International Current Affairs MCQs

Notes:
Mission 300 is an ambitious initiative to electrify 300 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa by 2030. It was launched in 2025 by the World Bank and African Development Bank (AfDB) in collaboration with key global energy partners. The initiative aims to provide affordable, reliable, and sustainable electricity to millions in Africa. It will achieve this through a mix of grid expansion, mini-grids, and off-grid solar solutions to ensure widespread electrification. Mission 300 will help accelerate Africa’s transition to clean energy, reducing dependency on fossil fuels.

Notes:
Yamandú Orsi was sworn in as Uruguay’s President on March 1, 2025. His victory marks the return of the leftist Broad Front coalition after five years of conservative rule. Uruguay is South America’s second-smallest country after Suriname. It shares borders with Brazil (north) and Argentina (west) and has a maritime boundary with the Atlantic Ocean (east).

Notes:
The Wallace Line is an invisible boundary separating Asian and Australian animal species. It was first identified by English naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace in the 19th century. The line runs through the Malay Archipelago, between Bali and Lombok, and between Borneo and Sulawesi. Asian side species (Borneo, Bali) resemble mainland Asian animals like tigers and monkeys. Australian side species (Sulawesi, Lombok) resemble Australian wildlife like kangaroos and cuscuses. Scientists now view it as a transition zone rather than a strict boundary. Climate change and habitat destruction threaten these ecosystems and species adaptation.

Notes:
The United States declared English as the national language through an executive order. The decision aims to streamline communication and enhance national unity. Federal agencies can choose whether to provide multilingual services. The order acknowledges the country’s linguistic diversity, with millions speaking Spanish, Chinese, and Arabic. It emphasizes English as the primary language for official use.

Notes:
Lithuania exited the Convention on Cluster Munitions, citing security concerns over Russia, drawing criticism from human rights groups. The Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM) bans the use, production, transfer, and stockpiling of cluster bombs. It was adopted on May 30, 2008, and enforced on August 1, 2010. The treaty has 112 member states and 12 signatories yet to ratify it. Major nations like India, the U.S., Russia, China, Ukraine, and Israel have not signed due to strategic concerns. The CCM aims to prevent civilian harm and supports global peace, human rights, and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Notes:
The Prime Minister welcomed New Zealand’s participation in the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI), emphasizing shared interests in regional peace and stability. India launched Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI) in November 2019 at the East Asia Summit (EAS) in Bangkok. It builds on the Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR) initiative of 2015. The initiative promotes a free, open, and rules-based Indo-Pacific for regional safety and development. IPOI is a non-treaty-based voluntary arrangement relying on EAS mechanisms and includes seven pillars of cooperation led by different countries.

Notes:
Daniel Noboa has been re-elected as the President of Ecuador for a second term. Ecuador is a country located in the northwestern part of South America. It shares its northern border with Colombia and its eastern and southern borders with Peru. The country has a western coastline along the Pacific Ocean. Daniel Noboa’s re-election reflects continued public support for his leadership. Ecuador is known for its diverse geography, including the Andes mountains, Amazon rainforest, and the Galápagos Islands. The country plays an important role in regional politics and environmental conservation efforts.

Notes:
BRICS nations launched the BRICS Land Restoration Partnership to tackle land degradation, desertification, and soil fertility loss across 11 member countries. The announcement was made during the 15th BRICS Agriculture Ministers’ meeting held in Brasilia, Brazil. This was the first agriculture meeting of the expanded BRICS, which now includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Iran, Indonesia, and Saudi Arabia. India was represented by Union Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Shivraj Singh Chouhan. BRICS countries together represent 47% of the global population and contribute 36% of the world’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The meeting supported fair agricultural trade, stable global prices, and better returns for small farmers.

Notes:
Uganda recently declared the end of the Ebola Sudan Virus Disease (SVD) outbreak after completing a 42-day mandatory countdown without new confirmed cases. The declaration came less than three months after the virus was detected in Kampala, the capital. The World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines require 42 days without new cases for a country to be declared Ebola-free. Uganda first declared the SVD outbreak on January 30, following the death of a nurse. There are no approved treatments or vaccines for the Sudan strain of Ebola, as vaccines are still in clinical trials.

Notes:
Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, is working to convince President Donald Trump’s administration to continue vital funding by emphasizing that a donation would benefit the US vaccine industry. Gavi is an independent public-private partnership created in 2000 to improve access to new and underused vaccines for children in the world’s poorest countries. Based in Geneva, Switzerland, Gavi unites public and private sectors to ensure equal access to vaccines for all children. It includes governments, the World Health Organization, UNICEF, the World Bank, vaccine manufacturers, and private philanthropists. Gavi provides financial support, technical expertise, and market-shaping efforts to help lower vaccine costs.