Practice MCQs

Explanation: Iran's military launched drones and missiles targeting Ahmad al-Jaber Air Base in Kuwait and Al Minhad Air Base in the United Arab Emirates, striking at United States military facilities and equipment in retaliation for earlier US strikes. The attacks marked a significant widening of the conflict beyond direct Iran-Israel and Iran-US exchanges, drawing Gulf host nations more directly into the crossfire of the broader regional confrontation despite their formal neutrality in the underlying dispute.

Explanation: The International Monetary Fund reported that global economic growth was on track to reach around 3 percent in 2026 despite the disruptive impact of the Iran war, while cautioning that risks to this outlook remained high given continuing geopolitical instability, elevated energy prices and tighter monetary conditions in major economies following the US Federal Reserve's interest rate hike responding to war-driven inflation.

Explanation: At least 20 people were killed and five others reported missing after a fire broke out on a cargo ship in Qingdao, Shandong province, China, in September 2026. Qingdao is one of China's major port cities and a significant hub for shipping and maritime trade, and such incidents typically prompt safety investigations into vessel maintenance, cargo handling procedures and emergency response protocols aboard commercial shipping vessels operating in Chinese waters.

Explanation: Chancellor of Justice Ülle Madise was elected President of Estonia by the Riigikogu, the Estonian parliament, running as the only candidate in the vote. She was set to be sworn into office on 12 October 2026, succeeding outgoing President Alar Karis. In Estonia's parliamentary system, the president is typically elected indirectly by the legislature rather than through direct popular vote, unless the parliamentary process fails to produce a winning candidate.

Explanation: The Copernicus Climate Change Service reported that wildfires in Kalimantan and Sumatra, Indonesia, produced more than 19.7 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions between 1 and 7 September 2026, representing the world's highest total for that period and more than one-third of global fire emissions. Indonesia's peatland and forest fires, often linked to land-clearing practices, remain a major seasonal contributor to global carbon emissions and regional air quality crises.

Explanation: The Copernicus Climate Change Service reported that August 2026 was the hottest month globally since measurements began, recording an average temperature of 16.96 degrees Celsius, exceeding the previous record set in July 2023. The finding added to a growing series of record-breaking monthly and yearly temperature readings recorded over the past several years, reinforcing scientific warnings about the accelerating pace of global warming and its associated extreme weather impacts.

Explanation: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine was testing a new weapon designed to intercept drones and had recorded a successful hit overnight, reflecting the continued evolution of counter-drone technology amid the sustained use of unmanned aerial systems by both sides throughout the war. Drone warfare has become one of the defining features of the conflict, prompting continuous innovation in both offensive drone capability and corresponding air defence countermeasures on both sides.

Explanation: Russian air strikes injured at least 13 people and damaged buildings in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv as well as the Black Sea port city of Odesa in early morning strikes, according to Ukrainian officials. Odesa's port infrastructure has been a recurring target throughout the war given its importance to Ukraine's grain export capacity, with such strikes drawing continued international condemnation from Ukraine's Western partners regarding attacks on civilian infrastructure.

Explanation: Saudi Arabia said its air defences destroyed a Houthi drone south of Mecca before it could enter prohibited airspace over the holy city, as attacks by the Iran-aligned group deepened regional tensions. The incident followed a series of Houthi attempts to strike Saudi territory during an intensifying period of conflict, and came shortly after Pakistan and other regional actors had strongly condemned an earlier attempted drone attack targeting the same holy site.

Explanation: NASA said the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope could have a potential operational lifespan of up to 22 years, even before reaching its planned orbit, reflecting confidence in the mission's design and fuel efficiency. The telescope is designed to conduct wide-field surveys of the universe, complementing the more narrowly focused observations of the James Webb Space Telescope, and is expected to significantly advance research into dark energy, exoplanets and galaxy formation once operational.