International Current Affairs — Recurring MCQs — Part 2 MCQs with Explanations

In September 2026, the Sultanate of Oman frequently acted as the primary diplomatic channel and intermediary in talks involving the Houthis . Known for its long-standing foreign policy of strict neutrality, Oman leverages its unique position to bridge gaps between various factions in the Middle East. ***

About Makkah Joint Defence Agreement 2026 Signing Date: 7 August 2026 Place: Al-Safa Palace, Makkah, Saudi Arabia Signatories: Shehbaz Sharif (Pakistan), Mohammed bin Salman (Saudi Arabia), Recep Tayyip Erdogan (Turkiye) The agreement was signed during the Makkah Al-Mukarramah Summit for Joint Defence. An armed attack on one member will be regarded as an attack on all three . ****

8th BRICS Energy Summit was hosted by India in 2026. Know about BRICS Summit 2026 Edition: 18th Venue: New Delhi, India Theme: Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability Note: 17th BRICS Summit in 2025 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Know about BRICS: Full Form: Brazil, Russia, India, China & South Africa Founded: June 2009 BRICS headquarters: Shanghai, China ***

Know about BRICS Summit 2026 Edition: 18th Venue: New Delhi, India Theme: Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability Note: 17th BRICS Summit in 2025 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Know about BRICS: Full Form: Brazil, Russia, India, China & South Africa Founded: June 2009 BRICS headquarters: Shanghai, China ***

In September 2026, Iran -backed Houthi forces took control of Perim Island (Mayun Island) in the Bab al-Mandeb Strait. The strategic location is important because it sits near a major global shipping route connecting the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden. ****

Know about BRICS Summit 2026 Edition: 18th Venue: New Delhi, India Theme: Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability Note: 17th BRICS Summit in 2025 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Know about BRICS: Full Form: Brazil, Russia, India, China & South Africa Founded: June 2009 BRICS headquarters: Shanghai, China ***

Saudi Arabia reported drone and missile attacks affecting its critical energy infrastructure, including the East-West oil pipeline and facilities in Jazan, Najran, Abha, and Yanbu, amid rising regional tensions in September 2026. ****

In September 2026, Iran -backed Houthi forces took control of Perim Island (Mayun Island) in the Bab al-Mandeb Strait. The strategic location is important because it sits near a major global shipping route connecting the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden. ****

Operation Economic Outcast is a massive economic pressure campaign launched by the US Treasury Department against Iran in 2026. The main goal is to completely cut off Iran from the global financial system. This operation has been described as “ Economic D-Day” by the US president Donald Trump. ****

About SCO Summit 2026 Venue: Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan Starting date: 31 August 2026 Closing date: 01 September 2026 Edition: 26th Note: The 25th SCO Head of State Summit was held in Tianjin, China from 31 Aug to 1 Sep 2025 . Additional information: SCO stands for Shanghai Cooperation Organization . It Founded in 2001 . ****

Spain declared its first-ever national wildfire emergency on July 23–24, 2026 , after simultaneous large-scale blazes driven by an intense heatwave threatened Madrid and the Ávila province. ***

On September 1–2, 2026, Russian forces launched another major wave of drone and missile attacks against Ukraine , including a prolonged assault on Kyiv and strikes on Odesa, Dnipro, and other regions. Russia-Ukraine war background: Russia and Ukraine had tensions and fighting since 2014 , but Russia greatly escalated the conflict by launching a full-scale invasion in February 2022 . ****

Operation Economic Outcast is a massive economic pressure campaign launched by the US Treasury Department against Iran in 2026. The main goal is to completely cut off Iran from the global financial system. This operation has been described as “ Economic D-Day” by the US president Donald Trump. ****

Operation Economic Outcast is a massive economic pressure campaign launched by the US government against Iran in 2026. The main goal is to completely cut off Iran from the global financial system. This operation has been described as “ Economic D-Day” by the US president Donald Trump. ****

Current Position: 72nd U.S. Secretary of State Assumed Office: 21 January 2025 President: Donald Trump Preceded by: Antony Blinken Nationality: American Click here for reference

About SCO Summit 2026 Venue: Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan Starting date: 31 August 2026 Closing date: 01 September 2026 Edition: 26th Note: The 25th SCO Head of State Summit was held in Tianjin, China from 31 Aug to 1 Sep 2025 . Additional information: SCO stands for Shanghai Cooperation Organization . It Founded in 2001 . ****

Women's Equality Day is celebrated in the United States on August 26 to commemorate the 1920 adoption of the Nineteenth Amendment (Amendment XIX) to the United States Constitution , which prohibits the states and the federal government from denying the right to vote to citizens of the United States on the basis of sex. It was first celebrated in 1972 , designated by Congress in 1973 , and is proclaimed each year by the United States President.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed on 28 February 2026 in U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran. Iranian state media subsequently confirmed his death and announced 40 days of mourning . He had served as Iran’s Supreme Leader since 1989 . He was 86 years old at the time of his death. His date of birth was 19 April 1939 .

COP28 — 2023: 🇦🇪 UAE — Dubai Additional information : COP29 — 2024 : 🇦🇿 Azerbaijan — Baku COP30 — 2025 : 🇧🇷 Brazil — Belém COP31 — 2026 : 🇹🇷 Türkiye (Turkey) — Antalya COP32 — 2027 : 🇪🇹 Ethiopia — host country accepted by the Parties

COP23 was held in Bonn, Germany . It took place from 6–17 November 2017 . Additional information : COP24 (2018) — Katowice, Poland COP25 (2019) — Madrid, Spain COP26 (2021) — Glasgow, United Kingdom COP27 (2022) — Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt COP28 (2023) — Dubai, United Arab Emirates COP29 — 2024 : 🇦🇿 Azerbaijan — Baku COP30 — 2025 : 🇧🇷 Brazil — Belém COP31 — 2026 : 🇹🇷 Türkiye (Turkey) — Antalya COP32 — 2027 : 🇪🇹 Ethiopia — host country accepted by the Parties

Brazil has won the bid to host the 2027 Women's Football World Cup . Additional information : 2023 — Australia & New Zealand 2031 — United States, Mexico, Costa Rica & Jamaica — joint bid submitted 2035 — England, Republic of Ireland, Scotland & Wales — joint bid submitted

On September 1–2, 2026, Russian forces launched another major wave of drone and missile attacks against Ukraine , including a prolonged assault on Kyiv and strikes on Odesa, Dnipro, and other regions. Russia-Ukraine war background: Russia and Ukraine had tensions and fighting since 2014 , but Russia greatly escalated the conflict by launching a full-scale invasion in February 2022 . ****

As of September 2026, the United States and Iran are involved in a major military escalation following a fresh exchange of airstrikes and retaliatory attacks. Conflict Background: In February 2026, the U.S. and Israel launched major attacks on Iran , beginning a much wider war. Iran responded with missile and drone attacks against U.S. forces and U.S. allies in the Middle East. ****

On September 1–2, 2026, Russian forces launched another major wave of drone and missile attacks against Ukraine , including a prolonged assault on Kyiv and strikes on Odesa, Dnipro, and other regions. Russia-Ukraine war background: Russia and Ukraine had tensions and fighting since 2014 , but Russia greatly escalated the conflict by launching a full-scale invasion in February 2022 . ****

As of September 2026 , the country involved in the major military escalation with Iran is the United States (U.S.). Conflict Background: In February 2026, the U.S. and Israel launched major attacks on Iran , beginning a much wider war. Iran responded with missile and drone attacks against U.S. forces and U.S. allies in the Middle East. ****

About Makkah Joint Defence Agreement 2026 Signing Date: 7 August 2026 Place: Al-Safa Palace, Makkah, Saudi Arabia Signatories: Shehbaz Sharif (Pakistan), Mohammed bin Salman (Saudi Arabia), Recep Tayyip Erdogan (Turkiye) The agreement was signed during the Makkah Al-Mukarramah Summit for Joint Defence. An armed attack on one member will be regarded as an attack on all three . ****

Attack Date: 24 February 2022, before 5:00 a.m. Kyiv time Declared By: Vladimir Putin as “special military operation” Territorial Control: Russia controls ~ 1.8% area around Kharkiv (east Ukraine) Reason: Rising tensions due to Russian military buildup in 2021 Additional information : Capital: Moscow Area: 17.1 million km² Currency: Russian Ruble Population: 144.1 million (2020, World Bank) Continent: Europe & Asia

About G7 Summit 2026 Starting date: 14 June 2026 Closing date: 15 June 2026 Edition: 52nd Venue: France — Évian-les-Bains Additional Information : 2023 : 🇯🇵 Japan — Hiroshima 2024 : 🇮🇹 Italy — Apulia (Borgo Egnazia) 2025 : 🇨🇦 Canada — Kananaskis, Alberta 2027 : 🇺🇸 United States 2028 : 🇬🇧 United Kingdom 2029 : 🇨🇦 Canada 2030 : 🇫🇷 France (based on the established G7 presidency rotation.

Sanae Takaichi is the Current Prime Minister of Japan since 2026 . She is the first woman PM of Japan. She won general elections of 2026 . She belongs to Liberal Democratic Party of Japan (LDP). She replaced Shigeru Ishiba . Updated on 22/03/2026 Click here for reference

The following nine countries are declared nuclear powers : USA Russia UK France China India Pakistan Israel North Korea Nuclear weapons first developed in 1945 (USA). Nuclear powers are divided into: Official ( NPT recognized ): USA, Russia, UK, France, China Non-NPT / de facto : India, Pakistan, Israel, North Korea

NATO is a military alliance. NATO stands for North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Founded: 4 April 1949 (Washington, USA). Headquarters: Brussels, Belgium Official Languages: English & French. Founding Members: 12 Total Members: 32 European: 30 North American: 2 Latest Member: Sweden (joined 7 March 2024) Muslim Member Country: Türkiye Pakistan: Not a NATO member List of NATO member countries: Albania Belgium Bulgaria Canada Croatia Czechia Denmark Estonia France Germany Greece Hungary Iceland Italy Latvia Lithuania Luxembourg Montenegro Netherlands North Macedonia Norway Poland Portugal Romania Slovakia Slovenia Spain Turkiye United Kingdom United States Finland Sweden

The 21st G20 Summit will be held in Miami, Florida, USA . It will be held on 14–15 December 2026 . Additional Information : 2025 : Johannesburg, South Africa — 22–23 November 2025. 2024 : Rio de Janeiro, Brazil — 18–19 November 2024. 2023 : New Delhi, India — 9–10 September 2023 2027 : United Kingdom — the UK will host the G20. 2028 : Republic of Korea (South Korea) — Korea will host the G20. 2029 : Saudi Arabia is next in the announced future cycle.

Elon Musk became the world's first trillionaire in 2026, reaching a net worth of over $1.1 trillion following the highly anticipated initial public offering (IPO) of his space and artificial intelligence company, SpaceX. He belongs to the US . He is a businessman and former public official who is the CEO and largest shareholder of Tesla and SpaceX. ***

international day of the victims of enforced disappearances is observed on 30 August by UNO. With the aim to raise awareness about the global problem of enforced disappearances . The observance was established by the UN General Assembly in 2010 , and it is marked annually on 30 August. *

About Makkah Joint Defence Agreement 2026 Signing Date: 7 August 2026 Place: Al-Safa Palace, Makkah, Saudi Arabia Signatories: Shehbaz Sharif (Pakistan), Mohammed bin Salman (Saudi Arabia), Recep Tayyip Erdogan (Turkiye) The agreement was signed during the Makkah Al-Mukarramah Summit for Joint Defence. An armed attack on one member will be regarded as an attack on all three . ****

Italy became the first European country to ban ChatGPT When: March 31, 2023. Due to privacy concerns regarding the "massive collection and storage of personal data" used to train the AI Last updated by NA on 22-April-2026

NDB stands for New Development Bank NDB established: 2014 NDB established: Brazil NDB was established by: BRICS grouping NDB Headquarters: Shanghai , China NDB has 10 members. Uzbekistan officially became the tenth member and the first Central Asian country to join the New Development Bank ( NDB ) in 2026. ***

The Fat Man was dropped on Nagasaki, Japan, on August 9, 1945, at 11:01 AM . The atomic bomb pm Nagasaki was dropped on 9 August 1945. ** The United States detonated two atomic bombs over the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki On August 9, 1945. The two bombings killed between 129,000 and 226,000 people “ Fat Man” dropped an atomic bomb at 11:02 that morning. Little Boy was the name of the Atomic Bomb dropped on the city of Hiroshima .**

Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani was Emir of Qatar from 1995 until his abdication in 2013. He was also prime minister of Qatar from 1995 to 1996. He passed away in 2026 at the age of 74 in Doha , Qatar ***

Israel captured Beaufort Castle, a 12th-century medieval fortress in southern Lebanon in 2026. This was a medieval Crusader-era fortress in southern Lebanon near the city of Nabatieh . Israeli forces seized it in 2026 during an expanded offensive against Hezbollah . ***