14 Jan

Kenya: Explosion & Gunfire at Nairobi Hotel

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Kenya
Explosion & Gunfire at Nairobi Hotel
Today an attack at the upscale Dusit hotel in Kenya’s capital Nairobi left people fleeing for their lives as smoke from burning cars rose into the air. The area around the hotel, located within the affluent Westlands neighborhood has been cordoned off. The Somali militant group al-Shabab took responsibility for the attack but provided no further details. Police describe the incident as a terrorist attack; some said there might still be hostages left in the building. There have been a number of terror attacks in Kenya in recent years, often in areas close to the Somali borders and in Nairobi.

This map depicts the location of the Dusit Hotel and Westlands area of Nairobi, Kenya. Click on the map to learn more.

Further Reading:  Washington Post, CBS, ABC, NBC, Bloomberg, CNN, Fox News
Graphic Source: BBC
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Russia
Island Dispute 
Japan and Russia entered talks for a final peace plan to World War II hostilities that were left previously unaddressed. The Kuril Islands, separating the Sea of Okhotsk from the North Pacific Ocean, are at the center of a territorial dispute between the two nations. The Soviet Union seized the islands in 1945 and expelled 17,000 Japanese residents. Japan is hoping they will be returned to their country but Russia maintains the islands’ proprietary status will not be negotiated. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that Japan must recognize the Kuril Islands as part of Russian territory in order for the peace talks to continue. 

This map depicts the location of the Kuril Islands off the coasts of Japan and Russia. Click on the map to learn more.

Graphic Source:  Al Jazeera
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Antarctica
Accelerating Ice Loss 
According to a study published Monday by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Antarctic ice melting has accelerated six-fold in the last 40 years; the rate of ice loss has not been consistent and increases with each successive decade. The new research leads scientists to warn that sea-level rise may affect coastal cities worldwide at a faster pace than previously thought. 

This map depicts ice loss between December 1st, 2018 and January 1st, 2019 in Antarctica. Click on the map to learn more.

Yesterday’s Answer

Q: What is the most southern point in mainland Europe?

A: Punta de Tarifa, Spain
On the most southern part of the Iberian Peninsula, this location in Andalusia, Spain offers views of the Moroccan coast. 

Source

Today’s Question

 

Q:  What is India’s largest coastal city by population?

Stay tuned for the answer to today’s question in tomorrow’s DailyGeo.

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