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.

Consider the following countries:

1. Philippines

2. East Timor

3. Bangladesh

4. Malaysia

5. Indonesia

Which of the countries given above is/are not a member of the ASEAN grouping?

(a) 1, 2 and 3 only

(b) 3 and 5 only

(c) 2 and 3 only

(d) 2 only

Explanation

— On August 8, 1967, five Southeast Asian leaders – the Foreign Ministers of Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand met in Bangkok. Thailand was mediating certain conflicts between Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines, and the occasion eventually resulted in the signing of a document.

— “The five Foreign Ministers who signed it – Adam Malik of Indonesia, Narciso R. Ramos of the Philippines, Tun Abdul Razak of Malaysia, S. Rajaratnam of Singapore, and Thanat Khoman of Thailand – would subsequently be hailed as the Founding Fathers of probably the most successful inter-governmental organisation in the developing world today. And the document that they signed would be known as the ASEAN Declaration,” the ASEAN website states.

— Over the next several decades, five more countries joined: Brunei Darussalam, Lao PDR, Cambodia, Myanmar, and Vietnam.

— East Timor and Bangladesh are not a member of the ASEAN grouping.

— The ten-nation group has an anthem, a flag, and biannual meetings (twice a year) with a rotating chairperson.

— ASEAN is key to India’s ‘Act East’ policy, which focuses on the Asia-Pacific region as an extended neighbourhood. It was developed as the next phase in the ‘Look East’ Policy, which began in the 1990s.

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

The 38th parallel north divides:

(a) United States and Canada

(b) Germany and Poland

(c) France and Spain

(d) North Korea and South Korea

Explanation

— In a massive escalation of hostilities, North Korea said that it will permanently close its border with South Korea and strengthen front-line defensive structures in reaction to what it called “confrontational hysteria” displayed by South Korean and US soldiers.

— This proclamation comes amid speculation that a constitutional amendment will officially name South Korea as North Korea’s primary adversary and alter the country’s borders.

— The North Korean military has said that it will “completely cut off roads and railways” connecting to South Korea, as well as measures to strengthen defence sites along the border.

— The 38th parallel north divides North Korea from South Korea.

— According to the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), these measures are framed as “self-defensive” actions aimed at deterring war and protecting North Korean security.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

Diego Garcia, the largest island of the Chagos Archipelago is located in:

(a) Central Indian Ocean

(b) Southern Indian Ocean

(c) Southern Arabian Sea

(d) Southern Bay of Bengal

Explanation

— Britain has agreed to give up sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, ending a long-standing dispute over the United Kingdom’s last African colony, after the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled that the UK unlawfully separated the Chagos archipelago from Mauritius before granting it independence.

— This deal concludes 13 rounds of negotiations that began in 2022. The International Court of Justice, the United Nations General Assembly, and the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (Itlos) all upheld Mauritius’ sovereignty claim in 2019 and 2021, respectively.

— As part of the pact, the UK will maintain control of the UK-US military post on Diego Garcia. Previously, the UK evacuated 1,500 to 2,000 residents in order to lease the island to the United States for military purposes, with both countries sharing responsibility for the base. The treaty also grants the right of return to all islands in the Chagos archipelago, except Diego Garcia.

— Diego Garcia is the largest island of the Chagos Archipelago which is located in the central Indian Ocean.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

Hurricane Milton transformed from a tropical storm into a powerful Category 5 hurricane. It has caused destruction across:

(a) North-western Canada

(b) North-western Mexico

(c) North-eastern Brazil

(d) South-eastern United States

Explanation

— Hurricane Milton has caused thousands of flight cancellations across the U.S. this week, as it tore through the Gulf of Mexico and devastated parts of Florida. (located in south-eastern United States).

— The storm caused widespread airport closures, with airlines cancelling flights in reaction to the extreme weather.

— Storm surge warnings are still in force for Florida’s east-central coast, while tropical storm warnings stretch to Georgia and South Carolina.

— According to Benjamin Kirtman, head of the University of Miami’s Cooperative Institute for Marine & Atmospheric Studies, the absence of wind shear was also critical to Milton’s development. Wind shear is a change in wind speed and direction that can disrupt hurricanes.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

Which of the following organisations has approved the establishment of a financial intermediary fund (FIF) to support Ukraine?

(a) International Monetary Organisation

(b) World Bank

(c) United Nations

(d) IOM Development Fund

Explanation

— The World Bank’s executive board has approved the establishment of a financial intermediary fund (FIF) to support Ukraine, with contributions expected from the United States, Canada, and Japan, according to a report by Reuters.

— The World Bank-managed fund will help achieve the Group of Seven (G7) nations’ vow to provide Ukraine with up to $50 billion in additional financial support by the end of 2023.

— The World Bank’s decision comes just after European Union envoys agreed to assist Ukraine with up to €35 billion ($38.3 billion) as part of the EU’s share of a bigger proposed G7 loan, which will also be financed by revenues from immobilised Russian central bank assets.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

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