India's forex reserves down $2.99 billion

Mumbai: India's foreign exchange (forex) reserves decreased by $2.99 billion to $277.16 billion for the week ended Aug 2, according to data released by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).

The reserves had increased by $960.2 million to $280.16 billion for the week ended July 26.

The foreign currency assets (FCA) - the biggest component of the forex reserves - fell by $2.15 billion at $249.89 billion, the weekly statistical supplement of the central bank shows.

The FCA had grown by $914.1 million at $252.05 billion in the previous week.

The central bank said FCA in US dollar terms included the effect of appreciation or depreciation of non-US currencies held in reserve, such as the pound sterling, euro and yen.

Gold reserves which had remained stagnant at $21.55 billion after a plunge of $1.28 billion in the week ended July 5, further fell by $808.5 million and stood at $20.74 billion in the week under review.

The special drawing rights (SDRs) declined by $21.4 million to $4.35 billion during the week ended Aug 2, 2013, while reserves with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) went down by $10.7 million to $2.17 billion.

The SDRs had increased by $30.8 million to $4.37 billion during the previous week, while reserves with the IMF were up by $15.3 million to $2.18 billion.

    

India's forex reserves down $2.99 billion

Mumbai: India's foreign exchange (forex) reserves decreased by $2.99 billion to $277.16 billion for the week ended Aug 2, according to data released by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).

The reserves had increased by $960.2 million to $280.16 billion for the week ended July 26.

The foreign currency assets (FCA) - the biggest component of the forex reserves - fell by $2.15 billion at $249.89 billion, the weekly statistical supplement of the central bank shows.

The FCA had grown by $914.1 million at $252.05 billion in the previous week.

The central bank said FCA in US dollar terms included the effect of appreciation or depreciation of non-US currencies held in reserve, such as the pound sterling, euro and yen.

Gold reserves which had remained stagnant at $21.55 billion after a plunge of $1.28 billion in the week ended July 5, further fell by $808.5 million and stood at $20.74 billion in the week under review.

The special drawing rights (SDRs) declined by $21.4 million to $4.35 billion during the week ended Aug 2, 2013, while reserves with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) went down by $10.7 million to $2.17 billion.

The SDRs had increased by $30.8 million to $4.37 billion during the previous week, while reserves with the IMF were up by $15.3 million to $2.18 billion.

    

PM Lee congratulates S R Nathan on receiving Singapore's highest award

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. (AFP/File - Matt Rourke) SINGAPORE: Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Friday congratulated former president S R Nathan on being conferred the nation's highest award -- The Order of Temasek, First Class. The prime minister acknowledged Mr Nathan's many contributions to Singapore over the years and said that the award was the country's token of appreciation for him. Mr Lee was speaking to reporters at a National Day Observance ceremony at Teck Ghee Primary, attended by some 1,000 students and residents. Drumming up the National Day spirit were students from Teck Ghee Primary, dressed up in Singapore colours. PM Lee visited the school for his traditional National Day Observance ceremony in his ward. Tina Aw, a student at Teck Ghee Primary, said: "I'm very proud to be a Singaporean, to be here to celebrate our National Day together with the prime minister; I've never met the prime minister before, so I'm very excited to see him." Participants also sang the national anthem and recited the pledge, while students entertained the audience with modern and traditional dances. The highlight of the ceremony was a cake-cutting by the prime minister to mark Singapore's 48th birthday. - CNA/jc

PM Lee congratulates S R Nathan on receiving Singapore's highest award

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. (AFP/File - Matt Rourke) SINGAPORE: Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Friday congratulated former president S R Nathan on being conferred the nation's highest award -- The Order of Temasek, First Class. The prime minister acknowledged Mr Nathan's many contributions to Singapore over the years and said that the award was the country's token of appreciation for him. Mr Lee was speaking to reporters at a National Day Observance ceremony at Teck Ghee Primary, attended by some 1,000 students and residents. Drumming up the National Day spirit were students from Teck Ghee Primary, dressed up in Singapore colours. PM Lee visited the school for his traditional National Day Observance ceremony in his ward. Tina Aw, a student at Teck Ghee Primary, said: "I'm very proud to be a Singaporean, to be here to celebrate our National Day together with the prime minister; I've never met the prime minister before, so I'm very excited to see him." Participants also sang the national anthem and recited the pledge, while students entertained the audience with modern and traditional dances. The highlight of the ceremony was a cake-cutting by the prime minister to mark Singapore's 48th birthday. - CNA/jc

My kids are my best safety blankets: Shah Rukh Khan

MUMBAI: Superstar Shah Rukh Khan, a doting father, feels the safest when his children "envelope" him with their hugs.

The actor, who has been busy with the promotions of his ‘Chennai Express’, releasing Friday, has a son named Aryan, and a daughter named Suhana. He also recently announced the birth of his surrogate son AbRam.

On Thursday afternoon, SRK took to Twitter to post: "Awake now. Need to surround myself by love... think will get the kids to come and envelope me with their hugs. The best safety blankets."

Shah Rukh`s hopes from ‘Chennai Express’ are high. The film, directed by Rohit Shetty, also stars Deepika Padukone.

My kids are my best safety blankets: Shah Rukh Khan

MUMBAI: Superstar Shah Rukh Khan, a doting father, feels the safest when his children "envelope" him with their hugs.

The actor, who has been busy with the promotions of his ‘Chennai Express’, releasing Friday, has a son named Aryan, and a daughter named Suhana. He also recently announced the birth of his surrogate son AbRam.

On Thursday afternoon, SRK took to Twitter to post: "Awake now. Need to surround myself by love... think will get the kids to come and envelope me with their hugs. The best safety blankets."

Shah Rukh`s hopes from ‘Chennai Express’ are high. The film, directed by Rohit Shetty, also stars Deepika Padukone.

Two dental college students 'surrender' at police station

RAMESWARAM: Two Dental college students, a Sri Lankan refugee and the daughter of an Army officer from Kerala, on Thursday surrendered at an all-women's police station here, with a request to help them get the consent of their parents to lead a peaceful married life.

Their decision to do so followed a complaint given by the girl's father sometime ago that she was missing, police said.

Police said Stefi Agnus (19) and Gajendran (20) of Jaffna in Sri Lanka were doing B.D.S course at MGR Medical University Dental college when they fell in love. They got married recently at a temple at Palani and later decided to surrender at a women's police station.

The girl told women police personnel she would live only with her husband and urged them not to hand her back to her parents as she was afraid of them.

Two dental college students 'surrender' at police station

RAMESWARAM: Two Dental college students, a Sri Lankan refugee and the daughter of an Army officer from Kerala, on Thursday surrendered at an all-women's police station here, with a request to help them get the consent of their parents to lead a peaceful married life.

Their decision to do so followed a complaint given by the girl's father sometime ago that she was missing, police said.

Police said Stefi Agnus (19) and Gajendran (20) of Jaffna in Sri Lanka were doing B.D.S course at MGR Medical University Dental college when they fell in love. They got married recently at a temple at Palani and later decided to surrender at a women's police station.

The girl told women police personnel she would live only with her husband and urged them not to hand her back to her parents as she was afraid of them.

Suicide attack on policeman's funeral in Quetta kills 38

ISLAMABAD: Thirty-eight people, including three top police officers, were killed and more than 50 injured when a suicide bomber targeted the funeral of a slain policeman in Quetta city of southwest Pakistan Thursday.

The bomber struck as some 300 people, including top police officers of Balochistan province, were attending the funeral of police station chief Mohib Ullah, who was gunned down this morning.

The attacker detonated his explosive vest when he was stopped by guards at the gate of a mosque within the Police Lines in Quetta, the capital of Balochistan.

"It was a suicide attack and the attacker blew himself up at the entrance where he was intercepted by policemen on duty," city police chief Mir Zubair Mehmood said.

Senior police officials said 38 people were killed and 50 others, mostly policemen, injured.

Deputy Inspector General of Police Fayyaz Sumbol, Superintendent of Police Ali Mahar and Deputy Superintendent of Police Shams?ur-Rehman were among the dead. Balochistan police chief Mushtaq Sukhera said 21 policemen died in the attack.

"It is a major attack on police and at least eight kilograms of explosives were used in the suicide attack," Mehmood said.

The provincial police chief and city police chief had a narrow escape. The bomber carried out the strike despite extensive security arrangements within the Police Lines.

The victims were taken to a military hospital due to fears that civilian hospitals might be attacked. After a recent bombing at a women's university in Quetta, militants attacked the hospital where the injured were taken.

The number of casualties in the attack is expected to rise as some of the injured were critical, doctors said.

Earlier in the day, police station chief Mohib Ullah was killed and his four children and a driver were injured when unidentified gunmen attacked his car at Alamu Chowk in Quetta.

Mohib Ullah was going to the market with his children when he was attacked.

No group claimed responsibility for both attacks. Several militant groups, including the Taliban and Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, are active in Balochistan.

Suicide attack on policeman's funeral in Quetta kills 38

ISLAMABAD: Thirty-eight people, including three top police officers, were killed and more than 50 injured when a suicide bomber targeted the funeral of a slain policeman in Quetta city of southwest Pakistan Thursday.

The bomber struck as some 300 people, including top police officers of Balochistan province, were attending the funeral of police station chief Mohib Ullah, who was gunned down this morning.

The attacker detonated his explosive vest when he was stopped by guards at the gate of a mosque within the Police Lines in Quetta, the capital of Balochistan.

"It was a suicide attack and the attacker blew himself up at the entrance where he was intercepted by policemen on duty," city police chief Mir Zubair Mehmood said.

Senior police officials said 38 people were killed and 50 others, mostly policemen, injured.

Deputy Inspector General of Police Fayyaz Sumbol, Superintendent of Police Ali Mahar and Deputy Superintendent of Police Shams?ur-Rehman were among the dead. Balochistan police chief Mushtaq Sukhera said 21 policemen died in the attack.

"It is a major attack on police and at least eight kilograms of explosives were used in the suicide attack," Mehmood said.

The provincial police chief and city police chief had a narrow escape. The bomber carried out the strike despite extensive security arrangements within the Police Lines.

The victims were taken to a military hospital due to fears that civilian hospitals might be attacked. After a recent bombing at a women's university in Quetta, militants attacked the hospital where the injured were taken.

The number of casualties in the attack is expected to rise as some of the injured were critical, doctors said.

Earlier in the day, police station chief Mohib Ullah was killed and his four children and a driver were injured when unidentified gunmen attacked his car at Alamu Chowk in Quetta.

Mohib Ullah was going to the market with his children when he was attacked.

No group claimed responsibility for both attacks. Several militant groups, including the Taliban and Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, are active in Balochistan.