Tuesday☕️

18 Feb 2025 — 4 min read

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Yesterday, February 17, 2025, a Delta Connection flight operated by Endeavor Air crash-landed at Toronto Pearson International Airport. The Bombardier CRJ900 jet was arriving from Minneapolis–Saint Paul when it lost control upon landing, flipping onto its roof before coming to a stop on the runway. Emergency responders quickly arrived at the scene, and all 80 people on board—including 76 passengers and four crew members—were safely evacuated. While no fatalities occurred, 19 passengers suffered injuries.

The crash forced a temporary shutdown of the airport, causing significant delays and cancellations for other flights. Authorities, including the Transportation Safety Board of Canada and the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board, have launched an investigation into what caused the accident. As officials work to determine the factors behind the crash, flight operations at Pearson International have resumed, though some disruptions continue as the damaged aircraft is removed from the runway.

Economics & Markets:

Geopolitics & Military Activity:

On February 17, 2025, a drone crashed into a residential building in Kropyvnytskyi, Kirovohrad Oblast, Ukraine, setting off a fire that spread to a garage and damaged nearly 20 other buildings. As a result, a 41-year-old man lost his life, and a 66-year-old woman was injured. Officials have not confirmed where the drone came from or whether it was Russian or Ukrainian, but given the ongoing war, it is likely linked to military activity in the area.

That same day in Kyiv’s Sviatoshynskyi district, debris from a downed drone sparked a fire on the roof of a multi-story building. The flames also spread to nearby cars and an industrial facility, but emergency crews were able to put it out before it caused more damage. No casualties were reported in this incident. These attacks highlight the continued risks posed by drones as the conflict between Ukraine and Russia intensifies.

Environment & Weather:

As of February 18, 2025, Montreal is still dealing with the effects of back-to-back winter storms that dumped nearly 70 centimeters of snow in less than a week. While the snowfall has stopped, strong winds are causing blowing snow and dangerously cold wind chills, making travel difficult. A blowing snow warning remains in effect, with gusts up to 50 km/h reducing visibility. Temperatures are expected to reach -12°C, but with the wind chill, it will feel closer to -25°C. Snow removal crews are working around the clock, but officials say it could take up to eight days to clear the streets. Residents are urged to limit travel and stay safe.

The storms began on February 12 when a major snowstorm hit Montreal, dropping about 30 centimeters of snow by February 13. Strong winds made driving hazardous, leading to school closures and flight delays. Just days later, on February 16, another storm added 40 more centimeters of snow, bringing the city to a standstill. By February 17, snowfall had ended, but winds continued to cause poor visibility. With freezing temperatures and heavy snow still blocking many streets, Montreal remains in cleanup mode as crews work to clear the roads and restore normal conditions.

Science & Technology:

Yesterday, February 17, 2025, xAI officially released Grok 3, their latest AI chatbot. xAI claims that Grok 3 surpasses all existing AI chatbots in reasoning capabilities, positioning it as the most advanced AI model on Earth. This release follows a series of developments, including significant funding rounds and infrastructure expansions, aimed at enhancing xAI’s competitive edge in the AI industry.

Users can access Grok 3 through multiple platforms. On X, the chatbot is available via the Grok tab in the X app. Additionally, xAI offers a standalone Grok app for iOS devices, with plans to expand to other platforms in the future. The company also provides an API, enabling developers to integrate Grok’s capabilities into their applications. Despite being a relatively new entrant, xAI has rapidly advanced its AI models, with Grok 3 exemplifying their commitment to pushing the boundaries of AI technology.

Statistic: