International Current Affairs MCQs

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Switzerland and Italy have redrawn their national boundary due to melting Alpine glaciers. Many parts of the Swiss-Italian border are determined by glacier ridgelines, which are shifting as glaciers melt. The redrawn section lies beneath the Matterhorn, one of Europe’s highest peaks. Switzerland’s glaciers lost 10% of their ice volume in 2022-2023, a record high. More than half of Switzerland’s electricity comes from hydroelectric facilities, which are also at risk due to accelerated glacier melting.

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Kazakhstan, the world’s leading uranium producer, is considering its first nuclear power station to enhance energy capacity. The location, near Lake Balkhash, is significant due to past Soviet-era nuclear tests that exposed millions to radiation. The recent referendum reflects Kazakhstan’s cautious approach to nuclear energy amidst historical sensitivities around radiation and safety.

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India launched the ‘Study in India’ campaign at the 20th International Education Show in Sharjah to attract international students to its universities. Organized by EdCIL, the campaign aims to position India as a global education hub, showcasing over 590 universities offering diverse courses and benefits like scholarships. The centralized Study in India portal simplifies admissions, helping students explore programs, apply, and manage visas in one place. India’s higher education sector is the second largest globally, with institutions like IITs and IIMs gaining recognition. The program has attracted over 69,000 students for the 2024-25 academic year, with 4,000 already in India.

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President Droupadi Murmu received an Honorary Doctorate in Political Science in Algeria on 15 October 2024. She is on a three-nation African tour to Algeria, Mauritania, and Malawi from 13-19 October 2024. President Murmu is the first Indian President to visit these three countries. She emphasized education’s role in reducing inequalities and promoting equal opportunities. She encouraged Algerians to utilize India’s ITEC program and other scholarships. Murmu highlighted the importance of youth in strengthening the bond between India and Algeria.

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An Indian travel vlogger visited Indonesia’s Korowai tribe and shared the experience online. The Korowai tribe lives in the southeastern part of Papua, Indonesia, deeply connected to the forest for survival. They hunt and gather food from the forest and are known for their treehouses, built 8-15 meters high, some reaching up to 45 meters. The tribe had little contact with the outside world until 1975. They value equality and have no hierarchy. While historically linked to cannibalism, this practice has largely faded over time.

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Mongolia has designated October 25 as Khulan Conservation Day to raise awareness about the Mongolian Wild Ass, or Khulan.
The initiative, led by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) in Mongolia, highlights Khulan’s role as a keystone species in the Gobi-Steppe ecosystem. This initiative, supported by the Wildlife Conservation Society, aims to raise awareness about the ecological role of the Khulan and the challenges it faces, especially after recent extreme weather events like the dzud that impacted wildlife and livestock in the region. The Khulan is crucial for maintaining biodiversity in its habitat.

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North Korea announced a successful test of its newest intercontinental ballistic missile, the Hwasong-19. Hwasong-19 uses solid-fuel propulsion, enabling faster deployment and making it harder to detect and intercept. This missile measures around 28 meters, significantly longer than advanced U.S. and Russian ICBMs, which are under 20 meters. Analysts estimate Hwasong-19’s range exceeds 13,000 kilometers, capable of reaching the U.S. mainland.

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Pro-Western President Maia Sandu was re-elected in Moldova with 55.26% of the vote, defeating Alexandr Stoianoglo of the pro-Russian Party of Socialists by over 10 percentage points. Sandu gained strong support from Moldovans abroad, helping her secure victory, though she narrowly lost within Moldova itself. The election saw incidents, including bomb threats at four diaspora polling stations where Sandu had significant backing. Russian foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova criticized the election as “undemocratic.”

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Alix Didier Fils-Aime was sworn in as Haiti’s Prime Minister. In his inaugural speech, he promised to tackle insecurity and hold uncontested elections. Haiti is facing severe humanitarian and security crises due to escalating gang violence. In the first three months of 2024, around 2,500 people were killed or injured by gangs. Fils-Aime’s predecessor, Garry Conille, was dismissed by the Transitional Presidential Council. The council, formed in April, is responsible for selecting new leaders and organizing elections.

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Japan has agreed to provide its integrated antenna system, UNICORN, to the Indian Naval Ships. UNICORN stands for Unified Complex Radio Antenna, and it’s a conical structure that houses antennas on warships. The system is designed to increase the stealth characteristics of naval platforms. On November 15, 2024, India and Japan signed a Memorandum of Implementation (MoI) to co-develop and co-produce the UNICORN mast for Indian Navy ships. The agreement was signed at the Embassy of India in Tokyo by the Ambassador of India to Japan, H.E. Shri Sibi George, and Mr. Ishikawa Takeshi, Commissioner of Acquisition Technology and Logistics Agency (ATLA) under Japan MoD. This is India’s first military technology transfer pact with Japan. It’s also the first case of co-development and co-production of defense equipment between the two countries.