Monday☕️

Earth Intelligence

23 Jun 2025 — 5 min read

Economics & Markets:

Today’s commodity market:

Today’s crypto market:

Geopolitics & Military Activity:

Yesterday, June 22, 2025, the United States, in coordination with Israel, launched "Operation Midnight Hammer," targeting Iran’s nuclear facilities at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. Seven B-2 Spirit stealth bombers from Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri, deployed 14 GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrators, 30,000-pound bunker-buster bombs, to strike deeply buried sites at Fordow and Natanz, while U.S. Navy submarines fired over 30 Tomahawk cruise missiles at Isfahan’s infrastructure. Approximately 75 precision-guided munitions, including anti-radiation missiles, neutralized Iran’s outdated air defense systems, such as the S-300, which were ineffective against stealth technology.

U.S. officials stated the strikes aimed to disrupt Iran’s nuclear enrichment program without targeting civilians or seeking regime change. Iran’s air defenses, weakened by sanctions and technological limitations, failed to respond, leaving the facilities exposed. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported no off-site radiation but confirmed significant damage to structures, though an unverified Iranian claim suggested most enriched uranium at Fordow was relocated beforehand. Iran’s parliament voted to consider closing the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for 20% of global oil, pending further approval. Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi declared no diplomacy until Iran’s response was complete. The strikes highlighted Iran’s vulnerable military infrastructure, particularly its ineffective air defenses, limiting its capacity to counter further attacks.

Environment & Weather:

Today, June 23, 2025, Greece is experiencing significant wildfire activity, with the most notable fire burning on the island of Chios. This ongoing blaze, reported to have multiple fronts, has led to the evacuation of 16 settlements and damaged olive groves, greenhouses, homes, and infrastructure. Over 100 firefighters, along with 23 vehicles, two aircraft, and 11 helicopters, are actively engaged in containment efforts, with smoke affecting areas as far as Mykonos. Authorities have noted 110 fires across Greece in the past 48 hours, indicating widespread fire activity.

A recent fire near Athens in Marathon, Attica, reported on June 16-17, appears to have been brought under control, as no further updates indicate active threats in that area. Greece’s preparations for the 2025 wildfire season, including increased firefighting personnel and an expanded drone fleet, are being tested by the early and intense fire activity, exacerbated by high temperatures. The Chios fire and the broader wave of incidents highlight the challenges faced, with efforts focused on protecting communities, minimizing economic impacts, and containing the spread of the fires.

Space:

Today, June 23, 2025, SpaceX successfully launched a Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida at 1:58 a.m. ET (0558 UTC). The Starlink 10-23 mission deployed 27 Starlink V2 Mini satellites into low Earth orbit, adding to SpaceX’s satellite internet constellation. The launch, postponed from the previous day, proceeded smoothly with the rocket following a north-easterly trajectory and pre-launch operations, including fueling, completed as expected.

This mission marked SpaceX’s 52nd orbital launch from Cape Canaveral in 2025, supporting the expansion of the Starlink network for global internet connectivity. The launch reflects SpaceX’s ongoing use of reusable rocket technology and consistent satellite deployment efforts, with no operational issues reported during the event.

Statistic:

Largest assets by market capitalization:

GOLD: $22.629T
🇺🇸 Microsoft: $3.548T
🇺🇸 NVIDIA: $3.508T
🇺🇸 Apple: $3.002T
🇺🇸 Amazon: $2.226T
🇺🇸 Alphabet (Google): $2.028T
SILVER: $2.026T
Bitcoin: $2.026T
🇺🇸 Meta Platforms: $1.715T
🇸🇦 Saudi Aramco: $1.599T
🇺🇸 Broadcom: $1.175T
🇹🇼 TSMC: $1.086T
🇺🇸 Berkshire Hathaway: $1.047T
🇺🇸 Tesla: $1.037T
🇺🇸 Walmart: $767.07B
🇺🇸 JPMorgan Chase: $764.24B
🇺🇸 Eli Lilly: $684.73B
🇺🇸 Visa: $661.39B
🇨🇳 Tencent: $585.07B
🇺🇸 Oracle: $576.28B
SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust: $545.41B
🇺🇸 Netflix: $524.03B
🇺🇸 Exxon Mobil: $494.31B
🇺🇸 Mastercard: $483.98B
🇺🇸 Costco: $434.73B

History:

The history of stealth bombers began during the Cold War, spurred by the need to evade increasingly advanced air defense systems. The United States pioneered low-observable technology in the 1960s and 1970s, focusing on radar-absorbing materials and innovative airframe designs to minimize radar cross-sections. The Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk, entering service in 1983, was the first operational stealth aircraft, a fighter-bomber that proved its worth in the 1991 Gulf War with its angular design and radar-deflecting capabilities. The Soviet Union explored stealth but never fielded comparable aircraft, constrained by technological and economic limitations. The U.S. advanced further with the Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit, introduced in 1997, a true stealth bomber with a flying-wing design capable of carrying massive conventional or nuclear payloads over intercontinental ranges. Its development, cloaked in secrecy, underscored the strategic priority of maintaining air superiority through stealth.
The B-2 remains a unique asset, with only 21 built due to its $2 billion-per-unit cost, yet it has been pivotal in conflicts like Kosovo, Iraq, and Afghanistan. The U.S. is now developing the B-21 Raider, unveiled in 2022 and slated for service in the late 2020s, designed for affordability, adaptability, and penetration of modern defenses. Other nations have lagged in deploying stealth bombers. China is developing the Xian H-20, a subsonic stealth bomber, but it remains in testing and lacks the proven track record of U.S. platforms. Russia’s PAK DA program exists but is still in early development, with no operational units. No other countries have stealth bombers in service, as the technological and financial barriers are immense. The U.S. reigns supreme in stealth bomber technology, with decades of operational experience, unmatched design expertise, and a robust pipeline in the B-21, ensuring its dominance in strategic airpower against even the most advanced adversaries.

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