International Current Affairs MCQs

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Recently, the United States carried out a secret mission called Operation Midnight Hammer, targeting Iran’s underground uranium enrichment sites with 30,000-pound bombs. U.S. submarines also supported the strike by firing dozens of cruise missiles at another key nuclear facility. The attack aimed to deliver a surprise blow to Iran’s nuclear program, which is seen by Israel as a serious threat. The mission was supported by aerial refuelling tankers, fighter jets, and reconnaissance aircraft to ensure secrecy and precision.

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On 24 June 2025, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and Romania launched ConvEx-3 (2025), the world’s largest and most complex nuclear emergency exercise. It will simulate a severe accident at Romania’s Cernavodă Nuclear Power Plant, the country’s only nuclear plant located 160 km east of Bucharest. It aims to improve global coordination under the Convention on Early Notification of a Nuclear Accident and the Convention on Assistance in the Case of a Nuclear Accident or Radiological Emergency. ConvEx-3 is the highest level of Convention Exercises, testing full-scale international emergency response capabilities. Romania last hosted ConvEx-3 in 2005.

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Recently, India strongly criticized the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) for making “unwarranted” and “factually incorrect” remarks influenced by Pakistan, which India said uses terrorism as “statecraft.” The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) is the second largest intergovernmental group after the United Nations (UN). The OIC works to ensure peace, security, and development in political, social, and economic areas for the Muslim world. India is not a member of the OIC. Its headquarters is located in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

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Typhoon Danas recently made landfall in Taiwan. It made a rare direct landfall in Chiayi County, marking the first recorded typhoon strike in the area. The Central Weather Administration described Danas’s path as “very unusual,” with gusts up to 222 km/h in the southwest.

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Recently, Ukraine’s parliament appointed Yulia Svyrydenko as the country’s new Prime Minister, the first in five years. This is part of a major cabinet reshuffle aimed at improving wartime governance as peace with Russia remains uncertain. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy tasked her with boosting domestic weapons production and reviving Ukraine’s loan-dependent economy. The target is to increase domestic weapons use on the battlefield from 40% to 50% in six months. Key goals also include deregulation and expanding economic cooperation with allies.

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The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) recently adopted Resolution 2788 to strengthen peaceful ways of resolving international disputes. The resolution was adopted unanimously by all 15 UNSC members, showing global consensus. It urges all UN member states to use tools listed in Article 33 of the UN Charter, such as negotiation, mediation, arbitration, judicial settlement, and regional arrangements. Resolution 2788 reaffirms the UNSC’s role in recommending proper methods for peaceful dispute resolution. It calls on countries to take strong steps to implement UNSC resolutions supporting peaceful settlements.

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A recent joint report by World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) revealed that contaminated medicines have killed 1,300 people over the past 90 years. United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) was established in 1997 by merging the United Nations Drug Control Programme and Centre for International Crime Prevention. UNODC is a global leader in fighting illicit drugs, international crime, and terrorism. It educates people on drug abuse dangers and helps strengthen actions against drug trafficking and drug-related crimes. Its headquarters is in Vienna, Austria.

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Australia and the United Kingdom recently signed the Nuclear-Powered Submarine Partnership and Collaboration Treaty, known as the Geelong Treaty, in Geelong, Australia. The treaty strengthens their commitment to AUKUS (Australia-UK-US) under Pillar I, focused on nuclear-powered submarines. It ensures 50 years of bilateral defense cooperation between Australia and the UK. The treaty covers the design, construction, operation, maintenance, and disposal of SSN-AUKUS submarines. This development comes as the United States reviews its role in AUKUS to align with its America First agenda.

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China and Russia began joint naval drills called “Joint Sea-2025” on August 3, 2025, in the Sea of Japan. The exercises aim to strengthen their strategic partnership and counter the United States-led global order. The drills are being held near the Russian port of Vladivostok. Operations include submarine rescue, anti-submarine, air defence, anti-missile, and maritime combat exercises. Four Chinese warships, including guided-missile destroyers Shaoxing and Urumqi, are participating with Russian ships.

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Russia has officially declared that it is no longer bound by the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty. The INF Treaty was signed in 1987 between the United States and the Russia (formerly Soviet Union). Its objective was to destroy two categories of lethal missile systems to slow down the nuclear arms race. The treaty targeted ground-launched missiles with a range of 500 to 5,500 kilometres. It emerged after a massive missile build-up in Europe by both powers that threatened continental security. It was signed during the leadership of US President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev. The treaty enabled mutual verification, leading to the dismantling of 2,619 missiles in three years.