International Current Affairs MCQs

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The U.S. government is hosting a two-day Ukrainian Defense Industrial Base Conference next month. The conference aims to connect industry representatives.
The conference will be held in December with US and Ukrainian industry and government representatives to explore opportunities for co-production and other industrial cooperation in Ukraine.

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During its 63rd council meeting, the International Sugar Organisation (ISO), based in London, declared India as the Chair of the organization for the year 2024.
The primary focus will be on uniting member nations to embrace more sustainable practices in sugarcane cultivation, sugar and ethanol production, and optimizing the utilization of by-products.

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World Health Organisation (WHO) confirmed sexual transmission of mpox, or monkeypox, in Congo for the first time, after Democratic Republic of the Congo’s largest-ever outbreak.
WHO has officially classified monkeypox (mpox), an infectious disease caused by the monkeypox virus (MPXV), as a sexually transmitted disease (STD).

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The Democratic Republic of the Congo reported 12,569 suspected mpox cases, including 581 deaths, from January 1 through November 12, 2023, according to World Health Organization (WHO) situation report.
This is the highest number of annual cases ever reported, noted WHO. The first confirmed sexually-transmitted mpox infections and the first cases in the country’s capital. The cases were recorded in 22 out of 26 provinces in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

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Africa Green Industrialisation Initiative (AGII) was launched at the 28th Conference of Parties (COP28) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
The ambitious programme to upscale and accelerate green industries and businesses across Africa was launched by presidents and representatives from Kenya, Angola, Burundi, Djibouti, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal and Zambia, as well as COP28 President Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber. The initiative underscores the importance of green industrialisation to harness Africa’s vast and quality resources to secure prosperity for all.

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According to media reports, around 1,000 migrating birds died in Chicago after colliding with illuminated buildings. This incident raised concerns about how ‘stopover’ cities are increasingly becoming less hospitable for migrating birds. The study reveals that finding a hospitable stopover is essential for mass bird migration to happen.
Light pollution doesn’t negatively impact birds only but also humans. It can disrupt humans’ circadian rhythms, leading to health problems, including depression, insomnia, cardiovascular disease and cancer.

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U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recently approved a pair of gene therapies for sickle cell disease.
It includes the first treatment based on the breakthrough CRISPR gene editing technology. Both the therapies were approved for people aged 12 years and older. The Vertex/CRISPR gene therapy uses the breakthrough gene editing technology that won its inventors the Nobel Prize in 2020.

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In October, Bangladesh became the first country in the world to be officially validated by the World Health Organisation (WHO) for eliminating kala azar as a public health problem.
After missing the deadline thrice, India is set to achieve the elimination target for visceral leishmaniasis or kala azar this year with no block in the country reporting more than one case per 10,000 people. India needs to sustain its momentum over the next three years in order to receive the WHO certification. Kala azar is a parasitic infection transmitted by sandflies. It causes fever, weight loss, and spleen and liver enlargement.

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Alliance of Small Island States is an intergovernmental organization of small island and low-lying coastal countries. The AOSIS criticized the COP28 draft agreement for lacking transparency and clarity on phasing out fossil fuels. Small island nations are most vulnerable to rising seas and global warming and sought much stronger commitments on rapidly cutting greenhouse gas emissions.Cedric Schuster, an Australian politician from the Pacific island nation of Samoa, is the current chairperson of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) inter-governmental organization.

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Exercise VINBAX-2023 is a joint military exercise between India and Vietnam. The exercise aims to strengthen collaboration, promote interoperability, and share best practices between the two countries. It also aims to reinforce military capabilities and collaboration for peacekeeping and defense initiatives.
The fourth edition of the exercise is being held in Hanoi, Vietnam, from December 11–21, 2023. A contingent of 45 Indian Armed Forces personnel is participating in the exercise.