Explanation

Mariupol was besieged from Feb 24 to May 20, 2022, during the Russia-Ukraine war, facing nonstop bombardment and eventual Russian capture.

The siege caused mass destruction (90% buildings destroyed) and heavy civilian losses, making it one of the war's worst humanitarian crises.

Explanation

Jurisdiction refers to the legal authority to exercise power within a fixed geographic area.

It is commonly used in courts and law enforcement contexts to define the limits of authority.

Explanation

In 2024, no presidential election in Bangladesh, Russia, or India triggered mass protests over alleged rigging.

Major election-related protests occurred in Pakistan, but that was a general (parliamentary) election, not a presidential one.

Explanation

Rabi crops are sown in winter (October–December) and harvested in spring (March–April).

Wheat is the major Rabi crop, especially in Pakistan and India.

Kharif crops are sown in summer (April–June) and harvested in autumn (September–October).

Rice is the major Kharif crop, grown during the monsoon season.

Explanation

Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) collapsed suddenly in early March 2023, following a rapid bank run and massive deposit withdrawals—about 81% of its deposits, totaling $142 billion, were withdrawn in just two days.

It was the largest bank failure since the 2008 financial crisis, provoking widespread fears of contagion across the banking sector.

Explanation

In 2023, Pakistan faced a severe balance-of-payments crisis due to rising imports and low reserves.

This caused currency devaluation, inflation, and debt repayment issues—crippling the economy.

Explanation

A high-level meeting between the US and Russia took place in Saudi Arabia, specifically in Riyadh.

This meeting, which included US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, focused on potential paths to end the war in Ukraine.

Explanation

The 1973 Constitution of Pakistan is the first to define a "Muslim" officially in legal and constitutional terms.

Article 260 of the 1973 Constitution includes the definition of a Muslim as someone who believes in the Oneness of Allah and the finality of Prophethood of Muhammad (PBUH).

Explanation

Key Facts:

• New Zealand granted legal personhood to the Whanganui River in 2017.
• Ecuador recognized rights of nature in its 2008 constitution.
• Costa Rica and Canada have strong environmental laws but did not pioneer this concept.

Explanation

In 2024, the IQAir World Air Quality Report ranked Pakistan as the third most polluted country,

With an average annual PM2.5 concentration of 73.7 μg/m³,

Nearly 15 times higher than the WHO guideline of 5 μg/m³.