Experiments In Constructing Event Databases Using Gemini: Leaving It In Gemini's Hands

What would it look like to ask Gemini to make a list of the major events in a day of Iranian news coverage from July 13th as a form of fully automated "event database" construction for political science research? While we have been using advanced AI models internally for event database construction since before they were publicly available, those efforts required enormous investments in highly optimized prompting and preprocessing workflows to help the models achieve their best results. With the latest model advances, what would it look like to literally just ask Gemini to "make an event database from this coverage" and leave everything entirely in its hands, from constructing the quantitative event cataloging schema to deciding what fields to include to determining just what constitutes an "event" to how to present it all. Let's see what this looks like with Gemini 3.1 Pro. Our last example, where we give Gemini a few hints and instructions on how to decompose complex metaevents, yields quite strong results and suggests tremendous future potential for researchers wishing to construct adhoc "on demand" event databases to explore specific moments of major conflicts or construct highly targeted bespoke event taxonomies. No data was used to train or tune any model.

Let's start with a basic prompt:

Read carefully through the coverage and construct a bulleted list that forms an "event database" of the significant events discussed in the coverage.

Based on the transcripts provided from Press TV and IRINN (dated July 13–14, 2026), here is an event database of the significant occurrences discussed in the coverage:

The Assassination and Mourning of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei

• Assassination of the Leader: Coverage reports that the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was assassinated in a coordinated US-Israeli attack on February 28. (He was reportedly at his workplace at the time, despite rumors he was in a bunker).
• Massive Funeral Processions: Massive funeral ceremonies are held in Tehran, Mashhad, and other holy cities. Reports claim between 15 million and 40 million people participated, with coverage describing it as the largest funeral in history.
• Succession and Vengeance: Iranian officials, including Ayatollah Mujtaba Khamenei, vow certain vengeance against the "criminal and disgrace murderers."
• Geopolitical Impact: Commentators suggest the mourning period has unified the "Axis of Resistance" and caused a significant geopolitical shift in the region.

The "Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding" (MOU) Crisis

• Signing of the MOU: A memorandum of understanding was signed between Iran and the US (mediated by Pakistan) on June 14, 2024, to establish a ceasefire and end the war on all fronts.
• Declaration of Crisis: The Iranian Foreign Ministry declares the MOU is in a state of crisis. Iran accuses the US of violating the agreement from "day zero" by failing to lift sanctions, not releasing frozen oil funds, and continuing military aggression.
• Strait of Hormuz Dispute: Tensions escalate over the management of the Strait of Hormuz. Iran asserts its right to control the waterway and charge "service fees," while the US attempts to establish an "American corridor" near Omani shores to bypass Iranian control.

Military Retaliations and Conflict Expansion

• Waves of Iranian Missile Attacks: The IRGC carries out five waves of missile and drone attacks against US bases in the region.
• Specific Military Targets:
  • Jordan: Prince Hassan airbase (destruction of missile silos and fuel tanks).
  • Kuwait: Ali as Salim and Ahmed Al-Jaber airbases (targeting Patriot systems and radar).
  • Bahrain: Isa air base (targeting US army drone command centers).
• Retaliation in Yemen: The Yemeni military (Ansarullah) retaliates against a Saudi raid on Sana’a International Airport by hitting targets inside Saudi Arabia, including Abha airport.
• Naval Blockade: US President Donald Trump reportedly announces the return of a naval blockade on Iran.

U.S. Political Developments

• Death of Senator Lindsey Graham: Republican Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina dies following a "brief and sudden illness." Iranian media labels him a "merchant of death" and celebrates his passing as a blow to the "regime change crowd."
• Trump Administration Stability: President Trump faces record-low approval ratings and internal criticism over a "war of choice" with Iran.
• Midterm Election Cycle: The US is in a midterm election cycle; commentators predict the Republican Party may be "punished" by voters due to the economic damage and rising gas prices caused by the war.

Bolivian Popular Uprising

• Uprising Against Rodrigo Paz: A popular uprising led by indigenous movements and trade unions (COB) is underway in Bolivia against the right-wing government of President Rodrigo Paz.
• General Strike: Protesters have erected 75 barricades across major highways, paralyzing the country’s economy.
• Shift in Israel Policy: The uprising seeks to reverse the Paz government’s decision to restore ties with Israel and return to the pro-Palestine stance held by former President Evo Morales.

Global and Economic Impact

• Energy Market Volatility: Brent crude oil prices jump above $79 a barrel, and US West Texas Intermediate gains more than 4% following the new round of US-Iran hostilities.
• International Alliances: Former Russian President "Dimitriad" visits Iran and declares both Iran and Yemen to be "de facto nuclear powers" due to their control over the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab al-Mandab.
• Sino-Iranian Context: The Chinese Foreign Minister calls for the "free and safe passage of all vessels" through the region.

 

What if we ask for more details on each?

Read carefully through the coverage and construct a bulleted list that forms an "event database" of the significant events discussed in the coverage. Make sure to capture the  who/what/where/when/why/how  for every event.

Based on the provided transcripts from Press TV and IRINN (dated July 13–14, 2026), here is an event database documenting the significant developments discussed in the coverage:

Conflict and Military Operations

• Assassination of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei
  • Who: Ayatollah Sayid Ali Khamenei (Iranian Head of State).
  • What: Assassination via a coordinated military strike.
  • Where: Tehran, Iran (at his workplace, though initial reports suggested he was in an underground bunker).
  • When: February 28, 2026.
  • Why: To trigger the immediate collapse of the Iranian government.
  • How: A coordinated attack by the United States and Israel.
• Massive Iranian Retaliatory Missile Attacks (Five Waves)
  • Who: Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC).
  • What: Five distinct waves of missile and drone strikes against U.S. military infrastructure.
  • Where: Multiple locations, including Prince Hassan Airbase (Jordan), Ali as Salim Base (Kuwait), Ahmed Al-Jaber Base (Kuwait), Isa Airbase (Bahrain), and Al-Oaded Airbase (Qatar).
  • When: July 13, 2026 (ongoing).
  • Why: Retaliation for the assassination of Khamenei and perceived U.S. aggression/violations of the Islamabad MOU.
  • How: Using cruise missiles and attack drones to destroy fuel tanks, missile silos, radar systems, and drone command centers.
• Closure and Enforcement of the Strait of Hormuz
  • Who: Iranian Central Military Command.
  • What: Military control of the waterway and the imposition of transit fees.
  • Where: Strait of Hormuz.
  • When: Initiated late February 2026; enforcement escalated July 13, 2026.
  • Why: To exert sovereignty over territorial waters and respond to a "U.S.-Omani corridor" formed without Iranian consent.
  • How: Blocking the Omani/U.S. southern channel and threatening a 20% "service fee" for all commercial vessels.
• Yemeni-Saudi Military Escalation
  • Who: Yemen Army (Ansarullah) vs. Saudi Arabian Military.
  • What: Saudi strikes on Sana’a Airport followed by Yemeni drone/missile strikes on Saudi territory.
  • Where: Sana’a International Airport (Yemen) and targets in Saudi Arabia (including Abha airport and explosions reported in Jeddah).
  • When: July 13, 2026.
  • Why: Saudi forces attempted to prevent a Yemeni delegation (returning from Khamenei’s funeral) from landing; Yemen retaliated to break the ongoing 10-year blockade.
  • How: Saudi air strikes targeted the airport; Yemen responded with missiles and drones targeting Saudi infrastructure.

International Political Developments

• Death of U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham
  • Who: Republican Senator Lindsey Graham (South Carolina).
  • What: Death of a senior U.S. senator.
  • Where: United States (South Carolina).
  • When: July 13, 2026.
  • Why: Reported as a "brief and sudden illness."
  • How: Natural causes (though analyzed in coverage as a major blow to the "pro-war" and "regime change" political factions).
• Collapse of the "Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding" (MOU)
  • Who: Iran, the United States, and Pakistan (as mediator).
  • What: A fragile diplomatic agreement intended to de-escalate the "June War."
  • Where: Negotiated/signed in Islamabad, Pakistan.
  • When: Signed June 17, 2026; declared "in crisis" on July 13, 2026.
  • Why: Iran accuses the U.S. of violating terms by not releasing funds and continuing military aggression.
  • How: Through diplomatic statements from the Iranian Foreign Ministry and renewed kinetic military actions.
• Detention of U.S. Congressman Ro Khanna
  • Who: U.S. Congressman Ro Khanna (California Democrat).
  • What: Unprecedented detention by Israeli forces and settlers.
  • Where: South Al-Khalil (Hebron) Hills, Occupied West Bank.
  • When: July 2026 (prior to broadcast on July 13).
  • Why: Settlers blocked the congressional convoy; the IDF allegedly sided with the settlers.
  • How: Armed settlers brandishing M4 rifles blocked the van for 20 minutes, mocking and videotaping the delegation until U.S. embassy intervention.

Internal Crises and Social Unrest

• National Uprising and General Strike in Bolivia
  • Who: Indigenous movements, workers' unions (COB), and miners.
  • What: A mass uprising and general strike against the government of President Rodrigo Paz.
  • Where: Across Bolivia; 75+ barricades erected on major highways.
  • When: July 2026 (ongoing).
  • Why: High inflation, shortages of goods, and the government’s restoration of ties with Israel and the U.S.
  • How: Paralyzing the national economy through 24-hour highway blockades and clashes with the army.
• Massive Funeral Processions in Iran and Iraq
  • Who: An estimated 40 million mourners (including Iranians, Iraqis, and international delegations).
  • What: Funeral ceremonies and processions for the late Ayatollah Khamenei.
  • Where: Tehran and Mashhad (Iran); Najaf and Karbala (Iraq).
  • When: Week of July 7–13, 2026.
  • Why: National grieving and a show of defiance against the U.S. and Israel.
  • How: Spontaneous and organized mass gatherings; cities paralyzed by "endless crowds" and "seas of humanity."
• U.S. Midterm Election Cycle
  • Who: President Donald Trump, the Republican Party, and the Democratic Party.
  • What: Midterm elections characterized by low approval ratings for the incumbent.
  • Where: United States.
  • When: Cycle ongoing in July 2026; elections set for November.
  • Why: Public backlash against the "war of choice" with Iran and rising domestic gas prices.
  • How: Through candidate filings and primary contests (e.g., the primary win of ex-military intelligence candidate Kate uh…).

Let's try again:

Read carefully through the coverage and construct a bulleted list that forms an "event database" of the significant events discussed in the coverage.
Make sure to capture the who/what/where/when/why/how for every event inline in the text of each bullet.
Each bullet should be one event.
Include key details, such as the number of protesters/ill/arrested/killed/dollar amounts/etc.

• IRGC Missile Strikes on U.S. Regional Bases: On July 13, 2026, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched five waves of missile and drone attacks targeting U.S. installations, including fuel tanks at Ali as Salim base in Kuwait, radar systems at Ahmed Al-Jaber base, and drone command centers at Isa air base in Bahrain and Prince Hassan airbase in Jordan.
• Assassination and Funeral of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei: Transcripts confirm the leader was assassinated in a "coordinated US-Israeli attack" on Feb 28. In July 2026, over 40 million people reportedly attended funeral processions across Iran and Iraq, with the event used to galvanize domestic support for continued kinetic retaliation.
• Death of U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham: Reported on July 13, 2026, following a brief and sudden illness at age 71. The death is analyzed as a strategic blow to the U.S. "regime change" faction and has sparked celebratory reactions from anti-war activists.
• Bolivian Uprising and General Strike: The Central Obrera Boliviana (COB) launched a massive general strike and established 75 barricades across highways to protest the Rodrigo Paz government's pro-Israel stance and neoliberal economic policies.
• Saudi-Yemeni Kinetic Exchange: Saudi forces targeted Sana'a International Airport to prevent an Iranian diplomatic delegation from landing. Ansarullah (Houthi) forces retaliated with missile strikes on Saudi targets in Abha and Jeddah.
• Gaza Conflict Casualties: As of July 13, 2026, the death toll from the conflict since October 2023 is reported to have exceeded 73,200, with recent Israeli strikes in Gaza City and refugee camps killing at least six civilians in one day.
• Russia-Ukraine Energy Warfare: Ukrainian military forces hit an oil refinery in Russia's Samara region, while Russian forces struck targets in the port of Chernomosk in retaliation.
• Strait of Hormuz Blockade: Iran has officially closed the Strait of Hormuz to "unauthorized" traffic, claiming sovereign management rights under the "Islamabad MOU" and threatening to sink vessels that do not comply or pay transit fees to the Iranian side.

And let's run again to check consistency:

• The Assassination and Funeral of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (Tehran/Mashhad, Iran; February–July 2026): Supreme Leader Khamenei was assassinated by a coordinated U.S.-Israeli attack on February 28, 2026, at the start of a 40-day war; his massive funeral processions held around July 13, 2026, drew an estimated 15 to 43 million mourners to cities like Tehran and Mashhad to honor his legacy as a leader who stood against "imperialism."
• The Iranian General Strike and Highway Blockade (Bolivia; July 2026): Indigenous groups, trade unions (COB), miners, and teachers organized a massive general strike and erected 75 barricades across major highways to paralyze the capitalist economy and protest President Rodrigo Paz’s privatization policies, fuel subsidy cuts, and his administration's normalization of ties with Israel.
• Five Waves of Iranian Retaliatory Missile Strikes (Jordan, Kuwait, Bahrain; July 13, 2026): The IRGC carried out five waves of missile and drone attacks against U.S. regional bases—including Prince Hassan airbase in Jordan, Ali as Salim and Ahmed Al-Jaber bases in Kuwait, and Isa airbase in Bahrain—to retaliate against U.S. aggression; the strikes reportedly destroyed missile silos, fuel tanks, and MQ9 drone hangers.
• The Death of U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (United States; July 12–13, 2026): The 71-year-old Republican Senator from South Carolina died following a brief and sudden illness; the event prompted celebration from some anti-war activists on social media who labeled him a "merchant of death" for his decades of support for military intervention in Iraq and Iran.
• Yemeni Retaliatory Strikes on Saudi Airports (Saudi Arabia/Yemen; July 13, 2026): Ansarullah (Houthi) forces launched drone and missile strikes against Abha airport and targets in Jeddah to retaliate for a Saudi aerial raid on Sana’a International Airport that had targeted a civilian delegation returning from Khamenei's funeral.
• Detention of U.S. Congressman Ro Khanna (West Bank; July 2026): U.S. Congressman Ro Khanna (referred to as Roe Cana) and his convoy were detained for approximately 20 minutes by armed Israeli settlers and IDF soldiers in the south Al-Khalil (Hebron) hills, an incident Khanna used to highlight military cooperation with settler violence.
• Collapse of the "Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding" (Persian Gulf; July 2026): A peace agreement mediated by Pakistan reached a "critical stage" of crisis after the U.S. allegedly violated terms by attempting to establish a new naval corridor; in response, Iran asserted full management over the Strait of Hormuz, leading to oil prices spiking above $79 per barrel for Brent crude.
• Casualty and Damage Reports from the Gaza Conflict (Gaza Strip; July 2026): Official sources reported that the ongoing genocidal war has resulted in 73,200 deaths since October 2023, with recent updates noting 1,200 killed in the West Bank and a 87.1% damage rate to Gaza's agricultural sector, totaling over $3 billion in losses.
• Ukrainian Drone Strike on Russian Oil Refinery (Samara, Russia; July 13, 2026): The Ukrainian military launched a long-range drone strike that hit an oil refinery in Russia’s Samara region, leaving one person dead and causing heavy industrial damage as the four-year war between the nations escalated.
• Israeli General Election Referendum (Israel; October 27, 2026): The Israeli ruling coalition announced that general elections for the Knesset will be held on October 27th, serving as a de facto referendum on Prime Minister Netanyahu's leadership following his failure to achieve stated war goals and his ongoing corruption trial.

What if we rephrase things to just this:

Make a table of all of the events discussed in the coverage with all of their key details.

Summary of Events Discussed in Media Coverage

And finally:

Make an "event database" table of all of the events discussed in the coverage with all of their key details.
Make sure to include any precise numbers or details in the DESCRIPTION field.
Each event should be a single row in the table with ACTOR1, LOCATION 1, ACTION, ACTOR2, LOCATION 2, EVENT TITLE, EVENT DESCRIPTION, METAEVENT.
Break complex events into their individual discrete subevents and give them all the same METAEVENT label - otherwise leave METAEVENT blank for isolated events.

Global Event Database