On this day in conspiracies

The date borne by the letter later attributed to Grigory Zinoviev, chairman of the Comintern's executive committee, addressed to the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Great Britain and urging agitation, infiltration of the armed forces, and pressure to ratify the treaties.

In a brief Oval Office meeting, President Nixon orders CIA Director Richard Helms to prevent Allende from taking power. Helms's handwritten notes record the instructions: '$10,000,000 available, more if necessary... make the economy scream.' This launches the covert effort later known as Track II.

Israeli forces move into West Beirut. By around noon the IDF has surrounded Sabra and Shatila, setting up checkpoints at the entrances and using tall buildings nearby as observation posts. The camps are now inside territory the IDF controls.

The Northern Territory Court of Criminal Appeal unanimously quashes all convictions against Lindy and Michael Chamberlain, formally clearing them in law. The Chamberlains are later awarded compensation for the wrongful imprisonment.

Syria's government-owned newspaper Al Thawra is reported to be among the first to recast the figure as a smear, claiming that “four thousand Jews” were absent from their work on the day of the attacks. The genuine 4,000 casualty-check figure has now been inverted into an accusation.

The exercise concludes after two months with zero reported civilian incidents. Army Special Operations Command calls it a success. There is little acknowledgment from promoters that the predictions failed.

The European Digital Media Observatory's monthly report identifies Portugal as a target of Russian disinformation over the August fires, part of a wider effort casting Russia as a benevolent would-be rescuer of countries battling wildfires.