International Current Affairs MCQs

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Rodrigo Paz, a centrist senator, won Bolivia’s presidential election. He defeated conservative rival Jorge Tuto Quiroga amid the country’s worst economic crisis. Paz secured 54.5% of the vote, while Quiroga got 45.5%, according to Bolivia’s Electoral Tribunal. His victory ends nearly two decades of leftist rule by Movement to Socialism (MAS). Bolivia, officially the Plurinational State of Bolivia, is a landlocked country in western-central South America. The constitutional capital is Sucre, while the seat of government and executive capital is La Paz.

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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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Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared 2026 as the “Year of ASEAN-India Maritime Cooperation” during the 22nd ASEAN Summit 2025 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The decision highlights growing collaboration in Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR), maritime security, and the blue economy. The summit’s theme was “Inclusivity and Sustainability”, aligning with India’s focus on digital inclusion, food security, and resilient supply chains. ASEAN remains the main pillar of India’s Act East Policy, advancing shared goals under ASEAN Community Vision 2045 and Viksit Bharat 2047.

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China has started pre-service trials for its new high-speed train CR450, announced on October 21, 2025. The CR450 is hailed as the world’s fastest bullet train. During trials on the Shanghai–Chongqing–Chengdu high-speed railway line, it reached a top speed of 281 miles per hour (450 km/h). The CR450 marks a major step in China’s next-generation high-speed rail technology. It aims to improve travel efficiency and connectivity across major Chinese cities. Once operational, it will surpass the speed record of China’s current CR400 series trains.

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In October 2025, Paul Barthélemy Biya’a bi Mvondo, representing the Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM), won Cameroon’s 2025 Presidential Election with 53.7% votes, defeating Issa Tchiroma Bakary, who got 35.2% votes. This victory marked his eighth consecutive term as President. At 92 years, he became the world’s longest-serving and oldest President. He joined the Presidency of the Republic in 1962 and served as Secretary-General from 1968–1975. He became Prime Minister (PM) in 1975 and succeeded Ahmadou Ahidjo as President in 1982. In 2008, he removed presidential term limits, allowing indefinite re-elections.

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India recently joined the Brazil-led Tropical Forest Forever Facility (TFFF) as an observer ahead of COP30, reaffirming its commitment to climate action and forest conservation. The TFFF is a global initiative that financially rewards countries for preserving tropical forests, crucial for mitigating climate change. It offers $4 per hectare of protected forest annually as a performance-based conservation incentive. It is a budget-neutral financing model, not dependent on new taxes or donor grants. It functions through the Tropical Forest Investment Fund (TFIF), which invests sponsor funds sustainably, avoiding deforestation-linked sect

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In November 2025, Canada lost its measles elimination status due to ongoing outbreaks, as reported by international health experts. The country recorded 5,138 measles cases and two deaths in 2025; both fatalities were premature babies exposed in the womb. Measles elimination status is symbolic, showing a country has stopped continuous local transmission, though imported cases can still occur. Measles is highly contagious, causing high fever and rash, with serious complications like blindness and brain swelling, especially in young children and adults over 30. The disease is preventable through routine vaccination, but falling childhood immunisation rates contributed to the resurgence

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Ukraine recently launched Operation Midas, a major anti-corruption investigation targeting Energoatom officials and connected businessmen. It is a 15-month undercover probe led by NABU (National Anti-Corruption Bureau) and SAPO (Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office). Named after King Midas, symbolising officials illegally turning contracts into gold. The operation exposed a bribery network demanding 10–15% cuts from contractors and nearly $100 million laundered through backdoor companies. It caused political fallout, forced Energy Minister resignations, and triggered audits of all state-owned enterprises.

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Cambridge Dictionary named ‘parasocial’ as the Word of the Year 2025 due to rising one-sided emotional bonds with celebrities, influencers and Artificial Intelligence (AI) chatbots. More than 6,000 new words were added in 2025, including ‘delulu’, ‘slop’, ‘skibidi’ and ‘tradwife’. The term ‘parasocial’ first appeared in 1956 when sociologists studied TV viewers’ emotional ties with on-screen personalities. In 2025, parasocial bonds grew with YouTubers, influencers and AI bots, reshaping online trust, fandom and digital behaviour.

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India recently addressed the Leadership Group for Industry Transition (LeadIT) Roundtable at UNFCCC COP30 in Belém, Brazil, highlighting global efforts on industrial decarbonisation. LeadIT was launched in 2019 by India and Sweden with support from the World Economic Forum. It is the first global high-level initiative targeting net-zero emissions from heavy industries by 2050. It brings together countries and companies to promote public-private partnerships, finance, and best-practice sharing for an inclusive, just transition. LeadIT 2.0 (2024-26), launched at COP28, focuses on inclusive transition, low-carbon technology transfer and financial support to emerging economies. Its secretariat is hosted by the Stockholm Environment Institute, with 18 member countries and 27 companies.