Military base in Cyprus not on agenda of Russian, Cypriot top diplomats talks

Russia’s military bases in Hmeymim and Tartus are enough to conduct counterterrorist operation in Syria, Sergey Lavrov says

MOSCOW, October 31. /TASS/. Moscow and Nicosia did not discuss the issue on deploying Russian military bases to Cyprus, the republic’s Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides said after talks with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov on Monday.

"You say that the issue on Russian military bases has been widely discussed in mass media," the minister said. "I’m afraid it was discussed only in mass media, I don’t think this was discussed by the representatives of government circles."

"Real life showed that Russia can come to Syria without any bases," Kasoulides said, answering a question how Cyprus could help Russia in the fight against international terrorism taking into account its geographic location.

Lavrov confirmed that the issue was not discussed. "We have discussed nothing of the kind. In principle, the vessels of the Russian Navy use the ports of Cyprus, but without any special services," Lavrov said. "I don’t remember that this issue has been ever discussed between the Republic of Cyprus and us."

Lavrov went on to say that Russia’s military bases in Hmeymim and Tartus are enough to conduct counterterrorist operation in Syria.

"The location of our bases in Hmeymim and Tartus is rather favorable, so we can ensure the necessary parameters of the counterterrorist operation conducted at the request of the Syrian government," the minister said.

All foreign troops must be withdrawn from Cyprus, Kasoulidis went on.

"I must brief you on the latest events that occurred in the course of the settlement of the Cyprus problem," he said. "In particular, this concerns the matter of security. It is the most important chapter for us in any solution. We know that Russia’s stance is identical to ours in that the institution of guarantees must be eliminated and all foreign troops withdrawn from Cyprus."

He added that Russia as a UN Security Council member had always adhered to high-principled positions and kept pressing for them today.

Clinton says she won't be 'knocked off course' in final week

Wilton Manors (US), Oct 31 (AP) Hillary Clinton has vowed that she would not be "knocked off course" in the election's final days, as she sought to push past a new FBI email inquiry in a sexting probe that delivered a late jolt to her race against Republican Donald Trump.

"I'm not stopping now, we're just getting warmed up," Clinton declared during a packed rally with gay and lesbian supporters in battleground Florida yesterday.

"We're not going to be distracted, no matter what our opponents throw at us." 

Trump campaigned in Las Vegas at a casino owned by billionaire GOP megadonor Sheldon Adelson and accused the Justice Department, without offering evidence, of trying to protect Clinton following the FBI's discovery of new emails that could be related to its investigation into Clinton's use of a private email server.

"Hillary has nobody but herself to blame for her mounting legal problems," Trump said during a rally.

Clinton's advisers and fellow Democrats pressured FBI Director James Comey anew to release more details about the emails, including whether Comey had even reviewed them himself. The message was aimed at gathering more information about what the bureau is seeking from a computer that appears to belong to disgraced former New York Rep Anthony Weiner, the estranged husband of Huma Abedin, one of Clinton's closest advisers.

Tim Kaine, Clinton's running mate, said Comey owed it to the public to be more forthcoming about the emails under review by the FBI with only nine days remaining before the November 8 election.

Calling Comey's announcement "extremely puzzling," Kaine said that if Comey "hasn't seen the emails, I mean they need to make that completely plain." 

Clinton's campaign chairman, John Podesta, said Comey's handling of the matter was "inappropriate." 

Clinton made unannounced stops yesterday in Florida at an early voting location, a Miami brunch spot and a soul food restaurant. She also addressed a predominantly black church, where she spoke of overcoming disappointments.

"Scripture tells us to rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance and endurance produces character," she said. "And character produces hope." 

Clinton made no direct mention of the new FBI investigation, which has created anxiety among Democrats. But while she criticised the FBI for a lack of transparency during a campaign appearance on Saturday, she tried to shift her attention back to Trump yesterday, casting him as a selfish billionaire with a striking lack of empathy.

PM dedicates Diwali to the armed forces

New Delhi, Oct 30 (PTI) Amid tension on the border with Pakistan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today saluted the valour of the armed forces and lauded their sacrifice while dedicating the festival of Diwali to them.

He hailed the people including celebrities for sending overwhelming messages to his "Sandesh2Soldiers" campaign.

In his monthly "Mann ki Baat" programme on All India Radio, Modi also urged all citizens and state governments to find ways of forging unity across the country and working to defeat separatist tendencies and mentalities.

In the wake of ongoing troubles in the Kashmir Valley, he said, "Unity in diversity is our strength. It is the responsibility of every citizen and all governments to forge unity and curb separatist tendencies to save the country." 

In an apparent reference to tension on the Indo-Pak border, Modi credited the soldiers for maintenance of peace and security in the country and called upon everyone to remember their gallantry while celebrating Diwali.

"In the wake of recent events, our soldiers have been sacrificing their everything for the safety and security of the country. Their dedication and labour has overwhelmed me completely. Let us dedicate this Diwali to our armed forces.

"I had invited everyone to participate in the Sandesh2Soldiers campaign and I have been humbled by the response. From students, villagers and traders to political leaders and sports persons , everyone has sent a Diwali message for our soldiers," he said while referring to the jawans who are stationed in deserts and on the icy heights of the Himalayas and security personnel who are guarding our industries and airports.

"Our forces endure grave hardships for our security.

Someone is stationed in a desert, someone on the Himalayas, someone is guarding our industrial installations and someone is protecting our airports. Everyone is fulfilling a mighty responsibility. If we remember them while being in a festive mood, our remembrance will give them strength and renewed energy. I thank everyone for responding to Sandesh2Soldiers," Modi said in over half-an-hour address on the occasion of Diwali.

In a veiled reference to the unrest in Kashmir Valley, the PM also called for forces of unity to be strengthened and those of separatism to be defeated.

"Unity in diversity is the strength of our country. Every citizen and every government must work to find ways of forging unity and defeating separatist mindset and tendencies," he said as he remembered Sardar Patel who strived hard to forge unity in the country and bind it together.

Mishra spins web as India crush NZ by 190 runs, win series 3-2

Visakhapatnam, Oct 29 (PTI) Amit Mishra produced a magical spell to claim 5 for 18 as India clinched five-match ODI series 3-2 with a thumping 190-run victory in the final game, here today.

It was a perfect Diwali gift for the Indian cricket fans as Mahendra Singh Dhoni's men carried the demolition job in style as the spinners made Black Caps' succumbed to their lowest-ever total against India in ODIs.

Batting first, India scored 269 for six on a surface where scoring was difficult as Rohit Sharma (70) and Virat Kohli (65) hit half-centuries.

In reply, New Zealand were skittled out for a paltry 79 in only 23.1 overs. There were five New Zealand batsman who failed to open their account during their dismal last day on Indian soil.

Mishra, who picked his second five-for was supported well by Axar Patel (2/9 in 4.1 overs) and Jayant Yadav (1/8 in 4 overs).

The leg-spinner, who did not get a chance during the Test series ended up with 15 wickets in the five-match series. Not only did his performance fetch him Man of the Match but also the Man of the Series award pipping Virat Kohli, who scored 358 runs with a century and two half-tons.

A score of 270 on a surface where the ball wasn't coming onto the bat would have been a challenge but New Zealand would have hardly imagined that wickets will fall in a heap when they were placed at 63 for 2.

The visitors lost eight wickets with addition of just 16 runs in space of 51 balls dashing hopes of their first bilateral series win in India.

It took five balls for the Kiwis to realise that the road ahead is rocky when Umesh Yadav cleaned up last match's hero Martin Guptill to make them 0/1 in first over.

Fresh from his match-winning 72 in Ranchi, Guptill was done in a by a beautiful good length ball from Yadav as it squared him up, grazed the pad before toppling the off-stump.

Skipper Kane Williamson and New Zealand's most consistent batsman of the series, Tom Latham (19) tried to build a partnership but before they could settle down a fit-again Jasprit Bumrah gave another breakthrough dismissing the left-hander to end a 28-run partnership.

On a pitch that offered turn, Dhoni brought on left-arm spinner Axar in the ninth over as Williamson and Taylor survived some anxious moments in the middle and progressed at steady pace to being 46/2 after the Powerplay.

Little did they know that they would crash in no time as Dhoni employed spin-force full on from both ends and no one disappointed including debutant off-spinner Jayant, who trapped Corey Anderson (0) lbw en route to his maiden wicket.

Sebi's educational trust comes out in CSE support

Kolkata, Oct 29 (PTI) National Institute of Securities Markets (NiSM), an educational institute established by the Sebi, came out in support for Calcutta Stock Exchange saying 'continuance of CSE far outweighs its discontinuance'.

The country's largest regional bourse, on the fourth consecutive Diwali without trading on its platform C-Star following Sebi's directives, received a surprise with the NiSM supporting its existence.

A recent 'CSE business plan' prepared by the School for Securities Information and Research of NiSM has noted, "On a social cost benefit analysis (SCBA) basis, the 'continuance' of CSE far outweighs its discontinuance." 

Adding further, the report pointed that CSE will have a beneficial impact on investors, intermediaries and issuers with the consequent benefits flowing to a larger ecosystem.

"A detailed consideration of national factors makes a strong case for the role of CSE in eastern India.

International experience shows that closure of small and regional exchanges has been proactively pursued in any jurisdiction," the report stated.

The Sebi had directed CSE not to continue with the clearing and settlement activities of trades executed on C-Star through its clearing house beyond April 5, 2013, till the bourse establishes a clearing corporation in compliance with the provisions of SECC regulations or ties up with another clearing corporation.

The report pointed out numerous rationale for its existence and future role of RSEs.

CSE officials declined to comment on the business plan prepared by the NiSM's research arm.

As per the Sebi norms, a stock exchange whose annual trading turnover is less than Rs 1,000 crore can apply for voluntary surrender of recognition and exit.

Two civilians killed in Pak firing; BSF says it has killed 15 Pak soldiers in one week

Jammu, Oct 28 (PTI) As military confrontation increased on the border, two civilians were killed in Jammu region of India in cross-border shelling and firing overnight even as BSF today claimed to have killed 15 Pakistani soldiers over the last one week.

BSF, which primarily guards the International Border with Pakistan, said it had also foiled two infiltration bids in Samba district two days back. Besides, BAT (Border Action Team) attacks from Pakistani side along the Line of Control have also been thwarted during the past 24 hours.

Firing mortar shells and using automatic weapons, Pakistani troops targeted civilian areas and forward security posts along the International Border and Line of Control in Jammu, Kathua, Poonch and Rajouri districts of Jammu and Kashmir.

"At 1720 hour yesterday, Pakistan Rangers started unprovoked heavy firing and shelling in Kathua sector of Jammu which further spread to Hiranagar and Samba. It continued till 0500 hours today in the area of 24 BSF posts," a senior BSF officer said.

"In the Pakistani shelling, one civilian died in Khour belt of Pallanwala sector today," Jammu Deputy Commissioner Simrandeep Singh said, adding another civilian was injured in R S Pura sector.

Similarly, one woman Usma Bi, aged 50 years, was killed in shelling by Pakistan on Gohlad village in Mendhar tehsil of Poonch district today, Defence spokesman said.

Another civilian was injured in area, the reports said.

BSF Additional Director General Arun Kumar said as per the ammunition used, it seems Pakistani Army Army is backing the Rangers and has taken over the posts of paramilitary force, which is further cause of escalation.

Kumar, who laid wreath at the moral remains of the BSF martyr Head Constable Jitendra Singh here, said "they (Pakistani side) are resorting to heavy firing and shelling and we are giving them befitting reply." 

He said BSF has inflicted heavy damage on Pakistani side.

"As far the number of casualities on other side is concerned, which our men have seen through our eyes and instruments, 15 Pakistani soldiers have been killed after the sniping incident of Constable Gurnam Singh (on October 21)," he said. Gurnam was injured in the sniper firing and then succumbed to the injuries.

"They (Pakistani side) have suffered damage but are hiding them in public domain and they do not accept it. Last night we have destroyed their OP (observation post) towers and some OP towers caught fire due to our firing," Kumar said.

He said Pakistani Rangers, Pakistani regulars and civilian population on their side have suffered heavy damage because of the Indian retaliation.

"The damage to civilian population is much more (than us)... We have seen large number of ambulances coming and picking up injured. They have been making announcements from mosques asking people to assemble for last rites. All that points that they suffered a lot," the BSF officer said.

Samvat 2072 comes to a close, Sensex ticks up 26 pts

Mumbai, Oct 28 (PTI) Samvat year 2072 drew to a close on a positive note as the Sensex on Friday closed higher by 26 points, aided by a rebound in Tata group stocks on value-buying and signs of earnings revival.

The benchmark has risen 2,198.25 points, or 8.53 per cent, from the previous Hindu Samvat year while the broader NSE Nifty surged 854.65 points, or 10.98 per cent, during this period.

For the week though, the Sensex dropped 135.67 points, or 0.48 per cent, while the Nifty lost 55.05 points, or 0.63 per cent.

The day marked the beginning of the November series of derivative contracts. The inflows into derivatives in the last few days has pushed rollovers higher.

The Sensex settled at 27,941.51, up 25.61 points, or 0.09 per cent. It had gained 79 points on Thursday.

The Nifty edged up 22.75 points, or 0.26 per cent, to end at 8,638.

"The auspicious festival season followed by value-buying in Tata group stocks persuaded the market to make a small comeback after a slew of corrections," said Vinod Nair, Head of Research, Geojit BNP Paribas Financial Services.

After all the turbulence, select Tata group shares came back to the green on value-buying. Tata Motors, Tata Steel and Tata Global Beverages and Tata Chemicals recovered by up to 2.68 per cent.

Bajaj Auto too spurted by 3.35 per cent after the company today reported 7.2 per cent rise in consolidated net profit at Rs 1,200.72 crore for the second quarter to September.

Software exporter Tech Mahindra climbed 5 per cent even after the company reported a 16.93 per cent dip in September quarter net income.

As many as 17 scrips out of the 30-share Sensex ended higher while 12 finished lower. Power Grid ended flat.

In the range-bound trade today that showed a positive bias, buying was seen across the board as most BSE sectoral indices closed with gains up to 2.09 per cent.

Auto, realty, metal, banking and healthcare counters took the lead. Investors chased second-line stocks too.

Meanwhile, provisional data showed foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) sold shares worth a net Rs 469.93 crore on Thursday.

Asian stocks except Japan closed lower on increasing expectations the Federal Reserve will lift interest rates by this year end. Key indices from Hong Kong, Shanghai Composite and Singapore finished lower between 0.26 per cent and 0.77 per cent.

European stocks were trading in the negative terrain in early trade on weak earnings reports. Key indices in London and Frankfurt were down by up to 0.50 per cent while Paris CAC was slightly higher.

The BSE and NSE will conduct a special Muhurat trading session on Sunday, October 30, from 1830 hours to 1930 hours.

Both the exchanges will remain closed on Monday for Diwali Balipratipada. .

Centre approves 2% DA, to benefit over 1 cr staff, pensioners

New Delhi, Oct 27 (PTI) Ahead of Diwali, the Centre today approved 2 per cent dearness allowance and relief benefitting about 50.68 lakh employees and 54.24 lakh pensioners.

The decision to provide 2 per cent DA on basic pay was taken by the Union Cabinet and will be effective from July 1, 2016.

The 2 per cent DA will result in annual burden of Rs 5,622.10 crore, though for period of 8 months (July-February in 2016-17), it would be Rs 3,748.06 crore.

The central government had increased DA by 6 per cent to 125 per cent in March this year. DA was later merged with the basic pay following the implementation of 7th Pay Commission.

"The Union Cabinet has given its approval to release an instalment of DA to Central Government employees and Dearness Relief (DR) to Pensioners from July 1, 2016 representing an increase of 2 per cent of the revised Basic Pay/Pension, to compensate for price rise," a press statement said.

According to statement, the increase is in accordance with the accepted formula, which is based on the recommendations of the 7th Central Pay Commission.

The combined impact on the exchequer on account of both Dearness Allowance and Dearness Relief would be Rs 5,622.10 crore per annum and in the Financial Year 2016-17 for the period of 8 months (i.e. from July 2016 to February 2017), it would be Rs 3,748.06 crore.

Modi-Key talks: NZ assures "constructive" approach on NSG bid

New Delhi, Oct 26 (PTI) India and New Zealand today agreed to strengthen ties in key areas of trade, defence and security during talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Kiwi counterpart John Key, who also assured that his country will contribute "constructively" to the process currently underway in the NSG to consider India's membership.

After the "productive" talks between the two Prime Ministers, the two sides inked three pacts including one pertaining to Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to Taxes on Income and decided to establish Foreign Minister-level dialogue as well as exchanges on cyber issues.

Asserting that they had detailed and productive discussions on all aspects of the bilateral engagement and multilateral cooperation, Modi at a joint media event with Key said, "I am thankful to Prime Minister Key for New Zealand's constructive approach to the consideration of India's membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG)." 

There was no clear word of support on India's entry into 48-nation NSG from the visiting leader, who only said, "New Zealand would continue to contribute constructively to the process currently underway in the NSG to consider India's membership." 

Noting that they had a "detailed" discussion on India's NSG bid, Key also said, "New Zealand is committed to working with NSG members to reach a decision as soon as possible." 

New Zealand acknowledged the "importance to India of it joining the NSG", a joint statement issued after the talks said, adding that India stressed that this would provide the predictability necessary for meeting India's clean energy goals in the context of the Paris agreements.

New Zealand was one of the countries that took the stand at the last NSG plenary in South Korea in June that no exception can be made in the case of India, a non-NPT country, while considering its membership bid of the elite group that regulates trade in nuclear material. At the plenary, despite strong US support, China had blocked India's bid on the ground that it was a not a signatory to the Nuclear Non- Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

On security and counter-terrorism ties, Modi said they have agreed to strengthen security and intelligence cooperation against terrorism and radicalisation, including in the domain of cyber security.

According to the joint statement, the two Prime Ministers agreed to enhance cooperation, bilaterally as well as in the framework of UN and especially in 1267 Committee, to combat the full spectrum of terrorist threats in all their forms and manifestations.

"They called for eliminating terrorist safe havens and infrastructure, disrupting terrorist networks and their financing, and stopping cross-border terrorism. Both sides called for the early adoption of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism that would contribute to the further strengthening of the international counter-terrorism legal framework," it added.

Mistry alleges Rs22 cr fraud transactions in Tatas aviation JV

Mumbai, Oct 26 (PTI) Flagging "ethical concerns" in Tata group's aviation joint venture with Air Asia, ousted Chairman Cyrus Mistry has alleged that forensic investigation revealed fraudulent transactions of Rs 22 crore involving non-existent entities in India and Singapore.


As the bitter war played out between him and interim Chairman Ratan Tata, Mistry also alleged that due to the latter's passion for aviation, Tata Sons board increased capital infusion in the aviation sector at multiple levels of the initial commitment.

In a letter written to the Board members of Tata Sons a day after he was ousted, Mistry said: "Board members and trustees are also aware that in the case of Air Asia, ethical concerns have been raised with respect to certain transactions as well as overall prevailing culture within the organisation.

"A recent forensic investigation revealed fraudulent transactions of Rs 22 crore involving non-existent parties in India and Singapore."

Mistry went on to allege that "executive trustee Mr Venkataraman, who is on the board of Air Asia and also a shareholder in the company, considered these transactions as non-material and did not encourage further study".

It was only at the insistence of the independent directors, one of whom immediately submitted his resignation, that the board decided to belatedly file a first information reports, Mistry said in the letter.

He claimed it was Tata who completed negotiations with Air Asia but early in his tenure as the Chairman of Tata Sons he was asked to table a proposal for the JV with Air Asia at a Tata Sons board meeting.

Claiming that in the case of JV with Air Asia, he was able to extract a "promise of no debt to be raised at the level of JV, as well as limiting Tata Sons investment to 30 per cent of the USD 30 million equity", Mistry said he was taken by surprise with a similar situation when Tatas formed a JV with Singapore Airlines.

"A few months later, I was surprised to be confronted with a similar situation requiring me to execute a fait accompli JV with Singapore Airlines," he said.

Mistry further said in the letter, "without the benefit of time and experience to fully evaluate the proposal, I had to accept that Tata Sons would take a 51 per cent stake in a USD 100 million joint venture".

Pointing fingers at Tata, he said: "The passion for the airlines sector has led Mr Tata to continue his involvement with strategy of the two airlines. It is on his advice that the Tata Sons board has increased the capital infusion in the sector at multiple levels of the initial commitment."

In 2013, Tata Sons had joined hands with Malaysian carrier AirAsia and Arun Bhatia's Telestra Tradeplace to start low cost carrier AirAsia India. The carrier had to wait for nine months before taking off.

In September 2013, Tata group had joined hands with Singapore Airlines to start a new full-service airline in India, 18 years after a failed attempt. Tata Sons owned 51 per cent stake in the carrier, which has been christened as Vistara with Singapore Airlines holding the rest.