Today: 7 February 2026
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Space Race Heats Up: Launch Milestones, Satellite ‘Bloom’ & a Lunar Showdown (Aug 18–19, 2025)

Space Race Heats Up: Launch Milestones, Satellite ‘Bloom’ & a Lunar Showdown (Aug 18–19, 2025)

United States: Moon Missions, Mega-Constellations & Scientific Milestones Europe: Weather Satellite Success & Space Safety Initiatives Asia: Ambitious Launches, New Satellites & Spaceflight Firsts Space Security & Policy: The Final Frontier Turns Battleground Sources: NASA News Releases and Blogs nasa.gov nasa.gov nasa.gov; Spaceflight Now spaceflightnow.com; Reuters reuters.com; Gizmodo gizmodo.com gizmodo.com; NDTV ndtv.com ndtv.com; Times of India timesofindia.indiatimes.com; United News of Indiauniindia.comuniindia.com; Xinhua/CGTN english.news.cnen.people.cn; Associated Press apnews.com apnews.com; SatNews news.satnews.com; KeepTrack Space Brief keeptrack.space.
19 August 2025
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Shocking Breaches, Bold Bets & Gadget Breakthroughs: Global Tech Roundup (Aug 18-19, 2025)

Shocking Breaches, Bold Bets & Gadget Breakthroughs: Global Tech Roundup (Aug 18-19, 2025)

SoftBank’s $2 billion investment in Intel on August 18, 2025 injects new equity while SoftBank becomes a top investor without a board seat or chip-purchase commitments. Bloomberg reported on August 18, 2025 that Shein is considering relocating its headquarters from Singapore to mainland China to smooth a Hong Kong IPO, with a potential tens-of-billions valuation. Reuters reported on August 18, 2025 that the U.S. DOE projects up to 20 GW of new data center load by 2030, with data centers potentially consuming as much as 12% of all U.S. power by 2028. Microsoft announced that starting November 1, 2025, it
19 August 2025
Billion-Dollar Bids, Breakthroughs & Backlash – AI News Roundup (Aug 18–19, 2025)

Billion-Dollar Bids, Breakthroughs & Backlash – AI News Roundup (Aug 18–19, 2025)

Arm Holdings hired Amazon AI chip engineer Rami Sinno to lead its plan to design in-house AI chips and chiplets. SoftBank took a $2 billion stake in Intel and also backed a $30 billion OpenAI investment, plus funded the Stargate AI data center project in Ohio with Foxconn. OpenAI launched ChatGPT Go in India at ₹399 ($4.57) per month with 10x higher usage limits than the free tier. Perplexity AI offered a $34.5 billion all-cash bid to acquire Google’s Chrome browser, though Google reportedly rejected the approach. Cohere raised a $500 million Series D valuing the company at $6.8 billion
19 August 2025
Moldova’s Internet Revolution: From Lightning-Fast Fiber to Starlink’s Rural Lifeline in 2025

Moldova’s Internet Revolution: From Lightning-Fast Fiber to Starlink’s Rural Lifeline in 2025

Moldova ranks 3rd in the world for gigabit fiber coverage, with about 90% of the population having access to gigabit-speed plans. The average fixed broadband download speed is about 120 Mbps, placing Moldova around 40th globally for fixed speeds. Moldtelecom and StarNet together account for roughly 80–90% of fixed broadband subscribers, underpinning nationwide access. As of 2024, the average monthly fixed broadband price was $9.19 (about 162 MDL), making Moldova 3rd in Europe and 9th worldwide for affordability. By early 2025 there were about 3.86 million active mobile connections, equal to 128% of the population, with over 95% of connections
19 August 2025
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White House’s Shocking 10% Intel Stake Plan Shakes the Tech World

White House’s Shocking 10% Intel Stake Plan Shakes the Tech World

The White House is reportedly weighing a plan to take a 10% ownership stake in Intel by converting up to $10 billion of CHIPS Act grants into equity. The proposed 10% stake would be worth roughly $10-11 billion at current valuations. Intel was awarded about $10.9 billion under the CHIPS and Science Act for new fabs in Arizona, New Mexico, Ohio and Oregon. Intel appointed Lip-Bu Tan as CEO in early 2025 after the ouster of Pat Gelsinger. Tan met with President Donald Trump in the Oval Office in early 2025. Trump publicly demanded Tan resign over alleged ties to
19 August 2025
Category 4 Hurricane Erin Churns Off East Coast – Live Tracking, Forecast Path & Expert Warnings

Category 4 Hurricane Erin Churns Off East Coast – Live Tracking, Forecast Path & Expert Warnings

Erin is a Category 4 hurricane with sustained winds near 130 mph as of Aug. 18, 2025. The NHC placed Erin’s center near 24.1°N, 71.5°W, about 695 miles southwest of Bermuda. Hurricane-force winds extend about 80 miles from the center, and tropical-storm-force winds reach up to 230 miles. Forecast models indicate Erin will recur north between Bermuda and the U.S. East Coast, stay offshore, turn north on Tuesday, and accelerate northeast into the open Atlantic. Erin reached Category 5 on Aug. 16, 2025, with peak winds near 160 mph, in just over 27 hours from tropical-storm strength, making it the
19 August 2025
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Sky on Fire Tonight: Giant ‘Solar Canyon’ Aims 800‑km/s Wind at Earth—Northern Lights Could Ignite 15 U.S. States & Test Global Tech

Northern Lights Alert: Auroras Could Dance Across 14 States Tonight – When & Where to Watch

On August 19, 2025, NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center forecast a minor geomagnetic storm (G1) that could make the Northern Lights visible across 14+ U.S. states. Areas fully or partially within tonight’s aurora visibility zone include Alaska; Washington; Idaho; Montana; North Dakota; South Dakota; Minnesota; Wisconsin; Michigan; Maine; Vermont; New Hampshire; New York; Iowa; and northern Wyoming and Illinois. The best viewing window runs from about 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. local time, with geomagnetic activity peaking around midnight to early morning. The SWPC forecast projects a Kp index up to Kp 5 (G1), indicating auroras could reach the northern
19 August 2025
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Pixel Watch 2 vs Fitbit Sense 2 vs Amazfit Balance: Ultimate 2025 Smartwatch Showdown

Pixel Watch 2 vs Fitbit Sense 2 vs Amazfit Balance: Ultimate 2025 Smartwatch Showdown

Pixel Watch 2 runs Wear OS 4 with a Snapdragon W5+ Gen 1 and 2GB of RAM, delivering about 36–38 hours of battery life. Pixel Watch 2 adds a standalone WhatsApp app and is guaranteed at least 3 years of Wear OS software updates. Fitbit Sense 2 offers 40+ workout modes and continuous electrodermal activity (EDA) stress monitoring. Sense 2 provides all-day heart-rate tracking with HRV insights, though reviewers note its heart-rate accuracy isn’t top-tier for intense training. Amazfit Balance offers 150+ sport modes, dual-band GPS, and a Body Composition feature using a built-in BIA sensor. Amazfit Balance lacks ECG,
19 August 2025
The Ultimate High-Performance E-Scooter Showdown: Kaabo Wolf Warrior X vs Dualtron Storm Limited vs Apollo Pro 2024

The Ultimate High-Performance E-Scooter Showdown: Kaabo Wolf Warrior X vs Dualtron Storm Limited vs Apollo Pro 2024

Kaabo Wolf Warrior X (2024 edition) achieves a 45.6 mph top speed in ESG’s certified tests. It uses dual 1100W motors (2,200W combined nominal; higher peak) and posts 0–30 mph in about 5.3 seconds. It can climb a 10% grade in 8.2 seconds, showing strong hill performance. The Wolf Warrior X wears a 60V 21Ah (1,260Wh) battery, with a manufacturer-claimed 40-mile range and about 32.9 miles in real-world tests (20 miles when ridden aggressively). Weighing around 79–80 pounds, it features dual-stem handlebars, a rugged tubular frame, dual front and rear suspension, and 10×3 inch knobby tires. Braking is via Zoom
19 August 2025
Luxury Wireless Headphones Showdown: B&O H95 vs B&W PX8 vs Focal Bathys – Which Reigns Supreme?

Luxury Wireless Headphones Showdown: B&O H95 vs B&W PX8 vs Focal Bathys – Which Reigns Supreme?

The Beoplay H95 (2020), PX8 (2022), and Bathys (2022) are the flagship wireless headphones from Bang & Olufsen, Bowers & Wilkins, and Focal. Beoplay H95 delivers up to 38 hours of playback with ANC on (50 hours with ANC off). PX8 provides about 30 hours of playback with ANC on, with a 15-minute charge yielding about 7 hours. Bathys offers roughly 30 hours of Bluetooth ANC playback, 35 hours via 3.5 mm, and up to 42 hours in USB-DAC mode. Bathys supports USB-C DAC mode delivering up to 24-bit/192 kHz audio. Beoplay H95 features adaptive ANC with five levels controlled
19 August 2025
Razer Basilisk V3 Pro vs DeathAdder V3 Pro vs Viper V2 Pro – Ultimate 2025 Gaming Mouse Showdown 🔥

Razer Basilisk V3 Pro vs DeathAdder V3 Pro vs Viper V2 Pro – Ultimate 2025 Gaming Mouse Showdown 🔥

All three mice—the Basilisk V3 Pro, DeathAdder V3 Pro, and Viper V2 Pro—use Razer’s Focus Pro 30K optical sensor with 30,000 DPI, 750 IPS, and 70G acceleration. The Basilisk V3 Pro released in September 2022 weighs 112 g and measures 130 × 75.4 × 42.5 mm, and it supports tri‑mode connectivity (2.4 GHz, Bluetooth 5.0, USB‑C) with optional wireless charging via a Dock Pro. The DeathAdder V3 Pro, also released in September 2022, weighs 63 g, has 5 programmable buttons, includes no RGB lighting, and delivers up to 90 hours of battery life at 1000 Hz (about 17 hours at
19 August 2025
Sky-Watcher Evostar 80ED vs Skyliner 200P vs Star Adventurer 2i – Ultimate Astronomy Gear Showdown 2025

Sky-Watcher Evostar 80ED vs Skyliner 200P vs Star Adventurer 2i – Ultimate Astronomy Gear Showdown 2025

The Sky-Watcher Evostar 80ED is an 80 mm apochromatic doublet refractor using FPL-53 ED glass with 600 mm of focal length at f/7.5. The Evostar 80ED OTA weighs about 2.5 kg and is roughly 24 inches long with the dew shield, typically sold as an OTA with accessories rather than a full mount kit. The Skyliner 200P is an 8-inch (203 mm) Newtonian on a Dobsonian mount, with a 1200 mm focal length and a focal ratio of f/5.9. The 200P’s tube is about 112 cm long and weighs around 20 lb, with the base adding 20–25 lb for a
19 August 2025
Kyiv’s Drone Law Crackdown: 2025 Guide to Permits, No‑Fly Zones & Wartime Rules

Kyiv’s Drone Law Crackdown: 2025 Guide to Permits, No‑Fly Zones & Wartime Rules

Recreational drones weighing 20 kg or less are exempt from state registration and do not require a pilot license in Ukraine. Commercial drones, regardless of weight, must be entered in the State Register of Civil Aircraft and require an operator certificate and a certificate of airworthiness. There is no dedicated drone pilot license or exam for civilian UAV operators in Ukraine. Ukraine currently has no Remote ID requirement for drones. The general maximum altitude is 120 meters above ground, but 50 meters in controlled or sensitive airspace near airports or special zones. Drones must be kept in visual line of
18 August 2025
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Canon EOS R5 C vs R3 vs R6 Mark II – 2025’s Ultimate Mirrorless Showdown

Canon EOS R5 C vs R3 vs R6 Mark II – 2025’s Ultimate Mirrorless Showdown

Canon EOS R5 C is a compact dual-purpose body that uses the R5’s 45MP full-frame sensor and records 8K/60p RAW internally with 4K up to 4K/60 oversampled and an active cooling fan for prolonged recording. Canon EOS R3 uses a 24.1MP stacked backside-illuminated sensor, shoots up to 30 fps with AF in electronic mode, and can burst at 195 fps in a short configurable mode for extreme action. The Canon EOS R6 Mark II features a 24.2MP full-frame sensor, delivers up to 40 fps electronic and 12 fps mechanical shooting, and records 4K/60p 10-bit with oversampling from 6K. In-body stabilization
18 August 2025
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Pixel 7a vs Pixel 6a vs Pixel 5a – The Ultimate 2025 Google Pixel Showdown

iPhone SE 4 vs iPhone 14 vs iPhone 13 Mini: Shocking Differences You Need to Know Before Buying

The iPhone SE (4th Gen), also called iPhone 16e, uses a 6.1-inch OLED all-screen design with no Home button, Face ID, a 167 g body roughly 5.78″ tall by 2.82″ wide, USB-C, 8 GB RAM, the A18 Bionic, a 48‑MP main camera with 2× lossless zoom, and an estimated 26 hours of video playback. The SE 4 camera centers on a single 48 MP main sensor with a 12 MP front camera, lacks an ultrawide lens, but should deliver strong detail, Night Mode, 4K/60 fps video, and likely ProRAW and on‑device AI features. The iPhone 14 employs a dual-camera system
18 August 2025
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Pixel 7a vs Pixel 6a vs Pixel 5a – The Ultimate 2025 Google Pixel Showdown

Pixel 7a vs Pixel 6a vs Pixel 5a – The Ultimate 2025 Google Pixel Showdown

Pixel 5a (2021) runs the Snapdragon 765G, 6 GB RAM, 128 GB storage, a 4680 mAh battery, 18 W charging, and IP67 water resistance. Pixel 6a (2022) uses Google Tensor Gen 1, 6 GB RAM, 128 GB storage, a 4410 mAh battery, a 6.1″ OLED at 1080p60, and IP67 with no microSD or 3.5 mm jack. Pixel 7a (2023) uses Tensor G2, 8 GB RAM, 128 GB storage, a 4385 mAh battery, a 6.1″ OLED with 90 Hz, 7.5 W wireless charging, and a 64 MP main camera with OIS. Pixel 7a’s main camera is a 64 MP Quad-Bayer sensor
18 August 2025
Nikon Zf vs Z6 III vs Zfc – Retro Charm Meets Modern Power in Nikon’s Mirrorless Showdown

Nikon Zf vs Z6 III vs Zfc – Retro Charm Meets Modern Power in Nikon’s Mirrorless Showdown

The Nikon Z6 III is a 24.5 MP full-frame hybrid with a partially stacked CMOS sensor and EXPEED 7, offering 6K video and up to 120 fps bursts at launch price $2,499 body. The Nikon Zf is a 24.5 MP full-frame camera using the Z6 II sensor family, updated with EXPEED 7, adds 10-bit video and a 96 MP pixel-shift mode, launched at $1,999. The Nikon Z fc is a 20.9 MP APS-C (DX) mirrorless with retro styling and a fully articulating screen, introduced at $959 body. Pixel-shift multi-shot is available on the Z6 III and Zf in 4, 8,
18 August 2025
Fujifilm GFX100 II vs GFX50S II vs GFX50R: Ultimate Medium Format Showdown in 2025

Fujifilm GFX100 II vs GFX50S II vs GFX50R: Ultimate Medium Format Showdown in 2025

The Fujifilm GFX100 II uses a 102 MP backside‑illuminated CMOS II HS sensor (43.8×32.9 mm) with native ISO 80 and twice the readout speed of the 50 MP chip. It runs on the X-Processor 5 and delivers up to 8 fps continuous shooting with the mechanical shutter, versus about 3 fps on the GFX50S II and GFX50R. The GFX100 II adds 5‑axis IBIS up to 8 stops, while the GFX50S II offers 6.5 stops and the GFX50R has no IBIS. Autofocus differs notably: the GFX100 II uses on‑sensor PDAF with AI subject tracking across most of the frame, whereas the
18 August 2025
Roborock Saros 10 vs 10R vs 10 Evo – Ultimate 2025 Robot Vacuum Showdown

Roborock Saros 10 vs 10R vs 10 Evo – Ultimate 2025 Robot Vacuum Showdown

Roborock released the Saros 10, Saros 10R, and Saros 10 Evo in January 2025 in the US and EU, with prices of $1,599.99 for the 10 and 10R and $1,699.99 for the Evo. Suction power is 22,000 Pa for the Saros 10 and Evo, and about 19,000–20,000 Pa for the Saros 10R. All three models share a thickness of 7.98 cm (3.14 inches). The Saros 10 uses RetractSense LDS + ReactiveAI 3.0 for navigation, while the Saros 10R uses StarSight 2.0 with VertiBeam and no turret. Mopping systems differ: the Saros 10 and Evo use VibraRise 4.0 with up to
18 August 2025
2025 Foldable Phone Showdown: Motorola Razr Ultra vs. Galaxy Z Flip 7 vs. Pixel 9 Pro Fold

2025 Foldable Phone Showdown: Motorola Razr Ultra vs. Galaxy Z Flip 7 vs. Pixel 9 Pro Fold

The Motorola Razr Ultra (2025) features a 7.0-inch main OLED display with 2992×1224 resolution, 120Hz refresh (165Hz in Game Mode), Dolby Vision HDR, and up to 3000 nits peak brightness. It also has a 4.0-inch external cover display (1272×1080) that runs full Android apps at up to 165Hz. The Razr Ultra uses a titanium-reinforced hinge, IPX8 water resistance, weighs 199g, and measures 7.2mm thick unfolded. It is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite with 16GB of RAM on a 4nm process for flagship performance and on‑device AI. The camera system includes a dual rear 50MP main and 50MP ultrawide, plus
18 August 2025
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Stock Market Today

Semiconductor stocks surge as AI capex stays high; Nvidia and AMD lead into next week

Semiconductor stocks surge as AI capex stays high; Nvidia and AMD lead into next week

7 February 2026
The Philadelphia Semiconductor Index jumped 5.7% to 8,048.6 on Friday, with Nvidia up 7.87% and AMD rising 8.28%. The surge followed new forecasts showing global chip sales could hit $1 trillion in 2026. Amazon expects a 50% increase in capital spending this year, fueling demand for chips. The Dow Jones crossed 50,000, helped by gains in chipmakers.
Oil stocks jump on Iran risk lift for crude — what to watch before Monday

Oil stocks jump on Iran risk lift for crude — what to watch before Monday

7 February 2026
U.S. oil stocks surged Friday as crude prices rose on renewed Middle East tensions. Exxon Mobil gained 2.0%, ConocoPhillips 2.5%, and Occidental Petroleum 2.7%. Refiners rallied after a national union deal eased strike risk, though BP’s Whiting plant faces a local dispute. Brent settled at $68.05 a barrel, up 0.74%.
Silver price rebound masks fresh stress after CME lifts margins again

Silver price rebound masks fresh stress after CME lifts margins again

7 February 2026
Spot silver surged 8.6% to $77.33 an ounce Friday after dropping below $65, but still lost over 8.7% for the week. CME Group raised margin requirements for COMEX silver futures to 18% from 15%, effective after Feb. 6. China’s UBS SDIC Silver Futures Fund hit its 10% down limit for a fifth session. Traders await key U.S. jobs and inflation data next week.
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