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

**New Delhi, India** – A flurry of national and international developments dominated headlines on January 14, 2025. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw accused Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg of spreading misinformation after Zuckerberg described the 2024 Indian General Election as a loss for the incumbent government. Vaishnaw countered that the Indian people reaffirmed their trust in the NDA.

Elsewhere, the National Testing Agency (NTA) postponed the UGC-NET exam scheduled for January 15th due to Pongal, Makar Sankranti, and other festivals. A new date will be announced later.

In Lebanon, President Joseph Aoun appointed international jurist Nawaf Salam as Prime Minister, tasked with forming a government to address the country’s economic crisis.

A magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck southwestern Japan, prompting tsunami advisories for Miyazaki and Kochi prefectures.

**Domestic Developments:**

* An alert SBI bank manager in Delhi prevented a ₹79 lakh digital arrest scam targeting a retired school teacher. Over ₹2,140 crore was lost to such scams nationwide between January and November 2024.
* Congress leader Rahul Gandhi pledged to conduct a caste census in Delhi if the party wins the upcoming elections.
* Three deaths were reported at the Gangasagar Mela in West Bengal, with five others falling ill.
* Life insurers saw a 22% year-on-year decline in new business in December 2024, attributed to uncertainty over GST rates and economic slowdown.
* Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav renamed 11 villages in Shajapur district.
* The National Conference mobilized local residents to attend Prime Minister Modi’s rally in Kashmir.
* The Supreme Court reached its full strength with the appointment of Justice Vinod Chandran.

**International News:**

* Bangladesh filed corruption cases against ousted leader Sheikh Hasina and her family.
* A federal judge cleared the way for the release of a special counsel’s report on President-elect Donald Trump’s alleged 2020 election interference, although a temporary injunction remains in place until January 15th.

The diverse range of news underscores a busy day in both domestic and international affairs, marked by political maneuvering, natural disasters, and economic concerns.

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