Q. Consider the following pairs:
| Country | Important reason for being in the news recently | ||
| 1. | Chad | — | Setting up of permanent military base by China |
| 2. | Guinea | — | Suspension of Constitution and Government by military |
| 3. | Lebanon | — | Severe and prolonged economic depression |
| 4. | Tunisia | — | Suspension of Parliament by President |
How many pairs given above are correctly, matched?
- Only one pair
- Only two pairs
- Only three pairs
- All four pairs
Answer: (c) Only three pairs
Notes:
Chad
- Chad is a landlocked country in north-central Africa.
- Chad is a largely semi-desert country, is rich in gold and uranium, and stands to benefit from its recently-acquired status as an oil-exporting state.
- China has no permanent military base in Chad.
Guinea
- Guinea is a country in West Africa, bordered on the west by the Atlantic Ocean.
- The president of Guinea was detained after a successful military coup in the West African nation.
- The coup was reportedly led by special task forces led by Colonel Mamady Doumbouya, the head of Guinean Special Forces.
Lebanon
- Lebanon is a country located on the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea.
- It consists of a narrow strip of territory and is one of the world’s smaller sovereign states. The capital is Beirut.
- Lebanon is an import-dependent country. The badly damaged port facility is Lebanon’s largest maritime gateway and it will make essential items expensive and threaten food security in the country.
- Lebanon has already been struggling with a huge economic meltdown, with the rapid devaluation of the local currency and a volatile exchange rate on the black market fueling inflation, shuttering businesses, unemployment, and poverty.
- It had also defaulted on a Eurobond repayment in March 2020.
Tunisia
- Tunisia is a country in North Africa.
- Tunisia’s accessible Mediterranean Sea coastline and strategic location have attracted conquerors and visitors through the ages, and its ready access to the Sahara has brought its people into contact with inhabitants of the African interior.
- Tunisia’s President Kais Saied on Monday extended his months-long suspension of parliament until new elections in December 2022, while calling for a July referendum on constitutional reforms.