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Indonesia
ASEAN Summit in Jakarta
The 43rd Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit is currently being held in Jakarta, Indonesia. US President, Joseph Biden, was not in attendance, but in his place, the Vice President, Kamala Harris, is representing the United States at the conference. ASEAN represents 650 million people in 10 nations that collectively make up the world’s fifth-largest economy, yet it has not taken a central diplomatic role in the region. The organization has been divided over civil strife in Myanmar, which saw a military coup two years ago and whose leadership has been disinvited from meetings. China’s recent release of its “Standard Map,” including its contentious claims on the South China Sea, has also divided ASEAN’s members over China’s efforts to dominate the region. Despite Biden’s absence at the ASEAN Summit, this upcoming weekend he will visit New Delhi, India, for a summit of the Group of 20 (G20), a collection of 20 of the world’s largest economies, followed by a trip to Hanoi, Vietnam.
This map depicts the member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
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Graphic Source: France 24
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World
Hottest Summer on Record
Scientists have reported that this summer in the Northern Hemisphere was the hottest on record – and by a significant margin. According to data from the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service, June to August was the planet’s warmest period since records began in 1940. Copernicus found that the global average temperature this summer was 62.19° F (16.77° C), which is 0.66 degrees Celsius above the 1990 to 2020 average. Parts of the US, Europe, and Japan have experienced record-breaking heat waves and unusually high ocean temperatures. Countries across the Southern Hemisphere have also experienced a notably warm winter, with above-average temperatures reported in Australia, several South American countries, and Antarctica. Scientists say next year will likely be even hotter, given the presence of El Niño, a natural climate phenomenon that brings warmer sea-surface temperatures and influences weather patterns.
This map depicts the sea surface temperature anomaly for August 2023 in degrees Celsius, relative to the 1991-2020 reference period. Click on the map to learn more.
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Graphic Source: CleanTechnica
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United States
Hurricane Displaces Flamingos
Flamingos have been reported outside their normal range in eight states across the United States. Believed to have originated in Mexico, the pink birds began showing up in Florida after Hurricane Idalia crossed the Gulf of Mexico and hit the state in late August. Scientists believe the birds were likely flying between Cuba and the Yucatán when the storm began, blowing them off course. Reports have come flying in from states affected by the storm such as Georgia and the Carolinas, but off-track flamingos have been reported as far as Ohio. Flamingos can fly for thousands of miles, those blown off course by the storm are expected to return to more favorable climates when feeling more comfortable.
This map depicts the eight states that have reported sightings of flamingos following Hurricane Idalia. Click on the map to learn more.
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Q: What are the two double landlocked countries in the world, meaning that they are surrounded by countries that are themselves landlocked?
A: Liechtenstein and Uzbekistan
Located in Central Europe, Liechtenstein is one of the world’s smallest countries, nestled between Switzerland to the west and Austria to the east. Liechtenstein enjoys a prosperous and stable economy, largely driven by its financial services sector. The country has strong ties with both Switzerland and the European Union, which provide essential trade routes to compensate for its landlocked status.
In Central Asia, Uzbekistan borders Kazakhstan to the north, Kyrgyzstan to the northeast, Tajikistan to the southeast, Afghanistan to the south, and Turkmenistan to the southwest. Uzbekistan plays a crucial role in regional politics and economics, with its vast energy resources and strategic location along the Silk Road contributing to its geopolitical significance.
Source World Atlas
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Q: What country is known as the birthplace of coffee?
Stay tuned for the answer to today’s question in tomorrow’s DailyGeo.
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