Wednesday☕️

Earth Intelligence

30 Jul 2025 — 6 min read

Economics & Markets:

Yesterday’s U.S. stock market:

Yesterday’s commodity market:

Yesterday’s crypto market:

Geopolitics & Military Activity:

On July 28, 2025, Thailand and Cambodia reached an agreement for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire after five days of border clashes, with the truce taking effect at midnight local time following mediation talks hosted by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in Putrajaya. The agreement outlined commitments to stop fighting, avoid deploying additional troops, and permit humanitarian access, and it received positive remarks from international figures, including U.S. President Donald Trump, for aiding de-escalation amid reported casualties and displacements. Reports describe the ceasefire as fragile, with Thai officials claiming Cambodian forces violated it through continued artillery and small arms fire in areas such as Phu Ma Khuea and Chong An Ma soon after implementation, while Cambodian officials rejected these allegations as inaccurate, called for independent observers to verify events, and affirmed their adherence to the truce. As of July 29, the ceasefire seems to be holding overall, though border checkpoints remain closed, martial law is enforced in affected Thai provinces, evacuations continue for over 130,000 people, and both sides retain their military positions.
The escalation began on July 24, 2025, near the Preah Vihear Temple and other contested border sites, featuring artillery fire, airstrikes, and tank engagements that led to more than 30 reported deaths, driven by reciprocal claims of territorial violations. The dispute originates from colonial-era treaties in 1904 and 1907 between France and Siam, which set the border along the Dangrek Mountains but left ambiguities in mapping. Subsequent developments include disputes after Cambodia's 1953 independence, Thailand's 1954 occupation of the temple, a 1962 International Court of Justice decision granting the temple to Cambodia based on the recognized maps without settling nearby lands, clashes in 2008 triggered by the temple's UNESCO World Heritage designation, and a 2013 court ruling confirming Cambodian control over the temple's promontory. Persistent factors, such as nationalist views, unresolved maritime boundaries in the Gulf of Thailand addressed in a 2001 joint development agreement that has seen limited advancement, and competing resource interests, contribute to recurring tensions, emphasizing the importance of full border demarcation and adherence to international judgments for long-term resolution.

Environment & Weather:

On July 30, 2025, a magnitude 8.8 megathrust earthquake struck off the eastern coast of Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula. The epicenter was located about 131-136 km southeast of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky at a depth of 19-20.7 km. This earthquake occurred in the seismically active Pacific Ring of Fire and was followed by aftershocks, including ones of magnitudes 6.9 and 6.3. It was felt strongly in nearby areas, causing buildings to shake and resulting in minor injuries, but no fatalities were reported. Due to the remote location, damages in Russia were limited and included structural cracks in buildings such as a kindergarten, partial flooding from local tsunamis up to 2-4 meters in ports like Severo-Kurilsk that affected fish processing facilities, agricultural centers, and beachside hotels, as well as downed power lines and flooding across significant coastal areas. Emergency services responded by evacuating coastal zones and assisting trapped residents.

Tsunami warnings were issued promptly by agencies such as the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center and extended across the Pacific Ocean to address risks from the shallow-depth quake. In Japan, warnings for waves up to 3 meters prompted evacuations and transport suspensions along the Pacific coast, where initial waves of about 30 cm to 1 meter were recorded, causing minor tidal changes but no widespread damage, although authorities cautioned about the possibility of larger delayed waves. The United States issued alerts for Hawaii, Alaska, and the West Coast, leading to coastal evacuations and advisories for minor flooding or strong currents, while regions like Guam, Ecuador, and Australia received watches for smaller waves. Recent assessments show no destructive tsunamis occurred in distant areas, resulting in cancellations of some warnings for parts of Hawaii and Alaska, which highlights the effectiveness of international monitoring in reducing potential harm.

Space:

On July 29, 2025, Gilmour Space Technologies conducted the inaugural test flight of its Eris rocket from the Bowen Orbital Spaceport in Queensland, Australia. This event marked Australia's first attempt at an orbital launch using a domestically designed and built vehicle, with the three-stage Eris intended to carry small payloads to low Earth orbit. The rocket lifted off as planned but experienced an anomaly shortly after ignition, preventing it from achieving its objectives. As a test flight without operational satellites on board, the primary goal was to collect data for future improvements, a common practice in rocket development where initial attempts often encounter challenges.

The vehicle ascended approximately 50 meters vertically before developing insufficient thrust, causing it to translate sideways and fall back to the ground near the launch pad after about 20 seconds. The impact resulted in an explosion, but there were no injuries or significant damage reported beyond the rocket itself. Gilmour Space CEO Adam Gilmour stated that the team would review telemetry data to determine the cause, likely related to engine performance, and apply lessons learned to subsequent flights.

Statistic:

Largest public defense contractors by market capitalization:

🇺🇸 RTX: $210.31B
🇺🇸 Boeing: $170.46B
🇫🇷 Airbus: $163.42B
🇺🇸 Honeywell: $140.76B
🇫🇷 Safran: $136.17B
🇺🇸 Lockheed Martin: $98.08B
🇩🇪 Rheinmetall: $96.36B
🇺🇸 General Dynamics: $84.65B
🇺🇸 Northrop Grumman: $82.07B
🇬🇧 BAE Systems: $74.33B
🇫🇷 Thales: $59.68B
🇺🇸 L3Harris Technologies: $50.94B
🇮🇳 Hindustan Aeronautics: $38.50B
🇮🇳 Bharat Electronics: $35.02B
🇳🇴 Kongsberg Gruppen: $32.47B
🇮🇹 Leonardo: $31.90B
🇸🇪 SAAB AB: $28.76B
🇫🇷 Dassault Aviation: $26.93B
🇨🇳 China National Nuclear Power: $26.63B
🇨🇳 AVIC Shenyang Aircraft Company: $25.60B
🇨🇳 China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC): $21.84B
🇮🇱 Elbit Systems: $21.16B
🇹🇷 Aselsan: $20.16B
🇩🇪 Hensoldt: $13.83B
🇺🇸 AeroVironment: $13.32B

History:

Lockheed Martin’s roots lie in two influential companies: the Lockheed Aircraft Company, founded in 1926 by Allan and Malcolm Loughead in California, and the Glenn L. Martin Company, established earlier in 1912 in Los Angeles. During the interwar years, both companies focused on civilian aviation and experimental aircraft, but their trajectories dramatically shifted as global tensions escalated. By the time World War II erupted, Lockheed had become a major military contractor for the U.S. government. The company developed and mass-produced iconic warplanes like the P-38 Lightning, a high-speed, twin-boom fighter used extensively in the European and Pacific theaters. At its peak during WWII, Lockheed employed over 90,000 workers and turned out aircraft on an industrial scale, embodying the arsenal-of-democracy spirit. Meanwhile, the Glenn L. Martin Company produced critical bombers such as the Martin B-26 Marauder and flying boats like the PBM Mariner, supporting both naval and land campaigns.
After the war, both companies adapted to Cold War demands, investing in supersonic flight, jet propulsion, and reconnaissance systems. Lockheed’s secretive Skunk Works division emerged as a crucible of cutting-edge defense projects, delivering legendary aircraft such as the U-2 spy plane and the SR-71 Blackbird, which pushed the limits of speed and altitude to gather intelligence over Soviet territory. By the time the two companies merged in 1995—forming Lockheed Martin—they had established unmatched expertise in airpower, space systems, and missile technology. Today, that legacy continues with the development of advanced fighter jets like the F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II, as well as next-gen platforms in hypersonics, satellite defense, and AI-integrated warfare. From wood-and-fabric biplanes to stealth fighters and orbital defense, Lockheed Martin’s journey mirrors the evolution of modern combat and aerospace supremacy.

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