Employees at India’s beleaguered Kingfisher Airlines yesterday ended their weeks-long strike after management ensured payment of months of unpaid salaries by the end of this year. “The airline’s protesting pilots and engineers have agreed to resume duty from Oct. 26, having accepted management’s proposal to disburse salary for the month of March in 24 hours and for April by Oct. 30. The salary for the month of May will be paid by Nov. 13,” says CEO Sanjay Aggarwal in a statement.

NEW DELHI — An internal audit by India’s defense ministry has concluded that violations of procurement rules by the Indian army has resulted in the loss of more than 1 billion rupees ($18.6 million) in public funds during the two fiscal years since April 1, 2009. According to the 118-page audit report, equipment such as bulletproof jackets, night vision devices and parachutes were procured by the Northern Army commander between 2009-2011 from “unlisted and unregistered” vendors.

India’s government says it is unrealistic to expect grounded Kingfisher Airlines to fly again in the near future after the country’s aviation regulator suspended the carrier’s operating license for failing to produce a credible financial and revival plan.