International Current Affairs MCQs

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China has deployed a Large Phased Array Radar (LPAR) in Yunnan province, near the China-Myanmar border. It has a surveillance range of over 5,000 km, enabling China to monitor the Indian Ocean and deep into Indian territory. It can detect and track ballistic missile launches in real-time. Unlike traditional radars, LPARs use electronically controlled antennas for instant scanning. It can track multiple targets, including ballistic missiles, with high precision. LPARs are vital for early warning systems and air defense networks.

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UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres launched the UN80 Initiative to improve efficiency and cost-effectiveness in the United Nations. It is a reform strategy introduced on the 80th anniversary of the UN. The initiative aims to ensure financial sustainability as global contributions decline. It focuses on structural reforms to enhance the implementation of UN mandates.

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Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah was sworn in as Namibia’s first female president on the country’s 35th independence anniversary. She succeeded Nangolo Mbumba, who was interim president after President Hage Geingob passed away in February 2024. After Geingob’s death, she was promoted to vice president before assuming the presidency. Nandi-Ndaitwah has been a lawmaker since 1990. She previously served as Namibia’s Foreign Minister before becoming vice president.

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Bangladesh has taken over as the new Chair of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) for the next two years. The Chairmanship was handed over by the Prime Minister of Thailand to Muhammad Yunus, Chief Adviser of the Interim Government of Bangladesh. Muhammad Yunus highlighted the need for an inclusive and action-oriented BIMSTEC. He assured Bangladesh’s strong commitment to boost regional cooperation and development. BIMSTEC is a regional group of seven countries – Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand – located around the Bay of Bengal.

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India and Italy recently agreed to strengthen strategic cooperation in trade, defence, clean energy, and high technology. The India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEEC) is a transport and trade infrastructure project connecting India, the Middle East, and Europe. It was launched through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by India, the European Union (EU), France, Germany, Italy, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates (UAE), and the United States (US) during the G20 Summit 2023 in New Delhi. IMEEC is part of the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGII), introduced at the G7 Summit 2021 in the United Kingdom.

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BRICS nations launched the BRICS Land Restoration Partnership to tackle land degradation, desertification, and soil fertility loss across 11 member countries. The announcement was made during the 15th BRICS Agriculture Ministers’ meeting held in Brasilia, Brazil. This was the first agriculture meeting of the expanded BRICS, which now includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Iran, Indonesia, and Saudi Arabia. India was represented by Union Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Shivraj Singh Chouhan. BRICS countries together represent 47% of the global population and contribute 36% of the world’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The meeting supported fair agricultural trade, stable global prices, and better returns for small farmers.

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Sayoni Das, a swimmer from Bengal, recently became the first Asian woman to successfully cross the Strait of Gibraltar. The Strait of Gibraltar is a narrow body of water that separates Europe from Africa and connects the Mediterranean Sea to the Atlantic Ocean. It is bordered by Spain and the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar in the north, and by Morocco and the Spanish enclave of Ceuta in the south. The strait is around 58 kilometres long and narrows to about 13 kilometres at its tightest point. The eastern end features the famous Pillars of Heracles — the Rock of Gibraltar and Mount Hacho.

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The Indian government has recently announced that nationals of Pakistan will not be allowed to travel to India under the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme (SVES). The SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme was launched in 1992 to allow certain dignitaries from South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) countries to travel visa-free within the region. Under this scheme, special visa stickers are issued by each member state to eligible persons of their own country. These stickers are usually valid for one year and reviewed regularly by immigration authorities of SAARC nations. The scheme simplifies travel by removing visa, police reporting, and extra form requirements.

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United Kingdom (UK)-based health charity Encephalitis International has launched a global campaign titled ‘Preventing Future Encephalitis: Climate Change and Infectious Disease’ to raise awareness about encephalitis and promote vaccination. Encephalitis is the inflammation of active brain tissues caused by infections or autoimmune responses, affecting over 1.5 million people globally every year. The campaign highlights how climate change increases encephalitis risk by creating conditions for disease-carrying vectors like mosquitoes and ticks to spread. India is among high-burden countries, with 1,548 cases of Japanese encephalitis reported in 2024 from 24 states and union territories.

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The United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) has recently launched VoTAN, which stands for Victims of Terrorism Advocacy Network, to support victims and survivors of terrorism worldwide. VoTAN is the result of efforts by the Group of Friends of Victims of Terrorism, co-chaired by Spain and Iraq, which was formed around six years ago to protect the rights of victims. This global network was a major outcome of the 2022 United Nations Global Congress on Victims of Terrorism. It aims to offer a safe platform for victims to connect, heal, build resilience, and act as educators, peacebuilders, and advocates. The network is financially supported by Spain.