International Current Affairs MCQs

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The United Arab Emirates has inaugurated the world’s largest single-site solar power plant ahead of the upcoming United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28).
The 2-gigawatt Al Dhafra Solar Photovoltaic Independent Power Project (IPP) is located 35 kilometers from Abu Dhabi city and will generate enough electricity to power almost 200,000 homes. The plant is expected to displace 2.4 million tonnes of carbon emissions annually. The project also aligns with the UAE’s Net Zero 2050 goal.

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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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India announced a USD 250 million line of credit to Kenya for modernisation of its agricultural sector as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Kenyan President William Samoei Ruto agreed to enhance bilateral ties in areas of defence, trade, energy, digital public infrastructure and healthcare.
The two sides signed five pacts providing for cooperation in a range of areas including sports, education and digital solution, and unveiled a joint vision document to scale up maritime engagement in the Indian Ocean region. The Kenyan side offered to provide land to Indian companies and institutions for cultivation of crops, including millets.

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Since 1947, Norway has sent an annual gift to Britain, expressing thanks for its support during World War Two.
This year, the symbol of historic gratitude has arrived in Trafalgar Square. At 20 meters tall and approximately 70 years old, this year’s “queen of the forest” was carefully selected from woodlands around Oslo, then ceremonially felled in November.

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The Central government has approved the first urban flood mitigation project of Rs 561.29 crore for ‘Integrated Urban Flood Management’ activities for the Chennai Basin project, as per Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
This is the first in a series of urban flood mitigation efforts and will help develop a broader framework for urban flood management.

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Europe has begun monitoring its imports of steel with an intention to disuade products that are an outcome of processes that result in high carbon emissions.
The move is expected to hit Indian steel exporters that have been reliant on polluting coking coal as feedstock to keep their furnaces burning. While there is no immediate impact, Europe’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) has catalysed the shift towards Green Steel in India. CBAM entered into application in its transitional phase from October 1, 2023.

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Launched in June 2020 with 15 members, Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence’s (GPAI) membership has expanded to 28 member countries and the European Union (EU).
India is hosting the Annual GPAI Summit from December 12-14, 2023 in New Delhi. As part of the Annual GPAI Summit, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) is organizing the AI Gamechangers Award. This event will recognize and award AI entrepreneurs and innovators from diverse backgrounds to highlight their innovative AI solutions.

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India has provided $1 million in relief aid to Papua New Guinea following a damaging volcanic eruption. The eruption occurred at Mount Ulawun, an active volcano on the island of New Britain in Papua New Guinea. Sitting on the seismically active Pacific Ring of Fire, Papua New Guinea frequently experiences seismic and volcanic activity. The Mount Ulawun eruption caused extensive damage and forced the evacuation of over 26,000 people. To aid Papua New Guinea in responding to this natural disaster, India sent $1 million worth of relief materials for the affected populations.

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The 8th edition of Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) Conclave of Chiefs (CoC) was conducted by Royal Thai Navy at Bangkok, Thailand from 19 – 22 Dec 23. Chiefs of Navies/ Senior Delegates from 27 Members/ Observer countries participated in the event. IONS was conceived by the Indian Navy in 2008. The inaugural edition of IONS was held in Feb 2008 at New Delhi, with Indian Navy as the Chair for two years (2008 – 2010).
India is also scheduled to take over as the Chair of IONS (2025-27) during 9th CoC planned to be conducted in India in end 2025.

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Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, which was ravaged by fire in 2019, plans to replace stained glass windows in side chapels with modern ones based on an approval by President Emmanuel Macron. It is facing criticism as people have signed petition calling it vandalism of the historical monument’s Gothic architecture.