Places in News Current Affairs MCQs

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Israel plans to double its population in the occupied Golan Heights, a hilly region overlooking the upper Jordan River valley. The Golan Heights, originally Syrian territory, was occupied by Israel during the 1967 Six-Day War and annexed in 1981, though this is not internationally recognized. It spans 71 km north to south, 43 km wide, and covers 1,150 sq. km. The region has 30+ Israeli settlements with 20,000 settlers, considered illegal under international law, alongside 20,000 Druze Arabs who remained after the occupation. The Golan Heights is strategically important for water resources, overlooks Damascus, and borders Jordan and Lebanon.

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A powerful earthquake of magnitude 7.3 struck Vanuatu, causing significant damage and potential casualties. Vanuatu is an island nation in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Australia and west of Fiji. Its capital, Port Vila, is located on the island of Efate. The country consists of 13 principal volcanic islands and many smaller ones, with active volcanoes like Yasur, Manaro, and Garet. Initially colonized by Melanesians, it became the New Hebrides under Anglo-French rule and gained independence in 1980. Vanuatu is highly vulnerable to climate change, with sea levels rising twice the global average, ranking it most at risk globally.

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Sagar Island hosts the iconic Gangasagar Mela every January and is impacted by climate change. Sagar Island is located in the West Bengal. The island is also known as Gangasagar or Sagardwip. It lies in the Ganges delta on the Bay of Bengal’s continental shelf. The island consists of 43 villages and is separated from Mahisani Island by the River Muriganga Batala. Sagar, Mahisani, and Ghoramara islands fall under the sand group category. It is a significant Hindu pilgrimage site where Makar Sankranti is celebrated in honor of the Sun. The Kapil Muni temple on the island is a major attraction for devotees.

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Trinidad and Tobago has declared a state of emergency due to increased violence, including gang-related shootings. The capital is Port of Spain. The country is located northeast of Venezuela, south of Grenada, in the Atlantic Ocean. It has significant rivers like the Ortoire, Caroni, and Nariva Rivers. The Northern Range mountain range is in Trinidad, with El Cerro del Aripo being the highest peak at 940 meters.

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Russia has formed an emergency task force to address an oil spill in the Kerch Strait. The Kerch Strait links the Black Sea with the Sea of Azov and separates Crimea from Russia’s Taman Peninsula. It is 3 km long, 15 km wide, and 18 meters deep, with its narrowest point being 3-5 km. Kerch city is situated on the Crimean side of the strait. The Kerch Strait is a crucial global shipping route.

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The Kumani Bank mud volcano erupted in 2023, creating a temporary “Ghost Island.” Kumani Bank mud volcano is located 25 km off Azerbaijan’s eastern coast in the Caspian Sea. The island, about 400 meters across, formed in 2023 and eroded back into the sea by late 2024. Ghost Islands are temporary land masses created by volcanic activity that disappear over time. The island provides geological insights into tectonic processes and subsurface pressure dynamics. It offers clues about similar features on Mars for planetary exploration. The area is linked to methane and gas emissions and highlights Azerbaijan’s unique geological landscape with over 300 mud volcanoes.

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Satellite images show a nearly completed airstrip on Yemen’s Abd al-Kuri Island, likely built by the UAE. Abd al-Kuri Island is 65 miles southwest of Socotra, in the Indian Ocean, part of the Socotra Archipelago. Although it belongs to Yemen, the island is geographically closer to Somalia, about 110 km northeast of Cape Gwardafuy. The island is rocky, 35 km long, and 5 km wide, with its highest point at 700 meters, Mount Jebel Saleh. With fewer than 500 residents, its inhabitants mainly rely on fishing, and settlements are connected by dirt roads. The island features the endemic Euphorbia abdalkuri plant.

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The Philadelphi Corridor is a 14 km stretch between Gaza and Egypt, critical for Hamas’ smuggling activities. It includes the Rafah crossing and runs from the Mediterranean Sea to the Kerem Shalom crossing. After Israel’s 2005 withdrawal, it became a demilitarized zone managed by the Palestinian Authority and Egypt. Hamas’ control of Gaza in 2007 led to increased smuggling via tunnels. In the 2023 ceasefire, Israel’s withdrawal from this area became a key issue. The corridor has been vital for Hamas’ weapon supplies and operatives’ movement.

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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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Santorini, a Greek island in the Southern Aegean Sea, is on high alert after experiencing over 200 undersea earthquakes in four days, with magnitudes up to 4.6. It’s part of the Cyclades archipelago and is controlled by Greece. Known for the Santorini Caldera, one of the most active volcanic centers in the South Aegean Volcanic Arc. The island has historical volcanic activity, including the Minoan eruption around 3,600 years ago. Frequent seismic activity is due to tectonic movements between the African Plate and Aegean Sea Plate.