International Current Affairs MCQs

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On November 9, 2025, several airports in the Bicol region of the Philippines suspended operations as Super Typhoon Uwan (international name: Fung-Wong) brought torrential rains and powerful winds. Typhoons are a type of tropical cyclone that form over the Western Pacific Ocean. A tropical cyclone is a rapidly rotating storm system that develops over warm tropical oceans. These storms differ in speed, size, and intensity, depending on environmental conditions.

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Oman has been elected to the International Coordinating Council of UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme for the 2025–2029 term. The election took place during the 43rd UNESCO General Conference in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. The Environment Authority of Oman represented the Sultanate at the session. This achievement aligns with Oman Vision 2040 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The MAB Programme promotes scientific collaboration to conserve biodiversity, manage protected areas, and support climate research. It also empowers youth and researchers through grants and promotes sustainable environmental practices globally.

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The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) launched the UN-endorsed “Integrity Matters Checklist” to help companies align their climate disclosures with UN standards for credible net-zero commitments. It was developed by GRI in partnership with the United Nations, based on the UN High-Level Expert Group (HLEG) recommendations on Net Zero Commitments. The checklist ensures transparent, science-based, and verifiable climate actions aligned with the Paris Agreement and 2030 Agenda goals. It integrates with GRI 102: Climate Change 2025 Standard, promoting consistency in sustainability reporting. It urges companies to phase out fossil fuels, adopt just transition pathways, and strengthen climate accountability globally.

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The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has launched the ‘Walk to Mars’ campaign ahead of the Open Masters Games Abu Dhabi 2026. The nationwide initiative encourages people to collectively cover 54 million kilometres, symbolising the UAE’s 54th year. It coincides with the 100-day countdown to the Games, the region’s largest multi-sport event. Participants can walk, run, cycle, or swim, promoting daily movement, health, and fitness under the theme “Every Step Makes a Difference.”

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Iceland has officially declared the possible collapse of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) as a national security and existential threat, becoming the first country to do so. AMOC carries warm tropical waters to the Arctic, moderating Europe’s climate and making winters milder. Iceland’s Climate Minister Johann Pall Johannsson presented AMOC as a potential existential threat before the National Security Council, a first for any climate-related phenomenon. AMOC, a key climate tipping element, could collapse irreversibly if pushed beyond a threshold, possibly triggering a modern ice age in Northern Europe.

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Oman Airports has become the world’s first airport operator to deploy Wi-Fi 7 across all its airports. The upgrade was implemented in partnership with Huawei, marking a major leap in airport digital infrastructure. Wi-Fi 7 provides much faster speeds, stronger security, and highly reliable connectivity even during peak traffic. The initiative enhances passenger comfort by enabling smooth streaming, quick downloads, and seamless online services from check-in to boarding. It also boosts operational efficiency with faster, secure systems supporting airport staff and operations. This deployment aligns with Oman Vision 2040, which focuses on smart infrastructure, global-standard services, and advanced technology adoption.

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Cambridge Dictionary named ‘parasocial’ as the Word of the Year 2025 due to rising one-sided emotional bonds with celebrities, influencers and Artificial Intelligence (AI) chatbots. More than 6,000 new words were added in 2025, including ‘delulu’, ‘slop’, ‘skibidi’ and ‘tradwife’. The term ‘parasocial’ first appeared in 1956 when sociologists studied TV viewers’ emotional ties with on-screen personalities. In 2025, parasocial bonds grew with YouTubers, influencers and AI bots, reshaping online trust, fandom and digital behaviour.

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Nepal has extended the survey license deadline for the West Seti Hydropower Project and allowed a direct agreement for another project by Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam (SJVN) to support Indian power companies in developing hydropower in the Himalayan region. West Seti Hydropower Project is planned as a 750 Megawatt hydroelectric storage project on the Seti River, a tributary of the Karnali River in Nepal. It is a storage-based project, not a run-of-river project, allowing water to be stored during monsoon and electricity to be generated year-round. The project is being developed by National Hydro Power Corporation Limited (NHPC) of India under a Public-Private Partnership model.

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Indonesia officially ended the polio type 2 outbreak after years of low vaccination. Nearly 60 million extra polio vaccine doses were given to children during the response. No poliovirus detected since June 2024 in children or the environment. WHO declared the outbreak closed on 19 November 2025. First case appeared in Aceh in October 2022 and later spread to multiple provinces. Two rounds of nationwide campaigns using novel Oral Polio Vaccine 2 (nOPV2) were conducted. Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV) coverage increased from 63 percent in 2023 to 73 percent in 2024. Indonesia introduced hexavalent vaccine combining DPT HB Hib and IPV to protect against six diseases in one shot

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Riyadh Metro has been certified by Guinness World Records as the world’s longest fully driverless metro network. The total network length is 176 kilometres (109 miles) with six lines and 85 stations. The record achievement date is 30 January 2025, with official recognition announced in November 2025. It operates under the Grade of Automation 4 (fully driverless) system with central control rooms. The project is part of the King Abdulaziz Project for Riyadh Public Transport led by the Royal Commission for Riyadh City. This marks Riyadh’s rise as a global leader in smart and high-tech urban transport.