Saturday☕️

01 Mar 2025 — 4 min read

Trending:

Today, March 1, 2025, a FedEx cargo plane departing from Newark Liberty International Airport struck a bird shortly after takeoff, causing a fire in its right engine. The aircraft, a Boeing 767-3S2F, was carrying three crew members and was headed to Indianapolis when the bird strike occurred around 8:00 AM Eastern Time. The pilots quickly declared an emergency and returned to Newark, where they landed safely just minutes after takeoff. No injuries were reported, and airport operations were briefly paused before resuming normal activity.

The Boeing 767-3S2F is a dedicated cargo aircraft commonly used for long-haul freight transport. While bird strikes are a known risk in aviation, they rarely cause significant damage, though incidents like this highlight the potential dangers. In recent years, the number of bird strikes at airports has been increasing, with thousands of such incidents recorded annually. Aviation officials continue to monitor and implement measures to reduce these risks, including habitat management near airports and improved radar detection systems.

Economics & Markets:

Geopolitics & Military Activity:

Environment & Weather:

Cyclone Garance struck the French island of La Réunion on Friday, February 28, 2025, bringing destructive winds and torrential rain. The storm made landfall in the northern part of the island early in the morning, with winds reaching up to 96 mph (155 km/h). As the cyclone swept through, it caused widespread damage, knocking out power to around 160,000 homes and disrupting water supplies for over 310,000 residents. Emergency shelters quickly filled with nearly 1,000 people seeking refuge from the extreme weather conditions. Authorities issued the highest-level storm alert, warning residents to stay indoors as flooding worsened and roads became impassable.

The severe rainfall triggered flash floods, particularly in Saint-Denis, the island’s capital, where streets were submerged and homes suffered significant damage. Landslides and fallen trees blocked major roads, further complicating rescue and recovery efforts. At least four people lost their lives due to the storm, while two others remain missing. Although Garance has now weakened into a tropical storm and the red alert has been lifted, emergency crews continue to assess the damage and restore essential services. Officials urge residents to remain cautious as cleanup efforts begin, with damaged infrastructure and lingering floodwaters still posing risks.

Space:

Earlier today, March 1, 2025, China successfully launched a Kuaizhou 1A rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. The rocket carried the Haishao-1 satellite into low Earth orbit. The Kuaizhou 1A is a small, solid-fueled rocket designed for quick and cost-effective satellite launches. Developed by ExPace, a subsidiary of a major Chinese aerospace company, it is used primarily for deploying small satellites efficiently.
While specific details about Haishao-1’s mission have not been publicly shared, it is expected to support applications such as Earth observation, communications, or scientific research. This launch is part of China’s broader effort to expand its space capabilities, particularly in the area of rapid satellite deployment. The Kuaizhou rocket series is designed to launch quickly with minimal preparation time, making it useful for both commercial and government missions.

Statistic: