Places in News Current Affairs MCQs

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US President-elect Donald Trump has expressed interest in buying Greenland, the world’s largest non-continent island. It is located between North America and Europe in the North Atlantic Ocean. Greenland is geographically part of North America. It is surrounded by the Arctic Ocean, Greenland Sea, North Atlantic Ocean, Davis Strait, and Baffin Bay. Once a Danish colony, Greenland is now an autonomous province of Denmark. Greenland’s highest point is Gunnbjorn’s Fjeld, and its capital is Nuuk.

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India sent 1,000 metric tonnes of rice to Lesotho to address food security and nutrition challenges. Lesotho is a landlocked country entirely within South Africa, with its capital and largest city being Maseru. Known as “The Mountain Kingdom,” it is located in the Maloti Mountains and includes Thabana Ntlenyana, Southern Africa’s highest peak. The Orange River, one of Africa’s longest rivers, originates in the Lesotho Highlands.

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Mount Ibu, an active stratovolcano in Indonesia, erupted, sending ash clouds 3 kilometers high. It is located on Halmahera Island’s northwest coast. Mount Ibu is one of Indonesia’s 127 active volcanoes. Indonesia, part of the Pacific “Ring of Fire” with 127 active volcanoes, often experiences such events. A stratovolcano, or composite volcano, has a conical shape formed by layers of volcanic material from successive eruptions.

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The Sri Lankan Navy recently arrested 17 Indian fishermen near Neduntheevu Island. Neduntheevu, also called Delft Island, is the largest island in the Palk Strait, Sri Lanka. It covers 50 sq.km, with an 8 km length and 6 km width. The island is flat, oval-shaped, and often wind-swept, offering a soothing environment. It lacks streams; freshwater comes from surface water and artificial ponds. The island has dry shrubs, semi-arid tropical plants, and tall palm trees. A Dutch fort made of coral chunks is located on the island, which has a population of 4,800.

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The International Criminal Court (ICC) Prosecutor urged the UN Security Council to address worsening atrocities in Sudan’s Darfur region. Darfur, in western Sudan, is home to around 80 tribes and ethnic groups facing ongoing tribal and ethnic conflicts. The crisis intensified in 2003 when rebel groups, Sudan Liberation Army and Justice and Equality Movement, took arms against the Sudanese government. The conflict stemmed from grievances over the unequal distribution of economic resources, causing widespread loss of lives and displacement.

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The world’s largest iceberg, A23a, is drifting toward South Georgia Island after breaking from Antarctica’s Filchner Ice Shelf. South Georgia Island is a mountainous, barren island in the South Atlantic Ocean. It is part of the British overseas territory of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, covering 3,756 sq.km. The island has over 160 glaciers and peaks like Mount Paget (2,935 m).

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New Zealand’s Foreign Minister expressed “significant concern” over the Cook Islands signing a cooperation deal with China. The Cook Islands is located in the South Pacific Ocean, between Tonga and French Polynesia. It is a self-governing nation with a “free association” pact with New Zealand. The Cook Islands consist of 15 islands, divided into northern (coral atolls) and southern (volcanic, densely populated) groups.

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Monitoring lake changes is essential for sustaining ecosystems but is often missing in rejuvenation efforts. Lake Sapanca in northwestern Turkiye faces degradation due to urbanization and industrial expansion. Lake Sapanca is located in Turkey, specifically between the provinces of Sakarya to the east and Kocaeli to the west.

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Madras High Court directed the Tamil Nadu government to maintain communal harmony at Thiruparankundram hill. Thiruparankundram hill is located in Madurai district, Tamil Nadu and has historical and religious significance. It houses the rock-cut Thiruparankundram temple, built in the 8th century by the Pandyas. It is one of six temples of Lord Muruga, the son of warrior goddess Korravai. The hill also has a Muslim shrine of Sikandar Shah, the last Sultan of the Madurai Sultanate. Jain caves are also found here, adding to its religious diversity.

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Amsterdam Island, also called Nouvelle Amsterdam, is a small French territory in the southern Indian Ocean. It is part of the French Southern and Antarctic Territories and is located midway between Australia, Antarctica, Madagascar, and other regions. The island is about 3,200 km away from neighboring territories. Amsterdam Island is an elliptical-shaped volcanic island, covering 55 sq.km with a 10 km length and 7 km width. The island has been burning for nearly a month.