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United States
DOJ Sues Texas Redistricting Map
The Biden Administration has filed a lawsuit against Texas based on the state’s new congressional and state legislature redistricting maps. The Justice Department contends these maps violate the Voting Rights Act by diluting the voting power of Latino and Black voters. Texas was allocated two additional congressional seats after the 2020 census on account of population growth, with minorities making up 95% of this growth. The DOJ’s suit claims Texas drew its voting districts to have a majority of white voters for the new seats, and the state eliminated Latino electoral opportunities in certain districts. This is the second voting rights-related lawsuit the current administration has filed against Texas this year.
This map depicts the new redistricting map that has been adopted by Texas legislators. Click on the map to learn more.
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Graphic Source: KHOU 11
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Iraq
Basra Bombing Kills Four
Four people are dead and at least 20 wounded in Iraq’s southern city of Basra after a motorcycle rigged with explosives was detonated near a hospital this morning. While no group has claimed responsibility for the attack, Iraqi officials say the attack is consistent with the methods of Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). Attacks in Iraq’s south, where most of the country’s oil production and infrastructure are located, are relatively rare.
This map depicts the location of recent fighting in Iraq, including this morning’s motorcycle bombing in the southern city of Basra. Click on the map to learn more.
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Graphic Source: Southfront.org
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The Moon
Rover Finds Mysterious Object
A mysterious object shaped like a ‘hut’ has been identified by a Chinese mission team while examining pictures taken by China’s lunar rover, Yutu 2. The rover is currently tasked with investigating the cube-shaped object on the far side of the moon. Experts say it is likely a large boulder which surfaced after an ancient lunar impact. Yutu 2 spotted the object roughly 260 feet (80 meters) away on the horizon to the north of the moon. The rover is now expected to spend the next 2-3 lunar days (2-3 Earth months) traversing the lunar landscape to take a closer look at the object.
This map depicts the landing site of Chang’e 4 and the path of the Yutu-2 rover. Click on the map to learn more.
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Q: How many countries have territorial claims to the Arctic?
A: 8
The eight countries surrounding the arctic are Canada, Denmark (via Greenland), Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden and the United States (via Alaska). All of these countries are competing for ownership of the Arctic’s sea routes, many of which have even formally submitted claims to the United Nations. With climate change warming up the region quicker than other places on earth, formerly ice-locked waters are making the region more accessible than ever. Why do these countries want ownership? The seabed beneath the Arctic Ocean holds a wealth of untapped oil and gas reserves, however the Arctic Council, established in the 1990s by the eight Arctic nations aims at promoting cooperation and sustainable development in the region.
Source
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Q: Only 8 nautical miles (14 km) wide at its most narrow point, what body of water connects the Mediterranean Sea to the Atlantic Ocean and separates the continents of Europe and Africa?
Stay tuned for the answer to today’s question in tomorrow’s DailyGeo.
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