International

 

International Current Affairs for competitive Exams.

PM Modi attends the sixth Quad Leaders’ Summit in Wilmington, Delaware 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi took part in the sixth Quad Leaders’ Summit in Wilmington, Delaware, on 21 September 2024. The summit was hosted by US President Joe Biden. The Prime Ministers of Australia, Anthony Albanese, and Japan, Fumio Kishida, also joined the meeting.

About the QUAD

The Quad is a group of four countries: India, Australia, Japan, and the US. They work together to keep the Indo-Pacific region open, free, and peaceful. Their efforts help support development and achieve important global goals.

The Quad meets through meetings, summits, and joint military exercises. The main goal is to protect the sea routes in the Indo-Pacific from military or political control. Japan’s Prime Minister first suggested the idea in 2007, but the group became active again in 2017. In 2021, they held their first leaders’ meeting online.

India will host the next (7th) Quad Leaders’ Summit in 2025.

Jordon becomes first Leprosy free country

On 19 September 2024, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared Jordan as the first country to eliminate leprosy. This is an important achievement in global health.

WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus praised Jordan for its efforts to stop the disease. Jordan has not had any local cases of leprosy in over 20 years, confirmed by an independent assessment. However, leprosy is still found in more than 120 countries, with over 200,000 new cases reported each year.

Explosions in Lebanon: Pagers and Radios Targeted

On September 17, 2024, a series of explosions in Lebanon targeted handheld pagers and radios used by Hezbollah members. The blasts occurred in places like Beirut, the Bekaa Valley, and southern Lebanon, killing at least 20 people and injuring over 450.

Hezbollah blamed Israel, but Israel has not responded. This has increased tensions, especially as Israel and Hezbollah have been engaged in cross-border warfare since the Gaza conflict escalated last October.

Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi on Official Visit to India on September 9 and 10

Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, HH Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, on September 9, 2024, during the Crown Prince’s two-day official visit to India (September 9 and 10). This was the Crown Prince’s first official visit to India as Crown Prince, and he received a ceremonial Guard of Honour upon arrival.

Several Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) were signed, including one on Nuclear Cooperation for nuclear power plant maintenance and mutual investments.

  • An agreement for the long-term supply of 1 million metric tonnes per annum (MMTPA) of LNG was signed, strengthening India’s energy security.
  • Another MoU between ADNOC and Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserve Ltd. (ISPRL) was signed to expand crude storage collaboration.
  • Urja Bharat, a joint venture of IOCL and Bharat Petro Resources Ltd, signed a Production Concession Agreement with ADNOC for Abu Dhabi Onshore Block 1, marking the first such agreement for an Indian company in the UAE.
  • Cooperation in the food sector will be enhanced through the MoU on Food Parks in Ahmedabad, with the project beginning in Q2 2025.

The Crown Prince will participate in the India-UAE Business Forum in Mumbai, where the India-UAE Virtual Trade Corridor (VTC) and the MAITRI interface will be soft-launched.

Global Cooperative Conference from 25th to 30th November in New Delhi

India will host the first Global Cooperative Conference from 25th to 30th November in New Delhi. Dr. Ashish Kumar Bhutani, Secretary of the Ministry of Cooperation, announced the conference during a media briefing. The conference will focus on innovative solutions, technologies, and best practices for the cooperative movement.

This is the first time in the 130-year history of the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA) that the conference will be held in India. Jeroen Douglas, Director General of the ICA, noted that there are 3 million cooperatives worldwide, with India leading in terms of the highest number of cooperatives.

Michel Barnier is new Prime Minister of France

French President Emmanuel Macron appointed Michel Barnier as Prime Minister on 5 September 2024. He is a former chief Brexit negotiator of the European Union. He is a veteran member of the right-wing Republicans party.

The appointment follows a political deadlock after France’s snap elections. Barnier’s main task is to form a unified government. The French National Assembly is divided into three large political blocs, with no clear majority.

Q.: Who has been appointed as the new Prime Minister of France in September 2024?

a) Emmanuel Macron
b) Michel Barnier
c) Édouard Philippe
d) Jean Castex

Answer: b) Michel Barnier
French President Emmanuel Macron appointed Michel Barnier as Prime Minister on 5 September 2024.

PM Modi Visit to Kyiv: A Diplomatic Push for Peace Talks Amid Ukraine-Russia Conflict

On 23 August 2024, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Kyiv, marking the first visit by an Indian leader to Ukraine since its independence in 1991.

During the visit, Prime Minister Modi and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky discussed peace efforts, with Modi emphasizing India’s commitment to peaceful resolution through dialogue. The visit is part of Ukraine’s diplomatic efforts to involve non-Western nations in potential settlement talks with Russia.

Q.: Who was the President of Ukraine during PM Modi’s visit in August 2024?

a) Viktor Yanukovych
b) Petro Poroshenko
c) Volodymyr Zelensky
d) Oleksii Reznikov

Answer: c) Volodymyr Zelensky
On 23 August 2024, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Kyiv. Prime Minister Modi and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky discussed peace efforts.

Voice of Global South Summit 2024 was hosted by India on August 17, 2024

The Voice of Global South Summit 2024 was hosted by India on August 17, 2024, with the theme “An Empowered Global South for a Sustainable Future.” The summit aimed to amplify the voices of developing nations and address their unique challenges and aspirations.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized India’s focus on cooperation in infrastructure, digital, and energy sectors to empower developing countries.

The summit provided a platform for discussing shared challenges like conflicts, food and energy security crises, and climate change, which disproportionately affect developing nations.

About the Voice of Global South

The Voice of Global South initiative was launched by India, with the first summit held on January 12-13, 2023.

Member Countries: The initiative includes over 100 countries from the Global South across various regions:

  • Latin America & Caribbean: 29 countries
  • Africa: 47 countries
  • Europe: 7 countries
  • Asia: 31 countries
  • Oceania: 11 countries

Q.: How many countries from the Global South are part of the Voice of Global South initiative?

a) Over 50 countries
b) Over 75 countries
c) Over 100 countries
d) Over 150 countries

Answer: c) Over 100 countries
The Voice of Global South initiative was launched by India, with the first summit held on January 12-13, 2023. The initiative includes over 100 countries from the Global South across various regions.

Paetongtarn Shinawatra elected as Thailand’s new Prime Minister

Paetongtarn Shinawatra, the 37-year-old leader of the Pheu Thai party and daughter of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, has been elected as Thailand’s new prime minister.

She is the youngest person to hold this position in the country. Her election follows the removal of former Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin by the Constitutional Court for a serious ethical breach related to bribery.

Paetongtarn is the third member of the Shinawatra family to become prime minister, after her father and her aunt, Yingluck Shinawatra.

The Constitutional Court also recently dissolved the Move Forward party, which had won the last general election but was prevented from assuming power.

Q.: Who was elected as Thailand’s new prime minister at the age of 37?

a) Yingluck Shinawatra
b) Srettha Thavisin
c) Paetongtarn Shinawatra
d) Thaksin Shinawatra

Ans : c) Paetongtarn Shinawatra
Paetongtarn Shinawatra, the 37-year-old leader of the Pheu Thai party and daughter of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, has been elected as Thailand’s new prime minister.

Muhammad Yunus, a Nobel Peace Prize-winning economist, was sworn in as the Head of Bangladesh’s caretaker government

On 8 August 2024, Muhammad Yunus, a Nobel Peace Prize-winning economist, was sworn in as the head of Bangladesh’s caretaker government after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned amid violent protests.

Born on 28 June 1940, Mr Muhammad Yunus is a Bangladeshi entrepreneur, banker, and economist. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006 for founding the Grameen Bank and pioneering the concepts of microcredit and microfinance.

As chief adviser, Yunus will oversee the interim government responsible for organizing new elections in Bangladesh, which has a population of 170 million. The protests that led to Hasina’s ousting originated from a student-led movement against quotas in government jobs and escalated due to harsh economic conditions and political repression. The government’s response faced global criticism, although officials denied allegations of excessive force.

Q.: Who was sworn in as the head of Bangladesh’s caretaker government on 8 August 2024?

A) Sheikh Hasina
B) Muhammad Yunus
C) Khaleda Zia
D) Abdul Hamid

Answer: B) Muhammad Yunus
On 8 August 2024, Muhammad Yunus, a Nobel Peace Prize-winning economist, was sworn in as the head of Bangladesh’s caretaker government after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned amid violent protests.

Bangladesh president dissolves parliament, frees former PM Begum Khaleda Zia

On August 7, 2024, Bangladesh’s president dissolved parliament, paving the way for an interim government and new elections following Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s resignation and flight after a violent crackdown on a student-led uprising. President Mohammed Shahabuddin also announced the release of opposition leader Begum Khaleda Zia from house arrest.

The student protests, sparked by opposition to public sector job quotas favoring families of veterans from the 1971 independence war, led to widespread violence with about 300 deaths and thousands injured since July. The unrest climaxed with the storming and looting of the prime minister’s residence.

Following the dissolution of parliament, Dhaka saw relative peace with businesses and schools remaining closed. Garment factories, crucial to the economy, were set to reopen on Wednesday.

The decision to dissolve parliament came after consultations with military leaders, political figures, and civil society representatives. Ongoing negotiations are aimed at forming the interim government, which will organize upcoming elections.

Hasina’s departure marked the end of her 15-year second term and 20 years of leadership over the past 30 years, a tenure marked by a long-standing feud with rival Zia, both inheriting their political movements from their assassinated fathers.

Q.: The President of Bangladesh freed which former Prime Minister from house arrest following the dissolution of parliament on August 7, 2024?

A) Sheikh Hasina
B) Ziaur Rahman
C) Begum Khaleda Zia
D) Mohammed Shahabuddin

Answer: C) Begum Khaleda Zia
On August 7, 2024, Bangladesh’s president dissolved parliament and announced the release of opposition leader Begum Khaleda Zia from house arrest.

Sheikh Hasina Resigns as Bangladesh Prime Minister, Army Chief Announces Formation of Interim Government

On 5 August 2024, amid violent student protests, Sheikh Hasina resigned as Bangladesh’s Prime Minister and left the country in a military aircraft.

  • Army Chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman confirmed her resignation in a televised address, announcing the formation of an interim government and urging citizens to maintain peace.
  • PM Hasina left after protestors stormed Gonobhaban, the official residence of the Prime Minister in Dhaka.
  • Approximately 100 people were killed, and over 1,000 injured in clashes between police and protesters on 4 August 2024.
  • Students were protesting against a 30% reservation in government jobs for relatives of freedom fighters, arguing the system is discriminatory and favors supporters of Hasina’s Awami League party.
  • The quota system, established in 1972 and briefly abolished in 2018, was restored by a High Court order, which sparked the protests.
  • The Supreme Court reduced the reservations to 5% last month, but protests reignited due to the government’s alleged inaction on releasing student leaders.
  • Hasina’s resignation became the primary demand of the protestors.
  • After resigning, Sheikh Hasina arrived in India on 6 August evening and discussed the situation in Bangladesh and her future course of action with India’s National Security Advisor Ajit Doval at Hindon Air Base in Ghaziabad.

Q.: Who announced the formation of an interim government in Bangladesh after PM Sheikh Hasina’s resignation?

A: The President of Bangladesh
B: The Chief Justice of Bangladesh
C: Army Chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman
D: The Speaker of the Parliament

Answer: C: Army Chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman
On 5 August 2024, amid violent student protests, Sheikh Hasina resigned as Bangladesh’s Prime Minister and left the country in a military helicopter. Army Chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman confirmed her resignation, announce the formation of an interim government.

Q.: What was the main issue that led to the student protests in Bangladesh in 2024?

A: Economic reforms
B: 30% reservation in government jobs for relatives of freedom fighters
C: Election rigging
D: Environmental policies

Answer: B: 30% reservation in government jobs for relatives of freedom fighters
Students were protesting against a 30% reservation in government jobs for relatives of freedom fighters, arguing the system is discriminatory and favors supporters of Sheik Hasina’s Awami League party.

Venezuela : President Nicolas Maduro wins presidential election for third term

Nicolás Maduro has been declared the winner of Venezuela’s presidential election by the National Electoral Council (CNE) on 29 July 2024. This will be his third term as Venezuela’s President.

The head of the Electoral Council, Elvis Amoroso, announced the results. With 80 percent of ballots counted, Maduro received 51 percent of the vote. His main rival received 44 percent of the vote. More than 21.6 million Venezuelans participated in the election. There were 10 presidential candidates in the election.

Q.: Who has been declared the winner of Venezuela’s presidential election for his third term on 29 July 2024?

A) Juan Guaidó
B) Henrique Capriles
C) Nicolás Maduro
D) Elvis Amoroso

Ans : C) Nicolás Maduro
Nicolás Maduro has been declared the winner of Venezuela’s presidential election by the National Electoral Council (CNE) on 29 July 2024 for his third term as Venezuela’s President.

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.

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