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Italy
Massive Cocaine Haul Recovered
Police found and recovered two tons of cocaine packages floating in the sea off the island of Sicily, Italy. Worth more than $438 million (€400m), Italian police reported it was “one of the largest” drug hauls ever made in the country. The drug was found bound into 70 waterproof packages and fitted with a tracking device, leading investigators to suggest the haul was dumped at sea by a cargo ship to be recovered later. Cocaine is commonly trafficked to Europe, mostly by sea and often in container shipments. The size is similar to a recent haul by New Zealand police who intercepted half a billion dollars worth of cocaine — enough to service the entire national market for 30 years — floating in the Pacific Ocean in February.
This map depicts cocaine-trafficking routes into Europe, with blue lines representing maritime routes and yellow lines depicting overland. Click on the map to learn more.
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Finland-Germany
Contrasting Nuclear Strategies
Finland activated Europe’s largest nuclear reactor after a 14-year delay on Sunday morning. Named Olkiluoto-3, the new 1,600-megawatt plant is the first new atomic reactor in Finland in over 40 years and is set to provide 30% of the country’s electricity. In Germany, however, the last three active German nuclear plants, Emsland, Neckarwestheim II, and Isar II, were permanently shut down this past weekend. Nuclear energy occupies a contentious middle ground in the discussion of energy transition from fossil fuels. Supporters point to nuclear power’s ability to provide greater amounts of energy than other no-emissions sources like solar and wind power, while critics point to the dangers highlighted in accidents like Three Mile Island, Chernobyl, and Fukushima.
This map depicts the location of the new Olkiluoto-3 nuclear reactor in Finland, Europe’s largest nuclear reactor, which activated Sunday. Click on the map to learn more.
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Graphic Source: Bloomberg
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China – Thailand
Target Set for High-Speed Rail
A high-speed railway connecting Bangkok, Thailand to Kunming, China is set to be completed by 2028. The railway project will cost an estimated $5.4 billion and promises travel up to 250 kilometers per hour. The new high-speed line will replace one of Thailand’s oldest railway stations in Nakhon Ratchasima, as a part of Beijing’s “Belt and Road” infrastructure initiative to improve transportation between China and countries along the Silk Road land corridors. Construction of the train has been delayed from the beginning of this year due to resistance from activists seeking to protect the old railway site, as many believe it serves as an important part of Thai history.
This map depicts the planned location of the high-speed rail connecting Thailand and China via Laos. Click on the map to learn more.
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Q: What native Californian plant species is having a historic superbloom across the state this April?
A: California Poppy
The California poppy (Eschscholzia californica) is the official state flower of California and is native to the Pacific west coast and Mexico. This past winter, historic rains drenched the state, bringing in over 30 atmospheric rivers, record snowfall, deadly flooding, and much needed drought relief. The severe storms also created a historic superbloom across the state. Every Spring, California’s rolling hills burst with an abundance of color from blossoming wildflowers. Due to the extreme winter, the hills are now covered in a superbloom of golden California poppies. From the Bay Area to Southern California, the state is blanketed with orange and yellow poppies, and visitors are flocking to state parks to snap pictures with the blossoming flowers. The California Department of Parks and Recreation has an updated list of 11 state parks where visitors can go and experience the superblooms.
Source
Image Source
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Q: What is Colombia’s main export and what country is its largest export market?
Stay tuned for the answer to today’s question in tomorrow’s DailyGeo.
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