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Egypt-Israel
Rafah Crossing Opens
The Rafah crossing on the border of Egypt and Gaza has opened for foreign nationals and some who are critically injured to evacuate Gaza. The agreement between Egypt, Israel, and Hamas to open the crossing was mediated by Qatar. To accommodate for the injured leaving Gaza, Egypt has set up a field hospital in the Sinai Peninsula and sent ten ambulances to the crossing on Tuesday. It is unclear how long the crossing will remain open. Israel has maintained a siege on Gaza and continues to attack via airstrikes, the most recent of which hit the Gaza Strip’s largest refugee camp and was stated by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) to have killed a top Hamas leader. Palestinian officials report the attack killed and injured hundreds. Since last Friday, the IDF has undertaken a ground assault on northern Gaza.
This map depicts the location of the Rafah crossing between Egypt and Gaza Click on the map to learn more.
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Myanmar
Rebels Seize Border Town
Intensified fighting between rebels and Myanmar’s military junta in Shan state has led the Chinese government to call for a ceasefire. Rebel forces recently took control of the border town of Chinshwehaw, which is a critical point of trade between Myanmar and China, with more than one-quarter of Myanmar’s $1.8 billion worth of trading with China passing through Chinshwehaw between April and September. Myanmar’s junta has been opposed by numerous armed groups after the military deposed the democratically-elected govenrnment in February, 2021. Thousands of people have been displaced by the fighting, with many of them crossing the border into China. The Chinese government has refused to call the 2021 military takeover a coup, but is also known to maintain ties with some of the border groups opposing the junta.
This map depicts the country of Myanmar, including the border town of Chinshwehaw in Shan state, which has been seized by forces opposed to Myanmar’s junta government. Click on the map to learn more.
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Graphic Source: Barron’s
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World
Four AGOA Members Expelled
In his efforts to reauthorize the United States’ African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), President Joe Biden has expelled Uganda, Gabon, Niger, and the Central African Republic from the agreement due to human rights violations and their level of democratic development. The AGOA was initially signed into law in 2000 by President Bill Clinton to enhance trade relations and support job growth in countries in sub-Saharan Africa. With 35 countries, the AGOA allows them to export over 1,800 products to the United States without tariffs. Each country’s eligibility is renewed annually by the United States, based on criteria such as having no barriers to US trade and investment, the protection of human rights, supporting democracy, and not threatening US interests. In countries whose beneficiary status was previously removed, such as Ethiopia, Mali, Guinea, and Burkina Faso, hundreds of thousands of people lost their jobs. Given these realities, many of the beneficiaries are calling for the Act to be extended by another 10 years.
This map depicts the current AGOA eligibility of countries in Africa. Click on the map to learn more.
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Q: Marigolds, or cempasúchil, are emblematic of Mexico’s Day of the Dead celebrations. What Indigenous culture used them originally for medicinal and ritualistic purposes to honor the dead?
A: Aztec
Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is a holiday celebrated in Mexico and throughout the world on November 1 and 2. It’s deeply rooted in pre-Hispanic Aztec rituals tied to the goddess Mictecacihuatl, or the Lady of the Dead, who allowed spirits to travel back to earth to commune with family members. That tradition was blended with the Roman Catholic observance of All Saints Day by the Spaniards when they conquered Mexico. Colorful altars are erected in homes and public spaces featuring favorite foods, drinks, and personal mementos of the deceased. Dia de los Muertos altar decorations usually include hand-cut paper marigolds or fresh marigolds. It is believed that the spirits of the dead visit the living during the celebration. Marigolds guide the spirits to their altars using their vibrant colors and pungent scent. The marigold most commonly used in Dia de los Muertos celebrations is the Targetes erecta, Mexican marigold or Aztec marigold, known as cempasuchitl or flower of the dead. Marigolds are native to North and South America, growing particularly well in Mexico and in the wild in the states of México, Puebla, and Veracruz. The Aztecs considered Marigolds a sacred flower and bred them to create bigger and more attractive blooms. Aztecs used the sacred flower for decorative and medicinal purposes. The flowers are edible and thought by the Aztecs to cure hiccups and even heal those struck by lightning.
Source
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Q: This retractable barrier system protects 9 million people on the surrounding floodplain from exceptionally high tides and storm surges. Where is this barrier system located?
Stay tuned for the answer to today’s question in tomorrow’s DailyGeo.
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