TODAY NEWS ON January 15, 2025

News Headlines for CAT, CLAT and IPM aspirants

Source: THE HINDU

National News

• After death of Kerala youth, India reiterates demand to release all Indians serving in Russian military
• Punjab farmers to begin fast-unto-death from January 15
• FIR against AAP for posting AI-generated videos of PM Modi, Amit Shah on X
• Naval combatants to strengthen India’s efforts to be global leader in defence: PM Modi
• EAM Jaishankar meets Spanish President Sanchez, reaffirms ‘long-standing’ bilateral partnership
• Trinadha Rao Nakkina apologizes for controversial remarks about actress Anshu’s physical appearance
• Rishabh Pant set to play for Delhi in Ranji Trophy game against Saurashtra
• House panel to summon Meta for CEO Zuckerberg’s claim on Indian elections
• Delhi Police link student behind school bomb threats with politically-affiliated NGO
• Insurers eye tax benefits, incentives in Union Budget
• Bumrah named ICC Men’s Player of Month for December 2024
• Wholesale price inflation rises to 2.37% in December; all eyes on RBI’s rate decision next month
• At least six Army personnel injured in landmine explosion in J&K’s Rajouri

International News

• U.K. Minister Tulip Siddiq resigns over financial ties with aunt Sheikh Hasina
• Biden moves to lift state sponsor of terrorism designation for Cuba, part of deal to free prisoners
• South Korea investigators arrive in new attempt to arrest President Yoon
• Hamas has accepted draft agreement for Gaza ceasefire, release of hostages: officials
• Daniil Medvedev destroys TV camera attached to net during five-set Australian Open win
• Chhattisgarh CM announces ₹10 lakh aid to murdered journalist’s family

Headlines

U.K. Minister Tulip Siddiq resigns over financial ties with aunt Sheikh Hasina

The British Minister responsible for financial services and fighting corruption resigned on Tuesday (January 14, 2025) after weeks of questions over her financial ties to her aunt Sheikh Hasina, ousted last year as prime minister of Bangladesh. Tulip Siddiq, 42, had repeatedly denied any wrongdoing and Prime Minister Keir Starmer said last week he had full confidence in her. The resignation of a second government Minister in two months is a blow to Mr. Starmer, whose approval ratings have plunged since his Labour Party won a general election in July.

After death of Kerala youth, India reiterates demand to release all Indians serving in Russian military

An Indian national recruited by the Russian military has been killed and another has sustained injuries in Russia’s ongoing conflict with Ukraine, and New Delhi has taken up the matter strongly with Moscow. Following the death of the Indian national from Kerala, India has reiterated to Russia its demand for an early discharge of the Indian nationals recruited by the Russian military, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

Punjab farmers to begin fast-unto-death from January 15

Further intensifying their stir against the Centre in support of their various demands, protesting Punjab farmers have said a ‘jatha’ of 111 farmers wearing black clothes will start their fast-unto-death from Wednesday (January 15, 2025). Meanwhile, farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal’s fast-unto-death reached the 50th day on Tuesday with farmer leaders saying he was having difficulty in drinking water. His body is still not accepting water and is moving towards “multi-organ failure”, which is worrisome, they said.

Biden moves to lift state sponsor of terrorism designation for Cuba, part of deal to free prisoners

President Joe Biden notified Congress of his intent to lift the U.S. designation of Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism, the White House announced, as part of a deal facilitated by the Catholic Church to free political prisoners on the island. Senior U.S. administration officials, who previewed the announcement on the condition of anonymity, said ”many dozens” of political prisoners and others considered by the U.S. to be unjustly detained would be released by the end of the Biden administration at noon on Jan. 20.

Naval combatants to strengthen India’s efforts to be global leader in defence: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said the commissioning of three frontline naval combatants will strengthen India’s efforts towards being a global leader in defence and augment its quest towards self-reliance. Mr. Modi will dedicate the three combatants — Surat, Nilgiri and Vaghsheer — to the nation on their commissioning at the Naval Dockyard in Mumbai on Wednesday (January 14, 2025). “Tomorrow, 15th January, is going to be a special day as far as our naval capacities are concerned,” he said on X.

South Korea investigators arrive in new attempt to arrest President Yoon

Two vehicles belonging to South Korean investigators probing impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol arrived outside his official residence early Wednesday as they prepared to execute a new arrest warrant, Yonhap News TV reported. It came as thousands of the embattled leader’s die-hard supporters massed outside the presidential residence in the capital Seoul to protect Mr. Yoon, AFP reporters saw.

EAM Jaishankar meets Spanish President Sanchez, reaffirms ‘long-standing’ bilateral partnership

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Tuesday called on Spanish President Pedro Sanchez and reiterated the “long-standing” India-Spain partnership, updating him on the progress in bilateral cooperation. Separately, he also called on the King of Spain Felipe VI. Mr. Jaishankar arrived in Spain on Monday for a two-day official visit -- his first to the country as the external affairs minister.

Trinadha Rao Nakkina apologizes for controversial remarks about actress Anshu’s physical appearance

Tollywood director Trinadha Rao Nakkina has apologised for making disparaging remarks about actress Anshu’s physical appearance. At, the teaser launch event for Tollywood director Trinadha Rao Nakkina’s upcoming film Mazaka which was held in Hyderabad on Sunday, the director made certain comments about actress Anshu’s physical appearance.

Rishabh Pant set to play for Delhi in Ranji Trophy game against Saurashtra

Rishabh Pant has confirmed his availability for Delhi’s next Ranji Trophy game against Saurashtra in Rajkot from January 23 to 26. Pant, 27, hasn’t played for Delhi in India’s premier domestic First-Class competition since leading the side in the 2017-18 final against Vidarbha in Indore that the latter won. “Pant is available for the next Ranji game. He will join the Delhi team directly in Rajkot,” Delhi & District Cricket Association (DDCA) president Rohan Jaitley told The Hindu on Tuesday night.

House panel to summon Meta for CEO Zuckerberg’s claim on Indian elections

Seeking an apology from social media giant Meta for “tarnishing” India’s image, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey, who heads the Parliament’s Standing Committee on Communications and Information Technology, said on Tuesday (January 14, 2025) that the panel will summon the firm following its chairman’s comments that India’s ruling dispensation lost the Lok Sabha election last year.

Delhi Police link student behind school bomb threats with politically-affiliated NGO

The Delhi Police claimed on Tuesday (January 14, 2025) that a Class 12 student, who was recently apprehended for allegedly sending bomb threats to more than 400 city schools, is linked to an NGO that supports a political party .A police officer further said that during the investigation, they also got to know that the NGO had voiced support for Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru.

Insurers eye tax benefits, incentives in Union Budget

Insurers are seeking tax benefits for buyers and incentives for selling policies in their wishlist for the upcoming Union Budget as the country is projected to emerge as the G20’s fastest-growing insurance market. In 2023-24, the country’s insurance penetration was at 3.7% compared to 4% in 2022-23, according to the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (Irdai).

Bumrah named ICC Men’s Player of Month for December 2024

India pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah was on Tuesday (January 14, 2025) named ICC Men’s Player of the Month for December 2024 after his sensational performance during the recent tour of Australia for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Leading India’s attack single-handedly, Bumrah relentlessly kept Australian batsmen under intense pressure, claiming 22 wickets in three Tests in December last year at an outstanding average of 14.22.

Wholesale price inflation rises to 2.37% in December; all eyes on RBI’s rate decision next month

Wholesale price inflation rose to 2.37% in December 2024, due to a spike in prices of non-food articles, manufactured items as well as fuel and power, even though food items saw marginal easing, government data released on Tuesday (January 14, 2025) showed. The Wholesale Price Index (WPI) based inflation was 1.89% in November 2024. It was 0.86% in December 2023.

At least six Army personnel injured in landmine explosion in J&K’s Rajouri

At least six Army personnel were on Tuesday (January 14, 2025) injured in a landmine explosion in a forward village in Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir, officials said. The troops were on patrol duty when one of the soldiers accidentally stepped over the landmine near Khamba Fort in Nowshera sector around 10.45 am, triggering the explosion, the officials said.

Hamas has accepted draft agreement for Gaza ceasefire, release of hostages: officials

Hamas has accepted a draft agreement for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the release of dozens of hostages, two officials involved in the talks said on Tuesday (January 14, 2025) . Mediator Qatar said the negotiations were at the “closest point” yet to sealing a deal.

Daniil Medvedev destroys TV camera attached to net during five-set Australian Open win

Daniil Medvedev used his racket to smash a tiny camera attached to the net at the Australian Open while he was trailing someone ranked 418th before eventually avoiding a monumental upset and winning 6-2, 4-6, 3-6, 6-1, 6-2 in the first round at Rod Laver Arena on Tuesday (January 14, 2025).

Chhattisgarh CM announces ₹10 lakh aid to murdered journalist’s family

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai on Tuesday (January 14, 2025) announced an aid of ₹10 lakh to the kin of journalist Mukesh Chandrakar, who was murdered in the Bijapur district earlier this month. Talking to reporters at the helipad in Police Lines, Sai said a building will be constructed for scribes and named after the slain journalist.