Thursday☕️

13 Feb 2025 — 5 min read

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Yesterday, February 12, 2025, a U.S. Navy EA-18G Growler fighter jet crashed into the ocean off the coast of Point Loma in San Diego, California, during a landing maneuver. Both pilots ejected safely and were rescued by a nearby fishing boat before being transferred to a Customs and Border Protection vessel. The cause of the crash is still under investigation, and the Navy has not yet determined what went wrong.

The EA-18G Growler is a specialized version of the F/A-18F Super Hornet, designed mainly for electronic warfare. It can jam enemy radar and disrupt communications, but it is also capable of traditional combat missions. The aircraft can carry air-to-air and air-to-ground weapons, including missiles and precision-guided bombs, making it useful in both defensive and offensive operations. It has been in service with the U.S. Navy since 2009 and is based at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island in Washington.

Economics & Markets:

Geopolitics & Military Activity:

Yesterday, February 12, 2025, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that Iraqi Security Forces (ISF), with support from CENTCOM forces, carried out precision airstrikes near Kirkuk, Iraq, on February 10. These strikes killed two ISIS operatives and were part of ongoing efforts to disrupt and eliminate the group’s operational networks. Following the strikes, a post-strike clearance confirmed the deaths of the ISIS members and the destruction of an explosive suicide belt, explosive materials, and weapons components.

This operation is part of the broader Defeat-ISIS campaign, aimed at weakening the group’s ability to conduct attacks and ensuring its long-term defeat. The Coalition Joint Task Force - Operation Inherent Resolve (CJTF-OIR) provided technical support and intelligence to assist in the mission. CJTF-OIR is a multinational coalition established by the United States in 2014 to combat ISIS in Iraq and Syria.
It includes key allies such as the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Canada, and Australia, as well as several Middle Eastern nations, including Iraq, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Turkey, Lebanon, and Egypt. The coalition was created in response to the rapid territorial expansion of ISIS, with the goal of conducting military operations, training local security forces, and providing intelligence-sharing to support counterterrorism efforts.

Environment & Weather:

Today, February 13, 2025, Cyclone Zelia is rapidly intensifying off the northwestern coast of Australia, about 75 nautical miles (140 km) north-northwest of Port Hedland. The storm is moving slowly northwest, with sustained winds between 127 and 150 mph (205 to 240 km/h). While officially classified as a Category 4 based on wind speed, some reports suggest it has already reached Category 5 strength. Forecasters expect it to intensify further, possibly reaching 180 mph (290 km/h) before landfall. Zelia is expected to hit the Pilbara coast on Friday, February 14 (local time). Coastal and inland areas are bracing for severe impacts.

Authorities have issued warnings for destructive winds, heavy rain, and storm surges across the Pilbara region, including Port Hedland, Karratha, and Marble Bar. Port Hedland, a major iron ore hub, has shut down operations, and emergency services are urging residents to finalize preparations. The cyclone is expected to strengthen rapidly in the next 6 to 24 hours, increasing the risk of widespread damage.

Privacy & Security:

Yesterday, February 12, 2025, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and the FBI released a warning about serious security flaws called buffer overflow vulnerabilities. These flaws can be exploited by hackers to crash systems or take control of them, posing a major threat to both government and corporate security. CISA and the FBI are urging software developers to improve their coding practices to prevent these vulnerabilities from being used against critical infrastructure and businesses. A buffer overflow happens when a program tries to store too much data in a limited space, causing it to spill into other parts of the system’s memory.

This can lead to crashes, malfunctions, or even allow hackers to insert harmful code. To prevent this, developers should use safer programming methods, such as checking data limits, validating inputs, and using more secure coding languages. Security tools like Data Execution Prevention (DEP) and Address Space Layout Randomization (ASLR) can also help protect systems. This primarily affects larger businesses that develop software or applications from scratch, as well as companies that rely heavily on database management or large-scale applications. Since buffer overflow vulnerabilities are a high-risk security issue, addressing them is crucial to preventing cyberattacks and protecting critical operations.

Earth Intelligence Update:

All Spaceports have been updated with the last three rocket launches for up-to-date insights. All markers on the globe are also clickable to display a data container. To view news and events, click the “Open News“ button to be briefed on specific topics.

Have also added a Moon button in the heads up display (HUD) to switch between Earth Watch and Moon Watch instead of clicking the arrows. For future planets and celestial bodies, this will turn into a dropdown starting next month. Still working on Moon Phases, Earth Search, and Satellite Intelligence and should have another update next week. Feel free to reach out with any suggestions.

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