Desert Diplomacy

Good morning, and happy Presidents Day!

Whether you're off work (lucky you) or still working, let's run through everything you need to know. We’ve got peace talks, tech bros flexing, polar vortex drama, and more—no need to cherry-pick the headlines; I’ve done it for you. Dive in!

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The pulse of today, in just minutes:

The stage is set for a high-stakes powwow in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday. Russia’s Sergey Lavrov and the U.S. crew led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio—yes, you read that right, Washington and Moscow in the same room—are hoping to end three years of war in Ukraine. Feeling left off the guest list, Europe scrambles in Paris to remind everyone they exist, while UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer boldly says Britain is “ready and willing” to put boots on the ground.

But here’s the twist: nobody’s sure if Ukraine is officially on the guest list. Trump says Zelenskyy will be “involved,” and the Saudis might act as peace brokers. Popcorn, anyone?

Live Updates: CNN / Guardian / BBC

Bro Mode

Remember when Silicon Valley's uniform was hoodies, Allbirds, and a casual indifference to fashion? Fast-forward to now: Jeff Bezos flexes his biceps in black polos, Mark Zuckerberg shows off his jiu-jitsu bruises, and Elon Musk challenges his rivals to "literal" measurements. While the tech bros grow from scrawny disruptors to gym rats, female leadership keeps slipping—from 33 percent to 28 percent.

With all that protein-packed bravado, the real question might not be "Who's your next angel investor?" but "How many push-ups can they do in a weighted vest?" Because in today's Silicon Valley, you're only as innovative as your overhead press.

Transcendental Trouble

Maybe your neighbor with the weird box truck and night-vision goggles belongs to a fringe, violence-prone cult led by an AI-skeptical anarchist? Meet the "Zizians," a group of brilliant but increasingly unhinged techies bound by radical veganism, AI doomsday fears, and sword fetishes.

They've been tied to murders in California, Pennsylvania, and Vermont—an 82-year-old landlord stabbed, a Border Patrol agent shot, and a ringleader, "Ziz," gone. With black-robed midnight strolls, property disputes turned deadly, and an alleged faked death, you've got a storyline so chilling that Hollywood would be jealous.

Vortex of Chaos

Yes, folks, the polar vortex is back for another round: Subzero wind chills are hitting the Rockies and northern Plains hard—think 60 below (-51 degrees Celsius) in Montana (not a typo!).

Meanwhile, parts of Kentucky are still reeling from historic floods that left nine dead, with rescue crews working overtime. Even Tennessee and Virginia aren't out of the woods, with flooding and downed trees. So do yourself a favor—stock up on hot cocoa, avoid flooded roads, and don't forget an extra blanket. It’s going to be cold out there.

💬 Beyond the Core

Strange Holiday: Have you ever wondered Why Presidents' Day is slightly unusual?

Smoke Signal: Indigenous man emerges from the Amazon Rainforest and contacts the outside world.

My Turn: I'll tell you what's cool about being constantly exhausted; dark circles are now sexy. Really!

💡 Core Wisdom

📸 Lens to Life

The currency of almost 800 years of pomp and circumstance—in pictures.

🧮 Core Count: 47

The number of last year's unprovoked shark bites.

.🗓️ Flashback:

1568 - Treaty of Adrianople: Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian II and Ottoman Sultan Selim II agree to end the war between the Habsburg monarchy and the Ottoman Empire.

1865 - Union forces led by William T. Sherman captured the state capital of Columbia, South Carolina.

1876 - Julius Wolff first canned sardines in Eastport, Maine.

1972 - British Parliament votes to join the European Economic Community.

Discovery of a new primarily underwater continent, Zealandia, in the South Pacific is announced in the research journal "GSA Today".

I'm glad we could get together here. Looking forward to seeing you tomorrow!

Fatih Taskiran