International Current Affairs MCQs

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Hurricane Helene hit Florida, US as a powerful Category 4 storm with sustained winds of 130 mph (209 kph). Officials urged residents in the storm’s path to follow mandatory evacuation orders due to life-threatening conditions. A hurricane is a tropical cyclone that forms over warm ocean waters and has sustained winds of at least 74 miles per hour. Hurricanes can cause substantial destruction.

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NASA scientists suggest China’s Three Gorges Dam may affect Earth’s rotation due to shifting massive amounts of water.
Located on the Yangtze River in Hubei Province, it’s the world’s largest hydroelectric power station. The dam, completed in 2012, is 2,335 meters long and 185 meters high. Its reservoir holds 40 cubic kilometers of water, generating up to 22,500 megawatts of electricity. It uses water from the Qutangxia, Wuxia, and Xilingxia gorges to spin turbines. The dam also boosts shipping capacity and helps reduce flood risks downstream.

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During the 79th session of the UN General Assembly, Bhutan’s Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay expressed strong support for India’s bid for a permanent seat in a reformed UN Security Council. He emphasized India’s significant economic growth and leadership within the Global South as deserving of this status. Bhutan, which recently graduated from the Least Developed Countries (LDC) category, highlighted the need for a more representative and effective Security Council to reflect current global realities.

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India and the USA have signed a new memorandum of understanding (MoU) to expand and diversify critical minerals supply chains, aiming to leverage their complementary strengths for resilience in the sector. This agreement focuses on equipment, services, policies, and best practices for the commercial development of critical minerals exploration and processing. The MoU is part of broader efforts to enhance innovation ecosystems and secure supply chains in semiconductors and clean energy, following discussions held during the 6th US-India Commercial Dialogue in October 2024.

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Kazakhstan, the world’s leading uranium producer, is considering its first nuclear power station to enhance energy capacity. The location, near Lake Balkhash, is significant due to past Soviet-era nuclear tests that exposed millions to radiation. The recent referendum reflects Kazakhstan’s cautious approach to nuclear energy amidst historical sensitivities around radiation and safety.

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The Five Eye Alliance has supported Canada, urging India to cooperate with its legal process. The alliance is a multilateral intelligence-sharing network among five English-speaking countries: Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the UK, and the US. It was formed after World War II, based on the UK-USA Agreement of 1946. The alliance is known for global surveillance using satellites, telephone networks, and fiber optic cables.

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China ranked last in internet freedom in the 2024 ‘Freedom on the Net’ report by Freedom House. The report assessed internet freedom from June 2023 to May 2024 based on access obstacles, content limits, and user rights violations. China shared this rank with Myanmar, both scoring 9 out of 100, the lowest among all countries. China intensified efforts to isolate its domestic internet from the global network. The Chinese government blocked international website access and imposed heavy fines on VPN users.

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Switzerland has joined the European Sky Shield Initiative (ESSI). ESSI was founded in 2022 after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and is led by Germany. The initiative aims to strengthen Europe’s defence against air strikes and enhance NATO’s integrated air and missile defence system. ESSI has 21 member states, including the UK. Its key component is the Arrow 3 missile defence system, an Israeli-American technology designed to intercept long-range ballistic missiles.

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A 5.7 magnitude earthquake struck the Halmahera Sea in Indonesia, according to the German Research Centre for Geosciences. The Halmahera Sea is located near Halmahera Island, part of the eastern entry route of the Indonesian Throughflow (ITF) passages. The ITF connects the Pacific Ocean and Indian Ocean through two entry passages: Western and Eastern.

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Member countries of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, Heads of Delegations and partners of the Global Framework on Water Scarcity in Agriculture (WASAG) adopted the Rome Declaration on Water Scarcity in Agriculture during the High-level Rome Water Dialogue. This event occurred alongside FAO’s annual World Food Forum. The declaration aims to tackle water scarcity, which is worsened by the climate crisis. WASAG was launched at the 2016 UN Climate Conference in Marrakesh to help countries with water scarcity challenges. The initiative focuses on supporting nations in managing water scarcity issues effectively.