Current Affairs 18 July 2025

Current Affairs 18 July 2025

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1. Yulia Svyrydenko Named Ukraine’s New Prime Minister
  • Appointment: Yulia Svyrydenko was nominated by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as the next Prime Minister of Ukraine, pending parliamentary approval, which is expected to be a formality due to Zelenskyy's firm control in the legislature.
  • Background: Svyrydenko, 39, is an economist by training and currently serves as the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy. She's played a crucial role in leading Ukraine's economic strategy during the war with Russia.
  • Key Negotiations: She's overseen major negotiations with international partners, including the United States and the European Union, and is credited with securing more balanced terms for Ukraine in a critical minerals deal with the US.
  • Historic Appointment: Svyrydenko will become only the second woman to serve as Prime Minister of Ukraine, following Yulia Tymoshenko, who held the post in 2005 and from 2007 to 2010.
Foot notes:
About Ukraine-
  • Prime Minister: Yulia Svyrydenko
  • President: Volodymyr Zelenskyy
  • Capital: Kyiv
2. Tesla opens first India showroom at Mumbai’s BKC
  • Location and Size: The showroom is situated at Maker Maxity in BKC, a prominent commercial hub in Mumbai, and spans 4,000 square feet. Initially, reports suggested a 3,000 sq ft space, but the actual space is larger.
  • Rent: Tesla is paying a monthly rent of around ₹35 lakh for the showroom space, making it one of the most expensive showroom leases in India.
  • Model Y Launch: The showroom features Tesla's Model Y, available in two variants: Long Range RWD and Long Range AWD, priced at ₹61,07,190 and ₹69,15,190, respectively.
  • Service Centre and Warehouse: Tesla has also set up a 24,565 sq ft warehouse at Lodha Logistics Park in Kurla, serving as its official service centre, and a co-working office near BKC.
Foot notes:
About Tesla-
  • CEO: Elon Musk
  • Headquarters: U.S.
  • Founded: 2003
3. ECI Appoints Nitu Chandra & Kranti Prakash Jha as SVEEP Icons for Bihar
  • SVEEP Program: SVEEP stands for Systematic Voters' Education and Electoral Participation, a flagship program of the Election Commission of India aimed at promoting voter education and participation in elections.
  • Nitu Chandra and Kranti Prakash Jha's Role: As SVEEP Icons, Nitu Chandra and Kranti Prakash Jha will play a crucial role in spreading awareness about the importance of voting and electoral participation among the citizens of Bihar.
  • Objective: The primary objective of appointing SVEEP Icons is to increase voter turnout and promote informed voting practices among citizens, especially young and first-time voters.
  • Election Commission's Efforts: The Election Commission of India, along with state-specific initiatives, works to educate voters about the electoral process, emphasizing the significance of each vote in shaping the country's future.
Foot notes:
About Bihar-
  • Chief Minister: Nitish Kumar
  • Governor: Arif Mohammad Khan
  • Capital: Patna
4. India Shines at the 57th International Chemistry Olympiad 2025
  • Location and Dates: The 57th IChO was held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, from July 5 to 14, 2025. Unfortunately, I couldn't find the exact dates of the competition within this timeframe.
  • Competition Format: The IChO consists of theoretical and practical exams, each lasting five hours, testing students' knowledge in various chemistry areas, including organic, inorganic, physical, analytical, biochemistry, and spectroscopy.
  • Global Participation: The IChO is a prestigious competition with around 80 countries participating, featuring talented high school students competing in chemistry.
  • India's Overall Performance: India has a strong track record in the IChO, with a total of 31 Gold medals, 55 Silver medals, and 18 Bronze medals won over the years.
5. Sujeet Kalkal won Gold medal at Polyák Imre & Varga János Memorial Ranking Series
  • Gold Medal Victory: Sujeet Kalkal clinched the gold medal in the 65kg men's freestyle category by defeating Azerbaijan's four-time European medalist Ali Rahimzade with a score of 5-1.
  • Dominant Performance: Sujeet's journey to the final was marked by dominant wins, including a 11-0 victory over Paris 2024 Olympics bronze medalist Islam Dudaev of Albania in the round of 16.
  • Ranking Series Significance: This tournament is the fourth and final wrestling ranking series of the year, and Sujeet's win will help him earn better seeding for the World Wrestling Championships in September.
  • India's First Gold: Sujeet's success marked India's first gold medal in wrestling at any of the Ranking Series events this year, highlighting his growing reputation as a wrestler who can beat top opponents.

6. Vijayawada- Receives Top Award for Cleanliness Despite 2024 Floods

  • Super Swachh League Award: Vijayawada has been honored with the prestigious 'Super Swachh League City' award, ranking fourth nationally among cities with over 10 lakh residents, showcasing its commitment to urban sustainability.
  • Cleanliness Achievements: The city achieved a seven-star rating as a 'Garbage Free City', demonstrating effective waste management strategies and citizen engagement initiatives that promote public health and ecological balance.
  • Resilience Post-Floods: Despite severe flooding in September 2024 that affected approximately 645,000 individuals and claimed 35 lives, Vijayawada's administration ensured swift recovery and maintained high cleanliness standards, preventing a decline in urban sanitation.
  • Robust Infrastructure: The city's ability to secure top awards for cleanliness underscores its robust infrastructure and dedicated civic administration, which have been pivotal in maintaining high standards of urban sanitation.
7. UN Mandela Prize 2025 Honours Brenda Reynolds & Kennedy Odede
  • Award Ceremony: The prize will be awarded to Brenda Reynolds and Kennedy Odede by UN Secretary-General António Guterres on July 18, 2025, which is Nelson Mandela International Day.
  • Brenda Reynolds' Work: Brenda is an Indigenous social worker from Canada who has dedicated her life to advancing Indigenous rights, mental health, and trauma-informed care. She played a crucial role in establishing the Indian Residential School Resolution Health Support Program.
  • Kennedy Odede's Achievements: Kennedy is a social entrepreneur from Kenya who founded Shining Hope for Communities (SHOFCO), a grassroots movement that empowers local groups and delivers vital services to over 2.4 million people in Kenya.
  • Prize Significance: The Nelson Mandela Prize is awarded every five years to recognize individuals who embody Nelson Mandela's legacy of leadership, humility, service, and unity across borders.
8. Zepto’s Founders Top In Hurun India U30 List 2025
  • Youngest Entrepreneurs: Kaivalya Vohra and Aadit Palicha, both 22 years old, are the youngest entrepreneurs to top the list, leading India's quick commerce startup Zepto, which has raised $1.95 billion in funding.
  • List Recognition: The Avendus Wealth-Hurun India U30 List 2025 recognizes 79 young leaders under 30 who are redefining India's economic landscape, with 66 being first-generation founders.
  • Mumbai's Dominance: Mumbai leads the list with 15 entrepreneurs, followed by Bengaluru and Delhi, showcasing the city's position as India's financial capital and hub for young entrepreneurs.
  • Economic Impact: The featured entrepreneurs have collectively raised $5.2 billion in equity and $270 million in debt, generating over 64,000 jobs, with Svatantra Microfin emerging as the largest employer with 23,289 employees.
Foot notes:
About Zepto-
  • CEO: Aadit Palicha
  • Headquarters: Bengaluru
  • Founded: 2021
9. Nelson Mandela International Day observed on 18th July
  • Mandela's Legacy: The day honors the life and legacy of Nelson Mandela, the former President of South Africa who fought against apartheid and promoted peace, reconciliation, and social justice.
  • UN Declaration: The United Nations declared July 18th as Nelson Mandela International Day in 2009, recognizing his contributions to humanity and promoting his values of service, compassion, and community engagement.
  • Community Service: The day encourages individuals to take action and make a positive impact in their communities, just like Mandela's 67 minutes of service, symbolizing his 67 years of public service.
  • Global Celebrations: People around the world celebrate the day by engaging in various activities, such as volunteering, community events, and initiatives promoting Mandela's values and ideals.
10. Celebrated Queer Poet Andrea Gibson passed away
  • Poetic Legacy: Gibson was named Colorado's Poet Laureate in 2023, recognized for their raw, emotionally vulnerable performances and writing that tackled gender identity, queerness, mental health, love, and mortality.
  • Impact on LGBTQ+ Community: Gibson's poetry helped LGBTQ+ youth feel less isolated, gave voice to those navigating grief, and offered comfort to the terminally ill, making them a beacon for living with joy despite adversity.
  • Literary Works: Gibson authored seven poetry collections, including "You Better Be Lightning" and "Lord of the Butterflies", and released seven spoken word albums, showcasing their talent and dedication to their craft.
  • Documentary Feature: Gibson was the subject of the award-winning documentary "Come See Me in the Good Light", which follows their life, love story, and battle with cancer, premiering at Sundance to critical acclaim.​​​​
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