International Current Affairs

 

International Current Affairs for competitive Exams.

India Ranks 82nd on Global Passport Index; Visa-Free access to 58 Countries

India’s Passport Ranking:

  • India ranks 82nd on the global passport index.
  • Indians can enter 58 countries visa-free, including Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand.
  • The ranking is by the UK-based Henley Passport Index, based on data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

Top Ranking Country:

  • Singapore occupies the top spot with visa-free entry to 195 countries.
  • Japan is now second, alongside Spain, France, Germany, and Italy, with visa-free access to 192 destinations.

Henley Passport Index: It is a global ranking of countries based on the travel freedom allowed by their ordinary passports for their citizens.

Question 1: What is the rank of India’s passport on the global passport index?

A) 75th
B) 82nd
C) 90th
D) 100th

Answer: B) 82nd
India ranks 82nd on the global passport index.

Question 2: How many countries can Indian passport holders enter visa-free?

A) 50 countries
B) 58 countries
C) 60 countries
D) 70 countries

Answer: B) 58 countries
Indians can enter 58 countries visa-free, including Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand.

Bhutan’s King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay arrived in Gujarat for a three-day tour

Bhutan’s King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay arrived in Gujarat on 22 July 2024 for a three-day tour, beginning with a visit to the Statue of Unity.

They were warmly welcomed at Vadodara airport by Gujarat Minister Jagdish Vishwakarma, adhering to the state’s hospitality tradition. The dignitaries were greeted with cultural performances, including garba and drumming, and were received by notable figures like Mayor Pinkiben Soni and India’s Ambassador to Bhutan, Sudhakar Dalela.

The visit underscores strong India-Bhutan diplomatic ties, following a recent high-level meeting between the nations’ foreign secretaries. On July 20, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and Bhutanese counterpart Aum Pema Choden reviewed developmental cooperation strategies, expressing satisfaction with projects completed under the 12th Five Year Plan. They also inaugurated 19 schools in Bhutan, showcasing ongoing collaboration.

Q,: Who is the King of Bhutan who visited Gujarat in July 2024?

A) Jigme Singye Wangchuck
B) Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck
C) Jigme Dorji Wangchuck
D) Tshering Tobgay

Ans : B) Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck
Bhutan’s King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay arrived in Gujarat on 22 July 2024 for a three-day tour

Joe Biden Withdraws from US Presidential Race, Endorses Kamala Harris

US President Joe Biden has withdrawn from the presidential race for the upcoming November election, making the announcement on 21 July 2024 via a letter on his social media account.

He endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as the presidential nominee. Pressure to withdraw had been mounting since a debate with former President and Republican nominee Donald Trump on June 28.

Q.: Who did President Joe Biden endorse as the presidential nominee after his withdrawal from the presidential race for the upcoming November 2024 election?

A. Hillary Clinton
B. Elizabeth Warren
C. Kamala Harris
D. Bernie Sanders

Ans : C. Kamala Harris
US President Joe Biden has withdrawn from the presidential race for the upcoming November election and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as the presidential nominee.

Roberta Metsola elected for new term as President of the European Parliament

Roberta Metsola secured broad backing for a new term as president of the European Parliament on July 16, 2024. Metsola is the first woman to win a second term as head of the EU assembly and only the second president to do so since 1979.

She received support from 562 out of 623 EU lawmakers for her reappointment. Her role is largely ceremonial, presiding over the 720-member parliament, which negotiates and adopts EU legislative proposals and approves the budget.

Q: Who was reappointed as the president of the European Parliament on July 16, 2024?

A) Martin Schulz
B) Angela Merkel
C) Roberta Metsola
D) Ursula von der Leyen

Ans : C) Roberta Metsola
Roberta Metsola secured broad backing for a new term as president of the European Parliament on July 16, 2024.

Donald Trump officially nominated as Republican Candidate for US General Elections 2024

Former US President Donald Trump has been officially nominated as the Republican presidential candidate. His nomination was secured after gaining majority votes from Republican National Committee delegates in Milwaukee on July 15, 2024.

This marks Trump’s third consecutive presidential run, following his win in 2016 and loss to President Joe Biden in 2020. The US Presidential election is scheduled for November 2024.

Trump announced Ohio Senator JD Vance as his vice-presidential running mate. JD Vance, 39, has experience in the US military and is a former venture capitalist and author of “Hillbilly Elegy.” Vance’s selection indicates Trump’s focus on key Midwest states like Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin. JD Vance wife, Usha Chilukuri Vance, is an Indian American woman — and the daughter of immigrants.

Q: Who has been officially nominated as the Republican presidential candidate for the 2024 US Presidential election?

A) Joe Biden
B) Hillary Clinton
C) Donald Trump
D) Mike Pence

Ans : C) Donald Trump
Former US President Donald Trump has been officially nominated as the Republican presidential candidate. His nomination was secured after gaining majority votes from Republican National Committee delegates in Milwaukee on July 15, 2024.

Q: Who did Donald Trump announce as his vice-presidential running mate for the 2024 election?

A) Mike Pence
B) Nikki Haley
C) JD Vance
D) Ron DeSantis

Ans : C) JD Vance
Trump announced Ohio Senator JD Vance as his vice-presidential running mate.

KP Sharma Oli appointed new Prime Minister of Nepal

Nepal President Ram Chandra Paudel appointed KP Sharma Oli as the new Prime Minister on July 14, 2024. Oli replaces Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda, who lost a vote of confidence.

Oli secured the position with support from Nepali Congress president Sher Bahadur Deuba and the signatures of 165 House of Representatives members.

Q: Who was appointed as the new Prime Minister of Nepal on July 14, 2024?

A) Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda
B) Sher Bahadur Deuba
C) Ram Chandra Paudel
D) KP Sharma Oli

Ans : D) KP Sharma Oli
Nepal President Ram Chandra Paudel appointed KP Sharma Oli as the new Prime Minister on July 14, 2024. Oli replaces Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda, who lost a vote of confidence.

Nepal PM Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ loses vote of confidence in Parliament

Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal lost a parliamentary vote of confidence on July 12, 2024. This ended the Dahal’s 20-month tenure as Prime Minister of Nepal.

The liberal Communist Unified Marxist Leninist (UML) party, his largest ally, withdrew support, prompting the need for the vote.

Dahal needed at least 138 votes in the 275-member house to retain power. Out of 258 lawmakers present, 63 voted for Dahal, 194 voted against him, and one abstained.

Parliament Speaker Dev Raj Ghimire declared the rejection of Dahal’s confidence vote, paving the way for a new coalition government.

Q: Which Nepal Prime Minister lost the parliamentary vote of confidence on July 12, 2024?

a) Sher Bahadur Deuba
b) KP Sharma Oli
c) Pushpa Kamal Dahal
d) Madhav Kumar Nepal

Ans : c) Pushpa Kamal Dahal
Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal lost a parliamentary vote of confidence on July 12, 2024.

Bangladesh became the fifth member country of the Colombo Security Conference (CSC)

The Colombo Security Conclave (CSC) officially welcomed Bangladesh as its fifth member state during the 8th Deputy National Security Adviser (DNSA) level meeting, hosted virtually by Mauritius on July 10,2024.

Existing members of the CSC are India, Sri Lanka, Mauritius, and the Maldives, with Seychelles participating as an observer state.

The CSC was established in 2020 to expand the scope of trilateral maritime cooperation between India, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives. Mauritius joined in March 2022.

NSA Ajit Doval represented India at the 6th NSA level meeting in Mauritius on December 7, 2023, which included delegates from Mauritius, Sri Lanka, Seychelles, and Bangladesh. The 7th NSA level meeting of the CSC will be held in India later this year.

Q: Which country was officially welcomed as the fifth member country of the Colombo Security Conclave (CSC) in July 2024?

A) Seychelles
B) Bangladesh
C) Pakistan
D) Nepal

B) Bangladesh
Existing members of the Colombo Security Conclave (CSC) are India, Sri Lanka, Mauritius, and the Maldives,

Q: What is the purpose of the Colombo Security Conclave (CSC), established in 2020?

A) To promote cultural exchange
B) To enhance regional economic cooperation
C) To expand maritime cooperation
D) To support environmental conservation

Ans : C) To expand maritime cooperation
The CSC was established in 2020 to expand the scope of trilateral maritime cooperation between India, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives. Mauritius joined in March 2022. Bangladesh joined as its fifth member in 2024.

PM Modi holds discussions with Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer in Vienna

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer had comprehensive discussions on July 10, 2024, in Vienna.

The meeting aimed to strengthen bilateral relations between India and Austria. Topics covered included the need for reform in the United Nations and other international organizations to make them contemporary and effective.

This visit by Prime Minister Modi is notable as it is the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Austria in 41 years, with Indira Gandhi being the last in 1983.

Q: Who is the Chancellor of Austria who held discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on July 10, 2024 in Vienna?

A) Sebastian Kurz
B) Alexander Schallenberg
C) Karl Nehammer
D) Werner Faymann

Ans : C) Karl Nehammer
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer had comprehensive discussions on July 10, 2024, in Vienna.

PM Modi on two days visit to Russia

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Moscow on July 8, 2024, for a two-day official visit, his first trip to Russia in nine years, to strengthen the strategic partnership between India and Russia.

  1. Modi was welcomed with a guard of honour at VNUKOVO-II International Airport by Russia’s First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov.
  2. Modi hold talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, focusing on bilateral cooperation and regional issues, marking their 17th meeting in the past decade.
  3. Prime Minister will co-chair the 22nd India-Russia Annual Summit with President Vladimir Putin.
  4. After Russia, Modi will visit Austria, the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister in 40 years.

Q: Who is the President of Russia?

A) Mikhail Mishustin
B) Vladimir Putin
C) Dmitry Medvedev
D) Sergey Lavrov

Ans : B) Vladimir Putin
Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Moscow on July 8, 2024, for a two-day official visit. Modi hold talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, focusing on bilateral cooperation and regional issues.

Masoud Pezeshkian, won Iran’s presidential election

Masoud Pezeshkian, a reformist candidate, won Iran’s presidential election. Pezeshkian secured 53.3% of the votes. His hardline conservative rival, Saeed Jalili, polled at 44.3%.

Pezeshkian is a heart surgeon and longtime lawmaker. He campaigned for limited, closer ties with the West and some reforms to strict moral codes.

However, the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is the person who really wields power in Iran.

Q: Who won Iran’s presidential election in July 2024?

A) Saeed Jalili
B) Masoud Pezeshkian
C) Hassan Rouhani
D) Mahmoud Ahmadinejad

Ans : B) Masoud Pezeshkian
Masoud Pezeshkian, a reformist candidate, won Iran’s presidential election. Pezeshkian secured 53.3% of the votes.

UK PM Keir Starmer’s new cabinet

Keir Starmer’s Labour Party achieved victory in the 2024 parliamentary election, ending 14 years of Conservative rule.

Key Figures in the New UK Government

Keir Starmer, Prime Minister : Led Labour to a landslide victory in 2024, ending 14 years of Conservative rule. Former human rights lawyer and top prosecutor.

Angela Rayner, Deputy Prime Minister: Former care worker and trade unionist, elected in 2015.

Rachel Reeves, Finance Minister :She becomes the country’s first female finance chief. Former Bank of England economist, elected in 2010.

David Lammy, Foreign Minister : Social and racial justice advocate, elected in 2000.

Yvette Cooper, Interior Minister : Elected in 1997, experienced in senior ministerial roles.

John Healey, Defence Minister : Elected in 1997, held various junior roles.

Wes Streeting, Health Minister : Elected in 2015, experienced in health and education policy.

Ed Miliband, Energy Security and Net Zero Minister : Former Labour leader, focused on environmental issues.

Jonathan Reynolds, Business Minister : Elected in 2010, experienced in financial sector liaison.

Q: Who became the first female Finance Minister of the United Kingdom in 2024?

a) Angela Rayner
b) Yvette Cooper
c) Rachel Reeves
d) Theresa May

Ans : c) Rachel Reeves
Keir Starmer’s Labour Party achieved victory in the 2024 parliamentary election. Rachel Reeves, Finance Minister, becomes the country’s first female finance Minister.

Keir Starmer of Labour Party is set to become Britain’s next Prime Minister

Keir Starmer is set to become Britain’s next Prime Minister. Labour Party won a massive majority in the parliamentary election held on July 4, 2024.

Labour party won around 400 seats in the 650-seat parliament. This election result would end 14 years of Conservative-led government.

Rishi Sunak’s Conservative Party is suffered historic losses.

Voters are punishing the Conservatives for a cost-of-living crisis and years of instability and in-fighting, with five different prime ministers since 2016.

Q: Who is set to become Britain’s next Prime Minister following the parliamentary election on July 4, 2024?

a) Rishi Sunak
b) Boris Johnson
c) Keir Starmer
d) Jeremy Corbyn

c) Keir Starmer
Keir Starmer is set to become Britain’s next Prime Minister. Labour Party is projected to win a massive majority in the parliamentary election on July 4, 2024.

Dick Schoof, sworn in as the Netherlands’ new Prime Minister

Dick Schoof, former head of the Dutch Secret Service, was sworn in as the Netherlands’ new Prime Minister on June 2, 2024, ending a seven-month political impasse.

  1. Coalition Government: Schoof leads a broad right-wing coalition cabinet, including Geert Wilders’ far-right Freedom Party (PVV), the Farmers Party (BBB), the liberal-conservative VVD, and the new anti-corruption party NSC. Wilders’ party won 37 out of 150 seats in the House of Representatives in the November elections.
  2. King Willem-Alexander: The ceremony was officiated by King Willem-Alexander at the royal Huis ten Bosch Palace in The Hague.
  3. Succeeding Mark Rutte: Schoof succeeds Mark Rutte, who will become NATO’s next secretary-general on October 1, 2024.

Q: Who was sworn in as the Netherlands’ new Prime Minister on June 2, 2024?

A) Mark Rutte
B) Jens Stoltenberg
C) Dick Schoof
D) Geert Wilders

Answer: C) Dick Schoof
Dick Schoof, former head of the Dutch Secret Service, was sworn in as the Netherlands’ new Prime Minister on June 2, 2024

António Costa’s elected as the next President of the European Council

António Costa’s was elected as the next President of the European Council on June 28,2024 in Brussels, Belgium. His mandate will last for two and a half years, succeeding Charles Michel on December 1, 2024.

António Costa is a Portuguese politician and member of the Socialist Party. He served as the Prime Minister of Portugal from 2015 to 2022.

Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni was the only leader who voted against his appointment.

Q: Who has been elected as the next President of the European Council?

A) Angela Merkel
B) Emmanuel Macron
C) António Costa
D) Pedro Sánchez

Answer: C) António Costa
António Costa’s was elected as the next President of the European Council on June 28,2024 in Brussels, Belgium. His will succeeding Charles Michel on December 1, 2024.

International Solar Alliance (ISA) : Paraguay become the 100th country to join

Paraguay has become the 100th country to join the International Solar Alliance (ISA) as a full member. Paraguay handed over its Instrument of Ratification to the ISA in New Delhi on 26 June 2024.

The ceremony involved Paraguay’s Ambassador to India, Fleming Raul Duarte, and Abhishek Singh, Joint Secretary of Economic Diplomacy and States Division at India’s Ministry of External Affairs.

What is International Solar Alliance (ISA)?

The ISA was co-founded by India and France during the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP21) in Paris. The ISA aims to promote the deployment of solar energy worldwide, increase energy access, ensure energy security, and drive the transition to sustainable energy sources. The primary goal of the ISA is to contribute to the implementation of the Paris Climate Agreement through rapid and massive deployment of solar energy technologies.

The ISA Framework Agreement has 119 signatory countries, with 100 having completed the ratification process to become full members. Spain joined as the 99th full member in May 2024.

Q: Which country became the 100th full member of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) in June 2024?

a) Spain
b) Paraguay
c) India
d) France

Ans : b) Paraguay
The ISA was co-founded by India and France during the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP21) in Paris. Paraguay has become the 100th country to join the International Solar Alliance (ISA) as a full member in New Delhi on 26 June 2024.

Wikileaks Founder Julian Assange released from UK Prison after deal with US Authorities

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange was released from a UK prison on June 24, 2024, ending a years-long legal battle. This came after he struck a plea deal with US authorities.

As per the conditions finalised in a tentative deal with the US Justice Department, Assange will plead guilty to criminal charges but will serve no time in US custody. Assange was charged with conspiracy to obtain and disclose national defense information. The Wikileaks files, which revealed information about the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, had been a point of contention.

Assange spent seven years in Ecuador’s London embassy before being taken into custody in the UK. Swedish authorities dropped separate charges of rape and sexual assault against him in 2019.

Julian Assange will return to Australia after his release.

Question: Who is the founder of WikiLeaks?

A) Julian Assange
B) Edward Snowden
C) Chelsea Manning
D) Glenn Greenwald

Answer: A) Julian Assange
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange was released from a UK prison on June 24, 2024, ending a years-long legal battle. This came after he struck a plea deal with US authorities.

North Korea and Russia sign pact to provide all available military help if other is attacked

North Korea and Russia agreed to provide immediate military assistance if either faced armed aggression, under a newly signed pact during Putin’s visit to North Korea on 20 June 2024.

The agreement signifies a “comprehensive strategic partnership” between Russia and North Korea. The pact specifies that if either country faces armed invasion, the other will provide military and other assistance per Article 51 of the U.N. Charter and their national laws.

UN Charter Article 51: This article provides the right for collective self-defense actions by member countries.

Historical Context: This agreement revives a mutual defense agreement under a 1961 treaty between North Korea and the Soviet Union, which was annulled in 1990.

Q: What did North Korea and Russia agree to provide under their newly signed pact during Putin visit to North Korea on 20 June 2024?

A) Economic assistance
B) Military assistance
C) Diplomatic support
D) Humanitarian aid

Ans : B) Military assistance
North Korea and Russia agreed to provide immediate military assistance if either faced armed aggression.

Q: Article 51 of the U.N. Charter, provides for the right of:

A) Economic sanctions
B) Collective self-defense actions
C) Environmental protection
D) Humanitarian intervention

Ans : B) Collective self-defense actions
North Korea and Russia signed “comprehensive strategic partnership” under UN Charter Article 51 to provide all available military help if other is attacked

IAF participated in Exercise Red Flag 2024 at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska from 4th to 14th June 2024

An Indian Air Force (IAF) contingent participated in Exercise Red Flag 2024 at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska from 4th to 14th June 2024.

Exercise Red Flag is an advanced aerial combat training exercise conducted four times a year by the US Air Force. This was the second edition of Exercise Red Flag 2024.

Participating forces included the Indian Air Force, Republic of Singapore Air Force, Royal Air Force of the United Kingdom, Royal Netherlands Air Force, German Luftwaffe, and the US Air Force.

The IAF participated with Rafale aircraft and personnel, including aircrew, technicians, engineers, controllers, and subject matter experts.

Red Flag simulates realistic combat settings with multiple scenarios, featuring a demarcation of forces into Red Force (Air Defence elements) and Blue Force (Offensive Composite elements).

Q: What is the name of the advanced aerial combat training exercise conducted four times a year by the US Air Force, which saw participation from the Indian Air Force, Republic of Singapore Air Force, Royal Air Force of the United Kingdom, Royal Netherlands Air Force, German Luftwaffe, and the US Air Force in June 2024?

A) Exercise Air Show
B) Exercise Friend Force
C) Exercise Green Sea
D) Exercise Red Flag

Ans : D) Exercise Red Flag
An Indian Air Force (IAF) contingent participated in Exercise Red Flag 2024 at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska from 4th to 14th June 2024.

G7 summit , from June 13th to 15th, 2024 in Apulia, Italy

The recent G7 summit in Apulia, Italy, which took place from June 13th to 15th, 2024. The leaders from the G7 member states (Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK, and the US) along with representatives from the European Union attended the submit. India was also invited as an Outreach Country to discuss global issues and strengthen bilateral cooperation with Italy.

The Russia-Ukraine conflict, climate change and energy security, food security, and migration were prominent topics. Leaders discussed ways to address these challenges and promote a more stable and prosperous world.

Q: In which of the following locations and during what timeframe did the G7 Summit 2024 occur?

a) Tokyo, Japan in 03th to 05th April 2024
b) Apulia, Italy from June 13th to 15th, 2024
c) Berlin, Germany in 10th to 12th May 2024
d) Ottawa, Canada in 23th to 25th December 2023

Ans : b) Apulia, Italy from June 13th to 15th, 2024

Claudia Sheinbaum elected as the first woman President of Mexico

Claudia Sheinbaum has been elected as the first woman President of Mexico. She is also the first President of Jewish heritage in Mexico.

    Sheinbaum received nearly 58% of the vote, according to preliminary results.

      Her opponent, Xochitl Galvez, backed by a coalition of the National Action (PAN), Institutional Revolutionary (PRI), and Democratic Revolution (PRD) parties, received between 26.6% and 28.6% of the votes.

      Q: Who has been elected as the first woman President of Mexico?

      A) Xochitl Galvez
      B) Claudia Sheinbaum
      C) Margarita Zavala
      D) Rosario Robles

      Answer: B) Claudia Sheinbaum

      Gitanas Nausėda, President of Lithuania, has been re-elected for a second five-year term

      Gitanas Nausėda, the incumbent President of Lithuania, has been re-elected for a second five-year term. The election took place on May 12, 2024.

      • Nausėda won in a landslide victory over Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė.
      • Preliminary figures show Nausėda secured 74.5% of the votes, while Šimonytė received 24.1%.
      • During his presidency, Nausėda has strongly supported Ukraine and provided refuge to those fleeing repression in Belarus and Russia.

      Q: Who was re-elected as the President of Lithuania in 2024?

      A) Ingrida Šimonytė
      B) Gitanas Nausėda
      C) Dalia Grybauskaitė
      D) Valdas Adamkus

      Answer: B) Gitanas Nausėda

      WIPO adopted a new treaty related to intellectual property (IP), genetic resources, and associated traditional knowledge

      On May 24, 2024, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) member states adopted a groundbreaking new treaty related to intellectual property (IP), genetic resources, and associated traditional knowledge.

      1. Historic Breakthrough: The treaty marks a historic breakthrough after decades of negotiations. It is the first WIPO Treaty to address the interface between intellectual property, genetic resources, and traditional knowledge.
      2. Inclusion of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities: This treaty includes provisions specifically for Indigenous Peoples as well as local communities. It recognizes their role in the protection and management of genetic resources and traditional knowledge.
      3. Disclosure Requirement for Patent Applicants: Once the treaty enters into force with 15 contracting parties, it will establish a new disclosure requirement for patent applicants whose inventions are based on genetic resources and/or associated traditional knowledge. This requirement aims to ensure transparency and fair benefit-sharing.
      4. 25-Year Negotiating Journey: Negotiations for this treaty began at WIPO in 2001, following a proposal by Colombia in 1999. The inclusion of Indigenous Peoples and local communities was notable during these discussions.
      5. WIPO Director General Daren Tang welcomed the adoption of the treaty.

      Q: What key aspect does the new WIPO treaty address for the first time?

      A. International trade tariffs
      B. The interface between intellectual property, genetic resources, and traditional knowledge
      C. Global internet regulations
      D. International labor laws

      Answer: B. The interface between intellectual property, genetic resources, and traditional knowledge

      UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced a general election on July 4, 2024

      UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced a general election date set for July 4, 2024. On 22 May 2024, Sunak requested the dissolution of parliament from His Majesty the King Charles III, who granted the request.

      • This will be Sunak’s first time facing the public in a general election as Prime Minister, after becoming Conservative Party leader in October 2022.
      • The upcoming vote is the third since the Brexit referendum in 2016.
      • Sunak aims to leverage better economic data to appeal to voters affected by cost-of-living increases.
      • Halving inflation from historic highs above 11.0 percent at the end of 2022 was one of Sunak’s five key pledges.
      • Inflation slowed to a near three-year low at 2.3 percent in March 2024, with Finance Minister Jeremy Hunt claiming this as proof of the plan’s success.
      • Political commentators suggest Sunak might be seeking an electoral boost from the improved economic outlook, despite trailing in polls to the Labour party.
      • Critics argue that the improved economic conditions are more due to global economic changes than government policy.

      Q: Who is the Prime Minister of the UK?

      A. Boris Johnson
      B. Keir Starmer
      C. Rishi Sunak
      D. Theresa May

      Ans:C. Rishi Sunak

      Q: Rishi Sunak is the leader of which political party in the UK?

      A. Labour Party
      B. Liberal Democrats
      C. Green Party
      D. Conservative Party

      Ans : D. Conservative Party

      To Lam become new President of Vietnam

      Vietnam’s National Assembly approved To Lam as the country’s next President on 22 May 2024. The appointment followed the resignation of former President Vo Van Thuong amid a corruption crackdown nearly two months earlier.

      • To Lam becomes the third President of Vietnam in less than 18 months, a notable change in a country known for its political stability.
      • As President, To Lam is now the third most powerful figure in Vietnam, following the Party Chief and Prime Minister.
      • To Lam is known as a hardliner, particularly in his dealings with Vietnamese activists, with numerous dissidents and bloggers jailed during his tenure as the Minister of Public Security.

      Q: Who was approved as Vietnam’s next President on 22 May 2024?

      A. Vo Van Thuong
      B. To Lam
      C. Nguyen Phu Trong
      D. Pham Minh Chinh

      Ans : B. To Lam

      Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi was killed in a helicopter crash

      Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi was killed in a helicopter crash near the Azerbaijan border on May 20, 2024.

      1. The helicopter carrying Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian crashed in mountainous terrain; all passengers were killed.
      2. The crash wreckage was found after an overnight search in blizzard conditions.
      3. Raisi’s death was confirmed by Vice President Mohsen Mansouri and state television.
      4. Raisi, elected in 2021, was a hardliner and potential successor to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
      5. Raisi was known for tightening morality laws, cracking down on protests, and engaging in nuclear talks.
      6. Supreme Leader Khamenei assured there would be no disruption to state affairs following Raisi’s death.

      Q: What event led to the death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in May 2024?

      A) Assassination
      B) Heart Attack
      C) Helicopter Crash
      D) Car Accident

      Answer: C) Helicopter Crash

      Lawrence Wong sworn in as the Singapore Prime Minister

      Singapore’s deputy leader Lawrence Wong was sworn in as the nation’s fourth Prime Minister on 15 May 2024. Fifty-one-year-old Wong succeeds 72-year-old Lee Hsien Loong, who stepped down after two decades at the helm.

      Lee’s resignation marked the end of a family dynasty led by his father Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore’s charismatic first leader who transformed the colonial trading outpost into a business-friendly, affluent country during 31 years in office.

      Since becoming an independent nation in 1965, Singapore has only had three Prime Ministers, all from the ruling People’s Action Party.

      Q: Who was sworn in as Singapore’s fourth Prime Minister on 15 May 2024?

      A) Lee Hsien Loong
      B) Lawrence Wong
      C) Lee Kuan Yew
      D) Halimah Yacob

      Ans : B) Lawrence Wong

      India and Iran signed a long-term contract for operating the Shahid-Beheshti Port Terminal in Chabahar

      India and Iran signed a long-term contract for operating the Shahid-Beheshti Port Terminal to enhance cooperation and make Chabahar Port a regional trade transit and connectivity hub.

      • The Indian delegation, led by Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, witnessed the signing of the 10-year contract with Iran’s Minister for Roads and Urban Development, Mehrdad Bazrpash.
      • India Ports Global Ltd (IPGL) will invest approximately $120 million in equipping and operating the port under the contract.
      • Chabahar Port serves as an important transit port for trade with Afghanistan and Central Asian countries and is a flagship project of India-Iran cooperation.
      • India has been involved in developing and upgrading Chabahar Port’s infrastructure to facilitate trade with landlocked Afghanistan and Central Asian countries.
      • Chabahar Port is situated in Iran’s Sistan-Baluchistan province and provides a shorter trade route between India, Iran, Afghanistan, and Central Asia.
      • India Ports Global Limited (IPGL) operates the Chabahar Port through its subsidiary, India Ports Global Chabahar Free Zone (IPGCFZ), since December 2018.

      Q: India and Iran signed a long-term contract for operating which port?

      a) Chittagong Port
      b) Shahid Beheshti Port in Chabahar
      c) Port of Colombo
      d) Port of Karachi

      Ans : b) Shahid Beheshti Port in Chabahar

      Q: What new trade route will be opened up by the agreement between India and Iran regarding the Chabahar port?

      a) Between India and China
      b) Between South Asia and Central Asia via Iran
      c) Between India and Japan
      d) Between South Asia and Europe via Iran

      Ans : b) Between South Asia and Central Asia via Iran

      United Nations General Assembly supported a Palestinian bid for full U.N. membership

      The United Nations General Assembly supported a Palestinian bid for full U.N. membership on May 10. The General Assembly recommended the U.N. Security Council to reconsider the matter favorably.

      • The vote reflected global support for the Palestinian bid after the U.S. vetoed it in the Security Council the previous month.
      • The resolution passed with 143 votes in favor, 9 against (including the U.S. and Israel), and 25 abstentions.
      • This resolution doesn’t grant full U.N. membership to Palestine but acknowledges its qualification to join.

      Q: What is the outcome of the General Assembly’s resolution on May 10, regarding Palestinian membership?

      a) Grants full U.N. membership to Palestine
      b) Rejects Palestinian membership entirely
      c) Acknowledges Palestine’s qualification to join the U.N.
      d) Recommends military intervention in the region

      Ans : c) Acknowledges Palestine’s qualification to join the U.N.

      India surpasses Japan to become the world’s third-largest solar power generator

      India surpasses Japan to become the world’s third-largest solar power generator in 2023, according to Ember report. Global Electricity Review 2024 released alongside the world’s first open dataset on electricity generation, covering 80 countries representing 92% of global electricity demand.

      • Solar power’s share in global electricity production reaches a record 5.5% in 2023.
      • India sees the fourth-largest increase in solar generation (+18 TWh) in 2023, following China, the United States, and Brazil, accounting for 75% of overall growth.
      • India expands solar generation capacity significantly from ranking ninth in 2015 to 5.8% share in 2023.
      • Globally, solar power generation increases sixfold between 2015 and 2023, with India experiencing a seventeen-fold increase during the same period.
      • IEA forecasts solar power to constitute 22% of global electricity generation by 2030.
      • COP28 goal to triple global renewables capacity by 2030 could help achieve this trajectory.
      • India aims to triple renewable capacity by 2030, but Ember’s analysis highlights the need for substantial annual capacity additions to meet this target.

      Q: According to the Global Electricity Review 2024, which country has overtaken Japan to become the world’s third-largest solar power generator in 2023?

      a) China
      b) India
      c) Brazil
      d) United States

      Ans : b) India

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