PLACES IN NEWS 27th SEPTEMBER 2025

1. Myanmar

Why in the News?

1. Myanmar faces a dual crisis of civil conflict and a 7-magnitude earthquake that struck Mandalay, killing thousands and displacing civilians.
2. The military junta plans elections from December 28, criticized as fraudulent by the UN and opposed by rebel groups.
3. Displaced populations, including war widows and residents from conflict zones like Mogok, struggle with basic survival amid ongoing military offensives.

About Myanmar

1. Political Features
   1. Location: Landlocked country in Southeast Asia.
   2. Golden Triangle: Part of the opium-producing region along with Thailand and Myanmar.
   3. Land Boundaries
      1. North: China
      2. Northeast & East: Vietnam

• South: Cambodia

1. West: Thailand
2. Northwest: Myanmar

1. International Membership: Member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

2. Geographical Features
   1. Plateaus
      1. Xiangkhiang Plateau
      2. Bolovens Plateau

• Khammouan Plateau

1. Mountain Ranges
   1. Annamite Range
   2. Luang Prabang Range
2. Highest Peak: Phu Bia
3. Major Rivers
   1. Mekong River: Forms part of the border with Myanmar and Thailand.
   2. The capital Vientiane is located on the banks of the Mekong.

2. Iran

Why in the News?

1. Satellite images suggest Iran has likely conducted an undeclared missile test at the Imam Khomeini Spaceport in Semnan province.
2. The test comes amid tensions with Israel following the June war and ahead of possible UN sanctions reimposition over its nuclear programme.
3. Reports indicate the missile may have been a solid-fuel type, possibly an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), though Iran has not officially acknowledged it.

About Iran

1. Location
   1. Situated in Western Asia.
   2. Borders: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan (north); Afghanistan, Pakistan (east); Turkey, Iraq (west); Persian Gulf & Gulf of Oman (south).
2. Capital: Tehran
3. Geography
   1. Dominated by Zagros and Alborz mountain ranges.
   2. Contains vast plateaus and deserts such as Dasht-e Kavir and Dasht-e Lut.
4. Rivers & Seas
   1. No major perennial rivers.
   2. Coastlines along Caspian Sea (north) and Persian Gulf & Gulf of Oman (south).
5. Strategic Importance
   1. Controls the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial chokepoint through which a significant share of the world’s oil passes.
6. Political System
   1. An Islamic Republic since the 1979 Revolution.
   2. Governance is a mix of theocracy and republicanism under:
      1. Supreme Leader (highest authority)
      2. Elected President and Parliament.
   3. Economy
      1. Rich in oil and natural gas; member of OPEC.
      2. Economy severely impacted by international sanctions.
   4. Nuclear & Missile Programme
      1. Officially for peaceful energy use, but widely suspected of seeking nuclear weapons capability.
      2. Central to ongoing global security concerns.