UPSC Essentials | Daily subject-wise quiz : International Relations MCQs on Amnesty International, Hybrid warfare, and more (Week 87)

1. Recently, the organisation accused Jordan of committing genocide in the Gaza Strip during its war with Hamas.

2. As an Amnesty member, participation in local conferences, events and elections is allowed.

3. If you live in a country that does not have an Amnesty office, then there is no provision of joining the organisation.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

Explanation

— Amnesty International accused Israel of committing genocide in the Gaza Strip during its war with Hamas, saying it has sought to deliberately destroy Palestinians by mounting deadly attacks, demolishing vital infrastructure and preventing the delivery of food, medicine and other aid. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.

— The human rights organisation issued a report Thursday in the Middle East, stating that such measures could not be justified by Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023 attack on Israel, which sparked the conflict, or the presence of militants in civilian communities. Amnesty International warned that the United States and other Israeli allies could be participating in genocide and urged them to cease military supplies.

— As an Amnesty member, you can attend local conferences, activities, and elections hosted by your country’s office. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

— If you live in a country that does not have an Amnesty office, you can become an international member. Hence, statement 3 is not correct.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

(Other Source: http://www.amnesty.org)

QUESTION 2

Consider the following pairs:

1. Aleppo – Israel

2. Notre-Dame – Germany

Which of the pairs given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Explanation

Place in news	Country	Description
Aleppo	Syria	Syrian rebel troops completed a three-day attack on the city of Aleppo on Friday (November 29), marking a significant shift in the Syrian civil war, which began in 2011. The dispute has been dormant since a ceasefire was signed in 2020, therefore recent developments have come as a surprise. In reaction to the offensive, the Syrian government and Russia have joined forces to retake control of rebel-held territory.
Notre-Dame	France	French President Emmanuel Macron will pay a visit to Paris’ Notre-Dame cathedral on Friday (November 29), five and a half years after a terrible fire destroyed its roof and spire and caused extensive damage throughout the structure.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 3

Recently, China has banned the exports of three key rare minerals — gallium, germanium, and antimony to:

(a) India

(b) Russia

(c) United Kingdom

(d) United States

Explanation

— China announced that it would ban the export of some of the rare minerals to the United States, marking the latest escalation of trade tensions between two of the biggest economies in the world.

— The move occurred a day after President Joe Biden’s administration banned certain types of semiconductors and machinery and placed over 100 Chinese companies to a restricted-trade list.

— China has banned the export of three important rare minerals: gallium, germanium, and antimony.

— Gallium, germanium, and antimony play important roles in modern technology, particularly in computers, military, and renewable energy. While germanium is vital for low-carbon technologies such as solar cells, semiconductor wafers built using gallium arsenide instead of silicon may operate at higher frequencies and are heat resistant, according to Wafer World Inc., a major American corporation.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 4

Which of the following is/are part of hybrid warfare?

1. Espionage

2. Sabotage

3. Cyberattacks

4. Interference in elections

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 only

(c) 3 and 4 only

(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Explanation

— Hybrid warfare means broadening military operations to include espionage, sabotage and cyberattacks, as well as engaging in election interference, propaganda or disinformation campaigns to weaken and destabilise the enemy from within. Experts say Russia has continuously expanded its hybrid warfare arsenal in recent years.

— Hybrid warfare consists of:

(i) Espionage

(ii) Sabotage

(iii) Cyberattacks

(iv) Disinformation and propaganda

(v) Election interference, meddling in the political process

(vi) Targeted killings

— Russia is conducting many different hybrid warfare pinpricks across Europe, according to Sönke Marahrens, a German army officer and hybrid security expert.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 5

Which of the following countries called for the impeachment of its President after the declaration of “emergency martial law”?

(a) Philippines

(b) South Korea

(c) Laos

(d) Mongolia

Explanation

— South Korean MPs have urged President Yoon Suk Seol to step down or face impeachment. This comes a day after he unexpectedly declared “emergency martial law”.

— The President accused the opposition of sympathising with North Korea and stifling the government through anti-state acts.

— Martial law is the suspension of civilian legal processes in favour of military ones, and it replaces civilian governance with military control. Standard civil liberties may be suspended for the duration of the martial law.

— Article 77 of the Republic of Korea’s constitution contains provisions pertaining to the declaration of martial law in the country. It says: “When it is required to cope with a military necessity or to maintain the public safety and order by mobilization of the military forces in time of war, armed conflict or similar national emergency, the President may proclaim martial law as prescribed by law.”

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

Previous Daily Subject-Wise-Quiz

Daily Subject-wise quiz — History, Culture, and Social Issues (Week 87)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Polity and Governance (Week 87)

Daily subject-wise quiz —  Science and Technology (Week 87)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Environment and Geography (Week 87)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Economy (Week 87)

Daily subject-wise quiz – International Relations (Week 86)

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