Places in News Current Affairs MCQs

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French President hosted Chinese President Xi Jinping at Pyrenees’ Tourmalet Pass for private talks. The Pyrenees form a natural border between Spain and France, extending 500 km from the Mediterranean to the Atlantic. Created by the collision of Iberia with Eurasia, it’s politically divided between Spain and France, with Andorra in between. Aneto Peak, at 3,404 m, is its highest point. The mountains also merge with the Cantabrian range in Spain.

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The Philippines challenges China over Scarborough Shoal’s environmental damage, urging international scrutiny. Situated in the South China Sea, the shoal is a vital fishing area rich in marine life, claimed by both China and the Philippines. Despite no physical structures, China controls it with a continuous coast guard presence since 2012, citing historical ownership dating back to the Yuan Dynasty. The dispute remains unresolved.

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Mount Ibu, an active stratovolcano on Halmahera Island, Indonesia, recently erupted, ejecting ash 4 km high with purple lightning around its crater. Indonesia, part of the Pacific “Ring of Fire” with 127 active volcanoes, often experiences such events. Stratovolcanoes, like Ibu, are characterized by conical shapes formed by layers of volcanic material. They rise sharply near the summit and are common in subduction zones, such as the Andes Mountains.

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The U.S. pledges $135 million in aid to Moldova to counter Russian influence. Moldova, a landlocked country in the northeastern Balkan region of Europe, borders Ukraine and Romania. Its highest point is Mount Bălănești, with major rivers including the Dniester and Prut. Moldova experiences moderate winters and warm summers and possesses natural resources like lignite, phosphorites, gypsum, and limestone.

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The world’s largest optical astronomy digital camera will be placed on the edge of Chile’s Atacama Desert, renowned for its dryness and clear skies. Mounted on the Vera C. Rubin Observatory’s Simonyi Survey Telescope, it weighs three tonnes and boasts a 3.2-gigapixel resolution. This initiative aims to study dark energy, dark matter, potential Earth impacts, and close celestial bodies. The observatory anticipates generating 20 terabytes of daily data, forming a 15-petabyte catalog over its ten-year survey.

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India aims to operate Mongla Port in Bangladesh and build a new terminal to counter China’s regional influence. Mongla, the second largest seaport in Bangladesh, is strategically located 62 km from the Bay of Bengal, protected by the Sundarban forest. India’s interest in Mongla will improve access and reduce transportation costs to northeastern states like Assam and Tripura. India Ports Global Limited has expressed interest, following the 2015 MoU for transit.

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A Japanese town takes action to prevent tourist disturbances while photographing Mount Fuji. The iconic peak, standing at 3,776 meters, is located 100 km west of Tokyo on Honshu Island. It’s a dormant stratovolcano, last erupting in 1707, yet remains active. Mount Fuji boasts a smooth slope, wide base, and UNESCO World Heritage status since 2013. Despite volcanic activity, its summit is often snow-covered, offering a stunning skyline.

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Tamluk, located in West Bengal, was a significant ancient city known as Tamralipta or Tamralipti. It served as the capital of the Suhma kingdom and later the Pala Empire during the 7th to 9th centuries CE. Excavations have revealed remnants of the ancient town Chandraketugarh. Today, Tamluk is renowned for its production and export of paan (betel leaf), shedding light on its historical trade importance in Indian kingdoms.

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India’s external affairs minister affirmed support for Mauritius regarding the Chagos Archipelago, aligning with its decolonization stance. Located in the central Indian Ocean, about 1,000 miles south of India’s tip, this UK overseas territory was established on November 8, 1965. Key islands include Diego Garcia, hosting a strategic US military base. The archipelago experiences a tropical marine climate, moderated by trade winds, with high temperatures and humidity.

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Dar es Salaam, Tanzania’s largest city and a key economic hub in East Africa, faces severe water shortages due to aging infrastructure, rapid urbanization, and inadequate government response. Located along the Indian Ocean, the city’s growing population and outdated water systems exacerbate the crisis, impacting residents’ daily lives and regional economic activities.