Putin's poker + Musk's dirty AI factory

Since late Wednesday evening, the world has been looking less hopefully at today's Ukraine summit in Turkey - because the man who could end the war immediately is not coming to Istanbul.

With these five topics from Germany and the world, you are well informed for your Thursday.

What it's about: Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin (72) will not participate in the planned negotiations to end the war in Ukraine in Istanbul today. Instead, he will send a delegation led by his advisor Vladimir Medinsky (54).

That's why it's important: Putin himself had surprisingly brought peace negotiations in Turkey into play - probably primarily for tactical reasons: There is much to suggest that the Kremlin is not looking for a real compromise, but is instead trying to gain time and appease US President Donald Trump (78).

Here's what's next: It remains unclear whether Ukraine will engage in talks with the Russian delegation despite Putin's absence. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (47) has recently repeatedly emphasized that he only accepts direct negotiations with the Kremlin leader.

Who should negotiate peace for Russia

This is what happened: The Federal Prosecutor's Office has arrested three men with Ukrainian passports in Cologne, Konstanz, and Switzerland. They are alleged to have been commissioned – presumably on behalf of Russia – to carry out arson and bomb attacks on freight transport in Germany.

This is why it's important: The case is an indication of the growing danger of acts of sabotage and attacks on Ukraine's ally, Germany. Attacks on logistics routes threaten both human lives and the economy.

Here's what's going on: Intelligence services fear that acts of sabotage by so-called disposable agents will continue to increase in the coming years.

Details of the arrests

This is what happened: In Boxtown, south of Memphis, residents are protesting against xAI, the AI ​​company owned by Elon Musk (53). The reason: The company operates a data center for the Colossus supercomputer with environmentally harmful methane gas turbines. These turbines do not have the required exhaust filters installed.

Why it's important: The case highlights a larger dilemma: Artificial intelligence requires enormous amounts of energy – but this is currently difficult to achieve with sustainable energy sources. Companies like Google are therefore now looking to rely on nuclear power and build their own power plants.

Here's what's next: Whether the residents of Boxtown will be successful with their protest is questionable. Under US President Trump and Musk, the US Environmental Protection Agency was also massively downsized – just a few weeks ago, 450 employees were laid off.

How xAI outsmarts authorities in Memphis

This is what happened: The EU Commission cannot simply deny the "New York Times" access to the famous coronavirus vaccine text messages between Ursula von der Leyen (66) and Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla (63). This is what the Court of Justice of the European Union has ruled.

That's why it's important: The decision is a bombshell for transparency in Brussels. According to the judges, even text messages on mobile phones can be considered official documents that must be archived. And when top EU politicians text about billion-dollar contracts, the public has a right to know.

Here's what's next: Von der Leyen's cabinet must now get back to work and actually search for the text messages. The Commission has announced that it intends to provide more detailed explanations. But no one in Brussels believes that the text messages will suddenly appear.

The background to the SMS affair

What it's about: More and more people are having to be treated in hospitals for skin cancer, as new figures from the Federal Statistical Office show. The number of deaths has also increased significantly.

Why it's important: The consequences of too much sun are often underestimated. Even severe sunburns in childhood can cause skin cancer later in life.

Here's what's next: The German Cancer Society expects that the incidence rate for men and women could double in the next 20 to 30 years. Since UV radiation is the most significant risk factor for skin cancer, it remains important to protect yourself from the sun – for example, by using sunscreens with a sufficient sun protection factor.

How do I recognize skin cancer?

Have a healthy Thursday.

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