The RTA is to encourage thousands of World Trade Centre workers to car pool and take public transport in the latest effort to calm traffic congestion and reduce pollution.
The plan includes introducing buses that will bring workers to and from their homes.
The RTA announced on Thursday that it has signed an agreement with the World Trade Centre to help bring employees to work on public transport and to educate them about the benefits of car-pooling.
They will also commission a report to discover the main "mobility obstacles" facing World Trade Centre employees commuting to work every day.
The plan could be a big boost to Dubai's plans to reduce its massive carbon footprint. The World Trade Centre employs thousands of people in its main 37-story office tower, as well the Dubai International Convention Center, the Convention Tower and other buildings.
The plan also hopes to minimise single-driver cars by encouraging employees to adopt car-pooling.
The UAE currently has the world's highest carbon footprint per population, leading to international calls for the country to introduce more public transport and reduce energy waste.
Feeling demotivated at work? Believe it or not it could be to do with colour of your bedroom walls, writes Eve Dugdale
If your house is a mess, you feel down in the dumps. Simple.
But who'd have thought the colour your home is painted or the ornaments you have on your coffee table could affect your positivity levels and general wellbeing?
Fair enough, the gawdy chipped emulsion plastered across the walls of your minuscule studio by the previous tenants is bound to have you feeling a little perplexed, but even the neatest paint job could have you feeling up tight, if it's the wrong colour that is.
Rima Dardenne, founder of the furniture store Irony Home, says the colour our walls are painted can do everything from making us feel loved and easing us out of depression to, at the other extreme, intensifying feelings of anger.
Rima told 7DAYS that it's about much more than whether we like the shade and that it's not really surprising colour affects our mental wellbeing to such an extent.
"Colour is simply light of varying wavelengths and, as such, is a form of energy which, used in the right way, can have a profound and healing effect on all creation," she explains.
"Colour therapy is the use of colour as a holistic, non-invasive and powerful therapeutic process which dates back thousands of years."
Rima, who conducts colour therapy workshops in her store in Dubai Mall, says in a busy city like Dubai, homes are an important sanctuary away from the day-to-day bustle of life. That's why she says it's important we make our living space as relaxing as possible.
"Through colour we receive all the energies we need to maintain a healthy body, mind, and soul which effects everything from our mood at home to how we perform at work.
"Our mental health, behaviour, and general efficiency in life depend on a great extent on normal colour balance.
"When something goes wrong, or is out of balance, we can strengthen our energy levels through the use of colour," she adds.
"Using the right colours in homes can therefore contribute to the positive development of your family members and yourself." And Rima says it doesn't have to break the bank to make sure you're getting the most out of your home. If you can't afford to give your place a makeover, a simple lick of paint on one wall or a couple of coloured throws over the sofa will do the trick.
Although many interior designers go wild for bold colours, Rima says they should be avoided as they are likely to inject feelings of anger or discontent in the home.
"Bold colours are recommended for neither large homes nor smaller apartments. Strong colours such as red and orange should be avoided especially, as they make people feel more aggressive or easily agitated.
"Shades of green are a good choice because of their calming influence.
"If you can't paint, add colour through bedding, window coverings or artwork."
Rima Shares her tips on what different colours represent and how we can help change the mood in our homes...
Red is connected with vitality and ambition and can have a positive influence. However, it can also aggravate anger so be very careful.
Pink gives a gentle and nurturing feeling. It reduces irritation making one feel loved and protected.
Orange brings cheer and makes one feel lively. It eases feelings of low self esteem or unwillingness to forgive.
Green is an earthy colour that resembles nature and helps us to connect with others and the natural world. But lime green and olive green can have harmful effects on physical and emotional health since the colours are associated with envy and possessiveness.
Yellow is an inspiring colour, symbolic of bright, happy days. But beware of dull yellow as the shade is associated with fear.
Blue is a soothing and peaceful colour making one feel calm and relaxed. Light and soft blue make you feel sheltered from the bustle and activity of the day. Blue-green shades reminds us of the cool ocean. It is therefore refreshing, cooling, and calming.
Magenta helps people out of depression and anger and gives a sense of freedom. It's very uplifting.
Indigo is a strong colour which stimulates people mentally, giving inspiration and making people feel more confident. Violet and purple are colours of change and freedom.
The colour silver represents the moon. It relates to the perceptive aspect of the mind and can help you make sense of situations.
The colour of soil - brown, brings a sense of steadiness and resolve.
Like yellow, gold is associated with the light, and therefore related to control, knowledge and understanding.
Unravelling money trails left by the two troubled Saudi firms mired in massive debt restructuring will likely take years, sources said, after initial talks to track down billions of dollars in unpaid obligations ended in disappointment.
This week's talks were convened to assess a complex array of contracts, liabilities and legal claims related to Ahmad Hamad Algosaibi and Brothers (AHAB) and Saad Group.
"Nothing came of the meeting, no action plan. We are hoping for another meeting but no date has been set," a senior Abu Dhabi-based banker said.
The firms' debt troubles and ensuing legal battles have sent shockwaves through the Middle East's financial sector.
The amount of debt that may have to be written off remains unclear. Estimates in the media range from $6 billion to $10 billion, though behind closed doors Gulf bankers say that the cost may hit $22 billion, with around 120 banks affected.
International and regional banks are suing the groups for assets after both groups missed payments.
Court cases are also taking place between the two groups after AHAB claimed in a May 22 New York filing that Maan Al Sanea, owner of Saad, used "falsified documents" to obtain $10 billion.
On Monday, AHAB said it was suing Dubai-based bank Mashreq, alleging that the lender was "wilfully blind" to irregular deals that helped lead Algosaibi into default.
The suit followed Mashreq's $150 million suit filed earlier this year against Algosaibi, in a tit-for-tat case that looks increasingly likely to see the biggest corporate default ever in the Middle East battled out in US courts.
The jealous ex-boyfriend of an Emirates air stewardess murdered her and her two siblings before dumping their bodies in a jacuzzi, prosecutors in Australia have said.
Max Sica is accused of strangling Neelma Singh, attacking her brother and sister with a pitchfork and then dumping them in the family spa to destroy forensic evidence.
Dubai-based cabin crew member Neelma allegedly told her family that Sica had bombarded her with phone calls and texts urging her to return to her home country of Australia.
Her family told the Supreme Court in Brisbane that Sica turned violent when he feared Neelma was seeing another man.
"She was scared of him," Neelma's mother told the court.
In a twist to the case, which started last week, defence lawyers were able to prove that Neelma had stayed for a month on a holiday island with Sica when she was supposed to have returned to her job in Dubai.
She then turned up at the family home in Brisbane pretending she had just returned from the UAE so that the family would not know she had been with Sica, whom they despised.
However, Sica allegedly became more and more threatening in the days following the trip and started stalking Neelma.
The prosecution alleges he forced his way into the family home while her parents were on holiday, strangled the 24-year-old and beat, stabbed and bludgeoned Kunal, 18, and Sidhi, 12.
The murders occurred in 2003 but the police took years to complete their case in one of the biggest investigations in Queensland history.
In a case full of twists and bizarre detail, defence lawyers showed that Neelma's father, Vijay, flew into a rage after discovering she had called Sica many times from Dubai.
She later told her family that she wanted to return to Australia for a break because her Dubai roommate had a drug problem.
But when she returned, she went on the holiday with Sica.
Defence lawyers have shown that Neelma's father, Vijay, had numerous affairs and was violent towards his family. Neelma had once emailed Sica, asking him to beat up her father, they said.
However, Vijay strongly rejected defence lawyers' claims that he hired a killer and framed Sica for the murders.
An Emirates spokeswoman said that the airline would not comment on ongoing court proceedings involving a former employee.
Dubai: The average cost of owning a new car in the UAE is about Dh25,000 a year whereas maximum cost of a monthly public transport pass for travel on the Metro, buses and water transport will be Dh270 once the Dubai Metro starts operations.
This amounts to Dh3,240 a year if a passenger uses the Dh270 monthly travel pass for unlimited commuting.
According to a study conducted by the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), the cost of owning a car includes petrol, servicing, maintenance and its depreciation value. Breaking down the cost, a new car costs its owner an average of Dh68 per day, Dh476 per week and Dh2,040 per month.
Commuters can make unlimited use of all modes of public transport all over the city including the Metro, public buses and the water bus by purchasing a Dh270 Nol pass valid for 30 days. This comes down to a maximum of Dh9 per day.
The daily pass will cost Dh14 for unlimited trips on the Metro and the public buses all over the city.
Using the Metro and other integrated modes of transport will be a cheaper option for commuters.
Fares for the Metro and public buses will range from a minimum of Dh1.8 to a maximum of Dh6.5 for a single journey. The minimum fare for the Metro or the bus for a short trip for up to three kilometres will be Dh1.8 if a passenger is using a prepaid card while it will cost Dh2 in case of using a standard single journey paper ticket.
The maximum fare for a single journey will be Dh6.5 in case of using a paper ticket and Dh5.8 in case of using the card. The fares will be valid for trains, public buses and the water buses to complete a single journey.
This means a passenger using the Metro can continue his trip on buses without paying any additional fare.
The RTA has also given various fare options to passengers including daily and monthly passes.
Dubai loses around Dh4.5 billion due to traffic congestion on the road, according to the RTA. Public transport will help reduce this financial loss and save commuters for being stuck in traffic jams causing loss of time and money.
There are more than one million registered vehicles in Dubai while more than 1.3 million vehicles use Dubai's road network every day.
Perspective of a taxi-user
I am very excited about Dubai Metro. I do not have a car having passed off the ownership and consequent upkeep of a vehicle as being too expensive, but after five years in Dubai I have finally calculated that I spend almost Dh8,000 a year on cabs, minimum.
With Metro stops strategically placed outside my building and 500 metres from Gulf News I am getting ready to save a lot of money. Fares will cost a minimum of Dh1.80 to around Dh4 which means I'll probably do some joyriding in between getting to assignments and the office.
Shaikh Mohammad increases multimedia aspects on Facebook page
Dubai: His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has increased the multimedia presence on his public Facebook page, by uploading a link to a video of his recent visit to the Ministries of Social Affairs and Labour.
Shaikh Mohammad "followed up on the development plans of the Social Affairs and Labour Ministries and feel[s] satisfied with what has been achieved. Watch a video of my visit http://bit.ly/Qvlo" the status update reads.
Within one hour of the posting, almost 70 Facebook 'fans' of Shaikh Mohammad had sent congratulatory messages and thoughts about the video.
The video shows Shaikh Mohammd being greeted by Social Affairs Minister, Mariam Al Roumi and staff, greeting and chatting to young children. He viewed the model of a special care centre for training and rehabilitating people with special needs, and visited a number of stands that showcase products made by UAE families. At the Labour Ministry, the video shows Shaikh Mohammad discussing issues with Labour Minister Saqr Gobash Saeed Gobash. Shaikh Mohammad was also given a presentation on the new Wage Protection System by Humaid Bin Deemas, Acting Director General of the Ministry.
The video was presented by Shaikh Mohammad's Media Office.
Shaikh Mohammad has been posting information, pictures and correspondence via his public page since June.
He previously opened a private Facebook page, which was so inundated by friend requests that it had to be migrated to a public page - which has greater capacity for comments and friends.
Dry weight of the A5 Sportback 2.0-litre TFSI is 230kg down on Merc's CLS280
Audi A5 Sportback: The A+ student
Tuscany is the land of the Renaissance. The lakes, vineyards and gracefully crumbling walls of hilltop villas around Florence, characterise a land that heaved Europe out of the Middle Ages, into a new dawn of culture, art, literature and political structure.
Audi chose this place to launch its new A5 Sportback. Funnily enough, the connection between Florence - and its province Tuscany - and Audi's fairly recent resurgence struck me only after I came back to Dubai from my trip to test the Sportback.
Up until the Eighties - some would argue even during the Nineties - there were really only two premium carmakers in Germany: Mercedes and BMW. Audi was somewhere down there with Volkswagen and Opel, churning out featureless diesels, mostly, with matchbox bodies and front-wheel-drive. Then one day someone in Ingolstadt thought that maybe four driven wheels would be better than two. Certainly better than the front two. Quattro was born, Audi dominated Eighties rallying and in the Nineties, it became serious on the production line too, finally matching BMW and Mercedes in premium build quality and luxury. It wasn't enough, though. The four-rings have long moved off Finland's gravel stages and Monte Carlo's icy switchbacks; Audi now wants to dominate the production car territory, not just equal it. The company's goal is to offer 42 models by 2015. Florence's renaissance began in the 14th century. Ingolstadt's begins now, in the 21st.
It's all in the looks
In designing the A5 Sportback, Audi didn't want the equivalent of an accountant on wheels. It already has the A6.
With the Sportback, it was necessary to lure younger buyers as well as those who walk into the showroom to check out the A5 coupé, but moan about needing more space. Audi is also confident of this one eating into the sales of BMW's 3 Series and Merc's C-Class. It may even get the Volkswagen Golf brigade to jump on the coupé-saloon bandwagon. I reckon it will steal a few sales from the bigger 5 Series and E-Class as well. Not to mention Audi's own A4 and A6 - it's puzzling that the company would jeopardise its own models, but Audi insists it's attracting new buyers rather than current owners.
Unlike the A6, this five-door, four-seater coupé features emotional styling, that's for sure. Its powerful elegance is exemplified by its proportions. It all starts with a long 2.81m wheelbase teamed with short overhangs and a roofline that's 36mm lower than the A4. It's got the stance sorted. The A5 coupé width also helps cut a serious figure on the road. A huge Audi grille gapes up front with slanted headlights (basically, it's 100 per cent A5 coupé), while the profile is tightened with an extra-high waistline and an elegant wave running the length of the side. Wheels range from 17 to 20in, but the smallest set looks lost in the massive arches. Only the biggest S-Line rims really fill the wells purposefully.
The signature styling cue has to be the C-pillar. Audi is very proud of its little kink right at the corner of the window, differentiating it from the rest of the range and signifying the A5 Sportback's coupé roots. Um, but isn't it just BMW's Hofmeister kink on an Audi? I didn't dare ask the Sportback's project manager that question though. The tailgate is another highlight, not just because it conceals a massive boot, but because of its elegance and the simplicity with which it successfully meets coupé-saloon criteria - tall rear, with short window and slightly sloping roof that flows down towards the boot. The A5 Sportback is one of the prettiest Audis on sale.
The range
A fleet of A5 Sportbacks in front of Florence's Amerigo Vespucci airport was prepared by Audi with memorised scenic routes in the sat-nav, which would take me to the outskirts of the city and into rural Tuscany, through wheat fields and past medieval castles resting atop cypress-lined hills. Six engines are available with the Sportback; three of them are brilliantly silent and torquey diesels, with pulling power unmatched by any of the petrols on offer. The 2.0-litre and 2.7-litre TDIs drive the front wheels through a manual or automatic gearbox, developing 170 and 190bhp respectively. Putting out 240 horses via a double-clutch gearbox and all-wheel-drive, is the 3.0-litre TDI A5 Sportback. The diesel-clatter is completely absent with this engine, and with the benefits of its economy, masses of torque and performance — 0-100kph in 6.1secs, 250kph limited top speed — it's undoubtedly the one to have.
Unfortunately, all the diesels are irrelevant to us, so the petrols are represented by two 2.0-litre engines and a 3.2-litre V6.
Strangely, we won't be seeing the most powerful A5 Sportback in the Middle East. Audi will import only the 2.0-litre TFSI Quattros into the UAE and not the 265bhp top-of-the-line model.
It's a shame; this model is capable of returning between 25 and 30mpg, while delivering furious acceleration and mid-range grunt, thanks to 330Nm of torque taking over control at 3,000rpm. A V6 up front would usually mount turn-in problems and understeer around the apex and exit points of corners, but with quattro and adaptive chassis control, the only understeer you'll experience is when you tackle hairpins with your right foot down all the way through. With the V6 A5 Sportback, slow in and fast out is the name of the game. It also manages to feel relatively light, skipping across badly cambered roads and ruts with ease, swinging left to right as if it was a couple of hundred kilos lighter.
This lightness isn't just an illusion. The 3.2-litre V6 engine uses a crankcase made of an aluminium and silicon alloy, which aids weight distribution and balances axle loads. This is why I had the feeling that I was handling a much more compact car. Weight transfer is very mild and never shakes the tail loose even after aggressive direction swings — this is also in part due to the optional 20in 265/30 Bridgestones. Yet, it's not as quick as the 3.0-litre TDI: half-a-second slower to 100kph, and not nearly as rapid out of tight bends or during overtaking manoeuvres which require passing a line of a few cars.
The V6 TDI demolishes short sprints thanks to 500Nm of torque.
The one that really matters
Once I sampled the rest of the range and dived into the side-bolstered S-Line leather seat of the 2.0-litre TFSI A5 Sportback, I stayed there for pretty much the remainder of the weekend. The range has already impressed me, but I was hoping the 2.0-litre car would provide an even more enjoyable ride on the twisty, quiet roads of Saturday-morning Tuscany.
It's a light package, despite a mostly-steel body and only the front fenders made of aluminium, to lower the weight over the front axle which already has the engine to deal with. Due to its proportions and wind-tunnel fine tuning, all four-cylinder Sportbacks score well in aerodynamic efficiency too; the drag coefficient is 0.29.
Almost perfect ergonomics and high-grade plastics or leather are pretty much everywhere, except for the multitude of chrome accents surrounding every major knob, switch or control cluster. Yet, it's not overly shiny and brash. In fact, Audi could've been even more adventurous with the cabin, which seats strictly four occupants. But, it's an Audi, so while the exterior looks fabulous, you can't get everything you want, therefore the interior is accountant-like, just as in the A6. Business as usual for Audi, then.
I didn't mind the staid cabin which doesn't befit a 'coupé', because I soon put the 211 horses to the road. On one pre-programmed route titled 'Dynamic', I fittingly switched the adaptive chassis to dynamic mode at which point the throttle response immediately sharpened, while the weight of the steering wheel in my hands increased and tightened in its centre. It transformed the car, and with the seven-speed box in sports mode, the shifts were lightning quick, well into the red section of the rev band. I found that 211bhp with quattro was plenty for a thoroughly exhilarating drive on such fantastic and empty roads. The force-fed but free-revving engine coupled to a chassis featuring a new sports differential and adaptive shock absorber control equals very brisk, understeer-free progress.
Again, it was the lightness of the vehicle and willingness to drastically shift its weight without impacting the passengers too much which impressed most. I could dispatch linked hairpins and esses on the hardest suspension setting, riding the red rev zone throughout the sequence of bends without the need for additional steering correction. You can also correct your direction with the throttle, which on lift-off, sends weight to the tail and gently tucks you back on line. It's a fantastically engineered driver's car and not just a marketing-orientated design.
And if the 2.0-litre TFSI A5 Sportback is a smidgen of a sign of things to come from Audi's renaissance, I can't wait to see what it will do with the S5 Sportback.
Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre TFSI
Transmission: Seven-speed S-tronic
Max power :211bhp @ 4,300rpm
Max torque: 350Nm @ 1,500rpm
Top speed: 241kph
0-100kph: 6.6secs
Price :TBA
Plus :Best looking four-door Audi. It may also be the liveliest to drive
It looks, well, wrong; it's a coupe a foot off the ground.But it will easily keep most UAE supercars sweating when itarrives in two to three months
BMW X6M: Supercar
This is a first drive with a difference. The BMW X6 has been around for 12 months now, as a sportier alternative to the already-quite-sporty X5 SUV, and in that time it has certainly surprised a few people. In the same way that the original X5 handled like no-one believed an SUV could, the X6 demonstrated that you could make a car this size, height and mass but still cover ground as quickly and with as much pleasure as any respectable sports car.
But that's not quite the end of the story for the X6. It might well be the most unlikely M car ever, but the wizards at the BMW M division have taken it under their wing and decided to give it the full treatment.
The X6 in standard form is a remarkably focused device. The visual muscle has been taken to new levels here, not least thanks to the 20in wheels, body-coloured everything and air intakes at the front that would probably swallow other cars whole. There's a good reason for this though, because behind those flared nostrils lies a serious engine.
It's a 4.4-litre twin-turbocharged V8, as seen in the X6 xDrive50i and 750i, but here it's tweaked still further to deliver a frankly outrageous 555bhp and 680Nm of torque. That makes it the most powerful M car, and the first one to use twin turbos. That might go a little against that high-rev, naturally aspirated approach of existing M cars, but all that is forgotten once you fire it up.
Few production BMWs have ever sounded this raucous, and when you first prod the starter button and hear it turn over, it's hard not to take a deep breath. That's all from the peerless comfort of your classic BMW cabin of course. The chunkiness of the steering wheel and snugness of the seat means by now you've already forgotten that you're sitting in a 2.3-tonne beast.
Like the rest of the range, the X6M has the excellent six-speed automatic transmission, with three modes including paddleshift operation. Here it also has launch control: put it in the right mode, foot flat on the brake, raise the revs, and when you release the brake it blasts forward with the electronics hell-bent on delivering you to the horizon as quickly as possible.
And it does so with eye-watering success. The four-seater, almost five-metre-long semi-SUV will blast to 100kph in 4.7secs - that's a solitary tenth slower than the 414bhp M3. It's not just down to pure grip either, whatever the speed, the X6M ploughs forward with startling vim. The engine is remarkably flexible and makes very short work of hauling the X6M up to speed.
That's not the main party trick however, because the funniest part is when you carry that ridiculous speed through a bend. Somehow the mass is disguised as you pitch into a corner, and the sharpness of response and accuracy that is present in every good BMW is just as apparent. It has its limits of course, but you'll be lucky or mad if you ever get anywhere near discovering them. More than ever, the clever Dynamic Performance Control allows you to power out of bends with no signs of understeer, and convert that massive grunt into meaningful acceleration.
All these changes have failed to turn the X6M into a meaningless track weapon. It's still comfortable, has a pleasurable cabin and can manage four adults plus 570 litres of luggage. Admittedly, BMW is honest about the X6M being something of a car for the select few: around 40 customers in a peak year isn't much, and probably not a great surprise given the price tag. But what the X6M does is demonstrate without any doubt that a sports car doesn't need to be small, or have just two seats and no boot to be a riot to drive.
Specs
Model: X6M
Engine: 4.4-litre V8 twin-turbo
Transmission: Six-speed auto
Max power: 555bhp @ 6,000rpm
Max torque: 680Nm @ 1,500rpm
Top speed: 250kph
0-100kph: 4.7secs
Price: Dh500,000 - 530,000
Plus: Looks like an SUV, behaves like a sports car
Minus: Looks 2,380kg In terms of dry weight, it's a sumo wrestler but it's as deft as a black-belt ninja
Al Ain: For the first time in its 40-year history, Al Ain Wildlife Park and Resort has launched an all night zoo and has invited people to observe the nocturnal behaviour of animals.
The park will open its gates from 9pm to 2am during Ramadan, giving an opportunity to the public to watch a demonstration where penguins are fed. There will be other demonstrations at the Arabian and African mixed exhibits, said an official of the park yesterday.
The visitors will also be able to see birds of prey in action during a show. Visitors can feast on a traditional Suhoor meal at the restaurant located within the zoo - all with the majestic Jebel Hafeet in the backdrop.
Majid Al Mansouri, managing director of the park, said: "Ramadan is a family occasion, and a time for people to spend time with their loved ones in a peaceful and welcoming environment".
He said the park had carefully selected the late-night hours.
"This is the time of night when families and friends come together to socialise. Now they can spend the early hours of the night interacting with wildlife from around the world," he said.
The visitors, said Al Mansouri, will be able to escape the hustle and bustle of the city and experience the nocturnal behaviour of animals such as the endangered Arabian Oryx, lions and giraffes.
Aamir Khan is raving about the movie Quick Gun Murugan after attending a special screening of Dr Rajendra Prasad's flick.
Aamir wrote on his blog, Just saw Quick Gun Murugun. Really enjoyed it. I think fans of the Channel [V] character Quick Gun Murugan will love it. It's got so many rib-cracking moments. And a very well-pitched performance by lead actor Dr Rajendra Prasad, and all the other cast. It's releasing on 28th so don't miss it if you are a Quick Gun fan…. Mind it!"
The movie will be releasing on 28th August
Check out a still from My Name is Khan starring Kajol and SRK. They look absolutely awesome together.Ain't they
Priyank Chopra is suffering from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder which is taking a toll on her health.
With three back to back hits with Fashion, Dostana and Kaminey, Priyanka is looking forward to Ashutosh Gowariker's What's your Rashee where she plays 12 different characters and she is worried that working too much will have negative effect on her health.
Priyanka says, "I have said this earlier it's the same OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder) at work. I've been warned by my parents (both doctors) and well-wishers not to let work take its toll on me. And, though I wish to pay heed to their advice, I can't stop myself from getting excessively involved with the work I take on. Honestly, I drive myself to a point of no return when it comes to any part that I undertake in a film. I'm just so involved that it starts to hurt. And I don't realise I'm bleeding till such time as I'm on a set because I don't stop to look.''
Katrina Kaif is the most beautiful actress in Bollywood at the moment. She is perfect in every way – amazing skin, beautiful eyes, lovely mouth and the chic knows how to accentuate her beauty well. Never do you see her wearing what doesn't suit her style both in terms of clothes and makeup.
She reveals her beauty secrets and it is interesting to know what kind of products she uses and what is her beauty regimen. So make sure you note this stuff down in case you wanna be as beautiful as her -
Beauty Regimen "I kick start my day with three to four glasses of water. I excercise. I love swimming, jogging, gymming — this gives blood circulation a boost and skin feels healthier. My skin behaves well if I use less make-up. A beauty rule that I follow is to always cleanse my face of all make-up, however tired I may be. I use a face wash by Mene & Moy which has two per cent salicylic acid and Lancôme Cleansing Milk for the face and eyes. I am addicted to the Purifying Apricot Oil from Anne Semoin. To deal with a beauty emergency I rely on a mineral mud mask by Anne Semoin. It calms my skin."
Makeup "I like to play up my eyes with lots of mascara by Yves Saint Laurent. My look for the coming season is traditional with more emphasis on the eyes with MAC kohl, keeping cheeks and lips neutral with a bronze highlighter from Laura Mercier and a MAC lip gloss in nude."
Clothes "I like to wear Floral summer dresses or tracks and sweatshirts or cargo pants and sleeveless tee shirts during the day I don't party too often, but when I do, I opt for a Tarun Tahiliani Indo-Western or Rocky S' Westerns. I just cant do without my Lee Jeans."
MUMBAI — In India's highly competitive Bollywood movie industry, any publicity is good publicity as studios battle to secure maximum exposure for their upcoming films.
Dozens of public relations firms have sprung up in recent years to promote movies and boost stars' profiles by feeding insatiable TV channels, magazines and newspapers with tidbits of gossip -- some of which might even be true.
But just how far such "spin" might be taken was brought into question recently after leading Bollywood actor Shahrukh Khan, a Muslim, was questioned by immigration officials at a US airport.
India's media was filled for days with outrage at how Khan had been treated, and a public debate raged over the contentious issue of racial profiling, religious prejudice and attitudes to Indians when they travel abroad.
Amid the furore, some pointed out the coincidence that Khan -- popularly known as SRK -- had just completed a major film that deals with the experiences of Muslims in the United States after the September 11, 2001 attacks.
Prabhat Choudhary, from the Mumbai marketing firm Spice, does not believe Khan's airport controversy was a set-up, but suggested it may have been used by the actor's advisers to generate pre-release interest.
"I'm aware of a lot of incidents that have been smartly or ruthlessly exploited," Choudhary told AFP.
"The kind of media which SRK got, it's helped the film for sure. This is the theme of 'My Name Is Khan' and in one stroke you've put out the theme of your film to so many people."
The storm of protest was so loud that the US ambassador to India even issued a statement describing Khan as a "global icon" who was a welcome guest in the United States.
SRK himself called a press conference on his return to Mumbai last week, and created further publicity by denying that his original complaint about being briefly held for questioning was an attempt to promote him or the film.
"I don't want to sound pompous," Khan told reporters. "But Shahrukh Khan doesn't need any publicity."
Choudhary and other Bollywood insiders say getting and keeping a star or film in the public eye is vital, as films need to be instant successes when they open.
"Any sort of buzz you can create to ensure that people are interested is the key thing," said Mayank Shekhar, cultural editor at The Hindustan Times.
"Everyone is trying every trick in the book, or even not in the book. Publicity stunts are just one of them," he told AFP.
The usual one is the leading pair in the film breaking up or getting together or perhaps getting married. But that's so common now it's passe."
For example, details of heartthrob Shahid Kapoor's real-life split from glamorous Kareena Kapoor emerged at the time of the release of their film "Jab We Met" (When We Met) in 2007.
In the same year, Abhishek Bachchan's engagement was announced to former Miss World Aishwarya Rai, also his co-star in the film "Guru".
Choudhary said the publicity campaigns were a reflection of the industry taking on tactics used in Hollywood since the 1940s -- with the added twist that today's audience is more aware of the media game.
With films judged either as flops or blockbusters, the stakes were high, he said.
One movie he helped promote -- "Ghajini" starring Aamir Khan -- took 400 million rupees (8.2 million dollars) in its opening weekend late last year, eight times as much as the average blockbuster even 10 years ago.
Many leading actors such as Shahrukh Khan and Aamir Khan, who both own production companies, are now more involved in marketing and can "spin" a situation to their advantage, he added.
While press officers and publicists bombard reporters with daily phone calls, text messages and emails, some observers fear that such efforts damage the quality and content of the coverage that readers receive.
Objective discussion of film is gradually disappearing, veteran Mumbai newspaper editor and commentator Kumar Ketkar, told AFP.
Instead, media outlets are filling pages and airtime with hype and spoon-fed gossip masquerading as news at the expense of weightier subjects.
"Readers and viewers have begun to learn that these are manufactured and that's why some films bomb at the box office," he warned.
Salman Khan is apparently interested in buying a new team
Bollywood star Salman Khan is interested in buying a team in the India Premier League (IPL) cricket tournament, IPL authorities say.
The actor met IPL chairman Lalit Modi and showed interest in a "new team", Mr Modi said.
Bollywood stars Shah Rukh Khan, Preity Zinta and Shilpa Shetty already own or jointly own IPL teams with partners.
IPL will expand the competition from eight to 10 teams for 2011, when a fresh player auction will take place.
Mr Modi told reporters that Khan had been in talks about buying a team for a number of months.
"He was interested in knowing what it takes to own a team and the process involved - when his move could be initiated and how long it would take. I think he is a serious buyer," Mr Modi was quoted as saying by The Times Of India.
A member of the IPL governing council Rajeev Shukla said there would be "other bidders [for teams] as well along with Salman Khan".
"And whosoever comes up with the maximum bid will win a team."
Mr Modi said "over 20 celebrities" were interested in buying new IPL teams.
Shah Rukh owns the Calcutta team, while Preity Zinta and Shilpa Shetty co-own the Punjab and Rajasthan teams
Filmmakers in Bollywood, India's movie industry, are notorious for borrowing liberally from foreign films far and wide, especially Hollywood.
Even when they don't copy an entire film frame by frame, Bollywood directors often borrow from several films at once, melding story lines and adapting them to an Indian setting, complete with song and dance. They do this, of course, without buying the remaking rights. Despite a lot of original cinema coming out of Bollywood, plagiarism is rife.
Hollywood hasn't cared until now, The Washington Post's Emily Wax reports. Twentieth Century Fox recently settled a lawsuit with BR Films — a well-known banner — over its remake of the 1992 hit "My Cousin Vinny." Fox accepted $200,000, paving the way for a release of the Hindi version, called "Banda Yeh Bindaas Hai" or "This Guy is Fearless".
The Times of London has reported that a lawyer representing major American studios has recently sent warning letters to producers who he believes are copying Hollywood films. Among the titles are "Ghostbusters", "Jerry Maguire", "The Departed" and "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button", the paper reports.
Will Fox's action finally put a stop to the widespread plagiarism in Bollywood? More likely, Bollywood producers will just have to cough up the money to buy remaking rights, which is how it should be.
Yahoo!, the US-based search engine, yesterday confirmed it had bought Maktoob.com, one of the biggest online community web sites in the Arab world.
Yahoo! is the second most popular search engine in the US and, with 16 million users, Maktoob is one of the most popular web sites in the Gulf.
Yahoo! is hoping to use the acquisition to potentially tap into the 320 million strong online Arab community.
"Yahoo! sees tremendous growth opportunities in the region," Keith Nilsson, the company's head of emerging markets said yesterday at a press conference in Dubai.
"Maktoob is a terrific local brand. Yahoo! will be combining its global technology and Maktoob's local Arabic content," he added.
Maktoob.com is accessed by users in the UAE, Kuwait, Jordan, Egypt and Saudi Arabia and Yahoo! plans to offer Arabic-language content and services, including Arabic versions of Yahoo! Messenger and Yahoo! Mail.
Set up in 2000 by Samih Toukan and Hussam Khoury, Maktoob.com was conceived as the world's first free Arabic and English web-based email service, and since then has grown to be one of the leading Arab online sites.
In 2007, Abraaj Capital, the Dubai-based buyout company which manages more than $6 billion, sold its 40 per cent stake in Maktoob.com to Tiger Global Management, a US-based investment company.
Internet usage in the Middle East has grown more than tenfold since 2000, however the World Bank estimated that less than one per cent of all online content is in Arabic.
Maktoob.com is currently ranked the 156th most-popular web site in the world and is used by 0.47 per cent of global internet users, according to Amazon.com's web traffic monitoring company.
However, spending on online advertising in the region is expected to rise by 35 to 40 per cent this year, according to Madar Research.
Dozens of domestic workers have been arrested after immigration officials raided four villas in Bur Dubai.
A total of 132 people, mostly Asian men, were seized during yesterday's early morning swoop carried out by the Dubai Naturalisation and Residency Department (DNRD).
The department's director, Major General Mohammed Al Murri, said it was cracking down on workers who are found flouting the UAE's strict immigration laws and warned the DNRD will continue to pursue illegal workers in a bid to "protect the safety and security" of the country.
The raids came after a tip-off from a member of the public who said illegal immigrants were staying in the villas in Bur Dubai.
The DNRD and Dubai Police obtained search warrants and stormed the villas, arresting 111 men and 21 women.
Of those that were caught, 79 were held for committing visit visa violations, 28 for absconding from their sponsors, 14 for working under a different sponsor and ten for staying in the country with an expired visa.
One person was arrested for returning to the country after being deported.
Illegal immigrants have also been targeted in Sharjah.
Officials from the emirate's immigration department found 42 people in breach of the law earlier this week.
The department's Colonel Dr Abdullah Sahowa said the raids in Sharjah's industrial zone were part of an emirate-wide campaign to rid the area of illegal workers.
Seven of those arrested had previously been deported while the remaining 35 were held on suspicion of being in breach of visit visas.
Officials say the 42 men arrested claimed to have paid between dhs2,000 and dhs5,000 each to an Asian man who brought them across to the UAE by boat from Iran.
Earlier this month 25 Filipino, Indonesian and Sri Lankan housemaids were also arrested in a flat in Jamal Abdul Nasser Street in Sharjah after absconding from their sponsors.
Filmmakers in Bollywood, India's movie industry, are notorious for borrowing liberally from foreign films far and wide, especially Hollywood.
