WednesdayWed, January 8th Edition Go Back
Today in the World Countries
- 2nd Day of Orthodox Christmas is being celebrated in Montenegro
- Orthodox Christmas Holiday is being celebrated in Moldova
- People born on this day are Capricorn as their zodiac sign.
Today in History
Happening Today
- EVENTS
- China loosens travel restrictions and reopens its borders after nearly three years.
- DEATHS
- Bernard Kalb, American journalist, moderator, lecturer and author, one of the most respected broadcast journalists of his time (CBS News, New York Times), who died at 100 [2].
- TV SERIES
- Mayfair Witches: Season 1 is released. Neurosurgeon Rowan Fielding (Alexandra Daddario) learns she descends from a family of witches that are haunted by a dark spirit in this series based on Anne Rice's Lives of the Mayfair Witches series.
On this day in 2022
- EVENTS
- American songwriter Marilyn Bergman died from respiratory failure at the age of 93. Together with her husband Alan Bergman they wrote music and lyrics for numerous celebrated television, film, and stage productions including Barbra Streisand's hit ‘The Way We Were’..
- DEATHS
- Marilyn Bergman (née Katz), American Emmy, Grammy, and Academy Award-winning lyricist, with husband Alan (" The Way We Were" ; "How Do You Keep the Music Playing?" ; "You Don't Bring Me Flowers"), who died of respiratory failure at 93.
- Viktor Mazin, Russian weightlifter (Olympic gold USSR 60kg [5 x WR] 1980), who died at 67.
On this day in 2021
- EVENTS
- Storm Filomena hits Spain with 50cm (20 inches) of snow falling on Madrid, resulting in four deaths and leaving thousands stranded.
- Morgan Wallen released Dangerous: The Double Album, with the hit '7 Summers.' It peaked at No. 1 in America and stayed there for 10 weeks, the longest run at the top since Drake's Views in 2016. In March 2022, the album established the all-time record for the longest duration in the No. 1 spot (84 weeks and counting) on Billboard's Country Albums chart. It achieved the most weeks in the top ten of the Billboard 200 by a solo studio album..
- MOVIES: NOT RATED
- Blizzard of Souls is released. Blizzard of Souls pays stark witness to the horrors and brutality of the First World War, as seen through the eyes of an innocent 17-year-old farm-boy turned soldier. Though he is underage, and his dad, a former marksman, is overage for the army, they are both conscripted into one of Latvia’s first national battalions. The thrill of training is soon followed by reality, as shells burst around them in the endless mud. He grows up on the battlefield, fighting at the side of his father and brother, their lives are constantly in jeopardy. [Film Movement]
- The Reason I Jump is released. Based on the best-selling book by Naoki Higashida, The Reason I Jump is an immersive cinematic exploration of neurodiversity through the experiences of nonspeaking autistic people from around the world. The film blends Higashida's revelatory insights into autism, written when he was just 13, with intimate portraits of five remarkable young people. It opens a window for audiences into an intense and overwhelming, but often joyful, sensory universe.
- TV SERIES
- Dickinson: Season 2 is released. Emily struggles with fame as she meets Edgar Allan Poe (Nick Kroll), architect Frederick Law Olmsted (Timothy Simons), and newspaper editor Sam Bowles (Finn Jones).
- Lupin: Season 1 is released. Assane Diop (Omar Sy) seeks to steal a necklace his father was accused of taking years ago in the French series created by George Kay with François Uzan that was inspired by the Arsène Lupin books by Maurice Leblanc.
- Pretend It's a City is released. Directed by Martin Scorsese, writer Fran Lebowitz talks about a variety of topics about New York City, including the arts, its subways, Times Square, and tourists.
- ALBUMS
- Greenfields: The Gibb Brothers Songbook, Vol. 1 was released by Barry Gibb. The latest full-length release for the Bee Gees singer and songwriter features guest appearances from Jay Buchanan, Brandi Carlile, Sheryl Crow, Tommy Emmanuel, Jason Isbell, Alison Krauss, Miranda Lambert, Little Big Town, Olivia Newton-John, Dolly Parton, David Rawlings, Keith Urban and Gillian Welch.
- Heaux Tales was released by Jazmine Sullivan. The 14-track release for the Philadelphia R&B singer features guest appearances from Anderson.Paak, H.E.R. and Ari Lennox.
- Welfare Jazz was released by Viagra Boys. The second full-length release for the Swedish post-punk band led by Sebastian Murphy features production from Daniel Fagerström, Pelle Gunnerfeldt, Matt Sweeney, Justin and Jeremiah Raisen.
- POLITICS
- US Speaker Nancy Pelosi demands President Donald Trump's resignation or he will face a second impeachment, while also calling for Vice President Mike Pence to invoke the 25th Amendment to remove him in the wake of the January 6 attack of the Capitol.
- Twitter bans US President Donald Trump permanently "due to the risk of further incitement of violence".
- Japan's Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga declares a state of emergency for Tokyo and surrounding areas after COVID-19 pandemic cases surge to their highest level.
- SPORTS
- Shirley Wilson, American football coach (Elon University 1967-76; Duke University 1979-82; 88–61–3), who died at 95.
- Tommy Lasorda, American baseball manager (L.A. Dodgers,1976-96), who died of a heart attack at 93.
On this day in 2020
- EVENTS
- Ukrainian Boeing 737-800 crashes just after take-off from Tehran, Iran, killing all 176 people on board.
- Singer Justin Bieber reveals he has Lyme disease, an infectious disease spread by ticks.
- US singer Justin Bieber reveals he has Lyme disease, an infectious disease spread by ticks.
- Iran launches missile strike on Irbil and Al Asad bases in Iraqi housing some American troops in retaliation to assassination of General Qasem Soleimani.
- Duke and Duchess of Sussex announce they are stepping back as "senior" royals, will work towards becoming financially independent.
- DEATHS
- Edd Byrnes, American actor (77 Sunset Strip, Jack the Ripper), who died at 87.
- Peter T. Kirstein, British computer scientist 'European father of the internet'(Internet Protocol), who died at 86.
- TV SERIES
- Party of Five (2020): Season 1 is released. The reboot of the 1990s Fox drama finds the five Acosta siblings trying to stay together after their parents are deported to Mexico.
- Cheer (2020): Season 1 is released. The documentary series follows the competitive cheerleading team at Texas's Navarro College as they go for another national title with their coach Monica Aldama.
On this day in 2019
- TV SERIES
- Project Blue Book: Season 1 is released. College professor Dr. J. Allen Hynek (Aiden Gillen) is recruited by the US Air Force to be the Chief Scientific Advisor to a team that includes General James Harding (Neal McDonough), General Hugh Valentine (Michael Harney) and Captain Michael Quinn (Michael Malarkey) who will investigate cases of UFO phenomena in this series based on the real examinations conducted by the United States Air Force from 1952-1969.
- SPORTS
- Patricia McBride Lousada, American ballerina (Ballet Society/New York City Ballet,1946-51), and cookbook author (Pasta Italian Style), who died at 89.
On this day in 2018
- EVENTS
- Self-declared Republic of Somaliland passes its first ever law against rape.
- US record year for cost of natural disasters announced - $306 billion in 2017.
- WEDDINGS
- Singer Ricky Martin reveals he has married Jwan Yosef.
- Puerto Rican "Livin'la Vida Loca" singer Ricky Martin at the age of 46 reveals he has married Syrian-Swedish painter Jwan Yosef at the age of 33.
- DEATHS
- (Ora) Denise LaSalle [Allen], American blues and R& B singer recognized as the "Queen of the Blues" (" Trapped by a Thing Called Love"), who died from complications from surgery at 78.
- Jenny Joseph, Poet.
- Donnelly Rhodes, Canadian actor (Da Vinci's Inquest, Danger Bay), who died of cancer at 80.
- Denise LaSalle [Ora Denise Allen], American blues and R& B singer recognized as the "Queen of the Blues" (" Trapped by a Thing Called Love"), who died from complications from surgery at 83.
- SPORTS
- College Football National Championship, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta: #4 Alabama beats #3 Georgia,26-23.
On this day in 2017
- EVENTS
- Northern Indian-born British singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Peter Sarstedt died at the age of 75. He was best known for the single 'Where Do You Go To (My Lovely)?' which topped the UK Singles Chart in 1969 (and 14 other countries), and won an Ivor Novello Award..
- 74th Golden Globes: "Moonlight", Casey Affleck and Isabelle Huppert win.
- WEDDINGS
- " Dancing with the stars" pro Louis Van Amstel at the age of 44 weds health coach Joshua Lancaster in Utah.
- Dutch-American "Dancing with the Stars" pro Louis Van Amstel at the age of 44 weds American health coach Joshua Lancaster at the age of 27 in Sundance, Utah.
- DEATHS
- Buddy Bregman, American orchestra leader and arranger (Eddie Fisher Show; Ella Fitzgerald's Cole Porter Songbook), who died of Alzheimer's disease complications at 86.
- Roy Innis, American activist, leader of the Congress of Racial Equality, who died at 82.
- Ruth Perry, Politician.
- Peter Sarstedt, British musician (Where do you go to my lovely), who died at 75.
- POLITICS
- Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani,4th President of Iran (1989-97) and de facto commander-in-chief of the Iranian military during the Iran-Iraq War, who died of a heart attack at 82.
On this day in 2016
- EVENTS
- ISO/Columbia Records/Sony Music release David Bowie's 26th and final studio album "Blackstar" on his 69th birthday; enters charts in US and UK at #1.
- WEDDINGS
- Singer Colton Dixon at the age of 24 weds longtime love Annie Coggeshall in Nashville, Tennessee.
- DEATHS
- Maria Teresa de Filippis, Italian racing car driver (first woman to complete in Formula One), who died at 89.
- German Moreno, TV Show Host.
- MOVIES: NOT RATED
- Anesthesia is released. A snowy New York City night, a beloved teacher, a shocking crime: this provocative drama pieces together the puzzle of a man’s life just before it changes forever. While on his way home one evening, Walter Zarrow (Sam Waterston), a popular Columbia University philosophy professor, is violently attacked on the street. Flash back one week, as actor-director Tim Blake Nelson traces the domino effect of events that led up to this seemingly senseless assault. Along the way, hidden connections between a seemingly disparate group of people—including a self-destructive student (Kristen Stewart), a hard-drinking suburban housewife (Gretchen Mol), and a desperate junkie (K. Todd Freeman)—emerge, forming a complex, engrossing mosaic of lost souls united by tragedy. [IFC Films]
- Lamb is released. When a man meets a young girl in a parking lot, he attempts to help her avoid a bleak destiny by initiating her into the beauty of the outside world. The journey shakes them in ways neither expects.
- The Abandoned is released. Desperate to get her life back on track, the unstable Streak (Louisa Krause) takes a job as a security guard, working the graveyard shift at a once upscale, now abandoned apartment complex. But on her first night on duty, she discovers a horrifying presence lurking deep within the bowels of the decaying building. With her nerves already on edge, Streak must confront demons both real and imagined as she struggles to keep a grip on her sanity. [IFC Films]
- Troublemakers: The Story of Land Art is released. Troublemakers unearths the history of land art in the tumultuous late 1960s and early 1970s when a cadre of renegade New York artists sought to transcend the limitations of painting and sculpture by producing earthworks on a monumental scale in the desolate desert spaces of the American southwest. Today these works remain impressive not only for the sheer audacity of their makers but also for their out-sized ambitions to break free from traditional norms. [First Run Features]
- The Treasure is released. Costi leads a peaceful life. At night he likes to read his 6-year-old son stories, to help him sleep. Their favourite is Robin Hood. Costi sees himself as the hero - righter of wrongs and defender of the oppressed. One evening, his neighbour pays him an unexpected visit and shares a secret: there's treasure buried in his grandparents' garden, he's sure of it. If Costi will hire a metal detector to help locate it, he'll give him half of whatever they get. Skeptical at first, in the end Costi can't resist. He's on board. The two accomplices have one weekend to locate the loot. Despite every obstacle in their path, Costi refuses to be discouraged. For his wife and son, he's a real hero - nothing and no one are going to stop him.
- Sweaty Betty is released. In a cramped row house on the border of Washington D.C., two stories of big dreams take place. Floyd and his family have raised a 1,000 pound pig in their backyard, and are determined to turn her into the team mascot for the Redskins football team. Floyd puts his plan into motion, but the pig, named Miss Charlotte, draws unwanted attention. A few blocks away, Rico and Scooby, two teenage single fathers and best friends, are hanging around the neighborhood. As they scheme up a better life for themselves and their children, they are presented with an unexpected opportunity.
- MOVIES: PG13
- The Forest is released. Sara (Natalie Dormer), a young American woman, goes in search of her twin sister, who has mysteriously disappeared. Despite everyone’s warnings to “stay on the path, ” Sara enters the legendary Aokigahara Forest at the base of Mt. Fuji determined to discover the truth about her sister’s fate – only to be confronted by the angry and tormented souls of the dead that prey on anyone who wanders into the forest.
- MOVIES: R
- Diablo is released. A young Civil War veteran named Jackson (Scott Eastwood) wakes up to find his beautiful wife kidnapped by a band of ruthless bandits. With killers around every corner, the lines begin to blur between who the good and the bad are, including Jackson. As a final gunfight looms for our hero and he is asked to risk it all to save the woman he loves, this action-packed western takes twists and turns that will break even the hardest of hearts.
- ALBUMS
- Blackstar was released by David Bowie. The 25th full-length studio release for the art-rock artist is a seven-track album featuring contributions from Mark Guiliana, Jason Lindner, Donny McCaslin, Ben Monder, LCD Soundsystem's James Murphy, and Tedeschi Trucks Band's Tim Lefebvre.
- Leave Me Alone was released by Hinds. This is the debut full-length release for the Spanish garage rock band from Madrid led by Ana Perrote and Carlotta Cosial (who began as the band Deers).
- Where Have You Been All My Life? was released by Villagers. Recorded live in one day, the fourth full-length release for the indie folk band led by Conor O'Brien re-records some tracks from its previous three albums with new stripped-down arrangements.
- GAMING: PC
- Punch Club for PC is released. Train hard, fight crocodiles and find love. Earn your place in the Punch Club ranks, and discover who brutally murdered your father, in this choose your own adventure boxing management tycoon.
- GAMING: XBOX ONE
- Lovely Planet for Xbox One is released. With boots of speed on your feet, an infinite supply of bullets for your semi-automatic and the ability to jump over twice your own height, you're well equipped to go up against any enemy on your quest to reach Lovely Planet! Balance between jumping around dodging bullets and taking aim for a better shot at your enemies, don't waste time camping at cover spots and waiting for enemies to pop out - artfully evade the onslaught of bullets and defeat all baddies that stand in your way.
- POLITICS
- Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto announces the recapture of drug lord Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, six months after he escaped prison.
On this day in 2015
- DEATHS
- Joe Hines, Race Car Driver.
- Richard Meade, British equestrian (3 x Olympic gold eventing 1968,72; World C'ship gold team 1970,82), who died from cancer at 76.
- Andraé Crouch, American gospel singer (The Color Purple, The Lion King), who died at 72.
- Curtis Lee, American doo wop singer (Pretty Little Angel Eyes), who died at 75.
- Virginia "Patsy" Garrett, American singer and actress (Nanny & the Professor, Fred Waring's Pleasure Time), who died at 93.
- GAMING: WII U
- Chariot for Wii U is released. Chariot is a funny physics-based couch co-op platformer in which a brave princess and her suitor carry a funeral wagon through ancient caves, fending-off swarms of looters while amassing riches, to bury the King's remains in a worthy gold-filled tomb.
On this day in 2014
- EVENTS
- First known interstellar meteor to ever hit Earth - CNEOS 2014-01-08 crash lands in Papua New Guinea.
- BIRTHS
- Sigurdlovesmeat, TikTok Star, born in Denmark.
- DEATHS
- Ernie Derr, Race Car Driver.
- MOVIES: NOT RATED
- The Great Flood is released. The Mississippi River Flood of 1927 was the most destructive river flood in American history. In the spring of 1927, the river broke out of its banks in 145 places and inundated 27,000 square miles to a depth of up to 30 feet. Part of it enduring legacy was the mass exodus of displaced sharecroppers. Musically, the Great Migration of rural southern blacks to Northern cities saw the Delta Blues electrified and reinterpreted as the Chicago Blues, Rhythm and Blues, and Rock and Roll. Using minimal text and no spoken dialog, filmmaker Bill Morrison and composer-guitarist Bill Frisell have created a powerful portrait of a seminal moment in American history through a collection of silent images matched to a searing original soundtrack.
- TV SERIES
- Chicago P.D.: Season 1 is released. The spinoff of Chicago Fire covers the police in Chicago's District 21 including Intelligence Unit Sergeant Hank Voight (Jason Beghe), Detective Antonio Dawson (Jon Seda), Detective Jay Halstead (Jesse Lee Soffer), Detective Erin Lindsay (Sophia Bush), Detective Alvin Olinsky (Elias Koteas), Detective Sheldon Jin (Archie Kao), Officer Kevin Atwater (LaRoyce Hawkins), rookie Officer Adam Ruzak (Patrick John Fluege), and Officer Kim Burgess (Marina Squerciati).
- GAMING: PC
- CONSORTIUM for PC is released. Taking place entirely on board a massive futuristic aircraft, CONSORTIUM is a first person science-fiction role-playing experience unlike any other. The story begins in our world - the "real world"- where we here at Interdimensional Games have developed a satellite (iDGi-1) capable of opening a digital rift through time and space.
- POLITICS
- Ben Garrido Blaz, American politician (Rep-R-Guam,1985-93), who died at 85.
On this day in 2013
- EVENTS
- Steve Nash records his 10,000th career assist against Houston.
- 130 wildfires across Australia’s east coast force thousands to evacuate their homes.
- DEATHS
- Kenojuak Ashevak, Canadian Inuit artist, who died from lung cancer at 85.
- Jeanne Manford, American gay rights activist, who died at 92.
- TV SERIES
- Justified: Season 4 is released. While Raylan investigates a cold case that is connected to his father, Boyd finds his business slowing down with the arrival of Preacher Billy.
- Cougar Town: Season 4 is released. Cougar Town moves to TBS for its fourth season as Jules and Grayson begin their new married life.
- ALBUMS
- Berberian Sound Studio was released by Broadcast. The soundtrack to Berberian Sound Studio, Peter Strickland's homage to Italian horror films, is the final album for Trish Keenan, who passed away in January 2011.
- Contrast was released by Conor Maynard. The debut release for the 19-year-old British pop singer features guest appearances by Ne-Yo, Rita Ora, and Pharrell.
- Blood Oaths of the New Blues was released by Wooden Wand. The second release on Fire Records for James Jackson Toth under the Wooden Wand name sees the singer-songwriter working with a band that includes David Hickox, Janet Elizabeth Simpson, Jody Nelson, Brad Davis, and Les Nuby III.
- Lady from Shanghai was released by Pere Ubu. The 15th studio release for the Cleveland post-punk group led by David Thomas is the band's idea of dance music.
- Signed and Sealed in Blood was released by Dropkick Murphys. Flogging Molly's Ted Hutt returns to produce the eighth studio release for the Boston punk rock band.
- GAMING: PLAYSTATION 3
- Anarchy Reigns for PlayStation 3 is released. ANARCHY REIGNS is a heavy-hitting, action packed multiplayer brawler that puts players in the middle of the battle simultaneously.
- GAMING: PLAYSTATION VITA
- Earth Defense Force 2017 Portable for PlayStation Vita is released. The completely remastered Earth Defense Force 2017 Portable features seven new levels and the fan favorite Pale Wing, which allows players to soar high over buildings in her jet pack and cause destruction from above.
- POLITICS
- 2,130 prisoners held by the Syrian government are exchanged for 48 Iranians kidnapped by Syrian rebels.