13 PLACES IN NEWS
Places Description
Senkaku Islands • Japan and the USA issued a joint statement opposing any unilateral attempts by China to alter the
status quo of the Senkaku Islands.
• The islands, referred to as the Senkakus in Japan and the Diaoyus in China, are claimed by both
countries.
Sittwe Port • India has secured the right to operate its second overseas port, Sittwe, following approval by the
Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
• Sittwe Port is a deep-water port located at the estuary of the Kaladan River in Rakhine State, Myanmar.
• The Sittwe port, which was initially built with a $500 million grant-in-aid from India, can offer a
significant connectivity advantage for cargo to reach from Vizag and Kolkata to the Northeastern
states, bypassing Bangladesh.
Afar Triangle • Representing the northernmost portion of the Great Rift Valley, the Afar Triangle is one of the most
geologically active regions on Earth, where the Nubian, Somali, and Arabian Plates converge.
• Geologists predict that the African continent's rift in the Afar Triangle could lead to the formation of
a new ocean in 5 to 10 million years.
• This rare geological phenomenon involves the gradual separation of tectonic plates, resulting in the
creation of a distinct continent in East Africa.
Vietnam • The Mekong Delta region, known as "Vietnam's rice bowl," is suffering crop losses due to saltwater
intrusion.
Laos • The town of Luang Prabang, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is at risk of losing its UNESCO status
because of a dam project on the Mekong River.
China • China has delineated the baseline in the Gulf of Tonkin, known in Chinese as Beibu Gulf.
• Baselines are used to determine limits to territorial waters and exclusive economic zones (EEZs), and
are a sensitive subject in the South China Sea, where China, Vietnam and other states in the region
have some conflicting claims.
Thailand Thailand approves marriage equality law, becoming the first in Southeast Asia and third in Asia after Nepal
and Taiwan to recognize same-sex couples.
Srinagar Srinagar is recognized as the fourth Indian city by the World Craft Council; known for multiple forms of
craftsmanship, including Papier-mâché and Pashmina.
Kozhikode UNESCO designates Kozhikode as India's first 'City of Literature' under the UNESCO Creative Cities
Network, recognizing its literary contributions.
Kutch, Gujarat • Traditional Bela block printing from Kutch, Gujarat, faces threat of disappearing; cultural heritage at risk.
○ Listed as an endangered craft by the Office of the Development Commissioner for Handicrafts.
• Mainly practised by the Khatri community, it is a traditional textile art known for its bold designs,
striking colour combinations, and graphic motifs.
Ladakh Ladakh was declared fully functionally literate under ULLAS – Nav Bharat Saksharta Karyakram,
with over 97% literacy rate achieved.
Serbia Serbia plans to build the world's most beautiful stadium, the New Belgrade National Stadium, designed
by Spanish architects. It will use a system circulating cold water through pipes in the walls instead of
traditional cooling systems, ensuring environmental sustainability and comfort.
Uttarakhand The Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board and Starscapes have partnered to launch India's first astro
tourism campaign, featuring stargazing, solar observations, astrophotography contests, and camping.
• Initially launched in Mussoorie, with plans to expand to Uttarkashi, Pithoragarh, Nainital, and
Chamoli. Objectives include preserving night skies, boosting local economies, and providing training
opportunities.
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Joshimath tehsil was renamed to Jyotirmath due to historical significance related to Adi Guru
Shankaracharya; Kosiyakutoli renamed to Pargana Shri Kainchi Dham for spiritual reasons.
Mexico Mexico announced the discovery of Taam Ja, the deepest blue hole ever recorded at a depth of 1,380 feet
(420 meters), located in Chetumal Bay off the Yucatan Peninsula.
• Blue holes are large marine caverns or sinkholes typically found in limestone or carbonate rock beds,
offering unique conditions that support high levels of biodiversity.
Bhutan Bhutan opened its first ever competition swimming pool in Thimpu, a collaboration between World
Aquatics and the Bhutan Aquatics Federation.
• The pool is 8 lanes wide, 25 meters long, and located at an altitude of 8200 feet (2400 meters), making
it the highest in the world.
Jharkhand A vulture restaurant has been established in the Koderma district of Jharkhand for vultures.
Uttar Pradesh Uttar Pradesh's first glass skywalk is set to come up in Chitrakoot.
• The bridge made up of glass and steel, in the shape of 'kodand' (Lord Ram's bow and arrow), will come
up on Tulsi waterfalls in Markundi range of the Chitrakoot forest division
Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of Shri Kalki Dham Temple in Sambhal district
of Uttar Pradesh on 19 February 2024.
• The PM also unveiled the model of Shri Kalki Dham Temple.
○ Shri Kalki Dham is being constructed by Shri Kalki Dham Nirman Trust whose chairman is
Acharya Pramod Krishnam.
Dharamsala, Himachal Dharamsala unveils India's first hybrid pitch, revolutionizing cricket with enhanced durability and
Pradesh consistent playability.
• Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) stadium has become the first BCCI-accredited venue
to install India’s first, state-of-the-art 'hybrid pitch'.
Kolkata Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the country's first underwater metro in Kolkata.
• The 4.8 km long Esplanade-Howrah Maidan section is a part of the East-West Corridor. The
construction cost amounted to Rs. 4,960 crores.
• The metro runs 33 meters below ground level and 13 meters below the surface of the Hooghly River.
• Travel Experience: The metro train will traverse the tunnel beneath the Hooghly River at a speed of
80 km/h, taking only 45 seconds.
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia Jeddah recently celebrated the inauguration of the world's first 3D printed mosque in the Al-Jawhara
suburb.
Kathua, J&K The establishment of North India's first government Homoeopathic College is underway in Kathua, Jammu
and Kashmir.
Nepal The Nepal government has declared Pokhara, a picturesque city in the Gandaki province, as the ‘Tourism
capital’ of the Himalayan nation.
WHO has declared Dhulikhel Municipality as Nepal's first and Asia's second 'healthy city,' recognized
for its innovative health initiatives despite Nepal being the world's third most polluted country.
Abu Dhabi Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the sprawling Hindu temple in Abu Dhabi, built by the
Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha or the BAPS society.
• Built on 27 acres of land, the temple features a unique blend of Indian culture and UAE's identity
• The temple space also features stories from ancient civilisations -- Maya, Aztec, Egyptian, Arabic,
European, Chinese and African -- all captured in stone. Tales of the 'Ramayan' can also be found on
the structure.
• The temple features the traditional Nagar style of architecture. It stands tall at 108 feet, being crowned
with seven shikhars (spires) each representing one of the seven emirates of the UAE.
Algeria The Great Mosque of Algiers (capital of Algeria), known locally as Jama'a al-Jazair, is the largest mosque
in Islam globally, excluding the holy sites of Mecca and Medina.
• Located in the capital city, it features a towering minaret standing at 265 meters (869 feet) and a
spacious prayer room.
• The mosque's premises have the capacity to accommodate more than 120,000 worshippers.
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Arunachal Pradesh The Government Secondary School in Pachin, Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh, has become India's first 3D
printed school.
Sri Lanka The Sri Lanka-India Friendship Arch was inaugurated at the National Sandalwood Garden in Sri
Jayewardenepura Kotte.
TIME magazine's list of 'World's Greatest Places of 2024' includes three Indian destinations:
the World's Greatest • Manam Chocolate in Hyderabad,
Places of 2024 • Naar restaurant in Himachal Pradesh,
• Museum of Solutions (MuSo), a unique children's museum in Mumbai.
Assam Moidams of Assam's Ahom dynasty were inscribed as India's 43rd UNESCO World Heritage Site on
July 26, 2024.
• The Moidams are a 700-year-old mound-burial system that was the final resting place of Ahom
kings, queens, and nobles.
• The Moidams are located in Charaideo, and also known as the Pyramids of Assam.
Dehradun • Dehradun has opened its first bird gallery, showcasing high-resolution images of the state's diverse
bird species to enhance appreciation of local biodiversity.
Albania (Capital: • India opened a new mission in Albania to enhance diplomatic relations in Southern Europe.
Tirana)
Little Prespa Lake • Little Prespa Lake, on the Albanian-Greek border, is slowly dying due to rising temperatures and
increasingly mild winters with little snowfall and a scarcity of precipitation.
• The lake is part of the Prespa National Park and designated as a Ramsar Site.
Lipulekh Pass • The first batch of pilgrims viewed Mount Kailash from the Old Lipulekh Pass, a route previously
requiring travel to the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) for a view of the peak.
Kazakhstan • Kazakhstan held a referendum to construct its first nuclear power plant to boost energy production.
Hurricane Oscar • Cuba's electricity grid collapsed for the fourth time in 48 hours due to Hurricane Oscar, hindering
restoration efforts.
• Located in the northern Caribbean Sea, Cuba sits at the confluence of the Gulf of Mexico and the
Atlantic Ocean.
Sri Kartarpur Sahib • India and Pakistan have renewed the Sri Kartarpur Sahib Corridor agreement for the next five years,
Corridor originally signed in 2019.
• The corridor allows Indian pilgrims to visit Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur in Pakistan without a
visa, spanning a 4.5-kilometer route from Dera Baba Nanak in Punjab to the Gurdwara in Narowal.
Lake Erie • Toxins from bacteria called microcystin can make animals and people sick when they come into
contact with infected water of Lake Erie
• Lake Erie, the fourth-largest of North America's Great Lakes.
Triton island • Recent satellite imagery shows a significant military buildup by China on Triton Island in the South
China Sea.
• Triton Island, part of the Paracels (also called Xisha Islands in China), is controlled by China but
claimed by Vietnam and Taiwan.
• China seized control of the Paracels from South Vietnam after a 1974 naval conflict, and the military
buildup signals an escalation in its South China Sea strategy.
Raigad Fort • This year's Rashtriya Ekta Diwas theme celebrates the heritage of Raigad Fort.
Konark temple • The Prime Minister highlighted Odissi dance and the Konark Temple in his Mann Ki Baat,
emphasising their cultural significance.
Chagos Islands • The United Kingdom (UK) agreed to cede sovereignty of the strategically important Chagos
Archipelago to Mauritius.
• However, the UK will continue to exercise sovereign rights over Diego Garcia island.
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