International Current Affairs MCQs

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On November 9, 2025, several airports in the Bicol region of the Philippines suspended operations as Super Typhoon Uwan (international name: Fung-Wong) brought torrential rains and powerful winds. Typhoons are a type of tropical cyclone that form over the Western Pacific Ocean. A tropical cyclone is a rapidly rotating storm system that develops over warm tropical oceans. These storms differ in speed, size, and intensity, depending on environmental conditions.

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Cyclone Fina recently hit Australia’s Northern Territory as a Category 3 cyclone, bringing wind speeds up to 205 km per hour and severely impacting Darwin. Around 19,000 residents lost electricity, with damaged property and flooded roads, though no injuries were reported. The storm reminded residents of Cyclone Tracy (1974), though Fina was less severe but strong enough to uproot trees and disrupt essential services. Fina adds to the region’s pattern of tropical storms, reinforcing the need for stronger disaster resilience and emergency infrastructure in northern Australia.

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India, Australia and Canada launched a new trilateral technology and innovation framework called the Australia-Canada-India Technology and Innovation (ACITI) Partnership. The agreement was made on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Johannesburg. The partnership focuses on enhancing cooperation on critical and emerging technologies, complementing existing bilateral initiatives. It emphasises green energy innovation and resilient supply chains, especially in critical minerals. ACITI aims to support net-zero emission goals, secure and diversify global supply chains, and build a sustainable and resilient tech ecosystem. The three countries will explore fast development and mass adoption of artificial intelligence for public benefit.

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Ukraine became the first European country to activate Starlink’s Direct-to-Cell satellite service in partnership with Kyivstar and Veon, starting with SMS services and expanding to voice and data in 2026. Kyivstar, Ukraine’s largest mobile operator serving 22.5 million users, ensures communication during power outages and wartime disruptions. The Direct-to-Cell technology allows standard 4G smartphones to connect directly to low-Earth orbit satellites without ground towers.

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Riyadh Metro has been certified by Guinness World Records as the world’s longest fully driverless metro network. The total network length is 176 kilometres (109 miles) with six lines and 85 stations. The record achievement date is 30 January 2025, with official recognition announced in November 2025. It operates under the Grade of Automation 4 (fully driverless) system with central control rooms. The project is part of the King Abdulaziz Project for Riyadh Public Transport led by the Royal Commission for Riyadh City. This marks Riyadh’s rise as a global leader in smart and high-tech urban transport.

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Tanzania launched a nationwide livestock vaccination campaign targeting cattle, goats, sheep, and chickens to curb zoonotic and transboundary diseases such as anthrax, Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), and Rift Valley Fever. The five-year programme (2025–2029) aims to vaccinate 19 million cattle, 17 million goats and sheep, and 40 million chickens. Tanzania has 36.6 million cattle, second largest in Africa; agriculture contributes 30% of GDP and supports 70% of rural population. Vaccination prevents livestock losses, reduces public health risks, and strengthens One Health approach linking human, animal, and environmental health.

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CUTS International has launched a new global initiative titled “Trade Not Just Aid: Winners and Losers in the WTO (TRaNJA)”, aimed at creating a constructive spirit to reposition and strengthen the World Trade Organization (WTO). The initiative focuses on promoting a more balanced global trading system by examining how different countries benefit or lose within current WTO frameworks. TRaNJA was launched during an event on “Shaping the Future of Global Trade in an era of shifting US Engagement, Emerging Powers, and Digital Innovation.”

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Andrej Babis, a populist billionaire and former Prime Minister (2017–2021), was sworn in again as the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic on December 9, 2025, after his party ANO (YES movement) won big in the October 3–4 parliamentary elections. He was sworn in by President Petr Pavel, who invited him to form a new government after ANO formed a majority coalition with two smaller parties: the Freedom and Direct Democracy (anti-migrant) party and the Motorists for Themselves party. The coalition will form a 16-member Cabinet, with ANO holding eight posts, the Motorists holding four, and the Freedom Party three.

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Chile has elected Jose Antonio Kast as its new president, representing a major shift toward right-wing leadership—the most pronounced since the country’s return to democracy. Kast, leader of the Republican Party, won the runoff election against leftist rival Jeannette Jara, following a polarising campaign focused on crime, migration, and economic stagnation. Since 2010, Chile has alternated between left and right governments; this election follows that pattern but marks a stronger right-wing tilt.

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India recently reaffirmed its commitment to Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam and religious harmony while participating in the 11th United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) Global Forum held in Riyadh. The United Nations Alliance of Civilizations was established in 2005 as a political initiative to address rising tensions between cultures, religions, and civilizations. The initiative was proposed by Kofi Annan, the former UN Secretary-General, to strengthen intercultural understanding and cooperation. The UNAOC was jointly co-sponsored by the governments of Spain and Turkey, reflecting a multilateral approach to promoting peace.