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Middle East Crisis  The AI ​​Race
AI chatbot wrongly flagged ship as a threat: "Could have started a war"

False information nearly triggered a conflict in the Middle East this past spring—at a time when the US had just launched a war against Iran. This is revealed in an internal intelligence report seen by CNN.

According to the network's sources, the US military concluded that a Chinese vessel in the area was transporting components for a nuclear weapons program. Consequently, preparations were made to board the ship. However, upon a second review of the data, it was discovered that the information had been generated by an AI chatbot and was, in fact, false.

"It almost started a war," the source told CNN.

The US military has reportedly been integrating an increasing number of AI tools into its daily operations. The technology is used to analyze vast amounts of data or to assist in identifying targets for actions such as airstrikes. 

Political situation in Germany
After election success – AfD takes the fight to two new regions

New state elections are being held in Germany this Sunday. Representatives are to be elected to the regional parliaments of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Berlin. The far-right AfD is once again expected to play a major role, reports Deutsche Welle.

The elections come just weeks after the party celebrated significant electoral success in Saxony-Anhalt.

In Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, located along the Baltic coast, the AfD has campaigned heavily to end a 28-year period of Social Democratic rule. Recent opinion polls point to a virtual dead heat between the AfD and the Social Democratic SPD, according to Deutsche Welle. Social Democratic federal minister Manuela Schwesig has singled out the AfD as a major cause for concern.

"The most dangerous party for our country, for our economy, our social welfare, and for women," she said in a speech. 

The political situation in Jordan
War and conflict cause tourists to shun Jordan

Jordan’s tourism industry is struggling severely as a result of the conflicts that have recently affected the Middle East. Sandwiched between Israel, Iraq, Syria, and Saudi Arabia, many international tourists appear to prefer other destinations.

According to Germany’s Deutsche Welle, tourist visits to sites such as the holy Mount Nebo and the ancient city of Petra have dropped sharply.

The loss of tourists who once flocked to the area has resulted in heavy losses for businesses dependent on tourism; in response, authorities have decided to invest one billion kronor to restore the country's reputation as a global destination. 

The war in Yemen
Witnesses: Explosions and smoke near Riyadh airport

Early Saturday morning, an air-raid siren was heard, followed by several explosions in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, according to reports received by AFP.

"I heard the siren, and then the windows started shaking. It was really scary," says a 27-year-old resident.

According to two witnesses who spoke to the news agency, black smoke and fire were seen coming from an area near Riyadh's international airport.

This marks the first time Saudi authorities have issued an air-raid alert in Riyadh since the conflict between the Saudi-led coalition and the Iran-backed Houthi movement in Yemen flared up again. 

The Climate Threat  Extreme Weather in Europe
Tens of thousands died in this summer’s heatwaves: "Many could have lived much longer"

Never before have heatwaves claimed as many lives as they did this past summer, reports Deutsche Welle. In Germany alone, the heat is believed to have cost 16,000 people their lives. Across Europe as a whole, the figure is estimated to be around 35,000.

Generally high temperatures and prolonged heatwaves—combined with the fact that temperatures did not drop even at night—are believed to have been contributing factors.

While most of those who died were elderly or suffered from underlying health conditions, Alexandra Schneider, a physician at the Helmholtz Center in Munich, tells Deutsche Welle that many of them would likely have survived—and perhaps lived on for months or years—had they not been so vulnerable during the heatwaves.

She draws this conclusion from the fact that there was no subsequent drop in the death rate; such a decline would have been expected if the individuals in this group had been destined to die regardless.