International Current Affairs MCQs

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Switzerland will end development aid for Bangladesh, Albania, and Zambia due to budget cuts in foreign aid. The Swiss parliament reduced its 2025 foreign aid budget by 110 million Swiss Francs, and another 321 million Swiss Francs for 2026-2028. These cuts will impact both bilateral and multilateral cooperation. However, Switzerland will still fund humanitarian efforts. This decision is part of Switzerland’s financial adjustments and shift in international aid priorities.

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The Philippines declared a food security emergency to stabilize high rice prices. Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel authorized the release of rice buffer stocks held by the National Food Authority (NFA). The decision was based on recommendations from the National Price Coordinating Council. The Rice Tariffication Law allows the Agriculture Secretary to act during extraordinary price hikes. Rice inflation in the Philippines hit 21.4% in December 2023. The country’s GDP grew by 5.6% in 2024, below the 6-6.5% target. The economy faced setbacks due to extreme weather, geopolitical tensions, and low global demand.

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Australia passed strict anti-hate crime laws on February 6, 2025, introducing mandatory minimum sentences. Sentences range from 12 months for minor hate crimes, like Nazi salutes, to six years for terrorism offences. The law criminalizes threats or violence based on race, religion, nationality, gender, and other identities. Recent attacks on synagogues, cars, and Jewish community buildings prompted stronger laws. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese initially opposed mandatory sentences but later supported them. New South Wales plans to align its hate speech laws with Western Australia and Victoria.

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PM Modi, during his U.S. visit, introduced “MIGA”, inspired by Trump’s “MAGA.” ‘Maga’ refers to ‘Make America Great Again,’ while ‘Miga’ stands for ‘Make India Great Again.’ He called MIGA and MAGA a “mega partnership for prosperity.” India is focused on heritage and development, aiming for Viksit Bharat 2047. India is not neutral but supports peace in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. India and the U.S. aim to double bilateral trade to $500 billion by 2030.

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India has been elected Vice President of the International Organization of Aids to Marine Navigation (IALA) in Singapore. T.K. Ramachandran, Secretary, Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways, led the Indian delegation. The 1st General Assembly of IALA marks its transition from an NGO to an inter-governmental organization (IGO). IALA, founded in 1957, sets global maritime navigation standards. India will host the IALA Council meeting in December 2025 and the IALA Conference & General Assembly in September 2027 in Mumbai. This highlights India’s leadership in maritime safety and international cooperation.

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US President Donald Trump announced the Gold Card, a new immigration initiative offering a direct path to US citizenship for $5 million. It is described as a “premium version” of the Green Card, granting long-term residency and naturalization. The Gold Card will replace the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Visa Program, which required job creation. The program aims to attract wealthy investors and generate government revenue.

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Cyclone Garance hit French overseas territory of La Reunion with winds of 155 kph (96 mph), causing roof damage and power outages. The storm moved from the north to the south of the island. The cyclone alert was downgraded from purple to red, and a stay-at-home order remained in effect.

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Mission 300 is an ambitious initiative to electrify 300 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa by 2030. It was launched in 2025 by the World Bank and African Development Bank (AfDB) in collaboration with key global energy partners. The initiative aims to provide affordable, reliable, and sustainable electricity to millions in Africa. It will achieve this through a mix of grid expansion, mini-grids, and off-grid solar solutions to ensure widespread electrification. Mission 300 will help accelerate Africa’s transition to clean energy, reducing dependency on fossil fuels.

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Mark Carney won the leadership of Canada’s Liberal Party with 86% of the vote and will become Prime Minister after Justin Trudeau’s resignation. His tenure begins amid a trade war with the US, where President Trump has imposed tariffs and threatened to annex Canada. Carney vowed to uphold Trudeau’s C$30 billion retaliatory tariffs until the US respects Canada. Born in 1965, he studied economics at Harvard and Oxford and worked at Goldman Sachs. He served as Governor of the Bank of Canada (2008) and the Bank of England (2013), managing financial crises and Brexit.

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Armenia and Azerbaijan have agreed to a peace deal to end nearly 40 years of conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh. Nagorno-Karabakh, also called Artsakh by Armenians, is a landlocked, mountainous region in the South Caucasus. It has a diverse landscape with steppe, forests, and alpine meadows. The region was part of Azerbaijan but was governed by the unrecognized Republic of Artsakh, with a majority ethnic Armenian population. The conflict began in 1917 after the Russian Empire’s collapse, with both Armenia and Azerbaijan claiming the area.