January 5: Top headlines at noon

Developing news

*Supreme Court agrees to expedite hearing on the issue whether those facing trials for serious crimes can be allowed to contest polls.

*Supreme Court refuses to expedite hearing of cases related to Aadhaar card but says data collection by private agencies is not a good idea.

Parties approach Election Commission to represent against budget announcement close to polls

Congress, Trinamool Congress, DMK, JDU and RLD leaders are meeting with the Election Commission in Delhi on the issue of Central government announcing the Union budget just a few days before polls open in Goa, Punjab, Manipur, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh, which they say can influence voting.

Bill targeting H1B visas reintroduced in US Congress

A bill backing key changes in the H1-B programme that allows skilled workers from countries like India to fill high-tech jobs in the US has been re-introduced in the US Congress by two lawmakers who claim that that it will help crack down on the work visa abuse. The 'Protect and Grow American Jobs Act' makes important changes to the eligibility requirements for H1-B Visa exemptions was re-introduced yesterday by Republican Darrell Issa and Scott Peters both from California. The bill among other things increase the minimum salary of H-1B visa to $1,00,000 per annum and eliminate the Masters Degree exemption. Reshaping immigration is a central tenet of President-elect Donald Trump's push for companies to invest and hire more in the US.

10 TN fishermen arrested by Lankan Navy

Ten Tamil Nadu fishermen have been arrested and their two boats impounded by Sri Lankan Navy for allegedly fishing in the island nation waters, officials said today. The fishermen from Jegathapattinam in Pudukottai district were fishing in Neduntheevu last night when the Lankan Navy arrested them and took to Kankesanthurai in northern Sri Lanka, Pudukottai Assistant Director of Fisheries Sekar said. The arrest comes three days after Sri Lanka agreed to set free 51 Indian fishermen already in its custody.

In another incident, more than 3,500 fishermen, who had put out to sea from here in 584 boats yesterday, returned to the shores without catch last night after the Lankan Naval personnel allegedly snapped the fishing nets of about 30 vessels and drove them away while they were fishing near Katchatheevu, Rameswaram Fishermen association leader S Emerit said.

With the latest arrest, the number of Tamil Nadu fishermen in Sri Lankan custody has risen to 61.

Bank robbers lynched to death in Odisha

Two robbers were today lynched and another was critically injured by a mob when the three were fleeing with cash looted from a bank in Nayagarh district, police said. The armed robbers stormed into a nationalised bank at Kasanda under Ranapur police station limits and looted around ₹3 lakh, Sub-Divisional Police Officer (Sarankul), Jagannath Reddy said. The three moved out of the bank with the cash after threatening its staff and customers by showing crude bombs and sharp weapons, he said adding that when locals tried to stop them the robbers hurled a bomb. However, the three were finally caught by locals who severely thrashed them. While two of them died, another was critically injured and admitted to the district headquarters hospital here, the SDPO said. The identity of the three was yet to be ascertained.

Noted sitar player Abdul Halim Jaffer Khan dies

Noted sitar player Abdul Halim Jaffer Khan died in Mumbai today after a brief illness. He was 88. Khan passed away at his home in suburban Bandra, family sources said. He was a recipient of Padma Bhushan and Sangeet Natak Academy awards.

With inputs from NH National Bureau.