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Earth Intelligence

28 Aug 2025 — 6 min read

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On August 27, 2025, a shooting took place at Annunciation Catholic Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota, which includes a school for prekindergarten through eighth-grade students, where 23-year-old transgender suspect Robin Westman, a former student whose mother was a retired employee, opened fire through the windows around 8:30 a.m. during an all-school Mass attended by about 300 people on the second day of classes. The attack killed two children aged 8 and 10, and injured 17 others—14 children between ages 6 and 15, plus three elderly parishioners in their 80s—all expected to recover.
Westman, armed with a legally purchased rifle, shotgun, and pistol, died from a self-inflicted gunshot at the scene; his social media showed disturbing posts, including diary entries about harming children, church drawings, weapons, and possible explosive devices. The FBI is investigating as domestic terrorism and a hate crime against Catholics, while Mayor Jacob Frey urged action on gun violence, Governor Tim Walz and President Trump ordered flags lowered to half-staff for the victims, and the church commended staff for protecting students.

Economics & Markets:

Yesterday’s U.S. stock market:

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Yesterday’s crypto market:

Geopolitics & Military Activity:

On August 27, 2025, the Israeli military issued evacuation orders for residents of Gaza City, urging them to move south to designated humanitarian zones ahead of an anticipated expansion of operations against Hamas, with a spokesperson describing the mass displacement as "inevitable" while emphasizing that safe passage would be provided and aid increased for those relocating. Aerial footage, including views captured from recent aid flights, has highlighted the widespread devastation across Gaza, showing entire neighborhoods reduced to rubble, makeshift graveyards, and displaced populations amid nearly two years of conflict that has leveled much of the urban landscape.

In parallel humanitarian efforts, the UAE Air Force, in coordination with Jordan and other partners, conducted an aid drop over Gaza, parachuting essential supplies such as food, medical items, and relief materials to support civilians facing acute shortages, though ongoing hostilities continue to complicate ground access and distribution.
On the night of August 27, 2025, unmanned aerial vehicles, reportedly launched by Ukraine, struck the Novokuibyshevsk Oil Refinery in Russia's Samara Oblast, approximately 900 kilometers from the Ukrainian border, resulting in explosions and a massive fire that sent thick plumes of black smoke billowing into the sky, as captured in newly emerged videos showing flames engulfing parts of the industrial complex against a dusk horizon viewed from nearby residential areas and roadways.

The attack, which also targeted the Afipsky oil refinery in Krasnodar Krai, has led to ongoing assessments of damage with no immediate reports of casualties or the full extent of operational disruptions, though local authorities and monitoring channels noted hits on fuel and energy facilities without official statements from either Russian or Ukrainian governments. This incident fits into a pattern of Ukrainian drone operations aimed at Russian energy infrastructure, which have previously caused fuel shortages, halted refinery activities across multiple regions, and imposed significant economic strain, given the Novokuibyshevsk facility's role in supplying petroleum products potentially used for military purposes.

Environment & Weather:

On August 27, 2025, severe flooding struck Mahayel Asir in Saudi Arabia's Asir Province during the evening hours, triggered by torrential rainfall amid ongoing stormy weather patterns in the region, turning streets into rivers and sweeping away multiple vehicles as captured in videos showing swift currents carrying cars downstream. Rescue operations were promptly initiated by local authorities, with teams responding to assist stranded individuals and manage the disruptions, though no immediate reports of casualties emerged from the incident.

The event contributes to a series of recent flash floods across Saudi Arabia, including in nearby areas like Abha and Jazan, where heavy rains have caused widespread inundation, prompting warnings from meteorological services for residents to avoid low-lying zones and waterways amid forecasts of continued unstable conditions.

Space:

On August 27, 2025, SpaceX successfully launched the Starlink 10-56 mission from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, using a Falcon 9 rocket at 7:10 a.m. EDT (1110 UTC). This mission deployed 28 Starlink V2 Mini broadband satellites into low-Earth orbit to expand the company's global internet constellation, building on previous launches with the booster B1095 completing its second flight.

Following a nominal ascent and stage separation, the first stage booster landed successfully on the droneship Just Read the Instructions in the Atlantic Ocean, with satellite deployment confirmed approximately an hour after liftoff to support ongoing network enhancements.

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Statistic:

Largest public companies on Earth by market capitalization:

🇺🇸 NVIDIA: $4.428T
🇺🇸 Microsoft: $3.766T
🇺🇸 Apple: $3.420T
🇺🇸 Alphabet (Google): $2.512T
🇺🇸 Amazon: $2.443T
🇺🇸 Meta Platforms: $1.877T
🇸🇦 Saudi Aramco: $1.530T
🇺🇸 Broadcom: $1.412T
🇹🇼 TSMC: $1.241T
🇺🇸 Tesla: $1.127T
🇺🇸 Berkshire Hathaway: $1.068T
🇺🇸 JPMorgan Chase: $822.94B
🇺🇸 Walmart: $766.75B
🇨🇳 Tencent: $693.07B
🇺🇸 Visa: $680.00B
🇺🇸 Oracle: $662.35B
🇺🇸 Eli Lilly: $658.15B
🇺🇸 Mastercard: $533.96B
🇺🇸 Netflix: $519.89B
🇺🇸 Exxon Mobil: $480.68B
🇺🇸 Johnson & Johnson: $425.77B
🇺🇸 Costco: $421.09B
🇺🇸 Home Depot: $406.35B
🇺🇸 Bank of America: $373.16B
🇺🇸 Palantir: $371.79B

History:

Palantir Technologies was founded in 2003 by Peter Thiel, Nathan Gettings, Joe Lonsdale, Stephen Cohen, and Alex Karp, with the original goal of applying advanced data analysis to support counterterrorism efforts in the wake of 9/11. Drawing from Thiel’s experience with PayPal’s fraud detection algorithms, the early concept of Palantir centered on building software that could empower human analysts to detect patterns in vast datasets without compromising civil liberties. Their flagship product, Palantir Gotham, was developed in collaboration with the U.S. intelligence community, especially the CIA’s venture arm In-Q-Tel. Gotham became essential to defense and intelligence operations, offering sophisticated tools for connecting disparate data sources into actionable intelligence.
Over the years, Palantir expanded beyond its government roots into the private sector, launching Palantir Foundry to support large enterprises with complex data needs. Foundry has become a cornerstone for Fortune 500 companies in industries like healthcare, energy, finance, and manufacturing. Today, Palantir sits at the forefront of enterprise AI and big data analytics, offering platforms that integrate artificial intelligence, machine learning, and real-time data visualization. Their tools are used to power everything from supply chain optimization to pandemic response to battlefield logistics. Despite persistent controversy surrounding privacy and government contracts, Palantir has positioned itself as a dominant force in shaping the future of data-driven decision-making for both corporate and government clients.

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