Sudan |
Why in News: Russia has blocked a UK-supported draft resolution in the UN Security Council that called for a ceasefire in Sudan, a move that has been sharply criticized by both the UK and the US.
About Sudan
- Located in northeastern Africa.
- Borders:South Sudan, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Egypt, Libya, Chad, and the Central African Republic.
- Northern borderlies along the Sahara, while it extends south to the forests of West Africa and the Congo River basin.
- Has a significant coastlinealong the Red Sea, providing access to the Indian Ocean and Mediterranean Sea via the Suez Canal.
- Capital:Khartoum, located at the junction of the Blue Nile and White Nile rivers.
- Currency:Sudanese pounds (SDG).
- Early 19th century:Occupied by Egypt, followed by a joint British-Egyptian government in 1899, with Sudan functioning as a British colony.
- Gained independencefrom Anglo-Egyptian co-rule in 1956.
- Military regimeswith Islamic-oriented governments have dominated politics since independence.
Current Crisis:
- A power struggle between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces erupted in April 2023, disrupting a planned transition to civilian rule.
- Thousands have died, and the crisis has led to the world’s largest displacement emergency.
- One-third of the population faces acute food insecurity, with projections showing 40% of the population affected.
Solomon Islands |
Why in News: A team of researchers has recently found the largest coral colony in the world, located in the Solomon Islands.
About Solomon Islands
- Location:The Solomon Islands are located in the southwestern Pacific Ocean.
- Composition:The archipelago consists of nearly 1,000 islands, including 6 large main islands and over 900 smaller islands. 147 of these islands are inhabited.
- Neighbours:The nearest countries are Vanuatu to the southeast and Papua New Guinea to the west.
- Colonial History:The Solomon Islands were once a British protectorate.
- Independence:The country gained independence in 1978 and became a republic.
- Capital: Honiara, located on Guadalcanal, the largest island.
- Official Language: English
- Political System:The Solomon Islands operates as a parliamentary democracy within the Commonwealth.
- Parliament: It has a unicameral Parliament and a ministerial system of government.
Zambia |
Why in News: India and Zambia recently conducted the 6th Session of the Joint Permanent Commission in Lusaka.
About Zambia
- Position: Zambia is a landlocked country located in south-central Africa.
- Plateau: The country lies on a high plateau, named after the Zambezi River, which drains most of Zambia, except for a small northern portion.
- Bordering Countries
- North: Democratic Republic of the Congo
- South: Zimbabwe and Botswana
- Northeast: Tanzania
- West: Malawi and Mozambique
- West: Angola
- Southwest: Namibia
- Mining:Zambia’s economy is largely dependent on mining, particularly copper extraction.
- Victoria Falls: Located on the Zambezi River, it is one of the major natural landmarks of Zambia.
- Lake Kariba:The world’s largest artificial reservoir by volume, created by the Kariba Dam on the Zambezi River.
Horn of Africa |
Why in News: A joint report released today by the UN and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), an East African bloc, revealed that approximately 65 million people are facing food insecurity in the Horn of Africa.
About the Horn of Africa
- Location:The Horn of Africa is the easternmost extension of the African continent.
- Countries:It includes Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, and Somalia.
- Somali Peninsula:A part of the region is also referred to as the Somali Peninsula.
- Diverse Landscapes: The region includes:
- Ethiopian Highlands:A rugged mountainous area.
- Ogaden Desert:A vast arid desert area.
- Eritrean and Somalian Coasts:Coastal regions along key maritime routes.
- Bordering Waters:The region’s coastlines are washed by the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, and the Indian Ocean.
- Strategic Strait: The Bab el-Mandeb Strait separates the Horn of Africa from the Arabian Peninsula, connecting the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden.
- Food Insecurity:The region faces severe food insecurity due to the climate crisis, conflict, and socio-political instability.
- Health Challenges: Malnutrition and cholera outbreaks are critical public health concerns.
Papua New Guinea |
Why in News: At the recently concluded 16th Conference of Parties (COP16) to the Convention on Biological Diversity, local environmental groups from Papua New Guinea highlighted critical concerns and urged the global community to take action against illegal logging, which is threatening one of the world’s most biodiverse regions.
About Papua New Guinea
- Location: Island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean.
- Main Islands:Occupies the eastern half of New Guinea (the world’s second-largest island) along with numerous smaller offshore islands.
- Neighboring Countries:
- Indonesia (to the west)
- Australia (to the south)
- Solomon Islands (to the southeast)
- Terrain: Predominantly mountainous with low-lying plains in southern New Guinea.
- Official Language:English (used for governance and commerce).
- Form of Government: Constitutional monarchy and a member of the Commonwealth of Nations.
- Head of State:The British monarch, represented by a Governor-General.
- Head of Government:The Prime Minister.
- Unique Species:
- Birds of paradise
- Tree kangaroos
- Queen Alexandra’s birdwing butterfly (the world’s largest butterfly).
- Capital City:Port Moresby, which serves as the administrative and economic hub of the country.
