Places in News Current Affairs MCQs

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After more than 100 years, swimmers officially returned to the River Seine in France since its closure in 1923. The River Seine is France’s second-longest river after the Loire, stretching 775 kilometers. Its drainage basin, called the Paris Basin, covers about 79,000 square kilometers in northern France. Around 62% of the basin supports agriculture, holding 25% of France’s farm activity and up to 30% of industry.

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Over 1,000 earthquakes have shaken the Tokara Islands in southern Japan in the past two weeks, creating an unprecedented seismic situation. The Tokara Islands are a small archipelago located south of Kyushu and north of the Amami Islands in Japan. They are also called the Toshima Islands, covered administratively by Toshima-mura (Toshima Village). The archipelago includes 7 inhabited islands (e.g., Kuchinoshima, Nakanoshima, Suwanosejima) and 5 uninhabited islands (e.g., Gajajima, Kogajajima).

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Archaeologists have recently discovered a 3,500-year-old ancient city named Penico in Peru. Penico is located about 200 km north of Lima, in Barranca province, at 600 metres above sea level. It was likely founded between 1,800 and 1,500 BC, during the same period as early Middle Eastern and Asian civilizations. Penico lies near Caral, the oldest known civilization in the Americas, established around 3,000 BC in the Supe Valley.

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Recently, heavy rainfall caused severe flooding and damage in central Texas, especially along the Guadalupe River. The Guadalupe River is located in Texas, United States. Guadalupe River is a spring-fed river that starts from the North and South Forks in Kerr County, Texas. It flows into San Antonio Bay, which connects to the Gulf of Mexico. The river basin includes Canyon Reservoir and Edwards Aquifer in the Balcones Fault Zone, San Antonio portion. The area is known as “Flash Flood Alley” due to frequent flash floods.

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In July 2025, scientists extracted 18–20 million-year-old proteins from the tooth enamel of extinct mammals found near Lake Turkana. Lake Turkana is located in northern Kenya and partly extends into Ethiopia. It lies in the Eastern Rift Valley and is mainly fed by the Omo River, which supplies 90% of its water. It is the fourth-largest lake in Africa and the world’s largest permanent desert lake. Lake Turkana is a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Site.

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Machilipatnam is seeing a revival as nearly 48% work on the new Greenfield port at Manginapudi is completed. Machilipatnam, also called Masulipatnam, is a coastal city in Krishna district of Andhra Pradesh. It lies on the southeastern Coromandel Coast of India. In medieval times, it was a major port and global trading hub. Traders from different countries visited this vibrant town for commerce. The city is also known for its traditional handloom industry.

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Recently, the Lakshadweep administration is considering acquiring Bitra Island for defence purposes. Bitra is the smallest inhabited island in the Lakshadweep archipelago. It lies in the northern part of Lakshadweep. The island houses a shrine of Malik Mulla, an old Arab saint, and is a pilgrimage site. Its climate is similar to Kerala, with temperatures between 25°C to 35°C and humidity ranging from 70% to 76%.

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Recently, over 5,000 people applied for a first-ever migration visa to escape climate change impacts in Tuvalu. Tuvalu, formerly called the Ellice Islands, is a small island country in the west-central Pacific Ocean, located between Hawaii and Australia. It has nine islands (four reef islands and five coral atolls) spread over 676 km from northwest to southeast. The entire country is low-lying, with its highest point just 4.5 metres above sea level, making it highly vulnerable to sea level rise.

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Recently, a cruise liner with Israeli tourists was denied docking at Syros Island, Greece due to protests over the Gaza war, forcing it to reroute to Cyprus. Syros island is located in Greece, specifically within the Cyclades island group in the Aegean Sea. It lies 78 nautical miles (144 km) southeast of Athens, the capital of Greece.

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In July 2025, villagers of Pathorichuk in Majuli, Assam, showcased a successful eco-friendly method to stop erosion by planting Kanchan trees along the Brahmaputra River. Majuli island faces severe erosion yearly from the Brahmaputra and its tributaries, Subansiri and Kherkatia. The tree roots hold soil tightly and stop erosion naturally, proving more effective than Reinforced Cement Concrete (RCC) structures and geo-bags. Majuli is the world’s largest river island located in Assam.