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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Mt Semeru, an active volcano in East Java, Indonesia, recently erupted. It is located in a subduction zone, where the Indo-Australia plate moves under the Eurasia plate. Semeru is the highest mountain on the island of Java. The name “Semeru” comes from the Hindu concept of Meru, the central world mountain, or Sumeru, the abode of gods. Indonesia lies on the Pacific Ring of Fire, an area known for high volcanic and seismic activity due to the meeting of continental plates.

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The Prime Minister of India expressed condolences for Cyclone Chido victims and pledged support for relief efforts. Cyclone Chido struck Mayotte, a French territory in the Mozambique Channel, with winds reaching 200 km/h, making it the strongest cyclone in 90 years. Mayotte is part of the Comoros archipelago, consisting of two main islands: Grande Terre and Petite Terre (Pamandzi), located in the Indian Ocean’s Mozambique Channel.

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India clinched the inaugural Women’s U-19 Asia Cup by defeating Bangladesh by 41 runs in the final on December 22, 2024, at Bayuemas Oval, Kuala Lumpur. India set a total of 117 runs, with G Trisha scoring a significant 52 runs. The Indian bowlers, led by Ayushi Shukla, Sonam Yadav, and Parunika Sisodia, effectively dismantled the Bangladesh batting lineup, restricting them to just 76 runs. This victory marks a significant achievement for the Indian women’s cricket team at the U19 level.

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Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano, one of the world’s most active, is erupting again. It is located in Hawaii’s Big Island within Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park, USA. Kilauea is the youngest and most active shield volcano in Hawaii, known for frequent eruptions. Its eruptions occur from vents at its summit caldera or along rift zones. The central crater, Halemaumau, holds mythological significance as the believed home of the Hawaiian fire goddess Pele.

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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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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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Divers near Kalpeni Island in Lakshadweep discovered possible wreckage of a 17th or 18th-century European warship. Kalpeni Island is part of the Lakshadweep archipelago in the Arabian Sea, covering 2.79 square kilometers. It is 287 kilometers from Kochi, Kerala, and lies southeast of Kavaratti Island. Kalpeni forms a single atoll with islets Tilakkam, Pitti, and Cheriyam. The island is known for coral reefs, clear waters, white beaches, and a 2.8-kilometer-wide lagoon, it is ideal for snorkeling and scuba diving. The island’s culture reflects its Maliku community heritage, with a climate similar to Kerala.

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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.