International Current Affairs MCQs

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Excavations at Tell el-Farama in northern Sinai revealed a rare round temple in the ancient city of Pelusium. Pelusium was located at the easternmost mouth of the Nile, about 32 km southeast of Port Said in Egypt. It was originally known as Sainu or Per-Amun and served as a key fortress and customs post on Egypt’s eastern frontier. The city was famous for flax production and held strong economic importance.

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China has completed an 11.18 km high-speed underwater tunnel beneath the Yangtze River, enabling bullet trains to run up to 350 kmph. The Yangtze (Chang Jiang) is the longest river in Asia and third-longest in the world after the Nile and Amazon. It originates in the Tibetan Plateau and drains into the East China Sea near Shanghai. It is a major transport corridor linking cities like Shanghai, Wuhan, and Chongqing.

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Pakistan Navy successfully test-fired the indigenously developed Taimoor air-launched anti-ship cruise missile (ALCM). The missile was deployed jointly by the Navy and Pakistan Air Force, demonstrating multi-domain (air–sea) operational capability. The Taimoor missile system is developed by Pakistan. It is an indigenously developed, air-launched cruise missile (ALCM) designed for anti-ship and land-attack roles, capable of hitting targets up to 600 kilometers away. The system is meant to strengthen the Pakistan Navy and Air Force’s precision-strike capabilities.

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Asia’s first UNESCO Chair on Gender Inclusion and Skill Development for Women’s Empowerment was launched at Symbiosis Skills and Professional University (SSPU) in Pune. The initiative was launched during an international conference organised with UNESCO on “Women Leading the Future of Work.” It aims to promote women’s participation in emerging sectors such as Artificial Intelligence, semiconductors, robotics, and advanced manufacturing. The initiative focuses on inclusive skilling, gender equity, and workforce transformation

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Finland has launched Europe’s first fully integrated lithium project near Kokkola. The project is known as the Keliber Project, covering mining, processing, and refining of lithium. It aims to produce 15,000 tonnes of battery-grade lithium annually, meeting about 10% of Europe’s demand. Lithium is a strategic resource essential for electric vehicles (EVs) and renewable energy storage. The project is backed by Sibanye-Stillwater and Finnish Minerals Group.

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India hosted the first Culture Working Group meeting under its BRICS Presidency 2026 in New Delhi. Representatives from BRICS countries participated virtually. India’s delegation included officials from Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts. India’s presidency focuses on cultural cooperation and people-to-people exchanges. The theme is “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.” The initiative aims to promote shared heritage and stronger cultural ties among BRICS nations.

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Canada has become the first non-European country to attend the European Political Community (EPC) summit in Yerevan, Armenia. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney aims to strengthen trade and diplomatic ties amid reduced access to United States markets. The summit reflects Western support for Armenia as it distances itself from Russia. The EPC initiative, supported by Emmanuel Macron, aims to enhance cooperation between European nations and partners.

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Project Freedom is a United States-led naval mission launched to restore freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. The operation aims to assist “neutral and innocent” commercial ships trapped in the Persian Gulf amid tensions involving Iran and the United States. The mission is being supported by the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) and involves naval escorts for merchant vessels. The project was announced amid escalating geopolitical tensions and disruptions in global oil and shipping routes.

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The 2nd BRICS Employment Working Group (EWG) Meeting was held in Thiruvananthapuram under India’s Presidency. Delegations from China, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Indonesia, Russia, South Africa, and the United Arab Emirates participated in the meeting. The meeting focused on three major areas: social security and labour formalisation, women’s workforce participation, and skills development. The discussions emphasized the need for inclusive social protection systems, greater participation of women in the workforce, and responsive skill development systems.

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India has been nominated as the Chair of the Common Criteria Development Board (CCDB) for the period April 2026 to April 2028. The decision was confirmed during the Common Criteria Recognition Arrangement (CCRA) meeting held in Tokyo. The CCDB manages technical standards under the Common Criteria (CC) and Common Methodology for Information Technology Security Evaluation (CEM) for global IT security certification. India has been a member of the Common Criteria Recognition Arrangement since 2013 as a Certificate Authorizing Nation. The leadership role strengthens India’s position in shaping international IT security standards and certification frameworks.