International Current Affairs MCQs

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China recently launched large-scale live-fire military drills around Taiwan named “Justice Mission 2025”. The drills involved warships, destroyers, frigates, fighter jets, bombers, drones and rocket forces. The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) conducted live-fire training on maritime targets north and southwest of Taiwan. Taiwan detected 89 Chinese aircraft and drones, with 67 entering its response area. China called the drills a warning against Taiwanese independence and foreign interference. The drills are China’s sixth major war games around Taiwan since 2022.

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General Mamady Doumbouya has been elected president of Guinea with 86.72% of the vote in provisional results. He seized power in a 2021 coup, ousting President Alpha Conde. His victory grants him a seven-year mandate and avoids a runoff. The election follows a constitutional change allowing junta members to run. Guinea is rich in bauxite and untapped iron ore, and Doumbouya has promoted resource-nationalist policies.

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Bulgaria recently became the 21st member of the Eurozone, moving closer to full European integration. Bulgaria is located in southeastern Europe on the eastern part of the Balkan Peninsula. It shares borders with Romania, Turkey, Greece, North Macedonia, and Serbia, and has a maritime boundary with the Black Sea. The capital city of Bulgaria is Sofia.

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The United States announced that India will be invited to join the US-led Pax Silica initiative to deepen India–United States strategic and trade ties. Pax Silica aims to secure supply chains of silicon, semiconductors, artificial intelligence (AI), critical minerals, and advanced manufacturing. It is a United States–led economic security and technology partnership under the US Department of State, launched with the first summit in December 2025.

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South Korea has introduced the world’s first comprehensive Artificial Intelligence (AI) law called the AI Basic Act to improve safety and trust. The law came into force earlier than the European Union (EU) AI Act, which will be phased in till 2027. It mandates human oversight for high-impact AI used in areas like healthcare, transport, nuclear safety, finance, and water supply. The law aims to make South Korea a top global AI leader but startups fear regulatory burden.

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The U.S. has officially withdrawn from the World Health Organization (WHO), one year after President Donald Trump announced the exit. The WHO is the United Nations’ specialized health agency coordinating global responses to health threats like mpox, Ebola, and polio. The U.S. owes WHO about $280 million in unpaid dues and voluntary contributions. The U.S. no longer participates in WHO committees, governance, or technical working groups, including global flu monitoring.

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The Russian Foreign Ministry informed that the New START nuclear arms control treaty between Russia and the United States has expired on February 5. The two countries are no longer bound by its obligations, though Russia remains open to diplomatic efforts to maintain strategic stability and a future agreement. Moscow remains open to political and diplomatic efforts to maintain strategic stability. New START was signed in 2010 and entered into force in 2011. It limited deployed nuclear warheads and delivery systems.

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Tropical Cyclone Gezani caused widespread destruction in Madagascar after making landfall in the eastern port city of Toamasina. At least 20 people were killed and several others were injured as wind speeds exceeded 195 km per hour. Madagascar’s meteorological department issued a red alert, warning of heavy rainfall, flooding, and landslides as the cyclone moved across the island nation. Toamasina, the country’s main port city, suffered severe infrastructure damage, with nearly 75% of the city affected.

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The World Economic Forum (WEF) launched the Davos Compact on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) 2025 to tackle the global health crisis of drug-resistant infections. It acts as a voluntary non-state counterpart to the UNGA 2024 Political Declaration on AMR, engaging non-government actors in the fight against antimicrobial resistance. The Compact sets a dual target: to prevent 100 million deaths and mitigate an estimated $1.7 trillion economic loss by 2050 due to unchecked drug resistance. Signatories pledge to adopt the “One Health” approach, linking human, animal, and environmental health in AMR mitigation strategies. The Compact ensures equitable access to essential and newly developed antibiotics for low- and middle-income countries.

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Narendra Modi congratulated Mia Amor Mottley on her historic third consecutive election victory. Her party, Barbados Labour Party, won all 30 seats in the House of Assembly with a 30–0 mandate. She declared a national bank holiday and a thanksgiving rally at the National Botanical Gardens. India and Barbados share strong ties through Commonwealth membership, English language and cricket. Both countries cooperate in United Nations, Commonwealth and Non-Aligned Movement forums. Barbados supports India’s permanent membership in the United Nations Security Council.