International Current Affairs MCQs

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On 1^st January each year, India and Pakistan exchange a list of their nuclear installations in accordance with the Agreement on the Prohibition of attack against Nuclear Installations and Facilities. This agreement prohibits both the countries from attacking each other’s atomic facilities.

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Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa has been named as the new Prime Minister and interior minister of the Gulf nation, Qatar. The emir or the reigning monarch of Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani has appointed Sheikh Khalid as the new head.
The new Prime Minister took oath of office in a ceremony attended by the Emir and deputy Emir of Qatar, Abdullah bin Hamad Al Thani. After the former Prime Minister Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani submitted his resignation, the emir has named his trusted adviser, Sheikh Khalid as the successor.

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Maldives officially re-joined the Commonwealth on February 1, 2020 and became the 54th member of the Commonwealth Union.
The President of Maldives, Ibrahim Mohamed Solih had applied for re-joining the bloc in December 2018. The country has been admitted after the official assessment and consultations made by the organisation. The country is set be a part of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Rwanda, to be held in June 2020. Maldives joined the Commonwealth in 1982 and withdrew its membership in the year 2016.

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According to the government-backed news agency of Russia, the country has started developing its first stealth bomber named ‘PAK DA’.
It is estimated the aircraft would be completed next year and it would be able to carry an array of advanced missiles and bombs, including hypersonic weapons. This will compete with the B-2 strategic stealth bomber of the United States. China is also in the process of developing its own stealth bomber, Xian H-20.

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The United States President Donald Trump has recently suspended H-1B, H-2B, J, L and other temporary work permits.
The suspension will be effective till December 31, as per the recent announcement from the White House. The President announced that the entry of additional workers through these temporary Visa programs presents a threat to employment opportunities for Americans affected by the economic damages caused by COVID-19 pandemic.

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The President of France Emmanuel Macron has named Jean Castex as the next French Prime Minister.
The previous Prime Minister Edouard Philippe had resigned earlier. The President has reshuffled the Government to restart the country’s economy. Jean Castex is a 55-year-old public servant, who has also coordinated the re-opening strategy in the country.

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The United Kingdom Prime Minister Boris Johnson has launched a strategy to encourage the citizens to be physically fit.
A new evidence showed that obese people who are being infected by coronavirus are more likely to die or develop severe illness. Under the drive, Doctors prescribe cycling or running to patients. There will be ban on junk food advertisements and calorie warnings will be provided on food items.

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The World Health Organization (WHO) has recently announced that the African continent is completely free of Polio.
A commission headed by Rose Gana Fomban Leke has certified that no wild Polio cases occurred in the African region for the past four years. The threshold for eradication of poliovirus is also four years. Africa had earlier eradicated smallpox disease.

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UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has launched a new initiative named ‘Beirut’.
The initiative seeks to raise funds to be used in rehabilitating the heritage buildings situated in Beirut. UNESCO will host a meeting for donors by the end of September. Earlier, during a massive explosion that hit Lebanon, several of is buildings were damaged.

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The United States of America (USA) has recently revoked the Visas of more than 1,000 Chinese students and researchers.
The move is under the directions of the US President Donald Trump in May 2020. The proclamation is aimed at Chinese nationals who are suspected to have ties with Chinese military. In this regard, China has accused US of racial discrimination.