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United States
Trump Admin Imposes New Tariffs
New U.S. tariffs targeting more than 80 countries came into effect today, after a temporary global tariff issued in the wake of an earlier Supreme Court ruling expired. The new levies, put in place by the Trump administration, range from 10 to 12.5%, with the rate depending on whether a country has committed to enforcing bans on forced-labor imports. Unlike last year’s blanket tariffs, which the Supreme Court struck down, these are enacted under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, a law that allows the president to levy tariffs against countries deemed to engage in unfair trade practices. Experts consider them more legally durable as a result. Some countries argue they’ve been unfairly hit with the higher rate, despite having taken aggressive steps to prevent coercive labor practices. Human rights experts, meanwhile, hope the tariffs might curb forced labor, though some are skeptical as to the motivation.
This map depicts U.S. trading partners subject to the new tariffs, with some at a higher rate dependent on their policies to prevent “forced labor.” Click on the map to learn more.
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France-Spain
Wildfire Devastation Continues
Uncontrollable wildfires have continued to plague France and Spain, forcing thousands of residents and tourists to evacuate. The wildfires have scorched a total of around 25,000 acres (10,000 ha) in southwestern France, with an additional 60,000 people displaced across the Landes and Gironde regions. French authorities recently evacuated the entire peninsula of Cap-Ferret, a popular holiday destination. Meanwhile, in Spain, authorities have declared a national emergency as wildfires threaten communities near Madrid. Help has been requested from across the European Union, with countries such as Croatia, Portugal, Slovakia, Greece, and Italy sending firefighting aircraft.
This map depicts wildfire areas burnt by wildfires in southwestern France. Click on the map to learn more.
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Graphic Source: The Guardian
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United States
Measles Surpass 2025 Levels
Health experts with Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health report U.S. measles cases reaching a 35-year high with 2,295 infections nationwide so far in 2026. The Johns Hopkins total is already above the 2,289 cases reported for the whole of 2025. Measles had been kept under control for decades because high vaccination rates protected both vaccinated people and those who were unvaccinated or undervaccinated. Lower vaccination rates among those able to receive the vaccine threaten susceptible people, including babies too young for the vaccine or those with weakened immune systems. Nearly all confirmed cases have occurred among those who were unvaccinated or undervaccinated (standard measles vaccines consist of two doses), with infections affecting primarily young children. Measles can cause fever, rash, ear infections, pneumonia, brain swelling, and, in rare cases, death. Outbreaks expanded across South Carolina, Utah, Texas, and Virginia, with concentrations in some religious communities. The largest outbreak, in northern South Carolina, reached 997 cases before ending in April after vaccinations increased and built greater herd immunity.
This map depicts confirmed measles cases across the United States in 2026, as reported by Johns Hopkins University. Click on the map to learn more.
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Q: The world’s longest-living vertebrate species is native to and named after what island country covering 836,300 square miles (2,166,000 sq km)?
A: Greenland
Earth’s longest-living vertebrates, the Greenland shark, or Somniosus microcephalus, is one of many fish that live in the waters around Greenland, though this is not the only area in which the shark dwells. These sharks, which are sometimes referred to as “gray sharks” or “gurry sharks,” can also be found in the north Atlantic Ocean near Iceland, Norway, and Canada. Analyzing the eyes of Greenland sharks, scientists have discovered the possibility that these fish can live to 400 years old or more. The transparent tissue in the Greenland shark eye lens is metabolically inactive, with new layers added throughout the shark’s lifetime, much like the rings of a tree. The analysis of the shark tissue indicated that the lifespan of a Greenland shark ranges between 252 and 512 years, with 390 the likeliest average.
Source
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Q: Covering around 169,000 square miles (438,000 sq km) and at around 40% salinity, where will you find the saltiest surface water in the world ocean?
Stay tuned for the answer to today’s question in Monday’s DailyGeo.
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