International Current Affairs MCQs

Notes:
Recently, China faced Typhoon Co-May and tsunami threats from an 8.8-magnitude earthquake near Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula. Typhoon Co-May, locally called Zhu Jie Cao, hit Shanghai with strong winds of 83 km/h and heavy rain. Nearly 2.83 lakh people were evacuated from Shanghai and nearby areas. A level-one emergency response was issued for flood and typhoon control.

Notes:
Slovenia became the first European Union (EU) country to ban all weapons trade with Israel. The arms embargo was announced by Prime Minister Robert Golob after a cabinet meeting. The decision was taken due to the ongoing war in Gaza. Slovenia acted independently as the EU failed to agree on a joint position due to internal divisions. No military export permits to Israel have been issued by Slovenia since October 2023.

Notes:
Malaysia has launched Ryt Bank, the world’s first Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered bank. It is led by YTL Group in partnership with Sea Limited. Ryt Bank combines AI innovation with Malaysia’s values, languages, and lifestyles to shape the nation’s digital future. The bank offers in-app access in Bahasa Malaysia and English, with Mandarin to be added by September 2025. This multilingual approach ensures inclusivity and cultural connection in banking. Ryt AI works as an intelligent assistant, handling bill payments, spending tracking, and financial guidance

Notes:
Guyana’s President Irfaan Ali has been re-elected for a second five-year term with 55 percent of the 65-seat parliament, as announced by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM). Ali’s government, in power since 2020, used 7.5 billion oil revenue to build roads, schools, hospitals, and made state university education free. Guyana, with the largest oil reserves per capita, currently produces 650,000 barrels daily, expected to reach 1 million by 2030. The nation recorded 43.6 percent GDP growth in 2024, with a state budget expected at 6.7 billion in 2025.

Notes:
Union Minister Jyotiraditya M. Scindia unveiled the UPI–UPU Integration project at the 28th Universal Postal Congress in Dubai. The initiative integrates India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) with the Universal Postal Union (UPU) Interconnection Platform. It is developed jointly by the Department of Posts, NPCI International Payments Limited, and UPU, it aims to transform cross-border remittances and expand financial inclusion. The project allows instant, secure, and low-cost money transfers for families across borders. India will contribute USD 10 million for innovation, e-commerce, digital payments, training, and capacity building. India aims for the UPU Council of Administration and Postal Operations Council membership.

Notes:
Sebastien Lecornu has been appointed as France’s fifth Prime Minister in less than two years. French President Emmanuel Macron announced his appointment after the government collapsed following a no-confidence vote. Lecornu is 39 years old and has served as France’s Armed Forces Minister for the past three years. He played a key role in responding to the Russia-Ukraine war and is the only minister retained since Macron’s 2017 election. Lecornu pledged to defend France’s independence, unity, and political stability.

Notes:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store on his re-election and expressed confidence in strengthening India–Norway partnership. Store, leader of the Labour Party, secured about 28 per cent votes in Norway’s legislative elections, ensuring majority with support from four left-wing parties. The Progress Party achieved its best-ever result, finishing second, while the Conservative Party fell to third place. Around 4.3 million voters elected members for 169-seat Storting, with centre-left securing 85+ seats for majority. Store’s second term comes after challenges like inflation, scandals, and internal strife.

Notes:
Recently, the governments of the United Kingdom (UK) and the United States (US) announced a series of nuclear power deals. Leading US-based companies will build nuclear projects overseas. The initiative aims to accelerate advanced reactor deployment and reduce dependence on Russian nuclear fuel. It is named the Atlantic Partnership for Advanced Nuclear Energy. The partnership includes faster safety approvals, regulatory cooperation, and billions in private sector investment. The initiative strengthens transatlantic cooperation in nuclear energy and strategic energy security.

Notes:
India has signed a 15-year contract with the International Seabed Authority (ISA) for exclusive rights to explore polymetallic sulphides in the Indian Ocean. Polymetallic sulphides form around hydrothermal vents and contain copper, zinc, gold, and silver essential for clean energy and high-tech applications. India becomes the first country to hold two International Seabed Authority (ISA) contracts for polymetallic sulphides. The earlier agreement covered the Central and Southwest Indian Ridges. India now holds the largest ISA-allotted exploration area for deep-sea minerals. It is also seeking exploration licences in the Pacific Ocean.

Notes:
Recently, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger announced withdrawal from the International Criminal Court (ICC), calling it a neo-colonial tool. International Criminal Court (ICC) was created by the Rome Statute in 1998, which entered into force on 1 July 2002. It is the only permanent international criminal tribunal in the world. The Court has 125 member countries, but China, India, Israel, Russia, and the United States are not parties. ICC is funded by State Parties’ contributions and voluntary donations from governments, organizations, and entities.