International Current Affairs MCQs

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Researchers in Japan have created a new plastic that dissolves in seawater within hours, helping fight ocean pollution. It was developed by the RIKEN Center for Emergent Matter Science and the University of Tokyo. A lab demo in Wako city showed a plastic piece dissolving in salt water after stirring for one hour. The plastic breaks into safe components that are processed by natural bacteria, leaving no microplastics behind. It is as strong as petroleum-based plastic but is non-toxic, non-flammable, and does not emit carbon dioxide (CO₂). In soil, it breaks down in about 200 hours.

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On the first day of the third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3), France and Brazil launched the Blue Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) Challenge. This new global initiative urges countries to put oceans at the center of their climate strategies ahead of the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) to be held in Brazil in November 2025. The initiative aims to scale up ocean-focused climate action to limit global warming and build resilience. Countries like Australia, Fiji, Kenya, Mexico, Palau, and Seychelles have already joined the challenge.

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Blaise Metreweli has been appointed as the new chief of the Secret Intelligence Service, known as MI6, becoming the first woman to lead Britain’s foreign intelligence agency since its founding in 1909. She is a veteran intelligence officer with 25 years of experience and currently serves as Director of Technology and Innovation at MI6. Her appointment was confirmed by United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer, calling it crucial for national security amidst rising global threats.

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Recently, as Israel’s conflict with Iran intensifies and threats grow from various regional actors, global focus has turned to Israel’s nuclear deterrent known as the Samson Option. The Samson Option refers to Israel’s alleged strategy of launching massive nuclear retaliation if the country faces an existential threat. The name comes from the biblical figure Samson, who destroyed himself and his enemies, symbolizing total retaliation. Israel follows a policy called amimut, meaning deliberate ambiguity in Hebrew, where it neither confirms nor denies possessing nuclear weapons.

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On June 23, 2025, Iran launched Operation Bashayer Al-Fath, meaning Annunciation of Victory, targeting the United States’ Al-Udeid Air Base in Doha, Qatar. This was a response to Operation Midnight Hammer, where the United States attacked three Iranian nuclear sites using GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator bombs and Tomahawk missiles. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) confirmed the missile attack, calling it a response to U.S. aggression and violation of international law. Iran declared it will never compromise on its territorial integrity, sovereignty, and national security.

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Kaladan Multimodal Transit Transport Project (KMTTP) is expected to be operational by 2027 as recently announced by the Union Minister. It is a joint initiative by India and Myanmar to boost cargo transport between Eastern Ports of India and India’s North-Eastern Region (NER) via Myanmar. The project provides a multi-modal transportation system using both waterways and roadways. The framework agreement for Kaladan Multimodal Transit Transport Project was signed in 2008.

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Recently, 101 Indian students, including 50 women, received the Erasmus+ scholarship for master’s programs in Europe. Erasmus+ stands for European Region Action Scheme for the Mobility of University Students Plus. It is the flagship programme of the European Union (EU) for international academic mobility, launched in 1987. It allows students to study at two or more European universities and earn joint, double, or multiple degrees. The scholarship covers tuition fees, travel costs, and living expenses.

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Moldova became the 107th member of the International Solar Alliance (ISA). International Solar Alliance (ISA) is a global initiative launched in 2015 by India and France during COP21 in Paris. Moldova handed over the Instrument of Ratification in New Delhi. It aims to unlock solar investments by 2030 and lower technology and finance costs. It promotes solar energy use in agriculture, health, transport, and power sectors.

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United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has temporarily suspended the repatriation of Sri Lankan Tamil refugees. UNHCR was established in 1950 by the United Nations General Assembly after the Second World War. It was earlier called the Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees. Its main aim is to save lives and protect the rights of refugees, internally displaced people, and stateless persons. Its headquarters is in Geneva, Switzerland.

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The United Nations (UN) General Assembly has created two new mechanisms to strengthen global cooperation on Artificial Intelligence (AI) governance. The initiatives include the UN Independent International Scientific Panel on AI and the Global Dialogue on AI Governance. The Global Dialogue on AI Governance will serve as an inclusive platform for States and stakeholders to discuss critical AI issues affecting humanity. The Scientific Panel on AI will provide rigorous, independent scientific assessments bridging cutting-edge AI research and policymaking. The initiatives aim to harness AI benefits while mitigating risks, ensuring AI serves the common good of humanity.