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China
Hospital Fire Kills 29
A deadly fire broke out on Wednesday at Beijing’s Changfeng hospital, leaving 29 dead and 39 people injured. Of those killed, 26 were hospital patients, two were hospital staff, and one was a family member. Preliminary results from the investigation of the fire found it had been caused by sparks generated during renovations that ignited flammable paint used on the walls. As a result, 12 people, including the hospital’s director and members of the construction crew, have been detained. Many relatives of the victims involved have expressed their frustration at the lack of communication from authorities regarding the fire, with insufficient reporting on the incident as well.
This map depicts the location of the fire at Changfeng hospital in Beijing. Click on the map to learn more.
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Graphic Source: AFP News
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Russia
Ships Mapping the North Sea
A joint investigation by Denmark, Finland, Sweden, and Norway has discovered Russia is using civilian boats to collect intelligence on military activity and critical infrastructure in the North Sea. The investigation tracked dozens of Russian research and fishing vessels whose routes regularly passed near wind farms and power plants, through oil and gas fields, as well as near military training areas. A Finnish public broadcaster showcased how an oceanographic research vessel, “Admiral Vladimirsky,” was used to map out critical infrastructure along the North Sea. No evidence of sabotage has been reported, however Russia’s war on Ukraine has caused a resurgence of fears among European nations regarding vulnerability in their critical infrastructure, especially after explosions on the Nord Stream 1 and 2 gas pipelines last year.
This map depicts the approximate route of the Admiral Vladimirsky, a Russian research ship accused of being used for spying in the North Sea. Click on the map to learn more.
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Graphic Source: BBC
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United States
US Advancing Direct Air Capture
With many officials and researchers convinced the world is failing to reduce carbon dioxide emissions quickly enough to stop the most dangerous effects of anthropogenic climate change, the United States government is ramping up support for Direct Air Capture (DAC) technology. DAC facilities use solid or liquid chemicals that naturally absorb carbon dioxide, which are then heated to remove the captured gas which is permanently stored to prevent release back into the atmosphere. Other technologies are under development to convert atmospheric carbon to sodium bicarbonate, better known as baking soda, which could be sequestered in the ocean without harmful environmental effects. These technologies aren’t at a stage to remove meaningful amounts of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere economically, however the $3.5 billion being offered by the US is intended to incentivize companies to adapt the technology.
This map depicts proposed facility locations for Direct Air Capture, a technology that takes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere for permanent sequestration. Click on the map to learn more.
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Q: What is Colombia’s main export and what country is its largest export market?
A: Petroleum; United States
Petroleum is Colombia’s largest industry, exporting around $11 billion of crude petroleum per year. The main destinations for these exports are the United States at over $3.3 billion, China with over $2.6 billion, India and Panama with just under $2 billion each, and Saint Lucia importing around $250 million worth of oil. Behind oil exports, the next largest exports for the Andean country include coal, coffee, and gold, respectively. Although crude petroleum is Colombia’s top export, and while global demand for oil is surging, Colombia is one of few countries in the world working to roll back its petroleum industry. In an effort to wean Colombia off its dependency on oil exports, current President Gustavo Petro suspended fracking operations and blocked new auctions for oil and gas blocks, announcing in January that oil is poisonous to the earth and climate change could lead to human extinction. To do this, Colombia will have to replace half its exports and ensure the livelihoods of nearly 110,000 workers are covered with a transition to renewable energy development.
Source
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Q: Considered the “jewel” of Armenia, what is the country’s largest body of water?
Stay tuned for the answer to today’s question in tomorrow’s DailyGeo.
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