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Persian Gulf
‘Critical Threshold’ in Middle East
The number of positive COVID-19 cases in the Persian Gulf are reaching a critical threshold, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Qatar and Kuwait have recently surpassed 100,000 cases and 50,000 cases respectively. One in 28 people have tested positive for COVID-19 in Qatar, which has a population of 2.8 million people, meaning it has one of the world’s highest per capita rates of infection in the world. Like many other Gulf states, Qatar has a high population of migrant workers, often living in crowded quarters, where COVID-19 quickly spreads. This dashboard, by The New York Times, shows the share of each state’s population with a reported case. The six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council, consisting of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, has recorded almost half a million cases and 3,000 deaths since the pandemic began.
This map depicts the Arab states of the Persian Gulf and the share of population with a reported case. All COVID-19 updates will be displayed in a red box.
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United States
International Student Visas at Risk
Over a million international students studying at American institutions could be at risk of deportation if in-person classes do not resume for the fall semester. The new regulation announced by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) could cancel visas for international students if universities decide to have online-only courses in the fall. Of the more than one million international university students enrolled in the U.S., 52% are from China and India. According to the Institute of International Education, these students bring nearly $41 billion in income to U.S. colleges and universities.
This map depicts where international students are from that study at American institutions. Click on the map to learn more.
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Graphic Source: CNN
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Botswana
Hundreds of Elephants Dead
At least 356 elephants are reported to have died in Botswana’s Okavango Delta since May. The cause of death is still being researched, though conservationists have criticized Botswana’s government for a slow response. Samples from the deceased elephants were collected and sent for analysis after weeks of inactivity. Experts say the delays may have corrupted the samples, and conservationists who offered support have been turned away. Botswana is home to 130,000 elephants, many of which congregate in the Okavango Delta, and may be at risk of death from a mysterious toxin or disease. Ecotourism is the second highest contributor to the Botswana’s GDP, and this event has been deemed an “unprecedented wildlife disaster.”
This map depicts the location of the Okavango Delta in Northwestern Botswana. Click on the map to learn more.
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Q: Covering an area of over 30,000 acres, the Al-Hasa Oasis is the greenest place in which mostly arid Gulf nation?
A: Saudi Arabia
Located approximately 40 miles (65 km) west of the Persian Gulf in eastern Saudi Arabia, Al-Hasa is the world’s largest oasis. The oasis is home to about 30,000 acres (12,000 hectares) of palm groves and other crops that are irrigated by over 60 artesian springs. The site was designated a World Heritage site in 2018.
Source
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Q: Due to its location in a highly active seismic area, which nation records the most earthquakes per year, at an average of 1,500?
Stay tuned for the answer to today’s question in tomorrow’s DailyGeo.
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