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Current Affairs 18th & 19th October 2025
1. Military Leader Michael Randrianirina Sworn in as President of Madagascar
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Context of Takeover: Colonel Michael Randrianirina's ascent to the presidency followed a military takeover, often termed a coup, that ousted the former president, Andry Rajoelina, who had fled the country amidst widespread, youth-led "Gen Z" protests over chronic social and economic issues.
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Military Background: Randrianirina is a Colonel and the former commander of the elite CAPSAT military unit, which played a critical role in seizing power and supporting the protests, despite the fact that Randrianirina himself was previously arrested in 2023 on accusations of plotting a coup.
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Transitional Period: The new leader was sworn in on Friday, October 17, 2025, and announced that a military-led committee will govern for a transitional period of up to 18 to 24 months alongside a civilian government before new elections are organized.
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International Condemnation: The change in government has been met with international disapproval, with both the African Union (AU) and the United Nations (UN) condemning the unconstitutional seizure of power and the AU immediately suspending Madagascar's membership.
2. Nagma Mohamed Mallick appointed as the next Ambassador of India to Japan
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Senior Diplomat and Batch: Nagma Mohamed Mallick is a highly experienced, 1991-batch Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer whose appointment to Tokyo reflects her seniority and a distinguished three-decade-long career in Indian diplomacy.
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Previous Diplomatic Roles: Prior to her assignment to Japan, Mallick was serving as India's Ambassador to the Republic of Poland (with concurrent accreditation to Lithuania), demonstrating her deep experience in international postings across Europe, Asia, and Africa.
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Trailblazing Career: She holds a notable distinction as the first woman Deputy Chief of Protocol (Ceremonial) in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), highlighting her pioneering role for women in the Indian Foreign Service.
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Strategic Significance of Posting: Her appointment to Japan is critical as the country is one of India's most significant strategic and economic partners, especially concerning cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region, defense, and investment.
3. India, Indonesia begin naval drill ‘Samudra Shakti – 2025’
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Nature and Edition: It is the fifth edition of the bilateral maritime exercise between the Indian Navy (IN) and the Indonesian Navy (TNI AL), reinforcing the two nations' commitment to maritime partnership.
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Location and Duration: The exercise was hosted by the Indian Navy at Visakhapatnam (under the Eastern Naval Command) and was conducted from October 14 to 17, 2025.
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Key Participants: Major participating ships included the Indian Navy's INS Kavaratti (an Anti-Submarine Warfare Corvette) and the Indonesian Navy's KRI John Lie (a Corvette equipped with an integral helicopter).
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Focus of Drills (Sea Phase): The exercise was split into Harbour and Sea Phases, with the latter focusing on complex tactical operations such as Helicopter Operations, Air Defence Exercises, Weapon Firing Drills, and Visit, Board, Search and Seizure (VBSS) exercises to enhance tactical coordination.
4. Mohun Bagan Wins 125th IFA Shield
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Event and Teams: Mohun Bagan Super Giant (MBSG) won the 125th edition of the IFA Shield football tournament. They defeated their arch-rivals, East Bengal FC, in the final.
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Match Result: The final, a highly contested Kolkata Derby, ended in a 1-1 draw after extra time. Mohun Bagan secured the victory with a 5-4 win in the penalty shootout.
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Title Significance: This victory marked Mohun Bagan's 21st IFA Shield title and, more importantly, ended a 22-year title drought in the competition, with their last win also coming against East Bengal in 2003.
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Key Moments: Mohun Bagan's goal in regulation time was scored by Lalengmawia Ralte (Apuia) just before halftime, which equalized the score. The decisive moment in the shootout was a save made by Mohun Bagan goalkeeper Vishal Kaith against East Bengal's fourth penalty.
5. Dr Archana M G wins Dr Divya Ravindran Memorial Award
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Recipient and Award: Dr. Archana M. G. was presented with the Dr Divya Ravindran Memorial Award for her outstanding contributions to cancer research.
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Focus of Research: The award recognizes her breakthrough work in developing a novel approach for breast cancer treatment, specifically targeting HER2-positive breast cancer.
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Innovative Methodology (Nanoparticles): Her research centers on creating nanoparticles using polysaccharides isolated from pomegranate peel (fruit rind). This is a bio-fabricated, green chemistry approach.
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Precision Therapy: These nanoparticles are designed to function as a targeted delivery system, carrying both the chemotherapy drug Doxorubicin and siRNA molecules that specifically silence or target the HER2 gene, offering a promising avenue for precision therapy.
6. Tarun Garg to Lead Hyundai India as First Indian MD & CEO
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Historic Appointment: Tarun Garg is the first Indian national to be appointed as the MD and CEO of Hyundai Motor India (HMIL) since the company's establishment in 1996, marking a significant step toward local empowerment in the South Korean auto giant's top leadership.
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Date of Takeover: He will officially assume the role of Managing Director and CEO on January 1, 2026, succeeding the current MD, Unsoo Kim.
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Prior Achievements: Before his elevation from Whole-time Director and Chief Operating Officer (COO), Garg guided HMIL to record sales for three consecutive years, achieved record profits, and played a key role in the company's 2024 IPO, the largest public offering in India's history.
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Strategic Focus: His mandate is centered on four key pillars: Future strategy (focusing on next-gen mobility like EVs), Market & People centered (nurturing local talent), Customer orientation (enhancing satisfaction), and strengthening the 'Make in India' initiative.
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Investment Alignment: His appointment coincides with Hyundai's announcement of a massive $5 billion (₹45,000 crore) investment plan in India through FY2030, with a major focus on R&D and expanding manufacturing capacity.
7. Sundarbans aquaculture model wins FAO global recognition
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Model Name and Developer: The recognised model is the Sustainable Aquaculture in Mangrove Ecosystems (SAIME), developed by the Nature Environment and Wildlife Society (NEWS), an NGO based in West Bengal, India.
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Core Principle (Ecosystem Integration): SAIME is an ecosystem-based, climate-adaptive approach that innovatively integrates mangrove conservation with aquaculture. It mandates keeping 5%–30% mangrove coverage within the shrimp farming pond area.
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Livelihood and Economic Impact: The model achieved significant economic success, with farmers' annual net profit increasing by over 100%. This was primarily due to a reduction in production costs, as farmers use mangrove litter as natural fodder for the Black Tiger Shrimp (Penaeus monodon), reducing the need for expensive chemical inputs.
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Environmental and Climate Benefits: The approach promotes chemical-free shrimp farming and enhances coastal resilience against sea-level rise, storms, and erosion by restoring mangroves.
8. Paras Defense Signs MoU with Israel’s CIELO for Inertial solutions
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Core Focus Technology: The partnership is centered on Inertial Sensors and Closed Loop Fiber Optic Gyroscope (FOG)-based Inertial Solutions.
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Strategic Alignment ("Make in India"): The partnership directly supports the Indian government's 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' (Self-Reliant India) and 'Make in India' initiatives by aiming for the indigenous production (localization) of critical defense and aerospace technologies, fostering self-reliance in a strategic domain.
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Leveraging Expertise and Technology Transfer: The MoU combines Paras Defence's manufacturing and market access capabilities in India with Cielo's expertise as a global leader and the sole Israeli manufacturer of Closed Loop FOGs and high-end inertial solutions.
9. International Day for the Eradication of Poverty observed on 17th October 2025
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2025 Theme: The theme for the 2025 observance is "Ending social and institutional maltreatment by ensuring respect and effective support for families." This shifts the focus beyond just income to the stigma, discrimination, and punitive systems poor families face in institutions (like schools, clinics, or welfare offices).
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Core Purpose: The day serves as a global call to action to raise awareness about the urgency of eradicating poverty and destitution worldwide. It recognizes that poverty is a multidimensional violation of human rights—not just an economic issue.
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Origin and Recognition: The Day's roots trace back to October 17, 1987, in Paris, France, where over a hundred thousand people gathered to honor the victims of extreme poverty.
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Emphasis on Dignity and Voice: A central element of the Day is acknowledging the effort and struggle of people living in poverty and providing them with a platform to make their concerns heard.
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Alignment with SDGs: The observance is fundamentally linked to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 1: No Poverty (End poverty in all its forms everywhere).
10. Pankaj Dheer, Iconic Karna from Mahabharat passed away
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Pankaj Dheer succumbed to cancer at the age of 68, after undergoing major surgery and struggling with the illness for several months.
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Dheer’s portrayal of Karna in Mahabharat became iconic, with his performance still widely remembered and revered today. His depiction of the character was so impactful that images of him as Karna were included in school textbooks, and temples dedicated to the character were built with his likeness.
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Apart from Mahabharat, Dheer appeared in notable films like Baadshah, Soldier, and Sanam Bewafa, as well as TV shows such as Chandrakanta and Sasural Simar Ka. He also co-founded Visage Studioz, a shooting studio, and launched the Abbhinnay Acting Academy to mentor aspiring actors.
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Pankaj Dheer is survived by his wife Anita Dheer and son Nikitin Dheer, who is also an actor and known for his roles in films like Chennai Express and Shershaah. Nikitin is married to television actress Kratika Sengar.
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