International Current Affairs MCQs

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The United States has recently approved a military hardware and logistics support package for India to assist in the Integrated Platform for Maritime Domain Awareness (IPMDA). IPMDA is a technology and training initiative designed to boost maritime domain awareness in the Indo-Pacific region and increase transparency in its vital waterways. It was announced by the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD), which includes India, Australia, Japan, and the United States, during the Tokyo summit in 2022. The initiative uses innovative technology to provide near real-time information on maritime activities to partners in Southeast Asia, the Indian Ocean region, and the Pacific.

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In a recent statement, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) expressed concern over the rising tensions between India and Pakistan and urged both sides to exercise restraint and engage in dialogue. The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) is the second largest intergovernmental group after the United Nations, with 57 member countries across four continents. It was founded on 25 September 1969 in Rabat, Morocco, following the arson attack on the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem. The OIC works to protect Islamic values and the sovereignty and independence of its member states. It also aims to promote peace, security, and cooperation in political, economic, and social matters. The OIC acts as the unified voice of the Muslim world on global issues. Its headquarters is in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, and its official languages are Arabic, English, and French.

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The 83rd session of the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC-83) under the International Maritime Organization (IMO) recently adopted a landmark decision to address shipping emissions. The IMO is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) focused on the safety and security of international shipping. It works to prevent marine and atmospheric pollution caused by ships and directly supports UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14, which aims to conserve oceans and marine resources. The IMO formulates regulations on shipping safety, maritime security, and environmental protection, though it doesn’t enforce them. It has 174 member states and is headquartered in London.

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The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), a U.S. government agency under the Department of Commerce, was established in 1970 to study oceans, atmosphere, and coastal regions. Its headquarters is in Washington, D.C. NOAA recently announced it will stop updating its main database that tracked the financial costs of climate change-related weather disasters such as floods, wildfires, hurricanes, and heatwaves. This database was widely used to understand economic impacts of extreme weather in the United States. NOAA also developed tools like the tsunami wave height model used for mapping major events like the 2011 Pacific tsunami after the Sendai earthquake in Japan.

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In Nigeria, 138 people have died from the Lassa fever outbreak since the start of this year. The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has confirmed 717 cases so far. This has raised the case fatality rate to 19.2 percent, which the NCDC says is very alarming. The disease has affected at least 18 out of 36 states in Nigeria. Lassa fever is a viral haemorrhagic illness caused by the Lassa virus, which belongs to the arenavirus family. People usually get infected by touching food or household items contaminated with urine or faeces of infected Mastomys rats. The World Health Organization (WHO) says early diagnosis and quick treatment are very important to survive the disease.

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After two years of civil war, Sudanese army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan appointed former United Nations (UN) official Kamil al-Taib Idris as the new Prime Minister (PM). The announcement was made by Sudan’s Transitional Sovereignty Council through a constitutional decree. This decision comes nearly a month after the Sudanese army regained control of Khartoum as the war entered its third year. Kamil Idris is the first PM appointed since the 2021 military coup that ousted the civilian government. He is a seasoned diplomat who served as Director General of the UN World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) from 1997 to 2008. His selection is seen as a step towards restoring governance in conflict-torn Sudan.

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India is projected to become the world’s top potato producer, overtaking China, according to scientists from the International Potato Center (Centro Internacional de la Papa – CIP). This was highlighted at a recent symposium on ‘Root and Tuber Crops Research and Development in India and South Asia’. Experts estimate that India’s potato production may grow from 60 million tonnes now to 100 million tonnes by 2050. The International Potato Center (CIP), founded in 1971, is a global research organization focusing on potato, sweetpotato, and Andean roots and tubers. Headquartered in Lima, Peru, CIP promotes nutritious food, sustainable businesses, and climate resilience in over 20 countries.

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France’s National Assembly has passed a bill legalizing Assisted Dying, reflecting growing public support for end-of-life choices across Europe. The bill allows adults suffering from incurable illnesses to take prescribed lethal medication under strict conditions. Assisted Dying includes two forms: Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide. Euthanasia involves a third party actively ending a patient’s life to relieve suffering, and is called Voluntary Euthanasia when done with the patient’s consent. Active Euthanasia means a deliberate act like a lethal injection that causes death. Passive Euthanasia means stopping life-saving treatment like turning off a ventilator or not giving certain medicines. In Assisted Suicide, the doctor gives a lethal drug that the patient takes on their own to end life. This bill provides a legal and medical framework to regulate such decisions with dignity and care. France joins a growing number of nations considering humane laws for terminally ill patients.

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Recently, a United States federal court blocked President Donald Trump’s broad tariffs, stating that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) does not allow him to impose sweeping import taxes. The International Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977 (IEEPA) was legislated on 28 October 1977. It gives the US president the power to regulate financial transactions after declaring a national emergency. The IEEPA allows the president to act against unusual and exceptional threats to national security, foreign policy, and the economy, especially if the threat comes from outside the country. It empowers the president to freeze assets and restrict transactions.

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China recently launched the Tianwen-2 probe to collect samples from the asteroid 2016HO3 and explore the distant main-belt comet 311P. It was launched using the Long March 3-B rocket. The mission will continue till the end of 2027. Earlier in 2021, China’s Tianwen-1 mission landed on Mars with an orbiter, lander, and the Zhurong rover. Tianwen-3 is planned for launch around 2028 to collect and return samples from Mars. Tianwen-4 is expected to explore Jupiter around 2030.