Places in News Current Affairs MCQs

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Experts fear that Kitum, the world’s deadliest cave in Mount Elgon National Park, Kenya, could harbor the next pandemic, Marburg virus, flagged as “epidemic-prone” by World Health Organization. Marburg Virus Disease (MVD) is a severe hemorrhagic fever affecting humans and primates, caused by a unique zoonotic RNA virus related to Ebola. Transmitted through bat-inhabited caves, it spreads via direct contact with infected bodily fluids, raising concerns about potential outbreaks and the need for heightened vigilance.

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Pirates’ recent assault in the Gulf of Aden sparks alarm. The gulf acts as a crucial maritime corridor connecting the Red Sea and Arabian Sea. Named after Yemen’s Port of Aden, it borders Somalia to the south and Yemen to the north, with the Arabian Sea to the east and Djibouti to the west. The prominent Sheba Ridge characterizes its terrain, extending from the Indian Ocean ridge system.

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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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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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The recent fire in Mangaf, Kuwait, resulting in the deaths of Indian migrant workers, highlights the poor living conditions and neglect of low-income workers’ rights in GCC states. The Kafala system ties migrant workers’ visas to their employers, granting employers extensive control and contributing to exploitation and vulnerability. Low wages, restricted movement, and the absence of worker unions further exacerbate these issues, worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic by confinement and deportations.

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A severe bleaching event has ravaged 97% of coral at Lizard Island, part of Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, due to extreme heat stress. Known as Jiigurru or Dyiigurra, Lizard Island is located in Queensland. The island’s traditional owners are the Dingaal people, an Aboriginal Australian clan also known as Dingiil, Walmbarddha, or Walmbaria.

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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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Russia’s Defence Ministry reported that Russian warplanes intercepted two U.S. strategic bombers over the Barents Sea, preventing a border violation. The Barents Sea, a marginal sea of the Arctic Ocean, covers 1.4 million sq. km and borders Norway and Russia. Named after Dutch explorer Willem Barents, it was known to Vikings as the Murmean Sea. It is bounded by several archipelagos and seas, including the Svalbard and Novaya Zemlya archipelagos.

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China and the Philippines have agreed to defuse tensions over the contested Second Thomas Shoal (Ayungin) in the South China Sea. This submerged reef, part of the Spratly Islands, was claimed by the Philippines in 1999. China asserts sovereignty based on the Nine-dash line, conflicting with the EEZs of several countries. The Philippines won a 2016 ruling against China’s claims, but China rejected the judgment.

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In the harsh environment of Death Valley, 97 runners recently embarked on the Badwater 135, a 48-hour ultramarathon renowned as the world’s toughest foot race. Death Valley, located in southeastern California, USA is the lowest, hottest, and driest part of North America, spanning 7,800 sq. km, with about 1,425 sq. km below sea level. This rift valley, formed by the sinking of rock between major faulted mountains, is part of Death Valley National Park and the Mojave and Colorado Deserts Biosphere Reserve. It is bordered by the Grapevine, Funeral, and Black Mountains to the east, and the Panamint and Cottonwood Mountains to the west.