In Zojila, light at the end of tunnel

The border between Canada and the United States is the longest international border in the world, stretching approximately 8,891 kilometers (5,525 miles), including the border shared with Alaska. It is a peaceful boundary and includes both land and water segments. Chile and Argentina: * Length: Approx. 5,308 kilometres * This is the third-longest international border in the world and the longest in South America. * It follows the Andes mountain range for most of its length, with several high-altitude border crossings. China and India: * Length: Approx. 3,488 kilometers
* It is highly disputed in areas such as Aksai Chin and Arunachal Pradesh, leading to occasional tensions between the two nations. Kazakhstan and Russian Federation: * Length: Approx. 7,644 kilometers * This is the second-longest international border in the world. * It is largely flat, passing through vast steppes, and is a vital region for trade and natural resources between the two countries.

Statement I is correct. The Sumed Pipeline is indeed a significant route for transporting oil and natural gas from the Persian Gulf to Europe. It bypasses the Suez Canal, offering an alternative path for these resources. Statement II is also correct. The Sumed Pipeline physically connects the Red Sea (where oil and gas are loaded onto ships from the Persian Gulf) with the Mediterranean Sea, providing a direct route for them to reach European ports. The connection between the Red Sea and the Mediterranean Sea established by the Sumed Pipeline directly explains its strategic importance for transporting oil and gas to Europe.  Statement II provides the geographical context for how Statement I functions.

Statement 1 is Incorrect: Bidibidi is a large refugee settlement in northwestern Uganda, not Kenya. Statement 2 is Correct: People fleeing the civil war in South Sudan have been hosted in the Bidibidi settlement. Statement 3 is Correct: The Dadaab refugee complex is located in Kenya and houses refugees, including those who fled the civil war in Somalia. Therefore, the correct statements are 2 and 3 only.

Catalonia - It is located in Spain. - It is bordered by France and Andorra in the north, the Mediterranean Sea to the east, the autonomous community of Valencia to the south, and the autonomous community of Aragon to the west. The Republic of Crimea - Officially part of Ukraine, lies on a peninsula stretching from the south of Ukraine between the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov. - It is separated from Russia by the narrow Kerch Strait. Mindanao - It is an island located in the Philippines. - It is surrounded by the Bohol, Philippine, Celebes, and Sulu seas. Oromia - It is a regional state of Ethiopia. - Ethiopia is a landlocked country located in Eastern Africa.

Pair 1 is correct: Chechnya is a republic located in the northern part of the Caucasus Mountains, and it is a part of Russia. Pair 2 is incorrect: Darfur is a region located in western Sudan, not Mali. Pair 3 is incorrect: Swat Valley is located in the northwestern part of Pakistan, not Iraq.

Statement 1 is correct: UNCLOS allows coastal states to define the breadth of their territorial sea up to a limit of 12 nautical miles, measured from a baseline established according to the Convention. Statement 2 is correct: UNCLOS guarantees the right of innocent passage for ships of all states, including coastal and land-locked nations, through the territorial sea of another state. Innocent passage refers to non-threatening travel that doesn't harm the coastal state's security or interests. Statement 3 is correct: UNCLOS sets the limit of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) at 200 nautical miles from the baseline used to measure the territorial sea. The EEZ grants the coastal state exclusive rights to explore, exploit, conserve and manage resources (living and non-living) within the zone. Hence, all three statements about the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) are correct.

Pair 1 is correctly matched. Anatolia is the peninsula of land that today constitutes the Asian portion of Turkey. Because of its location at the point where the continents of Asia and Europe meet, Anatolia was, from the beginnings of civilization, a crossroads for numerous peoples migrating or conquering from either continent. Pair 2 is correctly matched. The Amhara Region is located in the northwestern part of Ethiopia. It is the homeland of Amharapeople. Amhara is the site of the largest inland body of water in Ethiopia, Lake Tana. Amhara region is often mentioned in the news due to historical conflicts among Oromo, Amhara, and Tigrayan groups of Ethiopia. Pair 3 is not correctly matched. Cabo Delgado is the northernmost province of Mozambique. It was in news because Mozambique's Al-Shabab extremist group has been carrying out attacks in the country's most northern province, Cabo Delgado, since 2017. Pair 4 is not correctly matched. Catalonia occupies a triangular area in the northeastern corner of Spain. It is bordered by France and Andorra to the north, the Mediterranean Sea to the east, the autonomous community of Valencia to the south, and the autonomous community of Aragon to the west. Recently, mass protests broke out across Spain's Catalonia region after its former separatist leader Carles Puigdemont was arrested. So, only two pairs (Anatolia Turkey and Amhara Ethiopia) are correctly matched.

The term "Levant" refers to the geographical region located along the eastern shores of the Mediterranean Sea. This region typically includes the countries of Cyprus, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria and Turkey (the southern/southeastern region). The Levant connects Anatolia, the Caucasus, Mesopotamia, and Egypt. It encompasses the eastern Mediterranean coastline and the hinterlands that stretch inland from that coast. The Levant has faced prolonged unrest, including the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the Syrian Civil War, and ethnic and religious tensions.

* Cobalt has emerged as a vital ingredient for the shift to a lower-carbon energy system, but reserves of the metal are concentrated heavily in just a single country. * The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is home to half of the world's known resources and currently accounts for around 70% of global production.  * The metals used in electronic goods, particularly the rechargeable batteries used in electric vehicles and other forms of energy storage means interest in it is growing as the electrification of the global energy system continues to gather pace. * Cobalt is used in batteries, superalloys, catalysts, magnets, and pigments for various industries like electronics, aviation, and manufacturing. * Democratic Republic of Congo (I), Indonesia (II), Russia (III), Australia (IV), and Madagascar (V) are the top 5 Cobalt-producing countries in the world. * Small deposits of Cobalt are known to exist in Odisha & Jharkhand in India. * Cobalt has also been classified as a critical mineral by the Government of India.

Statement 1 is Incorrect: 'Maitri Setu' (Friendship Bridge) is built over the Feni River, which forms a natural boundary between India and Bangladesh. However, it connects Sabroom in Tripura, India, with Ramgarh in Bangladesh, not the other way around. Statement 2 is Incorrect: The Jhulaghat suspension bridge connects India and Nepal, not Myanmar. It spans the Mahakali River (known as the Sharda River in India) and links the Pithoragarh district in Uttarakhand, India, with the Baitadi district in Nepal. Statement 3 is Correct: The Mechi Bridge connects India and Nepal over the Mechi River. It specifically links the Panitanki Bypass in West Bengal, India, with Kakarvitta in Nepal. It serves as a crucial link for cross-border trade and is the endpoint of Asian Highway 02 (AH02) in India. Therefore, only statement 3 is correct.