FridayFri, January 3rd Edition Go Back
Today in the World Countries
- New Year Holiday is being celebrated in Armenia
- New Year's Day Holiday is being celebrated in Russia
- Revolution Day is being celebrated in Burkina Faso
- Winter Solstice (Nyilo) is being celebrated in Bhutan
- People born on this day are Capricorn as their zodiac sign.
Today in History
On this day in 2023
- BIRTHS
- Beka Flacko, TikTok Star, born in Kazakhstan.
- Virginia Sar, Photographer, born in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
- DEATHS
- Walter Cunningham, American astronaut (Apollo 7), who died at 90 from complications after a fall.
- TV SERIES
- Will Trent: Season 1 is released. Special Agent Will Trent (Ramón Rodríguez), who grew up in the foster care system, solves cases for the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) in this drama series based on Karin Slaughter's book series.
- SPORTS
- Cristiano Ronaldo joins Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr for the “biggest salary ever in football”, leaving Manchester United after criticizing it publicly.
On this day in 2022
- EVENTS
- America records one million new COVID-19 pandemic cases for the first time, Omicron accounting for an estimated 95% of these.
- Apple becomes the first US company to be worth $3 trillion in value, after tripling its price in under four years.
- Rock singer David Lee Roth cancels his pre-retirement residency in Las Vegas due to "unforeseen circumstances related to COVID...".
- Scotsman Peter Wright wins his second PDC World Darts Championship; beats Michael Smith of England,7-5 at the Alexandra Palace in London.
- DEATHS
- Bob Proctor, Motivational Speaker.
- Igor Bogdanoff, TV Show Host.
- Kamel Lemoui, Algerian soccer defender (7 caps; AS Béziers Hérault) and manager (Algeria 1988-89), who died from COVID-19 pandemic at 82.
- TV SERIES
- The Cleaning Lady: Season 1 is released. Thony (Elodie Yung), a Cambodian doctor, is forced to find work with a crime organization to help pay for treatment for her ill son in this adaptation of the Argentinean drama of the same name.
- SPORTS
- Viktor Saneyev, Georgian athlete (Olympics 3 x gold, Soviet Union, triple jump 1968,72,76; silver 1980), who died at 76.
On this day in 2021
- EVENTS
- Welshman Gerwyn Price wins his first PDC World Darts Championship; beats Gary Anderson of Scotland,7-3 at the Alexandra Palace in London.
- DEATHS
- Roger Hassenforder, French racing cyclist (8 stage wins Tour de France 1955-59), who died at 90.
- Gerry Marsden, British rock vocalist (Gerry & Pacemakers - "How Do You Do It?" ; "Ferry Cross The Mersey"), and TV personality, who died from a blood infection at 78 [2].
- TV SERIES
- Call Me Kat: Season 1 is released. 39-year-old Kat (Mayim Bialik) opens a cat café in Louisville with her wedding money and strives to prove to her mother (Swoosie Kurtz) you can't have everything you want in this comedy based on the British series, Miranda.
- The Great North: Season 1 is released. The animated comedy set in Alaska follows the Tobin family led by single father Beef (voiced by Nick Offerman) and his children: Judy (voiced by Jenny Slate), Wolf (voiced by Will Forte), Ham (voiced by Paul Rust), and Moon (voiced by Aparna Nancherla).
- The Watch (2021): Season 1 is released. Captain Sam Vimes (Richard Dormer) leads the misfits cops of City Watch which includes Lady Sybil Ramkin (Lara Rossi), Constable Cheery (Jo Eaton-Kent), Constable Carrot (Adam Hugill), Corporal Angua (Marama Corlett), Sergeant Detritus (voiced by Ralph Ineson), and Death (Wendell Pierce), as they seek to stop the resurrection of a dragon in this fantasy series inspired by characters in Terry Pratchett's Discworld series of novels.
- POLITICS
- US President Donald Trump says to Georgia's secretary of state Brad Raffensperger "I just want to find 11,780 votes, which is one more than we have, ” in recording released by the Washington Post.
- SPORTS
- English musician Gerry Marsden died age 78 after being diagnosed with a blood infection in his heart. With Gerry And The Pacemakers he had the 1963 UK No.1 single 'How Do You Do It' and the 1965 US No.6 single, 'Ferry Cross The Mersey'. In common with The Beatles they came from Liverpool, were managed by Brian Epstein, and were recorded by George Martin. Their cover of 'You'll Never Walk Alone' was released in 1963, peaking at No.1. After becoming a chart hit the song gained popularity on the Anfield terraces, and the song quickly became the football anthem of Liverpool F.C., which adopted 'You'll Never Walk Alone' as its official motto on its coat of arms..
On this day in 2020
- EVENTS
- Swedish singer and guitarist Bo Winberg died. He was a member of The Spotnicks, who together with the Shadows and the Ventures are counted as one of the most famous instrumental bands during the 1960s. The Spotnicks were famous for wearing 'space suit' costumes on stage, and for their innovative electronic guitar sound..
- US drone strike kills top Iranian security and intelligence commander, Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani outside Baghdad airport in Iraq.
- Sir Rod Stewart was charged by police following an alleged altercation at a hotel in Florida on New Year’s Eve. A police document released in the US accused Stewart of punching a security guard after he and his companions, including his son Sean, attempted to get into a private party in a children’s area at the Breakers Palm Beach Hotel..
- DEATHS
- Qasem Soleimani, Iranian major general of the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, killed at 62 in a US drone strike outside Baghdad airport, Iraq.
- Bo Winberg, Swedish instrumental rock guitarist (The Spotnicks - "Hava Nagila" ; "Amapola" ; "Karelia"), who died at 80.
- MOVIES: R
- The Grudge is released. After a young mother murders her family in her own house, a single mother and young detective tries to investigate and solve the case. Later, she discovers the house is cursed by a vengeful ghost that dooms those who enter it with a violent death. Now, she runs to save herself and her son from demonic spirits from the cursed house in her neighborhood.
- GAMING: SWITCH
- Dr. Kawashima's Brain Training for Nintendo Switch for Switch is released. Get ready to challenge your brain in a variety of ways in Dr Kawashima’s Brain Training for Nintendo Switch. Enjoy new exercises, some of them making use of the right Joy-Con’s IR Motion Camera*, or tap and train with classic exercises from past Brain Training games that you can play using a stylus (included with the packaged version from retail stores) or your finger. It’s in your hands.
- SPORTS
- Pete Brewster, American football end & coach (NFL Pro Bowl 1955,56; Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers), who died at 89.
On this day in 2019
- EVENTS
- " Surviving R. Kelly" docuseries investigating sexual abuse by R& B singer R. Kelly premieres on Lifetime in the US.
- 116th US Congress convenes in Washington, D.C., electing Nancy Pelosi Speaker of the House of Representatives for the second time.
- Chinese Chang'e-4 spacecraft becomes the first ever to touch down on the far side of the Moon.
- Archaeologists in Mexico announce discovery of pre-Aztec temple to god Xipe Tótec in Puebla state (dated 900-1150 AD).
- TV SERIES
- Surviving R. Kelly: Season 1 is released. The six-part documentary series features interviews with the young women who allege to have suffered sexual, mental, and physical abuse from the R&B singer as well as music industry professionals, journalists, former employees and family members of Kelly.
- GAMING: SWITCH
- Pang Adventures for Switch is released. The Pang series is a beloved collection of arcade video games from the early 90s. Guide two brothers on a quest around the world to save humankind from a massive alien invasion! Use your wits and skills to overcome the attack balls pouring from the skies and rescue the world’s cities and landmarks from impending annihilation!
On this day in 2018
- EVENTS
- Previously unknown ancient Beringians group of people unearthed in Alaska, earliest known Native Americans at 11,500 years old.
- Security expert reveal two security flaws, Meltdown and Spectre which affect most microprocessors.
- First bionic hand with a sense of touch, for use outside a lab unveiled in Rome.
- Landslide and flooding caused by heavy rains in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, kills at least 37.
- WEDDINGS
- Actress Ellen Page reveals she has married dancer Emma Portner.
- DEATHS
- Colin Brumby, Australian composer (Fibonacci Variations), conductor (Queensland Opera,1968-71), and educator, who died at 84.
- Konrad Ragossnig, Austrian classical guitarist and lutenist, who died at 85.
- TV SERIES
- grown-ish: Season 1 is released. The spin-off of ABC's Black-ish follows eldest daughter Zoey Johnson (Yara Shahidi) as she begins her freshman year at California University.
- The X-Files: Season 11 is released. As Mulder and Scully seek to locate their son William they also tangle with a mysterious organization run by Erika Price (Barbara Hershey) in 10 new episodes.
- 9-1-1: Season 1 is released. LAPD officer Athena Grant (Angela Bassett), firefighter Bobby Nash (Peter Krause), and 911 operator (Connie Britton) are just some of the of the first responders in this procedural drama from Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk.
- POLITICS
- Lawyers of US President Donald Trump try to stop the publication of book on Trump's administration "Fire and Fury" by Michael Wolff.
- Bra Willie [Keorapetse Kgositsile], South African poet & political activist (Point of Departure: Fire Dance Fire Song), who died at 79.
- SEPERATIONS
- Canadian actress Ellen Page reveals she has married Canadian dancer and choreographer Emma Portner; divorce in 2021.
On this day in 2017
- EVENTS
- Vinyl sales topped three million last year, the highest UK total in 25 years. More than 3.2 million records were sold in 2016, a rise of 53% on the previous year, according to the BPI, which represents the music industry.David Bowie's Blackstar was the most popular album on vinyl, selling more than double the number of copies of 2015's biggest-seller, Adele's 25..
- DEATHS
- Igor Volk, Soviet cosmonaut (Soyuz T-12) & test pilot, who died at 79.
On this day in 2016
- EVENTS
- Jimmy Butler breaks Michael Jordan's Chicago Bulls record for points in an NBA half, scoring 40 of his 42 points in the second half to lead the Bulls in a 115-113 victory over the Toronto Raptors.
- Scotsman Gary Anderson retains his PDC World Darts Championship beating Adrian Lewis of England,7-5 at the Alexandra Palace, London.
- DEATHS
- Steve Reny, Race Car Driver.
- Paul Bley, Pianist.
- TV SERIES
- Downton Abbey: Season 6 is released. The final season of the drama series takes place in 1925.
- Cooper Barrett's Guide to Surviving Life: Season 1 is released. The comedy created by Jay Lacopo follows the misadventures of 26-year-old Cooper Barrett (Jack Cutmore-Scott), his married brother (Justin Bartha), and his two roommates (James Earl and Charlie Saxton), as they struggle with dating and work life.
- Bordertown (2016): Season 1 is released. The animated comedy from Mark Hentemann and ?Seth MacFarlane focuses on two families living near the US/Mexico border.
On this day in 2015
- EVENTS
- Over 2,000 people are killed in north-east Nigeria after Boko Haram militants raze the town of Baga.
- 18 people are killed after the Norwegian cargo ship MS Bulk Jupiter sinks off the coast of Vietnam.
- DEATHS
- Ivan Jullien, French jazz and session trumpeter and bandleader, who died at 80.
- Bernice Madigan, Supercentenarian.
- Allie Sherman, American NFL coach (Winnipeg Blue Bombers 1953-56 CFL; New York Giants 1961–68), who died at 91.
- POLITICS
- Edward W. Brooke (R-Mass), American politician & first popularly elected African American to the US Senate (1967-79), who died at 95.
On this day in 2014
- EVENTS
- Cambodian garment workers go on strike demanding a wage increase.
- Tommy Lynn Sells is executed at Texas State Penitentiary, Huntsville, for the murder of nine-year-old Mary Perez, thought to have committed 21 more murders.
- DEATHS
- Tom Rosenthal, British publisher & broadcaster, who died at 78.
- Phil Everly, American rock and roll singer-guitarist (The Everly Brothers - "Bye, Bye Love" ; "Wake Up Little Susie" ; "When WIll I Be Loved"), who died of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease at 74.
- Saul Zaentz, American record company executive (Fantasy), and film producer (One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest; Amadeus; The Unbearable Lightness Of Being; The English Patient), who died of Alzheimer's disease complications at 92.
- MOVIES: NOT RATED
- Interior. Leather Bar. is released. In order to avoid an X rating,40 minutes of gay S&M footage was rumored to be cut and destroyed from the 1980 film, “Cruising.” Inspired by the mythology of this controversial film, filmmakers James Franco and Travis Mathews collaborate to imagine their own lost footage. Amid the backdrop of a frenzied film set, actor Val Lauren reluctantly agrees to take the lead in the film. Val is repeatedly forced to negotiate his boundaries during scenes on and “off camera, ” as unsimulated gay sex happens around him. The film itself is constructed as a play with boundaries remaining queer in subject and form. As much a film about filmmaking as it is about an exploration of sexual and creative freedom, “Interior. Leather Bar.” defies easy categorization.
- MOVIES: R
- Beyond Outrage is released. A manipulative police crackdown on organized crime ignites a tricky power struggle involving the two biggest yakuza families.
- Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones is released. After being "marked, "Jesse (Andrew Jacobs) begins to be pursued by mysterious forces while his family and friends try to save him.
- GAMING: PC
- continue?9876543210 for PC is released. You are a dead, failed video game character wandering through the recesses of the Random Access Memory, trying to find peace in the final moments of your existence before being deleted forever...