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Current Affairs 16 June 2025
1. Lt Commander Yashasvi Solankee Becomes First Woman ADC to President of India
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Appointment: Lt Commander Yashasvi Solankee was appointed as the first woman Aide-de-Camp (ADC) to President Droupadi Murmu, marking a historic milestone for gender representation in the armed forces.
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Background: Solankee, 27, is a technical officer from the Indian Navy, formerly posted with Naval Armament (Defence Production) in Hyderabad. She joined the Navy in 2012 under the Short Service Commission.
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Role of an ADC: As ADC, Solankee will act as a liaison officer between the President and external visitors or officials, prepare the President's briefing for engagements, and accompany her during ceremonial, diplomatic, and official events.
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Selection Process: Solankee was selected from a panel of three women Naval officers after a rigorous process, including a 15-day evaluation at the Presidential Estate and a personal interview with the President.
2. Blaise Metreweli Becomes MI6’s First Female Chief in Historic Appointment
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Historic Appointment: Blaise Metreweli was appointed as the first female chief of MI6, marking a significant milestone in the agency's 116-year history. She will succeed Sir Richard Moore, who is set to step down this autumn.
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Background: Metreweli, 47, joined MI6 in 1999 and has held senior roles across both MI6 and MI5, with extensive experience in the Middle East and Europe. She currently serves as Director General of Technology and Innovation at MI6.
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Leadership Role: As the chief of MI6, Metreweli will oversee the agency's operations, focusing on counter-terrorism, cyber warfare, and hostile state activities. She'll work closely with international partners to promote British interests and security.
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Challenges Ahead: Metreweli will face complex threats from nations like Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea, which are increasingly cooperating to undermine UK and Western interests.
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Recognition: Metreweli was awarded the Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) in 2024 for her services to British foreign policy, highlighting her contributions to national security and diplomacy.
3. Indian Army participated in 'Exercise Khaan Quest 2025'
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Exercise Details: The exercise is being held in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, from June 14 to 28, 2025, and aims to enhance peacekeeping capabilities among participating nations.
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Indian Contingent: A 40-member Indian Army contingent, primarily from the Kumaon Regiment, is participating in the exercise, including one woman officer and two women soldiers.
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Objectives: The exercise focuses on developing interoperability, bonhomie, and camaraderie among soldiers from participating countries, with a emphasis on peacekeeping missions under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter.
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Training Drills: The exercise includes tactical drills such as establishing static and mobile checkpoints, cordon and search operations, patrolling, evacuation of civilians, counter-improvised explosive device drills, combat first aid, and casualty evacuation.
Foot Notes:
About Indian Army:
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Headquarters: New Delhi
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Chief of the Army Staff (COAS): General Upendra Dwivedi
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Motto(s): Seva Paramo Dharmaḥ
4. Asaduddin appointed as a General Secretary of the Telangana Congress
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Son of Mohammad Azharuddin: Asaduddin is the son of former Indian cricket captain and ex-MP, Mohammad Azharuddin, following his father's footsteps into politics.
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Part of a Large Appointment: He is one of 69 general secretaries appointed to the Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) as part of a significant organizational revamp by the All India Congress Committee (AICC).
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Cricket Background: Asaduddin himself is a former first-class cricketer, having played for Hyderabad Colts XI and Goa.
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Jubilee Hills Speculation: His appointment comes amid speculation that he might contest the upcoming by-election for the Jubilee Hills assembly constituency, which became vacant due to the recent demise of the sitting MLA.
Foot Notes:
About Telangana:
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Capital: Hyderabad
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Chief minister: Revanth Reddy
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Governor: Jishnu Dev Varma
5. Nishant Dev wins 2nd professional fight in Super Welterweight bout in New York
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Victory Details: Nishant Dev won his second professional fight by unanimous decision, defeating Josue Silva 60-54 in a Super Welterweight bout at Madison Square Garden Theatre in New York.
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Performance: Dev dominated the six-round contest with his superior speed, crisp distance management, and nimble footwork, controlling the pace and rhythm of the bout.
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Background: The 24-year-old Indian boxer, who recently turned professional, was victorious in his debut match in January, winning against Alton Wiggins via first-round stoppage.
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Fight Card: The bout featured on the undercard of the high-profile clash between Richardson Hitchins and George Kambosos Jr., showcasing Dev's growing skills in the professional circuit.
6. South Africa Win First ICC Title in 27 Years, Clinch WTC 2025
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End of a Long Drought: South Africa finally broke their 27-year wait for an ICC trophy, winning the World Test Championship (WTC) final in June 2025. Their last ICC title was the 1998 ICC Knockout Cup.
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Defeated Arch-Rivals Australia: In a highly anticipated final at Lord's, South Africa defeated defending champions Australia by 5 wickets, securing their maiden WTC title.
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Markram's Heroics: Aiden Markram was the star of the final, scoring a magnificent 136 in the fourth innings to guide South Africa to successfully chase down a target of 282 runs. He was named Player of the Match.
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Temba Bavuma's Leadership: Captain Temba Bavuma, despite battling a hamstring injury, played a crucial supporting knock of 66 and became the first black African captain to lift an ICC trophy for South Africa.
7. Cipla Health has made Neena Gupta its brand ambassador
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Brand & Product: Neena Gupta has been appointed as the brand ambassador for Cipladine, Cipla Health's leading antiseptic ointment.
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Campaign Focus: The new campaign, titled "Cipladine – Aapka Fast Aid Expert," aims to reposition Cipladine from just a "first aid" solution to a "Fast Aid Expert," highlighting its rapid action.
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Key Message: The campaign emphasizes that Cipladine's Povidone Iodine (PVPI) formula starts working within 30 seconds, providing quick and effective relief for cuts, wounds, burns, and infections.
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Authenticity & Relatability: Cipla Health chose Neena Gupta for her authentic, versatile, and no-nonsense persona, which aligns with the brand's message of quick and reliable solutions.
8. Kamlesh Paswan Inaugurates India’s First Agri-Drone Indigenization Hub in Chennai
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First-of-its-Kind Hub: This 35,000 sq ft facility is India's first dedicated hub for the indigenous design, manufacturing, and rigorous testing of advanced Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) specifically for agriculture.
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Focus on "Make in India": The facility aims to locally produce 7 drone subsystems and 33 components, aligning with the "Atmanirbhar Bharat" (self-reliant India) vision to reduce import dependency and boost domestic manufacturing.
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Launch of Supporting Initiatives: Alongside the hub, Paswan also launched 300 Centres of Excellence (CoEs) across India and flagged off a DGCA-approved "Train the Trainer" (TTT) program, designed to enhance drone education and skill development nationwide.
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Boosting Agricultural Technology: This initiative is a significant step towards modernizing Indian agriculture through drone technology, aiming to improve crop productivity, reduce costs, and empower rural communities
9. American tennis star Taylor Fritz clinched the Stuttgart Open 2025 title
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First Title of 2025: Taylor Fritz secured his first ATP Tour title of the 2025 season by winning the Stuttgart Open.
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Defeated Alexander Zverev: In the final, Fritz defeated home favorite and top seed Alexander Zverev in straight sets (6-3, 7-6(0)).
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Dominant Performance: Fritz had a stellar tournament, not dropping a single set and not facing a break point in the final, showcasing exceptional serving.
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Fourth Career Grass Title: This victory marked Fritz's fourth career title on grass, making him one of the most successful active players on the surface.
10. Meta Appoints Arun Srinivas as India Head to Lead Business Expansion
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New Role and Effective Date: Arun Srinivas has been appointed as the Managing Director and Head for Meta in India, with his new role becoming effective from July 1, 2025.
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Previous Role at Meta: Prior to this elevation, Srinivas was serving as the Director and Head of Ads Business for Meta in India, playing a crucial role in the company's revenue strategies.
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Reporting Structure: He will continue to report to Sandhya Devanathan, who has taken on an expanded role overseeing both India and South East Asia for Meta.
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Focus of New Role: In his new capacity, Srinivas will spearhead Meta's India charter, focusing on business, innovation, and revenue priorities, and strengthening strategic relationships with brands, advertisers, developers, and partners.
Foot Notes:
About Meta :
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Founded : 2004
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Headquarters: Menlo Park, California, United States
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CEO: Mark Zuckerberg
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