International Current Affairs MCQs

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The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) is currently holding meetings in Paris to discuss state-sponsored terrorism and funding of banned outfits operating in Pakistan. FATF is an independent intergovernmental body that sets global standards against Money Laundering (ML) and Terrorist Financing (TF). It was established in 1989 during the G7 Summit in Paris and expanded in 2001 to include terrorism financing. FATF headquarters is in Paris, France. India became a FATF member in 2010.

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Afghanistan has announced plans to construct a dam on the Kunar River, blocking its flow into Pakistan. The Kunar River is a major tributary of the Kabul River, which later merges with the Indus River in Pakistan. The river originates from the glaciated Hindu Kush Mountains in Chitral, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. It flows into Afghanistan and joins the Kabul River there. The two main tributaries of the Kunar River are Bashgal (Landiasind) River and Pech River. The proposed dam may affect water flow and relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan.

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The 20th East Asia Summit was held in Kuala Lumpur, where the Kuala Lumpur Declaration was adopted. The declaration reaffirmed the commitment to peace, stability, and cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region. It called for strategic trust and responsible, transparent, and predictable behaviour among member nations. The declaration stressed strong partnerships in regional and international affairs. It also highlighted the importance of information exchange on regional development, security policies, disaster management, and regional architecture discussions. The move strengthens the East Asia Summit’s role as a key platform for regional stability and dialogue.

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Recently, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung awarded U.S. President Donald Trump the “Grand Order of Mugunghwa,” South Korea’s highest national honour. The award recognises Trump’s role as a peacemaker on the Korean Peninsula. The ceremony was held in Gyeongju during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit. Trump received a replica of the golden “Cheonmachong” crown, symbolising peace and unity from the Silla dynasty. He became the first U.S. president to receive this honour, acknowledging his diplomatic outreach to North Korea.

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India has ended its military presence at the Ayni Airbase in Tajikistan after the bilateral agreement with Tajikistan expired around four years ago. The Ayni Airbase, located 10 km west of Dushanbe, was built in the Soviet era and later renovated by India. India spent around $100 million upgrading the base with runway extensions, shelters, fuel depots, and air traffic control facilities. Su-30MKI jets and around 200 Indian personnel from the Army and Air Force were once deployed there. All Indian personnel and equipment were withdrawn by 2022. The base initially supported the Northern Alliance in its fight against the Taliban in Afghanistan.

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Samia Suluhu Hassan, President of Tanzania, was sworn in for her second term amid tight security in Dodoma, the capital. The election was marred by violent protests and opposition rejection of the results. She was declared winner with 98% votes, as several opposition leaders were jailed or barred from contesting. In her victory speech, she called the election free and democratic, labelling protesters as unpatriotic.

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Recently, Denmark announced a ban on social media access for individuals below 15 years of age to protect children’s mental health and safety. Denmark is located in north-central Europe and is one of the Scandinavian countries. It also includes the Faroe Islands and Greenland, both situated in the North Atlantic Ocean. It shares its land border with Germany to the south. Denmark is surrounded by the Baltic Sea, North Sea, Kattegat Bay, and Kiel Bay. The capital city of Denmark is Copenhagen.

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Oman has been elected to the International Coordinating Council of UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme for the 2025–2029 term. The election took place during the 43rd UNESCO General Conference in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. The Environment Authority of Oman represented the Sultanate at the session. This achievement aligns with Oman Vision 2040 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The MAB Programme promotes scientific collaboration to conserve biodiversity, manage protected areas, and support climate research. It also empowers youth and researchers through grants and promotes sustainable environmental practices globally.

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Maldives President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu and India’s Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu jointly inaugurated the Hanimaadhoo International Airport on November 10, 2025, a project completed with India’s financial assistance. President Muizzu hailed the airport as a “gateway to prosperity” and a “symbol of economic transformation” for the northern Maldives, boosting tourism, fisheries, agriculture, and regional development. The project symbolizes 60 years of India–Maldives diplomatic ties, and aligns with India’s “Neighbourhood First” and “MAHASAGAR” visions for regional cooperation.

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Iceland has officially declared the possible collapse of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) as a national security and existential threat, becoming the first country to do so. AMOC carries warm tropical waters to the Arctic, moderating Europe’s climate and making winters milder. Iceland’s Climate Minister Johann Pall Johannsson presented AMOC as a potential existential threat before the National Security Council, a first for any climate-related phenomenon. AMOC, a key climate tipping element, could collapse irreversibly if pushed beyond a threshold, possibly triggering a modern ice age in Northern Europe.