believe that the guy I knew would do this."

At another area mosque, the Dar-Al-Uloom Al-Islamiyah, where Farook went more recently about two to three times a week, Gasser Shehata said he knew Farook to be "a very quiet person, more on the shy side."

Shehata also attended the wedding reception, which he described as jovial, and said Farook was delighted with his new daughter.

"When he had the baby, he was extremely happy," Shehata said. "If something happened to him, it happened very recently, in the last 30 to 60 days."

Attendance at Friday prayers at both mosques was thinner than usual and some members said their family and friends had advised them against going for fear of a violent backlash.

Afarin Rahmani, 44, said she felt "guilty" that someone from her community was responsible for the shootings.

"People blame us with everything going on. You start to feel guilty," she said. "I would have taken the bullet. We are all afraid of the same things." 
 

Urvashi Rautela, Miss India 2015, poses for a photo during registration at the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada on December 4, 2015. (AFP)

Paola Nunez, Miss Canada 2015, poses for a photo during registration at the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada on December 4, 2015. The 2015 Miss Universe contestants are touring, filming, rehearsing and preparing to compete for the DIC Crown in Las Vegas. (AFP)
Ariadna Gurierrez, Miss Colombia 2015 poses for a photo during registration at the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada on December 4, 2015. (AFP)
Cynthia Samuel, Miss Lebanon 2015 poses for a photo during registration at the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada on December 4, 2015. (AFP)
 

Catalina Morales, Miss Puerto Rico 2015, poses during registration at the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas on December 3rd, 2015. (AFP)
 

Annelies Törös, Miss Belgium 2015, poses during registration at the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas on on December 2, 2015. (AFP)Chennai floods drown Dubai resident in waves of anxiety, despair.

Miss Bolivia 2015, poses for a photo during registration at the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada on December 4, 2015. The 2015 Miss Universe contestants are touring, filming, rehearsing and preparing to compete for the DIC Crown in Las Vegas. (AFP)

 

As the floods seem to have Chennai by the throat – literally – post the incessant rain which killed 280 people, the water nightmare drowned Chennai residents as far as Dubai.

DD, who asked us to only use his initials, tells us this harrowing tale which began on Wednesday, December  2, 2015.

“My mother Mrinalini Somasundaram lives in

Theagaraya Nagar, or T Nagar.

“As floods of emotion flow through me it is hard to comprehend a picture when you have not seen it.

“I now know all is well, but not to be here and not to be in touch is the most difficult thing.

“Having everything and having nothing is a fine line.

“The last picture my mum sent me was on Wednesday, of a car sinking down by the lot in front of her apartment.

“The water is rising, she said, and so was my anxiety.

“When I spoke to her on Wednesday, I thought it was all a joke. And then, I lost contact.

“ Her UPS lost power and so did her mobile phone.

“I was desperately trying to call her on Thursday morning, but was unable to reach her.

“Desperate and frantic I began calling everyone I knew in Chennai, but to no avail… all mobile lines were down; or so it seemed.”

“ I finally got in touch with a friend, Vijay Kurien, and asked him to go to my mum, dreading the worst.

“He said he it would take him a couple of hours at least.

“After those couple of hours, I began to call him.

“Now his mobile was dead.

“Absolute chaos, absolute frantic-ness ensued.

“I was just lost and anxious.

“Finally, I got in touch with Vijay on Thursday night.

“He said he made it to my mother through neck deep water, carrying bread and water. She was alive. She was ok.

“He called me from some distant place where he could find a signal to tell me this.

“I have not spoken to my mum yet. She is still stuck in her apartment.

“And they keep talking about another storm coming…”

Chennai, in the aftermath of devastating floods

Residents in India's southern Tamil Nadu state Saturday were grappling with the aftermath of devastating floods as authorities stepped up relief work following the worst deluge in decades that killed over 250 people.

Thousands of people in Chennai took to the mud-filled streets to buy essentials as authorities worked to restore communication and road networks after Tuesday's record rains worsened weeks of flooding, leaving hundreds of thousands of residents marooned in the state capital.

Residents jostled at grocery stores, petrol stations and cash  machines, with the city reeling under a severe shortage of supplies, including drinking water, after the rains finally stopped on Thursday.

"I had to wait almost three hours at the petrol station with more than 200 people trying to get fuel," local resident V Prabhakaran told AFP, adding filling stations have started rationing petrol.

Mobile communication services were badly hit by damage to power infrastructure and a shortage of fuel. The authorities said shortages of essential goods will start to ease as road and rail links are restored and dozens of special trains were running to bring in relief material.

Chennai's international airport was opened for relief flights, four days after planes and the runway were submerged. Officials hope commercial services will resume Sunday.

Hundreds of flood-hit cars and motorcycles remained piled up in the streets of Chennai, which were coated with a thick layer of mud.

Thousands of people were rescued earlier in the week in a massive operation by the Indian army and disaster management teams. Residents were plucked from the rooftops of their marooned homes by helicopters and boats following the devastating floods which officials said were caused by the worst rains in a century.

Rekha Nambiar, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), who is leading a relief team of more than 1,800 men in the state, said crews were carrying out relief work after flood waters started receding, with the focus on potable water.

"Rescue work is over. We are focused on relief now. We are trying to shift men and machinery to provide drinking water in the affected areas," Nambiar told AFP.

She said teams were cleaning up residential areas to avoid a disease outbreak as authorities distributed water purifying chlorine tablets.

"Right now people are in dire need of food, water and sanitation," she said.

Forecasters expect dry weather next week, ending a long spell of torrential rain.

Experts blamed poor urban planning for the devastation in India's fourth-largest city, home to nearly 4.6 million people, which has grown rapidly in the last few decades to become a major IT and automobile hub.

After having many daughters , an Arab father was eager to have a boy. During this particular pregnancy of his wife he used to tell her, “Don’t have another girl.”

The mother to give birth to another girl and when the father learned this, he got so ‘upset’, he called his daughter, ‘Kefayah’, which means ‘enough’ in English.

The mother wasn’t happy when the father rushed to register the daughter with the name Kefayah, so even when the father called her that name, she decided to call her daughter ‘Eman’, which means ‘faith’ in English.

Today, Kefayah has a smile on her face as she narrates the story to us. “I grew up with my family calling me two different names - some would call me ‘Eman’ including my mom, and my father would call me ‘Kefayah’.

“When I was a child I couldn’t understand why I was called these two names. As I grew older I started questioning my mom.

“She justified it as saying your father loves one name and I love the other, so why not?,” says Kefayah.

After having too many questions from her classmates about why she had an “unusual” name, she insisted on knowing the answer.

Her mother told her and Kefayah was shocked; because her father loves her the most and never ever treated her badly.

“It’s not my fault that I was born a girl, I didn’t choose it, so I kept on using the name ‘Eman’, to avoid the questions about my weird name,” she added.

As she reached high school, she share her story, and she was surprised with the reactions of her friends.

“Most of them would say, ‘Wow that’s an amazing story’, or ‘Your name is so unique’, and even one girl told me “I wish I had a story like yours so that I could talk about all the time,” so I began thinking… ok, maybe my name is unique and not as weird as I used to think,” says Kefayah.

Indian tennis star Sania Mirza refuted claims that she demanded money to attend a sporting evening, saying that she only asked for a private jet to save time.

Her official agency KWAN clarified that the demand for a private jet was made because of Sania Mirza tight schedule and long commercial flights.

Full statement by the agency managing Sania Mirza

Twitter

“As the official Agency, KWAN, managing Miss Sania Mirza’s account, this is in response to the recent comments made in the media which have been attributed to certain officials from Madhya Pradesh. We wish to clarify our position.

We had been directly dealing with the concerned persons in order to facilitate Miss Mirza’s visit for the event in which she was very keen to participate. It was to take place in Bhopal on 28th November, 2015 and we were well acquainted with the negotiations that were under way.

There was never any demand of Rs 5 lakhs on this occasion made by the Agency, as suggested by media reports. As Miss Mirza already committed to participate in an event in Goa on 29th November, and since the commercial flights were taking her 7 hours (including the stop-overs) to fly from Bhopal to Goa, it was practically impossible to her to be physically present for both these events unless she was accorded the facility of a private jet for flying from Bhopal to Goa. Hence, the request for a private jet had to be made for just the outgoing flight from Bhopal to ensure that Miss Mirza could honour her commitment in Goa – a commitment that had been made more than a month ago.

The practical impossibility of getting a popular celebrity to be present in two different corners of the country within a short span of time sometimes has to be tackled in this unusual manner and we are disappointed at the distasteful, damaging comments being floated against Miss Mirza by certain sections. It is particularly distressing for the Agency as well as our client since we were given the impression by the negotiating official from Madhya Pradesh that as it was practically impossible for Miss Mirza to attend the event on 28th, another date would be mutually decided upon for the same event when our client had more time available.”

Indranil Blah, CAA KWAN.

An Egyptian construction worker plunged to his death from the 13th floor in a building under construction in Saudi Arabia, police said.

The worker, in his 40s, was at work on top of the building in the Western Saudi town of Makkah when he lost his balance and fell down.

Police, quoted by ‘Sabq’ daily, said they are investigating the incident, adding that the worker died on impact.

 

Ranbir Kapoor and Deepika Padukone during a promotion of upcoming movie 'Tamasha' at Hotel Holiday, Punchkula. (Getty Images)

Ranbir Kapoor and Deepika Padukone make a perfect couple on-screen. They have been the talk of the town and their chemistry on and off screen is way too palpable.

The two hottest co-stars of Bollywood were in the news during their aggressive promotional events and their movie 'Tamasha'.

Sanskriti Media and Entertainment

The movie itself was an intense, romantic and pathfinding story that even involved a passionate lip-lock between the two ex-lovers.

So what does Ranbir's current girlfriend Katrina Kaif think about all this?

Ranbir and Deepika Padukone dance during a promotion of their film 'Tamasha'. (AP)

Katrina said that 'Tamasha' is an outstanding movie and that Ranbir was superb in it. However, in a recent interview with GQ, Katrina put forward her actual thoughts on her handsome boyfriend working with his ex-girlfriend, Deepika.

Katrina said when asked about Ranbir working with Deepika, "I can't enforce my will on the people in my life. Their choices are their own. I may not be happy with them but I hope that as they mature or as they evolve, their choices will change!"

Well, that says it all, doesn't it?

Kareena Kapoor says no to Hrithik?

AFP

Hrithik Roshan and Kareena Kapoor Khan make a good Bollywood on-screen couple, despite that they have never worked together after Subhash Ghai's film 'Yaadein' in 2003.

It was their rumoured affair during the movie that saw the two actors walk away in different directions.

Reports suggested that Kareena and Hrithik might come together for Sanjay Gupta's next.

Sanskriti Media

The makers had approached Kareena but Hrithik's father Rakesh Roshan clearly said that Kareena is not in the film.

A popular entertainment tabloid recently reported that Hrithik will be working with his director father Rakesh Roshan once again and the film is set to kick start in February. It doesn’t have a title yet but the daily reports that it will be love story cum revenge drama directed by Sanjay Gupta.

AFP

Sanjay Gupta tweeted: "Ok guys its true that I am working on my next with Hrithik and Rakeshji. But we have not confirmed the lead actress as yet. We will soon :-)."

He continued, "It would be any director's dream come true to get Hrithik and Kareena together for a film. But we have not finalised our heroine yet."

Karisma Kapoor's divorce getting messy?

Actress Karisma Kapoor and estranged husband Sunjay Kapur had filed a mutual consent divorce petition in Mumbai's Family Court and were to end their 12 year old marriage before the end of 2014.

And since, they are unable to reach a consensus, both the parties decided to withdraw the joint petition for divorce.

The court will decide after speaking to Sunjay. Karisma, who was present in the court went through a long counselling session behind closed doors.

Mid Day reports that Karisma and Sunjay have been arguing about is the terms of a Trust being set up for the welfare of their two children, Samaira and Kiaan Raj Kapoor.

Sunjay doesn't want to handover the control of the Trust to Karisma. As a result, Karisma is not giving Sunjay access to their children.

Karisma and Sunjay tied the knot in September 2003.

Preity Zinta getting married... soon?

Sanskriti Media and Entertainment

In the latest wedding buzz, Bollywood's dimpled girl Preity Zinta is all set to marry, according to the reports.

Though the actress herself has denied the news, Times Of India has reported that sources close enough to the actress have confirmed that she's about to fly to USA in January 2016.

AFP

There, she'll be getting married to her American boyfriend, Gene Goodenough at a small and intimate ceremony.

The two have been going steady for a while now and it was Gene who stood by Preity throughout her problems with her ex-boyfriend Ness Wadia.

Katrina doesn't like talking about Salman

Salman and Katrina promote 'Ek Tha Tiger'. (Supplied)

Katrina Kaif, who is Ranbir Kapoor's girlfriend, feels that it would be disrespecting her 'existing relationship' if she talks in public about her ex-boyfriend Salman Khan.

During an appearance on Niranjan Iyengar's talk show 'Look Who's Talking with Niranjan', Katrina was asked about her relationship with the 'Dabangg' actor.

AFP

Katrina replied: "He is an amazing person and everyone in and out of the industry knows that. His parents and family treated me like a daughter always. But it does not seem respectful to my existing relationship if I talk about Salman or his family in the media; hence I choose not to mostly."

On being asked about her 'existing relationship' and her marriage plans with Ranbir, she said: 'Ranbir is my all-time friend'.

Shah Rukh to bring Parineeti, Alia together?

According to rumours Shah Rukh Khan is going to produce a female oriented flick starring Alia Bhatt and Parineeti Chopra in the lead.

The film is said to be directed by Farah Khan, who has been holed out in Goa for some time now working on her script.

 Farah is considering Parineeti and Alia to star in her two heroine drama flick.

Farah has also revealed that Shah Rukh will be producing her next project.

Parineeti had a rough 2014 with back to back flops like 'Daawat-e-Ishq' and 'Kill Dil' while Alia has been giving one hit after another until 'Shaandaar'.

The two girls have been often pitted against each other and it will be interesting to see how things work out in this chick-flick.

Salman talks about rumoured girlfriend Iulia

AFP

The grapevine has always been abuzz with talks of Salman Khan and Romanian TV personality Iulia Vantur being in a relationship.

And some time back, there was a rumour doing the rounds that Salman is secretly engaged to Iulia.

AFP

But later the actor rubbished all the rumours by saying, "There is a lot of buzz about a lot of things about me, which is never true. Yes, I read what is written, hear what is said, and my right answer to your question would be that I am indifferent to all of it. The small things don't bother me at all, but they bother my parents. And that really bothers me."

Salman has always been linked to leading ladies such as Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Katrina Kaif.

But the actor is still unmarried and always laughs it off when he is asked about his marriage.

Yuvraj Singh, Hazel ready for marriage?

(AFP)

Before the dust could settle around the big fat Indian wedding of cricketer Harbhajan Singh and actress Geeta Basra, cricketer Yuvraj Singh and actress Hazel Keech's marriage rumours is creating a buzz in the gossip columns.

It is an open secret that Yuvraj and Hazel are a couple and the two attended Harbhajan's wedding together.

Indian media also reported that the couple will be formally engaged by the end of November and wedding will be held in February 2016.

Facebook

The cricketer's tongue-in-cheek reply to these rumours has put all speculations to an end.

The all-rounder took to Twitter to deny reports about his 'impending wedding'. He wrote, "So now my dear media has decided the venue and month of my marriage can u also tell me the dates so I can get ready well in time!"

Yuvraj had previously dated Bollywood actress Kim Sharma and was also linked with Deepika Padukone.

Shah Rukh Khan shows his 'love bite'

Twitter

Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan is back on the sets of Rohit Shetty's 'Dilwale' after his birthday celebrations and apparently the actor got into a bit of trouble.

The actor got in a 'pub brawl' which resulted in a bruise on his arm.

Shah Rukh posted a picture of his 'pretty and pink love-bite' explaining that since he is the 'romantic hero' and all that, even his injuries reflect the same.

Looks like the actor shot for a bar fight scene for 'Dilwale' and got this bruise.

He tweeted, "My love bite from a bar fight. Being a romantic hero even my injuries look…well…pretty & pink! From sets of #Dilwale."

Are Hrithik, Kangana avoiding each other?

Sanskriti

Rumours of a fling between Hrithik Roshan and Kangana Ranaut was the talk of the town till they decided to part ways.

The 'Queen' actress was rumoured to have ended the relationship as Hrithik was not ready to take it forward.

It was also speculated that perhaps they had a bitter break-up.

Sanskriti

The two actors, who worked together in 'Krrish 3', are till conscious of prying eyes. During the opening ceremony of ongoing MAMI film festival they avoided each other like the plague.

Though they had a common group of friends at the event, the two stars never mingled with them together.

Sanskriti

They did pose for a group picture and maintained a distance between them - much to their relief.

While Hrithik was seen chatting up with Alia Bhatt, Katrina Kaif and Aditya Roy Kapoor, Kangana was seated far away. However, as soon as Hrithik left the gang, Kangana joined the others and chatted away.

Deepika trying to follow Priyanka Chopra?

In this file photograph taken on April 28, 2015, Indian Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone poses during a promotional event ahead of the forthcoming Hindi film ‘Piku’ in Mumbai. AFP

Deepika Padukone is keen on doing Hollywood films and wants to explore to work in the West.

During the ongoing Jio MAMI festival the actress said that she is interested in doing Hollywood films and is ready to explore work opportunities.

Deepika was earlier offered a role in 'Furious 7' which she had to decline due to her commitment to 'Ram Leela' promotions.

Priyanka Chopra poses for a photograph during the 'Star Guild Awards 2015'. (AFP)

As she gears up for two back-to-back releases, Deepika said if something interesting comes her way she will definitely take it up.

Actors like Priyanka Chopra and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan have made appearances in Hollywood projects.

Priyanka is the first female actor from India to play lead in a US TV series. The actor is playing the role of Alex Parrish, a rookie FBI recruit with a mysterious past in 'Quantico'.

Anushka not ready to marry Virat

Last weekend, Anushka Sharma was spotted out with boyfriend Virat Kohli and her father on what was rumoured to be a house-hunting spree.

A report in mid-day quotes a source as saying, "Anushka and Virat have been open about their relationship because they are sure about taking it to the marriage altar. Their families will meet soon and decide the wedding date. In all likelihood, they will get hitched early next year."

But the actress isn't getting married any time soon, insists a statement on behalf of the 'Dil Dhadakne Do' star, seemingly impelled by reports in the press of a possible 2016 wedding to cricketer Virat Kohli.

The statement reads: "There is no truth to the stories/rumours about Anushka Sharma's impending wedding. Currently she is busy and happy with her work commitments. She has always been open about her life and would appreciate it and request everyone to wait for her to make announcements about her life instead of speculating."

Deepika, Ranbir's chemistry made Katrina insecure?

Actress Katrina Kaif has not asked filmmaker Anurag Basu to 'fire up' her chemistry with boyfriend Ranbir Kapoor in their upcoming comedy-drama film 'Jagga Jasoos', said her spokesperson.

(AFP)

Katrina is reportedly worried about Ranbir's chemistry with his former girlfriend, actress Deepika Padukone's in upcoming film 'Tamasha'.

"These rumours are clearly someone's imagination running wild. Though this makes fodder for gossip, it is categorically and entirely untrue. These stories are misleading to the audience and fans in general. Such idle gossip is really avoidable and childish," Katrina's spokesperson said in a statement.

Deepika and Ranbir are returning on the silver screen together after two years in filmmaker Imtiaz Ali's 'Tamasha', which is slated to release on November 26 in UAE.

Sanskriti Media and Entertainment

Meanwhile, 'Jagga Jasoos', which is slated to release in June next year, will feature the couple after 2010's 'Raajneeti'.

Two years ago, Tashfeen Malik was a new bride radiating beauty and happiness at a reception for hundreds at a California mosque to celebrate her marriage to Syed Rizwan Farook.

On Friday, people attending prayers at the same mosque struggled to reconcile their memories of that happy event with news that Farook, 28, and Malik, 29, killed 14 people in a shooting rampage Wednesday in the city of San Bernardino. Both died in a later shootout with police, and the FBI is investigating the massacre as an "act of terrorism."

Malik was brought to Southern California from Saudi Arabia by Farook.

A native of Pakistan, she appears to have left a less visible footprint here than her US-born husband, who had a public sector job and family here. They left behind a 6-month-old daughter.

"She was a beautiful lady. She was very happy that night," said Nasima Nila, 31, who attended the reception at the Islamic Center of Riverside. "She was a new bride."

She was also very quiet. Attendees recalled that at the celebration, where women and men were separated, Malik quietly sat on a couch on the women's side of the mosque and said little other than thanking community members for their congratulations and answering simple questions if asked, Nila said.

She was speaking English that night, community members recalled, and mostly interacted with relatives.

Nila said she never saw Malik after the reception, which mosque director Mustafa Kuko said 250 to 300 people attended. 

Some of the men knew Farook said they had never met his wife.
On Friday, social media network Facebook confirmed that comments praising Daesh (IS) were posted around the time of the mass shooting to a Facebook account established under an alias by Malik. However, it was uncertain whether the comments were posted by Malik herself.

FAROOK: 'VERY QUIET PERSON'

Between 2012 and 2014, Farook would come to the mosque twice a day - for the morning prayers, as early as 4:30 am and evening prayers after work - said the mosque's director, Mustafa Kuko, and asked for his blessing before going to Saudi Arabia to marry Malik.

Several men at the mosque who knew Farook said he loved cars and would often perform free oil changes for people in the parking lot.

Amir Abdul-Jalil, 50, said he was good friends with Farook. He said he was one of the "sweetest Muslims I ever met" and that Farook had invited him over for dinner one night a couple years ago, before he was married.

Abdul-Jalil said he met Malik once, but did not speak with her beyond exchanging pleasantries.
"I loved this brother and I'm so hurt today," Abdul-Jalil said. "I can't believe that the guy I knew would do this."

At another area mosque, the Dar-Al-Uloom Al-Islamiyah, where Farook went more recently about two to three times a week, Gasser Shehata said he knew Farook to be "a very quiet person, more on the shy side."

Shehata also attended the wedding reception, which he described as jovial, and said Farook was delighted with his new daughter.

"When he had the baby, he was extremely happy," Shehata said. "If something happened to him, it happened very recently, in the last 30 to 60 days."

Attendance at Friday prayers at both mosques was thinner than usual and some members said their family and friends had advised them against going for fear of a violent backlash.

Afarin Rahmani, 44, said she felt "guilty" that someone from her community was responsible for the shootings.

"People blame us with everything going on. You start to feel guilty," she said. "I would have taken the bullet. We are all afraid of the same things." 
 

As the floods seem to have Chennai by the throat – literally – post the incessant rain which killed 280 people, the water nightmare drowned Chennai residents as far as Dubai.

DD, who asked us to only use his initials, tells us this harrowing tale which began on Wednesday, December  2, 2015.

“My mother Mrinalini Somasundaram lives in

Theagaraya Nagar, or T Nagar.

“As floods of emotion flow through me it is hard to comprehend a picture when you have not seen it.

“I now know all is well, but not to be here and not to be in touch is the most difficult thing.

“Having everything and having nothing is a fine line.

“The last picture my mum sent me was on Wednesday, of a car sinking down by the lot in front of her apartment.

“The water is rising, she said, and so was my anxiety.

“When I spoke to her on Wednesday, I thought it was all a joke. And then, I lost contact.

“ Her UPS lost power and so did her mobile phone.

“I was desperately trying to call her on Thursday morning, but was unable to reach her.

“Desperate and frantic I began calling everyone I knew in Chennai, but to no avail… all mobile lines were down; or so it seemed.”

“ I finally got in touch with a friend, Vijay Kurien, and asked him to go to my mum, dreading the worst.

“He said he it would take him a couple of hours at least.

“After those couple of hours, I began to call him.

“Now his mobile was dead.

“Absolute chaos, absolute frantic-ness ensued.

“I was just lost and anxious.

“Finally, I got in touch with Vijay on Thursday night.

“He said he made it to my mother through neck deep water, carrying bread and water. She was alive. She was ok.

“He called me from some distant place where he could find a signal to tell me this.

“I have not spoken to my mum yet. She is still stuck in her apartment.

“And they keep talking about another storm coming…”

Chennai, in the aftermath of devastating floods

Residents in India's southern Tamil Nadu state Saturday were grappling with the aftermath of devastating floods as authorities stepped up relief work following the worst deluge in decades that killed over 250 people.

Thousands of people in Chennai took to the mud-filled streets to buy essentials as authorities worked to restore communication and road networks after Tuesday's record rains worsened weeks of flooding, leaving hundreds of thousands of residents marooned in the state capital.

Residents jostled at grocery stores, petrol stations and cash  machines, with the city reeling under a severe shortage of supplies, including drinking water, after the rains finally stopped on Thursday.

"I had to wait almost three hours at the petrol station with more than 200 people trying to get fuel," local resident V Prabhakaran told AFP, adding filling stations have started rationing petrol.

Mobile communication services were badly hit by damage to power infrastructure and a shortage of fuel. The authorities said shortages of essential goods will start to ease as road and rail links are restored and dozens of special trains were running to bring in relief material.

Chennai's international airport was opened for relief flights, four days after planes and the runway were submerged. Officials hope commercial services will resume Sunday.

Hundreds of flood-hit cars and motorcycles remained piled up in the streets of Chennai, which were coated with a thick layer of mud.

Thousands of people were rescued earlier in the week in a massive operation by the Indian army and disaster management teams. Residents were plucked from the rooftops of their marooned homes by helicopters and boats following the devastating floods which officials said were caused by the worst rains in a century.

Rekha Nambiar, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), who is leading a relief team of more than 1,800 men in the state, said crews were carrying out relief work after flood waters started receding, with the focus on potable water.

"Rescue work is over. We are focused on relief now. We are trying to shift men and machinery to provide drinking water in the affected areas," Nambiar told AFP.

She said teams were cleaning up residential areas to avoid a disease outbreak as authorities distributed water purifying chlorine tablets.

"Right now people are in dire need of food, water and sanitation," she said.

Forecasters expect dry weather next week, ending a long spell of torrential rain.

Experts blamed poor urban planning for the devastation in India's fourth-largest city, home to nearly 4.6 million people, which has grown rapidly in the last few decades to become a major IT and automobile hub.

Kuwait has suspended a pilot in its national airlines following reports that he allowed a British adult actress into his cabin and having drinks with her.

The Kuwaiti communication ministry also demoted the captain to ‘assistant pilot’ for breaking the rules and allowing the actress and another woman into the cabin.

The Arabic language daily ‘Al Jareeda’ said the report was published by the British tabloid newspaper Daily Mail and that it was verified by the ministry.

It said that according to the report, the unnamed captain let the actress and another woman into his cabin while the aircraft was flying at 33,000 feet.

“The cabin crew was absolved of any responsibility because they did not see what happened inside the captain’s cabin,” the paper said.
 

Bollywood beauty Deepika Padukone made her way into celluloid with Farah Khan's 'Om Shanti Om' (2007) opposite none other than superstar Shah Rukh Khan.

The movie was a blockbuster but not many thought that model Deepika had what it takes to be a top actor.

Eight years after her debut, the model-turned-actor is the most sought after female artists among producers, directors and co-stars.

In this file photograph taken on April 28, 2015, Indian Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone poses during a promotional event ahead of the forthcoming Hindi film ‘Piku’ in Mumbai. AFP

With each performance, in the recent years, fans and critics noticed and loved Deepika.

Now Hollywood beckons the 'Tamasha' actress.

Deepika will soon be joining the illustrious list of Indian artists going international.

Some names like Irrfan Khan, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Om Puri have bagged meaty projects in Hollywood, a lot of others even settle for cameos and blink-and-miss roles to further their career in cinema.

More recently, Priyanka Chopra is making waves with her TV show 'Quantico'.

Chopra has gotten raves so far with E! calling the actress 'the most ridiculously beautiful specimen on planet earth,' tvguide.com says 'she's the real deal.'

Posters of the former Miss World dominated the busy spots of US and Los Angeles; television channels rallied in to get her interview and tabloids going breathless talking about the Indian star.

The expectations were quite high, and this former beauty queen has nailed it so far.

Now the stage is set for Deepika as she bags a role in the Vin Diesel starrer 'XXX: The Return of Xander Cage'.

The actress who had auditioned for the role has managed to convince the makers. In fact it was Deepika herself who added fuel to the rumours by posting a picture of herself hugging Vin Diesel with the logo of 'XXX' plastered in the background.

Her manager Anirban too has posted the same photo on his social media account and written a congratulatory message to go with it while she was busy finishing all formalities in America.

Vin Diesel also update his Facebook cover photo with a 'xXx' picture.

Sanskriti Media and Entertainment

Deepika grabbed headlines a few years ago when she was approached to star in 'Fast and Furious 7' but turned down the offer to accommodate dates for 'Happy New Year'. But now it seems another big Hollywood connect is emerging for the popular actress.

After amassing some rave reviews for her role in Imtiaz Ali's 'Tamasha', Deepika is gearing up for another release - 'Bajiroa Mastani'.

Screen grab

As fate has it both Deepika and Priyanka will be seen together in the film and romancing the same man.

Both the actresses share a friendly relationship and said that they had each other’s back while working together.

Nevertheless, it will be interesting to see their friendly face-off of sorts in 'Bajiroa Mastani' and in Hollywood.

Friends and relatives of, Shahzad Ismail, 8-year-old, a second standard student of Indian School Al Ain are in deep shock after the boy died in a road accident on Saturday, December 5.

Shahzad, a second standard student of Indian School Al Ain was returning home on his bicycle in the Shahbas residential area of Al Ain when the tragic accident occurred.

The boy died on the spot and the body was later shifted to the Jimi Hospital.

“His father was in Kerala on a short visit and his mother and two sisters were at home.

Shahzad, was born and brought up in  the UAE and is survived by his father, Ismail, mother Naziya and two elder sisters, Sainab and Shahina.

“He was a very alert boy. It is a residential area and such incidents are rare here,” says Jaleel TP, a neighbour of the Ismail family.

About 2,000 students of Indian School Al Ain held a condolence meeting on Sunday morning, and school principal, Neelam Upadhyaya, urged students to be alert and play in safe areas and urged drivers to be careful about children in the residential areas.

Speaking to Emirates 24|7, Upadhyaya said: “It is a very tragic incident and it is a big loss to the school as well as the family.”
 

Major General Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri, Director General of the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs in Dubai (GDRFA), said that the GDRFA issued a total of 59 million different transactions in the first 11 months of this year.

Major General Al Marri added that 42 million passengers used Dubai borders since the beginning of the year.

"We expect this number to increase," he said.

He said that the number of visas issued by GDRFA for nationals who required visa to enter the country is 12 million since the beginning of the year and until November.

Major General Al Marri confirmed that the GDRFA-Dubai put all efforts to develop the work by taking an important initiatives and innovations that include empowering female employees to work from home and also offering flexible working hours and also offering service for elderly and special need people at their home by using Amer car.

Major General Al Marri was speaking during the Rims Risk Forum 2015 Middle East held at Dubai Conrad Hotel and organised by the Risk Management Society in America.

Major General Obaid Mohair Ben Surour, Deputy Director of the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs in Dubai, said that holding such conferences contribute to increase the knowledge about the risks at work and thus reduce the level of these risks.

He said that the lack of knowledge and experience of the individuals working in institutions may affect the effectiveness of the decision-making to confront the risks.

Mary Roth, Executive Director of the Risk Management society in America, spoke about the role of the RIMS in raising awareness in this area.

She said the RIMS, the risk management society, hold it's first-ever RIMS Risk Forum Middle East now in Dubai, as part of efforts to strengthen and support its international network of risk professional.

She said this two-day educational and networking conference provide attendees with an update on the Middle East’s insurance market and will explore practical solutions to help practitioners advance their organisation’s risk management strategies.

 

UAE banks are advising customers to complete the ‘Know Your Customer’ (KYC) requirement with those failing could find their cheque clearance facilities being blocked.

An internal circular, issued by a local bank and seen by Emirates 24/7, says that the new changes on cheque clearing system (ICCS system) have been deployed as per UAE Central Bank regulation for both individuals and corporates, where each of the inward and outward cheque transactions will require completed KYC for account basic details to process the transaction.

If not updated, transaction will not be processed and get rejected by Central Bank processing session, the circular said.

A banking source confirmed that the regulation has been in place for some time now, but banks are stepping up the pace of adhering to the requirement.

A call centre executive of UAE local bank confirmed to this website that all their customers are being notified of KYC requirement and those failing could find their accounts frozen until they complete the formalities.

“We will be sending another notice to the customer to update their KYC. There is a 90-day period from the date of the first notice to complete these formalities. Thereafter, we will freeze the account and it will be reactivated only after KYC formalities are completed,” he added.

In fact, a spate of sms’ and notices are being sent out by banks, asking customers to complete the KYC requirement. However, those does not mention any deadline.

The bank circular, seen by this website, puts the date of completion as January 2016. This could not be independently confirmed. However, a report in Arabic daily Al Ittihad, mentions a similar deadline.

As for associations, banks are asking them to fill the Ministry of Social Affairs approval number or the Amiri Decree number to have their transactions passed.

Bollywood actress Katrina Kaif has always kept the media at bay.

She prefers to keep check on her feelings and personal life. However, Katrina has spoken - and how!

Her explosive interview to GQ magazine uncannily coincides with boyfriend Ranbir Kapoor and Deepika Padukone's movie release.

Ex-lovers Ranbir and Deepika have been creating ripples with their crackling chemistry in the recently released film 'Tamasha'.

Lovers-turned-friends Deepika and Ranbir are thorough professionals and have no qualms in working together.

But it seems the friendly banter between Ranbir and Deepika hasn't gone down too well with Katrina Kaif.

The 32-year-old actor seems unimpressed with her boyfriend sharing the screen with his ex. In her interview to GQ magazine, Katrina said that she can't force her will on Ranbir and hopes that his choices change with time.

Katrina has kept her distance from Deepika ever since the former started dating Ranbir. The Dhoom 3 actor send the message loud and clear when she skipped the success party of Tamasha. While Deepika's rumoured boyfriend Ranveer Singh has all good things to say for Ranbir, Katrina has always tried to keep Deepika at an arm's distance.

She also, almost, sounded unhappy for not being close enough to Ranbir's parents.

She said, "I am not as close to Ranbir’s family as I would like. But I would like to hang out with them more. Family would be a defining factor when I make the decision to marry. I am a very responsive person. So, if my partner gives me what I need, I can be the best girlfriend you can wish for."

Katrina, who has been in a relationship with Ranbir for over two years now, spilled some more beans on their relationship. The actor stated that she feels insecure at times. "See men and women, they're different. Women give birth to babies, men don't. We can't say 'oh equality on all levels, we're all the same. No, our biological needs and bodies are different. Men have been the hunters and the philanderers. Being with an actor has its own set of issues, but the basic differences arise because men are men. Cheaters will cheat anywhere," she added.

The actor, who met Ranbir on the sets of the 2009 film 'Ajab Prem Ki Gajab Kahani', is of the opinion that relationships are in trouble everywhere and only the lucky ones are able to find selfless love.

And she wants to believe that she is a part of the lucky category, however she is cautious all the time.

"The back of my head wants to believe that I am (a part of the lucky category). But the front of my head says be careful. I don't think I can make such claims, because were it selfless love, then I would not feel the need to assert myself as much in the relationship. I would be more tolerant. I don't want to be tolerant. I don't want to accept it. I want to fight. I want to get what I think I deserve," Katrina added.

More than her professional choices, Katrina has stayed in news for her relationship with Ranbir and their soon-to-happen marriage. But the actor says that her man has to be completely in love with her for her to take that step.

"My greatest fear is that if and when I get married and I am standing at the altar or the mandap, he may not love me completely. That he may not know his mind well enough to be making those commitments. The anticipation of heartbreak is my only fear," Katrina said.

Well, that says it all, doesn't it?

Update: Dubai Civil Defence has confirmed the blaze that broke out in a décor factory on Sheikh Zayed Road on Monday afternoon has been brought under control.

Photo by Ako Bait

According to officials, no one was seriously injured in the fire.

A spokesperson for Civil Defence told ‘Emirates 24|7’: “We received a call at 12.50pm reporting of a fire on Sheikh Zayed Road between Interchanges 2 and 3, with emergency teams arriving on the scene within minutes.

“The fire was brought under control by Civil Defence teams by 1.56pm.”

The spokesperson added: “No one was seriously injured in the fire; however, the cause of the blaze is still under investigation.”

Earlier story:

Dubai Police has confirmed the blaze broke out in a factory behind Al Futtaim Motors, while the street in front of the showrooms has been closed to traffic while Civil Defence crews battle the fire.

Video by Ajanta Paul

Photo by Ziad Al Jamaan

Posting on its official social media account, the authority stated: “Fire in a  Bin Hareb Factory on Sheikh Zayed Road behind Al Futtaim Motors , please drive carefully.”

According to eyewitnesses on the scene, Civil Defence teams are battling the blaze and strong winds, even as vehicles are being removed from neighbouring car showrooms.

Crowds have gathered at the scene, with traffic on both sides of Sheikh Zayed Road at a standstill.

Commuters are being advised to take alternative roads.

A fiery ball of fire is visible near the Exotic Cars showroom between interchanges two and three on Sheikh Zayed Road, with Dubai Civil Defence confirming the incident.

A spokesperson from Civil Defence has confirmed the incident with ‘Emirates 24|7’, without divulging further details.

Photos and video by Eudore Chand

The spokesperson added teams were on the scene to control the blaze.

Several residents took to social media posting images of a large black plume of smoke that was visible as far as Deira.

Images posted indicate a large blaze near the exotic car showrooms, with traffic bound for Dubai at a standstill.
Photos by Mily Chakrabarty

Jebel Ali is ‘no longer the final destination’ of Dubai Metro on the Red Line, as the name of this station is now UAE Exchange.

The Metro will continue to operate along its usual route, including the last station on the Red Line.

However, as this station was recently renamed to UAE Exchange, the direction of the Metro on the Red Line was changed as well.

Thus, the announcement that ‘the train to Jebel Ali station has arrived on Jebel Ali platform’ has become ‘train to UAE Exchange is on the UAE Exchange platform’.

The change is also reflected on platforms, interactive screens, route maps apart from the announcements at stations.

Although the name of the station was changed in June, the change in the name of the direction was not made until last week.

“When I heard the announcement this morning, I realised something has changed. I looked back and saw that all the banners had been changed, too” said Payal Sharma, 24, an Indian commuter who travels by Metro daily.

“I did not realise that this station was renamed until now. It was a bit confusing when I first heard the announcement,” admitted Mariam Johnson, 28, a Filipino Metro traveller.

The naming right of Metro stations on the Red and Green Line of Dubai Metro can be purchased in a public-private partnership with the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA).

So far 16 stations have been named after companies in Dubai, with most recent name changes being UAE Exchange (Jebel Ali), Damac (Dubai Marina), and ADCB (Karama).