Places in News

By Amit Garg
The Supreme Court of Saudi Arabia recently abolished flogging as a punishment in the
country. This is seen as the latest in a series of measures to reform the orthodox
government. Flogging in Saudi Arabia The Supreme Court of Saudi Arabia had recently
done away with flogging as a mode of punishment.
The indigenous people have come together to sue the government and the responsible oil
firms over the spill.
River Coca
River Coca- one of the rivers that suffers from the April oil spill- is a major river in eastern
Ecuador. It is a tributary of the Napo River. For many years, hydrologists and geologists had
been warning the government about the severe erosion along the river posing a risk to the
pipelines, but to no avail.
San Rafael Waterfall
The San Rafael Waterfall is one of the most spectacular waterfalls in Ecuador and is located
on the Coca River. The 150m high San Rafael Waterfall has collapsed in recent times. A
recent investigation concluded that a Chinese government funded dam project upstream has
depleted the current and has caused erosions.
The Saffron cultivated in Kashmir is long, thick and has natural
deep red colour. Also, it has high aroma and is processed without
adding any chemicals.
The colour of the saffron is unique due to the high quantity of
crocin. It has a rich flavour because of safranal and the bitterness
is due to the presence of picrocrocin.
Well known candy, ‘kovilpatti kadalai mittai’, produced in the
Kovilpatti region of Tamil Nadu, was recently given the GI tag.
About the Candy Kovilpatti kadalai mittai is a candy made of
groundnuts, jaggery and dyed coconut wisps. It is manufactured
in Kovilpatti region in Thoothukudi district of Tamil Nadu.
At the centuries-old historic Kamakhya Temple at Guwahati,
for the first time in six centuries of record available from 1565,
the 5 days Ambubachi Mela will not be organized due by
keeping in mind the possibility of spreading the COVID-19
virus.
On 23rd June 2020, the foundation stone for the first Hindu Temple in
Pakistan’s capital city Islamabad was laid. The temple is the first to be
constructed in Islamabad since the Independence of Pakistan. The temple
will be devoted to Lord Krishna. The name of the temple will be Shri
Krishna Mandir.
Through the virtual platform, Jitendra Singh (Union Minister of State for Development of North
Eastern Region I/C) had inaugurated Border Roads Organisation (BRO) constructed bridges-
Devika and Puneja on 24th June 2020.

Devika Bridge
The bridge is located at Udhampur of Jammu & Kashmir. Built at a cost of Rs 75 lakhs, the bridge
fulfilled 70-year-old demand of the locals of the nearby region. Headquarters of the Indian Armies
Northern Command is situated at Udhampur. Apart from solving traffic issues, the bridge will
provide a smooth passage for the vehicles and convoys of the Indian army. The bridge is 10
meters long.
Puneja Bridge
The bridge is located in Bhaderwah town in Doda district of Jammu & Kashmir. The cost of
constructing the bridge was Rs 4 crore. The bridge is 50 meters long.
The Mineral Exploration Corporation Limited recently began the Kolar Gold Field
exploration after 16 years. Background The Kolar Gold mines are located nearly
100 km from Bengaluru. They were closed in 2001 due to the fall in gold prices.
On October 3, 2020, PM Modi is to inaugurate the Atal Tunnel,
the world longest high-altitude tunnel. It is the world’s longest
tunnel to be located above the altitude of 10,000 feet (3,000
feet). About the Tunnel The tunnel is 9.02 km long. The tunnel
reduces the distance between Manali and Leh by 46 km
The Indian Army has set up a memorial to honour twenty soldiers
who lost their lives in Galwan Clash. The Galwan Clash was fought
between Indian and Chinese Army in June 2020.
The Government of India recently allowed export of Bangalore
Rose onions. Earlier the union government had banned the export
of all varieties of onions. Bangalore rose onions were given with
Geographical Indication tag in 2015. Unique characteristics of
Bangalore Rose onions These onions have bulbs with flat base.
Singapore recently included facial recognition to its National Identity
Database. And thereby, it has become the first country to include the
technology in its national database. Highlights The system introduced
is called “SingPass Face Verification”. Though this, a number of
government services can be accessed online.
The scientists have discovered a massive detached coral reef
in the Great Barrier Reef of Australia. It is the first to be
discovered in 120 years. The reef is taller than the Empire
State Building of the United States. Key Highlights The reef
was discovered by the Australian Scientists from the Schmidt
Ocean Institute.
On November 8, 2020, PM Modi is to launch Ro-Pax ferry service
between Ghogha and Hazira in Gujarat through video
conferencing. Highlights The Ro-Pax ferry vessel called the
“Voyage Symphony” is a three-deck vessel. It has a load capacity
to load thirty trucks, 100 passenger cars and 500 passengers.
Every year the cherry blossom festival is hosted by Meghalaya in
the starting of November. This year the festival has been cancelled
due to covid-19. It is the only Cherry festival being conducted in
India. The India International Cherry blossom festival is organised
by the Government of Meghalaya every year.
Parts of Tripura are witnessing violent protest recently due to the proposed
resettlement of Bru tribals. Bru or Reang tribe is an indigenous community in
the northeast, living in the states of Tripura, Assam and Mizoram. In Tripura,
this community is recognised as a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group. In
Mizoram, it is targeted by ethnic organisations demanding its exclusion from
electoral rolls, forcing the tribe to flee to Tripura. In a bid to ensure their
permanent settlement in Tripura, an agreement was signed between the
Centre and the two states this year.
The Couscous, the Berber dish was recently added to the
Intangible Cultural Heritage List. Despite their differences,
Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and Mauritania joined together to
highlight their love for the dish. The Couscous has joined
Singapore’s Hawker culture, Baudima dance of Zambia and
wine horse of Spain into the UNESCO list of Intangible
Heritage.
The Forest Minister of Madhya Pradesh recently
launched the first hot air balloon safari of India in the
Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve of India in MP. There are
several hot air balloon rides in the country. However, this
is the first hot air balloon safari.
The expectation will e take a team of 40 members to
Antarctica and return by April 2021. XL Indian Antarctica
expedition has been Limited due to existing challenges of
covid-19. It will mainly focus on ongoing scientific projects on
ocean observations, climate change, electric and magnetic
flux measurements, geology, Re supplying of food,
environmental monitoring, fuel, and accomplish the return of
the winter crew.
The Jammu and Kashmir Government recently sought GI tag for Gucchi
mushroom. The Gucchi mushrooms are highly expensive and are full of
health benefits. 500 grams of Gucchi mushrooms cost Rs 18,000.
Recently, GI Tag was provided to Saffron of Jammu and Kashmir.
The Assam Chief Minister Sarbanada Sonowal recently provided
four lakh rupees to around 1,279 surrendered cadres of National
Democratic Front of Bodoland. National Democratic Front of
Bodoland The National Democratic Front of Bodoland is an
armed separatist that seeks to obtain sovereign Bodoland for
the Bodo people.
The United Nations counter terrorism chief have asked the
countries to repatriate the 27,000 children who are stranded in
massive camp in north-eastern Syria. Many of the children are
sons and daughters of Islamic State extremists who controlled the
large swathes of Iraq and Syria.
The Bangladesh Authorities recently moved around 1,750 Rohingya
Muslims to a controversial island in the Bay of Bengal called the
“Bhashan Char Island”. This move by Bangladesh was opposed by the
refugees already living on the island.The Bangladesh Authorities
recently moved around 1,750 Rohingya Muslims to a controversial
island in the Bay of Bengal called the “Bhashan Char Island”. This
move by Bangladesh was opposed by the refugees already living on
the island.
The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and
the Arbor Day Foundation have recently recognized Hyderabad as
a 2020 Tree City of World. Hyderabad was selected for the
recognition following its commitment to grow and maintain the
urban forests.
The Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change,
Prakash Javadekar, inaugurated the Atal Paryavaran Bhavan at
Lakshadweep on February 19, 2021. Highlights While inaugurating
the Atal Paryavaran Bhavan, the minister said that, Lakshadweep
will undergo a comprehensive development that too without
compromising the UT’s commitment to nature.
The scientists are looking for the signs of ancient life on the Red
Planet with the help of data gathered by the NASA’s rover
Perseverance which is exploring the surface of Mars. Scientists
find that the data collected on the mission is much closer to
home at the Salda lake located in southwest Turkey.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar reached Tajikistan’s
capital to attend the 9th Heart of Asia-Istanbul Process
(HoA-IP) ministerial conference on Afghanistan. This
conference is a part of the Istanbul Process. The conference
was held in Dushanbe. The Heart of Asia – Istanbul Process
(HoA-IP) was launched on 2 November 2011.
The biggest floating solar power plant of India is to be set up at
Ramagundam in Telangana. About Ramagundam Solar Power Plant
The capacity of the solar power plant is 100 MW. It is expected to be
opened in May 2021. The solar power plant is being set up at the
Ramagundam Thermal Power Plant