International Current Affairs MCQs

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Pakistan successfully tested its Shaheen-II surface-to-surface ballistic missile. Shaheen-II is a medium-range, solid-fueled missile with an estimated range of 1,500–2,000 km. It is 17.2 m long, weighs 23,600 kg at launch, and can carry conventional or nuclear payloads. The missile’s accuracy is estimated at 350 m circular error probable (CEP), with a separating warhead designed to improve precision. It is transported and launched by a 6-axle transporter erector launcher (TEL). Ballistic missiles follow a rocket-powered, then unpowered, trajectory to deliver payloads, including conventional or nuclear munitions.

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India approved an additional 251 MW of power exports from 12 hydropower projects in Nepal, raising total exports to 941 MW. Nepal will export power to Bihar for the first time under a medium-term agreement. Nepal became a net electricity exporter last fiscal year, earning NPR 16.93 billion. Nepal’s power exports to India grew from 39 MW in 2021 to over 941 MW in less than three years. Agreements with Indian states like Haryana and Bihar support Nepal’s exports. A long-term agreement aims for 10,000 MW exports from Nepal to India in the next decade.

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India and the US have signed two key defence agreements: the Security of Supplies Arrangement (SOSA) and a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Liaison Officers to boost defence cooperation. SOSA aims to enhance industry collaboration by ensuring priority support for defence goods and services between the two nations. Under SOSA, both countries can request faster delivery for defence contracts from each other’s companies, helping manage supply-chain issues. The US will offer India assurances through its Defense Priorities and Allocations System, while India will set up a code of conduct for prioritizing US defence needs. India is now the 18th country to sign SOSA with the US, joining nations like Australia, Israel, Japan, and the UK.

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Australia has introduced a “Right to Disconnect” rule to help employees avoid work-related communications outside of their regular hours. This law allows workers to ignore calls and messages from employers after work without facing punishment. While employers can still contact employees after hours, the law ensures that employees are not obligated to respond unless their refusal is deemed unreasonable. India does not have similar laws, leaving employees there more exposed to pressure to work beyond their regular hours.

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Experts believe Iran could attack Israel using its ‘axis of resistance’ coalition. The ‘axis of resistance’ is a network of autonomous militant Islamist groups led by Iran, originating from the Iranian Revolution of 1979. It includes Hezbollah, a Lebanese Shia militant organization; Hamas, a Palestinian Sunni militant group; Palestinian Islamic Jihad; and the Houthis, a militant group from Yemen. Hezbollah, meaning ‘Party of God,’ founded in Lebanon in the early 1980s, is the largest and most capable member of this coalition.

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India should be given a permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for its rightful place, according to former Singapore diplomat Kishore Mahbubani. The UNSC is one of the five main organizations of the United Nations, responsible for maintaining global peace and security. All UN member states must follow UNSC decisions. The UNSC identifies threats to peace, urges peaceful dispute resolution, and may impose sanctions or authorize military action. It has 15 members: five permanent (P5) with veto power (UK, China, France, Russia, USA) and ten non-permanent members elected for two-year terms. UNSC headquarters is in New York City.

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In the 2024 Algerian presidential election, 78-year-old President Abdelmadjid Tebboune was re-elected with a huge win. He secured 94.65% of the valid votes, as per Mohamed Charfi, head of the election authority. The election was held on 7 September 2024, with 5.6 million voters out of 25 million eligible participants. President Tebboune was re-elected for a second five-year term. He was first elected in 2019, but the opposition boycotted that election. Tebboune, seen as military-backed, defeated rivals Abdelaali Hassani Cherif and Youcef Aouchiche, who gained 3% and 2.1% of votes, respectively.

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The third INDUS-X Summit concluded in the US, advancing joint defence innovation between India and the US. It was launched in 2023 during the Indian Prime Minister’s state visit to the US. The goal is to expand strategic tech partnerships and defence cooperation between governments, businesses, and academic institutions in both countries. INDUS-X will serve as a defence innovation bridge, involving joint challenges, innovation funds, and industry-startup collaborations. Focus areas include co-producing jet engines, long-range artillery, and infantry vehicles. It is led by iDEX (India) and DIU (US).

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Swati Vijay Kulkarni has been appointed as India’s next Ambassador to Algeria, as announced by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). Kulkarni, a 1995 batch Indian Foreign Service Officer, is currently an Additional Secretary in the MEA.
She will assume her new role in Algeria soon. Diplomatic relations between India and Algeria began in July 1962 and have been friendly, with both nations supporting each other on various issues. High-level visits and the Joint Commission Mechanism (JCM), established in 1981, facilitate bilateral cooperation between the countries.

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The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) commended India for achieving high technical compliance with its recommendations to combat illicit finance. FATF is an intergovernmental body focused on fighting money laundering and terrorist financing. Its objective is to set international standards and promote effective policies at national and international levels. It was established in 1989 during the G7 Summit in Paris. FATF expanded its mandate to include terrorism financing in 2001. It includes 39 member countries, such as the US, India, China, and several European nations. India joined FATF in 2010.