International Current Affairs MCQs

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Recently, former US President Donald Trump supported Russian President Vladimir Putin’s idea of the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START). The New START is the last remaining nuclear arms control deal between Russia and the United States of America. It was signed in 2010 by Barack Obama and Dmitry Medvedev in Prague and came into force on February 5, 2011. The treaty limits the number of deployed nuclear warheads to reduce Cold War–level arsenals. It focuses on strategic long-range weapons that can destroy key power and control centers. It replaced the 1991 START I Treaty and the 2002 Strategic Offensive Reductions Treaty (SORT). It was extended in 2021 for five years, valid till February 4, 2026.

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The Chinese ship “Istanbul Bridge” became the first commercial vessel to sail from Ningbo-Zhoushan (China) to Felixstowe (UK) via the Arctic in 18 days. This voyage marks the operational launch of the Polar Silk Route. The Polar Silk Route is part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). It is envisioned as a “blue economic corridor” through the Arctic Ocean. The route develops navigable Arctic sea passages connecting East Asia, North America, and Western Europe via the Northern Sea Route (NSR) along Russia’s coast. It provides a shorter and more cost-effective shipping corridor between Asia and Europe compared to the Suez Canal route.

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California has officially recognised Diwali as a state holiday. It is the third state in the USA after Pennsylvania and Connecticut to declare Diwali as a state holiday. The Governor of California signed the bill introduced by Assembly member Ash Kalra. The law grants paid time off to state employees and allows schools to observe the festival. Community leaders called the recognition a milestone honouring Indian Americans’ contributions to the state’s economy, government, and society. The move reflects growing cultural inclusivity and recognition of diverse communities in the United States.

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India and the United Kingdom recently launched the India-UK Connectivity and Innovation Centre (CIC) at India Mobile Congress 2025. It is a strategic partnership to promote digital inclusion and build secure, innovative, and resilient communications. The initiative works under the UK-India Technology Security Initiative, led by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and India’s Department of Telecommunications (DoT). It links university research, lab testing, and market trials for next-generation technologies. Both nations will jointly invest £24 million (₹250 crore) to support research, joint testbeds, and global telecom standards.

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India has recently gifted Prussian Blue Capsules to Indonesia to help counter Cesium-137 radioactive contamination. Prussian Blue Capsules are a specialized medicine used to treat internal contamination caused by radioactive cesium or thallium and non-radioactive thallium poisoning. These capsules work by trapping toxic substances in the intestines, stopping them from being absorbed into the body. The trapped materials are then safely removed through bowel movements, reducing radiation exposure. This aid highlights India’s commitment to regional health and nuclear safety cooperation and showcases its technical capability in radiological emergency response.

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The United Arab Emirates (UAE) announced a 10 million US dollars contribution to strengthen community resilience against natural disasters across Asia and the Pacific. The initiative was launched through the UAE Aid Agency during the 2025 International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) World Conservation Congress in Abu Dhabi. It will support Emirates Nature–World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) under the Community Resilience to Natural Disasters Programme, developed with International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). The programme focuses on restoring mangroves and coral reefs, promoting eco-livelihoods, and strengthening disaster preparedness in Philippines, Indonesia, Fiji, and Solomon Islands.

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Uruguay has become the first country in Latin America to legalise euthanasia through the Dignified Death Bill. The law allows mentally sound adults with terminal, irreversible diseases to request assisted suicide from a healthcare professional. Uruguay, known for socially liberal laws like marijuana legalisation, same-sex marriage, and abortion, now adds euthanasia.

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The World Trade Organization (WTO) recently credited India’s Duty-Free Tariff Preference (DFTP) scheme for boosting exports from Least Developed Countries (LDCs). The DFTP scheme started in 2008 and provides preferential access to the Indian market for LDCs. The objective is to promote economic growth, diversify exports, and strengthen trade relations of LDCs. Duty-Free Access allows products from LDCs to enter India without import duties. The scheme helps LDCs expand trade and integrate into the global economy.

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Afghanistan has announced plans to construct a dam on the Kunar River, blocking its flow into Pakistan. The Kunar River is a major tributary of the Kabul River, which later merges with the Indus River in Pakistan. The river originates from the glaciated Hindu Kush Mountains in Chitral, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. It flows into Afghanistan and joins the Kabul River there. The two main tributaries of the Kunar River are Bashgal (Landiasind) River and Pech River. The proposed dam may affect water flow and relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan.

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Maldives became the first country in the world to implement a generational ban on tobacco use, effective November 1, 2025. The law bans the sale and use of tobacco for anyone born after January 1, 2007, including visitors. The ban was enacted through the Second Amendment to the Tobacco Control Act, ratified by President Mohamed Muizzu. It covers all tobacco and vaping products, which are banned for import, sale, distribution, and use. The policy aligns with the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC).