International Current Affairs MCQs

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Micheal Martin has been elected as Ireland’s prime minister for a second term with 95 votes in favor and 76 against in parliament. Martin, leader of Fianna Fail, will head a coalition government with Fianna Fail, Fine Gael, and independent lawmakers. This marks the second consecutive coalition between Fianna Fail and Fine Gael, replacing the Green Party after its electoral losses. Martin, previously PM from 2020 to 2022, will be succeeded by Fine Gael’s Simon Harris in 2027 under the coalition agreement.

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Britain will be the first country to introduce laws against Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools used to generate sexual abuse images of children. Possessing, creating, or distributing these AI tools will be punishable by up to 5 years in prison. It will also be illegal to possess AI paedophile manuals, punishable by up to 3 years. The law will criminalize websites promoting child abuse content with up to 10 years in prison. AI is making it easier for predators to manipulate images and groom children. 500,000 children in the UK face abuse each year, with online abuse increasing.

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Panama has formally withdrawn from China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) under US pressure. The Panamanian Embassy in Beijing gave a 90-day notice of its decision. President Jose Raul Mulino rejected US claims about the Panama Canal, calling them “intolerable.” The US alleged Panama agreed to free passage for US government vessels, but the Panama Canal Authority denied any tariff changes. Trump and US officials raised concerns over Chinese investments in the canal. Panama is the first Latin American country to exit the BRI, which operates in over 100 countries.

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The UK-India Young Professionals Scheme (YPS) ballot opens next week. The scheme was created through the India-U.K. Migration and Mobility MoU signed in May 2021. It was launched in February 2023. It allows Indian citizens aged 18-30 to live and work in the UK for up to 2 years. Applicants must be selected in the ballot before applying for a visa. They can study, be self-employed, and set up a business with certain restrictions. The visa must be used within six months of issuance.

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Greece’s parliament elected Constantine Tassoulas as president, a largely ceremonial role. His nomination sparked protests over the 2023 train crash, as critics say parliament failed to investigate political responsibility. The judicial probe into the disaster is still ongoing. Tassoulas, 66, has been a lawmaker since 2000 and served as culture and deputy defense minister. He won 160 votes in the 300-seat parliament and will succeed Katerina Sakellaropoulou in March. His nomination is seen as strengthening Prime Minister Mitsotakis’ power amid rising opposition pressure. He will be sworn in on March 13.

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The UN launched the Early Warnings for All (EW4All) initiative in 2022 to protect people from hazardous weather, water, and climate events through early warning systems by 2027. The initiative aims to safeguard vulnerable populations as climate-related disasters become more frequent and intense. In 2023, early warning systems received record-high funding, but its distribution remains uneven. 54% of national EWS investments are concentrated in five countries—China, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and Indonesia. Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and Least Developed Countries (LDCs) face significant funding gaps. The Global Observatory for Early Warning System Investments was launched in December 2024 by the WMO and UNDRR to track and optimize investments. As of February 12, 2025, the observatory tracks 329 projects across 127 countries, funded by institutions like the World Bank and Green Climate Fund.

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UNESCO launched the “Imagine a world with more women in science” campaign. The campaign marks the 10th anniversary of International Day of Women and Girls in Science (February 11). It promotes diverse perspectives in science using #EveryVoiceInScience. United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) declared February 11 as International Day of Women and Girls in Science in 2015. Globally, women make up only one-third of scientists and hold just 1 in 10 Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) leadership roles. In India, 43% of STEM enrolments are women, but only 18.6% are scientists, and 25% lead R&D projects.

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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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Bangladesh marks February 25 as National Military Martyrdom Day, announced by the interim government on February 23, 2025. The day commemorates the February 25-26, 2009 Pilkhana killings, where 74 military personnel, including 57 army officers, died in a failed mutiny by the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR). The mutineers looted weapons and attempted a coup but were crushed. The interim government, led by Prof. Muhammed Yunus, has ordered a fresh probe, led by A.L.M Fazlur Rahman, into the mutiny.

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The International Finance Corporation (IFC) has decided not to invest in a proposed $40 million loan for waste-to-energy (WTE) incineration projects in Gujarat. IFC is the private lending arm of the World Bank, established in 1956 to support economic development. It provides financing and advisory services to private enterprises in developing countries. IFC mobilizes capital from other lenders through loan participations and parallel loans. It is owned and governed by member countries, with the World Bank Group President also serving as its President. Its headquarters is in Washington, D.C.