International Current Affairs MCQs

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Andrew Holness, Prime Minister of Jamaica, has won a third term in office. His Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) secured 34 seats in the 63-seat House of Representatives. The opposition, People’s National Party (PNP) led by Mark Golding, won 29 seats. The election was held amid concerns over corruption, economic challenges, and social inequity. Under Holness, Jamaica has recorded a 43% drop in killings in 2025, the largest decline in decades. The improvement is credited to increased firearm seizures and a stronger, coordinated security force across the island. The victory underscores public trust in Holness’ governance and law-and-order measures.

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Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) is an intergovernmental organization controlling exports of missiles capable of delivering nuclear, chemical, or biological weapons and related technology. It was founded in 1987 by Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, United Kingdom, and United States to prevent the spread of nuclear-capable missiles. In 1993, MTCR expanded to include chemical and biological weapons-capable missiles. Currently, 35 countries are members; India joined on 27 June 2016. Member states impose export controls on rocket systems, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), technical components, and software. MTCR guidelines are voluntary, non-binding, with no legal penalties, but US sanctions may apply for violations. India’s membership strengthens its strategic missile and defense technology cooperation with global powers.

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The U.K.-India Infrastructure Financing Bridge (UKIIFB), launched in September 2024, marked its first anniversary on September 8, 2025, in London. It is a joint initiative led by NITI Aayog of India and the City of London of the United Kingdom. The bridge was created under the UK Economic and Financial Dialogue (EFD). It aims to channel sustainable infrastructure investments into India using the U.K.’s expertise in structuring large-scale projects. Focus areas include national highways, regional rapid transport, and renewable energy projects. Stakeholders will build a long-term, stable, and sustainable financing system with manageable risks. It prioritizes green projects aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

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The Philippines strongly objected to China’s announcement of creating a nature reserve at Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea. Scarborough Shoal is a disputed atoll located 220 km west of the Philippines’ Luzon Island and is the largest atoll in the South China Sea. It remains mostly submerged at high tide, with only a few rocks above sea level. China calls it Huangyan Island and claims historical ownership tracing back to the Yuan Dynasty of the 1200s. The Philippines claims it lies within its 200-nautical mile Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) under the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). The shoal is commercially significant due to rich fishing grounds, valuable shellfish, and sea cucumbers.

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Recently, the governments of the United Kingdom (UK) and the United States (US) announced a series of nuclear power deals. Leading US-based companies will build nuclear projects overseas. The initiative aims to accelerate advanced reactor deployment and reduce dependence on Russian nuclear fuel. It is named the Atlantic Partnership for Advanced Nuclear Energy. The partnership includes faster safety approvals, regulatory cooperation, and billions in private sector investment. The initiative strengthens transatlantic cooperation in nuclear energy and strategic energy security.

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The Taliban government recently rejected U.S. President Donald Trump’s bid to retake Bagram Air Base, four years after the U.S. withdrawal. Bagram Air Base is the largest airbase in Afghanistan, located north of Kabul. It holds a strategic position near Iran, Pakistan, China’s Xinjiang, and Central Asia. Originally built by the Soviet Union during the Cold War, it supported Soviet operations until the late 1980s. The United States later revamped it and used it as a hub for war against the Taliban and Al Qaeda since 2001. It served as the largest U.S. military installation in Afghanistan for air operations, intelligence, and logistics.

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India has signed a 15-year contract with the International Seabed Authority (ISA) for exclusive rights to explore polymetallic sulphides in the Indian Ocean. Polymetallic sulphides form around hydrothermal vents and contain copper, zinc, gold, and silver essential for clean energy and high-tech applications. India becomes the first country to hold two International Seabed Authority (ISA) contracts for polymetallic sulphides. The earlier agreement covered the Central and Southwest Indian Ridges. India now holds the largest ISA-allotted exploration area for deep-sea minerals. It is also seeking exploration licences in the Pacific Ocean.

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Britain, Canada, and Australia formally recognized Palestinian statehood on 22 September 2025, ahead of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) meeting in New York. Portugal also confirmed recognition, while France pledged to vote for Palestinian state recognition at the UN this week. The move increases diplomatic pressure on Israel and isolates Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu internationally. Recognition is largely symbolic, supporting Palestinian self-determination but not immediately affecting Israel’s military operations in Gaza. Tens of thousands have died in Gaza, and humanitarian conditions remain dire. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer emphasized sustaining hope for a two-state solution despite challenges.

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Recently, former US President Donald Trump supported Russian President Vladimir Putin’s idea of the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START). The New START is the last remaining nuclear arms control deal between Russia and the United States of America. It was signed in 2010 by Barack Obama and Dmitry Medvedev in Prague and came into force on February 5, 2011. The treaty limits the number of deployed nuclear warheads to reduce Cold War–level arsenals. It focuses on strategic long-range weapons that can destroy key power and control centers. It replaced the 1991 START I Treaty and the 2002 Strategic Offensive Reductions Treaty (SORT). It was extended in 2021 for five years, valid till February 4, 2026.

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The Chinese ship “Istanbul Bridge” became the first commercial vessel to sail from Ningbo-Zhoushan (China) to Felixstowe (UK) via the Arctic in 18 days. This voyage marks the operational launch of the Polar Silk Route. The Polar Silk Route is part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). It is envisioned as a “blue economic corridor” through the Arctic Ocean. The route develops navigable Arctic sea passages connecting East Asia, North America, and Western Europe via the Northern Sea Route (NSR) along Russia’s coast. It provides a shorter and more cost-effective shipping corridor between Asia and Europe compared to the Suez Canal route.