Anna's Daybreak News

_{Just facts, you think for yourself}

Tuesday, 5:16 AM

February 25, 2025

Good morning news friend! Stay connected to the fast-paced world of current events, keeping up with the latest shifts and stories. 📰🌟

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How the Rich Drive the US Economy

In 2025, the top 10% of earners in the US (households earning $250,000 or more annually) will account for 49.7% of all spending, the highest percentage since 1989. Three decades ago, their share was only 36%.

Between September 2023 and September 2024, their spending surged by 12%. In contrast, the bottom 80% of earners increased their spending by only 25% over the past four years, barely outpacing a 21% price increase during the same period.

Almost one-third of the US gross domestic product (GDP) now comes from this wealthy group. The net worth of the top 20% has risen by over $35 trillion since 2019.

Sources: WallStreetJournal, QZ, PYMNTS, MishTalk, SAN.

Apple’s $500 Billion Investment 

Apple plans to invest $500 billion in the United States over the next four years. This commitment includes hiring 20,000 new employees, predominantly for research and development jobs.

The company will construct a new server factory in Houston, Texas, set to open in 2026. This factory will focus on manufacturing servers necessary for Apple’s artificial intelligence features.

The investment also supports Apple TV+ productions across 20 states. Furthermore, Apple will double its Advanced Manufacturing Fund from $5 billion to $10 billion to bolster US manufacturing initiatives.

This announcement follows a meeting between Apple CEO Tim Cook and President Trump, in which Trump emphasized the move's significance in avoiding tariffs on Apple's products.

Sources: APNews, Reuters, Bloomberg, NYTimes, Forbes.

Tougher Chip Controls on China

The Trump administration plans stricter semiconductor controls on China, building on previous Biden policies. US officials want to prevent Tokyo Electron (Japan) and ASML (Netherlands) from maintaining semiconductor equipment in China.

They aim to align allies with US restrictions, similar to those on companies like Lam Research, KLA, and Applied Materials.

Officials want to revise the AI diffusion rule to reduce the current limit of 1,700 GPUs that can be exported without a license. The goal remains to hinder China’s AI capabilities.

Chinese companies are increasing orders for Nvidia's H20 chip, encouraged by DeepSeek's cost-effective AI models. The H20 chip is the only model Nvidia can sell in China due to US export controls.

Sources: Bloomberg, Fortune, Reuters, GB, FxStreet, Investing.

Theranos Fraud Convictions Upheld

A US appeals court upheld the fraud convictions of Elizabeth Holmes and Ramesh "Sunny" Balwani, founders of Theranos.

The 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco confirmed their sentences: Holmes received 11 years and 3 months, while Balwani was sentenced to 12 years and 11 months.

Both were found guilty of defrauding investors in Theranos, once valued at $9 billion. Holmes misled investors about her company's faulty blood-testing technology.

Holmes and Balwani challenged a $452 million restitution order but failed to overturn it.

Sources: Reuters, ABC, QZ, Bloomberg, FOX5.

Red Light Therapy

Red light therapy, also known as photobiomodulation, uses low levels of red and near-infrared light to target various conditions.

Researchers noted reduced skin damage and inflammation in cancer patients. Massachusetts General Hospital found improvement in mood disorders, with treatments applied to the forehead. In another study, red light therapy helped stabilize blood sugar levels.

Despite its potential benefits, many findings are based on small studies and animal research, leading experts to advise caution. They warn that red light therapy should complement, not replace, traditional medical treatments.

Sources: Stanford, WallStreetJournal, WTBW, CW34, PopSci.

Mars' Oceanic Past

China's Zhurong rover traveled 1.9 kilometers (1.2 miles) in the Utopia Planitia region and used ground-penetrating radar to probe up to 80 meters (260 feet) below the surface.

The radar images revealed thick layers of sediment, suggesting the presence of beaches formed by a large ocean named Deuteronilus, which existed around 3.5 to 4 billion years ago.

These structures have slopes of about 15 degrees, similar to terrestrial beach deposits. Researchers found that these formations lie between 10 to 35 meters (33 to 115 feet) underground, spanning approximately 1.2 kilometers (0.75 miles).

The findings indicate that a long-lived body of water, with river systems, waves, and tides, shaped the Martian landscape. This evidence supports hypotheses of past habitable conditions on Mars.

Sources: Berkeley, ScienceAlert, Mashable, SciTechDaily, Reuters.

“Robustness is progress without impatience.”

Did you know we also write in-depth deep dives? They are long, packed with insights, and have received rave reviews. If you’re up for a detailed, action-packed read, check them out:

• Iran’s Nuclear Program 

• AI and the Age of Intelligence

Baked with love,

Anna Eisenberg ❤️