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Journalism of Courage
UPSC Essentials brings to you its initiative of subject-wise quizzes. These quizzes are designed to help you revise some of the most important topics from the static part of the syllabus. Attempt today’s subject quiz on the International Relations Quiz to check your progress. Come back tomorrow to solve the MCQs on Weekly Current Affairs.
Which of the countries shares a border with the Gulf of Mexico?
1. United States
2. Guatemala
3. Cuba
4. Costa Rica
5. Mexico
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
(a) 2, 3, 4 and 5
(b) 1, 3 and 5 only
(c) 1 and 5 only
(d) 1, 2, 4 and 5
Explanation
— This comes after a series of antagonistic statements in which Trump threatened to take control of Greenland and the Panama Canal, as well as referring to Canada as the “51st” US state.
— In response, Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum told reporters that North America should be renamed “Mexican America,” which the continent called on certain 17th-century maps. Surrounded by historical maps on a screen at a briefing, Sheinbaum observed sarcastically, “Mexican America, that sounds nice.”
— The Gulf of Mexico is bordered by three countries: the United States, Mexico and Cuba.
Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.
With reference to the BRICS grouping, consider the following statements:
1. Indonesia has officially joined the BRICS as a full member.
2. Russia holds the presidency of BRICS in 2025.
3. The 1st BRIC summit was held in China in 2009.
How many of the statements given above are correct?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None
Explanation
— Indonesia has officially joined the BRICS as a full member, the Brazilian government declared. Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, and Indonesia presently make up the group of big emerging economies. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
— Indonesia’s foreign ministry welcomed the announcement in a statement released, calling BRICS membership as “a strategic way to increase collaboration and partnership with other developing nations.”
— Indonesia, the world’s fourth most populous country, had long indicated an interest in joining BRICS to enhance emerging-nation partnerships and achieve the Global South’s aims.
— Brazil, which will hold the BRICS presidency in 2025, said that member nations unanimously approved Indonesia’s entry at the 2023 BRICS summit in Johannesburg. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.
— BRICS has been extending its membership in recent years. Along with Indonesia, the bloc includes Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates, demonstrating its expanding influence in emerging countries.
— In July 2006, the leaders of the BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India, and China) met for the first time in St. Petersburg, Russia, on the fringes of the G8 Outreach Summit. Following a series of high-level meetings, the first BRIC summit took place on June 16, 2009, in Yekaterinburg, Russia. Hence, statement 3 is not correct.
Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.
With reference to the islands in news, consider the following pairs:
1. Rottnest Island – Australia
2. Ramree Island – Bangladesh
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
| Islands in news | Region/Country | Description |
| Rottnest Island | Australia | A seaplane crashed off an Australian tourist island into the Indian Ocean with three people getting seriously injured and three others remain missing. Seven people were aboard the Cessna 208 Caravan and only one of them was rescued unharmed post the crash at Rottnest Island. |
| Ramree Island | Myanmar | An airstrike by Myanmar’s army on a village under the control of an armed ethnic minority group killed about 40 people and injured at least 20 others. The attack occurred in Kyauk Ni Maw village on Ramree island, an area controlled by the ethnic Arakan Army in western Rakhine state. |
Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.
Russia has halted its gas supply to Europe via Ukraine, which has majorly affected:
1. Austria
2. Germany
3. Slovakia
4. Moldova
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
(a) 1 and 3 only
(b) 1, 2 and 4
(c) 3 and 4 only
(d) 1, 3 and 4
Explanation
— Russian gas deliveries to Europe via Ukraine, which had been in place for over 40 years, came to an end on Wednesday (1 January) after Kyiv declined to renegotiate a five-year-old transit arrangement amid a war with Moscow.
— Eastern European countries, particularly Austria, Slovakia, and Moldova, would bear the brunt of the impact.
— According to Al Jazeera, Austria received the majority of its gas from Russia via Ukraine, while Slovakia received gas that accounted for around two-thirds of its yearly needs.
— According to Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico, the supply disruption would cost hundreds of millions of dollars in transit fees, as well as a higher premium for importing other gas, the article claimed. He also predicted that petrol costs would rise across Europe.
— Moldova is projected to be the most severely affected. The country has already declared a state of emergency due to the imminent gas scarcity.
Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.
Greenland, an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of:
(a) Belgium
(b) Netherlands
(c) Denmark
(d) Sweden
Explanation
— The European Union will not allow any nation to challenge its territorial borders, France’s foreign minister said in response to remarks made by US President-elect Donald Trump about his plans to take over Greenland, an autonomous territory of EU member Denmark.
— Greenland is an autonomous territory of the Kingdom of Denmark that obtained its home government in 1979.
— Greenland, with a population of around 57,000, is the world’s largest island. Since 2009, it has had the authority to hold a referendum to determine whether to pursue independence.
— “The majority of Greenlanders believe that Greenland is not for sale and will not be in the future. Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders,” Mette Frederiksen, the Danish Prime Minister, said.
Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.
Daily subject-wise quiz — Polity and Governance (Week 92)
Daily subject-wise quiz — Science and Technology (Week 92)
Daily subject-wise quiz — Environment and Geography (Week 92)
Daily subject-wise quiz — Economy (Week 92)
Daily subject-wise quiz – International Relations (Week 91)
Daily Subject-wise quiz — History, Culture, and Social Issues (Week 91)
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