Keir Starmer Rallies European Leaders to Strengthen Ukraine’s Defense

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer urged European leaders to reinforce their security commitments and continue supporting Ukraine, as he outlined a plan to end Russia’s war. Speaking to 18 fellow leaders, Starmer emphasized that all nations must contribute, forming a "coalition of the willing" to uphold Ukraine’s sovereignty. The proposed plan includes maintaining aid to Kyiv, pressuring Russia economically, ensuring Ukraine’s presence in peace talks, and strengthening its military capabilities. He suggested that while not all countries might commit troops, those willing—including the U.K.—should intensify their efforts with military support, including air power and ground forces if necessary. French President Emmanuel Macron proposed a temporary truce to facilitate negotiations, though Starmer emphasized the need for a long-term security framework to prevent future Russian aggression.

Sources: Associated Press

Zelenskyy Ready to Meet with Trump Again, Despite Heated Meeting

Zelenskyy expressed optimism about salvaging relations with the U.S. following a heated Oval Office exchange with President Trump and Vice President JD Vance. Originally in Washington to finalize a deal granting the U.S. access to Ukraine’s rare-earth minerals, Zelenskyy reaffirmed his willingness to sign the agreement but acknowledged that the U.S. might need more time to assess it. The meeting soured after Trump and Vance criticized Zelenskyy for not showing enough gratitude for American support, with Trump later calling him a "dictator" and suggesting he was "gambling with World War III." Some U.S. lawmakers, including House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senator Lindsey Graham, questioned whether the U.S. should continue working with Zelenskyy. Despite the tensions, Zelenskyy received strong backing from British and European leaders during a London summit. He emphasized the importance of private diplomatic discussions moving forward and declined to apologize for the Oval Office confrontation, maintaining his respect for Trump and the American people.

Sources: NBC News

Trump Proposes U.S. Crypto Reserve, Sending Digital Asset Prices Soaring

Cryptocurrency prices surged Sunday after President Donald Trump announced plans to establish a Crypto Strategic Reserve, positioning the U.S. as the "Crypto Capital of the World." Trump’s posts on Truth Social highlighted major cryptocurrencies like bitcoin (BTC) and ether (ETH), alongside lesser-known tokens such as solana (SOL), cardano (ADA), and XRP (Ripple’s token). The announcement led to sharp price increases, with bitcoin rising 10% to $94,000 and XRP jumping 32%. However, critics, including former Obama economic adviser Jason Furman, questioned the viability and ethics of the initiative, warning it could disproportionately benefit existing crypto holders. Trump’s administration has already taken steps to reshape crypto policy, including pausing SEC lawsuits against major exchanges like Binance and Coinbase and launching a review of crypto regulations. The White House's crypto and AI czar, David Sacks, said more details about the reserve will be shared at an upcoming Friday crypto summit featuring industry leaders. The U.S. government already holds approximately $19 billion in bitcoin, mostly from asset seizures, but has never established a formal reserve of digital assets.

Sources: The Washington Post

175 Wildfires Erupt in the Carolinas, Prompting Evacuations

Firefighters in North and South Carolina are battling 175 wildfires that erupted overnight amid strong winds and dry conditions, burning a combined 4,200 acres as of Sunday. The Carolina Forest Fire near Myrtle Beach, one of the largest blazes, scorched 1,600 acres and threatened residential communities before reaching 30% containment and allowing evacuees to return. South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster declared a state of emergency and issued a statewide burning ban, warning of legal consequences for violations. Additional fires include an 800-acre wildfire in Georgetown County, a 300-acre fire in Pickens County, and a 400-acre fire in Polk County, North Carolina, which was ignited by a downed power line. Firefighters have gained some control over the blazes, but red flag warnings remain in place, signaling ongoing fire risks. Authorities are investigating the causes of the fires, with concerns over weather conditions contributing to further outbreaks.

Sources: ABC News

Apple’s ‘Advanced Siri’ Could Be Significantly Delayed

Apple is reportedly struggling to modernize Siri for the era of generative AI, with a fully conversational version potentially delayed until iOS 20 in 2027, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. However, Apple plans to roll out significant Siri updates before then. A new version is expected in May 2025, integrating long-awaited Apple Intelligence features. This version will reportedly operate with “two brains”—one handling traditional commands like timers and calls, while another processes more advanced AI-driven queries. At Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June, the company is expected to announce “LLM Siri,” which will merge these functions. This model is set to launch in spring 2026, with more advanced capabilities following in 2027. The timeline suggests Apple is taking a measured approach to AI integration, potentially lagging behind rivals like OpenAI, Google, and Microsoft in AI-powered assistants.

Sources: Tech Crunch