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Current Affairs 18th November 2025
1. Tom Cruise honoured with an Honorary Oscar at the 2025 Governors Awards
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Lifetime Achievement: Tom Cruise received the Honorary Academy Award for his extraordinary distinction in lifetime achievement, exceptional contributions to the state of motion picture arts and sciences, and outstanding service to the Academy.
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Four-Decade Legacy: The award celebrates Cruise's four-decade legacy as one of cinema's most influential and enduring movie stars, with iconic roles in films like "Top Gun," "Mission: Impossible," and "Jerry Maguire".
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Stunt Performance: Cruise is recognized for his dedication to performing his own stunts, showcasing his commitment to cinematic realism and pushing the boundaries of what's possible on screen.
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Fellow Honorees: Cruise joins fellow honorees Debbie Allen, Dolly Parton, and Wynn Thomas, who were also recognized for their outstanding contributions to the film industry.
2. Abhishek Singh concurrently accredited as the Representative of India to Economic Community of West African States
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Accreditation: Abhishek Singh presented his Letter of Credence to ECOWAS President Dr. Omar AlieuTouray on November 14, 2025, solidifying his new position.
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Strengthening Ties: Singh reaffirmed India's commitment to strengthening its partnership with ECOWAS in areas of mutual interest, including development cooperation and capacity building.
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Residence: He will reside in Abuja, Nigeria, and take up the assignment shortly.
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ECOWASMembership: ECOWAS is a regional group of 15 West African countries, aiming to promote economic integration and cooperation.
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India-ECOWAS Relations: India became an Observer to ECOWAS in 2004 and has been supporting regional development in western Africa through initiatives like the Focus Africa Programme.
3. India’s Exports Rise 4.8% to $491.8 Billion in April–October 2025
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Overall Growth: India's total exports (merchandise and services) rose 4.84% to $491.8 billion in April-October 2025, compared to $469.11 billion in the same period last year.
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Key Sectors: Electronic goods, meat, dairy and poultry products, marine products, cashew, and coffee drove merchandise export growth, with increases of 19.05%, 30.87%, 11.08%, 126.85%, and 10.91%, respectively.
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Services Sector: Services exports grew 9.75% to $237.55 billion, with a trade surplus of $118.68 billion, up from $101.49 billion last year.
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Top Destinations: China, Spain, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, and Tanzania were the top export destinations with growth rates of 42.35%, 43.43%, 29.02%, 21.42%, and 17.92%, respectively.
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Trade Deficit: India's merchandise trade deficit widened to $196.82 billion, while total imports rose 5.74% to $569.95 billion.
4. India–UK Joint Military Exercise ‘AJEYA WARRIOR-25’ Begins
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Objective: The exercise aims to enhance interoperability between the Indian and British armies, focusing on counter-terrorism operations in semi-urban terrain under the United Nations mandate.
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Participation: 240 personnel from both armies are participating, with the Indian Army contingent comprising troops from the Sikh Regiment.
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Activities: The exercise includes joint mission planning, integrated tactical drills, simulation-based scenarios, and company-level field training exercises.
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Significance: AJEYA WARRIOR-25 strengthens defence cooperation, camaraderie, and mutual trust between India and the UK, promoting regional security and global peace.
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Frequency: This is the 8th edition of the biennial exercise, which alternates between India and the UK.
5. Olympian Gurpreet Singh Wins Silver in 25m Centre Pistol at ISSF World Championships
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Silver Medal: Gurpreet Singh won a silver medal in the men's 25m Centre Fire Pistol event, narrowly losing to Ukraine's PavloKorostylov on inner 10s.
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Comeback Story: Gurpreet fought back from ninth place after the precision stage (288-8x) to shoot a brilliant 296-10x in the rapid stage, securing his podium finish.
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Scores: Gurpreet's total score was 584-18x, while Korostylov scored 291-14x in precision and 293-15x in rapid, tying Gurpreet's total but winning gold on inner 10s.
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India's Medal Tally: India finished third overall with 13 medals, including three gold, six silver, and four bronze, behind China and South Korea.
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Gurpreet's Second Individual Medal: This is Gurpreet's second individual World Championship silver, following his 2018 silver in the 25m Standard Pistol event.
6. Marco Bezzecchi Clinches MotoGP 2025
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Historic Victory: Marco Bezzecchi won the Valencia GP, securing back-to-back wins for Aprilia for the first time and claiming third place overall in the world championship standings.
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Dominant Performance: Bezzecchi led from start to finish, fending off a late push from Raul Fernandez to take the chequered flag.
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Aprilia's Breakthrough: This victory marked a significant milestone for Aprilia Racing, showcasing their technical growth and racing maturity.
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New Contenders Emerge: The 2025 season saw new stars rise, with Fabio Di Giannantonio and Raul Fernandez proving themselves as serious challengers.
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Career-Best Finish:Bezzecchi's third-place finish in the championship is a career-best for the Italian rider, solidifying his position as a top contender in MotoGP.
7. Kumar Sangakkara reappointed as Rajasthan Royals head coach
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Continuity and Stability: Sangakkara's reappointment brings continuity and stability to the team, leveraging his familiarity with the squad and the Royals' culture.
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Dual Role: He'll continue as Director of Cricket, combining this role with his head coach position, ensuring a cohesive approach to team development.
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Strong Coaching Team: Sangakkara is backed by a solid coaching team, including VikramRathour as lead assistant coach, Shane Bond as fast bowling coach, Trevor Penney as assistant coach, and Sid Lahiri as performance coach.
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Previous Success: Under Sangakkara's leadership, Rajasthan Royals reached the IPL 2022 final and returned to the playoffs in 2024, showcasing his impact on the team's performance.
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New Era: Sangakkara's reappointment comes after the departure of Rahul Dravid and captainSanju Samson, with new additions like RavindraJadeja and Sam Curran set to shape the team's future.
8. DAE Unveils ColoNoX& India’s First Rare-Earth CRM for Scientific Use
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ColoNoX: India's first nitric-oxide wound dressing for diabetic foot ulcers (DFU) has been launched, developed by BARC and CologenesisPvt. Ltd. This innovative dressing has received DCGI approval and is expected to improve patient outcomes.
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Rare-Earth CRM: DAE has introduced India's first Certified Reference Material (CRM) for rare earth research, named Ferrocarbonatite (FC) – BARC B140. This CRM will support exploration, extraction, and process control in strategic minerals.
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Healthcare Impact: ColoNoX is a game-changer for diabetic patients, offering an effective treatment option for DFU, which can significantly reduce amputations.
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Rare-Earth Significance: Rare earth elements are crucial for various industries, including electronics, magnets, defense systems, and renewable energy. This CRM will boost India's self-reliance in rare earth research.
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Atmanirbhar Bharat: These innovations align with India's vision of self-sufficiency, reducing dependence on foreign CRMs and promoting indigenous development.
9. ThotaTharani Conferred France’s Prestigious Chevalier Award
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Award Recognition: ThotaTharani received the Chevalier Award, one of France's highest civilian honors, recognizing his outstanding contributions to the arts and literature.
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Contribution to Cinema: Tharani is a renowned art director and production designer, known for his work in films like "Nayakan", "Thalapathi", "Indian", and "PonniyinSelvan I & II".
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Previous Honors: He has received two National Film Awards, two Tamil Nadu State Film Awards, three Nandi Awards, and the Padma Shri in 2001.
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International Recognition: Tharani joins an elite group of Indian cultural icons, including Kamal Haasan, AishwaryaRaiBachchan, and SivajiGanesan, who have received the Chevalier Award.
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Inspiration to YoungArtists: This award highlights Tharani's dedication and creativity, inspiring young designers, artists, and filmmakers to create works that transcend cultures.
10. Bangladesh Ex-PM Sheikh Hasina Sentenced to Death by ICT
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Crimes against Humanity: Sheikh Hasina was convicted of "crimes against humanity" and sentenced to death by the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) in Bangladesh for her role in the 2024 student-led uprising.
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Charges and Co-Accused: She was found guilty of incitement to violence, ordering the killing of protesters, and failure to stop atrocities. Former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan received the same punishment, while ex-Inspector General of Police Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun was sentenced to prison time.
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Trial and Verdict Controversy: The trial was conducted in absentia, with Hasina's lawyers claiming it was a "kangaroo tribunal" and the process "biased". Critics argue the verdict is politically motivated, while supporters see it as a step towards accountability.
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International Response: The verdict has sparked debate, with some questioning the fairness of the trial. India, where Hasina is currently residing, faces a diplomatic challenge, balancing its relations with Bangladesh and concerns about regional stability.
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