Tue Jan 14 01:31:17 UTC 2025: ## National & International News Roundup: January 14, 2025

**New Delhi, India** – A flurry of significant events dominated the headlines today, spanning politics, natural disasters, and crime. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw criticized Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg for characterizing the 2024 Indian General Election as a loss for the incumbent government, labeling Zuckerberg’s statement as the spread of “misinformation.” Meanwhile, the UGC-NET exam scheduled for January 15th has been postponed due to Pongal, Makar Sankranti, and other festivals. A new date will be announced later.

International developments included the appointment of Nawaf Salam, a judge at the International Court of Justice, as Lebanon’s new Prime Minister, tasked with addressing the country’s economic crisis. A powerful magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck southwestern Japan, prompting tsunami advisories for Miyazaki and Kochi prefectures.

**India-Specific News:** In a heartwarming story, an alert SBI bank manager in Delhi thwarted a “digital arrest” scam, saving a retired teacher ₹79 lakh. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi promised a caste census in Delhi if his party wins the upcoming elections. Separately, the anti-graft commission in Bangladesh filed corruption charges against ousted leader Sheikh Hasina and her family. In other domestic news, three people died at the Gangasagar Mela in West Bengal, and a significant drop in life insurance new business (22% year-on-year) was reported, partly attributed to uncertainty over GST rate cuts. Madhya Pradesh’s Chief Minister changed the names of 11 villages in Shajapur district. Finally, the Supreme Court reached its full strength with the appointment of Justice Vinod Chandran.

**U.S. News:** A federal judge cleared the way for the release of a special counsel’s report investigating President-elect Donald Trump’s alleged interference in the 2020 election, though a temporary injunction delays immediate publication.

This is a developing story, and further updates will be provided as they become available.

Read More