Indian Sub-continent

New Delhi, Nov 3 (PTI) India's coal imports increased by 9.3 per cent to 126.91 million tonnes (MT) in the first six months of the ongoing fiscal, industry data showed.

The country had imported 116.04 MT of coal in April-September period of FY 2018-19, according to a provisional compilation by mjunction services, based on monitoring of vessels' positions and data received from shipping companies.

Rameswaram (TN), Nov 3 (PTI) Over 3,000 fishermen from Tamil Nadu were allegedly chased away by Sri Lankan Navy on Sunday when they were fishing near Katchatheevu islet, a fishermen association leader said here.

The naval personnel also snapped fishing nets of several boats.

The fishermen from this island town had ventured into the sea in over 500 boats and were catching fish near Katchatheevu when the Lankan Navy personnel came to the spot, cut the nets and chased them away, State fishermen association President N Devadoss said.

3 November 2019; AFP: India's capital New Delhi was enveloped in heavy, toxic smog Sunday -- the worst levels in recent years -- with flights diverted or delayed as politicians blamed each other for failing to tackle the crisis.

Every winter, the megacity of 20 million people is blanketed by a poisonous smog of car fumes, industrial emissions and smoke from stubble burning at farms in neighbouring states.

Mumbai, Nov 2 (PTI) Amid uncertainty over government formation in Maharashtra, MNS president Raj Thackeray on Saturday met NCP chief Sharad Pawar at the latter's residence here.

It was a brief, 10-minute meeting, MNS sources said.

The political impasse in the state continues after Assembly election results were announced on October 24, with victorious allies BJP and Shiv Sena bickering over chief minister's post.

New Delhi, Nov 3 (PTI) The Babri Masjid could have been saved if there was political will to act and the then Prime Minister P V Narasimha Rao did not accept a comprehensive contingency plan of the Home Ministry prepared before the demolition, claims Madhav Godbole who was the Union home secretary that time.

If political initiative had been taken at the prime minister's level, the Mahabharata of this Ramayana could have been avoided, he says in his new book on the Ayodhya dispute.

Lakhimpur Kheri (UP), Nov 3 (PTI) A journalist working with a Hindi daily was shot and seriously injured by two unidentified assailants in Devuapar village of the district, police said on Sunday.

The incident took place on Saturday when the 46-year-old Ramesh Mishra was on his way back home from Khamaria town where he runs a medical store, they said.

KABUL (Reuters) - Nine Afghan children were killed on Saturday when a mine exploded as they walked to school, police said, the latest victims in a growing toll of civilian casualties in the war.

The blast happened in the northeastern province of Takhar. Saturday is a school day in Afghanistan.

“This area is under Taliban control and since security forces launched attacks to clear it, the Taliban have planted anti-personnel mines,” Khalil Asir, a spokesman for the provincial police, told Reuters.

MUMBAI, Nov 2 (NNN-PTI) – Mumbai airport runway will be partially closed for renovation, from Nov 4 till Mar for a major rehabilitation and re-carpeting work.

During this period, the shorter secondary runway will be available for normal flight operations, said the statement, issued by the airport.

“As per the revised date, RWY 09/27 will not be available for aircraft operations from Nov 4, 2019, up to Mar 28, 2020, from Mondays to Saturdays, between 09:30 to 17:30 (local time),” said the statement.

Gwalior (MP), Nov 2 (PTI) A court here has sentenced three people to life imprisonment for the repeated rape of a five-year-old girl and also imposed a fine of Rs 99,000 on the convicts, a major part of which will be given to the survivor.

Special judge Archana Singh convicted on Friday three persons, including the minor's sister, brother-in-law and a neighbour, for rape and under provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, public prosecutor Anil Mishra said on Saturday.

KOLKATA, India (Reuters) - More than 100 migrant workers from India’s Kashmir will be moved after a spate of killings by suspected separatist militants underlined the threat to outsiders in the restive region.

Senior officials working for the chief minister of the eastern state of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee, said on Saturday she decided to move the workers out of Kashmir to prevent them from becoming a potential target for militant groups who the government says have intensified attacks on civilians belonging to states except Kashmir.