AnewZ Morning Brief - February 18th, 2025

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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