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United Kingdom
General Election Results
The Conservative Party won a landslide victory in the United Kingdom’s general election on Thursday. The Conservatives captured 364 of the 650 seats in the House of Commons, representing a 74-seat majority. The general election was called early by Conservative Prime Minister Boris Johnson who sought to strengthen support of his Brexit plans. The election results appeared to validate Johnson’s Brexit timeline and he has promised to leave the European Union by January 31, 2020. The UK’s Labour Party, the country’s other dominant political party, recorded their worst election loss since 1935. Labour leader Jeremy Corbin has announced he will not run in future elections. Reports state a record 220 female candidates were elected to Parliament in the election.
This interactive map depicts the results of the UK’s recent general election. The Conservative Party, depicted in blue on the map, won a large majority. Click on the map to learn more.
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Graphic Source: New York Times
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India
Controversial Citizenship Law
Violent protests continue in India’s northeastern Assam state where protesters torched buildings and clashed with security forces. In the state capital of Guwahati, thousands of residents defied a curfew in order to continue their opposition to the controversial Citizenship Amendment Bill or CAB. According to officials, two people were killed, at least 11 injured, and dozens arrested. The bill, which passed in the upper house of parliament with 125 votes to 105 on 11 December, seeks to grant Indian nationality to Buddhists, Christians, Hindus, Jains, Parsis, and Sikhs who fled Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Bangladesh because of religious persecution before 2015. The bill has sparked anger in Assam over concerns of an immigration influx. Additionally, India’s Muslim minority worries the bill will erode their rights and advance a Hindu-nationalist understanding of citizenship in the country.
This map depicts the areas of unrest in Assam and surrounding states due to the Citizenship Amendment Bill. Click on the map to learn more.
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Antarctica
Deepest Point on Land Found
Researchers have discovered the deepest point on continental Earth in East Antarctica. The canyon, which is located beneath the Denman Glacier, is 11,500 feet below sea-level. This discovery comes after a six-year-long project, where researchers mapped the bedrock of the Antarctic continent to understand how it will be affected by climate change in the future. Scientists relied on microwave pulses, which can travel below thick ice sheets, to capture data and create a preliminary map of the canyon. Their efforts led to the identification of previously unknown ridges along the Ross ice shelf as well. They estimate that the canyon is about 12 miles wide and 62 miles long. Prior to this discovery, the deepest point on land was located in the Dead Sea at a depth of 1,355 feet.
This map depicts the canyon located below the Denman Glacier. Click on the map to learn more.
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Q: With 179.8 million hectares of cropland, what country is home to the highest percentage of the world’s total cropland and is considered a global agricultural capital?
A: India
Of the 1.87 billion hectares of cropland in the world, 179.8 million hectares (9.6%) are located in India. Close behind are the United States (167.8 Mha), China (165.2 Mha), and Russia (155.8 Mha).
Source
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Q: Abandoned since 1963, what 22-acre piece of land in New York City is illegal for the public to visit?
Stay tuned for the answer to today’s question in Monday’s DailyGeo.
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