International Current Affairs MCQs

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North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) has started its annual military exercise Baltic Operations 2025 (BALTOPS 25) in Latvia. It is a large-scale multinational drill aimed at boosting cooperation and interoperability among member countries. The focus is on improving rapid-response capabilities across all military branches. It shows NATO’s strong commitment to the security of the Baltic Sea region.

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India performed better than the global average in air operations and safety, according to the audit by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) in November 2022. International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) is a United Nations (UN) specialized agency formed under the Chicago Convention of 1944. It works to promote safe, secure, and efficient international air transport for peaceful purposes. It sets global aviation safety and environmental standards and supports economic development of air transport.

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After 250 years, the long-lost ship of Captain James Cook, HMS Endeavour, has been found off Newport Harbour, Rhode Island. The ship was the first European vessel to reach eastern Australia during Cook’s 1768–1771 expedition. It was later renamed Lord Sandwich and sank in 1778 during the American War of Independence. The Australian National Maritime Museum confirmed the wreck after 25 years of underwater exploration and global research. The shipwreck, labeled RI 2394, was identified by matching its structure with Cook’s 1768 plans.

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Recently, Suriname became the first country in the Amazon region to get malaria-free certification from the World Health Organisation on 30 June 2025. This recognition comes after nearly 70 years of efforts by the Suriname government and people to eliminate malaria across rainforests and diverse communities. WHO gives this certification after confirming no indigenous malaria transmission for at least three continuous years.

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Recently, on 3rd July 2025, Russia became the first country to formally recognise the Taliban government in Afghanistan since it took power in 2021. Russia removed the Taliban from its list of outlawed organisations. The Russian Foreign Ministry accepted credentials from Afghanistan’s newly appointed Ambassador Gul Hassan Hassan. Russia stated that this recognition will support productive bilateral cooperation between the two countries. Afghanistan’s Foreign Ministry called the move historic and hoped it would encourage other countries to follow.

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Scientists, policymakers, and activists from India have raised concerns about proposed amendments to Annex I of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. The treaty was adopted on 3 November 2001 by the Thirty-First Session of the Conference of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations. It recognises farmers’ contributions to global crop diversity. It sets up a worldwide system giving farmers, plant breeders, and scientists access to plant genetic materials. It ensures benefit-sharing from the use of these materials.

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Recently, the Women Empowerment Vertical of the BRICS Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BRICS CCI WE) launched a new initiative focused on women in technology and leadership. The initiative is called WE WISE – Women in Innovation, Science and Entrepreneurship. It was launched during the BRICS Women Business Alliance (WBA) Annual Plenary Meeting in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The goal is to empower women in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and technology to build a sustainable global economy.

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Recently, 101 Indian students, including 50 women, received the Erasmus+ scholarship for master’s programs in Europe. Erasmus+ stands for European Region Action Scheme for the Mobility of University Students Plus. It is the flagship programme of the European Union (EU) for international academic mobility, launched in 1987. It allows students to study at two or more European universities and earn joint, double, or multiple degrees. The scholarship covers tuition fees, travel costs, and living expenses.

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On July 11, 2025, the Maputo Protocol marked its 22nd anniversary, prompting calls for stronger implementation and removal of state reservations. Officially named the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa, it was adopted by the African Union (AU) in Maputo, Mozambique on July 11, 2003. The protocol aims to protect and empower women and girls across Africa, with a focus on healthcare, legal rights, and political participation.

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Australia and the United Kingdom recently signed the Nuclear-Powered Submarine Partnership and Collaboration Treaty, known as the Geelong Treaty, in Geelong, Australia. The treaty strengthens their commitment to AUKUS (Australia-UK-US) under Pillar I, focused on nuclear-powered submarines. It ensures 50 years of bilateral defense cooperation between Australia and the UK. The treaty covers the design, construction, operation, maintenance, and disposal of SSN-AUKUS submarines. This development comes as the United States reviews its role in AUKUS to align with its America First agenda.