International Current Affairs MCQs

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Oxford University Press named ‘brain rot’ as the Oxford Word of the Year 2024. It describes cognitive decline caused by consuming trivial social media content. The term gained popularity amid trends like digital detoxes to counter mental fatigue. It reflects concerns about technology’s impact on human thought and habits. Public voting chose ‘brain rot’ over contenders like ‘heat domes’ and ‘neurospicy.’ Over 37,000 people participated in the voting, highlighting its cultural relevance. The term’s casual tone appeals to younger audiences and raises awareness about mental health. Past winners include ‘goblin mode’ (2022) and ‘climate emergency’ (2019).

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India and Bhutan discussed hydropower projects, including the nearing completion of the 1020 MW Punatsangchhu-II project. Punatsangchhu-II is a 1 GW run-of-the-river hydropower project in Bhutan’s Wangdue Phodrang district. Developed under an Inter-Government Agreement between Bhutan and India, it is funded by India with 30% grant and 70% loan. The project includes a 91m-high concrete gravity dam, a diversion tunnel, and two cofferdams. It will generate 4,357 million units of electricity annually, and ownership will transfer to Bhutan two years after commissioning.

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François Bayrou, a 73-year-old centrist leader, was named French Prime Minister by Emmanuel Macron, succeeding Michel Barnier after a confidence vote ousted him. Bayrou leads the MoDem party, part of Macron’s centrist alliance, and is known as the “third man” in French politics for his centrist approach during the 2007 presidential election. He is the high commissioner of planning, mayor of Pau, and president of the European Democratic Party. Born into a wealthy farming family near the Pyrenees, he taught Latin and Greek before entering politics in the 1980s. He served as education minister and was a member of both the National Assembly and European Parliament.

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US President-elect Donald Trump has suggested that his administration may consider efforts to regain control of the Panama Canal. The Panama Canal is a 40-mile-long man-made waterway connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans across the Isthmus of Panama. Built by the United States, it was completed in August 1914 and is one of the world’s two most strategic artificial waterways, alongside the Suez Canal. The U.S. controlled the canal solely from 1914 to 1979, after which control transitioned to the Panama Canal Commission, and full control passed to Panama on December 31, 1999. The canal uses a sophisticated lock system to manage elevation differences between the two oceans, acting as water elevators to lift or lower ships. It has three sets of locks, serviced by artificial lakes and channels.

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Aisake Valu Eke was elected as the Prime Minister of Tonga and will replace Hu’akavameiliku Siaosi Sovaleni, who resigned on December 9. Eke will officially take office in February and serve until the next election in November 2025. Tonga’s Parliament has 17 elected members, nine nobles, and two members who couldn’t vote in this election. Eke, a former Finance Minister (2014–2017), was first elected to Parliament in 2010 as an independent. He earned a PhD from the University of Southern Queensland, focusing on public sector service quality in Tonga. In 2011, he opposed increased allowances for MPs during Tonga’s economic challenges.

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China launched the Sichuan, the first Type 076 amphibious assault ship, designed to enhance long-distance naval combat capabilities. The 40,000-ton ship features an electromagnetic catapult for fighter jet launches and arrestor technology for safe landings. It can deploy ground troops via landing crafts and provide air support. Developed indigenously, it follows the earlier Type 075 ships launched in 2019. The People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) aims to operate globally, modernizing its fleet for over a decade. China is also researching nuclear-powered aircraft carriers for extended deployments, competing with the U.S.’s 11 nuclear-powered carriers.

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Quad nations (India, US, Australia, Japan) reaffirmed their commitment to a free, open, peaceful, stable, and prosperous Indo-Pacific. The pledge commemorates 20 years of Quad cooperation, initially formed after the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. Quad aims to counter challenges like China’s growing influence in the region. The coalition emphasizes the centrality of ASEAN in the Indo-Pacific framework. The grouping focuses on upholding international order based on the rule of law.

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Canada announced that the Post-Graduate Work Permits (PGWPs) of 7.66 lakh international students will expire by the end of next year. The Rural Community Immigration Class (RCIC) scheme offers a pathway for foreign nationals and students. It is launched by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) in December 2024. The program aims to address labor shortages and encourage development in smaller rural communities. The scheme targets individuals willing to settle long-term in these areas to promote growth and address local workforce needs.

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The UK announced the world’s first sanctions regime to combat people smuggling and block illicit finance supporting such crimes. The sanctions focus on irregular migration and organized immigration crime. Authorities can now target individuals and entities enabling dangerous journeys, such as smuggling vulnerable people via sea crossings in Europe. The regime is expected to be implemented within the year.

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US President-elect Donald Trump proposed renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America. The proposal has sparked debates about its geopolitical and historical implications. Gulf of Mexico borders the southeastern coast of North America, connecting to the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. The Gulf is the world’s largest and is often called the “Mediterranean of the Americas.” It formed due to seafloor subsidence and is shallow, with an average depth of 1,615 m. The climate ranges from tropical to subtropical, with severe weather like hurricanes and tornadoes. It holds large petroleum and natural gas deposits in its shallow areas.