AnewZ Morning Brief - February 12th, 2025

Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for February 12th, covering the latest developments you need to know.

1. Trump says he will 'take' Gaza under US authority as he hosts Jordan's king

President Trump said Tuesday that he will "take" the besieged Gaza Strip under US authority as he hosted Jordan's King Abdullah at the White House.

The president continued to insist that he will implement his widely planned proposal to take ownership of Gaza, saying: "We’re going to run it very properly."

"We’re going to take it, we’re going to hold it, we’re going to cherish it," Trump said of the coastal enclave. "We'll have lots of good things built there, including hotels and office buildings and housing and other things, and we'll make that site into what it should be."

2. Israeli prime minister threatens to end Gaza ceasefire if captives not released by Saturday

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu threatened Tuesday evening to end the Gaza ceasefire deal if Hamas failed to release captives by Saturday noon.

“If Hamas does not return our hostages by noon on Saturday, the ceasefire will be terminated, and the Israeli army will return to intense fighting until Hamas is finally defeated,” Netanyahu said in a video statement after a four-hour Security Cabinet meeting.

3. EU to mobilize €200B for AI investments, Commission President von der Leyen announces

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Tuesday announced €200 billion (over $206 billion) in investments, as she emphasized Europe's ambition to become a leading force in artificial intelligence (AI).

Speaking at the AI Action Summit in Paris, she said with the pledged €150 billion from investors alongside their own investment of €50 billion, the bloc aims to mobilize €200 billion (over $206 billion) for its AI initiative.

4. BOTAS, Turkmengaz sign deal to facilitate supply of Turkmen gas to Türkiye

Türkiye and Turkmenistan have signed an agreement to supply Turkmen gas to Türkiye starting on March 1, the Turkish energy and natural resources minister announced on Tuesday.

"We took a historic step in Türkiye-Turkmenistan energy cooperation," said Alparslan Bayraktar on X, announcing the agreement between the Turkish Petroleum Pipeline Corporation (BOTAS) and Turkmengaz to facilitate the supply of Turkmen gas to Türkiye.

"Gas flow is planned to start on March 1," Bayraktar said.

5. With Musk at his side, Trump orders US agencies to plan for 'large-scale' staff cuts

With his 4-year-old son by his side or on his shoulders, billionaire Musk stood next to Trump in the Oval Office at the White House before the order was signed, taking questions from reporters and making it clear that he was leading efforts to cut what he saw as government waste at Trump's behest.

6. Train collides with truck in Germany, killing 1

More than 12 people were injured, most of them lightly, in a collision between a long-distance train and a semi-truck in a suburb of the northern German city of Hamburg on Tuesday.

One seriously injured person was resuscitated at the scene, but later died of his injuries either on the way to the hospital or at the hospital, a fire department spokesman said.

More than 250 other passengers on board the Intercity express (ICE) train were uninjured.

7. Türkiye lifts restrictions on imports from Syrian

Türkiye has lifted restrictions on imports from Syria, Syria's state news agency SANA said on Tuesday, citing the country's port authority.

The move came after discussions with Türkiye's Trade Ministry, the agency said, quoting Mazen Alloush, director of relations at the Syrian General Authority for Land and Sea Ports.

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