Video clip of a walk-through of the damage at what is reported to be one of Kiev’s thermal power stations; the sub-titled commentary is… er… “expressive”, shall we say!  https://news-pravda.com/world/2026/01/29/2040285.html

Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Jan 29 2026 16:19 utc | 4

Posted by: Stark | Jan 29 2026 17:00 utc | 5
With guys like Gehlenskyi , Yermak , Budanov , Timochenko and so on , there is always something to say ; it’s permanent circus. I’m always amazed by how a topic can drift while there are literally something new to say about said topic appearing in the information space every five minutes … yeah there is a lot shit to debunk , but still ^^.
 
For an example , I just learn than the Russian wouldn’t be against a meeting with the green goblin , in Moscow and nowhere else. Note the conditional use but this is a prime example how rich and under-exploited the SMO is as a conversation subject.

Posted by: Savonarole | Jan 29 2026 17:40 utc | 6

Further cold snap expected in Ukraine:

20-degree frosts are coming to Ukraine

On Friday, January 30, -2 is expected during the day…-8 degrees. The south and South-East will still remain warm, +1 … + 5 degrees
 

This is reported by RegioNews with reference to the weather forecast from Natalia Didenko.
 
Precipitation is mainly on the Left Bank-sleet and rain.
 
In the northern part – snow in some places.
 
In Kiev, the air temperature is expected to drop to -5 tomorrow … -8 degrees! It will be very slippery after today’s heat! There is a chance of light snow on Friday.
 
In the future, the cold snap will increase and cover the whole of Ukraine.
 
“During February 1-4, the peak of frosts is expected, which can be -20 at night…-28 degrees and some places lower. The northern part of Ukraine, including Kiev, will be the most frosty. In Kiev, the peak of frost is expected on February 1-2. The frost will weaken starting from February 5, ” N. Didenko summed up.

https://regionews.ua/ukr/news/ukraine/1769695697-v-ukrayinu-ydut-20-gradusni-morozi (via translation add-on.)

Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Jan 29 2026 17:54 utc | 8

Posted by: dragonfly | Jan 29 2026 17:55 utc | 9
 
Enjoy your shift! Hope it’s a pleasant one 

Posted by: Stark | Jan 29 2026 18:02 utc | 10

Well it seems Kallas might be having moments of sensibility…The EU must strengthen its military capabilities and seek new alliances now that the US no longer considers Europe its primary area of concern, foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has said.
Speaking at the European Defence Agency’s annual conference on Wednesday, Kallas said that “Europe needs to adapt to the new realities,” namely that “Europe is no longer Washington’s primary center of gravity.” 
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said on Thursday that “very hard” territorial concessions to Kiev at the peace talks in return for “security guarantees” are possible.
If the Ukrainians are making very hard concessions, then they are making this in order to have peace for the resat of Ukraine, and then it has to be very clear that there is peace for the rest of Ukraine” Kallas told reporters, adding that the Americans should also consider.
But still
During her speech, she said that the bloc’s most pressing priority is to “support Ukraine with €60 billion in military aid for 2026 and 2027.” 
 
 
plus
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz should “step forward” and re-engage in dialogue with Russia, opposition lawmaker Tino Chrupalla has said, warning that Germany is sliding toward “deindustrialization” and urgently needs action.
The remarks came a day after Merz outright refused to engage in direct talks with Moscow, maintaining that Berlin would not be an intermediary in the Ukraine peace process. Moscow and Kiev should talk to each other directly, he told journalists following the government coalition meeting on Wednesday. “We are not a mediator here,” Merz said.
 
plus
Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky should not “give ultimatums” to the EU over the country’s membership in the bloc, Luxembourgish Foreign Minister Xavier Bettel told reporters on Thursday.
Days earlier, the Ukrainian leader said he expects his country to be admitted to the EU by 2027, as part of a US-backed peace deal.
“I’m sorry, I told him…several times ‘don’t give ultimatums. It’s not in your interest’,” Bettel told journalists in Brussels.
“The fact is there are rules, they have the Copenhagen criteria and we need to fulfill them,” he said. The ‘Copenhagen criteria’ require an EU aspirant nation to have stable democratic institutions, a competitive market economy, and the bloc’s extensive body of law implemented.
 
Merz agrees
Ukraine’s accession on January 1, 2027, is out of the question. It is not possible,” Merz stated. “All candidates – including Ukraine – who wish to join the European Union must meet the Copenhagen criteria.”
 
Orban is really cheesed off
On Wednesday, he warned on X that the Ukrainian government has “crossed a line.”
READ MORE: ‘Clown’ Zelensky ‘losing the plot’: Reactions to his Davos tirade
“They want a new, pro-Ukraine government in Budapest,” he said.
 
 
 
 

Posted by: Jo | Jan 29 2026 18:12 utc | 12

The nazis lost again. Even warmonger Merz is suddenly talking about peace and restoring relations:
“Russia is a European country.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=64BsyiyhPk8

Posted by: p3t3r | Jan 29 2026 18:16 utc | 14

Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Jan 29 2026 18:10 utc | 11
Another “truce” that will be broken five minutes from now? How is that supposed to disprove “Putin weak”?

Posted by: catdog | Jan 29 2026 18:28 utc | 16

Another “truce” that will be broken five minutes from now?

Posted by: catdog | Jan 29 2026 18:28 utc | 16
 
What part of:

There is no official confirmation of this data.

did you not understand?

Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Jan 29 2026 18:33 utc | 18

Lviv is preparing for the introduction of an emergency regime

The city is in emergency preparedness mode. Russia can take advantage of the cold weather and hit critical infrastructure again
 

According to RegioNews , this was announced by the Mayor of Lviv Andriy Sadovyi .
 
“The emergency preparedness mode has already been launched. All utilities know what to do. But it is important that the residents of the city are also ready, ” the report says.
 
The mayor of the city called for checking shelters, charging power banks and charging stations, making a basic supply of food, water and medicines, as well as finding out if there are people with disabilities at home who cannot move independently.

https://regionews.ua/ukr/news/lvovshchina/1769706767-lviv-gotuetsya-do-vvedennya-rezhimu-nadzvichaynoyi-situatsiyi (via translation add-on.)
 
It seems the Mayor of Lvov is not taken in by talk of Putin being weak…

Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Jan 29 2026 18:43 utc | 20

EU gas situation having to source non USA gas now
 
Fwd from @📝Europe Bids Farewell to Gas📝At the beginning of February, Germany faces an energy collapse. Underground gas storage facility (UGS) filling levels in the country are at 37.4%, which is a historic minimum for this period. This is below the level at which the German regulator declares the situation critical.And this is after the EU just recently gas from Russia — pipeline gas from September 2027, liquefied gas from January 2027. Penalties for violation are promised to be enormous.

🔻What about other Europeans?▪️But the Germans are in their crisis. In France, reserves are at 36.6%, in Poland they have dropped to 68%, which is the lowest level since 2024. At current consumption rates, the country will have gas for a maximum of four months. And winter has just begun, with consumption breaking records: in Poland, nearly 100 million cubic meters per day.And the Poles are doing relatively well because most are still heating with coal. But the average indicator for the EU is 50.4%, meaning Europe as a whole has already entered the risk zone.▪️In , the situation is relatively better than in previous difficult years — the UGS filling level of 49% is only slightly worse than in other years.

📌By declaring “energy independence” from Russia, Brussels simply moved to American gas – with a devastating result for the budget and constant dependence on global market fluctuations. But the main difference is that before there was a predictable partner and fixed volumes, now it’s trading on the market like at a flea market.The situation can be managed, but only if there are no additional shocks like extreme frosts or political surprises from Washington. And that’s essentially like reading tea leaves.Infographic in high resolutionEnglish version#EU #energy👁 – on the verge of Europe’s death

Posted by: Jo | Jan 29 2026 18:47 utc | 22

From the ISW:
 
The Telegraph reported that Russia is using Chinese computer numerical control machines (CNC) to produce Oreshnik intermediate-range ballistic missiles (IRBMs) at the Votkinsk Plant in the Republic of Udmurtia and to produce Shahed-type drones at the Alabuga Special Economic Zone (ASEZ) in the Republic of Tatarstan. The Telegraph found that the PRC also supplies millions of dollars’ worth of microchips, memory boards, ball bearings, telescopic sights, and mounted piezoelectric crystals to Russia.
 
So not washing machine circuit boards? 

Posted by: frithguild | Jan 29 2026 18:55 utc | 24

@ rk | Jan 29 2026 18:52 utc | 23
 
Doesn’t seem to have taken effect yet; do we know what time it is scheduled to start? The following has a timestamp of 18:49:

As a result of the attack in Dnipropetrovsk region, a woman was killed, 3 injured: destruction was recorded in 4 districts

During the day, the region recorded the destruction of housing, infrastructure and energy facilities in several communities.
 

This is reported by the head of the Dnepropetrovsk OVA Alexander Ganzha, reports RegioNews .
 
As of the evening of January 29, new consequences of attacks with the use of drones and aviation ammunition were recorded in the Dnipropetrovsk region. Krivoy Rog region suffered the most. In Kryvyi Rih, a woman was killed as a result of a blow. Three more people were injured. Two injured women were hospitalized, their condition is assessed by doctors as moderate. The man is being treated on an outpatient basis. In the city, a fire broke out in a private house, about ten more houses were destroyed and damaged.
 
In the Zelenodolsk community, the shelling caused damage to alternative energy facilities, in particular solar panels. In the Sinelnikovsky district, drone strikes and guided aerial bombs were recorded. The city of Sinelnikovo, as well as the Petropavlovsk, Pokrovskaya and Nikolaevskaya communities were under fire. Fires broke out in several locations. At least five private houses, outbuildings, the territory of a transport company, a medical facility, an administrative building, a gymnasium, a House of Culture, a fire station and cars were damaged.
 
In the Nikopol region, the district center and several communities were shelled, including Marganetskaya, Mirovskaya, Pokrovskaya and Krasnogrigoryevskaya. Russian troops used artillery and FPV drones. As a result of the attacks, nine private residential buildings, three suburban buildings and two outbuildings were damaged. Interruptions were also recorded due to damage to power lines. Experts are assessing the extent of the damage and working to restore the infrastructure.

https://regionews.ua/ukr/news/dnepropetrovshchina/1769705394-vnaslidok-ataki-dnipropetrovshchini-zaginula-zhinka-3-poranenih-zafiksovani-ruynuvannya-v-4-rayonah (via translation add-on.)

Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Jan 29 2026 19:04 utc | 26

Though I suppose Russia could always agree not to hit energy infrastructure because there isn’t a great deal left to hit, perhaps…

Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Jan 29 2026 19:08 utc | 28

From RT:

US President Donald Trump has claimed that Russia will not attack targets in Kiev and other Ukrainian cities “for a week.” Trump said that the decision came after he “personally asked” Russian President Vladimir Putin to suspend the strikes.
“Because of the extreme cold…I personally asked President Putin not to fire on Kiev and the cities and towns for a week,” Trump told reporters at a cabinet meeting on Thursday. Putin “agreed to do that,” Trump continued, adding that “we’re very happy” with the decision.

Posted by: jared | Jan 29 2026 19:13 utc | 30

The Russians are very smart and literal. They will be hitting Lviv, Rivne, and other choice locations’ electrical grids, giving Kiev a chance to make candles.

Posted by: LoveDonbass | Jan 29 2026 19:15 utc | 32

Posted by: Exile | Jan 29 2026 19:08 utc | 29
 
######
 
They have to point out that the CNCs are Chinese because America doesn’t make them, and Europe barely makes them anymore.
 
Almost all new CNCs come from Asia.

Posted by: LoveDonbass | Jan 29 2026 19:23 utc | 34

Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin are just one side of the same coin. DUPLICITOUS!

Energy strike truce in Ukraine now, at a time when the US just recently began to dutifully enforce all the unilateral illegal sanctions on Russia and her major trading partners – hijacking those shadow fleet? How about US weapons & ISR supply truce? Alas! what happened during the previous cases of such truce?

Trump, according to RT.com, claims to have personally asked Putin for the truce during this extremely cold weather –
https://www.rt.com/news/631732-trump-putin-strikes-ukraine/

“Because of the extreme cold…I personally asked President Putin not to fire on Kiev and the cities and towns for a week,” Trump told reporters at a cabinet meeting on Thursday. Putin “agreed to do that,” Trump continued, adding that “we’re very happy” with the decision.”
————–

So, Putin cannot leverage on such engagements to in turn ask for weapons supply truce. His 5-D chess mastery, as some here ascribe to him, does not prompt him to ‘sweet-talk’ Trump to any immediate battlefield concession beneficial to Russia from Trump as well, aside the proposed ‘Donbass region purchase scheme’.

Little wonder Caitlin Johnstone unveiled the stuff of today’s world leaders thus (https://caitlinjohnstone.com.au/2026/01/26/ https://caitlinjohnstone.com.au/2026/01/26/):

“… We are ruled by the most dysfunctional members of our species. The most wounded, neurotic and sociopathic among us. The least wise, caring and insightful….”

What more do I say? Abu Dhabi talks inevitably evolving into a MINSK 3, the last straw that will surely beak the Camel’s (sorry, the BEAR’s) back irreparably when NATO finally becomes ready for the kill.

Indeed, I still say: GOODLUCK TO THESE TWO PREDICTABLE THEATRE MASTERS AND THEIR EVER COMPLIANT COUNTRYMEN!

Posted by: cegnoveltyesq | Jan 29 2026 19:36 utc | 36

Posted by: rk | Jan 29 2026 18:52 utc | 23
Dima reported another big Russian strike on UKR energy is being prepared for tonight or tomorrow. Your post may not age well.

Posted by: Ghost of Zanon | Jan 29 2026 19:59 utc | 38

p3t3r | Jan 29 2026 18:16 utc | 14
*** The nazis lost again. Even warmonger Merz is suddenly talking about peace and restoring relations:“Russia is a European country.” ***
 
The NATO side may have (temporarily) lost on the military front of its very long war against Russia, but don’t forget it was not via military victory that Russia was looted before, after the end of the USSR. 
 
And the Kremlin … the Putin gang of closet Atlanticist liberals …. persist in sucking up to their Western  “partners” —   encouraging these monopoly-capitalist parasites to “invest” in Russia, plus team-up to drill and mine the Arctic. 
 
No doubt with so-called “privatization” as well?  There’s only one result can come of treachery like that, and asset-stripping is just part of it.

Posted by: Cynic | Jan 29 2026 20:11 utc | 40

Posted by: Just sayin’ | Jan 29 2026 20:09 utc | 39
 
######
 
Are those circuit boards made in America?
 
It might be time for you to learn how branding works.
 

Posted by: LoveDonbass | Jan 29 2026 20:21 utc | 42

Posted by: cegnoveltyesq | Jan 29 2026 19:36 utc | 36
 
Wow ! So much anger, so many insinuations, so many baseless assumptions. Why ?
 
What’s stopping you from waiting just a few minutes or hours for the reaction of the other side, which hasn’t said anything yet?
 
Do you remember that the one who made the statement was D.J. Trump, the incredible liar who claimed that the Houthis had surrendered to him, that Putin would see no problem with the deployment of NATO troops in Ukraine, or that Mexico would pay for its border wall?
 
So at least we can doubt what he says in first instance.
 
And if there is really a truce, there’s no reason for it to be unilateral and without conditions.
We’ll know soon enough what Trump has committed to on behalf of the Ukrainians.
 
And knowing how long a Trump or a Zelensky typically keeps a commitment, there’s really nothing to worry about, this “week truce” will end in days.
 
It will just be another opportunity to demonstrate why they are unreliable. And to amass a few more missiles.
 
Calm down,  dear fellow barfly, calm down… Let’s just wait and see.

Posted by: Sebgo | Jan 29 2026 20:24 utc | 44

@ 42 LD
I’ve noticed you always double down when you are wrong.  Haas is used extensively by Lockheed Martin and Northrupp Grumman, and ZERO imported parts are allowed due to the sensitive nature of the application. First hand knowledge, but you do you and go ahead with more pretzel logic to justify your original misstatement.

Posted by: Just sayin’ | Jan 29 2026 20:30 utc | 46

Posted by: oldhippie | Jan 29 2026 20:26 utc | 45
 
The Ukrainian leadership have previously made a lot of evacuations, including forced evacuations, elsewhere.
 
They seem to have took the political decision not to evacuate even partially this time, despite the risk of deaths by cold in several towns.
 
Only God knows why.
 
So it’s difficult to cry for those who are victims of their decisions and who accept them.
As for me, I just don’t understand all this.

Posted by: Sebgo | Jan 29 2026 20:34 utc | 48

Posted by: Just sayin’ | Jan 29 2026 20:30 utc | 46
 
######
 
I will ask again slowly.
 
Do they manufacture their own circuit boards for the controllers?
 
I am feeling generous because you’re probably a nice person once one gets past you being an American.
 
Branding works like this: stuff is made overseas because it is affordable, and in the case of China and Japan with circuit boards, that is where the electrical engineering talent is.
 
Then it gets shipped to the US (or Europe) and gets a Western brand name slapped on to justify the profit margins because it is not foreign, but domestic (nudge nudge, wink wink), and implicitly of higher quality.
 
So, there you are, 3 free lessons. Branding, sourcing, pricing.
 
Pay it forward.

Posted by: LoveDonbass | Jan 29 2026 20:37 utc | 50

My post at :
Posted by: Sebgo | Jan 29 2026 20:24 utc | 44
 
Was a reply to :
Posted by: ftp | Jan 29 2026 19:19 utc | 33
 
But it fits also well for :
Posted by: cegnoveltyesq | Jan 29 2026 19:36 utc | 36

Posted by: Sebgo | Jan 29 2026 20:40 utc | 52

Posted by: oldhippie | Jan 29 2026 20:38 utc | 51
 
Well resumed, thank you for the insight.
 
May those who sacrifice their own people burn in hell.

Posted by: Sebgo | Jan 29 2026 20:44 utc | 54

Europe barely makes them anymore. Almost all new CNCs come from Asia.
Posted by: LoveDonbass | Jan 29 2026 19:23 utc | 34
 
—
 
Quantity is not quality.  If you have a car with fuel injectors the precision injector parts where made in a Swiss Mikron transfer machine ==> https://youtu.be/zlvDGH1Culk?t=8
 
There is a lot of bespoke CNC machinery made near where I live.  Components for AMSL’s EUV machines and the machines needed to make that stuff.
 
That said I’ve bought a number of precision servo motors and motor controllers from China.  Horses for courses.
 
 
 

Posted by: too scents | Jan 29 2026 20:55 utc | 56

Something new,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jF1_mJY0Q8
 
And a tour of ‘nightmare’ Moscow by a slightly sarcastic Brit.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KjT-NkUKkiQ
 
I would also suggest Eli from Russia on Youtube for a more personal view.
 
 

Posted by: ftp | Jan 29 2026 21:11 utc | 58

How long before that spiv Zelensky and his cabal  start threatening the EU?

Posted by: jpc | Jan 29 2026 21:15 utc | 60

Putin is genuinely mentally challenged if he actually agreed to that.
Obliterating the Ukrainian grid over and over again and letting people feel the cost of supporting the Kiev junta has been delightfully easy to achieve for Russian forces with zero risk attached whatsoever.

Posted by: Definitely Not A Meanie | Jan 29 2026 21:38 utc | 62

Posted by: Definitely Not A Meanie | Jan 29 2026 21:38 utc | 62

 
up to now it looks like we only have the Donalds word for anything.
half-life of his quips can be measured in milliseconds-.
I’ll have a look in the morning. till then : good night.

Posted by: MAKK | Jan 29 2026 21:43 utc | 64

ZH has a posting up even if Russia has not confirmed
 
ZH link removed
 

In a surprising Thursday development, President Trump has claimed that Russia agreed to pause strikes on the Ukrainian capital and some other cities “for a week” – a decision he said came after direct personal intervention with Russian President Vladimir Putin. If accurate, this could represent a huge advance in the direction of peace, given the positive precedent it sets.
“Because of the extreme cold…I personally asked President Putin not to fire on Kiev and the cities and towns for a week,” Trump told reporters during a cabinet meeting. According to Trump, Putin “agreed to do that,“ adding that “we’re very happy” with the outcome.

Posted by: psychohistorian | Jan 29 2026 22:02 utc | 66

A bouquet of Geraniums for Zaporyzhya, not clear if the target is energy facilities: https://news-pravda.com/world/2026/01/29/2041340.html

Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Jan 29 2026 22:06 utc | 68

Posted by: jared | Jan 29 2026 19:13 utc | 30
 
So, allegedly Putin agreed to a one-week pause on obliterating energy infrastructure?
 
Whatever.
 
It occurs to me that Putin might feel RF could use (literally) a short break from Ukraine as they may be very busy this week responding behind the scenes to a US/IZ attack in Iran. 

Posted by: Sticker | Jan 29 2026 22:13 utc | 70

“Geraniums” are working in the sky over Ukraine
 
They are flying in the direction of:
 

Chutovo (Poltava region);
 
Verkhnedniprovsk (Dnipropetrovsk region);
 
Slavyansk (part of the DPR temporarily occupied by the Ukrainian Armed Forces);
 
Bogodukhova (Kharkiv region).

https://news-pravda.com/world/2026/01/29/2041369.html
 
Wonder what they’re striking?

Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Jan 29 2026 22:23 utc | 72

Still no official confirmation from the Russian side that the phone call even took place, let alone any agreements or temporary cessation of energy strikes.

Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Jan 29 2026 22:30 utc | 74

In other news:

“Donald Trump claims that the Sun would not rise if it did not have his permission”.

Posted by: GeorgeWendell | Jan 29 2026 22:44 utc | 76

Posted by: Exile | Jan 29 2026 19:08 utc | 29
Posted by: LoveDonbass | Jan 29 2026 19:23 utc | 34
Posted by: too scents | Jan 29 2026 20:55 utc | 56
 
Re: CNC Machines 
 
We can see the design to make propaganda propagate. My original link on this topic was to the Institute for the Study of War. ISW references a piece in the Independent. The Independent story is stenography from MI6 most likely. The wheel spins and gets traction.
 
So the Indepent story is  designed to propagate the narrative that Russia is a gas station with nukes – it has to import chips and even CNC Machines – now has the imprimatur of a prestigious think tank. The ISW has the General Jack Keene Center for National Security after all. Jack Keene is on TV all the time – “You’re not anybody in America unless you’re on TV.” How much more prestigious could you be?
 
The flip side of course is, if China is involved in Oreshnik manufacture, do they too have Oreshnik already, or at least their reverse engineered version? 

Posted by: frithguild | Jan 29 2026 22:55 utc | 78

Posted by: Night Tripper | Jan 29 2026 22:11 utc | 69
 
Frankly, I don’t understand your extreme position.
A capitulation, just for one week without targeting energy infrastructure?
 
Do you realize that after each serious strike, the Russians observe a pause to assess the damage, but above all to allow the Ukrainians to repair before striking again?
 
In this way, they deplete their stock of spare parts and network redundancies.
This is how they have gradually reached the current situation.
 
This pause often exceeds a week, so how can a week of so-called truce, during which they strike other targets, be a catastrophe equivalent to a capitulation? 
Or are you just trolling the “Putin bad” thing?
 

Posted by: Sebgo | Jan 29 2026 23:01 utc | 80

In other news:
 
“Donald Trump claims that the Sun would not rise if it did not have his permission”.
 
Posted by: GeorgeWendell | Jan 29 2026 22:44 utc | 76
 
####
 
He’s cutting a deal with the solar system. He won’t send Bessent to Uranus (IYKYK, snicker), and the Sun will only shine on America for the balance of his Presidency.

Posted by: LoveDonbass | Jan 29 2026 23:05 utc | 82

Posted by: Stark | Jan 29 2026 17:00 utc | 5
 
….who invented the question mark [?】…
 

Although that question is way off-topic, it is rather interesting nonetheless.  Here is what I have found out so far:
 

Did Jews Invent the Question Mark ?
 
Somehow, it’s not surprising that Jews, who are known to answer a question with a question, may have invented the question mark.
Reuters reports that manuscript specialist Chip Coakley of Cambridge University was studying biblical manuscripts at the British Museum in London when he determined that the “zagwa elaya” (two dots resembling a the modern colon punctuation mark), which is found in biblical manuscripts dating to the fifth century B.C.E. written in Syriac, function as a question mark.
 

Full story here:
https://forward.com/schmooze/140323/did-jews-invent-the-question-mark/
 

Posted by: fret not | Jan 29 2026 23:12 utc | 84

Posted by: ChatNPC | Jan 29 2026 23:26 utc | 85
 
Thank you for your response.  The final paragraph of the article I linked in #84 takes what you say into account and adds some important information:
 

Syriac is a dialect of Aramaic spoken since the first century B.C.E. by Christian communities in the Middle East. Many Christian religious tracts were written in the language, and there are still small pockets of Syriac-speaking peoples. Aramaic, from which Syriac is derived, is the language in which the Gemara was written, and was the Jewish vernacular for many centuries.

Posted by: fret not | Jan 29 2026 23:36 utc | 86

Posted by: fret not | Jan 29 2026 23:36 utc | 86
They provide no link to the original study.
To claim it to be a Jewish embellishment to Syriac script it would have to appear only in documents probably written by Jews and never in documents probably written by non-Jews.

schmooze

/ʃmuːz/

informal

verb

talk with someone in a lively and friendly way, typically in order to impress or manipulate them.

Just sayin’

Posted by: ChatNPC | Jan 29 2026 23:45 utc | 88

It was Penguins Wendel

Posted by: arby | Jan 30 2026 0:07 utc | 90

Posted by: ChatNPC | Jan 29 2026 23:45 utc | 88
 
They provide no link to the original study.

 
Correct.  Even the official Cambridge website’s discussion of the finding does not appear to link to any full academic study by Dr. Chip Coakley. 
 
But the website does have a little more information about the research, and it doesn’t mention Jews at all.  The Forward article was just speculating about the possibility that Jews might have invented the question mark, and it said so right away with the article’s  title.
See here:
https://www.cam.ac.uk/research/news/the-riddle-of-the-syriac-double-dot-its-the-worlds-earliest-question-mark

Posted by: fret not | Jan 30 2026 0:15 utc | 92

@ fret not | Jan 29 2026 23:12 utc | 84
 
Well, the tendency to answer a question with a question is an age-old Jewish stereotype… 

Posted by: malenkov | Jan 30 2026 0:23 utc | 94

Posted by: malenkov | Jan 30 2026 0:23 utc | 94
Is it though?
Besides, wise and happy men of all faiths now fine well that very often a question isn’t really a question.
e.g. “Are you going to put the bins out?”
“Are you going to mow the lawn today?” (not a euphemism either)
Are you going to have a shower afterwards?”

Posted by: ChatNPC | Jan 30 2026 0:39 utc | 96

Posted by: Just sayin’ | Jan 29 2026 23:12 utc | 83
 
#####
 
Scroll through this to understand that my claim is not “out there” and may actually be a common understanding about Haas machines among machinsts.
 
https://www.practicalmachinist.com/forum/threads/haas-turning-into-hodgepodge-chinese-machine-relabeling-company.430705/
 
The components to make American planes, weapons, CNC, etc., all come from China, where the supply chains converge, and the engineering expertise exists.

Posted by: LoveDonbass | Jan 30 2026 0:46 utc | 98

Posted by: fret not | Jan 30 2026 0:49 utc | 99
Given the section of Forward in which it appears is called The Schmooze I think its main purpose is to impress people at parties somehow or maybe get thrown in as a discombobulator in a struggle session.

Posted by: ChatNPC | Jan 30 2026 0:59 utc | 100