International Current Affairs MCQs

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In October 2025, Madagascar’s President Andry Rajoelina appointed General Ruphin Fortunat Zafisambo as the new Prime Minister (PM). He succeeded Christian Ntsay, who had served as PM since 2018. The appointment followed rising protests over power outages and water shortages. This marks a leadership shift, with a military officer replacing a civilian politician. Ruphin Fortunat Zafisambo began military education at Antsirabe Military Academy, Madagascar in 1991. He served under High Transitional Authority (HAT) after the 2009 crisis. Madagascar’s capital is Antananarivo and currency is Malagasy Ariary (MGA).

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California has officially recognised Diwali as a state holiday. It is the third state in the USA after Pennsylvania and Connecticut to declare Diwali as a state holiday. The Governor of California signed the bill introduced by Assembly member Ash Kalra. The law grants paid time off to state employees and allows schools to observe the festival. Community leaders called the recognition a milestone honouring Indian Americans’ contributions to the state’s economy, government, and society. The move reflects growing cultural inclusivity and recognition of diverse communities in the United States.

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India and the United Kingdom recently launched the India-UK Connectivity and Innovation Centre (CIC) at India Mobile Congress 2025. It is a strategic partnership to promote digital inclusion and build secure, innovative, and resilient communications. The initiative works under the UK-India Technology Security Initiative, led by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and India’s Department of Telecommunications (DoT). It links university research, lab testing, and market trials for next-generation technologies. Both nations will jointly invest £24 million (₹250 crore) to support research, joint testbeds, and global telecom standards.

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Border clashes recently erupted between Pakistan and Afghanistan along the Durand Line. The Durand Line is the 2,640-kilometer international border between Afghanistan and Pakistan. It was established in 1893 through an agreement between Sir Henry Mortimer Durand, Foreign Secretary of British India, and Amir Abdur Rahman Khan, Emir of Afghanistan. The border has been disputed historically, contributing to tensions and periodic clashes. The recent clashes highlight the ongoing security and diplomatic challenges in the region. The Durand Line remains a key geopolitical flashpoint affecting Afghanistan-Pakistan relations.

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Patrick Herminie, opposition leader of Seychelles, won the presidential election, defeating incumbent Wavel Ramkalawan. Herminie secured 52.7% of votes, while Ramkalawan got 47.3% in the run-off election. He represents the United Seychelles party, which ruled for four decades before losing power in 2020. Herminie’s victory gives United Seychelles full control of the government, after winning a parliamentary majority in the first round of elections last month. In 2023, Herminie was arrested on witchcraft charges, which were later dropped. He served as parliament speaker from 2007 to 2016.

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India has recently gifted Prussian Blue Capsules to Indonesia to help counter Cesium-137 radioactive contamination. Prussian Blue Capsules are a specialized medicine used to treat internal contamination caused by radioactive cesium or thallium and non-radioactive thallium poisoning. These capsules work by trapping toxic substances in the intestines, stopping them from being absorbed into the body. The trapped materials are then safely removed through bowel movements, reducing radiation exposure. This aid highlights India’s commitment to regional health and nuclear safety cooperation and showcases its technical capability in radiological emergency response.

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The United Arab Emirates (UAE) announced a 10 million US dollars contribution to strengthen community resilience against natural disasters across Asia and the Pacific. The initiative was launched through the UAE Aid Agency during the 2025 International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) World Conservation Congress in Abu Dhabi. It will support Emirates Nature–World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) under the Community Resilience to Natural Disasters Programme, developed with International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). The programme focuses on restoring mangroves and coral reefs, promoting eco-livelihoods, and strengthening disaster preparedness in Philippines, Indonesia, Fiji, and Solomon Islands.

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Recently, India and Brazil agreed to significantly expand their existing trade agreement with the MERCOSUR bloc. MERCOSUR stands for the Southern Common Market (Spanish initials). It is a South American regional economic organization and the fourth largest integrated market after the European Union (EU), North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), and Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). MERCOSUR was created in 1991 by signing the Treaty of Asunción. Its objective is the free movement of goods, services, capital, and people, becoming a customs union in January 1995.

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Pakistan has recently sought help from China, its “iron friend,” to join the New Development Bank (NDB). The NDB, earlier called the BRICS Development Bank, was set up by Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. It was created to fund infrastructure and sustainable development projects in developing nations. Its headquarters are in Shanghai, China.

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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.