Iraq: End of US mission unclear

Iraq

End of US mission unclear
The Iraqi Foreign Ministry has postponed an announcement about the eventual end of the United States’ military presence in Iraq. Iraq has said it wants troops from the U.S.-led coalition to withdraw next month and the coalition presence to formally end in September 2025. The announcement was delayed due to “latest developments,” without further explanation. The United States has increased its presence in the broader Middle East in recent months as tensions with Iran and its proxies in the region have grown. Iran has threatened a direct response against Israel, a U.S. ally, for the killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in the Iranian capital, Tehran, a few weeks ago. Iraq is uniquely positioned to have ties with both the United States and Iran.

This map shows the locations of US military bases and naval deployments in the Middle East as of this month. Click on the map for more information.

Panama
Darién Gap Humanitarian Corridor
Panamanian officials are exploring alternatives to deal with a surge of Venezuelan migrants fleeing renewed political violence, as promised U.S. aid has failed to materialize. On July 1, Panama’s new President José Raúl Mulino took office with an unprecedented pledge to close the Darién Gap, a 70-mile roadless jungle on Panama’s border with Colombia through which at least 1.5 million migrants, many of them Venezuelans, have poured since 2021. Mulino has secured support from U.S. President Joseph Biden to cover the cost of repatriation flights for migrants stopped in Panama, with a potential $6 million in funding. However, Panama still lacks the necessary funds. Panamanian voters are concerned about growing lawlessness on the Colombian border, with gangs ambushing migrants. To address logistical concerns and reduce gang profits, Mulino has proposed a “humanitarian corridor.” This corridor would channel the flow of migrants along a single route, collect their biometric data and carry out a check on their criminal records.

This map shows the Darién Gap routes between Colombia and Panama, including the new humanitarian corridor proposed by Panama and major alternative routes. Click on the map for more information.

Graphic source: The Economist
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Scotland
Rocks Chronicle “Snowball Earth”
In a study published in the Journal of the Geological Society of Londonresearchers have discovered the most comprehensive documentation of “Snowball Earth,” a significant period in planetary history when Earth was almost completely covered in ice. This geological record was found in a rock formation that stretches across Ireland and Scotland. The best evidence that Earth entered its largest ice age ever about 720 million years ago can be found on the Garvellach Islands, which lie off the west coast of Scotland. After the enormous freeze, which lasted 80 million years, the first complex, multicellular life emerged. All geological records from this time, except the Garvellachs, have been eroded away. Scientists believe the islands will provide insight into why Earth was in a deep freeze for so long and how the emergence of advanced life was possible.

This map shows the distribution of Earth’s land masses 720 million years ago, when Earth was almost completely covered in ice. Click on the map for more information.

Q: Which country gained independence in 1960 as Upper Volta, thanks to the Black, Red and White Volta rivers that flow through the area?

A: Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso, a landlocked country in West Africa, gained independence from France in 1960 and was originally known as Upper Volta before adopting its current name in 1984. Burkina Faso is located on a vast plateau that slopes gently to the south. The country’s three main rivers, the Black Volta (Mouhoun), the Red Volta (Nazinon), and the White Volta (Nakambé), all converge in Ghana in the south to form the Volta. The Volta River Basin in West Africa covers an area of approximately 154,440 square miles (400,000 square kilometers) and spans six countries: Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Mali, and Togo. It is the ninth largest river basin in sub-Saharan Africa. About 85% of the Volta Basin lies in Burkina Faso and Ghana, while Togo, Benin, Ivory Coast and Mali share the remaining 15%.

Source

Q: On the coast of which country are the Colchic Rainforests and Wetlands, a UNESCO World Heritage Site?

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