International Current Affairs MCQs

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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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Friedrich Merz of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) was elected as the 10th Chancellor of Germany by the Bundestag on 6th May 2025. He succeeded Olaf Scholz after Scholz’s coalition lost the 2025 Bundestag general election. Merz leads a three-party coalition government including the CDU, Christian Social Union (CSU), and Social Democratic Party (SPD). For the first time since World War II, a German Chancellor was elected in the second round of voting in the Bundestag. The Chancellor is nominated by the President and must win an absolute majority in the Bundestag. Merz failed in the first round but secured victory in the second.

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The Quad countries recently conducted a Tabletop Exercise at the Asia-Pacific Centre for Security Studies in Honolulu, Hawaii to advance the launch of the Quad Indo-Pacific Logistics Network (IPLN). The Indo-Pacific Logistics Network (IPLN) aims to help Quad countries use shared logistics resources to quickly and efficiently respond to natural disasters in the Indo-Pacific region. This initiative shows the Quad’s strong commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific and the importance of working together to face regional challenges. The Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) includes India, Japan, Australia, and the United States. It was first formed after the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami to improve disaster relief efforts and was formalised in 2007 by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

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Recently, India extended financial support to the Maldives by offering a $50 million Government Treasury Bill to help the island nation with fiscal reforms and economic stability. This move highlights India’s commitment under the ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy to support its close maritime neighbours. The Maldives holds strategic importance in India’s regional outreach and is a key partner in India’s maritime vision, called Vision ‘MAHASAGAR’ (Maritime Awareness for Holistic Action and Security through Active Geographical Engagement for Regional Stability). The support reflects not just economic assistance but a deeper strategic and diplomatic partnership between India and the Maldives.

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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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Recently, concerns were raised that low tobacco prices in India are making it hard to control tobacco use, unlike in other countries where higher prices have reduced smoking. This weakens the World Health Organization’s (WHO) MPOWER framework, which aims to reduce tobacco-related diseases, including cancer. The MPOWER framework was introduced by WHO in 2008 under the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC). It includes six key measures: Monitoring tobacco use, Protecting people from smoke, Offering help to quit, Warning about dangers, Enforcing bans on promotion, and Raising taxes. These steps are proven to reduce tobacco demand and help smokers quit.

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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.

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Israel has become the first country to use a laser weapon in live combat by shooting down drones during the “Swords of Iron” war in Gaza. The laser weapon was developed by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, an Israeli company. It uses a high-energy focused beam of light to heat and destroy enemy drones.

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China has recently launched the International Organisation for Mediation (IOMed) as a new global body to resolve disputes. It aims to offer an alternative to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and the Permanent Court of Arbitration by focusing only on mediation. It is the world’s first intergovernmental legal organisation dedicated solely to international dispute resolution through mediation. It will be headquartered in Hong Kong.

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China has recently announced plans to build the world’s first hybrid fusion-fission nuclear plant named Xinghuo, which means “spark” in Mandarin. This plant will combine both fusion and fission reactions to increase energy production and reduce radioactive waste. Fusion involves joining atomic nuclei, while fission splits them; together, they can offer a more efficient and cleaner energy solution. Xinghuo aims to set a new global standard in sustainable and high-output nuclear power technology.