IR - Locations in News - COMPASS 2025

Question 1

What is the Horn of Africa?

Answer 1

A region in East Africa bordering the Gulf of Aden and Red Sea, also known as the Somali Peninsula

Countries part of Horn of Africa: Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia & Somalia.

Question 2

What are the main challenges currently faced by the Horn of Africa?

Answer 2

Scarce water sources, hunger, insecurity, and conflict

Millions from Somalia, Ethiopia, and Kenya are struggling to survive amid these challenges.

Question 3

What is Puntland?

Answer 3

An arid region in North-East Somalia that declared itself an autonomous province to avoid clan warfare

Puntland has not sought full independence from Somalia.

Question 4

What notable issue has Puntland faced in recent years?

Answer 4

An upsurge in pirate attacks on international shipping lines in the Indian Ocean.

Question 5

What is Somaliland?

Answer 5

A breakaway, semi-arid territory on the coast of Gulf of Aden that declared independence in 1991

Somaliland aims to establish itself as a separate sovereign state.

Question 6

What is the Okavango River Basin known for?

Answer 6

Prospecting for oil, posing a significant threat to water security in Namibia and Botswana.

Question 7

What is significant about Malawi’s geography?

Answer 7

It is a landlocked country in South-eastern Africa, and Lake Nyasa accounts for more than one-fifth of its total area.

Question 8

What major health achievement did Malawi accomplish?

Answer 8

It became the first country in Southern Africa to eliminate Trachoma.

Question 9

When did South Sudan become a sovereign state?

Answer 9

In 2011.

Question 10

What are the two factions involved in the South Sudan civil war?

Answer 10

Factions led by President Salva Kiir and Vice President Riek Machar.

Question 11

What is Abyei?

Answer 11

A disputed territory between Sudan and South Sudan, rich in oil.

Question 12

What is the M23 rebellion?

Answer 12

A rebel group active in the Eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Question 13

What humanitarian response has the EU announced for Eastern DRC?

Answer 13

Creation of Humanitarian Air Bridge flight operations to facilitate aid delivery.

Question 14

What is a significant challenge Burkina Faso is facing?

Answer 14

Jihadist insurgency.

Question 15

What rivers are principal in Burkina Faso?

Answer 15

Red Volta, White Volta, and Black Volta.

Question 16

What is Gambia known for?

Answer 16

It is Africa’s smallest non-island country and one of the most densely populated.

Question 17

What recent political situation occurred in Tunisia?

Answer 17

Political protests against the President erupted.

Question 18

What is the Lamu Archipelago?

Answer 18

An area near Kenya’s northern coast where India handed over nautical charts.

Question 19

What event occurred in Kaduna State, Nigeria, on March 7, 2024?

Answer 19

More than 300 students were abducted by armed bandits.

Question 20

What is significant about Lake Chad?

Answer 20

It is a large, shallow freshwater lake that has shrunk by 90%.

Question 21

What is the Water Convention?

Answer 21

A legally binding agreement promoting sustainable management of shared water resources.

Question 22

What is the capital of South Sudan?

Answer 22

Juba.

Question 23

What does the Yaoundé Code of Conduct establish?

Answer 23

A Maritime Security Architecture framework in West Africa and the Gulf of Guinea.

Question 24

What is the significance of the Sabang Port?

Answer 24

Strategically valuable port developed through an India-Indonesia joint feasibility study.

Question 25

What is the capital of Lebanon?

Answer 25

Beirut.

Question 26

What is the main outcome of the Israel-Lebanon maritime boundary settlement agreement?

Answer 26

Lays down maritime boundaries for offshore energy exploration.

Question 27

What significant archaeological discovery was made in the Negev desert?

Answer 27

A rare ancient mosque shedding light on the region's transition from Christianity to Islam.

Question 28

What is the Koilastila Gas Field?

Answer 28

A newly discovered gas field in Bangladesh with a capacity of 20 million cubic feet of gas per day.

Question 29

What is the significance of the Falkland Islands?

Answer 29

Claimed by Argentina and Britain, leading to a brief war in 1982.

Question 30

What does the internal conflict in Haiti involve?

Answer 30

Ongoing war between two major criminal groups in Port-au-Prince.

Question 31

What is Ecuador's geographical significance?

Answer 31

It straddles part of the Andes and occupies part of the Amazon Basin.

Question 32

What prompted the United Nations Security Council to authorize international intervention in Haiti?

Answer 32

Haiti's plea for urgent assistance in addressing life-threatening gang violence ## Footnote This intervention comes approximately one year after the plea.

Question 33

Which currents protect the Galapagos Islands from global warming?

Answer 33

Cold currents ## Footnote These currents play a significant role in the ecological balance of the islands.

Question 34

What geographical features does Ecuador straddle?

Answer 34

Part of the Andes and part of the Amazon Basin ## Footnote Ecuador is situated on the Equator.

Question 35

Which countries border Ecuador?

Answer 35

* Colombia to the north * Peru to the east and south * Pacific Ocean to the west ## Footnote Ecuador includes the Galapagos Islands.

Question 36

What is Vale do Javari known for?

Answer 36

The greatest concentration of isolated groups in the Amazon and the world ## Footnote It is also part of an international cocaine trafficking route.

Question 37

What does the Barents Sea connect?

Answer 37

The Black Sea with the Sea of Azov ## Footnote Important ports include Kerch and Kavkaz.

Question 38

What is Gibraltar known for?

Answer 38

A heavily fortified British air and naval base guarding the Strait of Gibraltar ## Footnote It is the only entrance to the Mediterranean Sea from the Atlantic Ocean.

Question 39

What significant event occurred during the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war on the Kerch Bridge?

Answer 39

A blast took off ## Footnote The Kerch Strait connects the Black Sea with the Sea of Azov.

Question 40

What is the largest lake in Italy?

Answer 40

Lake Garda ## Footnote It has recently dropped to an extremely low level.

Question 41

What is notable about Shiveluch volcano?

Answer 41

It is the largest and most active volcano in Kamchatka ## Footnote Shiveluch has erupted at least 60 times in the past 10,000 years.

Question 42

Which countries border Belarus?

Answer 42

* Lithuania * Latvia * Russia * Ukraine * Poland ## Footnote Belarus is landlocked and allowed Russia to stage part of the invasion from its territory.

Question 43

What is Zmiinyi Island also known as?

Answer 43

Snake or Serpent Island ## Footnote It is located in the Black Sea, about 35 km from the coast.

Question 44

Which countries border the Black Sea?

Answer 44

* Ukraine * Russia * Georgia * Turkey * Bulgaria * Romania ## Footnote The Black Sea links to the Sea of Marmara through the Bosporus.

Question 45

What currency did Croatia switch to?

Answer 45

The euro ## Footnote Croatia also removed dozens of border checkpoints to join the passport-free travel area.

Question 46

What is the geographical location of the Aegean Sea?

Answer 46

Between the Greek peninsula on the west and Asia Minor on the east ## Footnote It connects to the Black Sea and Marmara Sea through the Strait of Dardanelles.

Question 47

What is Sievierodonetsk known for?

Answer 47

It is a strategic eastern city and focus of intense fighting in Ukraine-Russia conflict ## Footnote Located near the Siverskyi Donets river.

Question 48

What two states make up the Donbas region in Ukraine?

Answer 48

* Donetsk * Luhansk ## Footnote Russian forces have taken control of Luhansk.

Question 49

Who did Union Minister Anurag Thakur pay tribute to in Saint-Tropez?

Answer 49

* Maharaja Ranjit Singh * Jean-François Allard * Princess Bannu Pan Dei ## Footnote General Allard served under Maharaja Ranjit Singh.

Question 50

What happened to the port of Odessa?

Answer 50

It was destroyed by Russia ## Footnote Odessa is a significant port city in Ukraine.

Question 51

Where is La-Reunion located?

Answer 51

In the western Indian Ocean, about 420 miles east of Madagascar ## Footnote It is a French overseas department.

Question 52

What recent action did the Solomon Islands take regarding foreign ships?

Answer 52

Suspended entry of foreign ships into its waters ## Footnote This decision is pending a process for approval of port visits.

Question 53

What body of water does the Sulu Sea separate?

Answer 53

The South China Sea in the northwest and Celebes Sea in the southeast ## Footnote It is located in the southwestern area of the Philippines.

Question 54

What geographical feature does the Red Sea occupy?

Answer 54

A part of the Great African Rift Valley ## Footnote It is connected to the Mediterranean Sea through the Suez Canal.

Question 55

What are the bordering countries of the Red Sea?

Answer 55

* Sudan * Egypt * Eritrea * Djibouti * Saudi Arabia * Yemen ## Footnote Jordan shares a boundary with the Red Sea through the Gulf of Aqaba.

Question 56

What geological activity has Mount Loa witnessed?

Answer 56

Spikes of earthquakes ## Footnote Mount Loa is an active volcano in Hawaii.

Question 57

What was discovered in the Gudai-Darri mine in Australia?

Answer 57

A tiny radioactive capsule, smaller than a coin ## Footnote It was used to measure the density of iron ore feed.

Question 58

What are the three main regions of border disputes between China and Bhutan?

Answer 58

* Western: Doklam and areas near India-China-Bhutan trijunction * Northern: Jakarlung and Pasamlung valleys * Eastern: Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary ## Footnote Bhutan and India formally demarcated their boundary in 2006.

Question 59

What is the purpose of the Gelephu Mindfulness City project in Bhutan?

Answer 59

To create an economic hub of South Asia ## Footnote It aims to attract non-polluting companies, IT centers, and various infrastructures.