International Current Affairs MCQs

Notes:
India launched the ‘Study in India’ campaign at the 20th International Education Show in Sharjah to attract international students to its universities. Organized by EdCIL, the campaign aims to position India as a global education hub, showcasing over 590 universities offering diverse courses and benefits like scholarships. The centralized Study in India portal simplifies admissions, helping students explore programs, apply, and manage visas in one place. India’s higher education sector is the second largest globally, with institutions like IITs and IIMs gaining recognition. The program has attracted over 69,000 students for the 2024-25 academic year, with 4,000 already in India.

Notes:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Laos PM Sonexay Siphandone in Vientiane and congratulated him on hosting the ASEAN-India and East Asia Summits. They highlighted the restoration of Vat Phou, a UNESCO site, supported by India, as strengthening bilateral ties. Agreements were signed in defence, broadcasting, customs cooperation, and Quick Impact Projects under Mekong-Ganga Cooperation. The projects include preserving the Lao Ramayana, restoring Wat Pakea temple with Ramayana artwork, and supporting a shadow puppetry theatre in Champasak province.

Notes:
President Droupadi Murmu received an Honorary Doctorate in Political Science in Algeria on 15 October 2024. She is on a three-nation African tour to Algeria, Mauritania, and Malawi from 13-19 October 2024. President Murmu is the first Indian President to visit these three countries. She emphasized education’s role in reducing inequalities and promoting equal opportunities. She encouraged Algerians to utilize India’s ITEC program and other scholarships. Murmu highlighted the importance of youth in strengthening the bond between India and Algeria.

Notes:
A 5.7 magnitude earthquake struck the Halmahera Sea in Indonesia, according to the German Research Centre for Geosciences. The Halmahera Sea is located near Halmahera Island, part of the eastern entry route of the Indonesian Throughflow (ITF) passages. The ITF connects the Pacific Ocean and Indian Ocean through two entry passages: Western and Eastern.

Notes:
The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting announced that Australia will be the “Country of Focus” at the 55th International Film Festival of India (IFFI). This segment will feature seven Australian films, highlighting the country’s storytelling traditions and indigenous and contemporary narratives. The announcement comes after the signing of an Audio Visual Co-production Treaty between India and Australia, aimed at encouraging co-productions. This treaty will provide incentives for filmmakers, promoting cultural exchange and collaboration on innovative cinematic projects. The 55th IFFI will take place in Goa from November 20 to 28, 2024.

Notes:
Saudi Arabia and Iran recently held joint naval exercises in the Sea of Oman, indicating stronger ties between the two nations. The Gulf of Oman, also called the Gulf of Makran, is a western extension of the Arabian Sea in the Middle East.
It serves as the only entry point from the Indian Ocean to the Persian Gulf via the Strait of Hormuz. Historically, it was a key trade route connecting the Arabian Sea to the Persian Gulf, fostering trade between the Indian Subcontinent, the Middle East, and the Mediterranean. The Gulf is bordered by Pakistan and Iran to the north, UAE to the west, and Oman to the south.

Notes:
At least 10 people died in eastern Indonesia after Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki erupted, prompting nearby village evacuations. It is located on Flores Island, Indonesia. The volcano is in East Nusa Tenggara province. Mount Lewotobi is part of a twin-volcano system, with Lewotobi Laki-laki (male) erupting, while Lewotobi Perempuan (female) remains inactive. Both are stratovolcanoes, formed by repeated layers of lava, making them common globally. Indonesia frequently experiences volcanic eruptions as it lies on the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” an area prone to earthquakes, volcanic activity, and tsunamis due to active tectonic plates.

Notes:
India’s new consulate in Brisbane, Australia, was inaugurated by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. The consulate marks a milestone in India-Australia relations, strengthened by recent trade deals. Queensland, home to about 100,000 of Australia’s nearly one million Indian-origin residents, is key to these ties, with India as its second-largest export market. India also has consulates in Melbourne, Perth, and Sydney. The Brisbane consulate will be led by diplomat Neetu Bhagotia, who has prior experience in India’s missions in Bhutan and Russia.

Notes:
Pro-Western President Maia Sandu was re-elected in Moldova with 55.26% of the vote, defeating Alexandr Stoianoglo of the pro-Russian Party of Socialists by over 10 percentage points. Sandu gained strong support from Moldovans abroad, helping her secure victory, though she narrowly lost within Moldova itself. The election saw incidents, including bomb threats at four diaspora polling stations where Sandu had significant backing. Russian foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova criticized the election as “undemocratic.”

Notes:
Archaeologists discovered a 4,000-year-old fortified town called Al-Natah in the Khaybar oasis in northwest Saudi Arabia. This site reveals a transition from nomadic life to organized urban settlement between 2400 and 1500 BCE. Led by French archaeologist Guillaume Charloux, the excavation uncovered a sophisticated Bronze Age town. Al-Natah spans 2.6 hectares, enclosed by a 14.5-kilometer wall, and could house about 500 residents. It served as a hub for agriculture and trade, supporting cooperative life in an arid region. The town had multi-story stone and mudbrick dwellings connected by narrow paths.