International Current Affairs MCQs

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The Philippines declared a food security emergency to stabilize high rice prices. Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel authorized the release of rice buffer stocks held by the National Food Authority (NFA). The decision was based on recommendations from the National Price Coordinating Council. The Rice Tariffication Law allows the Agriculture Secretary to act during extraordinary price hikes. Rice inflation in the Philippines hit 21.4% in December 2023. The country’s GDP grew by 5.6% in 2024, below the 6-6.5% target. The economy faced setbacks due to extreme weather, geopolitical tensions, and low global demand.

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A US military aircraft carrying 104 deported Indian nationals landed at Amritsar airport on 5th February 2025. The deportees spent between Rs 30 lakh and Rs 1 crore on expenses and agent fees to reach the US. They traveled through the “dunki route,” an illegal and dangerous immigration path. “Dunki” or “donkey journey” refers to long, risky routes taken due to a lack of legal permits or financial resources. American authorities deported individuals who used this illegal route to enter the US.

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UNESCO launched the “Imagine a world with more women in science” campaign. The campaign marks the 10th anniversary of International Day of Women and Girls in Science (February 11). It promotes diverse perspectives in science using #EveryVoiceInScience. United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) declared February 11 as International Day of Women and Girls in Science in 2015. Globally, women make up only one-third of scientists and hold just 1 in 10 Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) leadership roles. In India, 43% of STEM enrolments are women, but only 18.6% are scientists, and 25% lead R&D projects.

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Russia reported a 30-40% reduction in oil flows through the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) after a Ukrainian drone attack on a pumping station. CPC is a $2.6 billion project with a 935-mile pipeline connecting Tengiz oil field (Kazakhstan) to Novorossiysk (Russia). Construction began in 1999, commissioned in 2001, and expanded by $5.1 billion in 2018. It is a key East-West pipeline carrying two-thirds of Kazakhstan’s oil exports.

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China’s Ambassador to India, Xu Feihong, highlighted the historical role of the Tea Horse Road in India-China trade through Tibet. It was an ancient trade route connecting China, Tibet, and India. China traded tea in exchange for Tibetan horses, forming a key commercial network. The route had two main pathways through Yunnan province, reaching Lhasa before extending to India, Nepal, and Bangladesh. It originated during the Tang dynasty (618-907 CE). Buddhist monk Yijing documented the exchange of goods like sugar, textiles, rice noodles, Tibetan gold, saffron, and medicinal herbs.

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Mount Fentale in northern Ethiopia released huge methane plumes starting January 31, 2025. This event, described as a “burp,” involved large amounts of methane escaping from underground gas deposits. The phenomenon was first detected through satellite monitoring and later confirmed by GHGSat. This unprecedented natural event could have significant climate change implications due to the high potency of methane as a greenhouse gas.

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Armenia and Azerbaijan have agreed to a peace deal to end nearly 40 years of conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh. Nagorno-Karabakh, also called Artsakh by Armenians, is a landlocked, mountainous region in the South Caucasus. It has a diverse landscape with steppe, forests, and alpine meadows. The region was part of Azerbaijan but was governed by the unrecognized Republic of Artsakh, with a majority ethnic Armenian population. The conflict began in 1917 after the Russian Empire’s collapse, with both Armenia and Azerbaijan claiming the area.

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The Prime Minister welcomed New Zealand’s participation in the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI), emphasizing shared interests in regional peace and stability. India launched Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI) in November 2019 at the East Asia Summit (EAS) in Bangkok. It builds on the Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR) initiative of 2015. The initiative promotes a free, open, and rules-based Indo-Pacific for regional safety and development. IPOI is a non-treaty-based voluntary arrangement relying on EAS mechanisms and includes seven pillars of cooperation led by different countries.

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The Arctic region is a global flashpoint due to geopolitical tensions, climate change, and resource competition. The Arctic Council, formed in 1996 through the Ottawa Declaration, governs the Arctic. The Council has 8 member states: Canada, Denmark (Greenland), Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden, and the United States. These countries control land territories and have rights over resources within their Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs). Six Indigenous groups are permanent participants representing Arctic inhabitants. Thirteen countries, including India, and various organizations are observers. All decisions require consensus from the eight Arctic States and consultation with permanent participants.

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The Prime Minister of Thailand gifted a copy of the Tipitaka in Pali language to the Indian Prime Minister during his ongoing visit. Tipitaka, meaning “three baskets,” is a collection of Buddhist scriptures written in the Pali language and is the core of Theravada Buddhism. The Vinaya Pitaka contains rules and guidelines for monks and nuns in the monastic community, called the sangha. The Sutta Pitaka includes the sermons and teachings of Gautama Buddha. The Abhidhamma Pitaka explains deep philosophical ideas about the nature of reality. Theravada Buddhism is the oldest surviving Buddhist tradition followed by those called theravadins, meaning followers of the old teachers or theras.