Saturday☕️

15 Feb 2025 — 4 min read

Economics & Markets:

Geopolitics & Military Activity:

Yesterday, February 14, 2025, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reported that a Russian drone carrying an explosive warhead struck the protective shelter over the fourth reactor at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. The attack caused damage and sparked a fire, but radiation levels remained stable, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Officials confirmed that the inner containment structure was not breached, preventing a more serious disaster. Russia denied responsibility, claiming the incident was a Ukrainian provocation aimed at escalating tensions. This strike is part of the ongoing pattern of retaliatory attacks between Russia and Ukraine, with both sides targeting infrastructure.

Environment & Weather:

Yesterday, February 14, 2025, a magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck central Ethiopia, with its epicenter located north-northeast of Metehara in the Oromia region. This earthquake is part of an ongoing series of seismic activities in the area since late 2024, raising concerns about potential volcanic activity near Mount Dofan.

Local authorities have reported tremors felt across nearby towns, leading to precautionary evacuations in some areas. The Ethiopian government and geological experts are closely monitoring the situation to assess risks and ensure the safety of affected communities.

Today, February 15, 2025, a 6.2 magnitude earthquake hit the Russia-Mongolia border region at 1:47 UTC. The earthquake occurred deep underground at 101.6 km, and shaking was reported in several nearby cities, including Novosibirsk, Barnaul, and Kyzyl-Khaya. Early estimates suggest that about 1.5 million people may have felt the tremors. Experts are monitoring the situation for any aftershocks or further impacts.

Space:

Today, February 15, 2025, SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, carrying 21 Starlink satellites into low Earth orbit. Thirteen of these satellites include direct-to-cell capabilities, which improve global connectivity for mobile and IoT devices. The mission, called Starlink Group 12-8, set a new record as the Falcon 9 booster, B1067, completed its 26th launch and landing, making it the most-used orbital-class rocket booster in history.

The launch took place at 1:14 a.m. EST, and after separating from the rocket, the booster safely landed on the drone ship “A Shortfall of Gravitas” in the Atlantic Ocean. This achievement demonstrates SpaceX’s progress in reusable rocket technology, well beyond its original goal of using boosters only 10 times.

Science & Technology:

Yesterday, February 14, 2025, Meta announced Project Waterworth, a plan to build the longest subsea internet cable in the world, stretching over 50,000 kilometers. This project will connect five continents, including key locations such as India, Brazil, South Africa, and the United States. Meta is investing billions into this initiative to expand global internet access, improve AI-driven technologies, and strengthen digital infrastructure worldwide. The company expects the system to be fully operational by the end of this decade, helping to boost economies in the connected regions and provide better access to digital services.

To construct Project Waterworth, Meta will lay cables at depths of up to 7,000 meters under the ocean, creating three new high-speed internet pathways. This is part of Meta’s larger push to invest heavily in AI and cloud infrastructure, with an estimated $60-65 billion in capital spending planned for 2025 alone. The goal is to build a more resilient global internet system, ensuring faster connections and better access to data as AI and digital services continue to grow.
Right now, undersea fiber-optic cables are the fastest way to transmit internet data across the world, providing nearly instant communication between continents. After these cables, satellites are the next fastest option, though they have higher latency. Subsea cables already exist in many locations, but Project Waterworth represents a next-generation upgrade, helping build a more powerful and future-proof global internet infrastructure.

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