International Current Affairs MCQs

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Denmark announced the Green Transition Alliance India (GTAI) initiative in February 2025. The GTAI is an initiative to strengthen collaboration between Denmark and India on sustainable energy solutions. The goal is to accelerate the commitment to global carbon neutrality.

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Lithuania exited the Convention on Cluster Munitions, citing security concerns over Russia, drawing criticism from human rights groups. The Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM) bans the use, production, transfer, and stockpiling of cluster bombs. It was adopted on May 30, 2008, and enforced on August 1, 2010. The treaty has 112 member states and 12 signatories yet to ratify it. Major nations like India, the U.S., Russia, China, Ukraine, and Israel have not signed due to strategic concerns. The CCM aims to prevent civilian harm and supports global peace, human rights, and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

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Mark Carney won the leadership of Canada’s Liberal Party with 86% of the vote and will become Prime Minister after Justin Trudeau’s resignation. His tenure begins amid a trade war with the US, where President Trump has imposed tariffs and threatened to annex Canada. Carney vowed to uphold Trudeau’s C$30 billion retaliatory tariffs until the US respects Canada. Born in 1965, he studied economics at Harvard and Oxford and worked at Goldman Sachs. He served as Governor of the Bank of Canada (2008) and the Bank of England (2013), managing financial crises and Brexit.

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Stuart Young was sworn in as the new Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago at the President’s House in St. Ann’s. He succeeds Dr. Keith Rowley, who has officially stepped down. Trinidad and Tobago is an island country in the southeastern West Indies, close to Venezuela and Guyana. It is a member of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).

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The government of India launched Operation Brahma to assist earthquake victims in Myanmar. A 7.7 magnitude earthquake hit Myanmar on 28th March 2025, killing at least 1,000 people, with over 10,000 feared dead, as per the United States Geological Survey. Under the Neighbourhood First policy and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief framework, India sent two Indian Air Force C-130J aircraft from Hindon Air Force Station, Uttar Pradesh. The Indian Navy prepared four ships carrying 50 tonnes of relief materials. India is coordinating aid efforts through Myanmar’s government, as many affected areas are controlled by Ethnic Armed Organisations.

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The Arctic region is a global flashpoint due to geopolitical tensions, climate change, and resource competition. The Arctic Council, formed in 1996 through the Ottawa Declaration, governs the Arctic. The Council has 8 member states: Canada, Denmark (Greenland), Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden, and the United States. These countries control land territories and have rights over resources within their Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs). Six Indigenous groups are permanent participants representing Arctic inhabitants. Thirteen countries, including India, and various organizations are observers. All decisions require consensus from the eight Arctic States and consultation with permanent participants.

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On 3rd April 2025, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban announced that Hungary is withdrawing from the International Criminal Court (ICC), becoming the first European country to do so. The International Criminal Court was established in 2002 to prosecute individuals responsible for serious global crimes. It is the only permanent international criminal tribunal. The ICC was created by the Rome Statute, an international agreement adopted on 17 July 1998. The Rome Statute defines the Court’s powers, structure, and responsibilities and came into force on 1 July 2002. The ICC investigates and prosecutes genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and the crime of aggression.

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The Jwaneng Diamond Mine in Botswana is currently the richest diamond mine in the world, with an estimated value of 1 billion euros. It is famously known as the ‘Prince of Mines’ and is located near the edge of the Kalahari Desert. The mine lies in an ancient volcanic crater about 170 kilometers southwest of Botswana’s capital, Gaborone. It is operated by Debswana, a joint venture between De Beers, a leading global diamond company, and the Government of Botswana. Jwaneng means “a place of gems” in the Setswana language. The mine sits on a kimberlite pipe, a volcanic formation that brings diamonds from deep inside the Earth to the surface. The site was discovered by De Beers in the 1970s and has been in operation since 1982. The recent highlight of its value and global importance makes it a key player in the international diamond industry.

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Kamla Persad-Bissessar has been elected as the next Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago after her party, United National Congress, won the parliamentary elections. This marks a strong comeback for the 73-year-old leader who earlier served as Prime Minister from 2010 to 2015. She remains the only woman ever to have led the Caribbean nation. Trinidad and Tobago is a twin-island country in the Caribbean with its capital at Port of Spain.

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Angola signed the International Solar Alliance (ISA) Framework Agreement and became its 123rd member during President Joao Lourenco’s visit to India. This visit coincided with the 40th anniversary of diplomatic ties between India and Angola. Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a defence Line of Credit of 200 million US dollars to support Angola’s armed forces. India and Angola will work together to develop Angola’s new oil fields and set up onshore and offshore refineries. New cooperation areas include diamond processing, pharmaceuticals, automobile components, and digital infrastructure. Three agreements were signed on ayurveda, agriculture, and culture.