International Current Affairs MCQs

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The Russian Foreign Ministry informed that the New START nuclear arms control treaty between Russia and the United States has expired on February 5. The two countries are no longer bound by its obligations, though Russia remains open to diplomatic efforts to maintain strategic stability and a future agreement. Moscow remains open to political and diplomatic efforts to maintain strategic stability. New START was signed in 2010 and entered into force in 2011. It limited deployed nuclear warheads and delivery systems.

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Israel joined United States President Donald Trump’s “Board of Peace” initiative during Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to Washington. Netanyahu signed Israel’s accession and met Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The Board was authorized by a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolution in November to help form an international stabilization force in Gaza. It will supervise Gaza’s temporary governance and discuss reconstruction in its first meeting on February 19 in Washington. The Board plans to expand its role to address global conflicts.

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The United States has unveiled Project Vault, an independently governed and operated public-private partnership. The initiative aims to establish a strategic domestic reserve of critical minerals to strengthen supply chain security in the U.S. The partnership is supported by 10 billion in financing from the Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM), along with an additional 2 billion in private sector funding. Project Vault represents a whole-of-government approach to reduce reliance on foreign-controlled supply chains for essential minerals.

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External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said India believes global challenges need cooperation and connected societies, as the first European Legal Gateway Office opened in New Delhi. The launch took place in the presence of Henna Virkkunen and representatives of European Union member states. It is the first such office by the European Union in a partner country. The office will guide Indian students, researchers and Information and Communication Technology professionals on work, study and mobility rules across 27 European Union countries. The pilot was announced at the 16th EU-India Summit by Ursula von der Leyen.

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Willem-Alexander has sworn in a new minority coalition government in the Netherlands. The new government is led by Rob Jetten, aged 38, who becomes the youngest-ever Prime Minister of the Netherlands. Rob Jetten heads a three-party coalition comprising his centrist party Democrats 66 (D66), the centre-right Christian Democratic Appeal, and the centre-right People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy. The coalition holds 66 out of 150 seats in the lower house of Parliament, making it a minority government. The swearing-in ceremony took place in the Orange Hall of the royal palace near The Hague, 117 days after the national elections.

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South Korea protested Japan’s government-backed “Takeshima Day” (February 22), opposing Tokyo’s renewed sovereignty claim over the disputed islets. South Korea rejects calling it a dispute, while Japan continues diplomatic and symbolic assertions. The Takeshima dispute is a long-standing territorial conflict between Japan and South Korea (Republic of Korea). The islets, called Takeshima in Japan and Dokdo in South Korea, are located in the Sea of Japan, with South Korea currently controlling them and Japan claiming sovereignty.

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U.S. launched airstrikes on Iran under “Operation Epic Fury”, resulting in the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iran retaliated with missile and drone attacks, escalating tensions in the Middle East. U.S.–Iran relations have been strained since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, with sanctions, ideological rivalry, and diplomatic breakdowns. Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for 20% of global oil, faces disruptions affecting energy security. Global trade may be affected due to shipping disruptions, increased freight/insurance costs, and supply chain instability.

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Scotland became the first country in the United Kingdom to allow water cremation, also called hydrolysis. The new rules were approved by the Scottish Parliament, marking the biggest funeral law reform since 1902. Hydrolysis uses water and potassium hydroxide at about 150 degree Celsius to break down soft tissues, leaving only bones, which are dried and turned into ashes. In 2023 public consultation, 84 percent supported hydrolysis. The method is already legal in 28 United States states and countries like Canada, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand.

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The World Economic Forum launched the AI4AI (Artificial Intelligence for Agriculture Innovation) Initiative in 2021. It aims to bring together public and private sectors to scale agri-tech solutions and transform global food systems. It focuses on inclusivity for smallholder farmers, sustainability by reducing environmental impact, and efficiency by minimising losses. It promotes use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in agriculture for better productivity. In India, it has been implemented in Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Telangana, and Madhya Pradesh (2021–2024).

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Japan has launched the world’s first dedicated high-speed freight bullet train, marking a major innovation in logistics and transportation. The initiative has been undertaken by the East Japan Railway Company, which has converted a passenger bullet train into a cargo-only Shinkansen. The project is based on the E3 Series Shinkansen, whose interiors have been redesigned by removing seats and creating open cargo space with reinforced flooring and securing systems.