International Current Affairs MCQs

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India did not attend the ceremonial launch of the Board of Peace, even though it had received a formal invitation from U.S. President Donald Trump. The Board of Peace is a United States–led intergovernmental initiative announced by President Donald Trump during the World Economic Forum (WEF) held in Davos, Switzerland. The primary mandate of the Board is to oversee post-war reconstruction and governance of the Gaza Strip through a technocratic administrative framework rather than traditional political mechanisms. Its long-term vision includes expanding its role to address and resolve global conflicts in situations where existing international institutions are perceived to have failed.

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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.

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India joined the BRICS Centre for Industrial Competencies (BCIC) at an event held by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) in New Delhi. BCIC is launched with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) to support manufacturing and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). It focuses on building Industry 4.0 skills and advanced manufacturing capabilities across BRICS nations. A Trust Fund Agreement was signed between DPIIT and UNIDO to formalise India’s participation. The National Productivity Council (NPC) has been named as India’s BCIC Centre.

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The Russian Foreign Ministry informed that the New START nuclear arms control treaty between Russia and the United States has expired on February 5. The two countries are no longer bound by its obligations, though Russia remains open to diplomatic efforts to maintain strategic stability and a future agreement. Moscow remains open to political and diplomatic efforts to maintain strategic stability. New START was signed in 2010 and entered into force in 2011. It limited deployed nuclear warheads and delivery systems.

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The United States of America (USA) conducted its first air transport of a micro nuclear reactor using a C-17 military aircraft. The Departments of Energy (DOE) and Defense (DOD) transported the Ward microreactor developed by Valar Atomics from California to Hill Air Force Base without nuclear fuel. This shows rapid nuclear deployment capability for military and civilian use. The reactor can generate up to 5 megawatts, enough for about 5,000 homes. It will start at 100 kilowatts and gradually scale to full capacity.

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India and the United Kingdom launched the Offshore Wind Taskforce under India-UK Vision 2035 and the Fourth Energy Dialogue. It aims to accelerate India’s offshore wind sector through coordinated policy, infrastructure and financing support. The partnership combines the UK’s mature offshore wind ecosystem with India’s 71 GW offshore wind potential and large domestic market. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) is the nodal ministry. The National Institute of Wind Energy (NIWE) will conduct resource assessment

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South Korea protested Japan’s government-backed “Takeshima Day” (February 22), opposing Tokyo’s renewed sovereignty claim over the disputed islets. South Korea rejects calling it a dispute, while Japan continues diplomatic and symbolic assertions. The Takeshima dispute is a long-standing territorial conflict between Japan and South Korea (Republic of Korea). The islets, called Takeshima in Japan and Dokdo in South Korea, are located in the Sea of Japan, with South Korea currently controlling them and Japan claiming sovereignty.

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Scotland became the first country in the United Kingdom to allow water cremation, also called hydrolysis. The new rules were approved by the Scottish Parliament, marking the biggest funeral law reform since 1902. Hydrolysis uses water and potassium hydroxide at about 150 degree Celsius to break down soft tissues, leaving only bones, which are dried and turned into ashes. In 2023 public consultation, 84 percent supported hydrolysis. The method is already legal in 28 United States states and countries like Canada, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand.

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The United Nations adopted a new global framework called Agreed Conclusions to improve access to justice for women and girls worldwide. The framework was adopted by broad consensus during the 70th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) held in New York, United States. The Agreed Conclusions framework is not legally binding, serving as a guideline for member states to strengthen justice systems for women and girls. A key recommendation is to repeal discriminatory laws that negatively affect women and girls in any sphere of life. The framework emphasizes the need to strengthen protection against violence, both online and offline, and ensure faster access to justice for survivors.

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Costa Rica launched the ICP mobile app to help identify venomous snakes and improve public awareness. The app is developed by Universidad de Costa Rica through the Clodomiro Picado Institute. It enables identification of 25 venomous snake species using images and scientific descriptions. The app provides first-aid guidance for snakebites and safety instructions for users. It also allows users to record geographic location of snake encounters to assist medical response. The initiative addresses frequent misidentification and reduces unnecessary killing of non-venomous snakes. The app is freely available on Android and iOS, promoting accessible public health information.