day two hundred forty seven (13. 966)

A US federal judge allows Trump’s ten billion dollar defamation suit, for implicating that Trump encouraged the January Sixth rioters to storm the Capitol, against the BBC to proceed—though under UK law, the plaintiff must appear in court for deposition. The White House threatens Democratic lawmakers with criminal investigations if they carry through with their promises to subpoena and investigate cabinet officials and other allies of the American president, whom has definitely retracted his earlier statements of accepting the outcome of the midterm election. Housing and cost living crisis prompt a general strike in Spain, with millions of workers walking off the job. Parliamentary speaker Ghalibaf and chief negotiator says Washington must announce their decision on Tehran’s latest proposal, as Vance and Rubio argue over peace or a continued naval blockade and Trump adds that the US did not start the war and Iran and America have been fighting since 1979. Ukrainian drones disable more Russian refineries. Saudi backed forces of the Yemeni regulars push back on the Houthi advance.

day two hundred forty six (13. 962)

With eleven Democrats missing the vote, the US house of congress narrowly blocks the impeachment bid for Hegseth, Republicans loosing their bald majority in January. The GOP elects Ohio congressman Jim Jordan to replace Speaker Johnson as minority whip. Amid ongoing talks between Tehran and Washington, parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf says that Tel Aviv has redoubled efforts to drag the US into an endless war with Iran. Pezeshkian accuses US and Israeli of environmental crimes at COP31. UN peacekeepers come under fire in Tyre whilst IDF blocks aid from entering flood ravaged Gaza. US treasury secretary Scott Bessent moved out of his DC mansion to a military base after intelligence reveals credible threats on American officials, upset over Operation Economic Outcast. One of Russia’s last independent news outlets, Novaya Gazeta, ceases publication, succumbing to wartime censorship and pressure from Moscow. US supreme court clears the way for construction to begin on a section of the Border Wall through Texas’ pristine Big Bend national park.

day two hundred forty six (13. 960)

After meeting with the Qatari prime minister, Trump declares Iran war effectively over militarily as Tehran calls for Washington to surrender to its terms. More US aircraft are evacuated from a second base in the UK. The American president and secretary of state Rubio defend Hegseth and momentum for impeachment builds. Nvidia shareholders sue CEO Jensen Huang over honeypot ties to Chinese spy as AI stocks continue their sell-off. Zelenskyy, Trump and Putin schedule a meeting in Abu Dhabi.

day two hundred forty five (13. 957)

Trump travels to the APEC summit in Shenzhen, expecting to discuss ending the Iran war and denuclearisation with Putin and Xi, as foreign minister Araghchi presents a two-day proposal for reopening the Strait of Hormuz, contingent on Washington honouring the original agreement of the MoU. Europeans are again sidelined as Trump is seen to negotiate a new security order with Moscow for the continent without their involvment for his “big, beautiful” Russia-Ukraine deal. The American president says he sees no reason to escalate the war with renewed attacks. A drone strike on a gas field in Kurdish Iraq causes a massive blackout. Heavy rains collapse sandbanks in Gaza.  Houthis continue to launch ballistics into Saudi territory, hitting Aramco headquarters.   

day two hundred thirty eight (13. 941)

Russia begins construction on a massive radar array in the exclave of Kaliningrad. European supermarkets refrigeration systems once again are disabled by a cyberattack. Houthi rebels strike the airport of Dammam in Saudi Arabia. Iranian foreign minister Araghchi says that Tehran is prepared for either diplomacy or military confrontation with the US and Israel as indirect talks continue.  The Supreme Leader gives permission for the negotiations. The massing of American forces and assets in the Persian gulf causes many to conclude that a resumption in fighting is inevitable and could start this week. IDF demolishes homes in southern Lebanon as air raids remain ongoing. Abdullah II, the king of Jordan, reiterates that there can be no stability and security in the region without a Palestinian homeland.

synchronoptica

one year ago: South Korea gives Trump a crown (with synchronoptica) plus assorted links to revisit 

two years ago: private language creation among twins, the Collins’ Direction Word of the Year, more links to enjoy, caesaropapism plus the Balfour Agreement of 1917 

three years ago: a trove of tintypes from western Massachusetts plus even more links 

four years ago: the Morris Worm (1988), Simpsons Albums plus in praise of phrase books

five years ago: a treasury of neologisms,  US president Warren G Harding plus an art storage facility opens its doors to the public

six years ago: your daily demon: Vine, a board game about the US electoral college, the first BBC high-definition television broadcast (1936) plus Hartfield’s Landing revisited

seven years ago: Party Like It’s 1999, a historic bar in Singapore plus more shadow puppets

eight years ago: artist Piet Mondrian, assorted links to revisit plus more on the first residents of the International Space Station

 

day two hundred thirty six (13. 936)

Ukrainian drones hit Russian Kstovo crude oil refinery, setting it ablaze, the third in as many days. Iranian foreign ministry reports that talks are ongoing with Qatari mediators to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within two days if the US cooperates, whilst Trump says negotiations are going fine and claims that he is not in much of a hurry to make a deal. The Revolutionary Guard signals its readiness to take on any offensive scenario—saying that even limited strikes risk escalation. Thousands rally in Tel Aviv urging the opposition party of Gadi Eisenkot to relent and form a coalition government with Arab parties in order to remove Netanyahu from power. Though Trump says there’s no rush to reach a settlement, renewed fighting with Tehran could be severely hampered with the loss of Israeli forces as well as by Republican defectors if GOP losses in the races cause them to split with the American president before the new congress is called into session. Palestinian farmers struggle to protect their olive harvest amid continuing attacks by settlers in the West Bank. Isolated incidents of violence and looting mar the mostly peaceful Gen Z protests across Germany.

day two hundred thirty five (13. 933)

Pope Leo XIV submits his mail-in ballot ahead of Tuesday’s US midterm elections, registered in Chicago and having voted abroad in most races according to the Illinois state board of elections. Residence begin evacuation through a safe corridor from the war-raved city of Oleshky. More tankers in the Strait of Hormuz came under fire or disabled by limpet mines as Ukrainian drones target Russia’s shadow fleet in the Black Sea. French-style cost of living rallies expected to spread to German cities amidst protests over high energy prices. Houthi drones strike Riyadh as Tehran’s foreign ministry issues a warning of “earth-shattering” consequences if US and Israel resume attacks, implicating Berlin’s above complaints about fuel costs the country in the belligerent camp.

юзнет (13. 930)

Having examined before the failure of the Soviet internet, once neck and neck with the inchoate ARPANET with the Politburo developing a comprehensive and ambitious programme to streamline and upgrade the entire planned economy that was ultimately derailed, preempted by problems that wouldn’t plague its Western competition until recently—see previously, see also—we enjoyed this investigation on how telepathy (a pursuit of both sides of the Iron Curtain) informed networking and connectivity in Russia and with the rest of the world. Whilst the belief in or privileging of the paranormal cannot be shown to be the cause of the Soviets’ backsliding in the tech-race—the Space Bridges linking communities in the East and the West live were Russian innovations regarded with skepticism as trickery by the US—the parallel to the current attitudes and factionalism regarding the potential of artificial intelligence are interesting to consider—AI and psychic powers might be equal amounts of woo and hype—with the roles reversed and sceptics and true-believers alternately told they’ll be the ones left behind, depending one one’s perspective and who one asks, magical or mere parlour-tricks. Both sides had their evangelists and zealots then as now—with the web and its linkages a surrogate for the promise of mind-reading and mesmerism. More from JSTOR Daily at the link above.

synchronoptica

one year ago: assorted links worth the revisit (with synchronoptica), Tsar Bomba (1961) plus the Solvay Congress of 1927

two years ago: the Park of Monsters, more links to enjoy, Ford turns his back on NYC, Trump and the stock market, the Rumble in the Jungle plus a poem for the battle-worn 

three years ago: even more assorted links 

four year ago: drawing with Ed Emberley plus more links to revisit

five years ago: another MST3K classic—The Brain that Wouldn’t Die, more links to enjoy plus artist William-Adolphe Bourguereau

six years ago: the first residents board the International Space Station (2000), more on murderous dioramas, a wizarding curriculum from 1925 plus star charts for the yet to be born

seven years ago: East German counter-programming, Brexit postponed plus the lost dative case

eight years ago: stochastic terrorism, folksonomy, corporate fairy tales, birthright citizenship plus “Egyptian” Rocky Horror

 

day two hundred thirty four (13. 929)

The Revolutionary Guard reports that three tankers crossing the Strait of Hormuz have hit sea mines and catch fire as Houthi rebels claim six strikes on Saudi airports and oil fields. Iranian lawmakers urge the Supreme Leader to authorise atomic bomb development. Moscow offers to act as mediator between Tehran and Washington, if requested. France braces for potential violence for planned weekend protest rallies.

day two hundred thirty three (13. 925)

With the election results inconclusive and neither of the two major party blocs securing a controlling majority, Knesset president Isaac Herzog urges no new vote. IDF shells eastern Gaza City and Deir Mimas in southern Lebanon after Hezbollah rejects Israeli-brokered framework for peace. Arab political parties make significant gains but both Netanyahu and opposition leader Eisenkot refuse to work with them, despite their participation being necessary to form a coalition government. Houthi strikes hit the airport in Aden and the largest Saudi refinery complex in Ras Tanura. Putin gives public praise to Elon Musk as the SpaceX CEO assists with Russia’s Rassvet constellation of satellites to target Ukraine. Bolsonaro and family arrive in Miami and are issued visas for the US. Iran says that Qatari negotiated peace deal to end US-Israeli aggression is unacceptable through intermediaries.

synchronoptica

one year ago: the discovery of tomb of King Tut (with synchronoptica) plus assorted links to revisit

two years ago: a tarot card inspired garden, more air-based food plus a Trump rally in Manhattan 

three years ago: presidential personal coats-of-arms 

four year ago: further adventures plus unblogged Crete

five years ago: your daily demon: Shax, Gulliver’s Travels plus more on being in the flow state

six years ago: the Greek flag adopted, priority group mall Santas, the short films of Al Jarnow, a pizza chain’s logo plus a home-makeover for the Simpsons

seven years ago: a constellation in the Southern Hemisphere, a mundane Halloween plus The Millennial Raven

eight years ago: a day-trip to Frankfurt plus more links to enjoy

 

day two hundred thirty two (13. 924)

As the vote count continues, Netanyahu claims that the right wing has a decisive lead and a mandate to govern, though the race is too close to call. Middle Eastern leaders meet during Moscow Gas Forum, Pezeshkian condemning US disregard for diplomacy and breaking their end of the deal with respect to the Islamabad MOU, saying the region’s problems are caused by American and they can resolve them without Washington. Saudi led coalition claims victories over Houthis, repelling them from Bab al-Mandeb, whilst more oil fields are struck. During a campaign rally, Trump says he can end the war whenever he wants, as costs approach fifty billion—fuel prices enjoying a temporary reprieve due to his diesel deal with Putin during a stump speech in Texas, poised to elect Democrats to high office for the first time in three decades. Fearing investigations after his run-off loss to Lula da Silva, Flávio Bolsanaro and family flee to the US on cancelled passports.

day two hundred thirty one (13. 920)

Labelling Norway another shithole country for denying him the Nobel Peace Prize once again—following Obama’s unchecked personal jokes at the expense of the president, ridicule that encouraged the failed businessman and sex-pest to run for political office in the first place, Trump disinvites the theoretical Norwegian immigrants he embraced during his first term with his Muslim majority country travel ban. María Corina Machado, who presented the US president her medal after kidnapping political rival Nicolás Maduro, returns to Caracas from exile to engage in talks with the puppet regime of Delcy Rodríguez, hoping to achieve real reform and perhaps torpedo US plans to steal Venezuela’s oil resources. Chief of German automotive company Audi under fire for pledges to build up manufacturing capacity in American amid domestic lay-offs and appearing in a campaign rally. Egyptian parliament authorises military aid for Saudi Arabia as the Mecca Alliance meet with Iranian officials in Tehran and agree to seek peace in the region, the inclusion of the Islamic Republic in the newly-formed defensive pact signalling a significant realignment of regional cooperation. Kremlin official Medvedev issues a public appeal to Trump to direct the CIA to assassinate Zelenskyy.

synchronoptica

one year ago: assorted links worth the revisit (with synchronoptica), superlative drone photography plus the Archbishop’s Palace in Charing

two years ago: The Terminator plus half-baked ideas 

three years ago: a rare vintage Japanese synthesiser plus an AI generates Halloween treats

four years ago: more adventures in Crete

five years ago: a Roger Corman classic (1958),  Austria declares neutrality (1955) plus more links to enjoy

six years ago: William Shatner in an Esperanto language film, even more links plus the Trump-Biden debate

seven years ago: assorted links worth revisiting 

eight years ago: Monster Mash, time travel with the dictionary plus Star Trek: Lower Decks

 

 

day two hundred thirty (13. 919)

Lula da Silva wins an unprecedented fourth term in Brazil’s presidential run-off against Bolsonaro’s son, his opponent refuses to concede. Serbia leader Aleksandar Vučić ousted by student movement, ending his twelve year reign. Israeli shells Gaza and southern Lebanon. Netanyahu warns that Iran may try to interfere with Tuesday’s elections. Trump calls off the attack on Iran as all non-essential staff are evacuated from Saudi Arabia. Tehran calls America’s quagmire the consequence of grave miscalculations from which the country must reverse to extricate itself. Republican representatives panic as they prepare for heavy losses in the mid terms.  Trump attempts to negate Alaskan ballots, saying voters do not know the meaning of incumbent.  Russian attacks on Kramatorsk intensify as Russia lobs super sonic drones.

sterbeurkunde (13. 918)

In the hopes of silencing conspiracy theories that had circulated since 1945 and would so for decades afterwards, on this day in 1956 the district court (Amtsgericht) of Berchtesgaden, with jurisdiction as the Führer’s home of record, declared Hitler officially dead. Following the capture of the Reich Chancellery during the Battle of Berlin, the Red Army secured the remains of Adolf Hitler and Eva Braun and directed the NKVD (НКВД, the People’s Commissariat for Internal Affairs, the secret police and intelligence agency later responsible for carrying out the Great Purge) to carry out a comprehensive post-mortem. Fritz Echtmann, dental assistant, identified dentures and implants as belong to the deceased and collected testimony from other witnesses to the suicide.
At first publishing the details of this fact finding mission and initially sharing it with American counterparts, on orders from Josef Stalin, Soviet commander-in-chief Georgi Zhukov retracted the statements and launched a disinformation campaign, disappearing Echtmann and others present behind the Iron Curtain. In order to disabuse allies from the apparent confusion, MI5 conducted its own investigation, finding Hitler’s last will and testament, marriage certificate and generally corroborating the factual account, though doubts lingered due to the continued detention of important witnesses. The USSR was motivated to maintain these conspiracies in order to justify harsh crackdowns on those within their sphere of influence and suppress democratic reform through the legend of a useful boogeyman. Following their release and repatriation to West Germany, their narratives helped strengthen the case for remit of Hitler’s estate and assets to the state of Bavaria and the municipality of Linz—however, despite all this, the deliberate Soviet obfuscation fuelled alternative narratives well into the 1990s, championed by American tabloids positing notions that the couple were alive and well in Argentina or Colombia or Albania, only dispelled—mostly—with the collapse of the Soviet Union and release of the archives detailing the burial and reinterment of the remains of Hitler and Braun nine times in various locations in Berlin and Magdeburg before cremating them in 1970 with only a few fragments remaining, dentures and some pieces of skull as forensic evidence, with ashes scattered in a tributary of the Elbe.

day two hundred twenty nine (13. 914)

Former US presidents and contenders offered counter-messaging to Trump’s late appeals for GOP campaigns including the Bushes tossing their support to the Democratic candidates in races in Texas and Hilary Clinton describing the American president’s renovations to the White House “looking like Saddam Hussein opened a Cheesecake Factory.” Meanwhile, Trump hints at either a massive attack to “finish the job” or reaching a deal with Tehran, presumably to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, by Sunday. Hundreds of thousands of protesters rally in France amid heightened security and police presence. IDF conducts raids of West Bank towns, subjecting dozens of Palestinian residents to field interrogation and unwarranted detention with demolition of buildings in Hebron. The battle for control of Taiz intensifies as the Muslim world strongly condemns the Houthis for targeting the holy sites of Mecca and Medina in their assault against Saudi Arabia for backing the Yemeni government forces. As many outposts in the region have been abandoned already, the US issues more warnings regarding the safety of personnel assigned overseas and Russia denies reports of having evacuated nuclear scientists from the facilities at Bushehr. Moscow and Kyiv agree to a one-city ceasefire in Oleshky at the bidding of the Pope though Melania “Be Best” Trump tries to take credit, whilst the capital continues to sustain heavy bombardment.

day two hundred twenty six (13. 905)

Meeting with Putin in Moscow, US special envoy lauds the Russian leader as a great humanitarian as talks to end the conflict in Ukraine take place in the background, the EU hinting that Kyiv might cede the Donbass region in exchange for full integration and NATO membership, unverified that such a deal might be in the offing, it is certainly better than the unconditional surrender that the Trump regime has be pushing for months, Ukraine having originally given up its navy and nuclear warheads at the urging of Washington negotiators. Reports emerge that the Starshield throttling was intentional and at the direction of Elon Musk. Russia signals it is ready to reengage in peace talks—to the exclusion of Europe. Iranian foreign minister Araghchi reiterates that whilst Tehran is committed to finding a dignified diplomatic resolution to the war that the US and Israel started, the Islamic Republic will also defend itself without compromise. The Revolutionary Guard announce a new weapon in the Father of All Bombs meant to counter rumbling that Trump is drawing up plans to destroy energy infrastructure with MOABs. Netanyahu issues new threats against the Supreme Leader at a graduation ceremony for military cadets.

no puppet, no puppet—you’re the puppet (13. 899)

On this day a decade ago, during the third and final debate, in response to candidate Donald Trump’s assertion that the Russian leader has no respect for his rival and Democratic nominee, Hilary Clinton shot back: “That’s because [Putin would] rather have a puppet as president of the United States. You encouraged espionage against our people. You are willing to spout the Putin line, sign up for his wish list, break up NATO—do whatever he wants to do. You continue to get help from him because he has a clear favourite in this race.” Clinton sought to blunt the fallout of the hacked cache of emails from the Democratic National committee posted online by Wikileaks—disclosing donors’ financial information and showing the party actively undermining the campaign of Bernie Sanders in favour of the former first lady, senator and Secretary of State, a theft that seventeen intelligence agencies concluded that was likely carried out at the behest of Moscow, though Trump rejected that US spy services knew who was behind it, repeating a line from the first presidential debate that it was probably some “four hundred pound hacker” in a basement somewhere that was responsible. The publications, released in separate tranches, also eventually included the controversial raw version of the Steele dossier, the unfinished political opposition report, of kompromat that the Russian government had on Trump.

synchronoptica 

one year ago: a selection of French horror movies (with synchronoptica), largest gold nugget discovered (1872) plus Stop Making Sense (1984)

two years ago: the Cin script, the British India Ocean Territory and the loss of its top-level domain plus images of passengers going through a car-wash

three years ago: Pomp & Circumstance (1901) 

four years ago:  St Frithuswith, Take on Me plus assorted links worth revisiting

five years ago: more links to enjoy

six years ago: font founder Ed Benguiat plus the Hochrhönstrasse

seven years ago: a coffee substitute,  Europe’s long distance walking trails, lizard people, the maps of Alexander von Humboldt, an unusual session of Parliament plus a corner office

eight years ago: more grammatical non-errors

day two hundred twenty four (13. 898)

Trump maintains that Moscow is “doing very little—if anything” to help Iran militarily. Tehran, ahead of Israeli elections, claims Netanyahu seeks to expand fighting in the region in a campaign message that scolds America and the broader world for complaining about energy prices. Retreating from five month highs marginally, the cost per barrel of diesel falls after Washington pauses sanctions on Russian exports but the stunt fails to make a dent in the price at the pump, unclear if Russia can even deliver and afford to divert from the war effort in Ukraine. Trump accuses Zelenskyy of prolonging the conflict for political gain. Fighting in Yemen rages as Houthis move to capture Taiz and air raid sirens blare across Saudi Arabia and the Egyptian parliament votes on whether to join on the side of Riyadh. Macron urges the press to make a distinction between protesters and vandals as more than twenty four hundred are arrested in France as rallies spread to Spain and Portugal over high living costs.

day two hundred twenty three (13. 893)

The US sanctions Cuban banks for financial dealings with Iran—the US secretary of state also defending the pause on the embargo for Russian diesel, arguing it will offer global price relief. Tehran denies it is behind the Houthi insurgency in Yemen and attacks on Riyadh and has repeatedly offered to mediate talks with Saudi Arabia as a reconnaissance helicopter is downed in Najran and drones strike eastern provinces. Ahead of Monday’s independence referendum, a major fire breaks out at a military base in Alberta as Carney accuses Washington of trying to break Canada. A series of drone attacks on ships in the Black Sea bring war closer to NATO coastlines. Protests continue across France with looting and arson and thousands of arrest as students demonstrate against quality of educational opportunities, cost of living, the historic town hall of Limoges set ablaze. Ukraine hits oil facilities in the port of St Petersburg as Russia continues to target bridges and roads in Kyiv.

day two hundred twenty two (13. 889)

Fresh out of lung surgery, Pope Leo calls Vladimir Putin to appeal for the people trapped in the Russian occupied city of Oleshky to allow for humanitarian aid and evacuation. EU leaders meet in Brussels to come up with a workable budget and pledge more support for Ukraine. Zelenskyy confirms that the Starshield defensive arm of Starlink services are partially restored but not fully up to speed, demurring on reporters’ questions whether the Ukrainian leader is being ill-used as a scapegoat by Trump over the upcoming election. The Revolutionary Guard has re-mined the Strait of Hormuz with a super tanker exploding. More US senators demand action over illegal West Bank settlements as a UN reports cites the death of over three hundred fifty children and the continued suffering of eight hundred thousand Gazan residents since last year’s ceasefire. White House press secretary Katie Zachariah fired after five days on the job after inflating her credentials.  Trump signs an EO exempting Russia from sanction legislation, the package passed in honour of Lindsey Graham over the summer.  Saudi-led forces hold off Houthis from taking Taiz, claiming to have destroyed two of their missile launchers whilst the rebel group continues to shell the Yanbu in the Red Sea region of the kingdom.