Urvashi Rautela, Miss India 2015; Olivia Jordan, Miss USA 2015; Aniporn Chalermburanawong, Miss Thailand 2015; and Yun Fang Xue, Miss China 2015; take a selfie during a pre tape segment at Planet Hollywood Resort. (AFP)

Olivia Jordan, Miss USA 2015, presents her gift during the National Gift Auction at the Opportunity Village,  December 10, 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (AFP)

Miss Philippines 2015 Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach rehearses for the upcoming Miss Universe telecast while at Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas. (Reuters)

Miss Vietnam 2015 Huong Pham (L) and Miss Aruba 2015 Alysha Boekhoudt rehearse for the upcoming Miss Universe pageant at Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Reuters)

Miss Colombia 2015 Ariadna Gutierrez. (Reuters)

Romina Racamonje, Miss Bolivia 2015; and Anna Vergelskaya, Miss Ukraine 2015; take part in a pre-tape segment for the Miss Universe Telecast at The Neon Museum Las Vegas on  December 11, 2015. The 2015 Miss Universe contestants are touring, filming, rehearsing and preparing to compete for the DIC Crown in Las Vegas. (AFP)

Sharlene Radlein, Miss Jamaica 2015, takes part in a pre-tape segment for the Miss Universe Telecast at The Neon Museum Las Vegas on  December 11, 2015. The 2015 Miss Universe contestants are touring, filming, rehearsing and preparing to compete for the DIC Crown in Las Vegas.  (AFP)

Miss Universe Organization, Clarissa Molina, Miss Dominican Republic 2015, takes part in a pre-tape segment for the Miss Universe Telecast at The Neon Museum Las Vegas on  December 11, 2015. The 2015 Miss Universe contestants are touring, filming, rehearsing and preparing to compete for the DIC Crown in Las Vegas. (AFP)

Debbie Collins, Miss Nigeria 2015, takes part in a pre-tape segment for the Miss Universe Telecast at The Neon Museum Las Vegas on  December 11, 2015. The 2015 Miss Universe contestants are touring, filming, rehearsing and preparing to compete for the DIC Crown in Las Vegas.(AFP)

From the Miss Universe Organization, Myriam Arevalos, Miss Paraguay 2015, takes part in a pre-tape segment for the Miss Universe Telecast at The Neon Museum Las Vegas on  December 11, 2015. The 2015 Miss Universe contestants are touring, filming, rehearsing and preparing to compete for the DIC Crown in Las Vegas. (AFP)

Maria-Belen Jerez Spuler, Miss Chile 2015, takes part in a pre-tape segment for the Miss Universe Telecast at The Neon Museum Las Vegas on  December 11, 2015. The 2015 Miss Universe contestants are touring, filming, rehearsing and preparing to compete for the DIC Crown in Las Vegas. (AFP)

Hilda Akua Frimpong, Miss Ghana 2015, presents her gift during the National Gift Auction at the Opportunity Village,  December 10, 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (AFP)
 

Lorraina C. Marriot, Miss Tanzania 2015, presents her gift during the National Gift Auction at the Opportunity Village,  December 10, 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (AFP)
 

Huong Pham, Miss Vietnam 2015, presents her gift during the National Gift Auction at the Opportunity Village,  December 10, 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (AFP)

Seoyeon Kim, Miss Korea 2015, presents her gift during the National Gift Auction at the Opportunity Village,  December 10, 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (AFP)

Aniporn Chalermburanawong, Miss Thailand 2015, presents her gift during the National Gift Auction at the Opportunity Village,  December 10, 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (AFP)

Cynthia Samuel, Miss Lebanon 2015; Iroshka Elvir, Miss Honduras 2015; Sharlene Radlein, Miss Jamaica 2015; and Shauna Ramdyhan, Miss Guyana 2015; pose for photos during the National Gift Auction at the Opportunity Village,  December 10, 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (AFP)

Amina Dagi, Miss Austria 2015; Mirta Kustan, Miss Croatia 2015; Monika Radulovic, Miss Australia 2015; and Ariadna Gutierrez, Miss Colombia 2015; pose for photos during the National Gift Auction at the Opportunity Village, December 10, 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada.(AFP)

Ariana Miyamoto, Miss Japan 2015, poses for a photo at Exotics Racing. (AFP)

Monika Radulovic, Miss Australia 2015; and Sharlene Radlein, Miss Jamaica 2015,  laugh during a pajama party video shoot at Planet Hollywood. (AFP)

Shauna Ramdyhan, Miss Guyana 2015 poses for a photo inside Planet Hollywood. (AFP)

Alysha Boekhoudt, Miss Aruba 2015, poses for a photo at Exotics Racing. (AFP)

Clarissa Molina, Miss Dominican Republic 2015, poses for a photo inside Planet Hollywood. (AFP)

Kanisha Sluis, Miss Curacao 2015, poses for a photo inside Planet Hollywood. (AFP)

Miss Bulgaria 2015 Radostina Todorova, Miss Italy 2015 Giada Pezzaioli, and Miss Venezuela 2015 Mariana Jimenez pose with Miss Universe 2014 Paulina Vega at a Chinese Laundry sponsored event at Zappos, in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Reuters)

Miss Korea 2015 Kim Seo-yeon, Miss Thailand 2015 Aniporn Chalermburanawong, and Miss Japan 2015 Ariana Miyamoto pose for photos at a Chinese Laundry sponsored event at Zappos, in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Reuters)

Miss Sweden 2015 Paulina Brodd, Miss Denmark 2015 Cecilie Wellemberg, Miss Hungary 2015 Nikoletta Nagy, and Miss France 2015 Flora Coquerel, pose for photos at a Chinese Laundry sponsored event at Zappos. (Reuters)

Miss Great Britain 2015 Narissara Nena France and Miss Mexico 2015 Wendy Esparza film in their National Costume at Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Reuters)

Miss Panama 2015 Gladys Brandao Amaya takes part in a pre-tape segment at Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Reuters)

Tonie Maria Chisholm, Miss Cayman Islands 2015, Maja Cukic, Miss Montenegro 2015, Paulina Brodd, Miss Sweden 2015, Cecilie Feline Wellemberg, Miss Denmark 2015, Rosa-Maria Ryyti, Miss Finland 2015, and Jeimmy Tahiz Aburto, Miss Guatemala 2015, lead the charge during a pre tape segment at Planet Hollywood Resort. (Reuters)

Ariadna Gutierrez, Miss Colombia 2015. (Reuters)

Miss Universe 2014 Paulina Vega, the Colombian beauty queen, will soon pass her crown to during the 64th edition of Miss Universe.

81 contestants have finally arrived in Las Vegas, Nevada, and all are vying to win this year's Miss Universe beauty pageant.

The current top 10 favorites from Missossology, a beauty pageant forum, include the candidates from India, Indonesia, Vietnam, Sweden, France, Philippines, Thailand, Dominican Republic, Colombia, and Japan.

The competition has just started, but fans are already anxious to see who will be crowned as the next Miss Universe.

The Miss Universe 2015 pageant night will happen at The AXIS in Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada. The show will be broadcast live by Fox on Dec. 20.

Paulina Vega, Miss Universe 2014 (C) and the 2015 Miss Universe contestants during the Welcome Event at Planet Hollywood Resort. (Reuters)

Laura Spoya, Miss Peru 2015. (Reuters)

Gladys Brandao Amaya, Miss Panama 2015. (AFP)

Paola Nunez, Miss Canada 2015. (AFP)

Paulina Vega, Miss Universe 2014. (AFP)

Sheetal Khadun, Miss Mauritius 2015. (AFP)

Vanessa Tevi Kumares, Miss Malaysia 2015,  takes part in a pre tape segment while on stage at Planet Hollywood Resort. (AFP)

Rosa-Maria Ryyti, Miss Finland 2015; and Lisa Elizabeth Drouillard, Miss Haiti 2015; pose for a photo at Red Rock Canyon. (AFP)

Yun Fang Xue, Miss China 2015. (AFP)

Aniporn Chalermburanawong, Miss Thailand 2015. (AFP)

Paola Nunez, Miss Canada 2015. (AFP)

Claudia Barrionuevo, Miss Argentina 2015. (AFP)

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)

 

A woman gave birth to a baby boy in southwestern Michigan, not knowing that her fiance and her mother had died in a car crash while rushing to the hospital for her delivery.

Speed "appears to be a significant factor" in the weekend crash that killed Emil Skokan, 34, and Peggy Nichols, 53, Kalamazoo County Undersheriff Paul Matyas said.

Crystal Matrau-Belt gave birth to Jeremiah by cesarean section Saturday at Bronson Methodist Hospital. Due to high blood pressure, she was admitted Friday and her doctor decided to induce labour.

Skokan sent a text message, asking Matrau-Belt whether she needed anything.

He "just said, 'I'll meet you up there,' and that he loved me," Matrau-Belt told the Kalamazoo Gazette.

It was their last contact. A car driven by Skokan crashed into a tree in Comstock Township, near Kalamazoo.

"I want to celebrate (Jeremiah) being born, but losing my fiance, who I loved so much, and my mom at the same time, it's a really big struggle to try to balance all of that. ... To lose them both at a time like this, it's really hard," Matrau-Belt said.

She predicts Jeremiah will have his father's curly hair.

"It's hard, but just to know that I have a piece of Emil - that helps a little bit," Matrau-Belt said.

Gold edged higher on Wednesday as investors awaited the conclusion of a Federal Reserve policy meeting at which the US central bank is expected to raise rates for the first time in nearly a decade.    

The Fed decision will be released on Wednesday at 1900 GMT (11pm UAE time).     

The two-day meeting began on Tuesday, and the Fed is widely expected raise the central bank's target rate by 25 basis points, ending eight years of loose monetary policy. Higher rates would dent demand for non-interest-paying gold, while boosting the dollar.

Spot gold rose 0.5 per cent to $1,065.60 an ounce by 0322 GMT (7.22am UAE time), after closing lower in the last two sessions.    

"Gold may drop in an initial reaction to a hike. But as the hike is generally expected, any selloff may be relatively short-lived," said HSBC analyst James Steel.     

However, a hawkish tone along with the rate hike could trigger a strong rally in the dollar that could make it tough for gold to recover, Steel said.    

Investors have sent gold down 10 per cent this year in anticipation of higher rates and the dollar strength. The metal fell to near-six-year lows earlier this month.    

Some traders say a rate hike is already priced into gold, and any indications from the Fed on Wednesday that further rate hikes would be slow and gradual could send the metal higher.

However, others say it would be difficult for gold to hold on to a rally as the wider environment offers little to justify a rebound. They expect gold to drop to $1,000 or below.

“The gold market is devoid of any funds coming in from gold-backed exchange-traded funds and jewellery demand remains fairly soft," said INTL FCStone analyst Edward Meir.

The number of people holding the top gold ETF, SPDR Gold Trust, is at the lowest since September 2008.

From a technical perspective, gold should fall further, said ScotiaMocatta analysts.

“So far the $1,060 level has held but the risk remains for a test on previous major cycle low of $1,051. A break of $1,051 targets $1,000," they said. (Reuters)

Gold rates for December 16, 2015

 
Spot gold had ticked marginally this morning, up 0.2 per cent to $1,064.20 an ounce by 0346 GMT (7.46am UAE time), after a 1.1-per cent slide on Monday.

Nevertheless, this price is only about $20 short of a near six-year low of $1,045.85 reached earlier this month.

The US Federal Reserve will kick off its last policy meet of the year later on Tuesday. At the end of the two-day meet, the US central bank is widely expected to hike interest rates for the first time since June 2006.

Higher rates are expected to hurt demand for non-interest-paying bullion, while boosting the dollar.

DD/TT RATES AT 3.45 PM - 16 Dec 2015

Weekly Gold Rates 

   
Get retail Gold and Forex rates with Emirates 24|7 

Rates will be updated twice daily

Emirates 24|7 brings you the daily Dubai gold rate (22k, 24k, 21k and 18k), as well as currency exchange rates, including the Indian rupee, Pakistani rupee, Philippine peso, Sri Lankan rupee, sterling pound, euro and may more against the UAE dirham (US dollar).

The rates for 24 carat, 22 carat, 21 carat, 18 carat and Ten Tola (TT) Bar (11.6638038 gram) will be updated four times a day to keep them fresh and relevant for buyers of gold bars and gold jewellery in the UAE.

The update times for Retail Gold Rate in Dubai will be at 9.30am, 2.30pm, 5pm and 8pm (unless there is drastic fall or rise in the international rate).

On Saturdays, the gold rates will be updated at 9.30am and this rate will stay static through Saturday and Sunday until the international market reopens on Monday.

Please note that the retailers add making charges separately to the quoted rate of gold.

The Retail Gold Rate in Dubai is being supplied by the Dubai Gold and Jewellery Group.

Foreign Exchange Rates

The Foreign Exchange Rates of major currencies will be updated twice each working day at around 8:30am and 3:30pm.

These will cover both the Remittance Rates [for sending money] and the Currency Notes Rates [for buying and selling of currency notes].

The Foreign Exchange Rates are being supplied by UAE Exchange.

Six women of a family died in an accident on Riyadh-Taif Road in Saudi Arabia, Al Madinah newspaper reported.

The horrific accident took place when 10 members of the family were returning from Riyadh to Taif after attending wedding of two of their sons. The car was driven by one of the grooms.

The groom lost control of the vehicle due to excessive speed, which led to the flipping of the car several times, leading to the death of three old and three young women of the family.

The groom suffered serious injuries and was admitted to the intensive care while three other family members also sustained injuries.

Their funeral was performed in Torba governorate of the kingdom.

When a newly-wed Saudi woman happily kissed a baby camel in front of her mother in law at her farm in the Gulf kingdom, she had apparently not realized the kiss would cost the wife her marriage. On the same day, her husband divorced her.

The husband said he was pressed by his mother to divorce his wife on the grounds what she did violated social and religious rules.

“He said he could not disobey his mother, who swore that she would disown him if he does not divorce his wife,” Sada newspaper said without mentioning where in Saudi Arabia the incident took place.

“On the next day, he went to his wife’s family and gave them her clothes…there, she apologized to him and said she did not mean anything wrong and only kissed the camel to express her delight at the camel’s birth…the husband was persuaded and decided to take her back home, where his mother pressed him again to kick her out.”

The paper said the son refused to divorce his wife again and went to live with her family. It quoted the wife as saying: “I love my husband and want to be with him forever…but I am not ready to live with his mother again.”

Dubai residents are overwhelmingly interested in dual citizenship, showed a survey carried out by Emirates 24|7.

According to the survey, 70 per cent said to be interested in dual citizenship.

To the question 'do you hold dual citizenship?’ 60 per cent answered to be generally interested, while another 10 per cent said to be interested even though they were not entitled to hold dual citizenship.

10 per cent of the respondents already held dual citizenship, while 20 per cent said not to be interested in holding dual citizenship at all.

Dual citizenship is when one person is permitted to hold one or more passports at the same time, a right that is granted by more than half of the countries in the world. However, some countries strictly forbid dual citizenship.

Ironically, some of the world’s top source countries of emigrants and expatriates do not allow their citizens to hold another passport other than their original one, among them India and China.

“I would be interested in having a second nationality, as it would make travel a lot easier,” said Remo Wadia, an Indian resident in Dubai.

Agreed S Kumar, another Indian resident in Dubai who frequently travels. “It is so much easier to travel these days; taking a plane has become like taking a bus. However, the process of getting a visa before traveling can be a hassle and time consuming, especially considering political sensitivities of this time. It would be a lot easier if I did not require a visa for some countries.”

While travel is one of the most common reasons people name when considering the option of dual citizenship, migration is among the options, too, even if it was only temporary.

“Take it that I want to send my children for education in the US. If I held a US citizenship next to my Indian citizenship I would be eligible for the local school fees. This is an attractive element.

“At the same time, the idea that I would be subject to US taxation would probably make me look at other countries with a more attractive tax scheme,” commented Remo.

“Visa-free travel does not weigh up against the element of taxation,” believed S Kumar. Therefore, the US may not be the ideal country. Yet, it is somehow considered by Asians as the land of opportunities and hence it remains a popular option for many of us.”

This is different for Anabel Jansen, a Dutch resident living in Dubai. “I am not allowed dual citizenship, but I have never regretted this,” she said.

Dutch citizenship allows me the freedom to travel in most places in the world. I do not feel the need to have another nationality.”

Rakesh Mundra, an Indian resident in Dubai agrees to this, saying that he does not want a second nationality. “I am happy with who I am and what I have.

“Why would I want a second nationality? To live as a second citizen in a first world country? I want to live in dignity.”

The United Kingdom was the first state to allow dual citizenship in 1949. Ever since, more and more countries are accepting the dual status.

France accepted dual citizenship in 1973, Canada did so in 1976 and Germany came on-board in 2013. Sri Lanka most recently permitted dual citizenship to its citizens in February this year.

Jumeirah Park/Jumeirah Islands and Dubailand are the cheapest to rent one-bed units in Dubai’s top 10 neighbourhoods, says a new report.

The report, released by MoveSouq.com, a home services marketplace and propertyfinder.ae, a property portal, puts the average annual rents for one beds in the two areas at Dh63,000 and Dh64,000, respectively. Annual rents for two bed units in the respective areas at Dh80,000 and Dh95,000 per annum (pa), respectively.

An infographic, however, reveals that the maximum number of departures among the 10 trending neighbourhoods is taking place in the combined Dubai Marina/Jumeirah Beach Residence area where one- and two-bed units are leased for Dh116,000 and Dh184,000 pa.

The combined Downtown Dubai and DIFC area is also witnessing a larger outflow than inflow of residents. Annual average rentals for one beds are Dh139,000 and two beds Dh222,000 pa.

Rentals for one- and two-bed apartments in Jebel Ali Village, Gardens and Discovery Gardens stand at Dh81,000 and Dh85,000 pa, respectively, while one can lease them for Dh86,000 and Dh153,000 pa, respectively, in Jumeirah Village.

In Dubai's Silicon Oasis and Academic City, rentals for one beds are at Dh78,000 pa and two beds at Dh120,000 pa, while average annual rents in Jumeirah Lakes Towers are Dh103,000 and Dh166,000, respectively.

In the combined Mirdif, Mushainah, Al Warqa and Al Mizahar area, which is a leasehold area (where non-Arab expats are not allowed to own properties) rents for one and two-bed units are Dh73,000 pa and Dh120,000 pa.

The two companies said in a joint statement that report (based on the infographic) was made using the moving activity data of first to third quarter 2015 and average annual rental transactions seen during 2015.

“Newly developed and growing neighborhoods of Jumeirah Village, Dubailand, Silicon Oasis and Academic City, and Jumeirah Park and Jumeirah Islands are experiencing a positive influx of people versus that of the established neighbourhoods that saw both high move-in rates and high move-out rates,” the companies said.

Though rents in the prime locations have seen a decrease of two to seven per cent in 2015, Dubai residents are seeking alternative solutions to find accommodation in new neighbourhoods where rents have been relatively stable and remain lower than in central districts, the report said.

In November 2015, real estate consultancy Cluttons said rents in Dubai remained stable in the third quarter 2015 and have fallen 3.2 per cent in the past one year. It added that most of the tenants were willing to absorb a five to 10 per cent rent increase instead of budgeting for high relocation costs despite there being landlords in the market who were willing to accept lower rents.

Eight people suffered minor injuries when a Southwest Airlines flight skidded off a taxiway and into a ditch shortly after arriving at Nashville International Airport on Tuesday, fire officials and the carrier said.

There were no major injuries and the eight transported to a nearby medical center had "mostly bumps and bruises," Nashville Fire Department said in a tweet.

The plane was carrying 133 passengers and five crew, Southwest Airlines said.

Photos on social media showed the plane lying in a grass ditch, its nose on the ground and at least one emergency slide deployed.

"At approximately 5.20 pm local time, Southwest Airlines Flight #31 from Houston Hobby Airport to Nashville International Airport exited the taxiway shortly after arriving into Nashville, as the airplane was approaching the arrival gate," the airline said in a statement.

Twitter: @KatrinaAtCannes

'Fitoor', starring Aditya Roy Kapoor and Katrina Kaif has been embroiled in controversies since its inception.

Director Abhishek Kapoor is not entirely happy with the way things are going.

Twitter: @LOrealParisIn

He is disappointed with the way the film is shaping up and called for a re-shoot of a lovemaking scene between the film's lead pair Aditya and Katrina, which he believed wasn't good enough.

The passionate scene is just one of the scenes that will be redone, as per the report. 

Abhishek didn't like what he saw in the edit and has now decided to take out more time to do-over a few scenes which is normal.

Twitter: @KatrinaAtCannes

But all this has left Katrina miffed.

Katrina is angry with the director and strongly disagreed on the point of re-shooting the entire sequence.

Twitter: @KatrinaAtCannes

In fact, till the last moment, the crew had no clue if the shoot was happening at all. Eventually, the producers calmed the actress down and got her to agree to the scene again. But not before she threw a major fit.

'Fitoor' has already been delayed by months after Rekha decided to walk out of the project midway after shooting a few scenes. Tabu was then brought in and Abhishek resumed shooting.

When Ranveer Singh fell for Deepika Padukone

Sanskriti Media and Entertainment

Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone may never have confirmed the many rumours of the two being in a relationship with each other, but the two never hesitate when it comes to supporting or praising each other.

Ranveer has finally revealed when he fell for his ladylove for the first time and also said that he can not forget that first sight.

Sanskriti Media and Entertainment

In an recent interview, Ranveer and Deepika were asked what they thought about each other when they saw each other for the first time.

Ranveer revealed that he saw Deepika during the Zee Cine Awards which were held in Macau. He also said, "The first time I saw her, I almost went flat!"

File

The actor recalls that Deepika was wearing a silver dress at the event which happened in 2012 and when a fan asked him about how does he remember it so well. Here's what Ranveer tweeted: "how can one possibly forget that sight!?"

Genelia Deshmukh pregnant again?

Twitter

Riteish Deshmukh and wife Genelia Deshmukh are enjoying their parenthood with adorable little baby Riaan Deshmukh.

Riaan turned one this November when his parents threw a sailor-themed birthday party for him.

Twitter

However, buzz is that little Riaan will soon have a sweet little sibling to play with.

Bollywood circuits are abuzz that Genelia is pregnant with her second baby.

Twitter

The actress, who was planning to take on work after a long break, has put a stop to these new projects now that she is in the family way again.

Salman, Iulia Vantur caught in one frame

File

Salman Khan is one of the most good looking men in Bollywood and fans are aware of his string of affairs which never culminated into marriage.

The latest in the list is Romanian model Iulia Vantur. Rumours have been rife for a long time now that Salman and Iulia are going strong.

There have been buzzes of an engagement and a wedding too. However, Salman has never admitted to the relationship and has always laughed it off.

Recently, a source close to Salman mentioned that Iulia is busy with her work assignments abroad and therefore there is no question of them getting engaged or married.

Now few pictures have surfaced which shows Salman and Iulia driving away. While Salman is seated in the front, Iulia is seen sitting at the back.

Both Salman and Iulia are clicked in one frame and the two seemed aware of camera presence.

While it might still be some time before Salman Khan's relationship status is revealed to the world at large, these photos have added an all new dimension to the Salman-Iulia saga.

Katrina unhappy with Ranbir, Deepika

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'.

 Miss Sweden, Camilla Hansson, Miss Universe 2015 contestants have taken part in the national costume show. (AP)

Miss Uruguay, Johana Riva (AP)

Miss Venezuela, Migbelis Castellanos (AP)

Zoe Metthez Miss Switzerland (AP)

Miss Sri Lanka, Marianne Page (AP)

Miss Colombia, Paulina Vega (AP)

Miss India, Noyonita Lodh (AP)

Miss Russia, Yulia Alipova (AP)

Miss India vs Miss Philippines vs Miss USA

Urvashi Rautela, Miss India 2015; Olivia Jordan, Miss USA 2015; Aniporn Chalermburanawong, Miss Thailand 2015; and Yun Fang Xue, Miss China 2015; take a selfie during a pre tape segment at Planet Hollywood Resort. (AFP)

Olivia Jordan, Miss USA 2015, presents her gift during the National Gift Auction at the Opportunity Village,  December 10, 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (AFP)

Miss Philippines 2015 Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach rehearses for the upcoming Miss Universe telecast while at Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas. (Reuters)

Miss Vietnam 2015 Huong Pham (L) and Miss Aruba 2015 Alysha Boekhoudt rehearse for the upcoming Miss Universe pageant at Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Reuters)

Miss Colombia 2015 Ariadna Gutierrez. (Reuters)

Romina Racamonje, Miss Bolivia 2015; and Anna Vergelskaya, Miss Ukraine 2015; take part in a pre-tape segment for the Miss Universe Telecast at The Neon Museum Las Vegas on  December 11, 2015. The 2015 Miss Universe contestants are touring, filming, rehearsing and preparing to compete for the DIC Crown in Las Vegas. (AFP)

Sharlene Radlein, Miss Jamaica 2015, takes part in a pre-tape segment for the Miss Universe Telecast at The Neon Museum Las Vegas on  December 11, 2015. The 2015 Miss Universe contestants are touring, filming, rehearsing and preparing to compete for the DIC Crown in Las Vegas.  (AFP)

Miss Universe Organization, Clarissa Molina, Miss Dominican Republic 2015, takes part in a pre-tape segment for the Miss Universe Telecast at The Neon Museum Las Vegas on  December 11, 2015. The 2015 Miss Universe contestants are touring, filming, rehearsing and preparing to compete for the DIC Crown in Las Vegas. (AFP)

Debbie Collins, Miss Nigeria 2015, takes part in a pre-tape segment for the Miss Universe Telecast at The Neon Museum Las Vegas on  December 11, 2015. The 2015 Miss Universe contestants are touring, filming, rehearsing and preparing to compete for the DIC Crown in Las Vegas.(AFP)

From the Miss Universe Organization, Myriam Arevalos, Miss Paraguay 2015, takes part in a pre-tape segment for the Miss Universe Telecast at The Neon Museum Las Vegas on  December 11, 2015. The 2015 Miss Universe contestants are touring, filming, rehearsing and preparing to compete for the DIC Crown in Las Vegas. (AFP)

Maria-Belen Jerez Spuler, Miss Chile 2015, takes part in a pre-tape segment for the Miss Universe Telecast at The Neon Museum Las Vegas on  December 11, 2015. The 2015 Miss Universe contestants are touring, filming, rehearsing and preparing to compete for the DIC Crown in Las Vegas. (AFP)

Hilda Akua Frimpong, Miss Ghana 2015, presents her gift during the National Gift Auction at the Opportunity Village,  December 10, 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (AFP)
 

Lorraina C. Marriot, Miss Tanzania 2015, presents her gift during the National Gift Auction at the Opportunity Village,  December 10, 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (AFP)
 

Huong Pham, Miss Vietnam 2015, presents her gift during the National Gift Auction at the Opportunity Village,  December 10, 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (AFP)

Seoyeon Kim, Miss Korea 2015, presents her gift during the National Gift Auction at the Opportunity Village,  December 10, 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (AFP)

Aniporn Chalermburanawong, Miss Thailand 2015, presents her gift during the National Gift Auction at the Opportunity Village,  December 10, 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (AFP)

Cynthia Samuel, Miss Lebanon 2015; Iroshka Elvir, Miss Honduras 2015; Sharlene Radlein, Miss Jamaica 2015; and Shauna Ramdyhan, Miss Guyana 2015; pose for photos during the National Gift Auction at the Opportunity Village,  December 10, 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (AFP)

Amina Dagi, Miss Austria 2015; Mirta Kustan, Miss Croatia 2015; Monika Radulovic, Miss Australia 2015; and Ariadna Gutierrez, Miss Colombia 2015; pose for photos during the National Gift Auction at the Opportunity Village, December 10, 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada.(AFP)

Ariana Miyamoto, Miss Japan 2015, poses for a photo at Exotics Racing. (AFP)

Monika Radulovic, Miss Australia 2015; and Sharlene Radlein, Miss Jamaica 2015,  laugh during a pajama party video shoot at Planet Hollywood. (AFP)

Shauna Ramdyhan, Miss Guyana 2015 poses for a photo inside Planet Hollywood. (AFP)

Alysha Boekhoudt, Miss Aruba 2015, poses for a photo at Exotics Racing. (AFP)

Clarissa Molina, Miss Dominican Republic 2015, poses for a photo inside Planet Hollywood. (AFP)

Kanisha Sluis, Miss Curacao 2015, poses for a photo inside Planet Hollywood. (AFP)

Miss Bulgaria 2015 Radostina Todorova, Miss Italy 2015 Giada Pezzaioli, and Miss Venezuela 2015 Mariana Jimenez pose with Miss Universe 2014 Paulina Vega at a Chinese Laundry sponsored event at Zappos, in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Reuters)

Miss Korea 2015 Kim Seo-yeon, Miss Thailand 2015 Aniporn Chalermburanawong, and Miss Japan 2015 Ariana Miyamoto pose for photos at a Chinese Laundry sponsored event at Zappos, in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Reuters)

Miss Sweden 2015 Paulina Brodd, Miss Denmark 2015 Cecilie Wellemberg, Miss Hungary 2015 Nikoletta Nagy, and Miss France 2015 Flora Coquerel, pose for photos at a Chinese Laundry sponsored event at Zappos. (Reuters)

Miss Great Britain 2015 Narissara Nena France and Miss Mexico 2015 Wendy Esparza film in their National Costume at Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Reuters)

Miss Panama 2015 Gladys Brandao Amaya takes part in a pre-tape segment at Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Reuters)

Tonie Maria Chisholm, Miss Cayman Islands 2015, Maja Cukic, Miss Montenegro 2015, Paulina Brodd, Miss Sweden 2015, Cecilie Feline Wellemberg, Miss Denmark 2015, Rosa-Maria Ryyti, Miss Finland 2015, and Jeimmy Tahiz Aburto, Miss Guatemala 2015, lead the charge during a pre tape segment at Planet Hollywood Resort. (Reuters)

Ariadna Gutierrez, Miss Colombia 2015. (Reuters)

Miss Universe 2014 Paulina Vega, the Colombian beauty queen, will soon pass her crown to during the 64th edition of Miss Universe.

81 contestants have finally arrived in Las Vegas, Nevada, and all are vying to win this year's Miss Universe beauty pageant.

The current top 10 favorites from Missossology, a beauty pageant forum, include the candidates from India, Indonesia, Vietnam, Sweden, France, Philippines, Thailand, Dominican Republic, Colombia, and Japan.

The competition has just started, but fans are already anxious to see who will be crowned as the next Miss Universe.

The Miss Universe 2015 pageant night will happen at The AXIS in Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada. The show will be broadcast live by Fox on Dec. 20.

Paulina Vega, Miss Universe 2014 (C) and the 2015 Miss Universe contestants during the Welcome Event at Planet Hollywood Resort. (Reuters)

Laura Spoya, Miss Peru 2015. (Reuters)

Gladys Brandao Amaya, Miss Panama 2015. (AFP)

Paola Nunez, Miss Canada 2015. (AFP)

Paulina Vega, Miss Universe 2014. (AFP)

Sheetal Khadun, Miss Mauritius 2015. (AFP)

Vanessa Tevi Kumares, Miss Malaysia 2015,  takes part in a pre tape segment while on stage at Planet Hollywood Resort. (AFP)

Rosa-Maria Ryyti, Miss Finland 2015; and Lisa Elizabeth Drouillard, Miss Haiti 2015; pose for a photo at Red Rock Canyon. (AFP)

Yun Fang Xue, Miss China 2015. (AFP)

Aniporn Chalermburanawong, Miss Thailand 2015. (AFP)

Paola Nunez, Miss Canada 2015. (AFP)

Claudia Barrionuevo, Miss Argentina 2015. (AFP)

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)

 

A security guard has been arrested for stealing $5 million in diamonds from a New York jeweler after a construction worker accidentally threw the precious stones in the trash, police said.
 
Wilfred Martinez was charged with the theft after police said he was caught on surveillance video from inside J Birnbach Inc, a jewelry maker located in the heart of New York's diamond district.
 
Jonathan Birnbach had told police last week that he kept the diamonds inside three wooden boxes in an unlocked safe for easier access and didn't notice they were missing because he rarely handled them.
 
Workers renovating the interior of the business threw the boxes out without realizing they contained diamonds, Chief of Detectives Robert Boyce said at a press conference on Thursday.
 
Martinez saw the boxes and took them into the bathroom, where he consolidated the diamonds into a single box before leaving with them, Boyce said.
 
He sold some of the diamonds to another dealer for $68,000 - a "bargain price," Boyce said. He admitted to the theft in a statement to police after his arrest, and investigators have recovered the stones.
 
J Birnbach specializes in high-end diamonds and has created jewelry worn on red carpets from the Oscars film awards to the Emmys television awards, according to its website.

Vu, 32, a popular deejay and model in Asia has been held at Kennedy Airport for abducting her own daughter.

Vu was about to board a flight to Vietnam with her 9-year-old daughter Isabella.

According to Daily News, the biological father Richard Froger has legal custody of Isabella and obtained an arrest warrant from a family court in Paris for Vu.

Roger claims that Vu did not abide by their agreement to return the child.

The French authorities have 60 days to file papers in court on whether they will proceed with a contempt of court case against Vu.

Brooklyn Magistrate Judge Viktor Pohorelsky, said that holding Miss Vu was inappropriate and that  Vu should be handed over to the French authorities.

Federal prosecutor Ryan Harris stated that Vu who has also posed in Playboy and appeared on the show “America’s Got Talent,” could go into the lamplight if released on bail.

The usually stunner Vietnamese bombshell appeared haggard in the courtroom, wearing a baggy blue prison suit and a long-sleeve white thermal shirt.

Vu, 32, is determined to reunite with her daughter whom she raised until the girl was seven. She also stated that her time in prison has been a “nightmare” and “terrifying” as she shares a dormitory with 100 female prisoners.

“I just mind my business and be respectful to everybody, but the fear is there,” she told The News.

Defense lawyer Mia Eisner-Grynberg said her client already has custody of her daughter in Vietnam and intends to file for custody in her homeland.

The judge could only release Vu under a “special circumstance,” for example if she was terminally ill.

Gold slipped on Thursday to give back some of its overnight gains, with trading choppy as the dollar surged after the Federal Reserve hiked US interest rates for the first time in nearly a decade.

The US central bank raised the range of its benchmark interest rate by a quarter of a percentage point on Wednesday, ending a lengthy debate about whether the economy was strong enough to withstand higher borrowing costs.

Gold has slumped nearly 10 per cent this year, largely on uncertainty around the timing of the rate rise and on fears that higher rates would hit demand for the non-interest-paying metal. It had fallen to a near-six-year low earlier this month.

Spot gold had dipped 0.5 per cent to $1,066.80 an ounce by 0326 GMT (7.26am UAE time). The metal had rallied before the Fed decision on Wednesday and managed to hold most of those gains after the central bank statement, ending the day up 1.2 per cent.

US gold fell 1 per cent to a session low of $1,064.20, following a 1.4-per cent gain in the previous session.

“This morning, it is more of a dollar story,” said a Hong Kong-based precious metals trader.

“The market pretty much expected the comments we heard from the Fed,” the trader said, adding that the most-likely move for gold was to go lower.

The dollar index, which measures its strength against a basket of six major currencies, rose 1 per cent on Thursday. A robust dollar makes greenback-denominated gold more expensive for holders of other currencies.

Asian stock markets jumped as investors chose to take the historic hike in US rates as a mark of confidence in the world's largest economy, reducing gold's safe-haven appeal.

With the much anticipated first rate hike out of the way, the focus now shifts to the pace of future rate increases.

The US central bank made clear the rate hike was a tentative beginning to a "gradual" tightening cycle.

But the rate forecasts, or dot points, from Fed members were a little higher than many expected with 100 basis points of hikes pencilled in for next year and a terminal rate of 3.5 per cent.

The divergence between the Fed forecasts and the market could hurt gold prices as investors begin to align their views with the central bank.

“Gold has been extraordinarily sensitive to perceived changes in monetary policy for many months,” said HSBC analyst James Steel. “The rate rise may finally clear the deck and remove rate-related uncertainty from the bullion market.”

The Fed action leaves gold positioned for some modest gains, largely from short-covering, but much of the impact on bullion will come from the dollar move, he said. (Reuters)

Gold rates for December 17, 2015

 DD/TT RATES AT 3.45 PM - 17 Dec 2015

Weekly Gold Rates 

   
Get retail Gold and Forex rates with Emirates 24|7 

Rates will be updated twice daily

Emirates 24|7 brings you the daily Dubai gold rate (22k, 24k, 21k and 18k), as well as currency exchange rates, including the Indian rupee, Pakistani rupee, Philippine peso, Sri Lankan rupee, sterling pound, euro and may more against the UAE dirham (US dollar).

The rates for 24 carat, 22 carat, 21 carat, 18 carat and Ten Tola (TT) Bar (11.6638038 gram) will be updated four times a day to keep them fresh and relevant for buyers of gold bars and gold jewellery in the UAE.

The update times for Retail Gold Rate in Dubai will be at 9.30am, 2.30pm, 5pm and 8pm (unless there is drastic fall or rise in the international rate).

On Saturdays, the gold rates will be updated at 9.30am and this rate will stay static through Saturday and Sunday until the international market reopens on Monday.

Please note that the retailers add making charges separately to the quoted rate of gold.

The Retail Gold Rate in Dubai is being supplied by the Dubai Gold and Jewellery Group.

Foreign Exchange Rates

The Foreign Exchange Rates of major currencies will be updated twice each working day at around 8:30am and 3:30pm.

These will cover both the Remittance Rates [for sending money] and the Currency Notes Rates [for buying and selling of currency notes].

The Foreign Exchange Rates are being supplied by UAE Exchange.

Global Village has banned visitors from using the air wheels in the village.

This according to the management is for the safety of the users of these wheels, as well as the other visitors.

The management have stuck posters which clearly says it's banned, especially near shops which sell these wheels.

Many have welcomed the ban and said that those who ride these wheels pose great risk to themselves and others.

A California man has been charged with assault for allegedly punching and choking a woman after she reclined her seat on a flight.

Lawrence Wells, 54, of Richmond, California faces up to 10 years in prison over the October 18 incident that took place on board a Southwest Airlines flight from Los Angeles to San Francisco.

According to the indictment, Wells assaulted the victim, identified only by her initials MD, choking her and punching her in the head with a closed fist shortly after the plane took off.

"Approximately 10 minutes after the flight left the ground, the captain of the aircraft declared an emergency landing and returned to Los Angeles International Airport where law enforcement ... responded to investigate the assault allegation," the FBI said in a statement.

An FBI spokeswoman said the victim suffered a concussion.

Witnesses say Wells became upset after the woman put her seat back.

 

Beneath the pointlessly loud, high-octane action sequences and the absurd humour that packages ‘Diwale’ into a brand of cinema like no other, lies the story of a fanboy as he cheekily pays tribute to Bollywood’s much celebrated couple.

He borrows dialogues, moments and storyline from their classics, and weaves it into his movie, turning his ‘Diwale’ into a gushing scrapbook celebrating Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol’s glorious cinematic journey.

So, even before Maneesh Sharma could unveil ‘Fan’, Shah Rukh gives Rohit Shetty the lead.

While ‘Karan Arjun’, ‘Kuch Kuch Hota Hai’ and ‘Dilwale Dulhania Le Jaoge’ find tiny parts in the narrative, Rohit Shetty’s movie is part ‘Baazigar’, part ‘Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Ghum’, and loaded with ammunition and car chases.

It could’ve possibly worked, but diluting vintage romance with Rohit’s style of pulp fiction reduces the effort to nothing short of painful.

Even Dudley’s gorgeously designed frames can’t distract us from the chaos he’s created.

So, when the couple isn’t talking love or singing in exotic locations, they are busy pumping bullets, indulging in car chases and watching cars being blown up without any apparent reason. It’s a life that’s dangerously fun, or foolish.

A character in the film references ‘Fast and Furious’ with the lame - “Veer was fast, but you don’t be furious”, almost hinting at the standard of cinema we are presented. The movie is smeared with strange gems like these, with one funnyman asking, “Is it gift a present, or present a gift?”

Although Shah Rukh’s reel image announces it’s pointless to hold on to the past, the entire film banks abundantly on the lead pair’s past glories, blatantly contradicting itself. Rohit’s work doesn’t demand much from the audience, except their undying love for their superstars, so every illogical goof-up will unquestioningly be lapped up, and ‘Diwale’ rides happily on that theory.

Shah Rukh, with stubble or without, sleepwalks through his career’s seventh Raj. Apart from flaunting his signature pose (with arms wide open), which he allows Varun Dhawan and Johnny Lever to borrow, he spends much of his screen time, driving fast cars, breaking bones and flashing his dimples. His every move will undoubtedly generate the whistles and the applause, but doesn’t merit his acting acumen.

Kajol too looks absolutely stunning, but her Meera isn’t one that requires her to flex her acting chops. She’s evidently had lots of fun on the set, gleefully playing with guns, flaunting her heels and spinning the wheels, without much care for performance or character sketch.

The younger couple – Varun and Kriti – are happy lending the background score, with a lot of heart and honesty. While the boy is promising, the girl is happy being the ‘pretty face’.

There’s also Johnny Lever, who glares and screeches, almost reliving his time from ‘Baazigar’ and Vinod Khanna, Boman Irani and Kabir Bedi, who steal a few seconds to lend drama and madness to the plot.

It’s a good thing Rohit hands us a disclaimer about his style of moviemaking, allowing the non-fans to step away, but for the others, it would be crucial to carry along earplugs because you just can’t do

Dubai Police has arrested a six-member gang of armed robbers for a currency exchange robbery in Karama.

Dubai ‎Police Chief Major General Khamis Mattar Al Mazeina said it was reported that five masked men had raided an exchange office in Karama at around 4:50pm earlier this week.

The robbers looted Dh700,000 from the currency exchange.

Al Mazeina said that police were immediately summoned to the scene, and reviewed the CCTV camera footage from the location.

Dubai Police investigated and identified a gang of six members, Eastern Europe nationals, and raided their accommodation.

He said that two of them pointed guns at the staff while the others sprayed gas on them and the customers. They then snatched the money and placed it in a black bag.

Al Mazeina said that intense patrols and crime scene examining have led to an abandoned (BMW) vehicle that was set on fire by a gang member who had been waiting six blocks away.

"After that, Ports police managed to arrest a suspect while he was trying to escape the country, he denied the charges and pleaded not guilty," Al Mazeina added.

‪

Fans and Indian media were gearing up for a big Bollywood wedding of Ranbir Kapoor and Katrina Kaif in 2016 - thanks to their wild imaginations.

Ranbir and Katrina have been living together for a while now and marriage seems to be the next possible conclusion.

But it seems their love-life is facing a storm.

9xe.com reports that the break-up is imminent. Sources to the website have confirmed that the relationship is headed for a closure.

"It is not working out between them," the source added. "They have had differences ever since Ranbir went on a major publicity drive with Deepika Padukone for 'Tamasha'."

Ranbir and Deepika 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.

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?

Her recent explosive interview to GQ magazine Katrina has left everyone perplexed.

The 32-year-old actor 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.

It's no secret that Ranbir's mother, Neetu Kapoor, had never approved of Katrina and was extremely upset when her son moved in with his girlfriend across the road from his parents' residence.

In addition, buzz is that Ranbir's dad, Rishi Kapoor, was hardly amused when an entertainment newspaper reported that Katrina has started calling him 'Papa.'

However, the Ranbir-Katrina break-up may not be simple, since they still have to complete their work in the much-delayed Anurag Basu-directed film 'Jagga Jasoos'.

They might still play the 'couple role' for the movie. And you never know this might play a bigger role in mending their issues.

Katrina is already planning to whisk Ranbir away for a vacation post-Christmas and try to sort things out.

Never say never Katrina...

Pia Wurtzbach (Instagram)

Smile (and selfie)! It's almost time for #MissUniverse 2015. Go behind the scenes of the competition with your favorite contestants on social media. (Instagram)

Miss Kosovo. (Twitter)

(Twitter)

(Twitter)

(Twitter)

Sri Lanka, India, Venezuela make a splashMiss Sweden, Camilla Hansson, Miss Universe 2015 contestants have taken part in the national costume show. (AP)

Miss Uruguay, Johana Riva (AP)

Miss Venezuela, Migbelis Castellanos (AP)

Zoe Metthez Miss Switzerland (AP)

Miss Sri Lanka, Marianne Page (AP)

Miss Colombia, Paulina Vega (AP)

Miss India, Noyonita Lodh (AP)

Miss Russia, Yulia Alipova (AP)

Miss India vs Miss Philippines vs Miss USA

Urvashi Rautela, Miss India 2015; Olivia Jordan, Miss USA 2015; Aniporn Chalermburanawong, Miss Thailand 2015; and Yun Fang Xue, Miss China 2015; take a selfie during a pre tape segment at Planet Hollywood Resort. (AFP)

Olivia Jordan, Miss USA 2015, presents her gift during the National Gift Auction at the Opportunity Village,  December 10, 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (AFP)

Miss Philippines 2015 Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach rehearses for the upcoming Miss Universe telecast while at Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas. (Reuters)

Miss Vietnam 2015 Huong Pham (L) and Miss Aruba 2015 Alysha Boekhoudt rehearse for the upcoming Miss Universe pageant at Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Reuters)

Miss Colombia 2015 Ariadna Gutierrez. (Reuters)

Romina Racamonje, Miss Bolivia 2015; and Anna Vergelskaya, Miss Ukraine 2015; take part in a pre-tape segment for the Miss Universe Telecast at The Neon Museum Las Vegas on  December 11, 2015. The 2015 Miss Universe contestants are touring, filming, rehearsing and preparing to compete for the DIC Crown in Las Vegas. (AFP)

Sharlene Radlein, Miss Jamaica 2015, takes part in a pre-tape segment for the Miss Universe Telecast at The Neon Museum Las Vegas on  December 11, 2015. The 2015 Miss Universe contestants are touring, filming, rehearsing and preparing to compete for the DIC Crown in Las Vegas.  (AFP)

Miss Universe Organization, Clarissa Molina, Miss Dominican Republic 2015, takes part in a pre-tape segment for the Miss Universe Telecast at The Neon Museum Las Vegas on  December 11, 2015. The 2015 Miss Universe contestants are touring, filming, rehearsing and preparing to compete for the DIC Crown in Las Vegas. (AFP)

Debbie Collins, Miss Nigeria 2015, takes part in a pre-tape segment for the Miss Universe Telecast at The Neon Museum Las Vegas on  December 11, 2015. The 2015 Miss Universe contestants are touring, filming, rehearsing and preparing to compete for the DIC Crown in Las Vegas.(AFP)

From the Miss Universe Organization, Myriam Arevalos, Miss Paraguay 2015, takes part in a pre-tape segment for the Miss Universe Telecast at The Neon Museum Las Vegas on  December 11, 2015. The 2015 Miss Universe contestants are touring, filming, rehearsing and preparing to compete for the DIC Crown in Las Vegas. (AFP)

Maria-Belen Jerez Spuler, Miss Chile 2015, takes part in a pre-tape segment for the Miss Universe Telecast at The Neon Museum Las Vegas on  December 11, 2015. The 2015 Miss Universe contestants are touring, filming, rehearsing and preparing to compete for the DIC Crown in Las Vegas. (AFP)

Hilda Akua Frimpong, Miss Ghana 2015, presents her gift during the National Gift Auction at the Opportunity Village,  December 10, 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (AFP)
 

Lorraina C. Marriot, Miss Tanzania 2015, presents her gift during the National Gift Auction at the Opportunity Village,  December 10, 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (AFP)
 

Huong Pham, Miss Vietnam 2015, presents her gift during the National Gift Auction at the Opportunity Village,  December 10, 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (AFP)

Seoyeon Kim, Miss Korea 2015, presents her gift during the National Gift Auction at the Opportunity Village,  December 10, 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (AFP)

Aniporn Chalermburanawong, Miss Thailand 2015, presents her gift during the National Gift Auction at the Opportunity Village,  December 10, 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (AFP)

Cynthia Samuel, Miss Lebanon 2015; Iroshka Elvir, Miss Honduras 2015; Sharlene Radlein, Miss Jamaica 2015; and Shauna Ramdyhan, Miss Guyana 2015; pose for photos during the National Gift Auction at the Opportunity Village,  December 10, 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (AFP)

Amina Dagi, Miss Austria 2015; Mirta Kustan, Miss Croatia 2015; Monika Radulovic, Miss Australia 2015; and Ariadna Gutierrez, Miss Colombia 2015; pose for photos during the National Gift Auction at the Opportunity Village, December 10, 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada.(AFP)

Ariana Miyamoto, Miss Japan 2015, poses for a photo at Exotics Racing. (AFP)

Monika Radulovic, Miss Australia 2015; and Sharlene Radlein, Miss Jamaica 2015,  laugh during a pajama party video shoot at Planet Hollywood. (AFP)

Shauna Ramdyhan, Miss Guyana 2015 poses for a photo inside Planet Hollywood. (AFP)

Alysha Boekhoudt, Miss Aruba 2015, poses for a photo at Exotics Racing. (AFP)

Clarissa Molina, Miss Dominican Republic 2015, poses for a photo inside Planet Hollywood. (AFP)

Kanisha Sluis, Miss Curacao 2015, poses for a photo inside Planet Hollywood. (AFP)

Miss Bulgaria 2015 Radostina Todorova, Miss Italy 2015 Giada Pezzaioli, and Miss Venezuela 2015 Mariana Jimenez pose with Miss Universe 2014 Paulina Vega at a Chinese Laundry sponsored event at Zappos, in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Reuters)

Miss Korea 2015 Kim Seo-yeon, Miss Thailand 2015 Aniporn Chalermburanawong, and Miss Japan 2015 Ariana Miyamoto pose for photos at a Chinese Laundry sponsored event at Zappos, in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Reuters)

Miss Sweden 2015 Paulina Brodd, Miss Denmark 2015 Cecilie Wellemberg, Miss Hungary 2015 Nikoletta Nagy, and Miss France 2015 Flora Coquerel, pose for photos at a Chinese Laundry sponsored event at Zappos. (Reuters)

Miss Great Britain 2015 Narissara Nena France and Miss Mexico 2015 Wendy Esparza film in their National Costume at Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Reuters)

Miss Panama 2015 Gladys Brandao Amaya takes part in a pre-tape segment at Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Reuters)

Tonie Maria Chisholm, Miss Cayman Islands 2015, Maja Cukic, Miss Montenegro 2015, Paulina Brodd, Miss Sweden 2015, Cecilie Feline Wellemberg, Miss Denmark 2015, Rosa-Maria Ryyti, Miss Finland 2015, and Jeimmy Tahiz Aburto, Miss Guatemala 2015, lead the charge during a pre tape segment at Planet Hollywood Resort. (Reuters)

Ariadna Gutierrez, Miss Colombia 2015. (Reuters)

Miss Universe 2014 Paulina Vega, the Colombian beauty queen, will soon pass her crown to during the 64th edition of Miss Universe.

81 contestants have finally arrived in Las Vegas, Nevada, and all are vying to win this year's Miss Universe beauty pageant.

The current top 10 favorites from Missossology, a beauty pageant forum, include the candidates from India, Indonesia, Vietnam, Sweden, France, Philippines, Thailand, Dominican Republic, Colombia, and Japan.

The competition has just started, but fans are already anxious to see who will be crowned as the next Miss Universe.

The Miss Universe 2015 pageant night will happen at The AXIS in Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada. The show will be broadcast live by Fox on Dec. 20.

Paulina Vega, Miss Universe 2014 (C) and the 2015 Miss Universe contestants during the Welcome Event at Planet Hollywood Resort. (Reuters)

Laura Spoya, Miss Peru 2015. (Reuters)

Gladys Brandao Amaya, Miss Panama 2015. (AFP)

Paola Nunez, Miss Canada 2015. (AFP)

Paulina Vega, Miss Universe 2014. (AFP)

Sheetal Khadun, Miss Mauritius 2015. (AFP)

Vanessa Tevi Kumares, Miss Malaysia 2015,  takes part in a pre tape segment while on stage at Planet Hollywood Resort. (AFP)

Rosa-Maria Ryyti, Miss Finland 2015; and Lisa Elizabeth Drouillard, Miss Haiti 2015; pose for a photo at Red Rock Canyon. (AFP)

Yun Fang Xue, Miss China 2015. (AFP)

Aniporn Chalermburanawong, Miss Thailand 2015. (AFP)

Paola Nunez, Miss Canada 2015. (AFP)

Claudia Barrionuevo, Miss Argentina 2015. (AFP)

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)

 

Iraqi candidates for Miss Iraq beauty contest plant roses in the garden of the ancient archaeological site of Babylon, outside the modern city of Hilla, south of the capital Baghdad. (AFP)

The beauty contest,  which is the first one in more than 40 years, will take place on December 19, 2015. (AFP)

Iraqi candidates for Miss Iraq beauty contest pose at the ancient archaeological site of Babylon. (AFP)

(AFP)

(AFP)

(AFP)

(AFP)

(AFP)

(AFP)