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Africa
Rising COVID Cases
The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a call for increased surveillance of the coronavirus after many nations across the continent recorded a concerning uptick in cases, and a new variant of the disease was identified in South Africa. This map, by the BBC, highlights the number cases across the continent as of last Friday. The Africa CDC estimated 39 out of the 55 countries it monitors had experienced a second spike in cases at the end of December. South Africa accounted for more than 70% of new weekly cases in the southern Africa region, currently recorded at more than a million cases. In Nigeria, the head of the Nigeria CDC, Chikwe Ihekweazu, said that the country is reaching “a critical level” in which its hospital capacity will be unable to handle the more serious cases. There is concern the rise in cases was driven by a new strain of coronavirus known as 501.V2, which WHO scientists believe may be more contagious, though it has not been shown to cause more serious illness. The WHO reported testing rates in Africa are relatively low compared with other continents and current reports may not reflect the true extent of the virus.
This interactive map depicts recorded cases and deaths of COVID-19 reported in countries in Africa as of January 8, 2021. Click on the map to learn more.
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Middle East
Deadly Israeli Airstrike in Syria
Israel carried out a wave of airstrikes on Iran-backed militia positions in Syria on Wednesday night, in the eastern Deir al-Zour and Albu Kamal regions according to the Syrian state news agency SANA. The overnight raids against arms depots and military positions killed at least 14 Syrian regime forces, 16 Iraqi militia fighters, and 11 Afghan members of the pro-Iran Fatimid Brigade. “This is the largest death toll from Israeli raids in Syria,” said the Syrian Observatory’s head, Rami Abdul Rahman. According to the UK-based Observatory, the Fatimid Brigade had transported a consignment of Iranian-manufactured weapons to eastern Syria from neighboring Iraq days prior to the airstrikes and were stored in the region targeted overnight. Israel routinely carries out raids mainly against targets linked to Iran to prevent the country from gaining a foothold on its northern border. Since 2011, the Syrian Civil War has killed more than 387,000 people and displaced millions more.
This map depicts the Israeli targeted regions Deir Ezzor and Albu Kamal in eastern Syria. Click on map to expand.
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Indonesia
Oldest Cave Painting Discovered
Yesterday, a study was published from findings in December 2017 when archaeologists discovered a cave painting on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi that may be the oldest to ever be discovered. Deep inside the cave known as Leang Tedongnge is a painting that is believed to be at least 45,500 years old, providing the earliest evidence of humans on the island. The animal in the painting resembles the warty pig, a species that still lives on Sulawesi to this day. To the south of Leang Tedongnge at the nearby cave of Leang Balangajia, there is a similar painting that is around 13,500 years younger. The painting was accompanied by hand stencils and other animal paintings that were not as well preserved.
This map depicts the locations of the caves where the paintings were discovered in Sulawesi. Click on the map to learn more.
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Q: With a height of 33,500ft from base to peak, what is the tallest mountain on Earth?
A: Mauna Kea, Hawaii
Mauna Kea, meaning “White Mountain” in Hawaiian, is a shield volcano located on the Big Island of Hawaii. More than 19,700 feet (6,000 meters) of the mountain is underwater, so while it surpasses Mount Everest when measured from base to dome, the Himalayan giant still claims the title of the highest mountain on earth above sea level. Mauna Kea’s dome is approximately 30 miles across and is home to the world’s largest astronomical observatory. It is also home to Lake Waiau (the only alpine lake in the Hawaiian Islands) which formed during the last Ice Age. Unlike its neighbor, Maua Loa which is one of the world’s most active volcanoes, Mauna Kea has been dormant for over 4,600 years.
Source
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Q: Covering over 56,000 square miles (145,500 square km) and estimated to hold 30 tons of carbon, the world’s largest tropical peatland complex spans which two countries?
Stay tuned for the answer to today’s question in tomorrow’s DailyGeo.
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