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On this day in 2023

On this day in 2022

• EVENTS
• British-Belgian teen Mack Rutherford (17) becomes youngest person to fly solo around the world, landing at Sofia, Bulgaria, after a five-month journey across 52 countries..
• DEATHS
• Ken Jones, Welsh rugby union centre (14 caps Wales,6 British Lions; Cardiff RFC, London Welsh RFC, Barbarian FC), who died at 81.
• TV SERIES
• Mo: Season 1 is released. Palestinian refugee Mo Najjar (Mo Amer)and his family try to adapt to life in in Houston as Mo seeks U.S. Citizenship in this comedy series created by Amer and Ramy Youssef.
• Welcome to Wrexham: Season 1 is released. The documentry series follows what happens to a Welsh football (soccer) club and the town it represents when Ryan Renolds and Rob McElhenney becomes owners of the Wrexham Red Dragons in 2020.
• GAMING: PC
• Islets for PC is released. Iko is an aspiring yet hopeful warrior exploring the land and sky to reunite a series of floating islands. With his rickety airship, he must travel from island to island in order to reignite each one's magnetic core while fighting off the many adversaries standing in his way.Islets is a surprisingly wholesome metroidvania about making connections with the people around you. By reuniting the islands and befriending a cast of charming characters, the world expands and reveals new parts of each area for Iko to explore. Scour every nook and cranny in order to collect the many upgrades hidden around this world and face its numerous hidden challenges!There's also a tour guide to show you around, but you should be careful. The guy's got some really weird vibes...
• GAMING: PLAYSTATION 5
• Soul Hackers 2 for PlayStation 5 is released. Explore a supernatural RPG with stylish summoners and dark dangers lurking under the neon lights of a cyberpunk Japan. It is up to Ringo, an agent of Aion, to save the world from apocalypse.
• POLITICS
• US President Biden announces plan to cancel student loan debts by $10,000 (for those earning less than $125,000) and $20,000 for those who had received Pell grants.

On this day in 2021

• EVENTS
• UN says Madagascar on brink of world's first "climate change famine" with people suffering "catastrophic" levels of hunger, after four years without rain.
• English musician Charlie Watts died at a London hospital at the age of 80. Originally trained as a graphic artist, Watts developed an interest in jazz at a young age and joined the band Blues Incorporated. He also started playing drums in London's rhythm and blues clubs, where he met future band mates Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Brian Jones. In January 1963, he left Blues Incorporated and joined the Rolling Stones as drummer and remained with the group for 58 years..
• British musician Fritz McIntyre died age 62. He was the keyboard player in the original line-up of Simply Red, a founder member of the band, and played from their debut album Picture Book in 1985 until their 1995 album Life. He was the last of the founder members to quit the band. Simply Red had five number one albums in the UK, with their 1991 album, Stars, being one of the best-selling albums in UK chart history..
• Beyoncé becomes first black woman and third person to wear the Tiffany Diamond in an advertising campaign for the company alongside her husband Jay-Z.
• DEATHS
• Charlie Watts, British rock and jazz drummer (Rolling Stones), who died at 80.
• Serge Onik, Dancer.
• Wilfried van Moer, Belgian soccer midfielder (57 caps; Belgian Golden Shoe x 3; Beveren, Antwerp, Standard Liège), who died from a stroke at 76.
• GAMING: PC
• I Expect You To Die 2: The Spy And The Liar for PC is released. Well, Agent, it looks like the Zoraxis organisation is up to their old tricks with a new scheme for world domination. It's up to you to expose their diabolical plot and put a stop to it.Putting your telekinetic abilities and problem solving skills to the ultimate test, you'll once again be risking your life to solve dastardly puzzles and decipher secret codes in all-new highly interactive environments and surroundings.Are you expected make it out alive? Of course not, you're expected to die!
• GAMING: PLAYSTATION 4
• King's Bounty II for PlayStation 4 is released. Offering a fresh take on the fantasy series, King’s Bounty 2 expands upon its tactical turn-based battles to offer players a truly immersive RPG experience that adds weight to their every decision, whether leading an army into battle against unliving horrors, or building relations with local townsfolk. Experience a rich world that blends realism and fantasy, filled with compelling stories, memorable characters and moral choices aplenty. Taking on the mantle of one of three heroes – each with their own unique story – players embark on a non-linear, open-world adventure across a detailed and densely-packed fantasy landscape. Split into two distinct phases, players traverse the realm from a third-person perspective, picking up quests, exploring the wilderness, and getting to know the people they meet. When conflict arises, however, the perspective shifts to tactical, turn-based combat. Players must then make smart use of their units as they fight to win. Set in the vast realms of Antara, a great danger has arisen. A mysterious blight has descended upon its furthest reaches, corrupting the land and all who live there. Refugees from the affected regions have begun arriving in the kingdom of Nostria, putting food and resources in short supply. Once living souls, blight-distorted creatures now roam the countryside leaving chaos and destruction in their wake. The land itself fights for survival, giving your decisions greater weight than ever before. How will you forge Antara’s future?
• GAMING: PLAYSTATION 5
• Aliens: Fireteam Elite for PlayStation 5 is released. 2202. A mysterious distress call reroutes your Marine Assault Unit to LV-895 in the outer colonies, where deadly Xenomorph legions, hidden corporate secrets, and ancient alien ruins await your arrival. Set in the iconic Alien universe, Aliens: Fireteam is a cooperative third-person survival shooter that drops your fireteam of hardened marines into a desperate fight to contain the Xenomorph threat.Face off against waves of terrifying Xenomorph and Weyland-Yutani Synthetic foes alongside two players or AI teammates, as you and your fireteam desperately fight your way through four unique campaigns that introduce new storylines to the Alien universe. Create and customize your own Colonial Marine, choosing from an extensive variety of classes, weapons, gear and perks, battling overwhelming odds in this heart-pounding survival shooter experience.THE ULTIMATE HUNTPlay a pivotal role in the epic events that occur 23 years after the original Alien trilogy as a Colonial Marine stationed aboard the USS Endeavor, battling terrifying Xenomorph threats.SURVIVE THE HIVEFace overwhelming odds against over 20 enemy types, including 11 different Xenomorphs along the evolutionary scale from Facehuggers to Praetorians, each designed with their own intelligence to ambush, outsmart and eviscerate vulnerable marines.CUSTOMIZE YOUR FIRETEAMChoose from five unique classes - Gunner, Demolisher, Technician, Doc and Recon - each with their own special abilities and character perks. Utilize an extensive arsenal of 30+ weapons and 70+ mods/attachments in your effort to eradicate the Alien threat.
• GAMING: SWITCH
• Hoa for Switch is released. Hoa is a beautiful puzzle-platforming game that features breathtaking hand-painted art, lovely music, and a peaceful, relaxing atmosphere. Experience the magic of nature and imagination as you play the main character, Hoa, on her journey through breathtaking environments back to where it all began. - Breathtaking hand-painted art- Originally composed & live-recorded soundtracks- Peaceful & relaxing atmosphere- Lovely & well-designed creatures- Light-hearted but appealing story
• POLITICS
• Hissène Habré, Chadian politician and convicted war criminal, Dictator of Chad (1982-90), who died in prison at 79.
• Kathy Hochul becomes the first female Governor of New York, replacing Andrew Cuomo after his resignation.
• SPORTS
• Jerry Harkness, American College Basketball HOF point guard (Loyola [Illinois]; New York Knicks, Indiana Pacers), who died at 81.
• 16th Paralympic Games opens in Tokyo, Japan.

On this day in 2020

• EVENTS
• First documented case of a person being re-infected with COVID-19 pandemic a second time, a Hong Kong man four months after first infection.
• DEATHS
• Paul Wolfisberg, Swiss soccer forward (FC Luzern) and coach (Switzerland 1981-85), who died at 87.
• Tony Colton [Chalk], British singer-songwriter, and record producer (Head, Hands, and Feet), who died of kidney failure at 68.

On this day in 2019

• EVENTS
• US adventurer Victor Vescovo is the first person to visit the deepest point of every ocean when he reaches Molloy Hole, in the Arctic.
• Billie Eilish ended the record-breaking 19-week run of 'Old Town Road' by Lil Nas X featuring Billy Ray Cyrus when 'Bad Guy' claimed the top spot on the US Hot 100 chart. The song which peaked at No.2 on the UK chart was also a No.1 hit in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Norway and Russia..
• Britain's Prince Andrew denies knowing his friend Jeffrey Epstein was involved in sexual trafficking of underage girls after public accusations made against him.
• DEATHS
• Arun Jaitley, Politician.
• POLITICS
• Brazilian President Jair Bonsonaro orders the army to help contain fires in the Amazon after widespread environmental destruction, wildlife loss and international criticism.

On this day in 2018

• DEATHS
• Robin Leach, English TV host (Life Styles of Rich & Famous), who died at 76.
• Tom Frost, American rock climber (founder gear & apparel company Patagonia), who died of prostate cancer at 82.
• MOVIES: NOT RATED
• Support the Girls is released. Lisa is the last person you'd expect to find in a highway-side 'sports bar with curves', --but as general manager at Double Whammies, she's come to love the place and its customers. An incurable den mother, she nurtures and protects her girls fiercely--but over the course of one trying day, her optimism is battered from every direction...Double Whammies sells a big, weird American fantasy, but what happens when reality pokes a bunch of holes in it?
• Makala is released. Makala (Swahili for "charcoal"), the new documentary by Emmanuel Gras, is a powerful testament to one man's commitment to his family, and his endurance in working to provide them with a brighter future. Kasongo, a 28-year-old man living in Congo with his wife and daughters, dreams of purchasing a plot of land on which to build his family a home. He sees his opportunity to earn money by selling charcoal, culled from the ashes of a mighty hardwood tree that he has felled and baked in an earthen oven. Loading up the bags of charcoal onto the back of his bicycle, Kasongo sets off on a daunting journey – up steep hills and across treacherous roads – to sell the charcoal at market.
• Blue Iguana is released. Ex-jailbirds Eddie and Paul are on parole and working in a New York diner. Their lives are a dead end. That is, until English lawyer Katherine Rookwood walks into the diner with an offer they can't refuse.
• Crime + Punishment is released. Amidst a landmark class action lawsuit over illegal policing quotas, Crime + Punishment chronicles the real lives and struggles of a group of black and Latino whistleblower cops and the young minorities they are pressured to arrest and summons in New York City. A highly intimate and cinematic experience with unprecedented access, Crime + Punishment examines the United States' most powerful police department through the brave efforts of a group of active duty officers and one unforgettable private investigator who risk their careers and safety to bring light to harmful policing practices which have plagued the precincts and streets of New York City for decades.
• MOVIES: NR
• What Keeps You Alive is released. How much can you really know about another person? The unsettling truth that even those closest to us can harbor hidden dimensions drives this thrillingly unpredictable, blood-stained fear trip. Jackie (Hannah Emily Anderson) and Jules (Brittany Allen) are a couple celebrating their one year anniversary at a secluded cabin in the woods belonging to Jackie’s family. From the moment they arrive, something changes in Jules’ normally loving wife, as Jackie (if that even is her real name) begins to reveal a previously unknown dark side—all building up to a shocking revelation that will pit Jules against the woman she loves most in a terrifying fight to survive. [IFC Midnight]
• MOVIES: PG
• The Bookshop is released. England,1959. Free-spirited widow Florence Green (Emily Mortimer) risks everything to open a bookshop in a conservative East Anglian coastal town. While bringing about a surprising cultural awakening through works by Ray Bradbury and Vladimir Nabokov, she earns the polite but ruthless opposition of a local grand dame (Patricia Clarkson) and the support and affection of a reclusive book loving widower (Bill Nighy). As Florence’s obstacles amass and bear suspicious signs of a local power struggle, she is forced to ask: is there a place for a bookshop in a town that may not want one?
• A.X.L. is released. A.X.L. is a top-secret, robotic dog created by the military to help protect tomorrow’s soldiers. Code named by the scientists who created him, A.X.L. stands for Attack, Exploration, Logistics, and embodies the most advanced, next-generation artificial intelligence. After an experiment gone wrong, A.X.L. is discovered hiding alone in the desert by a kind-hearted outsider named Miles (Alex Neustaedter), who finds a way to connect with him after activating his owner-pairing technology. Together, the two develop a special friendship based on trust, loyalty and compassion. Helping Miles gain the confidence he’s been lacking, A.X.L. will go to any length to protect his new companion, including facing off against the scientists who created him and who will do anything to get him back. Knowing what is at stake if A.X.L. is captured, Miles teams up with a smart, resourceful ally named Sara (Becky G) to protect his new best friend on a timeless, epic adventure for the whole family.
• MOVIES: PG13
• Searching is released. After David Kim (John Cho)’s 16-year-old daughter goes missing, a local investigation is opened and a detective is assigned to the case. But 37 hours later and without a single lead, David decides to search the one place no one has looked yet, where all secrets are kept today: his daughter’s laptop. In a hyper-modern thriller told via the technology devices we use every day to communicate, David must trace his daughter’s digital footprints before she disappears forever.
• MOVIES: R
• Papillon is released. Based on the international best-selling autobiographic books Papillon and Banco, Papillon follows the epic story of Henri “Papillon” Charrière (Charlie Hunnam), a safecracker from the Parisian underworld who is framed for murder and condemned to life in the notorious penal colony on Devil’s Island. Determined to regain his freedom, Papillon forms an unlikely alliance with quirky convicted counterfeiter Louis Dega (Rami Malek), who in exchange for protection, agrees to finance Papillon’s escape.
• The Happytime Murders is released. No Sesame. All Street. The Happytime Murders is a filthy comedy set in the seedy underbelly of Los Angeles where puppets and humans coexist. Two clashing detectives with a shared secret, one human (Melissa McCarthy) and one puppet, are forced to work together again to solve the brutal murders of the former cast of a beloved classic puppet television show.
• MOVIES: TVMA
• Arizona is released. Cassie (Rosemarie DeWitt) is a real estate agent and single mom struggling to keep it all together. Things go from bad to worse when a disgruntled client, Sonny (Danny McBride), confronts Cassie’s boss and accidentally kills him. Having witnessed the crime, Sonny kidnaps Cassie to keep her quiet until he figures out what to do. But he makes one outrageously bad – and bloody – decision after another, until things completely spiral out of control.
• TV SERIES
• The Innocents (2018): Season 1 is released. Harry (Percelle Ascott) and June (Sorcha Groundsell) run away together but there are powerful sources that want to separate them in this British supernatural teen series created by Hania Elkington and Simon Duric.
• ALBUMS
• With Animals was released by Mark Lanegan. The second full-length collaboration between Mark Lanegan and Duke Garwood was recorded in Los Angeles, Pasadena and Joshua Tree.
• Woman Worldwide was released by Justice. The live versions of songs from 2007's Cross; 2011's Audio, Video, Disco; and 2016's Woman were recorded in the studio for this 15-track release.
• Dance on the Blacktop was released by Nothing. The third full-length release for the Philadelphia shoegaze band led by Domenic Palermo was produced by John Agnello.
• Don't Look Away was released by Alexander Tucker. The third and final part of the British experimental artist's trilogy of albums that begun with 2011's Dorwytch.
• Go to School was released by The Lemon Twigs. The second full-length release for Brian and Michael D'Addario is a concept musical album about a chimpanzee named Shane raised a human boy and features guest appearances from Todd Rundgren and the D'Addario brothers' mother.
• Performance was released by White Denim. The eighth full-length studio release for the Texas rock band was recorded in Austin over eight weeks.
• Songs You Make at Night was released by Tunng. The sixth full-length release for the British folktronica collective feature the original line-up.
• Rainier Fog was released by Alice in Chains. The sixth full-length release for the Seattle rock band was produced by Nick Raskulinecz and is its first on the BMG label.
• Marauder was released by Interpol. The sixth full-length release for the New York indie rock band was produced by Dave Fridmann.
• Lightsleeper was released by Neil Finn. The debut collaboration between Neil Finn and his son Liam features contributions from Neil's wife (and Liam's mother) Sharon, Liam's brother Elroy, Connan Mockasin, and Mick Fleetwood.
• Negro Swan was released by Blood Orange. The fourth full-length release for Dev Hynes as Blood Orange was self-produced and features guest appearances from A$AP Rocky, Ian Isiah, Steve Lacy, Janet Mock, Anne Muldrow, Project Pat, Puff Daddy, and Tei Shi.
• GAMING: PLAYSTATION 4
• Little Dragons Cafe for PlayStation 4 is released. Little Dragons Cafe is the brand new simulation title from Yasuhiro Wada, father of the Harvest Moon series. Manage your own cafe, work together with the quirky staff members and raise your dragon in order to save your mum from her sudden deep sleep. Features:* Raise your very own dragon: Embrace your nurturing instincts and raise your own dragon! Through wise decisions, proper nutrition, and empathetic nurturing show the world the true potential of your dragon companion!* Create culinary masterpieces and run a successful cafe: Learn new recipes and master the art of cooking while running your cafe. Explore the world, discover new ingredients, and expand your menu (and your restaurant!) while catering to the whims of your customers.* Farm the land and harvest nature's bounty: The best dishes use the freshest ingredients, and the best way to ensure that is to grow your own produce. Till the land and fish the rivers, and gather the most flavourful fixings for your signature dishes.* Serve the townsfolk, make them happy: Not only cook for the people in your town, but also help them with their problems to increase your popularity and the general happiness of everyone around you.
• POLITICS
• Scott Morrison becomes Prime Minister of Australia after defeating Peter Dutton in a leadership spill, replacing Malcolm Turnbull.
• Aerosmith lead singer Steven Tyler sends cease-and-desist letter to President Trump demanding he stop using the band's songs at rallies.
• SPORTS
• French Open Tennis bans Serena Williams'black Nike catsuit from future tournaments citing 'respect for the game and the place'.

On this day in 2017

• DEATHS
• Jay Thomas [Jon Thomas Terrell], American actor and comedian (Cheers, Murphy Brown), who died of cancer at 69.
• Agnes Fenton, Supercentenarian.
• GAMING: PC
• F1 2017 for PC is released. Win the 2017 World Championship, break every record in the fastest ever F1 cars, and race some of the most iconic F1 cars of the last 30 years. The game sports an even deeper ten year Career, more varied gameplay in the new ‘Championships’ mode, and a host of other new features, both online and offline.
• GAMING: SWITCH
• Piczle Lines DX for Switch is released. Draw lines between two numbers to reveal a hidden picture and complete the puzzle. Hundreds of puzzles with free updates. Draw lines to connect pairs of numbers to complete a hidden picture in this feverishly addictive PICture puzZLE game. Connect numbers of the same color, using the same number of blocks as the number. Easy controls lets you draw line after line as you gradually reveal the picture. Play through 100 levels in Story Mode as you follow the adventure of a professor and his mysterious Piczle-Matic camera. Each puzzle solved unlocks the next step in the story. Continue the fun in Puzzle Mode with 200+ more puzzles. Solve picture puzzles in of all sorts, including sports, pets, vehicles, food and many more! Select them in any order or have multiple puzzles on the go, resuming any one at any time. [Nintendo]
• GAMING: XBOX ONE
• Path of Exile: The Fall of Oriath for Xbox One is released. Path of Exile is an online Action RPG set in an unforgiving world that boasts deep character and item customization, endless replayability, countless valuable treasures, and a massive, customizable end-game. The entire game is available for free. Its development is funded through optional community support in exchange for cosmetic character garb to enhance your immersive experience. To compete in Path of Exile's leaderboards, all you'll need is your skill and not your wallet! There are no pay walls, and no paying for power. Path of Exile is developed by Grinding Gear Games, an independent studio from New Zealand that keeps gameplay fresh by providing frequent updates to the core content. Additionally, they offer a new Challenge League every thirteen weeks. These are competitive leagues that offer a new variation on gameplay where players can compete for bragging rights and rewards. [Xbox.com]
• POLITICS
• Charlie Robertson, American politician (mayor of York, Pennsylvania 1994-2002), who died of cancer at 83.
• SPORTS
• Largest-ever lottery jackpot win in the US - $758.7m won by Mavis Wanczyk of Massachusetts in US Powerball Jackpot.

On this day in 2016

• EVENTS
• 6.2-magnitude earthquake strikes central Italy, north east of Rome, killing 268, injuring 400.
• Astronomers announce discovery of earth-like planet named Proxima b orbiting star Proxima Centauri.
• DEATHS
• Michel Butor, French novelist and essayist (La Modification), who died at 89.
• Roger Y. Tsien, American chemist (Nobel Prize 2008), who died at 64.
• MOVIES: NOT RATED
• Kate Plays Christine is released. Actress Kate Lyn Sheil prepares to portray the role of Christine Chubbuck, a real-life news reporter who killed herself on national television in 1974.
• TV SERIES
• Gomorrah (2016): Season 1 is released. The Italian crime drama series based on the best-selling non-fiction book by Roberto Saviano (which also inspired the 2008 film of the same name) is set in Naples where Ciro Di Marzio (Marco D'Amore) works for the Camorra godfather Pietro Savastanno (Fortunato Cerlino).
• GAMING: PC
• Obduction for PC is released. Everyday life is gone. An organic artifact that fell from the sky inexplicably transports you across the universe. You're in a place called Hunrath, with pieces of earth scattered within an alien landscape. Nobody’s here - well... almost nobody. Explore, uncover, solve, decide. This is your story now.
• POLITICS
• Walter Scheel, German politician, West German Foreign Minister and President, who died at 97.

On this day in 2015

• EVENTS
• Physicist Stephen Hawking presents a new theory on black holes at a lecture at the KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm.
• Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg announces that for the 1st time 1 billion people logged into Facebook.
• China stock market's "Black Monday", Shanghai Composite loses 8.5%, sending other international markets lower.
• DEATHS
• Justin Wilson, English auto racer (International Formula 3000 C'ship; Champ Car Series 4 wins), who died as a result of on track accident at 37.
• GAMING: PC
• Mega Man Legacy Collection for PC is released. Featuring reproductions of the series origins with the original six Mega Man games, the Legacy Collection should remind long-time fans and introduce newcomers to what made Mega Man such a popular and iconic character. Mega Man Legacy Collection will feature all six games and more. In addition to the six Mega Man games, Mega Man Legacy Collection features new ways to experience the classic games with the Museum Mode and new Challenge Mode. Challenge Mode remixes gameplay segments from all six games, with plenty of scaling difficulty objectives for experienced players to conquer yet serving as a good starting point for new players, too. Museum Mode contains a comprehensive collection of history, high-res art and original concept pieces.
• Grandia II Anniversary Edition for PC is released. The classic Japanese RPG returns with enhanced visuals, new difficulty level, and features both keyboard and gamepad support.
• Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft - The Grand Tournament for PC is released. 132 new cards add a cavalry of noble knights, powerful steeds, potent spells, and more to your collection. A new keyword, Inspire, rallies minions to perform great acts of courage as they fight in your honor for a hard-earned victory.

On this day in 2014

• EVENTS
• Death Row Records founder Marion 'Suge' Knight was injured in a shooting at a party that Chris Brown was hosting in Los Angeles. Another man and a woman, were also shot at the 1 Oak nightclub, West Hollywood. All three victims were treated at local hospitals..
• Canadian Open Women's Golf, London Hunt CC: Ryu So-yeon wins by 2 from fellow South Korean Na Yeon Choi.
• Nurse William Pooley flies back to the UK for emergency treatment after contracting Ebola virus after attempting to treat patients in Sierra Leone.
• DEATHS
• Richard Attenborough, Director.

On this day in 2013

• EVENTS
• 30 people are killed in a gang battle involving flame throwers in Palmasola prison, Bolivia.
• 4 people are killed in a helicopter crash in the Shetland Islands.
• DEATHS
• Jimmy Blumer, Race Car Driver.
• Julie Harris, American actress (Bell Jar, I Am a Camera, East of Eden), heart failure at 87.
• Des West, Race Car Driver.