LIVE: Mortal remains of Mulayam Singh Yadav consigned to flames in Saifai

A large sea of people chant 'Netaji amar rahein' as a vehicle carriedthe mortal remains of Samajwadi Party supremo

4:06 PM

Russia open to Putin meeting Biden at G20, Lavrov says

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Tuesday that Russia will not turn down a meeting between President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Joe Biden at a forthcoming G20 meeting and would consider the proposal if it receives one.

 

Speaking on state television, Lavrov said Russia was willing to listen to any suggestions regarding peace talks, but that he could not say in advance what this process will lead to.

 

3:53 PM

Last rites ceremony of Mulayam Singh Yadav

3:39 PM

Thousands gather for Mulayam Singh Yadav's final journey in Saifai

3:01 PM

India a key aviation mkt'; air travel demand to be robust: IATA

India is a key aviation market for the Asia Pacific region as well as the rest of the world and is expected to see robust air travel demand, global airlines' grouping IATA said on Tuesday amid the country's domestic air passenger traffic inching towards pre-COVID levels.

After being significantly hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Indian aviation sector is on the recovery path and airlines are also ramping up their staff as well as expanding routes to cater to the rising travel demand.

On October 9, the daily number of domestic air passengers touched 4 lakh, nearing the pre-COVID level and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday described the trend as a "great sign".

2:59 PM

State Bank of Pakistan hopes IMF will ease terms

The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has expressed hope that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) will consider the prevailing economic challenges and crisis triggered by the recent catastrophic floods and would provide relief in its present conditions and terms, paving way for Islamabad to receive about $4 billion from various global creditors.

The central bank also highlighted that the country has already made payments of $4.6 billion in foreign debts, which it says will be significant in establishing Islamabad's intent and credibility as it works towards establishing its case in front of the IMF during the upcoming review of the bailout programme.

"The IMF programme was on track and the central bank had fully complied with the targets up till September 2022," SBP Governor Jameel Ahmed said.

"We are hopeful that this will help in attaining a positive outcome with reconsideration of the conditions post floods in the next review."

2:51 PM

Gadkari launches Toyota's pilot project on flex fuel-strong hybrid EV

Union minister Nitin Gadkari on Tuesday launched Japanese car maker Toyota's first-of-its-kind pilot project on flex fuel-strong hybrid electric vehicle (FFV-SHEV) that can run on 100 per cent ethanol.

During the launch, the Toyota Corolla Altis FFV-SHEV, which has been imported from Toyota Brazil for the pilot project, was unveiled.

Speaking on the occasion, Union Road Transport minister Nitin Gadkari said pollution is a big concern in India and the transport sector is contributing to pollution.

2:50 PM

Russian strikes on Ukraine could have violated laws of war: UN

Russian strikes on #Ukraine could have violated laws of war, says the United Nations

2:46 PM

Turkey calls for Russia, Ukraine ceasefire 'as soon as possible'

Turkey calls for Russia, Ukraine ceasefire 'as soon as possible', says foreign minister

2:37 PM

'Disciples' of JP sacrificed his ideology, joined hands with Congress: Shah

Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday said that those who claim themselves disciples of Jayaprakash Narayan have sacrificed his socialist ideology, in an apparent dig at the Mahagathbandhan government in Bihar.

Shah made the statement while addressing a rally here at the birthplace of Narayan, popularly known as JP, in Bihar's Saran district after unveiling a 15-feet high statue of the socialist icon.

"He is power hungry, and for power, he sacrificed JP's ideologies and joined hands with the Congress. He has nothing to do with the ideologies of JP," Shah said, in an apparent reference to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar who dumped the BJP to form a new seven-party coalition government.

2:19 PM

Domestic air passenger traffic nearing pre-COVID level 'great sign'; focus is on improving connectivity: PM

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday described the number of daily domestic air passengers nearing the pre-COVID level as a "great sign" and said the focus is on improving connectivity across the country.

On October 9, the domestic air passenger traffic touched 4 lakh and was inching closer to the pre-COVID level. The country's civil aviation sector is on the recovery path after being impacted by the pandemic.

Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Monday tweeted that on October 9, India achieved the milestone of 4 lakh domestic air passengers.

2:14 PM

Congress outsourced contract of abusing me, says PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said the Congress has outsourced the contract of abusing him.

Addressing a rally in Jamkandorna town of Rajkot district in Gujarat ahead of the state Assembly polls due this year-end, Modi warned BJP workers and supporters to be aware of the Congress which, he said, has stopped abusing him and is "working silently" to capture rural votes.

In the last 20 years, those who were against Gujarat left no stone unturned to defame the state. They hurled choicest abuses against me, including calling me maut ka saudagar', the prime minister said.

 

2:07 PM

Japanese car maker Nissan to sell its Russia assets to Moscow

Japanese car maker Nissan to sell its Russia assets to Moscow, reports AFP

2:04 PM

Roger Binny likely to replace Ganguly as BCCI president, Shah to remain secretary

India's 1983 World Cup winning hero Roger Binny is likely to replace Sourav Ganguly as the BCCI President when the Board will hold its AGM on October 18, sources in the cricket body said on Tuesday.

After hectic parleys and back-channel discussions in the past one week, it was decided that the 67-year-old from Bengaluru would be the 36th Board president, one of the sources familiar with the development, said.

Jay Shah, son of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, will continue as BCCI Secretary for his second consecutive term. Shah is also expected to replace Ganguly as India's representative at the all powerful ICC Board.

"An influential minister in the central government played a key role in deciding the positions in the Board set up," a BCCI source told PTI.

Binny, though, is a surprise choice to head the BCCI.

2:03 PM

'Following JP's footsteps', says Modi on action against the corrupt

Prime Minister Narendra Modi while paying tributes to Loknayak Jayaprakash Narayan on his birth anniversary on Tuesday here said that he was only following his footsteps and allowing agencies to catch the corrupt, but some parties were making a hue and cry over it.

The PM said JP Narayan had launched a movement to make the country corruption free.

He was addressing a public gathering in Jamkandorna of Gujarat's Rajkot district. He taunted the Congress party without taking its name, "Agencies are investigating corruption allegations of some political leaders and parties, instead of cooperating with the agencies, they are attempting to tarnish the image of agencies. Don't you think we should recover public money from such corrupt people."

2:00 PM

Biggest contribution of JP was when he started agitation against corruption: Amit Shah

The biggest contribution of Jayprakash Narayan was when he started a massive agitation against corruption and against a government drunk in power that imposed Emergency in the 70s, says Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Sitab Diara.
He adds, "In 1973, under Indira ji's leadership, Gujarat had a Congress govt with Chiman Patel as CM. Indira ji publicly gave task of collecting money to governments, corruption started. Students in Gujarat protested and this agitation was led by Jayprakash Narayan. It changed the government in Gujarat."
"He then started a movement in Bihar. Seeing this movement, the rally at Gandhi Maidan in Bihar, Indira Gandhi was perturbed. PM of the nation was forced to impose Emergency in the country and put Jayprakash Narayan in jail,"he adds.