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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US President-elect Donald Trump has expressed interest in buying Greenland, the world’s largest non-continent island. It is located between North America and Europe in the North Atlantic Ocean. Greenland is geographically part of North America. It is surrounded by the Arctic Ocean, Greenland Sea, North Atlantic Ocean, Davis Strait, and Baffin Bay. Once a Danish colony, Greenland is now an autonomous province of Denmark. Greenland’s highest point is Gunnbjorn’s Fjeld, and its capital is Nuuk.

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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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The Sri Lankan Navy recently arrested 17 Indian fishermen near Neduntheevu Island. Neduntheevu, also called Delft Island, is the largest island in the Palk Strait, Sri Lanka. It covers 50 sq.km, with an 8 km length and 6 km width. The island is flat, oval-shaped, and often wind-swept, offering a soothing environment. It lacks streams; freshwater comes from surface water and artificial ponds. The island has dry shrubs, semi-arid tropical plants, and tall palm trees. A Dutch fort made of coral chunks is located on the island, which has a population of 4,800.

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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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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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Former US President Joe Biden highlighted the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) post the Israel-Hamas ceasefire. IMEC, announced at the 2023 G20 meeting, aims to boost trade between India, the Arabian Peninsula, the Mediterranean, and Europe. Countries involved include India, the EU, the US, UAE, Saudi Arabia, France, Germany, and Italy. It features two corridors: eastern (India to Arabian Gulf) and northern (Gulf to Europe). A shipping route links Mumbai and Mundra to the UAE, and a rail network connects the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Haifa. Haifa connects by sea to Piraeus Port, Greece, linking to Europe.