26 Jun

Thailand: Cave Troubles

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Thailand
Cave Troubles
The search continues for the 12 boys of a Thai soccer team who went missing over the weekend in Tham Luang Cave in the northern province of Chiang Rai.  The boys, aged 11 to 16, along with their 25-year-old coach, went missing Saturday around 1 p.m.  Officials stated that the 6-mile long cave became inundated with water after heavy rains, which has blocked entrances and exits. There are about 40 chambers in the cave and rescuers suspect the boys may still be in the main cave. Officials are currently working to pump water out of the cave;  4 miles of the cave have been covered by rescuers.  This map depicts the layout of the Tham Luang Cave. Click on the map to learn more.

Graphic Source: CNN
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United Kingdom
Chemical Conference
The U.K. has called a special conference of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) to propose the expansion of their authority in determining responsibility for chemical weapons attacks. The OPCW oversees a 1997 treaty banning the use of chemical weapons but does not currently have the power to investigate perpetrators. The British-led proposal is backed by numerous western powers including France, Germany, and the United States. Russia and Iran are allied with the Syrian government – all of which oppose the proposal. Bashar al-Assad and the Syrian government have been accused of using deadly chemical attacks against their own citizens and opposition forces in the country, but have denied these allegations. This map depicts the location and type of chemical weapons attacks in Syria since 2013. Click on the map to learn more.

Graphic Source: New York Times
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United Kingdom
Heathrow Airport Expansion
After more than a decade of debate, the expansion plan of London’s Heathrow airport has passed after Parliament voted in favor, 415 votes to 119. The third runway, which would extend over England’s busiest freeway, will increase the passenger capacity from 80 million passengers per year to 110 million by 2030 – making Heathrow airport the world’s largest airport by air traffic. However, strong resistance to the expansion is likely to continue; organizations and local residents claim the increase of the airport’s size and air traffic over such a heavily populated area will negatively impact residents nearby as well as the environment. Government officials affirm London’s airport would reach capacity by 2034 without any airport expansions. This map depicts the current Heathrow airport range and the future expansion runway. Click on the map to learn more.

Graphic Source: BBC

Yesterday’s Answer

Q:  Where was the world’s largest diamond, the Cullinan Diamond, found? 

A: South Africa
The stone was found in 1905 in Cullinan, South Africa. The diamond is named after Sir Thomas Cullinan- the owner of the mine in which it was found. It weighed in at 3,106 carats, making it the largest diamond ever found.

Source

Today’s Question

 

Q: What pair of islands is governed by two different countries and have a time difference of 23 hours?

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

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