Current Affairs - July 11, 2025 Current Affairs

WOOHOO, an innovative restaurant set to debut in central Dubai near the iconic Burj Khalifa, features an AI chef named Chef Aiman. Chef Aiman is a culinary large language model (LLM) designed to create menus and craft the restaurant's ambience using advanced knowledge in food science, molecular gastronomy, and international cuisines. While human staff handle the food assembly, the concept merges cutting-edge technology with gastronomy, positioning Dubai at the forefront of AI innovation in the food industry. The project is spearheaded by Ahmet Oytun Cakir, CEO of Gastronaut, signalling a shift toward AI-driven culinary experiences.

The bridge that was recently renamed as Sindoor Bridge is the Carnac Bridge in Mumbai. This renaming was part of a larger effort to shed colonial-era names and honour Indian achievements. The new name commemorates Operation Sindoor, a military mission against terrorist camps, and symbolizes both national pride and historical correction. The original Carnac Bridge, named after British Governor James Rivett-Carnac, had become structurally unsafe and was demolished in 2022. After reconstruction, the 328-meter-long, four-lane bridge was inaugurated on July 10, 2025, by CM Devendra Fadnavis. It now stands as a symbol of modern Indian resilience and post-colonial identity.

On July 10, 2025, Uttarakhand launched 'Operation Kalanemi' under the leadership of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami. The initiative aims to identify and take strict legal action against individuals impersonating saints to deceive people, especially targeting innocent devotees. The operation derives its name from Kalanemi, a demon in Hindu mythology who misled people by appearing saintly. Given Uttarakhand's spiritual significance with destinations like Haridwar, Rishikesh, and Kedarnath, the move is seen as a serious step to protect religious integrity and social harmony while preventing misuse of faith for personal or financial gain.

Priya Nair has been appointed as the new CEO and Managing Director of Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL), effective from August 1, 2025. She will take over from Rohit Jawa, who is stepping down after a two-year term. Priya, who began her career at HUL in 1995, has held various leadership roles in sales and marketing and was most recently the President of Beauty & Wellbeing at Unilever. Her vast experience and deep understanding of both Indian and global markets position her well to lead HUL through the next phase of growth in India’s dynamic FMCG sector.

Starting from July 16, 2025, all Indian government payments exceeding ₹75 crore are required to be processed through the RBI’s e-Kuber system. This decision aims to enhance transparency, efficiency, and accuracy in handling large-value government transactions. e-Kuber, developed by the Reserve Bank of India, offers features like real-time tracking, 24-hour reconciliation, and quicker settlements. By centralising and digitizing high-value transactions through e-Kuber, the government seeks to reduce processing delays and improve accountability in public fund disbursement and usage.

Kasaragod district in Kerala was honoured with the Fisheries Department Excellence Award 2025 for its exceptional performance in implementing fisheries-related schemes effectively at the grassroots level. The award, given as part of the Annual State Farmer Awards, acknowledges districts that demonstrate leadership and efficiency in aquaculture and fisheries development. Kasaragod's recognition highlights its commitment to sustainable fishery practices, support for local fishermen, and innovation in the sector. The award encourages other districts to adopt best practices and improve the livelihood of those dependent on fisheries across the state.

According to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) report titled “Trade and Development Foresights 2025: Under Pressure – Uncertainty Reshapes Global Economic Prospects,” global economic growth is expected to slow down to 2.3% in 2025. The report reviews the impact of financial uncertainty, trade tensions, and development challenges on the global economy. This lower growth forecast reflects concerns over rising geopolitical instability, inflation, and weaker demand in key economies. It highlights the need for stronger multilateral cooperation and strategic economic planning to navigate an increasingly complex global landscape.

India has been selected by the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) to host two prestigious shooting events—the Shooting World Cup in 2027 and the World Junior Championship in 2028. This decision was announced by the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) on July 10, 2025. The move underscores India's growing influence in global shooting sports and is expected to provide invaluable exposure to both junior and senior Indian shooters. Alongside these events, India is also set to launch the Shooting League of India in November 2025. These initiatives aim to elevate the sport's profile nationally and enhance competitive standards.

Animesh Kujur, a talented sprinter from Chhattisgarh, made headlines by setting a new national record in the 100 meters with a time of 10.18 seconds at the Dromia International Sprint Meet in Greece. This achievement reflects his rising stature in Indian athletics. In addition to this feat, Animesh previously broke the national record in the 200 meters by clocking 20.32 seconds during the Asian Athletics Championship in South Korea. His consistent performances in both sprint events mark a significant step forward for Indian sprinting on the international stage, highlighting his potential to compete at the highest level.

India’s men’s football team dropped to the 133rd position in the July 2025 FIFA world rankings, marking its lowest placement since December 2016. This steep decline followed two back-to-back losses in June — a 0-2 defeat to Thailand and a 0-1 loss to Hong Kong. As a result, India fell six spots from its previous rank of 127 and also experienced a drop in rating points from 1132.03 to 1113.22. The team’s recent poor form, including just one win in eight matches, led to the departure of head coach Manolo Marquez and has raised concerns about India’s prospects in the upcoming AFC Asian Cup qualifiers.

The ‘Gajah Mitra’ scheme was launched by the Assam government to address the escalating issue of human-elephant conflict in the state. With over 1,400 human and 1,209 elephant deaths between 2000 and 2023, Assam recognized the urgent need for action. The scheme targets 80 high-risk areas and includes strategies like growing elephant-friendly crops such as bamboo and Napier grass to reduce intrusion into villages. It also deploys rapid response teams to guide elephants away safely. By promoting non-violent methods and involving communities, the scheme aims to ensure peaceful coexistence and reduce tragic encounters between people and wildlife.

Telangana was honoured with the IESA Industry Excellence Award 2025 in the State Leadership – Battery Manufacturing category during the 11th India Energy Storage Week held in New Delhi. The award highlights Telangana's commitment to advancing battery production and clean energy technology through progressive policies like the Telangana EV and Energy Storage Policy. The state has created industrial zones, attracted significant investment, and built a robust ecosystem for energy storage and electric vehicle components. This recognition reinforces Telangana's role as a growing hub for energy innovation and positions it to lead India’s transition to a sustainable energy future.

World Population Day is observed annually on July 11 to raise awareness about global population issues. It was established in 1989 by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). In 2025, the global population will surpass 8.1 billion, with India becoming the most populous nation. The observance aims to draw attention to population-related challenges and solutions, with the 2025 theme focusing on empowering young people in shaping their family futures. This day provides an important platform for highlighting reproductive health, family planning, and gender equality on a global scale.