International Current Affairs MCQs

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Colombo Security Conclave (CSC) member states signed a Charter and MoU to establish the CSC Secretariat in Colombo. CSC is a regional security group that includes India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Maldives, and Mauritius. Its main goal is to enhance regional security by addressing shared transnational threats. CSC started as the Trilateral for Maritime Security Cooperation in 2011, involving India, Maldives, and Sri Lanka. Tensions between India and the Maldives paused its activities after 2014. Revived and renamed in 2020, Mauritius and Bangladesh joined as members, with Seychelles as an observer. CSC meetings include National Security Advisors and their deputies.

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The third Joint Defence Cooperation Committee (JDCC) meeting between India and Kenya was held in New Delhi. Discussions covered military cooperation, training, defence industries, and research and development. The Kenyan delegation met Indian defence industry representatives in Delhi and will visit Pune to explore their capabilities. India and Kenya share a longstanding, friendly relationship, strengthened by a 2016 MoU on Defence Cooperation. JDCC serves as a key platform to discuss and enhance defence ties. The Indian delegation was led by Joint Secretary Amitabh Prasad, and the Kenyan side was led by Major General David Kipkemboi Ketter.

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The rescue of Qaid Farhan Alkadi, a Bedouin hostage from Gaza, has highlighted the Bedouin community in Israel. The Bedouins are part of Israel’s Arab minority, making up about 20% of the population. Though they hold Israeli citizenship, Bedouins face unique socio-economic challenges. Traditionally nomadic, modern pressures and state policies have affected their way of life, leading to marginalization. The Bedouin community primarily resides in the Negev Desert, which has harsh living conditions and is a center of land and resource conflicts.

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In the 2024 Algerian presidential election, 78-year-old President Abdelmadjid Tebboune was re-elected with a huge win. He secured 94.65% of the valid votes, as per Mohamed Charfi, head of the election authority. The election was held on 7 September 2024, with 5.6 million voters out of 25 million eligible participants. President Tebboune was re-elected for a second five-year term. He was first elected in 2019, but the opposition boycotted that election. Tebboune, seen as military-backed, defeated rivals Abdelaali Hassani Cherif and Youcef Aouchiche, who gained 3% and 2.1% of votes, respectively.

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China and Russia recently announced joint naval and air drills called ‘Northern United-2024’ in the Sea of Japan and Sea of Okhotsk. The exercise aims to boost strategic cooperation between China and Russia and enhance their ability to address security threats. The Sea of Japan is a marginal sea in the western Pacific, bordered by Japan, Sakhalin Island, Russia, and Korea. The Sea of Okhotsk is surrounded by the Kamchatka Peninsula, Kuril Islands, Hokkaido, and Sakhalin Island. These drills highlight the increasing military collaboration between the two nations.

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National Security Advisor Ajit Doval met Russian President Vladimir Putin on 12 September 2024 during the BRICS national security advisors meeting. Russia is the current chair of BRICS and will host all related meetings in 2024, including the 16th BRICS summit in Kazan from 22 to 24 October 2024. President Putin invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi to attend the summit. The BRICS national security advisors’ conclave took place in St. Petersburg from 11 to 13 September 2024, attended by 10 member countries, including India, Russia, Brazil, China, and others. The meeting was hosted by Russian NSA Sergei Shoigu.

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The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) commended India for achieving high technical compliance with its recommendations to combat illicit finance. FATF is an intergovernmental body focused on fighting money laundering and terrorist financing. Its objective is to set international standards and promote effective policies at national and international levels. It was established in 1989 during the G7 Summit in Paris. FATF expanded its mandate to include terrorism financing in 2001. It includes 39 member countries, such as the US, India, China, and several European nations. India joined FATF in 2010.

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Jordan has become the first country globally to eliminate leprosy, with the World Health Organisation confirming this milestone. This success is attributed to extensive public health campaigns, early detection initiatives, and free treatment programs. Community education played a crucial role in raising awareness and preventing the spread of this historically significant disease. Despite this achievement, Jordanian health officials emphasize the need for ongoing monitoring to avert potential future outbreaks of leprosy.

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Claudia Sheinbaum was sworn in as Mexico’s first woman president. She pledged to strengthen women’s rights and maintain Mexico as a secure destination for international investment. Sheinbaum, aged 62, is a scientist and former mayor of Mexico City. The oath-taking ceremony took place in Mexico’s Congress, marking the beginning of her six-year term.

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Shigeru Ishiba was appointed as the 102nd Prime Minister of Japan by Emperor Naruhito after approval by the lower house of the Japanese Parliament. Ishiba, aged 67, replaces Fumio Kishida, who resigned due to political scandals. The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), which has ruled Japan almost continuously since 1955, elected Ishiba as its leader on 27 October 2024.