World
Climate is 'Code Red'
Today, The United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) published a major scientific report on how human activities are changing the planet's climate in irreversible and catastrophic ways. The 3,949-page report outlines recent extreme weather events such as heatwaves, droughts, flooding, global average temperature rise by 1.1°C (1.98°F), and wildfires as clear signs of the damage already caused by climate change. Antonio Guterres, UN secretary-general called the report “a code red for humanity.” Without serious mitigation efforts, the IPCC report says the consequences of climate change will be unequivocal, deadly, and far more frequent.
This map depicts the IPCC's estimates on change in extreme heat across the global as well as their estimated confidence level. Click on the map to learn more.
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Graphic Source: Bloomberg
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Syria
Shelling Kills 4 Children
Artillery shells fired by government forces struck the village of Qastoun in the Hama region of northwest Syria on Saturday, killing four children of the same family and seriously injuring five others. The shelling is a part of ongoing military operations in the rebel area of Syria, with escalations continuing despite a ceasefire brokered by Russia and Turkey in 2020. The area is currently the last major area under control of opposition forces in Syria. Northwest Syria has seen an increase in military interventions since President al-Assad started his new term this summer. He has vowed to strengthen military efforts to regain control over areas lost during the 10-year-long civil war.
This map depicts the village of Qastoun, where government forces shelled and killed four children from the same family on Saturday. Click on the map to learn more.
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Graphic Source: Al Jazeera
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Japan
Olympic Games Closed Sunday
The 32nd Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan concluded last night. An increase in COVID-19 cases before the start of the games led to the eventual cancellation of tickets, with athletes competing in largely empty venues. US Women’s Gymnastics star Simone Biles's withdrawal from most of her competitions due to mental health and alleged threats by Belarusian authorities against sprinter Krystsina Tsimanouskaya provoked widespread discussion of the well-being of athletes. Despite the many historically-unprecedented features of these games, US network NBC reported a steep drop in ratings from the 2016 Rio Games. Olympic attention will now turn to Beijing, China for the 2022 Winter Games and Paris, France for the 2024 Summer Games.
This map depicts the final medal count for the 2021 Tokyo Summer Olympics. Click on the map to learn more.
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Q: Located in the Earth's tropics with weather patterns encouraging both regular rain and plenty of sunshine, where in the world do scientists claim is the best place to see rainbows?
A: Hawaii
Hawaii’s geography and latitude as a tropical island in the Pacific Ocean makes the island susceptible to more rainbows, scientists explain. Northeast trade winds bring frequent rain showers with clear skies in between, creating optimal rainbow conditions. Heat throughout the day combined with lighter winds in the evening also create picture-perfect sunset rainbows. Symbols of rainbows have also been embedded deep within Hawaiian cultures.
Source
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Q: With a total of seven failed bids and having never hosted the games, what is the most unsuccessful aspiring Olympic host city?
Stay tuned for the answer to today's question in tomorrow's DailyGeo.
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