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Japan
Chinese Warships in Japan’s EEZ
Japan claims a Chinese guided-missile destroyer conducted live fire drills inside its exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Japanese officials said the Chinese Luyang III-class destroyer carried out the drill on Sunday about 112 miles (180 km) southwest of Okinotorishima, Japan’s southernmost atoll. The Chinese missile destroyer was operating alongside a Russian frigate. The Japanese government said the drill raised safety concerns for its nearby vessels and that it would continue watching Chinese and Russian military activity closely following this incident. Okinotorishima sits far south of Japan’s main islands and Japan treats it as an island that is part of its EEZ. The Chinese government rejected Japan’s protest and says the drill complied with international law. China argues that Okinotorishima is a reef or rock and does not entitle Japan to the surrounding economic waters.
This map depicts the location of Japan’s Okinotorishima Island as well as the first and second island chains in the Western Pacific, which are geopolitical and military defense boundaries conceptualized by the U.S. during the Cold War to block Chinese maritime expansion. Click on the map to learn more.
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Graphic Source: Japan Forward
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Sierra Leone
ECOWAS Offshore Pipeline Deal
On Sunday, West African leaders approved a landmark energy infrastructure project linking Nigeria to Morocco through 14 African countries. The agreement, signed by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in Freetown, Sierra Leone, provides for the construction of a pipeline along Africa’s Atlantic coast. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2028 at an estimated cost of $25 billion. Once completed, the pipeline is expected to transport up to 30 billion cubic meters of natural gas annually. The project is expected to stimulate economic growth across West Africa while allowing Nigeria to better monetize its vast natural gas reserves. It will eventually connect to the European gas network via Spain, creating a new export route to European markets. Although the project still faces significant financing and engineering challenges, Sunday’s agreement represents a major political milestone and an important step toward making the long-planned initiative a reality.
This map depicts the planned route of the pipeline along the West African Atlantic coast. Click on the map to learn more.
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 Despite being the cradle of humanity, the world is only just beginning to see the potential for Africa’s growth and contribution to global development. Join the American Geographical Society this November at our annual Fall Symposium, Geography 2050: Africa Shaping Tomorrow, in New York City, November 19 & 20, 2026. Early Bird Discounts are available through September 16!__________________________________________
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Myanmar
Scam Center Boom in SE Asia
Victims of transnational online scams in East Asia, Southeast Asia, Australia, and New Zealand lost up to $114.1 billion last year, a UN report said Tuesday, with estimated losses at least tripling from 2023. The cyberscam industry has ballooned in Southeast Asia in recent years, with organized criminal groups initially targeting mostly Chinese speakers before widening their reach and targeting victims globally. Scam centers have been proliferating in Myanmar, especially in the area along the Thai border. Ongoing political instability from military conflict coupled with international sanctions on the ruling junta has led to a flourishing of scam centers. These operations often benefit local militias with ties to the ruling military party, generating billions in revenue. Workers at scam centers are usually trafficked from nearby countries such as China, Malaysia, and Taiwan. At these compounds, workers endure abusive working conditions while tasked with running online scams. Under pressure from several countries, including the U.S., Britain, and China, authorities in the region say they are cracking down on the illicit industry.
This map depicts the location of scam centers on the Myanmar-Thai border,. Click on the map to learn more.
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Q: What country is home to the oldest continually arid desert on Earth and the driest non-polar region globally?
A: Chile
Chile is home to the Atacama Desert, a tract of land stretching between 600-700 miles (1,000-1,100 km) between the Cordillera de la Costa mountain range and the Andes Mountains. The desert is considered the oldest in the world, with semiarid conditions having lasted 150 million years. Rainfall blocked by the Andes Mountains to the east and cold water upwelling from the deep Pacific Ocean to the west have created atmospheric conditions that prevent the formation of clouds and rain in the desert. While some deserts are known for outrageously hot temperatures, the Atacama is relatively mild throughout the year, with an average temperature of about 63° F (18° C). The outskirts of the Atacama are home to many organisms that have adapted to thrive in harsh conditions; however, in the desert’s hyper-arid core, only a few strains of microbial life survive, and scientists are studying the dry conditions in hopes of revealing potential findings about life on Mars.
Source
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Q: Which of the Balearic Islands off the coast of Spain is the largest and relies mostly on an agricultural and tourist economy?
Stay tuned for the answer to today’s question in tomorrow’s DailyGeo.
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