Places in News Current Affairs MCQs

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The US President signed an executive order to prepare a large-scale migrant detention center at Guantánamo Bay. Guantánamo Bay, located in southeastern Cuba, is a sheltered inlet with strategic importance, near the Windward Passage. It is served by the ports of Caimanera and Boquerón. “Gitmo” has housed terrorism suspects since 9/11 and has a Migrant Operations Centre for migrants from Haiti and Cuba. The current facility is small and cannot accommodate the 30,000 detainees expected in the new center.

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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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Recent research reveals a significant pause in coral reef growth in the Gulf of Eilat (Gulf of Aqaba). The Gulf is located at the northern tip of the Red Sea, bordered by Egypt, Israel, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia. It is much deeper (1,850 meters) compared to the shallow Gulf of Suez (100 meters). The Gulf of Aqaba is known for its coral reefs, which are among the northernmost in the world.

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Nauru, a small island nation in the Pacific Ocean, plans to sell citizenships to fund the relocation of 10,000 residents threatened by rising sea levels. It is the world’s smallest republic, covering 8 square miles, with a population of 12,500. It is located 1,300 km northeast of the Solomon Islands, its closest neighbor is Banaba in Kiribati. A fossilized coral atoll, it is one of the three great phosphate rock islands in the Pacific.

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A proposal to transfer water from Manikaran to Kasol for a hot bath facility has sparked local opposition. Manikaran is a small town in Himachal Pradesh, known for its hot springs and religious significance. It is situated in Parvati Valley along the Parvati River at 1,829 meters altitude. The town is famous for natural hot springs believed to have healing properties. The water is said to be radioactive and beneficial for rheumatism. Manikaran is a major pilgrimage site for Hindus and Sikhs, home to a Shiva temple, Manikaran Sahib Gurudwara, and a Rama temple.

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A volcano recently erupted at Mount Dukono in Indonesia. Mount Dukono, standing 1,087 meters above sea level, is one of Indonesia’s 127 active volcanoes. It is located on Halmahera Island.

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Vietnam’s foreign ministry recently published a map defining its claim in the Gulf of Tonkin. The Gulf of Tonkin is also called “Beibu Gulf” in Chinese and “Bac Bo Gulf” in Vietnamese. It is a shallow, semi-enclosed water body in the northwestern South China Sea. It is bordered by Vietnam’s northern coast, China’s Guangxi region, the Leizhou Peninsula, and Hainan Island. It connects to the South China Sea via its southern mouth and the Hainan Strait in the northeast. Major ports include Haiphong and Ben Thuy in Vietnam and Beihai in China.

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The Israel-Hamas conflict has escalated, leading to a fragile ceasefire brokered by the US, Egypt, and Qatar. A key issue is Israel’s withdrawal from the Philadelphi Corridor, a strategic area along Gaza’s border with Egypt. The corridor is a 14 km long, 100-meter-wide strip, including the Rafah crossing and Kerem Shalom crossing. It was designated a demilitarized zone under the 1979 Camp David treaty. After Israel withdrew from Gaza in 2005, Egypt and the Palestinian Authority took control, but Hamas seized it in 2007.

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Beneath Antarctica’s Mount Erebus, volcanic ice caves harbor thriving microbial life, offering insight into potential life on alien worlds. Mount Erebus is the southernmost active volcano, located on Ross Island in Antarctica. It was discovered in 1841 by Sir James Clark Ross and named after his ship, Erebus. Its summit stands at 12,448 feet (3,794 meters), making it the second tallest volcano in Antarctica. The volcano has an active lava lake, continuously active since 1972, with small Strombolian eruptions.

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A six-day survey in Majuli River Island, Assam, highlights rising human-wildlife conflict (HWC) concerns. Majuli is the world’s largest river island in Assam, covering 421 sq. km, formed by the Brahmaputra and Subansiri Rivers. It became India’s first island district in 2016 and is known for its lush greenery, water bodies, and paddy fields. The island is a hub of Assamese neo-Vaishnavite culture, with Satras preserving dance, literature, theatre, and mask-making.