FridayFri, April 17th Edition Go Back
Today in the World Countries
- Flag Day is being celebrated in American Samoa
- Independence Day is being celebrated in Syria
- Myanmar New Year is being celebrated in Myanmar
- Ram Navami is being celebrated in India
- People born on this day are Aries as their zodiac sign.
Today in History
On this day in 2023
- EVENTS
- New Research shows the Great Pacific Garbage Patch now has coast creatures living and breeding in it, including jellyfish, sponges and worms raising concerns about the spread of invasive species.
- BIRTHS
- Alan Nieblas, Guitarist, born in Mexico.
- DEATHS
- April Stevens [Caroline LoTempio], American vocalist (" Deep Purple" - the song, not the band), who died at 93.
On this day in 2022
- EVENTS
- Alex Jones'companies including website Infowars, file for bankruptcy in the US after losing defamation suits filed by families of the Sandy Hook Massacre (which he called a hoax).
- DEATHS
- Jim Hartz, American journalist and newscaster (NBC-TV Today,1974-77; PBS - Innovations), who died of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) at 82.
- TV SERIES
- The First Lady: Season 1 is released. The anthology series created by Aaron Cooley focuses on the personal and political lives of Michelle Obama (Viola Davis), Betty Ford (Michelle Pfeiffer) and Eleanor Roosevelt (Gillian Anderson).
On this day in 2021
- EVENTS
- Canada registers more new daily COVID-19 pandemic cases than the US for the first time as infections surge in Ontario.
- Funeral of Prince Philip, consort to Queen Elizabeth II, held under COVID-19 pandemic restrictions at Windsor Palace, England.
- Global COVID-19 pandemic death toll passes three million (Johns Hopkins University figures).
- DEATHS
- Black Rob, Rapper.
- SPORTS
- Fred Arbanas, American football tight end (All-AFL 1962–67; Super Bowl 1970; Dallas Texans / Kansas City Chiefs), who died at 82.
- San Jose Sharks forward Patrick Marleau ties Gordie Howe's NHL record for most regular season games played at 1,767.
On this day in 2020
- EVENTS
- English bass guitarist Matthew Seligman, best known as a member of The Soft Boys, died aged 64 due to complications of the COVID-19 pandemic. Seligman was also a member of the Thompson Twins, and was a sideman for Thomas Dolby and backed David Bowie at his performance at Live Aid in 1985..
- WHO warns Africa could be next epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic, with over 300,000 deaths, pushing 30 million into poverty as it records nearly 1000 deaths and 19,000 cases to date.
- DEATHS
- Carlos Contreras, Chilean soccer defender (30 caps; Universidad de Chile), who died at 81.
- Arlene Saunders [Soszynski], American soprano,1961-85 (Hamburg Opera; New York Metropolitan Opera), who died of COVID-19 pandemic complications at 89.
- Raymond Van Gestel, Belgian soccer winger (5 caps; Lyra) and athlete (Belgian long jump champion), who died at 90.
- Matthew Seligman, British studio and touring new wave rock bassist (Robyn Hitchcock; Thompson Twins; Thomas Dolby), who died from COVID-19 pandemic complications at 64.
- MOVIES: NOT RATED
- A White, White Day is released. In a remote Icelandic town, an off-duty police chief (Ingvar Sigurdsson) begins to suspect a local man of having had an affair with his late wife, who died in a tragic accident two years earlier. Gradually his obsession for finding out the truth takes over his life and inevitably begins to endanger himself and his loved ones. [Film Movement]
- Abe is released. Twelve-year-old Abe (Noah Schnapp) is an aspiring chef who wants his cooking to bring people together--but his half-Israeli, half-Palestinian family has never had a meal that didn't end in a fight. Ditching his traditional summer camp, Abe begins working with Chico (Seu Jorge), an adventurous street chef who encourages him to think outside his old cuisines. But when Abe's deceit is uncovered, he must grapple with his family, his background, and his passions, and whether even the most lovingly-cooked family dinner can heal old wounds.
- Endings, Beginnings is released. In present day Los Angeles, Daphne (Shailene Woodley), a thirty something woman, navigates love and heartbreak over the course of one year. Daphne becomes intertwined with friends Jack (Jamie Dornan) and Frank (Sebastian Stan) after meeting them at a party. During that time, she will unlock the secrets to her life in a sudden turn of events and in the most surprising of places.
- MOVIES: R
- Selah and The Spades is released. In the closed world of Haldwell, an elite Pennsylvania boarding school, the student body is run by five factions. Seventeen-year-old Selah Summers (Lovie Simone) runs the most dominant group, the Spades, with unshakable poise, as they cater to the most classic of vices and supply students with coveted, illegal alcohol and pills. Tensions between the factions escalate, and when Selah’s best friend/right hand Maxxie (Jharrel Jerome) becomes distracted by a new love, Selah takes on a protégée, enamored sophomore Paloma (Celeste O'Connor), to whom she imparts her wisdom on ruling the school. But with graduation looming and Paloma proving an impressively quick study, Selah’s fears turn sinister as she grapples with losing the control by which she defines herself.
- Sergio is released. Charismatic and complex, Sergio Vieira de Mello (Wagner Moura) has spent the majority of his storied career as a top UN diplomat working in the world’s most unstable regions, deftly navigating deals with presidents, revolutionaries, and war criminals for the sake of protecting the lives of ordinary people. But just as he readies himself for a simpler life with the woman he loves (Ana de Armas), Sergio takes one last assignment — in Baghdad, newly plunged into chaos following the US invasion. The assignment is meant to be brief, until a bomb blast causes the walls of the UN headquarters to come literally crashing down upon him, setting into motion a gripping life-or-death struggle. [Netflix]
- The Quarry is released. After murdering a traveling preacher, a fugitive drifter (Shea Whigham) travels to a small town and poses as the man he killed. Though the congregation loves the drifter’s sermons of forgiveness, the local police chief (Michael Shannon) is suspicious of the man. Soon a gruesome discovery at a local quarry forces the killer to fight for his freedom.
- TV SERIES
- #blackAF: Season 1 is released. The family comedy loosely based on the life of creator Kenya Barris, with Barris playing a fictionalized version of himself and Rashida Jones as his wife Joya, who raise six children together.
- ALBUMS
- Earth was released by EOB. The debut full-length solo release for Radiohead guitarist Ed O'Brien features guest appearances by Laura Marling and Portishead's Adrian Utley.
- Fetch the Bolt Cutters was released by Fiona Apple. The fifth full-length studio release for the alternative singer-songwriter was self-produced and features contributions from Davíd Garza, Sebastian Steinberg, and Amy Aileen Wood.
- Blame It on Baby was released by DaBaby. The second full-length release for the rapper features guest appearances from A Boogie wit da Hoodie, Ashanti, Future, jetsonmade, London On Da Track, Megan Thee Stallion, Quavo, Roddy Ricch, and YoungBoy Never Broke Again.
- Sawayama was released by Rina Sawayama. The debut full-length studio release for the Japanese-British pop artist features production from Clarence Clarity, Nate Company, Bram Inscore, and Nicole Morier.
- The Don of Diamond Dreams was released by Shabazz Palaces. The fifth full-length studio release for the duo of Ishmael Butler and Tende ‘Baba’ Maraire feature guest appearances from Darius, Carlos Overall, Purple Tape Nate, and Stas THEE Boss.
- Nothing Is True & Everything Is Possible was released by Enter Shikari. The sixth full-length studio release for the British rock band was produced by ts lead singer, Rou Reynolds.
- Oneiric Formulary was released by Sir Richard Bishop. The first full-length solo release for the Sun City Girls guitarist in five years.
- Knuckleball Express was released by The Howling Hex. The latest release for Neil Hagerty's Howling Hex project was recorded over eight days and was produced by Clay Jones.
- SPORTS
- Norman Hunter, English soccer defender (28 caps; Leeds United, Bristol City, Barnsley; FIFA World Cup 1966), who died from COVID-19 pandemic at 76.
- Bobby Winkles, American College Baseball Hall of Fame coach (Arizona State University) and manager (California Angels, Oakland A's), who died at 90.
On this day in 2019
- EVENTS
- Beyoncé releases a live album of her 2018 Coachella performance on the same day as her Netflix documentary "Homecoming".
- 10 babies with "bubble boy disease" cured using a gene therapy made from HIV at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, according to new study.
- Terror alert closes schools in Denver, Colorado, due to 18 year-old woman obsessed with Columbine massacre, who is then found dead.
- Research showing pigs brains partially brought back to life at Yale University, published in "Nature".
- DEATHS
- David Lama, Mountain Climber.
- MOVIES: G
- Penguins is released. Disneynature's all-new feature film Penguins is a coming-of-age story about an Adélie penguin named Steve who joins millions of fellow males in the icy Antarctic spring on a quest to build a suitable nest, find a life partner and start a family. None of it comes easily for him, especially considering he's targeted by everything from killer whales to leopard seals, who unapologetically threaten his plans for a happily ever after life.
- MOVIES: PG
- Breakthrough is released. When her 14-year-old son drowns in a lake, a faithful mother prays for him to come back from the brink of death and be healed.
- MOVIES: R
- Hail Satan? is released. When media-savvy members of the Satanic Temple organize a series of public actions designed to advocate for religious freedom and challenge corrupt authority, they prove that with little more than a clever idea, a mischievous sense of humor, and a few rebellious friends, you can speak truth to power in some truly profound ways. As charming and funny as it is thought-provoking, Hail Satan? offers a timely look at a group of often misunderstood outsiders whose unwavering commitment to social and political justice has empowered thousands of people around the world.
- GAMING: PC
- Pagan Online for PC is released. Pagan Online is a fast-paced hack-and-slash action RPG that will challenge your skill in brutal and satisfying combat against countless enemies and larger than life bosses. Master all heroes, each with their own unique playstyle, solo or online for greater challenges and greater rewards.
- Whispers of a Machine for PC is released. Whispers of a Machine is a Sci-Fi Nordic Noir that tells the story of Vera, a cybernetically augmented detective in a post-AI world, who investigates a string of murders and unravels a dark conflict over forbidden technology.
- GAMING: SWITCH
- Truberbrook for Switch is released. Trüberbrook is a mystery-sci-fi adventure game. Enjoy an adventurous vacation to a 1960's parallel universe. A Sci-Fi-Mystery Adventure Game with handmade scenery. Imagine yourself on a vacation to Europe in the late sixties. Now, picture yourself as a young American scientist; Hans Tannhauser. While you're at it, think of Trüberbrook, a remote village in rural Germany. Because, that's where you end up after hitting the continent. But who cares, you won the trip in a lottery! Or at least, that’s how it seems. But don't fear, instead of getting some rest, you could find yourself having to save the world …
- Katana ZERO for Switch is released. Katana ZERO is a stylish neo-noir, action-platformer featuring breakneck action and instant-death combat. Slash, dash, and manipulate time to unravel your past in a beautifully brutal acrobatic display.
- Cuphead for Switch is released. Cuphead is a classic run and gun action game heavily focused on boss battles. Inspired by cartoons of the 1930s, the visuals and audio are painstakingly created with the same techniques of the era, i.e. traditional hand drawn cel animation, watercolor backgrounds, and original jazz recordings.Play as Cuphead or Mugman (in single player or local co-op) as you traverse strange worlds, acquire new weapons, learn powerful super moves, and discover hidden secrets while you try and pay your debt back to the devil!
- GAMING: XBOX ONE
- Snooker 19 for Xbox One 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.
- POLITICS
- Alan García, President of Peru (Peruvian Aprista Party: 1985-90,2006-11), commits suicide by shooting himself as police try to arrest him on corruption charges at 69.
On this day in 2018
- EVENTS
- Protests across India at the rape and murder of an 8-year old Muslim girl in Kathua, Bengalu.
- DEATHS
- Barbara Bush, First Lady of the US (1989-93) and wife of George H. W. Bush, who died following long illness at 92.
- GAMING: PLAYSTATION 4
- Yakuza 6: The Song of Life for PlayStation 4 is released. In Yakuza 6, Kazuma Kiryu will find out exactly how much people are willing to sacrifice for family -- be those ties through blood or bond -- when he investigates a series of shadowy events that involve the ones he holds closest to his heart. Fresh out of a three-year prison sentence, an older and weathered Kiryu comes to find out that his surrogate daughter, Haruka, has gone missing from the orphanage he looks after. The trail leads him to his old stomping grounds in Kamurocho, where he discovers that she has been struck by a car and now lies in a coma. To make matters worse, Kiryu learns that Haruka now has a son that he must look after. With baby in hand, Kiryu journeys to the seaside town of Onomichi, Hiroshima to unravel the truth about Haruka, her son, and a sinister secret that the Hiroshima yakuza are harbouring. From the unparalleled realism of the new setting of Onomichi, a beautiful, sleepy port town in Hiroshima Prefecture, to the latest evolution of Kamurocho, the biggest red-light district in Tokyo, Yakuza 6 is the ultimate iteration the game's blend of gritty crime story, hyper-explosive combat, and all the vices and distractions those locales have to offer.
- POLITICS
- Former F.B.I. director James Comey publishes his political autobiography “A Higher Loyalty: Truth, Lies, and Leadership”.
On this day in 2017
- EVENTS
- 121st Boston Marathon: Kenyan double; Geoffrey Kirui takes men's title in 2:09:37; Edna Kiplagat women's champion in 2:21:52.
- 1st living giant shipworm at 3 ft found in the Philippines, really a type of clam.
- BIRTHS
- Layla Jane Butler, Family Member, born in Utah.
On this day in 2016
- EVENTS
- Singer Joss Stone postponed shows in the Caribbean to be with her sick dog, which she said was "the closest thing I have to a child". She said her pet had "made it through the night"but she had to "go back and make sure she was ok"..
- DEATHS
- Doris Roberts, American actress (Everybody Loves Raymond), who died at 90.
On this day in 2015
- EVENTS
- American jazz composer and saxophonist John Coltrane is awarded a posthumous Special Citation by the Pulitzer Prize board.
- James Anderson becomes the highest wicket-taking bowler in England's test cricket history.
- Jazz composer and musician John Coltrane is awarded a posthumous Special Citation by the Pulitzer Prize board.
- MOVIES: G
- Monkey Kingdom is released. Maya’s world is forever changed when she welcomes her son, Kip, into her complicated extended family. Like all families, Maya’s has more than its share of colorful personalities—and she’s determined to give her son a leg up on the social ladder. When their longtime home at Castle Rock is taken over by powerful neighboring monkeys, Maya's whole family is forced to relocate, and she uses her street smarts and ingenuity to lead them to untapped resources amidst strange new creatures and unsettling surroundings. Ultimately, they will all have to work together to reclaim Castle Rock, where Maya can hopefully realize her dreams for her son’s future. [Disneynature]
- MOVIES: NOT RATED
- Tangerines is released. Set in 1992, during the growing conflict between Georgia and Abkhazian separatists in the wake of the Soviet Union’s dissolution, this compassionate tale focuses on two Estonian immigrant farmers who decide to remain in Georgia long enough to harvest their tangerine crop. When the war comes to their doorsteps, Ivo (Lembit Ulfsak) takes in two wounded soldiers from opposite sides. The fighters vow to kill each other when they recover, but their extended period of recovery has a humanizing effect that might transcend ethnic divides. Set against a beautiful landscape defiled by war, this poetic film makes an eloquent statement for peace. [Samuel Goldwyn Films]
- Beyond the Reach is released. A high-rolling corporate shark (Michael Douglas) and his impoverished young guide (Jeremy Irvine) play the most dangerous game during a hunting trip in the Mojave desert.
- MOVIES: PG
- Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2 is released. Security guard Paul Blart heads to Las Vegas to attend a Security Guard Expo with his teenage daughter Maya (Raini Rodriguez) before she departs for college. While at the convention, he inadvertently discovers a heist - and it's up to Blart to apprehend the criminals. [Sony Pictures]
- MOVIES: PG13
- The Squeeze is released. A notorious gambler (Christopher McDonald) discovers a modest young man (Jeremy Sumpter) in a small rural town with uncommon golf skills. Seeing his potential, the gambler convinces him to abandon his dreams of winning the US Open and start playing in high-stakes matches. They don’t lose. The stakes grow higher and higher until the game becomes “life or death.”
- MOVIES: R
- True Story is released. When disgraced New York Times reporter Michael Finkel (Jonah Hill) meets accused killer Christian Longo (James Franco) — who has taken on Finkel’s identity — his investigation morphs into an unforgettable game of cat and mouse. Based on actual events, Finkel’s relentless pursuit of Longo’s true story encompasses murder, love, deceit, and redemption.
- Unfriended is released. While video chatting one night, six high school friends receive a Skype message from a classmate who killed herself a year earlier. At first they think it's a prank, but when the girl starts revealing the friends' darkest secrets, they realize they are dealing with something out of this world, something that wants them dead.
- Monsters: Dark Continent is released. An American platoon stationed in the Middle East is thrust into battle with a new breed of Aliens.
- The Dead Lands is released. Hongi (James Rolleston) - a Maori chieftain’s teenage son - must avenge his father's murder in order to bring peace and honor to the souls of his loved ones after his tribe is slaughtered through an act of treachery. Vastly outnumbered by a band of villains, led by Wirepa (Te Kohe Tuhaka), Hongi’s only hope is to pass through the feared and forbidden Dead Lands and forge an uneasy alliance with the mysterious "Warrior"(Lawrence Makoare), a ruthless fighter who has ruled the area for years. [Magnet Releasing]
- Alex of Venice is released. Workaholic attorney Alex (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) is forced to reinvent her life after her husband suddenly leaves. Now faced with the humdrum and sometimes catastrophic events that permeate the fabric of our lives, Alex discovers both a vulnerability and inner strength she had not yet tapped all while trying to hold together her broken family.
- Child 44 is released. Set in 1953 Soviet Russia, secret police agent Leo Demidov (Tom Hardy) loses his status, power and home when he refuses to denounce his own wife, Raisa (Noomi Rapace), as a traitor. Exiled from Moscow to a grim provincial outpost, Leo and Raisa join forces with General Mikhail Nesterov (Gary Oldman) to track down a serial killer who preys on young boys. Their quest for justice threatens a system-wide cover-up enforced by Leo’s psychopathic rival Vasili (Joel Kinnaman]).
- Félix And Meira is released. Each lost in their everyday lives, Meira (Hadas Yaron), a Hasidic Jewish wife and mother and Félix (Martin Dubreuil), a secular loner mourning the recent death of his estranged father, unexpectedly meet in a local bakery in Montreal’s Mile End district. What starts as an innocent friendship becomes more serious as the two wayward strangers find comfort in one another. As Felix opens Meira’s eyes to the world outside of her tight-knit Orthodox community, her desire for change becomes harder for her to ignore, ultimately forcing her to choose: remain in the life that she knows or give it all up to be with Félix. [Oscilloscope Laboratories]
- TV SERIES
- The Messengers (2015): Season 1 is released. Five strangers (Joel Courtney, Shantel VanSanten, Sofia Black-D'Elia, Jon Fletcher, JD Pardo) thought to be dying from the effects of an object falling onto Earth are mysteriously revived hours later. They soon learn they have new powers that may stop a prophesied Apocalypse. At the same time, a mysterious man (Diogo Morgado) is found naked and burnt in the desert.
- GAMING: XBOX ONE
- Goat Simulator for Xbox One is released. Goat Simulator is the latest in goat simulation technology, bringing next-gen goat simulation to YOU. You no longer have to fantasize about being a goat, your dreams have finally come true.
On this day in 2014
- DEATHS
- Gabriel García Márquez, Colombian novelist, short-story writer, screenwriter and journalist (1982 Nobel Prize in Literature), who died of pneumonia at 87.
- Karpal Singh, Politician.
- MOVIES: PG13
- Transcendence is released. Dr. Will Caster (Johnny Depp) is the foremost researcher in the field of Artificial Intelligence, working to create a sentient machine that combines the collective intelligence of everything ever known with the full range of human emotions. His highly controversial experiments have made him famous, but they have also made him the prime target of anti-technology extremists who will do whatever it takes to stop him. However, in their attempt to destroy Will, they inadvertently become the catalyst for him to succeed—to be a participant in his own transcendence. For his wife Evelyn (Rebecca Hall) and best friend Max Waters (Paul Bettany), both fellow researchers, the question is not if they can, but if they should. Their worst fears are realized as Will’s thirst for knowledge evolves into a seemingly omnipresent quest for power, to what end is unknown. The only thing that is becoming terrifyingly clear is there may be no way to stop him.
- GAMING: 3DS
- Nintendo Pocket Football Club for 3DS is released. Head up your own football team and shoot for the top. Nintendo Pocket Football Club puts you in the managers seat at your very own football club, only on Nintendo eShop on Nintendo 3DS. Can you keep the crowds chanting and guide your pint-sized players from the lower leagues to the wonders of the world stage? As manager, train up your players and choose your tactics wisely to make the most of their abilities. Once youre satisfied, send your team forth and watch your decisions play out in matches packed with action but dont be afraid to alter your approach if it all starts to unravel before your eyes. Delve deep and show plenty of skill on the sidelines and you could lead them all the way to the glorious treble of the Pro League 1, the Federation Cup and the European Challenge Cup. With enough work, you could even bring the World Club Classic back home.
- Bit Boy!! Arcade for 3DS is released. Witness what happens when the time travelling pixel hero Kubi finds out that he is only a part of a game. Behold his emotions and get excited about the impact this will have on the game. How will the battle between the game designer and his hero turn out?
- GAMING: PC
- Broken Sword 5: The Serpents' Curse - Part II for PC is released. In this second episode, you will burst out from Paris and London, going on to locations throughout Spanish Catalonia and to deepest Iraq, the birthplace of civilization. This episode ramps up the drama, as well as the difficulty – and concludes the themes set up in the first episode. Charles is currently writing a Director’s Message which will aim to encapsulate the historical themes that he wanted to convey through the game.
- Life Goes On for PC is released. Life Goes On is a comically-morbid platform game where you guide heroic knights to their demise and use their dead bodies to solve puzzles. Impale knights on spikes to create a safe path. Catch a knight on a saw blade (ouch!) to strategically land the body on a button. Freeze your knights into blocks of ice to reach higher ground. Make your way through this strange, treacherous, and trap-ridden world to find the Cup of Life. On your quest, you will summon knight after knight and brutally sacrifice them to solve each challenging puzzle. In Life Goes On, death is not a setback—it is the only means to success.
- Wargame: Red Dragon for PC is released. The Wargame series returns to duty, larger, richer and more spectacular than ever before. In Wargame Red Dragon, you are engaged in a large-scale conflict where Western forces clash against the Communist bloc.
- POLITICS
- Abdelaziz Bouteflika wins a fourth term as President of Algeria.