International Current Affairs MCQs

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India approved an additional 251 MW of power exports from 12 hydropower projects in Nepal, raising total exports to 941 MW. Nepal will export power to Bihar for the first time under a medium-term agreement. Nepal became a net electricity exporter last fiscal year, earning NPR 16.93 billion. Nepal’s power exports to India grew from 39 MW in 2021 to over 941 MW in less than three years. Agreements with Indian states like Haryana and Bihar support Nepal’s exports. A long-term agreement aims for 10,000 MW exports from Nepal to India in the next decade.

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During his visit to Kyiv, India’s Prime Minister gifted four BHISHM cubes to Ukraine’s President. BHISHM cubes are compact, mobile medical units for emergency care. Each cube is a 15-inch box packed with organized medical supplies for different injury types. They can be transported by air, sea, land, or drone and weigh up to 20 kg for easy handling. The cubes are part of the Bharat Health Initiative for Sahyog, Hita, and Maitri (BHISHM) to provide swift medical support.

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India and the US have signed two key defence agreements: the Security of Supplies Arrangement (SOSA) and a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Liaison Officers to boost defence cooperation. SOSA aims to enhance industry collaboration by ensuring priority support for defence goods and services between the two nations. Under SOSA, both countries can request faster delivery for defence contracts from each other’s companies, helping manage supply-chain issues. The US will offer India assurances through its Defense Priorities and Allocations System, while India will set up a code of conduct for prioritizing US defence needs. India is now the 18th country to sign SOSA with the US, joining nations like Australia, Israel, Japan, and the UK.

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North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has supervised tests of new suicide drones developed domestically. These drones, capable of targeting ground and sea objectives, have varying striking ranges. Kim Jong-un has encouraged further development of diverse suicide drones for infantry, special operations, and strategic reconnaissance. He also emphasized integrating artificial intelligence into unmanned aerial vehicles. This move comes amid rising tensions with the US and South Korea.

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Dhulikhel, Nepal, is the first city in the country to be recognized as a “healthy city” by the World Health Organization (WHO). Dhulikhel is located in the Kavrepalanchok district, about 18 miles from Kathmandu. The WHO monitored Dhulikhel for two years before making the announcement in August 2024. The WHO’s decision was based on factors like environmental improvements, progress in primary health care, and access to health for poor citizens. Dhulikhel was also named the second healthiest city in Asia.

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In the 2024 Algerian presidential election, 78-year-old President Abdelmadjid Tebboune was re-elected with a huge win. He secured 94.65% of the valid votes, as per Mohamed Charfi, head of the election authority. The election was held on 7 September 2024, with 5.6 million voters out of 25 million eligible participants. President Tebboune was re-elected for a second five-year term. He was first elected in 2019, but the opposition boycotted that election. Tebboune, seen as military-backed, defeated rivals Abdelaali Hassani Cherif and Youcef Aouchiche, who gained 3% and 2.1% of votes, respectively.

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The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) appointed Mr. R. Ravindran as the next ambassador to Iceland. He has served in various organizations and locations throughout his career. R. Ravindran is an Indian Foreign Service officer from the 1999 batch. He is currently India’s Deputy Permanent Representative at the United Nations.

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Zimbabwe plans to cull 200 elephants to help feed communities facing severe hunger due to the worst drought in 40 years.
The El Niño-induced drought affected 68 million people in southern Africa, causing widespread food shortages. The cull, the first since 1988, will occur in Hwange, Mbire, Tsholotsho, and Chiredzi districts, and follows Namibia’s recent cull of 83 elephants. The culling aims to provide food and reduce the elephant population, which exceeds the parks’ capacity of 55,000. Zimbabwe has over 84,000 elephants and has been advocating for the reopening of ivory trade to manage its $600,000 worth of stockpiles.

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The Hakwata community in Chipinge, Zimbabwe, has benefited from a 200 kW solar mini-grid, providing electricity to nearly 80 households, schools, and businesses. The project, funded by the UNDP and the UK’s FCDO, demonstrates significant development in an area previously reliant on expensive generators and lacking access to the national grid.

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Iran unveiled its latest ballistic missile, named “Jihad,” in a military parade in Tehran. The missile was developed by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ (IRGC) Aerospace Force. This marks the introduction of a new liquid-fuel missile platform in Iran’s defense technology. The Jihad missile highlights Iran’s ongoing military advancements despite international sanctions. Iran’s missile development has raised concerns among Western nations about its potential destabilizing effects in the region.