ThursdayThu, April 16th Edition Go Back
Today in the World Countries
- Cambodian New Year (Day 3) is being celebrated in Cambodia
- Lao New Year is being celebrated in Laos
- Ram Navami is being celebrated in Nepal
- Songkran observed is being celebrated in Thailand
- Thingyan Water Festival (Day 4) is being celebrated in Myanmar
- People born on this day are Aries as their zodiac sign.
Today in History
On this day in 2023
- EVENTS
- Broadway’s longest-running show, Andrew Lloyd Webber and Charles Hart's musical "Phantom of the Opera", directed by Hal Prince and starring Laird Mackintosh substituting for ill Ben Crawford) and Emelie Kouatchou, closes at Majestic Theater, NYC, after 13,981 performances and 7 Tony Award wins [2].
- Spanish extreme athlete Beatriz Flamini exits a deep cave in Granada, Spain, after spending 500 days isolated underground in probable world record, as part of social isolation experiment.
- BIRTHS
- Sofia Hills, Fitness Instructor, born in Greece.
- DEATHS
- Ahmad Jamal [Frederick Jones], American jazz pianist, composer, bandleader and educator, who died of prostate cancer at 92.
- TV SERIES
- Barry: Season 4 is released. Barry is prison in the fourth and final season of the dark comedy from Bill Hader and Alec Berg.
- Waco: The Aftermath is released. The five-part miniseries sequel to 2018's Waco focuses on the results from the 1993 Waco siege including the Branch Davidians and its connection to Timothy McVeigh.
On this day in 2022
- DEATHS
- Joachim Streich, German soccer striker (102 caps GDR; FC Hansa Rostock,1. FC Magdeburg) and manager (1. FC Magdeburg), who died at 71.
On this day in 2021
- EVENTS
- Raúl Castro confirms he is resigning as Cuban Communist Party leader, ending his family's six decade leadership of Cuba.
- English harmonica player and vocalist Lew Lewis died. He was a member of Eddie and the Hot Rods before forming his own bands and released a solo single for Stiff Records. Influenced in style by Little Walter, he also guested on albums by The Stranglers, The Clash and others. In 1987, Lewis was given a seven-year jail sentence for armed robbery, after holding up a post office with a fake pistol, stealing £5,000 and trying to escape on a shopping bike..
- English songwriter Barry Mason died age 85. A leading songwriter of the 1960s, he wrote the bulk of his most successful songs in partnership with Les Reed. His song writing credits included three UK Singles Chart No.1s, "Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)", "The Last Waltz", and "I Pretend". His songs have been recorded by many artists including Tom Jones, David Essex, The Drifters, Rod Stewart, Petula Clark, Perry Como, Elvis Presley and Engelbert Humperdinck..
- The Kingsmen guitarist Mike Mitchell died. The 1960s garage rock and blue-eyed soul band from Portland, Oregon, are best known for their 1963 recording of R&B singer Richard Berry's 'Louie Louie'. Their first album, The Kingsmen in Person, remained on the Billboard Top LPs chart for 131 weeks from January 1964 to August 1966..
- DEATHS
- Serhiy Novikov, Russian judoka (Olympic gold heavyweight 1976), who died at 71.
- Felix Silla, Italian-American circus performer, Hollywood stuntman, and actor (The Addams Family - "Cousin Itt"), who died of pancreatic cancer at 84.
- Charles Geschke, American computer scientist, inventor and businessman (co-founder of Adobe Systems), who died of cancer at 81.
- John Dawes OBE, Welsh rugby union centre (22 caps Wales,4 caps British & Irish Lions; London Welsh; Barbarians), who died at 80.
- Helen McCrory, English actress (The Queen, Peaky Blinders), who died of cancer at 52.
- Johnny Peirson, Canadian ice hockey right wing (NHL All Star 1950,51; Boston Bruins) and broadcaster (WBZ and WSBK), who died at 95.
- MOVIES: NOT RATED
- Hope is released. Anja (Andrea Bræin Hovig) lives with Tomas (Stellan Skarsgård) in a large family of biological children and stepchildren. For a number of years the two adults have grown independent of each other, with creative jobs in parallel worlds. When Anja gets a terminal cancer diagnosis, their modern life breaks down and exposes neglected love. Alone with her grief and her fears, Anja realizes that she needs Tomas’ full help and support. It’s their only chance. How else will their children find the strength once she is gone, if their parents are unable to weather the storm together? Anja and Tomas are thrown into a crash course in mutual trust, and eventually a joint struggle, to deal with this unexpected and premature death. By getting to know each other anew, they unconsciously become principal characters in a love story, finally learning to truly love each other after a long life spent together.
- In the Earth is released. As the world searches for a cure to a disastrous virus, a scientist and park scout venture deep in the forest for a routine equipment run. Through the night, their journey becomes a terrifying voyage through the heart of darkness, the forest coming to life around them.
- Jakob's Wife is released. Anne is married to a small-town minister and feels like her life and marriage have been shrinking over the past 30 years. After a chance encounter with “The Master, ” she discovers a new sense of power and an appetite to live bigger and bolder than before. As Anne is increasingly torn between her enticing new existence and her life before, the body count grows and Jakob realizes he will have to fight for the wife he took for granted.
- Bill Traylor: Chasing Ghosts is released. Bill Traylor was born into slavery in 1853 on a cotton plantation in rural Alabama. After the Civil War, Traylor continued to farm the land as a sharecropper until the late 1920s. Aging and alone, he moved to Montgomery and worked odd jobs in the thriving segregated black neighborhood. A decade later, in his late 80s, Traylor became homeless and started to draw and paint, both memories from plantation days and scenes of a radically changing urban culture. Having witnessed profound social and political change during a life spanning slavery, Reconstruction, Jim Crow segregation, and the Great Migration, Traylor devised his own visual language to translate an oral culture into something original, powerful, and culturally rooted. He made well over a thousand drawings and paintings between 1939-1942. This colorful, strikingly modernist work eventually led him to be recognized as one of America’s greatest self-taught artists and the subject of a Smithsonian retrospective. [Kino Lorber]
- Beast Beast is released. In a quiet southern town, popular and charismatic theatre kid Krista finds herself increasingly drawn to Nito, the new student in her high school who catches her attention with his impressive skating videos. The two share an easy rapport and quickly grow close. Unbeknownst to her, their lives and that of her gun-loving neighbor, Adam, will soon become intertwined—until they reach a breaking point.
- We Broke Up is released. Lori and Doug, a longtime couple who break up just days before Lori's little sister Bea's wedding to Jayson. In order to not disrupt the fun, the couple decides to pretend they're still together until the weekend is over.
- MOVIES: NR
- Monday is released. Mickey (Sebastian Stan) and Chloe (Denis Gough), two Americans in their mid-thirties living in Athens, meet in the heat of summer one whirlwind weekend. When Chloe’s time in Greece is drawing to a close, she decides to give up her high-flying job back home and explore whether one weekend’s passion can stand the reality of the inevitable Monday.
- MOVIES: R
- Vanquish is released. A mother, Victoria (Ruby Rose), is trying to put her dark past as a Russian drug courier behind her, but retired cop Damon (Morgan Freeman) forces Victoria to do his bidding by holding her daughter hostage. Now, Victoria must use guns, guts, and a motorcycle to take out a series of violent gangsters — or she may never see her child again.
- TV SERIES
- Big Shot: Season 1 is released. After Marvyn Korn (John Stamos) loses his coaching job at a men's NCAA basketball team, he ends up at an all-girls high school in this drama series from David E. Kelley, Dean Lorey and Brad Garrett.
- Frank of Ireland: Season 1 is released. 32-year-old Frank Marron (Brian Gleeson) lives with his mother (Pom Boyd) and plays childish pranks with his friend Doofus (Domhnall Gleeson) in this comedy from Brian and Domhnall Gleeson, and Michael Moloney.
- ALBUMS
- Epic Ten was released by Sharon Van Etten. Fiona Apple, Courtney Barnett, Aaron Dessner, IDLES, Shamir, St. Panther, Justin Vernon and Lucinda Williams cover songs from the singer-songwriter's 2010 album.
- Californian Soil was released by London Grammar. The third full-length release for the British trio features production from Charlie Andrew, Everton Nelson, George FitzGerald, and Steve Mac.
- McCartney III Imagined was released by Paul McCartney. The 2020 solo release from the Beatles artist is remixed and covered by 3D RDN, Damon Albarn, Anderson.Paak, Beck, Blood Orange, Phoebe Bridgers, EOB, Dominic Fike, Josh Homme, Khruangbin, St. Vincent, and Idris Elba (only on the physical releases).
- Never the Right Time was released by Andy Stott. The latest full-length release for the Manchester-based electronic producer features guest vocals from Alison Skidmore.
- Let the Bad Times Roll was released by The Offspring. The first full-length studio release since 2012 for the Southern California punk band led by Dexter Holland was produced by Bob Rock.
- The Battle at Garden's Gate was released by Greta Van Fleet. The second full-length release for the Michigan rock band was recorded with producer Greg Kurstin.
- ULTRAPOP was released by The Armed. The fourth full-length studio release for the hardcore collective from Detroit features contributions from such artist as Ben Chisholm, Mark Lanegan, Troy Van Leeuwen, and Ben Koller.
- GAMING: PLAYSTATION 5
- MLB The Show 21 for PlayStation 5 is released. Be a 2-way star. For the first time, take your Ball Player from Road To The Show and use him in other game modes. Now your Ball Player can be a 2-way star. Enjoy Franchise improvements and updates to March To October which empower you to better make decisions on the future of your club. Live content now streamlines programs to provide clearer goals, faster paths to rewards based on how you play, and welcomes a new class of Legends to build your dream squad. New to MLB The Show this year is gameplay styles alongside new gameplay onboarding tutorials to expand gameplay for all playstyles and skill levels. Casual: An easier, fun, pick-up and play experience with an emphasis on learning the game. Simulation: Authentic MLB experience that plays true to player and team ratings. A balance between stick skills and player attributes. Competitive: User stick skills reign supreme, greater emphasis on user input over player ratings. Our new online H2H default.
On this day in 2020
- EVENTS
- 22 million Americans have filed for unemployment in 4 weeks (5.2 million in the last week), wiping out 9 1/2 years of job gains.
- New study claims a multi-decade megadrought is already under way in the western US, published in journal "Science".
- Nationwide State of Emergency declared in Japan till 6 May due to the worsening COVID-19 pandemic outbreak.
- DEATHS
- Kenneth Gilbert, Canadian harpsichordist, organist, musicologist, and educator, who died at 88.
- Howard Finkel, American pro wrestling ring announcer (WWE Hall of Fame), who died from stroke complications at 69.
- Gene Deitch, American illustrator (Tom Terrific, Nudnik), who died at 95.
- Steve Cash, YouTube personality (Talking Kitty Cat), commits suicide at 40.
- Talking Kitty Cat, YouTube Star.
- GAMING: PC
- Fallout 76: Wastelanders for PC is released. In addition to introducing fully voiced NPCs to the world of Fallout 76, Wastelanders brings a brand-new main questline, new locations, new enemies, new weapons, a new reputation system and much more.
- Drug Dealer Simulator for PC is released. Have you ever thought about expanding your own crime empire, without the legal and moral consequences? SIMULATE IT! Now you will finally be able to crawl into the dark alleys of the drug dealing business! Become a street business mastermind, or a ruthless gangster - it's up to you!
- Fort Triumph for PC is released. Fort Triumph is a tactical RPG emphasizing the use of Environmental Interactions to create rich, challenging and rewarding tactical gameplay. In the game, you command a party of chosen heroes who set out to change the world, one quest at a time.
- A Fold Apart for PC is released. Lightning Rod Games presents A Fold Apart: an award-winning puzzle game that explores the emotional rollercoaster of a long-distance relationship — in a world of folding paper.Featuring:- A relatable, true-to-life story of a long-distance relationship.- Over fifty handcrafted paper folding puzzles.- Beautiful 3D graphics with a tactile, “homemade” paper aesthetic.- The ability to choose the couple that best represents you!After career choices force them along separate paths, a Teacher and Architect vow to make their long-distance relationship work at any cost. Experience both sides of their story as the couple navigates the complexities of (mis)communication and the emotional ups and downs that separation brings. By flipping, folding, and unfolding the paper puzzles in their handcrafted worlds, you can help the couple overcome the emotional barriers of their relationship — but will love endure...?
- GAMING: SWITCH
- Galaxy Warfighter for Switch is released. Taking its roots from the classic games in the shoot'em up genre, «Galaxy Warfighter» conveys the old ideas in a new way. Piloting your fighter ship, you have to fight hordes of enemies with unpredictable strategies and attack schemes. Well, and if you think that the usual enemies are too easy, «Galaxy Warfighter» will put you face to face with the ruthless bosses. You should not underestimate them!
- Make War for Switch is released. Do you want to lead great battles?Make War will give you the opportunity to play as aliens, which have access to the march of time.Make War is a tactical game with sandbox elements where you can place a great variety of weapons on the battlefield to perform a vast range of death and destruction.Begin from the Vikings and the ancient Romans and end up at the WWII and cyberpunk skirmishes.Each location offers its own set of weapons and tactics.You are to study the armies' formation and the enemies' behaviour, in order to choose and place your weapons properly and achieve a blood-soaked victory.
- POLITICS
- Luis Sepúlveda, Chilean writer and political activist (The Old Man Who Read Love Stories), who died of COVID-19 pandemic at 70.
On this day in 2019
- EVENTS
- Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson becomes the highest-paid player in NFL history with a 4-year $140m extension including record $65m signing bonus.
- DEATHS
- Jorg Demus, Pianist.
- Jörg Wolfgang Demus, Austrian classical pianist and composer, who died at 90.
- Fay McKenzie, American actress and singer (The Party, Sierra Sue), who died at 101.
- TV SERIES
- Bless This Mess: Season 1 is released. Newlyweds Rio (Lake Bell) and Mike (Dax Shepard) decide to move from the Big Apple to Nebraska to become farmers in this comedy from Liz Meriwether and Bell.
- GAMING: PC
- Anno 1800 for PC is released. Anno 1800 – Lead the Industrial Revolution! Welcome to the dawn of the Industrial Age. The path you choose will define your world. Are you an innovator or an exploiter? A conqueror or a liberator? How the world remembers your name is up to you.
- GAMING: PLAYSTATION 4
- Ghost Giant for PlayStation 4 is released. Experience a new puzzle adventure from the studio behind Fe and Flipping Death. In Ghost Giant, you are the protector of the lonely little boy, Louis. Invisible to everyone but him, you explore his world and use your size to help him and the citizens of Sancourt.
- Heaven's Vault for PlayStation 4 is released. An archaeological narrative adventure with an entire hieroglyphic language to decipher. Sail the rivers of space, explore lost moons, uncover ancient artefacts, and piece together a 5,000-year-old secret. Every answer feeds into a story that adapts around your actions. Will you uncover the path to Heaven’s Vault?
- Immortal Legacy: The Jade Cipher for PlayStation 4 is released. The search for immortality is just one reason that brings you to Yingzhou Island, located deep in the Dragon’s Triangle. Playing as ex-special forces soldier Tyre, you’re also here to discover the truth behind your mother’s mysterious death. Finding out how that event and her enigmatic past are tied to the secrets that lie at the heart of the island will see you battle through not only a mercenary army sent in to excavate it, but the horrors they’ve unwittingly set free.
- Snooker 19 for PlayStation 4 is released. This is the most authentic simulation of the sport ever created, with TV-style presentation and commentary, true-to-life physics and advanced artificial intelligence. Choose from offline and online modes, from quick play online match-making to global online tournaments that link in real-time with the live World Snooker calendar.
- GAMING: SWITCH
- My Time At Portia for Switch is released. Restore your Pa's neglected workshop to its former glory by fulfilling commissions, growing crops, raising animals, and befriending the quirky inhabitants of this charming post-apocalyptic land. Armed with your Pa's old handbook and workbench, you must gather, mine and craft your way to being crowned the number one workshop in Portia. Help the locals rebuild the town and uncover the secrets locked deep away beneath it. Be prepared though…it won't be easy. The town of Portia is full of friendly new faces for you to meet. Make friends, complete requests, exchange gifts, go on dates and let romance blossom!
- Final Fantasy X / X-2 HD Remaster for Switch is released. Two of the Most Celebrated RPGs of their Generation - Now in Beautiful High Definition!Over 200 hours of gameplay, including the International version content never before released in North America.Relive the fateful journey with fully remastered HD visuals and rearranged music.
On this day in 2018
- EVENTS
- 122nd Boston Marathon: Yuki Kawauchi of Japan wins men's race in 2:15:58; Desiree Linden (2:39:54) first American to win women's title since 1985.
- Kendrick Lamar is the first rapper and non classical or jazz musician to win the Pulitzer Prize for music with his album "Damn".
- DEATHS
- Pamela Gidley, Movie Actress.
- Harry Anderson, American actor (Judge Harry Stone-Night Court), who died at 65.
On this day in 2017
- EVENTS
- World record for gathering of Charlie Chaplin lookalikes - 662 at Manoir de Ban, Chaplin museum in Vevey, Switzerland.
- TV SERIES
- Veep: Season 6 is released. Selina must learn how to live life outside the White House in the sixth season of the comedy.
- The Leftovers: Season 3 is released. The third and final season of the Damon Lindelof drama series.
- The White Princess: Season 1 is released. The tentative peace after the defeat of King Richard III and Elizabeth of York's (Jodie Comer) marriage to Henry Tudor, King Henry VII (Jacob Collins-Levy) is threatened by the appearance of a man (Patrick Gibson) claiming to be the Princess' brother, Prince Richard of York in this sequel to The White Queen.
- Guerrilla: Season 1 is released. Set in 1970s London, the relationship between Jas Mitra (Freida Pinto) and Marcus (Babou Ceesay) is tested when they free a political prisoner and form a radical underground cell that brings them in conflict with the Black Power Desk, a secret counter-intelligence unit within the Special Branch in this drama created and written by John Ridley.
- POLITICS
- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan wins referendum on 18-article constitutional reform package.
On this day in 2016
- WEDDINGS
- Olympic gymnast Shawn Johnson at the age of 24 weds NFL player Andrew East at the age of 24 in Franklin, Tennessee.
- DEATHS
- Peter Tolson, English rock guitarist (Pretty Things), who died at 64.
- Charlie Hodge, French Canadian goalkeeper (Montreal Canadians), who died at 82.
- TV SERIES
- Confirmation is released. The 1991 Clarence Thomas Supreme Court nomination hearings are dramatized with Kerry Washington as Anita Hill and Wendell Pierce as the future Justice.
On this day in 2015
- EVENTS
- British guitarist and composer Martin Quittenton died. He played in the blues rock band Steamhammer, formed in 1968 and Quittenton also worked with Rod Stewart and co-wrote the international hit singles 'Maggie May' and 'You Wear It Well'. Stewart invited Quittenton to join his group The Faces, but Quittenton was not attracted by the wild off-stage antics for which the Faces were notorious..
- An auction of part of the model railway collection owned by record producer Pete Waterman raised more than £600,000. Waterman said he was selling the collection, which included 56 Gauge 1 steam models, to fund apprenticeships at the heritage trust he runs..
- DEATHS
- Martin Quittenton, British rock and blues guitarist (Steamhammer), and songwriter (" Maggie May; "You Wear It Well"), who died at 69.
- Johnny Kemp, R& B Singer.
- ALBUMS
- Barter 6 was released by Young Thug. The debut full-length studio release for the Atlanta rapper features guest appearances from Birdman, Boosie BadAzz, Duke, Jacquees, T.I., Yak Gotti, and Young Dolph.
- GAMING: 3DS
- 3D Fantasy Zone II W for 3DS is released. 3D Fantasy Zone II W is the side-scrolling shooter, first released for the SEGA Master System in 1987 as a sequel to 1986’s Fantasy Zone, in which players control a sentient spaceship named Opa-Opa to fight bizarre invader enemies. The re-mastered version upgrades all visuals from 8 bit to 16 bit graphic standards and combines stereoscopic 3D effects with a host of additional features, including the ability to save games for later review, a Stage Select feature that allows players to save and resume progress mid-game, and adjustable difficulty settings. Further, this game allows the player to experience two games in one, the re-mastered master system version of story mode “Tears of Opa Opa” and an all new Endless Game Mode that takes place in the mysterious “Link Loop Land”, which condenses the all of the fun features of the shooter.
- GAMING: PC
- Halo: Spartan Strike for PC is released. Halo: Spartan Strike is a top-down shooter.
- The Charnel House Trilogy for PC is released. Witness The Charnel House Trilogy, the chronicle of one fateful night aboard a train bound for Augur Peak. Three horrifying adventure games in one, from the depths of the Sepulchre, starring Madeleine Roux, Peter Willington, Jonathan Grier, Jim Sterling, and Ben Chandler as Grub.
- Westerado: Double Barreled for PC is released. Brought to you by the indie game developer Ostrich Banditos, Westerado takes you on a pixilated journey through the Old West where you must avenge the murder of your family. With a deep narrative and a new mystery every time you play, Westerado presents a full experience rarely seen in free casual gaming. So strap on that six shooter and get ready for some serious avenging. It's time to play Westerado.
On this day in 2014
- EVENTS
- South Korean ferry MV Sewol sinks on route Incheon to Jeju,304 drown, mostly students. National controversy erupts over rescue efforts and actions of crew and owner..
- Real Madrid defeat Barcelona to win its 19th Copa del Rey trophy.
- BIRTHS
- Kayson Myler, YouTube Star, born in United States.
- MOVIES: PG
- Heaven Is for Real is released. Todd (Greg Kinnear) and Sonja (Kelly Reilly) Burpo's son, Colton (Connor Corum), claims to have visited heaven during a near death experience. Colton recounts the details of his amazing journey with childlike innocence and speaks matter-of-factly about things that happened before his birth—things he couldn't possibly know. Todd and his family are then challenged to examine the meaning from this remarkable event.
- GAMING: XBOX ONE
- Trials Fusion for Xbox One is released. Trials Fusion melds the classic, proven Trials formula of simple yet addictive competition with the social and visual breakthroughs of the next generation of gaming.