On June 22, 2025, the United States launched Operation Midnight Hammer, bombing Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan, after which Iran’s parliament voted to close the Strait of Hormuz. The Strait of Hormuz carries roughly 20% of the world’s oil and gas flows, amounting to about 20 million barrels per day. Brent crude rose about 10% in…
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Operation Midnight Hammer, conducted June 21–22, 2025, targeted Iran’s Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan nuclear sites. Seven B-2 Spirit bombers from the 509th Bomb Wing at Whiteman Air Force Base flew an 18-hour mission to Iran, delivering 14 GBU-57A/B Massive Ordnance Pens, marking the first-ever operational use of the MOP. To maximize surprise, at least six…
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Operation Midnight Hammer occurred June 21–22, 2025, a one-night U.S. stealth airstrike targeting Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. Seven B-2 Spirit bombers departed Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri, for an ~18-hour flight to Iran with mid-air refuelings, escorted by F-22 and F-35 fighters and electronic warfare support aircraft. The raid delivered 14 GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator…
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Amazon Robotics (formerly Kiva Systems) operates over 500,000 mobile robots in its fulfillment centers to power rapid order fulfillment. DJI remains the world’s largest drone manufacturer, commanding over 70% of the global market with flagship Phantom and Mavic series. SoftBank Robotics’ Pepper humanoid, launched in 2014, was the world’s first full-scale consumer-facing humanoid robot and…
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Alphabet (Google) – United States, founded 1998; parent of Google and Google DeepMind, with TensorFlow and the Gemini generative AI ecosystem underpinning its AI strategy. Microsoft – United States, founded 1975; global leader in enterprise AI with Azure AI services and a multi-billion-dollar partnership with OpenAI to bring GPT-based tools to customers. OpenAI – United…
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On June 14, 2025, after Israeli strikes, Iran imposed a nationwide internet blackout, and Elon Musk tweeted that Starlink was “The beams are on,” effectively activating Starlink over Iran. The activation made Starlink connectivity available only to users with Starlink terminals, not to the entire Iranian population. Estimates by late 2024 placed roughly 10,000 to…
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In late 2024, Ukraine’s new-build housing prices rose 15.72% year-on-year, about 3.3% after inflation. Resale prices increased 11.9% year-on-year, essentially flat in real terms. As of early 2025, western cities like Lviv at about $1,330 per square meter and Kyiv at about $1,280 per square meter lead new-build prices, while Kharkiv sits around $670 per…
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The China National Space Administration (CNSA) was established in 1993 as China’s civil space authority. By the end of 2024, China operated more than 1,060 active satellites in orbit, a count that has grown more than six-fold since 2015. Chang’e-4 achieved the first landing on the Moon’s far side in 2019. Micius (Mozi), launched in…
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February 2009: Iran becomes the ninth country to launch an indigenous satellite with its own rocket, sending Omid into orbit on the Safir launcher. Khayyam (2022) is a 600 kg Earth-observation satellite with 1-meter resolution, built with Russian collaboration and launched by a Russian Soyuz to a ~500 km orbit. Noor-1, Iran’s first military satellite,…
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Starlink Constellation (2019–present) by SpaceX comprises about 4,500 microsatellites in ~550 km LEO with Ku/Ka-band user links and laser crosslinks, enabling global internet including disaster response. James Webb Space Telescope (2021) features a 6.5 m segmented mirror and instruments NIRCam, NIRSpec, and MIRI, delivering the deepest infrared images of the universe including SMACS 0723 and…
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