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Iran
U.S. & Iran Vie for Control of Strait
Another round of U.S. strikes on Iranian targets intensified the fighting around the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important shipping chokepoints. Both U.S. and Iran are attempting to assert control over Hormuz, with President Donald Trump saying the U.S. would “keep” and “probably run” the strait, and Iranian leadership insisting the waterway is central to its security. The U.S. strikes targeted military air-defense systems, with Iranian media reporting that the strikes killed two people and wounded three within the Khuzestan province. Iran responded by claiming attacks on Persian Gulf countries that host U.S. military facilities, including Bahrain and Oman. The fighting continues to affect global markets, with crude oil surging by nearly 5%, past $80 per barrel.
This map depicts the escalating military actions between July 7 and July 13, 2026, including U.S. strikes on targets within Iran and retaliatory attacks by Iran on U.S. military facilities in Bahrain and Kuwait. Click on the map to learn more.
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Graphic Source: Anadolu Agency
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Thailand
Fire Erupts in Bangkok Music Bar
A fire broke out at a beer hall in Bangkok on Sunday night, killing at least 27 people and injuring dozens more, many of whom remain in critical condition. The venue, Rong Beer Na Ladprao, was hosting live performers when smoke and flames suddenly engulfed the building. Firefighters contained the blaze within half an hour, but many patrons had already fallen victim to the blaze. Many of those who died were found in windowless restrooms at the back of the venue, where they had sought refuge from the flames. The tragedy is not the first of its kind in Thailand and has once again raised concerns about lax fire safety standards. The pub reportedly lacked sufficient emergency exits and used highly flammable soundproofing materials, factors believed to have contributed to the high death toll.
This map depicts the location of Rong Beer Na Ladprao, a music bar located in Northern Bangkok. Click on the map to learn more.
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United States
Endangered Species Act Changed
The Trump administration has recently finalized a rule change to the Endangered Species Act that significantly narrowed the scope of what is considered as environmental harm. The changes include removing habitat destruction from the definition of “harm”, allowing protected areas to be opened to resource extraction, including logging, mining, and drilling for oil. Such activities will be permitted as long as they do not directly harm or injure endangered wildlife. Proponents of the change argue that the loosening of restrictions would reduce costs and bureaucratic burdens for energy producers, farmers, and fishers. However, environmentalists and opponents argue that the new rules would exacerbate the extinction crisis given habitat destruction is the strongest driver of species loss. The Endangered Species Act enjoys high support among the American public, consistently at 84% over the three-decade period between 1996-2025. It is credited with staving off the extinction of almost 1,700 species, notably including the American Bald Eagle and the California Condor.
This map depicts critical habitats throughout the US as defined by the Endangered Species Act . Click on the map to learn more.
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Q: What country is home to the highest density of lightning in the world?
A: Venezuela
Catatumbo lightning is an atmospheric phenomenon that occurs over the mouth of the Catatumbo River where it empties into Lake Maracaibo in Venezuela. Catatumbo means “House of Thunder” in the language of the Bari people. It originates from a mass of storm clouds at an altitude of more than 0.6 mi (1 km), and occurs for almost 150 nights a year, nine hours per day, and with lightning flashes from 16 to 40 times per minute. The storms are thought to be the result of winds blowing across the lake and the surrounding swampy plains. These air masses meet the high mountain ridges of the Andes which enclose the plain from three sides. The heat and moisture collected across the plains create electrical charges. The air masses are destabilized by the mountain ridges, which results in thunderstorm activity. Warm, moist air from the Caribbean meets cold, drier air from the Andes, creating the perfect conditions for lightning.
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Q: What mountain range extends from Canada’s northernmost point?
Stay tuned for the answer to today’s question in tomorrow’s DailyGeo.
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