International Current Affairs MCQs

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In October 2025, Madagascar’s President Andry Rajoelina appointed General Ruphin Fortunat Zafisambo as the new Prime Minister (PM). He succeeded Christian Ntsay, who had served as PM since 2018. The appointment followed rising protests over power outages and water shortages. This marks a leadership shift, with a military officer replacing a civilian politician. Ruphin Fortunat Zafisambo began military education at Antsirabe Military Academy, Madagascar in 1991. He served under High Transitional Authority (HAT) after the 2009 crisis. Madagascar’s capital is Antananarivo and currency is Malagasy Ariary (MGA).

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Armenia has become the newest State Member of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Announcement made during the IUCN World Conservation Congress in Abu Dhabi highlights Armenia’s growing role in biodiversity conservation and sustainable development. Armenia is located at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, with habitats including alpine meadows, mountain forests, semi-deserts, and freshwater ecosystems. The country is home to rare and threatened species, including the Critically Endangered Caucasian leopard, endemic Bezoar goat, and Sevan trout found only in Lake Sevan.

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The United Arab Emirates (UAE) announced a 10 million US dollars contribution to strengthen community resilience against natural disasters across Asia and the Pacific. The initiative was launched through the UAE Aid Agency during the 2025 International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) World Conservation Congress in Abu Dhabi. It will support Emirates Nature–World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) under the Community Resilience to Natural Disasters Programme, developed with International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). The programme focuses on restoring mangroves and coral reefs, promoting eco-livelihoods, and strengthening disaster preparedness in Philippines, Indonesia, Fiji, and Solomon Islands.

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Rodrigo Paz, a centrist senator, won Bolivia’s presidential election. He defeated conservative rival Jorge Tuto Quiroga amid the country’s worst economic crisis. Paz secured 54.5% of the vote, while Quiroga got 45.5%, according to Bolivia’s Electoral Tribunal. His victory ends nearly two decades of leftist rule by Movement to Socialism (MAS). Bolivia, officially the Plurinational State of Bolivia, is a landlocked country in western-central South America. The constitutional capital is Sucre, while the seat of government and executive capital is La Paz.

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Fiji has officially become the 26th country to eliminate trachoma as a public health concern. Trachoma is a neglected tropical disease (NTD) and the world’s leading infectious cause of blindness. It is caused by Chlamydia trachomatis bacteria. The disease spreads through personal contact, contaminated surfaces, and flies exposed to eye or nasal discharge. Trachoma is endemic in communities with limited clean water and sanitation access. India has also successfully eliminated trachoma as a public health problem. Fiji’s achievement reflects progress in global NTD control and eye health initiatives.

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In October 2025, Paul Barthélemy Biya’a bi Mvondo, representing the Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM), won Cameroon’s 2025 Presidential Election with 53.7% votes, defeating Issa Tchiroma Bakary, who got 35.2% votes. This victory marked his eighth consecutive term as President. At 92 years, he became the world’s longest-serving and oldest President. He joined the Presidency of the Republic in 1962 and served as Secretary-General from 1968–1975. He became Prime Minister (PM) in 1975 and succeeded Ahmadou Ahidjo as President in 1982. In 2008, he removed presidential term limits, allowing indefinite re-elections.

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Sweden has become the world’s first cashless country, replacing physical money with digital payments through phones and cards. Travellers can easily pay anywhere — from shops to northern lights tours — using digital transactions. The transformation began with the launch of Swish, a mobile payment app introduced in 2012. Swish enables real-time money transfers between individuals, businesses, and organizations using just a phone number. Its fast adoption made digital payments common across shops, cafés, museums, and even churches. This shift marks a major milestone in Sweden’s journey toward a fully digital and cash-free economy.

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In November 2025, Canada lost its measles elimination status due to ongoing outbreaks, as reported by international health experts. The country recorded 5,138 measles cases and two deaths in 2025; both fatalities were premature babies exposed in the womb. Measles elimination status is symbolic, showing a country has stopped continuous local transmission, though imported cases can still occur. Measles is highly contagious, causing high fever and rash, with serious complications like blindness and brain swelling, especially in young children and adults over 30. The disease is preventable through routine vaccination, but falling childhood immunisation rates contributed to the resurgence

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United States Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Operation Southern Spear, a major military campaign in the Caribbean and South America. The operation targets “narco-terrorists” and is led by Joint Task Force Southern Spear and US Southern Command (SOUTHCOM). Its objectives are to defend the US homeland, remove narco-terrorists from the region, and disrupt drug trafficking networks supplying cocaine to the US.

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Ukraine recently launched Operation Midas, a major anti-corruption investigation targeting Energoatom officials and connected businessmen. It is a 15-month undercover probe led by NABU (National Anti-Corruption Bureau) and SAPO (Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office). Named after King Midas, symbolising officials illegally turning contracts into gold. The operation exposed a bribery network demanding 10–15% cuts from contractors and nearly $100 million laundered through backdoor companies. It caused political fallout, forced Energy Minister resignations, and triggered audits of all state-owned enterprises.