International Current Affairs MCQs

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Tanzania launched a nationwide livestock vaccination campaign targeting cattle, goats, sheep, and chickens to curb zoonotic and transboundary diseases such as anthrax, Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), and Rift Valley Fever. The five-year programme (2025–2029) aims to vaccinate 19 million cattle, 17 million goats and sheep, and 40 million chickens. Tanzania has 36.6 million cattle, second largest in Africa; agriculture contributes 30% of GDP and supports 70% of rural population. Vaccination prevents livestock losses, reduces public health risks, and strengthens One Health approach linking human, animal, and environmental health.

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The Government of India recently showcased the country’s pioneering achievements in rural transformation and development leadership at the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) – India Day event held in Rome, Italy. The event highlighted India’s successful policies, programmes, and innovations aimed at eradicating rural poverty, strengthening livelihoods, and transforming rural economies. International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) is an international financial institution and a specialised agency of the United Nations. Its primary objective is to eradicate poverty and hunger in rural areas of developing countries by empowering rural communities.

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Chile has elected Jose Antonio Kast as its new president, representing a major shift toward right-wing leadership—the most pronounced since the country’s return to democracy. Kast, leader of the Republican Party, won the runoff election against leftist rival Jeannette Jara, following a polarising campaign focused on crime, migration, and economic stagnation. Since 2010, Chile has alternated between left and right governments; this election follows that pattern but marks a stronger right-wing tilt.

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Quad countries — Australia, India, Japan, and the United States — conducted their first Field Training Exercise (FTX) under the Indo-Pacific Logistics Network (IPLN). The exercise took place on the sidelines of Operation Christmas Drop at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam. The Indo-Pacific Logistics Network (IPLN) is a joint Quad initiative to strengthen shared logistics capabilities and enhance coordinated disaster response. The IPLN aims to enable Quad partners to respond more quickly and effectively during large-scale natural disasters in the Indo-Pacific region.

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China recently launched large-scale live-fire military drills around Taiwan named “Justice Mission 2025”. The drills involved warships, destroyers, frigates, fighter jets, bombers, drones and rocket forces. The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) conducted live-fire training on maritime targets north and southwest of Taiwan. Taiwan detected 89 Chinese aircraft and drones, with 67 entering its response area. China called the drills a warning against Taiwanese independence and foreign interference. The drills are China’s sixth major war games around Taiwan since 2022.

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General Mamady Doumbouya has been elected president of Guinea with 86.72% of the vote in provisional results. He seized power in a 2021 coup, ousting President Alpha Conde. His victory grants him a seven-year mandate and avoids a runoff. The election follows a constitutional change allowing junta members to run. Guinea is rich in bauxite and untapped iron ore, and Doumbouya has promoted resource-nationalist policies.

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Denmark has ended letter delivery after 401 years, becoming the first country to fully phase out traditional mail. The decision comes as digital communication and a 90% drop in mail volumes since 2000 made letter delivery uneconomical. PostNord, the state-owned postal service, delivered its final letters and will now focus on parcels and e-commerce. Around 1,500 public mailboxes were removed and auctioned for charity; citizens must now drop letters at shop kiosks for DAO, a private delivery service. While reflecting Denmark’s high digital integration, the change may disadvantage older people and those without reliable internet.

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The United Nations has declared 2026 as the ‘International Year for Rangelands and Pastoralists’. Rangelands cover around half of the Earth’s land surface, including grasslands, savannas, shrublands, deserts, wetlands, and mountain areas. Key examples of rangelands are the steppes of Central Asia, African savanna, Alps and Pyrenees in Europe, Andes in South America, and the Great Plains of the United States. Rangelands preserve unique flora and fauna and provide essential ecosystem services such as carbon storage and water regulation. Pastoralists raise animals, contribute to food security, and carry diverse cultural heritage and indigenous knowledge.

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The Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy delivered India’s national statement at the 16th Assembly of the International Renewable Energy Agency held in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The International Renewable Energy Agency is an intergovernmental organisation founded in 2009 to support countries in transitioning to a sustainable energy future. It serves as a global platform for cooperation and as a knowledge hub for renewable energy policy, technology, resources, and finance. Its headquarters is located in Abu Dhabi.

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The world’s largest compressed-air energy storage plant has started operations in Jiangsu province, central China, supporting the country’s green energy transition. The plant has a capacity of 2,400 megawatt-hours and can generate 600 megawatts, enough to meet the annual electricity demand of 600,000 households. China’s energy storage sector has grown rapidly, driven by large-scale renewable energy deployment and a government target of over 180 gigawatts of new capacity by 2027.