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Israel
Strikes in Gaza Stopped for Truce
The Israeli government and militants from Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) have declared a truce following three days of aerial bombardment of the Gaza Strip by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF). Israel claims its attacks on Gaza were in response to threats of an imminent attack made by a militant group. Health authorities in Gaza reported 44 deaths, including 15 children. The IDF contends a large portion of Palestinian civilian deaths were caused by errant rocket fire by PIJ itself. This weekend’s fighting has seen the worst damage since the 11-day conflict in May 2021. This most recent truce was brokered by Egypt, which regularly serves as an intermediary between the Israeli government and the Palestinian militant groups operating out of Gaza.
This map depicts the Gaza Strip, where Israeli Defense Forces carried out an anti-militant operation against Palestinian Islamic Jihad over the weekend. A truce was declared yesterday and continues to hold. Click on the map to learn more.
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Graphic Source: BBC
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Taiwan
Chinese Military Exercises End
Late on Sunday, China ended the four-day military drills around Taiwan held in response to U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s unprecedented visit there. As part of the response, China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) test-launched ballistic missiles over the island’s capital of Taipei. Around 10 warships from both China and Taiwan sailed in close proximity in the Taiwan Strait, with some Chinese vessels crossing the median line – an unofficial buffer separating the two sides. Taiwan’s defense ministry stated Chinese military ships, aircraft, and drones simulated attacks on the island and its navy, with Taiwan sending vessels in preparation for an appropriate response. The ministry detected 14 Chinese warships and 66 Chinese aircraft around the Taiwan Strait. Chinese media has declared the PLA will go back to conducting “regular” drills around Taiwan.
This map depicts the waters surrounding Taiwan, where Chinese military exercises have come to an end after four days of drills. Click on the map to learn more.
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Graphic Source: AFP
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Space
10 Years of Mars Curiosity Rover
August 5th marked the 10-year anniversary of NASA’s Curiosity rover landing on Mars. This was the fourth robot to land on Mars. Curiosity has driven 17.58 miles since landing in the Gale Crater. Discoveries made by the Curiosity rover have fundamentally transformed how scientists understand the prior and potential habitability of Mars. It has discovered what was once an ancient stream bed, and that the planet hosts organic molecules, which are the building blocks of life. It also discovered methane is being released into the planet’s atmosphere, another potential sign of life. In the next few years, the rover will continue to climb Mount Sharp and analyze an area with different geology. Its nuclear power source is anticipated to last another five to eight years.
This interactive map depicts the route driven by NASA’s Curiosity Rover since landing in Gale Crater on August 5, 2012. Click on the map to learn more.
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Q: We recently reported on findings on how humans eventually evolved to digest milk. Which country in the world consumes the most milk per capita?
A: Finland
Of the world’s top-ten countries for per-capita dairy consumption, Finland is practically in its own category. The average Finn consumes almost 950 pounds (430 kg) of milk (in various forms) per year, while second-place Montenegro consumes 770 pounds (349 km) per year. Geography plays an important role in dairy consumption. Dairy can provide near-complete nutrition in environments with limited growing seasons. It’s not surprising, then, that 9 of the top-ten consumers of dairy are located in Europe. Humans in Europe were consuming milk even before they had developed lactase persistence to facilitate digestion of dairy, as we recently shared in DailyGeo. It then becomes a cyclical, chicken-and-egg dynamic that encouraged dairy consumption: the necessity of the environment coupled with the availability of dairy forced humans to develop the ability to digest dairy, and the newly-developed ability to digest dairy increased its prevalence.
Source
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Q: Where can you find the tallest waterfall in North America and the fifth highest in the world?
Stay tuned for the answer to today’s question in tomorrow’s DailyGeo.
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