International Current Affairs MCQs

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China launched Pakistan’s first indigenous Electro-Optical (EO-1) satellite, PRSC-EO1. The launch occurred from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center using a Long March-2D carrier rocket. The satellite is equipped with electro-optical sensors for collecting Earth observation data.

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US President Donald Trump has banned the creation and issuance of Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) in the United States. Agencies are prohibited from promoting or issuing CBDCs without legal approval. The executive order defines CBDC as a digital currency directly backed by the central bank. Concerns cited include risks to privacy, sovereignty, and financial stability. The order promotes a private-sector-led digital asset ecosystem, focusing on dollar-backed stablecoins as alternatives. CBDCs differ from cryptocurrencies as their value is fixed by the central bank, with several countries adopting them for centralized digital currency control.

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Serbia’s Prime Minister Milos Vucevic resigned after massive anti-corruption protests over a deadly canopy collapse in Novi Sad. The collapse in November killed 15 people and sparked public outrage against President Aleksandar Vucic’s rule. Vucevic said his resignation aims to ease tensions and restore dialogue in the country. Novi Sad Mayor Milan Djuric also resigned. The resignation may lead to early parliamentary elections.

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Australia passed strict anti-hate crime laws on February 6, 2025, introducing mandatory minimum sentences. Sentences range from 12 months for minor hate crimes, like Nazi salutes, to six years for terrorism offences. The law criminalizes threats or violence based on race, religion, nationality, gender, and other identities. Recent attacks on synagogues, cars, and Jewish community buildings prompted stronger laws. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese initially opposed mandatory sentences but later supported them. New South Wales plans to align its hate speech laws with Western Australia and Victoria.

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A US military aircraft carrying 104 deported Indian nationals landed at Amritsar airport on 5th February 2025. The deportees spent between Rs 30 lakh and Rs 1 crore on expenses and agent fees to reach the US. They traveled through the “dunki route,” an illegal and dangerous immigration path. “Dunki” or “donkey journey” refers to long, risky routes taken due to a lack of legal permits or financial resources. American authorities deported individuals who used this illegal route to enter the US.

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Operation Devil Hunt was launched in Bangladesh to curb rising violence targeting properties linked to former PM Sheikh Hasina and the Awami League. The interim government led by Muhammad Yunus ordered the crackdown after attacks in Gazipur district spread nationwide. More than 1,300 people have been arrested, with army, police, and special units involved in the operation. Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s historic residence in Dhaka was set on fire, escalating tensions. The BNP, led by Khaleda Zia, has called for nationwide rallies from February 11, demanding stronger measures and a clear electoral plan.

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The oldest known Jurassic bird fossil was recently found in China’s Fujian Province. The fossil is of a species called Baminornis zhenghensis and is estimated to be 149 million years old. The discovery of Baminornis zhenghensis is considered a landmark discovery and one of the most important bird fossils ever found. It shows that birds and dinosaurs lived alongside each other in China during the Jurassic period.

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India and the U.S. launched the U.S.-India COMPACT initiative to boost defense, trade, and technology ties. COMPACT stands for Catalyzing Opportunities for Military Partnership, Accelerated Commerce & Technology for the 21st century. It aims to strengthen the U.S.-India Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership. Focus areas include defense collaboration, co-production, and technology exchange. The initiative targets $500 billion in bilateral trade by 2030 (Mission-500). Key sectors include AI, cybersecurity, semiconductors, and space exploration. This marks a major step in advancing Indo-U.S. cooperation across strategic areas.

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The UN launched the Early Warnings for All (EW4All) initiative in 2022 to protect people from hazardous weather, water, and climate events through early warning systems by 2027. The initiative aims to safeguard vulnerable populations as climate-related disasters become more frequent and intense. In 2023, early warning systems received record-high funding, but its distribution remains uneven. 54% of national EWS investments are concentrated in five countries—China, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and Indonesia. Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and Least Developed Countries (LDCs) face significant funding gaps. The Global Observatory for Early Warning System Investments was launched in December 2024 by the WMO and UNDRR to track and optimize investments. As of February 12, 2025, the observatory tracks 329 projects across 127 countries, funded by institutions like the World Bank and Green Climate Fund.

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India assumed the Chairmanship of the Bay of Bengal (BOB) Inter-Governmental Organisation from Bangladesh. The transition took place at the 13th Governing Council Meeting in Malé, Maldives. Representatives from Sri Lanka, Maldives, and Bangladesh attended the event. The meeting was part of a high-level conference on mainstreaming the Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management (EAFM) in Small-Scale Fisheries. India will lead efforts to develop small-scale fisheries in the region. This move strengthens India’s international leadership and supports the national goal of ‘Viksit Bharat 2047’.