International Current Affairs MCQs

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Recently, concerns were raised that low tobacco prices in India are making it hard to control tobacco use, unlike in other countries where higher prices have reduced smoking. This weakens the World Health Organization’s (WHO) MPOWER framework, which aims to reduce tobacco-related diseases, including cancer. The MPOWER framework was introduced by WHO in 2008 under the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC). It includes six key measures: Monitoring tobacco use, Protecting people from smoke, Offering help to quit, Warning about dangers, Enforcing bans on promotion, and Raising taxes. These steps are proven to reduce tobacco demand and help smokers quit.

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Recently, Karol Nawrocki won Poland’s presidential election with 50.89% of the votes, narrowly defeating liberal Warsaw Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski, who got 49.11%. Nawrocki is a right-wing conservative candidate, known both as a historian and a heavyweight boxing champion. He was supported by United States (US) President Donald Trump during the election. Nawrocki previously served as the head of the Institute of National Remembrance, an organisation known for promoting nationalist versions of Polish history.

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The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have launched a two-year humanitarian initiative to fight severe malnutrition on Yemen’s Socotra Island. Socotra Island faces a health emergency with a Global Acute Malnutrition (GAM) rate of 10.9% and Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) rate of 1.6% among children under five. The program focuses on reducing maternal and child deaths caused by malnutrition through food, health, and awareness support. It includes strengthening healthcare systems by training staff, supplying medicine, and improving epidemic response capacity.

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On June 2, 2025, Nicaragua became the 101st country to accept the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies under the World Trade Organization (WTO). This marks a major step towards banning subsidies that support illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing and overfishing. At the 12th Ministerial Conference (MC12) of the World Trade Organization (WTO) held in Geneva in June 2022, ministers adopted the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies by consensus. This agreement sets new binding global rules to stop harmful subsidies that support illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

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The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) has officially declared the year 2026 as the International Year of the Woman Farmer. This resolution was proposed by the United States of America and was adopted by all member countries through consensus. The main aim is to recognize and highlight the vital role women farmers play in ensuring food security, improving nutrition, and fighting poverty. It also focuses on promoting gender equality and empowering women in the agriculture sector.

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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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Interpol coordinated a global cybercrime crackdown called ‘Operation Secure’ from January to April 2025. More than 20,000 malicious Internet Protocol (IP) addresses and domains linked to information-stealing malware were taken down. Law enforcement agencies from 26 countries, including India, joined efforts to locate servers and dismantle cybercriminal infrastructure. Interpol worked with private companies like Group-IB, Kaspersky, and Trend Micro to share cyber intelligence across Asia.

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India has recently expressed deep reservations over the European Union (EU)’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM). CBAM is a policy tool by the European Union (EU) to put a fair price on carbon emissions linked to imported carbon-intensive goods like steel, aluminium, and cement. It aims to push industries in non-EU countries to adopt cleaner production methods. CBAM is part of the EU’s “Fit for 55” strategy, which targets a 55% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. Its transitional phase runs from 2023 to 2025, and full enforcement will begin in 2026.

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India performed better than the global average in air operations and safety, according to the audit by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) in November 2022. International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) is a United Nations (UN) specialized agency formed under the Chicago Convention of 1944. It works to promote safe, secure, and efficient international air transport for peaceful purposes. It sets global aviation safety and environmental standards and supports economic development of air transport.

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After 250 years, the long-lost ship of Captain James Cook, HMS Endeavour, has been found off Newport Harbour, Rhode Island. The ship was the first European vessel to reach eastern Australia during Cook’s 1768–1771 expedition. It was later renamed Lord Sandwich and sank in 1778 during the American War of Independence. The Australian National Maritime Museum confirmed the wreck after 25 years of underwater exploration and global research. The shipwreck, labeled RI 2394, was identified by matching its structure with Cook’s 1768 plans.