International Current Affairs MCQs

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Oman is making history with the launch of its first-ever communications satellite OmanSat-1, marking a major leap in national digital sovereignty and space capability. The Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology (MTCIT) signed an agreement with Airbus Defence and Space to design, manufacture and launch the satellite. OmanSat-1 is built on Airbus’ OneSat platform with full digital flexibility to reconfigure while in orbit and will operate in the high-capacity Ka frequency band covering Oman, Middle East, East Africa and Asia. The mission aims for a fully Omani-operated satellite ecosystem to deliver secure high-speed communications and boost technological expertise and the national space economy.

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Indonesia officially ended the polio type 2 outbreak after years of low vaccination. Nearly 60 million extra polio vaccine doses were given to children during the response. No poliovirus detected since June 2024 in children or the environment. WHO declared the outbreak closed on 19 November 2025. First case appeared in Aceh in October 2022 and later spread to multiple provinces. Two rounds of nationwide campaigns using novel Oral Polio Vaccine 2 (nOPV2) were conducted. Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV) coverage increased from 63 percent in 2023 to 73 percent in 2024. Indonesia introduced hexavalent vaccine combining DPT HB Hib and IPV to protect against six diseases in one shot

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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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Australia has implemented the world’s first nationwide ban on social media access for children below the age of 16 years, with the objective of strengthening child online safety and protecting minors from digital harms. The law places the responsibility of enforcement on social media companies rather than on children or their parents. It aims to shield minors from addictive algorithms, cyberbullying, online predators and exposure to harmful or inappropriate content, while promoting healthier boundaries between childhood, family life and the digital environment.

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On 18 December 2025, King Tupou VI appointed Lord Fakafanua (age 40) as Tonga’s 20th Prime Minister during a private audience at the Royal Palace, Nuku’alofa. Lord Fakafanua, representing Noble’s Representative, Ha’apai 1, won the secret ballot 16–10 among elected MPs. The secret ballot ensures voting confidentiality, as per the Constitution. The appointment marks a continuation of constitutional procedures and emphasizes balancing loyalty and competence in Cabinet selection.

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Quad countries — Australia, India, Japan, and the United States — conducted their first Field Training Exercise (FTX) under the Indo-Pacific Logistics Network (IPLN). The exercise took place on the sidelines of Operation Christmas Drop at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam. The Indo-Pacific Logistics Network (IPLN) is a joint Quad initiative to strengthen shared logistics capabilities and enhance coordinated disaster response. The IPLN aims to enable Quad partners to respond more quickly and effectively during large-scale natural disasters in the Indo-Pacific region.

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Japan approved the restart of the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant after nearly 20 years, signaling a shift in post-Fukushima energy policy. The decision emphasises energy security, cost control, and decarbonisation amid volatile global fuel markets. The plant faced shutdown after the March 2011 Fukushima Daiichi disaster; Reactor No. 6 is expected to restart by 20 January 2026. The Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant is located about 220 kilometres (136 miles) northwest of Tokyo, Japan. It has a total generation capacity of 8.2 gigawatts (GW).

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On December 26, 2025, Israel became the first country to formally recognise the self-declared Republic of Somaliland as an independent and sovereign state. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced plans for immediate cooperation with Somaliland in agriculture, health, technology, and economic sectors. Somaliland is located in the Horn of Africa and shares borders with Djibouti, Ethiopia, Somalia, and the Puntland region, with a strategic coastline along the Gulf of Aden. Its capital city is Hargeisa.

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General Mamady Doumbouya has been elected president of Guinea with 86.72% of the vote in provisional results. He seized power in a 2021 coup, ousting President Alpha Conde. His victory grants him a seven-year mandate and avoids a runoff. The election follows a constitutional change allowing junta members to run. Guinea is rich in bauxite and untapped iron ore, and Doumbouya has promoted resource-nationalist policies.

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Poland has announced a $2.2 billion multi-layered anti-drone defence system along its eastern border due to security concerns linked to Russia–Ukraine conflict. The move follows repeated suspected Russian drone incursions, which triggered North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) air policing responses. The system will combine electronic warfare tools like drone jamming with machine guns, cannons, and missile units. It is not a physical wall but a technology-based layered defence against aerial threats. Some components will activate only during extreme or wartime conditions, addressing hybrid warfare threats like sabotage and unmanned aerial vehicles.