Consider the following pairs: <table><tr><th>Country</th><th>Important reason for being in the news recently</th></tr><tr><td>1. Chad</td><td>Setting up of permanent military base by China</td></tr><tr><td>2. Guinea</td><td>Suspension of Constitution and Government by military</td></tr><tr><td>3. Lebanon</td><td>Severe and prolonged economic depression</td></tr><tr><td>4. Tunisia</td><td>Suspension of Parliament by President</td></tr></table> How many pairs given above are correctly matched?

Answer: C. THREE pairs are correctly matched (2, 3, 4); pair 1 is wrong. Pair 1 (Chad — Chinese permanent military base): WRONG. Chad was in the news in 2021-22 for the DEATH OF PRESIDENT IDRISS DÉBY in a battle with rebels (April 2021), succeeded by his son Mahamat Idriss Déby (a Transitional Military Council). China does NOT operate a permanent military base in Chad. China's only OVERSEAS PERMANENT MILITARY BASE is in DJIBOUTI (opened 2017). Pair 2 (Guinea — Constitution and Government suspended by military): CORRECT. In SEPTEMBER 2021, special forces colonel MAMADY DOUMBOUYA led a coup, arrested President Alpha Condé, dissolved the government, and SUSPENDED THE CONSTITUTION. ECOWAS suspended Guinea. Pair 3 (Lebanon — severe and prolonged economic depression): CORRECT. Lebanon has been gripped since 2019 by one of the WORST ECONOMIC DEPRESSIONS in modern history per the World Bank's 'Lebanon Sinking' report — currency lost ~90% of value, inflation hit triple digits, banking system collapsed, compounded by the 2020 Beirut port explosion. Pair 4 (Tunisia — Parliament suspended by President): CORRECT. In JULY 2021, President KAIS SAIED SUSPENDED PARLIAMENT and dismissed Prime Minister Hichem Mechichi, invoking Article 80 of the Constitution. He later dissolved Parliament in March 2022. Source: World Bank Lebanon reports / Reuters and BBC coverage 2021-22.