January 13: Top news at noon

Unemployment in India to increase in 2017-18 signalling stagnation in job creation: UN Report

Unemployment in India is projected to witness marginal increase between 2017 and 2018, signalling stagnation in job creation in the country, according to a UN labour report. The United Nations International Labour Organisation released its 2017 World Employment and Social Outlook report yesterday, which finds economic growth trends lagging behind employment needs and predicts both rising unemployment and worsening social inequality throughout 2017. "Unemployment in India is projected to increase from 17.7 million last year to 17.8 million in 2017 and 18 million next year. In percentage terms, unemployment rate will remain at 3.4 per cent in 2017-18," the report added. The report acknowledged that India's 7.6% growth in 2016 helped Southern Asia achieve 6.8% growth that year.

Paswan stable, doctors keep watch over him in ICU

Union Minister and LJP president Ramvilas Paswan, who was admitted to the ICU of Paras HMRI Hospital in Patna late on Thursday after he complained of breathlessness, is stable now, doctors attending on him said today. "Paswanji's health is stable now," said Doctor Pramod Kumar. Doctor Sanjeev Kumar of AIIMS Patna, another member of the team treating the minister, also said that Paswan's health condition is stable now. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar personally talked to the doctors to enquire about Paswan’s health. Governor Ramnath Kovind also enquired about his health. RJD leader Lalu Prasad Yadav, accompanied by his sons Tejashwi and Tej Pratap paid a visit to the hospital to see Paswan.

President Obama ends 20-year-old policy for Cuban migrants

US President Barack Obama has ended a two-decade-old "wet foot, dry foot" policy that allows most Cuban migrants who reach US soil to become legal permanent residents after a year. The move, coming in the last days of the Obama administration, is seen as a significant step towards normalising America's relations with its one-time foe. "By taking this step, we are treating Cuban migrants the same way we treat migrants from other countries," Obama said in a statement yesterday.

1 killed, 3 injured in Manipur ambush

A man was killed while another three, travelling in a car, were seriously injured after suspected militants fired at a convoy of trucks heading for Imphal from Jiri town on Thursday. The police said that the unprovoked half-an-hour attack took place in the Lukhambi area in the recently inaugurated Noney district. Dikhuanang Gonmei died on the spot while his companions Jacky Kamei, 35, and private teacher Thuanilung Kamei, 31 suffered serious injuries. Another person, 30-year-old Nipen Kalita, was also injured in the firing. The convoy was carrying necessary commodities despite the three-month-long economic blockade imposed by the United Naga Council on the lifeline of the state.

Van ferrying cash intercepted in Ghaziabad, Rs 3 crore seized

A total of Rs 3 crore in cash was seized from a cash van today by Indirapuram police after the four persons, claiming to be staff of a private bank, carrying it were unable to produce valid document, a senior police official said. Four persons, identified as Naresh Rana, Rajesh Tomar, Brijesh and driver Vinod, who claimed that they were bank staff, were detained. Following imposition of model code of conduct for Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, all police stations in the district have been instructed to be more vigilant and keep an eye on the suspected vehicular movement so that no political party and their workers may carry cash and other items to be distributed among voters during polls campaign, Senior Superintendent of Police Deepak Kumar said.

4 student trekkers reported missing in Himachal

Two college students and their two friends, who had gone trekking in Himachal’s Mandi district a week ago, were today stated to be missing. Navneet and Akshay of the National Institute of Technology Hamirpur and their two friends have been missing since January 6, when they headed out to trek to Shikari Devi Peak in Janjheli valley. Heavy snowfall has been reported in Janjheli valley. A rescue team will start search operations from tomorrow, according to SDM Janjheli Ashwani Kumar. As per information received from the NIT hostel, the students had made entries in record book that they were going home but on their Facebook account they said they had gone to trek the Shikari Peak.