International Current Affairs MCQs

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Mauritius has become the first African country and the fourth globally to sign a Country Partnership Framework (CPF) with the International Solar Alliance (ISA). The International Solar Alliance (ISA) is a global platform that promotes solar energy cooperation among member countries. The CPF offers a structured plan for long- and medium-term collaboration on solar projects aligned with Mauritius’s national goals. This agreement aims to speed up clean energy transition through joint solar initiatives. A Country Partnership Strategy (CPS) will be created to suit Mauritius’s energy needs.

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United Kingdom (UK)-based health charity Encephalitis International has launched a global campaign titled ‘Preventing Future Encephalitis: Climate Change and Infectious Disease’ to raise awareness about encephalitis and promote vaccination. Encephalitis is the inflammation of active brain tissues caused by infections or autoimmune responses, affecting over 1.5 million people globally every year. The campaign highlights how climate change increases encephalitis risk by creating conditions for disease-carrying vectors like mosquitoes and ticks to spread. India is among high-burden countries, with 1,548 cases of Japanese encephalitis reported in 2024 from 24 states and union territories.

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The United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) has recently launched VoTAN, which stands for Victims of Terrorism Advocacy Network, to support victims and survivors of terrorism worldwide. VoTAN is the result of efforts by the Group of Friends of Victims of Terrorism, co-chaired by Spain and Iraq, which was formed around six years ago to protect the rights of victims. This global network was a major outcome of the 2022 United Nations Global Congress on Victims of Terrorism. It aims to offer a safe platform for victims to connect, heal, build resilience, and act as educators, peacebuilders, and advocates. The network is financially supported by Spain.

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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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Recently, Cambodia and China launched their largest-ever Golden Dragon joint military exercise. Golden Dragon is a yearly bilateral military drill between China and Cambodia started in 2016 to boost strategic and defense cooperation. The 2025 edition focuses on joint counter-terrorism operations and humanitarian relief, showcasing peace and capacity-building goals. It is being held at the Ream Naval Base in Sihanoukville, Cambodia, which was inaugurated in April 2025 with the arrival of Chinese warships. The exercise includes high-tech tools like reconnaissance and attack drones, surgical robots, and robot dogs, showing a move towards tech-driven warfare.

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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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The Indian Defence Minister recently said that Pakistan’s nuclear weapons should be monitored by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to ensure global nuclear safety. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is the main intergovernmental body for cooperation in nuclear science and technology. It works to ensure the safe, secure, and peaceful use of nuclear energy, following global non-proliferation rules. The IAEA Statute was approved on 23 October 1956 and became active on 29 July 1957. Its headquarters is in Vienna, Austria. With 178 member countries, the IAEA plays a key global role in nuclear governance.

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India and the European Union (EU) launched two major research projects on Marine Plastic Litter and Waste to Hydrogen. These initiatives are under the India-EU Trade and Technology Council (TTC), formed in 2022. The TTC was created by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. It aims to strengthen trade and technology partnership between India and the EU. In February 2025, during the TTC’s second meeting, both sides confirmed their focus on green technologies. They agreed to cooperate on recycling electric vehicle batteries, marine plastic waste, and converting waste to hydrogen.

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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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Member countries of the World Health Organization (WHO) have adopted the first-ever WHO Pandemic Agreement at the 78th World Health Assembly, Geneva. This agreement is the result of over three years of negotiations following the COVID-19 pandemic. It aims to improve global cooperation for pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response through fair access to vaccines, medicines, and tests. A Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing system (PABS) will be developed to ensure countries sharing virus samples receive timely support. Under PABS, pharma companies will give WHO 20% of real-time production for equitable distribution, especially to developing nations.