International Current Affairs MCQs

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Afghanistan has announced plans to construct a dam on the Kunar River, blocking its flow into Pakistan. The Kunar River is a major tributary of the Kabul River, which later merges with the Indus River in Pakistan. The river originates from the glaciated Hindu Kush Mountains in Chitral, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. It flows into Afghanistan and joins the Kabul River there. The two main tributaries of the Kunar River are Bashgal (Landiasind) River and Pech River. The proposed dam may affect water flow and relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan.

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Catherine Connolly, an independent left-wing politician, has been elected as Ireland’s 10th President. She won by a landslide victory, defeating her rival Heather Humphreys. Connolly has been a Member of Parliament (MP) since 2016 representing the Galway West constituency. She also served as the Deputy Speaker of the Irish Parliament. The presidency in Ireland is a largely ceremonial role, but her win reflects strong voter support for her independent and progressive stance.

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The Global Virus Network (GVN) has recently expanded by adding three new Centers of Excellence in the Americas. This move strengthens its global response to emerging viral threats. GVN is a voluntary consortium of virology laboratories and scientists working to prevent and control viral diseases worldwide. It represents over 25 countries with experts covering every class of human virus. No single institution can handle all viral areas, so GVN unites global expertise. It brings top medical virologists together to tackle major scientific problems. Its strength lies in global collaboration, deep research, and commitment to solving viral challenges.

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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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The Nagaland government and the British Council signed an agreement making the UK a country partner for the Hornbill Festival 2025. The agreement was signed in New Delhi by CM Neiphiu Rio and Alison Barrett MBE, in the presence of Lindy Cameron CB OBE, the British High Commissioner to India. The partnership strengthens cultural exchange, supports creative talent and boosts global visibility of Nagaland’s cultural heritage. The British Council, with the British Deputy High Commission Kolkata, will curate special programming for the festival.

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Recently, the Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change joined the 11th Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM) Partner Countries’ Meeting. The JCM was first proposed by the Government of Japan and officially launched in 2013. It aims to spread advanced decarbonizing technologies and infrastructure through investment by Japanese entities to support sustainable development in partner countries. It is a bilateral mechanism implemented under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement. It functions under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and complements the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) and Joint Implementation (JI). India is one of the 31 partner countries of the JCM.

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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 launched Operation Sagar Bandhu, a Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) mission, to support Sri Lanka after Cyclone Ditwah caused floods, landslides, and widespread disruption. Cyclone made landfall on 27 November 2025, causing fatalities and affecting thousands. Indian Air Force (IAF) delivered approx 12 tonnes of aid on 29 November 2025, including tents, tarpaulins, blankets, hygiene kits, and ready-to-eat food to Colombo. The operation provides food, essentials, and logistical support to manage immediate crises in Sri Lanka.

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Rage bait was named the Word of the Year 2025 by Oxford University Press (OUP). Its online usage rose three times, showing changes in how people seek attention and engagement. It means online content made to provoke anger or outrage to increase views and traffic. The term first appeared in 2002 on Usenet with a different meaning linked to road rage. It later became popular in social media and digital journalism. It beat shortlisted words like aura farming and biohack. Rage bait boosts clicks and reactions, especially in politics and viral trends. Its advanced form is called rage farming, where anger is used repeatedly to drive engagement, often using misinformation.

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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.