International Current Affairs MCQs

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China launched the Sichuan, the first Type 076 amphibious assault ship, designed to enhance long-distance naval combat capabilities. The 40,000-ton ship features an electromagnetic catapult for fighter jet launches and arrestor technology for safe landings. It can deploy ground troops via landing crafts and provide air support. Developed indigenously, it follows the earlier Type 075 ships launched in 2019. The People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) aims to operate globally, modernizing its fleet for over a decade. China is also researching nuclear-powered aircraft carriers for extended deployments, competing with the U.S.’s 11 nuclear-powered carriers.

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Pokhara, Nepal, is hosting its first International Balloon Festival from December 24, 2024, to January 2, 2025. The event takes place in the scenic Pame region and features more than 20 international pilots and 30 countries participating. More than 500 commercial flights and 300 non-commercial flights are expected, offering stunning views of the Annapurna, Machhapuchhre, and Dhaulagiri mountains. Each 40-minute flight covers 3 km from Lauruk to Chankhapur, with around 3,000 passengers. The festival aims to boost tourism recovery and is estimated to cost Rs 68.3 million.

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China launched its first domestically developed deep-sea exploration ship, Tansuo-3 (Exploration-3). The ship officially entered service in Sanya City, Hainan province. Tansuo-3 has a range of 17,261 miles and includes icebreaking capabilities. It will strengthen China’s deep-sea exploration, alongside other icebreakers like Xuelong, Xuelong 2, and Jidi.

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Zimbabwe abolished the death penalty, sparing around 60 prisoners on death row. The country last executed someone in 2005 due to a lack of willing executioners. President Emmerson Mnangagwa, once sentenced to death during the independence war, approved the law after Parliament’s bill. Mnangagwa has consistently opposed capital punishment and commuted death sentences to life in prison through amnesties. Amnesty International praised Zimbabwe’s move as a positive step for abolition in the region. Globally, 113 countries, including 24 in Africa, have abolished the death penalty. In 2023, Amnesty recorded 1,153 executions, with most in Iran and Saudi Arabia.

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Canada announced that the Post-Graduate Work Permits (PGWPs) of 7.66 lakh international students will expire by the end of next year. The Rural Community Immigration Class (RCIC) scheme offers a pathway for foreign nationals and students. It is launched by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) in December 2024. The program aims to address labor shortages and encourage development in smaller rural communities. The scheme targets individuals willing to settle long-term in these areas to promote growth and address local workforce needs.

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The United States announced its exit from the World Health Organization (WHO), with President Donald Trump citing mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic and political influence from member states. Trump criticized the WHO for “unfair payments” and claimed it failed to act independently from countries like China. The U.S. contributes around 18% of WHO’s funding, with its 2024-2025 budget at $6.8 billion. Trump accused the WHO of aiding China’s efforts to mislead about COVID-19 origins, a claim the WHO denies. The withdrawal will take 12 months, ending U.S. financial contributions to the agency.

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US President Donald Trump has banned the creation and issuance of Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) in the United States. Agencies are prohibited from promoting or issuing CBDCs without legal approval. The executive order defines CBDC as a digital currency directly backed by the central bank. Concerns cited include risks to privacy, sovereignty, and financial stability. The order promotes a private-sector-led digital asset ecosystem, focusing on dollar-backed stablecoins as alternatives. CBDCs differ from cryptocurrencies as their value is fixed by the central bank, with several countries adopting them for centralized digital currency control.

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Panama has formally withdrawn from China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) under US pressure. The Panamanian Embassy in Beijing gave a 90-day notice of its decision. President Jose Raul Mulino rejected US claims about the Panama Canal, calling them “intolerable.” The US alleged Panama agreed to free passage for US government vessels, but the Panama Canal Authority denied any tariff changes. Trump and US officials raised concerns over Chinese investments in the canal. Panama is the first Latin American country to exit the BRI, which operates in over 100 countries.

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Australia passed strict anti-hate crime laws on February 6, 2025, introducing mandatory minimum sentences. Sentences range from 12 months for minor hate crimes, like Nazi salutes, to six years for terrorism offences. The law criminalizes threats or violence based on race, religion, nationality, gender, and other identities. Recent attacks on synagogues, cars, and Jewish community buildings prompted stronger laws. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese initially opposed mandatory sentences but later supported them. New South Wales plans to align its hate speech laws with Western Australia and Victoria.

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US President Trump has officially renamed the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America”. He designated February 9 as “Gulf of America Day” through an executive order, requiring the Secretary of the Interior to formalize the change within 30 days.