Anna's Daybreak News

_{Just facts, you think for yourself}

Monday, 5:19 AM

March 3, 2025

Good morning news friend! Keep up with the moments that matter, as the world shifts and stories unfold. 📰🌟

Would you like to see the poll results and comments from our previous edition? Click here to see what other readers had to say about: tariffs coming back in March, how they feel about the economy, their usage of ChatGPT, predicting Ice Ages and more! 

US Crypto Strategic Reserve

President Trump announced a "strategic crypto reserve" for the US, aimed at elevating the cryptocurrency industry. This reserve will include Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), XRP, Solana (SOL), and Cardano (ADA).

This national digital asset stockpile could consist of cryptocurrencies seized by the federal government, which already totals an estimated $19 billion in Bitcoin.

Following Trump’s declaration, Bitcoin surged over 10%, passing $94,000, while Ethereum climbed 13% to $2,500. Smaller coins XRP, SOL, and ADA had spikes of at least 20%.

Trump will host a White House Crypto Summit soon, attracting attention from investors eager to learn more about the reserve's details.

Sources: CNBC, FinancialTimes, Barrons, Forbes, Reuters, TechCrunch.

Europe’s “Coalition of the Willing”

European leaders gathered in London to forge a united front for Ukraine following a tense exchange between President Trump and Ukrainian President Zelensky.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced a £1.6 billion ($2 billion) loan to Ukraine for 5,000 air defense missiles, emphasizing the need for increased military spending across Europe.

Starmer stated, "We are at a crossroads in history," calling on nations to support Ukraine while ensuring a strong US backing in peace talks.

European leaders pledged to maintain military support but face challenges in increasing defense budgets, with some advocating for a target of 3% of GDP. Ukraine set a production target of 30,000 long-range drones in 2025.

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

Israel Increases Pressure on Hamas to Extend Ceasefire

Israel has ceased all entry of goods into Gaza, following Hamas's refusal to extend the truce. The initial phase of the ceasefire ended at midnight on March 2.

Israeli PM Netanyahu stated that Israel had allowed enough supplies to Gaza to last several months, while the government maintains that aid should not be provided without the release of hostages.

Israel proposed extending the ceasefire through Ramadan and Passover, allowing for the release of half of the remaining hostages up front. Hamas rejected this proposal, labeling Israel's decision to cut off aid as a "war crime" and "cheap extortion."

Currently, 59 hostages remain in Gaza, with 35 confirmed dead.

Sources: TOI, WallStreetJournal, CNN, DW, France24, APNews.

US Consumer Spending Declines

US consumer spending fell by 0.2% in January 2025, marking its first drop in 23 months. The decrease follows a 0.8% rise in December. Adjusted for inflation, real consumer spending declined by 0.5%.

The goods trade deficit reached a record $153.3 billion, up by 25.6%. The PCE price index rose by 0.3%, but annual inflation remained at 2.5%. Core PCE inflation increased by 2.6% year-on-year.

Personal income grew by 0.9%, lifting the saving rate to 4.6%. Economists forecast potential contraction in economic growth, with GDP expected to shrink at a 1.5% annualized rate in Q1.

Sources: Reuters, PBS, EconomicTimes, ActionForex, NewsLooks.

First Private Moon Landing

Firefly Aerospace’s lunar lander, Blue Ghost, successfully touched down on the moon, confirming a stable landing just after 3:34 a.m. ET. This was the first fully successful soft landing by a private company.

Blue Ghost, measuring 6.6 feet tall and 11 feet wide, carried 10 scientific experiments for NASA, including a vacuum for soil analysis and a drill to measure temperatures up to 10 feet below the surface.

The mission cost $101 million, with an additional $44 million for the onboard technology. The lander traveled over 2.8 million miles and landed in Mare Crisium, near an ancient volcanic area.

It aimed for a target zone of 328 feet (100 meters) and landed within it. Firefly plans to operate Blue Ghost for 14 days, collecting data and sending back high-definition images.

Sources: APNews, Reuters, FireflySpace, SFN, CNN.

Herpes Reactivation

Researchers discovered that the dormant herpes virus can reactivate by hijacking the immune system's defenses. This process involves a viral protein that triggers immune responses, allowing the virus to reactivate without immediate detection.

Cold sores, primarily caused by herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1), affect over 3.8 billion people globally, with more than 60% of individuals under 50 infected. More new cases of genital herpes in the U.S. are linked to HSV-1 than to its cousin, HSV-2.

Researchers identified that the virus actively senses danger, such as infections, to prompt its revival. Scientists believe they can develop therapies targeting the viral protein to prevent outbreaks.

Sources: SciTechDaily, NewsRoom.

“People like to eat fish by the water even if the fish was caught far away and transported by trucks.”

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:

• America’s Opioid Crisis

• AI and the Age of Intelligence

• Iran’s Nuclear Program 

Baked with love,

Anna Eisenberg ❤️