Places in News Current Affairs MCQs

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Curacao has created history by qualifying for the 2026 Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) World Cup, becoming the smallest nation ever to reach the tournament with a population of about 1.56 lakh. Curacao is an island country in the southern Caribbean Sea, located 60 km north of Venezuela, and is a territorial country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. It consists of the islands of Curacao and Klein Curacao, spread over 171 square miles with its capital at Willemstad, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Curacao follows a constitutional monarchy with the Dutch monarch as head of state and a prime minister as head of government.

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Iran attempted cloud-seeding over the Lake Urmia basin to induce rainfall amid its worst drought in decades. Lake Urmia is located in northwestern Iran, fed by rivers including Zarīneh and Sīmīneh. The lake has lost over 90% of its original water volume due to damming, agricultural diversion, and climate stress. It is designated as a Ramsar Site and UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.

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ICAR–Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute launched a stock enhancement programme for short-neck clam (Paphia malabarica) in Ashtamudi Lake showing early signs of recovery. Short-neck clam is a valuable bivalve mollusk and India’s first Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certified species. It is the major fishery resource of brackish water Ashtamudi Lake.

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India is increasing its military presence in Lakshadweep with a new naval detachment on Bitra Island becoming fully operational next year. Air Force facilities are also being expanded on Agatti and Minicoy islands. Bitra Island is located in the northern region of Lakshadweep in the Arabian Sea and is the smallest inhabited island of the Union Territory. The island holds strategic importance due to its key position in the Arabian Sea. Bitra will become the third island in Lakshadweep with a defence establishment, joining INS Dweeprakshak in Kavaratti and INS Jatayu in Minicoy.

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Fresh lava fountains erupted from Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano, almost a year after its ongoing eruptive phase began. Kilauea is one of the world’s most active volcanoes, located in the southeastern part of Hawaii Island, United States. It is a shield-type volcano, formed due to the Hawaiian hot spot. The summit caldera contains the lava lake Halema‘uma‘u, considered the home of the Hawaiian volcano goddess, Pele.

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After record-breaking rains, an ancient lake in Death Valley National Park, previously vanished, has reappeared. Death Valley National Park is located in southeastern California, USA, and is the hottest and driest place in North America. It holds the record for the highest temperature ever recorded in the United States. It is the largest national park in the continental US. The valley is a rift valley (graben) formed by the sinking of rock between major block-faulted mountains running parallel in the east and west.

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Iran’s Hormuz Island recently gained global attention as its coastlines turned blood-red overnight, creating a surreal natural spectacle. Hormuz Island is a hilly island located in the Strait of Hormuz, between the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman, about 8 km off the coast of Iran. The island covers an area of 41.9 sq. km and is famous for its unique scenery and colorful soil, earning it the nickname “Rainbow Island”. Its terrain is composed of sedimentary rock and volcanic ash, and due to low precipitation, both the soil and water are salty.

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Scientists recently captured rare footage of sharks living inside the Kavachi volcano near the Solomon Islands, providing new insights into marine survival in extreme volcanic environments. Kavachi Volcano is a shallow submarine volcano located in the South Pacific Ocean, south of the remote Vangunu Island in the Solomon Islands. The volcano is situated on the Pacific Ring of Fire, a region known for high tectonic activity, making Kavachi both geologically and volcanically significant. It is one of the world’s few active and visible undersea volcanoes, regularly erupting and occasionally forming temporary islands.

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Recently, Indonesian authorities raised the alert level for Mount Bur Ni Telong due to increased volcanic activity and frequent earthquakes. Mount Bur Ni Telong is an active stratovolcano located in Aceh, the westernmost province of Indonesia. It is one of the most popular climbing destinations in the Aceh region. The volcano rises to about 2,624 metres above sea level. It is situated at the southern base of the large Bur Ni Geureudong volcanic complex in northern Sumatra. The volcano has a conical shape formed by layers of lava and eruptive material.

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West Bengal Chief Minister laid the foundation stone of a 5-km bridge over the Muriganga River to connect Sagar Island with the mainland. Sagar Island, also called Gangasagar or Sagardwip, is in the Ganges delta, West Bengal, about 100 km south of Kolkata. It is part of South 24 Parganas district and comprises 43 villages. The island lies at the mouth of the Hooghly River, separated from the mainland to the east. Sagar Island is a sacred Hindu pilgrimage site where thousands visit during the Gangasagar Fair in mid-January.