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The Philippines

2020 AUG 25

Preliminary   > Geography   >   Places in news   >   Places in news

Why in news?

  • Twin explosions have ripped through the Jolo town in a Sulu region of the southern Philippines, killing at least 14 people and wounding 75.
  • Police suspects the bombings were carried out by militant Islamists linked to the Abu Sayyaf group.

About Philippines:

  • The Philippines is an archipelagic country in Southeast Asia.
  • Situated in the western Pacific Ocean, it consists of about 7,641 islands that are broadly categorized under three main geographical divisions from north to south: Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao.
  • The capital city of the Philippines is Manila and the most populous city is Quezon City, both within the single urban area of Metro Manila.
  • It is bounded by the South China Sea on the west, the Philippine Sea on the east and the Celebes Sea on the southwest.
  • The Philippines' position as an island country on the Pacific Ring of Fire and close to the equator makes the country prone to earthquakes and typhoons.
  • The Philippines is a founding member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, and the East Asia Summit.

About Abu Sayyaf group:

  • Abu Sayyaf officially known as the Islamic State – East Asia Province, is a Jihadist militant and pirate group.
  • It is based in and around Jolo and Basilan islands in the southwestern part of the Philippines.
  • Since its inception in 1989, the group has carried out bombings, kidnappings, assassinations and extortion.

PRELIMS QUESTION

”Jolo” , a place recently in news is a town in:
(a)Indonesia
(b)Philippines
(c)Namibia
(d)Kenya

Answer to prelims question