Month: February 2025

Apple announced on Monday that it will spend $500 billion over the next four years expanding facilities in the United States, including plans to build a new manufacturing factory, double its advanced manufacturing fund, and hire 20,000 people.

The tech giant said it will expand teams and facilities in Texas along with Michigan, California, Arizona, Nevada, Iowa, Oregon, North Carolina and Washington state. The announcement comes about a week after Cook met with President Donald Trump, who recently signed an executive order adding a 10% tariff on goods made by China on top of the 25% tariffs already in place (most of Apple’s products, including the popular iPhones, are manufactured in China).

Apple CEO Tim Cook said in a statement: “We are bullish on the future of American innovation, and we’re proud to build on our long-standing U.S. investments with this $500 billion commitment to our country’s future. From doubling our Advanced Manufacturing Fund, to building advanced technology in Texas, we’re thrilled to expand our support for American manufacturing. And we’ll keep working with people and companies across this country to help write an extraordinary new chapter in the history of American innovation.”

Per AP News, Apple said it will also work to produce more content for Apple TV+ media streaming service in 20 states and make new hires in research and development along with spending.  Additionally, Cook noted the construction of a new factory in Houston (slated to open in 2026) that will produce servers to power Apple Intelligence, its suite of AI features.  Apple also confirmed Monday that an Arizona-based Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. facility, which began development under the Biden administration, had started producing chips for it there.

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President Donald Trump met with French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday today to discuss topics including the war in Ukraine and trade issues. Earlier on Monday, Trump and Macron participated in a virtual meeting with fellow Group of Seven leaders to discuss the war.

Pres. Trump said: “France is America’s oldest ally, our cherished partnership has been a force for freedom, prosperity and peace from the very beginning. We’re now working on some very interesting developments, one in particular, as you know, the war between Russia and Ukraine.”  Trump said he was hopeful that Russia’s war in Ukraine was nearing an ‘endgame’ – on the third anniversary of the invasion. Trump said he believed Russian President Vladimir Putin would accept European peacekeepers in Ukraine to keep the peace, and ‘had hope’ that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy would soon come to the U.S. to sign a deal to give the U.S. access to Ukraine’s critical minerals (in order to repay some of the $180 billion in American aid that’s been sent to Kyiv since the start of the war).

Macron said at a joint press conference with Trump following their meeting said their talks were productive, acknowledging that European nations must do more to bolster defense on the continent while also warning against capitulating to Russia: ″This peace must not mean a surrender of Ukraine. It must not mean a ceasefire without guarantees. This peace must allow for Ukrainian sovereignty.”  Trump said he believed Putin would accept European peacekeepers in Ukraine as part of a potential deal to end Russia’s war there. “Yeah, he will accept it. I have asked him that question. Look, if we do this deal, he’s not looking for more war.”

The press office for the Vatican said Sunday that Pope Francis, 88, has suffered from some kidney failure as he recovers from double pneumonia.  The Pope’s condition remained “critical” on Sunday, but according to the Vatican the pontiff hasn’t experienced any more “respiratory crises” since Saturday evening.

In its latest update on Sunday afternoon, the Vatican said the pope was given two units of concentrated red blood cells “with benefit and an increase in hemoglobin level. Thrombocytopenia has remained stable; however, some blood tests show an initial, slight, renal insufficiency, which is under control. High-flow oxygen therapy through the nasal cannula is continuing. The Holy Father continues to be vigilant and well oriented. The complexity of the clinical picture, and the time needed for the pharmacological therapies to produce results, mean that the prognosis remains uncertain.”

On the Pope’s official account on X, he shared on Sunday: “I have been particularly struck by the letters and drawings from children. Thank you for your closeness, and for the consoling prayers I have received from all over the world!”

Pope Francis has reportedly remained in good spirits and is not on any life support machines apart from oxygen during asthmatic episodes. He has now been hospitalized for over a week, with doctors telling reporters that their biggest concern is that the bacteria from his lung infections could enter his bloodstream and cause sepsis. Gemelli Hospital doctors have stated that his illness is not life-threatening, with Dr. Sergio Alfieri sharing: “Is he out of danger? No. But if the question is ‘is he in danger of death’, the answer is ‘no’.”

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said at a press conference in Kyiv on Sunday he would be willing to step down from the presidency if doing so meant peace for Ukraine — adding he would also do so if it meant Ukraine would be granted NATO membership.

Zelenskyy made the comments on Sunday during a forum of government officials in Kyiv (marking the three-year anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine): “If it is peace for Ukraine, and if you really want me to leave my post, I’m ready. Alternatively, I can trade this for NATO membership, if such conditions exist, immediately, so we don’t have lengthy discussions. I’m focusing on Ukraine’s security today, not in 20 years. And I don’t intend to stay in power for decades. This is my focus and my greatest aspiration.”

Zelenskyy’s statements come amid an ongoing public dispute with President Donald Trump, after the U.S. and Russia resumed high-level talks last week with several senior Trump administration officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, met with Russian officials in Saudi Arabia. Trump accused Zelenskyy of being a “dictator without elections”. Their war or words escalated last week when Trump suggested that the Ukrainian president was responsible for starting the war between Russia. In response, the Ukrainian president accused Trump of living in a “disinformation bubble” and pushing Kremlin talking points.

When asked about Trump on Sunday, Zelenskyy told reporters in Ukrainian: “we are partners and I want him on our side  There is no space for emotions. I have pragmatic position. I can’t name these words a compliment, but what can I do? I am the elected president by 73% of Ukrainian people. After the martial law, there will be elections. Perhaps he will say something good about me. It is more important what Ukrainians think about me.”

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