Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for February 18th, covering the latest developments you need to know.
1. Death toll from US winter storms grows to 14
The death toll from powerful winter storms in the central and eastern United States has risen to at least 14, officials said Monday, after floods, gale-force winds and bitterly cold temperatures swept the region.
The National Weather Service warned on Monday of a winter storm system carrying arctic air that would cause "record cold," with wind chill expected to hit as low as -60 degrees Fahrenheit in Montana and North Dakota.
2. Delta plane flips upside down on landing at Toronto airport, injuring 18
A Delta Air Lines regional jet flipped upside down upon landing at Canada's Toronto Pearson Airport on Monday amid windy weather following a snowstorm, injuring 18 of the 80 people on board, officials said.
Three people on flight DL4819 from Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport suffered critical injuries, among them a child, a Canadian air ambulance official said, with 15 others also immediately taken to hospitals.
3. ‘Serious concerns’ as new video emerges of Australian captured by Russia
The Australian government has said it has “serious concerns” about an Australian citizen captured by Russian forces while fighting for Ukraine after new footage emerged of him looking emaciated and complaining of a broken arm.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told public broadcaster ABC on Tuesday that he had seen the video posted on YouTube of Oscar Jenkins.
4. Argentina’s Javier Milei faces fraud allegations over cryptocurrency post
A judge in Argentina has been tasked with leading an investigation into President Javier Milei’s relationship with the cryptocurrency $LIBRA, amid allegations of fraud.
On Monday, Federal Judge Maria Servini was randomly chosen to helm the probe, which will look into whether Milei acted illegally.
5. Mexico awaits new response from Google on dispute over Gulf of Mexico name before filing lawsuit
Mexico said Monday it’s awaiting a new response from Google to its request that the tech company fully restore the name Gulf of Mexico to its Google Maps service before filing a lawsuit.
President Claudia Sheinbaum shared a letter addressed to her government from Cris Turner, Google’s vice president of government affairs and public policy. It says that Google will not change the policy it outlined after U.S. President Donald Trump declared the body of water the Gulf of America.
“We will wait for Google’s response and if not, we will proceed to court,” Sheinbaum said Monday during a morning press briefing.
6. Grok 3 now available for X Premium+ users
Elon Musk's AI startup xAI launched its Grok 3 chatbot today at 9.30 am, with Musk calling it the “smartest AI on Earth.”
Grok3 represents a substantial leap forward from Grok2, not just in computational power but in its ability to engage with human-like comprehension and creativity. The demonstration included real-time solutions to complex physics problems, such as plotting an interplanetary trajectory, showcasing Grok3's capacity to think and act beyond traditional AI limitations.
7. Azerbaijan and Iran discuss crucial East Zangazur-Nakhchivan transport project
During a working visit to Tehran, Azerbaijan's Prime Minister Ali Asadov met with Iran's First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref to discuss the current state of Azerbaijan-Iran relations and prospects for cooperation in various spheres, including economy, trade, investment, transport, transit, oil and gas, energy, and humanitarian affairs.
Citing the Cabinet of Ministers' press service, that the meeting focused on the progress of joint projects aimed at establishing road and rail communications, constructing the East Zangazur-Nakhchivan transport infrastructure through Iranian territory, and developing the North-South Transport Corridor.
8. Türkiye names timeline for first Turkmen gas deliveries
Turkmenistan will begin supplying natural gas to Türkiye on March 1, 2025, under a barter arrangement facilitated through Iran, Turkish Ambassador to Turkmenistan Ahmet Demirok announced at a press conference.
The agreement marks a significant milestone in energy cooperation between the two nations. According to Ambassador Demirok, the contract between Türkiye's state-owned energy company BOTAŞ and Turkmenistan’s Turkmengaz was signed on Monday, formalizing the terms of the gas supply.
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A strong dust and windstorm struck Peshawar on Sunday evening, leading to significant damage and disruption across the city.
The FBI has identified 25-year-old Guy Edward Bartkus as the suspect behind Saturday's bombing near a fertility clinic in Palm Springs, California.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is set to attend the upcoming G7 finance ministers' meeting in Banff, Alberta, Canada. His goal is to shift the group’s attention toward tackling global trade imbalances and addressing unfair economic practices, according to a Treasury spokesperson.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Canada’s PM Mark Carney met in Rome after attending Pope Leo XIV's inaugural Mass.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer held talks on Ukraine with world leaders ahead of the upcoming Trump–Putin call.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara on May 15, with discussions reportedly focusing on upcoming peace talks between Ukrainian and Russian delegates in Istanbul.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the war in Gaza will not stop until Hamas is destroyed, following the release of US-Israeli soldier Edan Alexander.
Qatar signed a landmark agreement with U.S. aerospace giant Boeing on Wednesday to acquire 160 aircraft for Qatar Airways, a deal valued at $200 billion. The signing took place in Doha during the visit of U.S. President Donald Trump.
Ukrainian and Russian delegations meet behind closed doors at Istanbul’s Dolmabahçe Palace at 10:00 local time today to explore security guarantees, territorial integrity and a possible ceasefire.
EU approves 17th Russia sanctions, blacklisting almost 200 shadow‑fleet ships, 30 evasion firms and 75 defence figures, banning missile chemicals and arming Brussels to strike Kremlin hybrid and operations.
The conflict between the Trump administration and Harvard University has escalated dramatically in recent months, with the federal government freezing billions in funding and explicitly threatening to revoke the university's tax-exempt status.
U.S. President Donald Trump lashed out at Walmart on Saturday, urging the retail giant to absorb the costs of import tariffs rather than pass them on to consumers, as the company warned it would begin raising prices later this month due to the ongoing trade war.
Steve Witkoff, U.S. President Donald Trump's special envoy to the Middle East, expressed confidence that Monday's planned phone call between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin could help advance peace efforts.
Austria is basking in the glow of a triumphant Eurovision Song Contest victory, but celebrations have quickly turned to practical concerns over where to host next year’s event and how to pay for it, officials said Sunday.
A strong dust and windstorm struck Peshawar on Sunday evening, leading to significant damage and disruption across the city.
A strong dust and windstorm struck Peshawar on Sunday evening, leading to significant damage and disruption across the city.
The FBI has identified 25-year-old Guy Edward Bartkus as the suspect behind Saturday's bombing near a fertility clinic in Palm Springs, California.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is set to attend the upcoming G7 finance ministers' meeting in Banff, Alberta, Canada. His goal is to shift the group’s attention toward tackling global trade imbalances and addressing unfair economic practices, according to a Treasury spokesperson.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Canada’s PM Mark Carney met in Rome after attending Pope Leo XIV's inaugural Mass.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer held talks on Ukraine with world leaders ahead of the upcoming Trump–Putin call.
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