International Current Affairs MCQs

Notes:
Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar inaugurated the 19th CII India Africa Business Conclave in New Delhi on August 21, 2024.
The three-day event, running from August 20-22, 2024, includes senior officials and business leaders from Africa and India. The conclave aims to boost trade and investment, encourage Indian investment in Africa, and explore business opportunities. This year’s focus includes agriculture, food processing, defence, healthcare, digital partnerships, power, energy, financial partnerships, infrastructure, and skill development. The theme of the conclave is “Creating One Future.”

Notes:
A bus carrying Indian tourists recently fell 150 meters into the Marsyangdi River in Nepal, killing at least 14 people and injuring 16 others. The Marsyangdi River is a 150 km long mountain river in Nepal. It is a major tributary of the Gandaki River, which joins the Ganga River in India. The river originates from the northern slopes of the Annapurna massif. It flows through rugged Himalayan landscapes, known for its fast currents and deep gorges. The river is popular for white water rafting and kayaking. It supports hydropower projects and is known for snow trout.

Notes:
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.

Notes:
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.

Notes:
Colombo Security Conclave (CSC) member states signed a Charter and MoU to establish the CSC Secretariat in Colombo. CSC is a regional security group that includes India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Maldives, and Mauritius. Its main goal is to enhance regional security by addressing shared transnational threats. CSC started as the Trilateral for Maritime Security Cooperation in 2011, involving India, Maldives, and Sri Lanka. Tensions between India and the Maldives paused its activities after 2014. Revived and renamed in 2020, Mauritius and Bangladesh joined as members, with Seychelles as an observer. CSC meetings include National Security Advisors and their deputies.

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The third Joint Defence Cooperation Committee (JDCC) meeting between India and Kenya was held in New Delhi. Discussions covered military cooperation, training, defence industries, and research and development. The Kenyan delegation met Indian defence industry representatives in Delhi and will visit Pune to explore their capabilities. India and Kenya share a longstanding, friendly relationship, strengthened by a 2016 MoU on Defence Cooperation. JDCC serves as a key platform to discuss and enhance defence ties. The Indian delegation was led by Joint Secretary Amitabh Prasad, and the Kenyan side was led by Major General David Kipkemboi Ketter.

Notes:
The United Arab Emirates has completed the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant, the first nuclear power plant in the Arab world.
Located in Al Dhafra, Abu Dhabi, near Ruwais, it began construction in 2012 and started operations in 2020. The plant has four reactors and, once fully operational, will reduce carbon emissions by 21 million tonnes annually. It will produce 40 terawatt-hours (TWh) of electricity each year, meeting 25% of the UAE’s electricity needs, equivalent to New Zealand’s annual consumption. The plant will power major companies, including ADNOC, Emirates Steel, and Emirates Global

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Brazil and India have settled a WTO trade dispute over sugar subsidies, reflecting their strategic partnership. This resolution is part of their wider collaboration, which includes working together on ethanol technology and addressing global sugar surplus issues. Their relationship encompasses strategic dialogues, trade forums, and other cooperative mechanisms, highlighting their joint efforts to manage global sugar trade challenges and price issues.

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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.

Notes:
The 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly started in New York. Palestine, despite not being a full UN member, was given a seat among member states in the General Assembly Hall. Palestinian envoy Riyad Mansour was seated at a table marked “State of Palestine,” positioned between Sri Lanka and Sudan.