International Current Affairs MCQs

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The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared a polio outbreak in Papua New Guinea, highlighting an urgent health concern. The outbreak was detected after samples of the poliovirus were found in healthy children during routine screening in Lae city. Polio is caused by the highly infectious poliovirus, which spreads through contact with faeces or respiratory droplets of an infected person. It mainly affects children under five years old and can lead to permanent paralysis. Papua New Guinea was polio-free since 2000, but low immunisation rates have led to its return. WHO has called for an immediate vaccination campaign to contain the spread.

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Iran and Azerbaijan launched a joint special forces drill called “Aras-2025” on May 18, 2025. The exercise involves Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Azerbaijani troops. It is being held in the Karabakh region, which Azerbaijan regained from Armenia in September 2023. The drill aims to boost border security and address potential threats.

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India has formally taken over as Chair of the Asian Productivity Organization (APO) for the 2025–26 term during the 67th Governing Body Meeting in Jakarta, Indonesia. The Indian delegation is led by the Secretary of the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Shri Amardeep Singh Bhatia, Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer. India committed to strengthening the APO Vision 2030 and advancing the Green Productivity 2.0 framework. India stressed regional cooperation for digital transformation, sustainability, innovation, and entrepreneurship. More than 100 Indian professionals take part in APO programs annually through the National Productivity Council (NPC) under DPIIT. India is implementing projects focused on Green Productivity and Industry 4.0 for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). The APO, based in Tokyo, was founded in 1961 and currently includes 21 member economies.

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Saudi Arabia launched TOURISE, a global platform for the next 50 years of tourism. TOURISE unites public and private leaders in tourism, technology, investment, and sustainability. It aims to unlock high-value investment and reset the tourism industry. The platform includes digital collaboration, working groups, and partnerships for long-term transformation. TOURISE will publish white papers and global indices on tourism, sustainability, and the economy. Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Tourism, Ahmed Al-Khateeb, emphasized adapting to technology and sustainability. The inaugural TOURISE Awards will honor achievements in sustainability and tourism innovation. The first TOURISE Summit will be held in Riyadh in November 2025.

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China recently launched the Tianwen-2 probe to collect samples from the asteroid 2016HO3 and explore the distant main-belt comet 311P. It was launched using the Long March 3-B rocket. The mission will continue till the end of 2027. Earlier in 2021, China’s Tianwen-1 mission landed on Mars with an orbiter, lander, and the Zhurong rover. Tianwen-3 is planned for launch around 2028 to collect and return samples from Mars. Tianwen-4 is expected to explore Jupiter around 2030.

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Ukraine carried out its most powerful drone strike under Operation Spider Web. The strike was conducted by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU). It targeted strategic bomber aircraft at Russian air bases using drones. The attack involved first-person view (FPV) drones, also called Remote Person View (RPV) drones. This marks a major shift in drone warfare, showing Ukraine’s growing use of advanced unmanned aerial technology.

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China has recently launched the International Organisation for Mediation (IOMed) as a new global body to resolve disputes. It aims to offer an alternative to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and the Permanent Court of Arbitration by focusing only on mediation. It is the world’s first intergovernmental legal organisation dedicated solely to international dispute resolution through mediation. It will be headquartered in Hong Kong.

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Lee Jae-myung was sworn in as the 14th President of South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea, in Seoul on June 4, 2025. He won the Presidential by-election held on June 3, 2025, after the impeachment of former President Yoon Suk-yeol. Lee Jae-myung, leader of the opposition Democratic Party, defeated Kim Moon-soo of the ruling People Power Party. He secured 51.7% of the vote, while Kim got 39.3%.

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The World Bank has approved $250 million for the Inga 3 hydropower project in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), despite global civil society concerns. The Inga 3 hydropower project is located in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Inga 3 is part of a larger Inga hydropower series on the Congo River at Inga Falls, known for high energy potential. Inga 1 began in 1972 and Inga 2 in 1982, while Inga 3 and Grand Inga are future expansions. The Inga 3 project is planned as a run-of-the-river system with minimal reservoir impact.

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On June 2, 2025, Nicaragua became the 101st country to accept the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies under the World Trade Organization (WTO). This marks a major step towards banning subsidies that support illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing and overfishing. At the 12th Ministerial Conference (MC12) of the World Trade Organization (WTO) held in Geneva in June 2022, ministers adopted the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies by consensus. This agreement sets new binding global rules to stop harmful subsidies that support illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.