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Good Morning! It’s Friday, December 13, 2024. I am Dom Einhorn, your lead curator, and here are your insights into what makes this day in history relevant today. First time reading? Join our community of intellectually curious readers who explore the history behind every day. [Sign up here]

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Today in History

Marquee Event of the Day

🔍Saddam Hussein Executed

Iraqi President Saddam Hussein was captured by U.S. forces during the Iraq War. Three years later, he was convicted of crimes against humanity and executed on December 13, 2003.

Why this matters: The capture and execution of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein was a defining moment in modern Middle Eastern history. His regime, marked by authoritarian rule and crimes against humanity, left a lasting impact on Iraq and its neighbors. Hussein’s capture in 2003 symbolized the fall of a brutal dictatorship, while his trial and 2006 execution sought to deliver justice for decades of repression. 

Find out how much you know about the former ruler-dictator of Iraq with this special quiz.

Notable Events

• December 13, 2000 - The Texas Seven Prison Break. The Texas Seven prison break was a 2000 escape in which seven inmates fled a Texas maximum-security prison, leading to a nationwide manhunt after they committed a series of crimes, including the murder of a police officer.

• December 13, 1990 - Klerk, Mandela Discuss Apartheid End. South African President F. W. de Klerk meets with Nelson Mandela to negotiate the end of apartheid.

• December 13, 1995 - Superman is Released from Hospital. Actor Christopher Reeve is released from a physical rehabilitation center following his horse-riding accident.

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Knowledge Gamified

A recent MSN article titled “Top 10 Self-Made Entrepreneurs Who Turned Vision into Reality” featured Dom Einhorn, founder of Intelligent Games, in the #3 spot. For transparency, Intelligent Games is the parent company of both the KRONIKL newsletter and Masters of Trivia, the quiz platform linked to many topics featured in this newsletter.

Additionally, the November 2024 issue of New York Weekly Magazine describes Masters of Trivia as follows:

Einhorn points to the company’s slogan to explain the value of Masters of Trivia’s platform. “Our slogan is ‘Knowledge Gamified’ and not ‘Gamified Knowledge’ for a good reason,” he explains. “We aim to educate and inform first and foremost, but we also know that most people need to be deeply engaged in the learning process. Hence, we added a heavy dose of entertainment and incentives to the mix.”

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Echoes in Time

Here are three events from December 13 that continue to resonate in the present day.

1. December 13, 1937 - The Nanjing Massacre. 

Event: On December 13, 1937, Japanese forces captured Nanjing, then the capital of China, initiating a six-week period of atrocities known as the Nanjing Massacre. During this time, hundreds of thousands of civilians and disarmed soldiers were killed, and widespread sexual violence and looting occurred. 

Lasting Significance: The massacre remains a deeply traumatic event in Chinese history and continues to affect Sino-Japanese relations. It serves as a somber reminder of the horrors of war and the importance of historical memory in international relations.

2. December 13, 1862 - The Battle of Fredericksburg. 

Event: On December 13, 1862, during the American Civil War, Union forces under Major General Ambrose Burnside launched a series of assaults against entrenched Confederate positions in Fredericksburg, Virginia. The attacks resulted in a decisive Confederate victory, with significant Union casualties.

Lasting Significance: The battle highlighted the challenges of frontal assaults against fortified positions and underscored the importance of tactical innovation. It also had profound effects on Union morale and military strategy, influencing subsequent engagements in the Civil War.

In the Spotlight

Birthdays, Passings & Milestones
Highlighting the influential figures who were born or died on this day, along with their legacies.

• Taylor Swift (born 1989). On this day, Taylor Swift, globally renowned singer-songwriter and cultural icon, was born.

• Al Gore's Concession Speech (December 13, 2000). American Vice President Al Gore delivers his concession speech, formally ending his bid to become the 43rd President of the United States.

• Samuel Johnson (1709 -1784). Celebrated as one of the most influential figures of 18th-century literature and culture, Samuel Johnson passes away in London on December 13, 1784.

Science & Discovery

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• December 13, 1577 - Drake Sets Sail. Francis Drake departs England aboard the Pelican (later renamed the Golden Hind) on a three-year voyage to circumnavigate the globe.

• December 13, 1642 - Tasman Sights New Zealand. Dutch explorer Abel Tasman sights the South Island of present-day New Zealand, naming it Staten Landt before renaming it Nieuw Zeeland a year later.

• December 13, 1934 - Nova Herculis. British astronomer J.P.M. Prentice discovers Nova Herculis, one of the brightest novas of the 20th century.

• December 13, 2022 - Nuclear Fusion. Scientists at California's Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory announce the first nuclear fusion reaction in a lab, replicating the energy that powers the sun.

Today in Finance

Brought to you by Born2Invest.
Curated reads and interesting tidbits from the world of finance.

• December 13, 1953 - Ben Bernanke. On this day, Ben Bernanke, former Federal Reserve Chair and Nobel laureate in economics, was born in 1953.

• December 13, 2018 - Apple Campus. Apple announces a new $1 billion campus in Austin, Texas, along with plans for expansion in other U.S. cities.

• December 13, 2022 - Sam Bankman-Fried. Sam Bankman-Fried, founder of the collapsed cryptocurrency exchange FTX, is arrested in the Bahamas following U.S. criminal charges, including wire fraud and money laundering.

Today in Sports

Brought to you by The Hunslet Wolves, a new UK-based rugby franchise coached by the former defensive head coach of the French National Team, David Ellis.

• December 13, 1913. American boxer Archie Moore, the world light heavyweight boxing champion from 1952 to 1962, was born on this day.

• December 13, 2004. Ballon d'Or. AC Milan's Ukrainian striker Andriy Shevchenko is crowned Europe's best footballer, finishing ahead of Deco (Porto/FC Barcelona) and Ronaldinho (Barcelona).

• December 13, 2015 - McGregor vs. Aldo. Irish fighter Conor McGregor defeats Brazilian Jose Aldo with a 13-second knockout to claim his first featherweight title in Las Vegas.

• December 13, 2020 - Hamilton Record 7th Title. Lewis Hamilton secures a record-equalling 7th Formula 1 Drivers' Championship with a 3rd-place finish at the Abu Dhabi GP, finishing 124 points ahead of teammate Valtteri Bottas. Mercedes also wins its 7th straight Constructors' title.

In the Arts Today

• December 13, 2001 - A Beautiful Mind. The film A Beautiful Mind, based on Sylvia Nasar's biography, directed by Ron Howard, and starring Russell Crowe, premieres in Los Angeles. (Winner of Best Picture, 2002).

• December 13, 1989 - Driving Miss Daisy. Driving Miss Daisy, directed by Bruce Beresford and starring Morgan Freeman and Jessica Tandy, is released. (Winner of Best Picture, 1990).

• December 13, 2021 - Spider-Man: No Way Home. The Marvel superhero film Spider-Man: No Way Home, starring Tom Holland, Zendaya, and Benedict Cumberbatch, and directed by Jon Watts, premieres in Los Angeles.

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The Rest of the Story

• December 13, 2004 - Pinochet House Arrest. Former Chilean dictator General Augusto Pinochet is placed under house arrest following accusations of involvement in nine kidnappings and manslaughter. However, the house arrest is lifted later the same day on appeal.

• December 13, 2017 - Hayek Accuses Weinstein. Salma Hayek accuses Harvey Weinstein of sexual harassment and making threats against her life.

• December 13, 2021 - Elon Musk 'Person of the Year'. Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX and Tesla, named Time's Person of the Year.

• December 13, 2021 - First UK Omicron Death. The UK reports its first COVID-19 Omicron death in 2021, announced by Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

Quote of the Day

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Why KRONIKL? Inspired by the timeless concept of chronicles, KRONIKL is dedicated to bringing you the most intriguing, thought-provoking stories from this date. Culture, science, politics, and more — all condensed for a quick, insightful read that connects your present with our past.

*Disclosure: Masters of Trivia is a quiz platform founded by Dom Einhorn and owned by Intelligent Games LLC—the same company that brings you the KRONIKL newsletter.