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Japan
Same-Sex Marriage Ban Rejected
A high court in Japan ruled the nation’s same-sex marriage ban was “unconstitutional” this Thursday, echoing six previous district court decisions. Activists welcomed the ruling but warned the legalization of same-sex marriage must come from lawmakers. The decision comes as public opinion on same-sex marriage increasingly diverges from the platform of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, known for its defense of conservative family values. Close to 70% of Japanese people approved of a law legalizing same-sex marriage in a recent Pew Research poll. While the legislature passed a bill banning discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation last year, activists say it has not done enough to provide concrete legal rights. Japan is the only G7 nation not to recognize same-sex marriage nor afford equal protection under the law for same-sex couples.
This map depicts the countries legally guaranteeing same-sex couples the right to marry, by year of decision finalised. Click on the map to learn more.
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Graphic Source: Statista
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Sweden
NATO Looks to Fortify Baltic Sea
Sweden’s Prime Minister, Ulf Kristersson, has raised the issue of building a stronger military presence on the island of Gotland, in the Baltic Sea, to deter potential Russian aggression. Last week, Sweden officially became the 32nd member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Sweden and Nordic neighbor, Finland, both set aside decades of political neutrality to join the bloc following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. One result of Sweden and Finland’s accession to the alliance was the near encirclement of the Baltic Sea by NATO members. Located in the middle of the Baltic Sea and only 186 miles (300 km) from the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad, Gotland currently only has a small military presence. Given the importance of the island’s central position in the Baltic, NATO members are considering new ways to bolster its defensive potential.
This map depicts the location of the Swedish island of Gotland, in the Baltic Sea. Following Sweden’s accession to the NATO defensive alliance, the island’s potential for strengthening its military forces are under discussion. Click on the map to learn more.
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Space
Giant Volcano Discovered on Mars
A new study published by the Universities Space Research Association has revealed a gigantic dead volcano on Mars near the planet’s equator. While unnoticed for decades because it is deeply eroded, several clues give away the volcanic nature of the jumble of layered mesas and canyons. The central summit area is marked by elevated mesas forming an arc, with a caldera remnant in the center of the structure. A large number of low, rounded, blister-like mounds formed by swelling steam when volcanic materials came to rest on top of the water or ice-rich surface indicate lava flows, pyroclastic deposits, and hydrated mineral deposits. The huge volcano, temporarily named “Noctis,” was found in the Red Planet’s eastern Tharsis volcanic province, along with what researchers believe to be a large sheet of buried glacial ice beneath the Martian surface. The 29,600-foot (9,022 m) volcano covers an area spanning approximately 280 square miles (450 sq km). The volcano’s proximity to a region where glacier ice is believed to exist makes the discovery promising for future studies involving potential life on Mars.
This map depicts the location of the newly discovered giant volcano on Mars. Click on the map to learn more.
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Q: What country is divided into two topographical regions by the Zambezi River?
A: Mozambique
The Zambezi River is Africa’s fourth longest and the continent’s longest east-flowing river. It rises from the Central African Plateau in Zambia and flows for about 1,600 miles (2,574 km) through Angola, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique before emptying into the Indian Ocean. Mozambique is divided into two topographical regions by the Zambezi River. To the north of the Zambezi, the narrow coastal strip gives way to inland hills and low plateaus, which rise to highlands further west. The northern part of Mozambique is rugged, where mountains may reach a height of more than 8,000 feet (2,438 m). To the south of the Zambezi, the lowlands are broader, with the Mashonaland plateau located in the deep south. The coastal plains of Mozambique are located along the Indian Ocean and are characterized by long stretches of sandy beaches, mangrove swamps, and lagoons.
Source
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Q: From what country does the word ‘copper’ originate?
Stay tuned for the answer to today’s question in tomorrow’s DailyGeo.
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