Dustin Hoffman’s career that spans nearly six decades

Hoffman rose to fame in 1967 with the movie The Graduate. However, he began his acting career years before then.

His very first movie, The Star Wagon, was in 1966 in which he played a middle-aged inventor whose groundbreaking innovations make others wealthy.

The American Film Institute stated that Dustin Hoffman is firstly an actor and secondly a star, and that he goes ‘to great pains to assure that his performances would be suffused with realism and with empathy’.

The legendary actor Dustin Hoffman was a fresh presence in the American cinema of the late 1960s and he remains so today.

“One of the things that constantly hits me is that when I go outside on the street, what I see is not what I see on the screen. I turn on the television, and what I see on the screen is not what I see in real life. It bothers me. I want to get closer to what I see in life.”
Dustin Hoffman

The institute added that ‘three decades ago, it seemed impossible to see Dustin Hoffman as a leading man. Today, it’s hard to look at him and think of him as anything else. Dustin Hoffman is perhaps the consummate leading man — both a Hollywood star and one of the great actors of his generation’.

Awards

Hoffman has been nominated six times for an Academy Award. He won twice (for 1979’s Kramer vs. Kramer and also 1988’s Rain Man).

He has also earned 11 Golden Globe nominations, winning for Kramer vs. Kramer, Tootsie, Rain Man, and The Graduate. In addition, the Screen Actors Guild has nominated him twice for an award.

These were all awards for his film work.

For his stage work, he earned a Tony nomination for the 1990 production of The Merchant of Venice, and for television, he earned a Golden Globe Award for the 1986 telecast of Arthur Miller‘s Death of a Salesman. For the latter, Hoffman won an Emmy Award for his lead performance as Willy Loman and also earned a second nomination for producing the television movie, as reported by Gold Derby.

Congratulations!

People from all over the world congratulated this iconic actor on his birthday today.

All The Right Movies posted: “Happy birthday Dustin Hoffman. One of the most acclaimed actors of his generation.”

Are you a Dustin Hoffman fan? Which Hoffman movie is your favourite?

Let us know by clicking on the comment tab below this article. You can also email info@thesouthafrican.com or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1.
Follow @TheSAnews on X and The South African on Facebook for the latest news.

Graham Thorpe’s cricket career

People knew former Surrey cricketer Graham Thorpe as one of the finest English cricketers of his generation. He played exactly 100 tests and scored 16 centuries before retiring in 2005.

Thorpe was also capped 82 times in one-day internationals for 2 380 runs. He captained England on three occasions and served in various coaching roles for his country between 2010 and 2022, as reported by Sky Sports.

The England and Wales Cricket Board said that Thorpe’s skill as a renowned cricketer was ‘unquestioned’. They added that ‘his abilities and achievements across a 13-year international career brought so much happiness to his teammates and England and Surrey CCC supporters alike’.

“More than one of England’s finest-ever batters, he was a beloved member of the cricket family and revered by fans all over the world.”
The England and Wales Cricket Board

Graham Thorpe was due to take over as Afghanistan coach in 2022 before falling ill. At the time, he received treatment at a hospital. Apart from reports that state that he was seriously ill, there are no further details available around the details of his illness.

Tributes pour in

Tributes have been pouring in following the news of the renowned cricketer Graham Thorpe’s passing.

One of the cricketer’s former England captains, Michael Vaughan, posted on X, “RIP Thorpey. Thanks for all the advice throughout my career, you were a great player and a brilliant team-mate.”

Current England opener Ben Duckett also wrote on X, posting: “Heart breaking to see Thorpey has passed away. He was one of my heroes growing up and I was fortunate to work with him. My thoughts go out to all of his friends and family during this tough time.”

“We will always remember Graham for his extraordinary contributions to the sport.”
The England and Wales Cricket Board

Channel 7 commentator Alison Mitchell said: “This is desperately tragic news. Aged just 55.”

It is with great sadness that we share the news that Graham Thorpe, MBE, has passed away.

There seem to be no appropriate words to describe the deep shock we feel at Graham's death. pic.twitter.com/VMXqxVJJCh

— England and Wales Cricket Board (@ECB_cricket) August 5, 2024

Did you follow Graham Thorpe’s cricket career?

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About Meghan Markle

Rachel Meghan Markle was born in 1981 and raised in Los Angeles, California. Recently well-known for being the wife of Prince Harry, she was formerly an actress. From 2011 to 2017, she played her best-known role, Rachel Zane, on the legal drama series Suits.

From 2011 until their 2014 divorce, Meghan Markle was married to actor and producer Trevor Engelson. In 2017, she announced her engagement to Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and moved to London. She consequently retired from acting, as reported by IMDb. She also closed her social media accounts and started undertaking public engagements on behalf of the British royal family. Following their wedding in 2018, Markle received the title of Duchess of Sussex. After her and Harry’s departure as working members of the Royal family, they no longer use their HRH titles in a professional capacity.

Markle has celebrated her recent birthdays privately with her husband and children. But even before Meghan Markle came into the royal picture, 4 August was a significant day for Prince William.

Duke of Cambridge: Why is this date special?

On 4 August 1982, the heir to the throne was christened Prince William Arthur Philip Louis in the Music Room at Buckingham Palace. The Archbishop of Canterbury performed the ceremony with crowds gathering outside, as reported by Express Newspapers.

William was just six weeks old when his mother, Princess Diana, and father, then Prince Charles, posed for his official portrait with his grandparents, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, and his great-grandmother the Queen Mother.

Prince William was born at St. Mary’s Hospital in London on the evening of 21 June 1982, as the first child of King Charles III (then Prince of Wales) and Princess Diana.

Prince William’s own children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis also had their own portraits taken at their christenings. Although Prince William and his wife, Catherine, Princess of Wales, opted for more scaled-back ceremonies for their children.

Watch snippets of the royal christening of Prince William of Wales in 1982 below:

Do you follow news about the British Royals?

Let us know by clicking on the comment tab below this article. You can also email info@thesouthafrican.com or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Follow @TheSAnews on X and The South African on Facebook for the latest news.

Obama’s presidency

When Barack Obama was elected president in 2008, he became the first First black US President. He served as the 44th President of the United States for two terms, with his second term ending in January 2017.

During his presidency, he focused on healthcare reform, economic recovery, and international diplomacy. Some of his key achievements included the Affordable Care Act and significant progress in LGBTQ rights, such as the legalisation of same-sex marriage, as reported by CNBC.

Scandals galore

Despite his achievements, Obama faced his fair share of scandals and criticisms during his presidency.

For example, many people in Washington were displeased when, on his first full day in the White House, he appeared in the Oval Office without wearing a jacket. It had been customary, and a standing order from former President Bush, for the president and staff members to always wear their suit jackets in the Oval Office.

Another point of contention was Obama’s refusal to wear an American flag pin on his lapel. The Oakland Press reported that his ‘refusal to wear an American flag lapel pin along with a photo of him not putting his hand over his heart during the National Anthem led conservatives to question his patriotism’.

The Daily Show highlights the top 10 Obama scandals is this video:

What has he been doing since leaving the White House?

Obama signed a book deal after leaving the White House for his memoir, A Promised Land, with publisher Penguin Random House.

During the 2020 US elections, Obama took on an active role in campaigning for his friend and former vice president, Joe Biden.

After Biden won, Obama was one of the first world leaders to take to social media, congratulating him.

“I could not be prouder to congratulate our next President, Joe Biden, and our next First Lady, Jill Biden.”
Barack Obama

In 2022, he hosted and narrated a docuseries called Our Great National Parks. The series is about famous national parks around the world, as reported by Town and Country. This earned Obama his first Emmy win in the ‘outstanding narrator’ category.

Planned projects include a film adaptation of Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom, a biography by David W. Blight about the famed abolitionist.

What did you think of Barack Obama’s US presidency?

Let us know by clicking on the comment tab below this article. You can also email info@thesouthafrican.com or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Follow @TheSAnews on X and The South African on Facebook for the latest news.

NOTE: This article is updated daily.

Below is a look at some of the most notable events that happened on this day:

ON THIS DAY: 28 March

1999 | During NATO air strikes in northern Yugoslavia, an American Stealth F117 Nighthawk is downed.

1996 | Mandela reorganises the cabinet.

1990 | President George Bush presents Jesse Owens with the Congressional Gold Medal.

1979 | A significant accident occurs at Pennsylvania’s Three Mile Island nuclear power plant.

1960 | Following the Sharpeville massacre, Oliver Reginald Tambo leaves South Africa as per the African National Congress’ (ANC) instructions.

BIRTHDAYS

1990 | Laura Harrier, known for her roles in movies, is born.

1986 | Lady Gaga, a renowned pop singer, is born.

1973 | Umaga, a notable wrestler, is born.

1945 | Rodrigo Duterte, a prominent world leader, is born.

1924 | Natoo Babenia, a political activist initially in India against British rule and later in South Africa against the Apartheid government, begins his activism.

DEATHS

2014 | Jeremiah Denton, an American politician, passes away at 89.

2013 | Soraya Jiménez, a Mexican weightlifter, dies at the age of 70 due to a heart attack.

2012 | John Arden, an English novelist and playwright, dies at 81.

2011 | Lee Hoiby, an American concert pianist and composer, passes away at 85.

2010 | June Havoc (Ellen Evangeline Hovick), a Canadian-born American stage and screen actress, dies at the age of 97.

SPORTS

2010 | Liverpool secures a 3-0 victory against Sunderland, with Fernando Torres scoring two goals to keep Liverpool’s hopes alive for a top-four finish. Torres nets his first goal just three minutes into the match with a magnificent strike into the top corner.

ENTERTAINMENT

2013 | Justin Bieber faces an issue at Munich airport as customs officials detain and quarantine his monkey. Bieber, who had recently received the capuchin monkey as a pet from record producer Mally Mall, brought the monkey along for his European tour but lacked the necessary documentation for entry into Germany. Despite the monkey being held by authorities, Bieber proceeds to perform in Munich.

AFRICA FACT

Africa boasts about 30% of the earth’s remaining mineral resources, including over 40% of the gold reserves, more than 60% of the cobalt, and 90% of the platinum reserves.

Here is a look at some of the most notable events that happened on this day

ON THIS DAY: 19 December

2012 | Park Geun-Hye is elected President of South Korea, becoming the nation’s first female chief executive.

2001 | Rioting erupts in Buenos Aires, Argentina, during the country’s economic crisis.

1998 | President Bill Clinton faces impeachment. The House of Representatives approved two articles of impeachment against President Clinton, accusing him of lying under oath to a federal grand jury and obstructing justice. Clinton became the second president in American history to be impeached.

1969 | Milton Obote assumes the presidency in Uganda for the second time. He led Uganda to independence from Britain in 1962, serving as Prime Minister.

1982 | In a meticulously planned attack on the Koeberg Nuclear Power Station in Cape Town, Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK) inflicts significant damage with no reported injuries.

ALSO READ: What happened on 18 December?

BIRTHDAYS

2003 | Makayla Lysiak, a TV Actress.

1988 | Alexis Sánchez, a Soccer Player.

1987 | Karim Benzema, a Soccer Player.

1969 | Richard Hammond, a Journalist.

1792 | Andries Hendrik Potgieter.

DEATHS

2022 | Tom Browning, an American baseball pitcher, passes away at the age of 62.

2021 | Sally Ann Howes, a British-American stage and screen actress and singer, dies at the age of 91.

2020 | Pelle Alsing, a Swedish drummer, passes away at the age of 60.

2019 | Saoul Mamby, an American boxer, dies at the age of 72.

1924 | Jimmy Rogers, a Blues Singer.

SPORTS

1997 | Sugarboy Malinga secures the WBC title. Tulane Sugarboy Malinga, a South African super middleweight, clinches the World Boxing Council (WBC) title for the second time in his career.

ENTERTAINMENT

2012 | Madonna’s MDNA World Tour outpaces all others in earnings during 2012. The tour grosses $228 million (£141 million), drawing over 1.6 million fans in 65 cities worldwide since June of the previous year.

AFRICA FACT

Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, Africa, boasts a total height of 5,895 metres, standing as the tallest mountain in Africa and the highest free-standing mountain globally.

Here is a look at some of the most notable events that happened on this day

ON THIS DAY: 18 December

2010 | The Arab Spring kicks off with anti-government protests erupting in Tunisia.

2008 | The United Arab Emirates conducts its first-ever elections.

1995 | A Zairian aircraft crashes in Angola, claiming the lives of 141 people.

1923 | The first experimental radio broadcast takes place in Johannesburg, South Africa.

1899 | Field Marshal Lord Roberts is appointed the British supreme commander in South Africa.

ALSO READ: What happened on 17 December?

BIRTHDAYS

1997 | Baseball player Ronald Acuna Jr. is born.

1970 | Rapper DMX is born.

1965 | John “Shoes” Moshoeu, the South African and international soccer player, is born.

1964 | Wrestler Stone Cold Steve Austin is born.

1946 | Steve Biko, a pioneer of the Black Consciousness Movement, is born.

DEATHS

2011 | The passing of Václav Havel, the Czech politician, occurs at the age of 75.

2019 | Kenny Lynch, the British pop-rock singer, succumbs to cancer at 81.

2020 | Tim Severin, the British author and explorer renowned for replicating historic voyages, passes away at the age of 80.

2021 | Richard Rogers, the British architect, dies at 88.

2006 | Skipper Bertie Reed, an international sailing legend and one of the most beloved figures in single-handed racing worldwide, bids farewell.

SPORTS

2011 | Manchester City secures a 1-0 victory over Arsenal, reclaiming the top spot on the table. David Silva scores the lone goal in the 53rd minute, propelling Manchester City to 41 points. Arsenal’s defeat leaves them in fifth place with 29 points, three outside the top four.

ENTERTAINMENT

2003 | Michael Jackson, out on bail, faces formal charges of seven counts of child molestation and two counts of administering intoxicating liquor to a minor with the intent of committing a crime.

AFRICA FACT

Cape Town in South Africa holds the title of the southernmost city on the African continent. The southernmost point is Cape Agulhas, also known as the Cape of Good Hope.

Here is a look at some of the most notable events that happened on this day

ON THIS DAY: 17 December

2010 | Mohamed Bouazizi’s self-immolation catalyzed the Tunisian revolution and the subsequent Arab Spring.

2007 | James, Viscount Severn, the son of Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, and Sophie, Countess of Wessex, is the youngest grandchild of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.

2002 | Congolese parties in the inter-Congolese Dialogue signed a peace accord in the Second Congo War, paving the way for a transitional government and elections within two years.

1996 | A Ghanaian citizen, Kofi Annan, assumed the role of Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN) to replace the outgoing Boutros Boutros Ghali, whose term of office had expired. He commenced his duties on January 1, 1997.

1990 | Jean-Bertrand Aristide emerged victorious in Haiti’s inaugural free election.

ALSO READ: What happened on 14 December?

BIRTHDAYS

2002 | Nikki Rodriguez, a notable TV actress.

1998 | Martin Ødegaard, recognized as a soccer player.

1978 | Manny Pacquiao, the Filipino boxer, stands as the sole fighter in history to claim 12 major world titles in 8 different weight divisions and the lineal championship in 5 different weight divisions. He was born in Kibawe, Bukidnon, Philippines.

1945 | Marlise Joubert, an author and painter from South Africa.

1936 | Pope Francis, a revered religious leader.

DEATHS

2011 | Kim Jong-il, the Supreme Leader of North Korea from 1994-2011, passed away at the age of 70 due to a suspected heart attack.

2018 | Penny Marshall, an American actress, succumbed to complications from diabetes at the age of 75.

2019 | Hayden Fry, a celebrated American College Football Hall of Fame coach, lost his battle with cancer at the age of 90.

2019 | Karin Balzer, a German athlete, passed away at the age of 81.

2020 | Pelle Svensson, a Swedish Greco-Roman wrestler, lost his life to cancer at the age of 77.

SPORTS

2006 | Chelsea secured a 3-2 victory against Everton with Didier Drogba’s remarkable late long-range volley in an exciting match at Goodison Park. Everton took the lead in the first half with Mikel Arteta’s penalty, but Chelsea equalized when Michael Ballack’s free-kick struck the post and bounced in off Everton’s goalkeeper Tim Howard.

ENTERTAINMENT

2010 | Sir Paul McCartney held an intimate lunchtime gig at the 100 Club on London’s Oxford Street, a historic music venue under threat of closure. Approximately 300 fans enjoyed a set lasting almost two hours, marking McCartney’s smallest gig in the UK in nearly a decade.

AFRICA FACT

The Songhai Empire of 16th century West Africa had a government position called Minister for Etiquette and Protocol.

Here is a look at some of the most notable events that happened on this day

ON THIS DAY: 14 December

2012 | At Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., a tragic incident unfolded as a 20-year-old gunman shot and killed 20 children and six adults before committing suicide.

2008 | Iraqi broadcast journalist Muntadhar al-Zaidi gained international attention when he threw his shoes at US President George W. Bush during a press conference in Baghdad.

2006 | The ANC (African National Congress) dismissed its chief whip Mbulelo Goniwe after finding him guilty of sexual harassment.

2004 | The Millau Viaduct, recognized as the world’s tallest bridge, officially opened near Millau, France.

2003 | Pervez Musharraf, the President of Pakistan, narrowly escaped an assassination attempt.

ALSO READ: What happened on 13 December?

BIRTHDAYS

1991 | Offset, the rapper, was born.

1988 | Vanessa Hudgens, an American singer and actress known for “High School Musical” and “The Princess Switch,” was born in Salinas, California.

1980 | Ivorian footballer Didier Zokora was born in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.

1960 | James Comey, an American lawyer and former FBI director, was born in Yonkers, New York.

1947 | Dilma Rousseff, a Brazilian politician who served as the President of Brazil from 2011 to 2016, was born in Belo Horizonte, Brazil.

DEATHS

2022 | Billie Moore, a Hall of Fame basketball coach in the United States, passed away at the age of 79 due to multiple myeloma.

2021 | Jethro (Geoffrey Rowe), a British stand-up comedian, died at the age of 73 from lymphoma complicated by Covid-19. 

2021 |  American television producer Ken Kragen also passed away at the age of 85.

2019 | Anna Karina, a Danish-French actress associated with the ‘New Wave’ movement, died at the age of 79. 

2018 | Joe Osborn, an American session bass player, succumbed to pancreatic cancer at the age of 81.

SPORTS

1999 | Clarence Mlokoti, co-founder and chairman of Kaizer Chiefs football club, was shot dead by hijackers while trying to take his car in Pimville, Soweto.

ENTERTAINMENT

2015 | Adele topped both the UK and US charts with her third album, “25.” The album broke first-week sales records in numerous countries and became the world’s best-selling album of 2015, selling 17.4 million copies within the year and a total of 20 million copies as of June 2016.

AFRICA FACT

In 1331 AD, a visitor considered the Tanzanian city of Kilwa to be of world-class, describing it as the “principal city on the coast, the greater part of whose inhabitants are Zanj of very black complexion.” The visitor further praised Kilwa as “one of the most beautiful and well-constructed cities in the world,” emphasizing its elegant architecture.

Here is a look at some of the most notable events that happened on this day

ON THIS DAY: 13 December

2003 | Saddam Hussein, the deposed Iraqi President, was captured near his hometown of Tikrit. 

2001 |  terrorists attacked the Parliament of India Sansad, resulting in the death of 15 people, including the terrorists.

1990 | Oliver Tambo returned from exile.

 1989 | Taylor Swift, the multiple award-winning crossover country singer and actress, became the youngest-ever Country Music Association Entertainer of the Year and the youngest artist ever to win an Album of the Year Grammy.

1985 | France filed a lawsuit against the United States over the discovery of an AIDS serum.

ALSO READ: What happened on 12 December?

BIRTHDAYS

2005 | Prince Aymeric of Belgium, the third child and twin of Prince Laurent and Princess Claire of Belgium.

1995 | Emma Corrin, a British actress, was born in Royal Tunbridge Wells, England. 

1989 | Taylor Swift, the Grammy and Emmy Award-winning country-pop singer-songwriter and Guinness World Record holder.

1981 | Amy Lee, the American singer and songwriter of Evanescence, was born in Riverside, California.

1915 | John, the former South African Prime Minister and State President, was born.

DEATHS

2019 | Richard G Hatcher, the American attorney and politician who served as Mayor of Gary, Indiana from 1968 to 1988, passed away at the age of 88.

2019 | Roy Loney, the American rock singer associated with Flamin’ Groovies from 1965 to 1971, died at the age of 73 due to multiple organ failure.

2020 | Jimmy Collins, the American basketball shooting guard for the Chicago Bulls and coach, died from complications of heart surgery at the age of 74.

1975 | Alexis Preller, a South African visual artist, also passed away.

1941 | Simon Petros Matseke, a prominent figure in African social and political life, died in Pretoria.

SPORTS

1997 | Blackburn Rovers recorded back-to-back wins and moved up to second place with a 3-1 victory at Arsenal. Marc Overmars gave the Gunners a halftime lead, but Blackburn came out fighting after the interval. Jason Wilcox leveled for the visitors, while goals from Kevin Gallacher and Tim Sherwood secured the win.

ENTERTAINMENT

2013 | Beyoncé, the American singer, released her fifth self-titled album. It was developed as a visual album, with each song accompanied by a non-linear short film illustrating the musical concepts conceived during production.

AFRICA FACT

In 1324 AD, during a pilgrimage to Mecca, Mansa Musa, a Malian ruler, brought so much money with him that his visit led to the collapse of gold prices in Egypt and Arabia. It took twelve years for the economies of the region to normalize.

Here is a look at some of the most notable events that happened on this day

ON THIS DAY: 12 December

2000 | The US Supreme Court announces its decision in Bush v. Gore, effectively concluding legal challenges to the results of the Presidential election.

1995 | Willie Brown defeats incumbent mayor Frank Jordon to become the first African-American mayor of San Francisco.

1991 | The Russian Federation declares independence from the USSR.

1963 | Kenya gains independence from Britain, with Jomo Kenyatta becoming the country’s first Prime Minister.

ALSO READ: What happened on 11 December?

BIRTHDAYS

1992 | Rapper Shy Glizzy is born.

1976 | Reality Star Amanza Smith is born.

1991 | TV Actor Jaime Lorente is born.

1970 | Movie Actress Jennifer Connelly is born.

1917 | Benjamin Magson Kies, political activist, and lawyer was born.

DEATHS

2022 | John Gregory, the American football coach, dies at 84.

2021 | Vicente Fernández, the Mexican Grammy Award-winning singer and film producer, passes away at 81.

2020 | Charley Pride, the American country singer, succumbs to complications from COVID-19 at the age of 86.

2019 | Vaughan Johnson, the American football linebacker, passes away at 57 due to kidney disease.

1913 | Emperor Menelik II ruled Ethiopia.

SPORTS

2004 | Southampton and Middlesbrough draw 2-2, with Middlesbrough scoring twice in the dying seconds to secure a draw against Southampton. New Saints boss Harry Redknapp seemed poised to start his reign with a win when Kevin Phillips and Peter Crouch scored goals on either side of the break.

ENTERTAINMENT

2008 | The hometown of Mick Jagger and Keith Richards plans to name streets in a new estate after Rolling Stones hits. Streets in Dartford, Kent, include Angie Mews, Babylon Close, Sympathy Street, Little Red Walk, and Satisfaction Street.

AFRICA FACT

Ruins of a 300 BC astronomical observatory are discovered at Namoratunga in Kenya. Africans were mapping the movements of stars like Triangulum, Aldebaran, Bellatrix, Central Orion, etc., as well as the moon, to create a lunar calendar of 354 days.

Here is a look at some of the most notable events that happened on this day

ON THIS DAY: 11 December

2013 | The body of former president Nelson Mandela is transported to the Union Buildings in Pretoria.

2008 | Bernard “Bernie” Madoff is arrested and charged with securities fraud in a $50-billion Ponzi scheme.

2006 | President of Mexico Felipe Calderon initiates a military-led offensive against drug cartel violence in the state of Michoacan.

2005 | The Cronulla riots commence in Cronulla, a suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

2001 | The People’s Republic of China becomes a member of the World Trade Organization.

ALSO READ: What happened on 8 December?

BIRTHDAYS

1986 | Matthews Mapumolo, a member of the African National Congress (ANC).

1996 | American actress Hailee Steinfeld is born in Los Angeles, California.

1989 | Irish boxer Kellie Harrington is born in Dublin, Ireland.

1990 | American actress Alexa Demie is born in Los Angeles, California.

1992 | American NFL player Jacoby Brissett is born in West Palm Beach, Florida.

1937 | Adriaan Johannes Vlok, former South African minister of law and order.

DEATHS

2021 | Renowned American Gothic novelist Anne Rice passes away at the age of 80 due to complications from a stroke.

2021 | Australian rugby league halfback Dennis Ward dies at the age of 74.

2021 | Manuel Santana, the Spanish tennis player, passes away at 83.

2022 | Angelo Badalamenti, the Grammy Award-winning American film composer, dies at the age of 85.

SPORTS

1981 | Former world heavyweight boxing champion Muhammad Ali competes in his 61st and final fight, losing to Trevor Berbick by unanimous decision in 10 rounds at Queen Elizabeth Sports Centre, Nassau, Bahamas.

ENTERTAINMENT

2019 | Ed Sheeran is named the UK’s artist of the decade by the Official Charts Company. Sheeran achieves this milestone with a combined run of 12 No.1 singles and albums between 2010 and 2019, surpassing any other artist. He also holds the record for the most weeks (79) at No.1 in both the album and singles charts during this period.

AFRICA FACT

Ethiopia minted its coins over 1,500 years ago. According to one scholar, “Almost no other contemporary state anywhere in the world could issue gold, a statement of sovereignty achieved only by Rome, Persia, and the Kushan kingdom in northern India at the time.

Here is a look at some of the most notable events that happened on this day

ON THIS DAY: 8 December

2013 | Millions of South Africans attended church services for a national day of prayer honoring Nelson Mandela and praying for the future of South Africa after the death of the country’s first black president.

2010 | The Japanese solar-sail spacecraft IKAROS successfully passed the planet Venus.

2004 | The Cuzco Declaration was signed in Cuzco, Peru, establishing the South American Community of Nations.

1993 | Nomzamo Winfreda Zanyiwe Madikizela, born in the Eastern Cape, was elected President of the African National Congress’ Women’s League (ANCWL) on 8 December 1993.

1991 | The leaders of Belarus, Russia, and Ukraine signed an agreement dissolving the Soviet Union and establishing the Commonwealth of Independent States.

ALSO READ: What happened on 8 December?

BIRTHDAYS

1994 | Soccer player Raheem Sterling was born.

1988 | World Music Singer Pee Wee was born.

1985 | Basketball player Dwight Howard was born.

1982 | Rapper Nicki Minaj was born.

1976 | Movie actor Dominic Monaghan was born.

DEATHS

2021 | Alfredo Moreno, a footballer, passed away at the age of 41.

2021 | Rapper Slim 400 died at the age of 33.

2019 | Rapper Juice Wrld passed away at the age of 21.

2008 | Movie actor Robert Prosky died at 77.

1980 | John Lennon, the iconic musician, was fatally shot outside his New York apartment.

SPORTS

2001 | Southampton secured a resounding 4-0 victory over Leicester City, with Anders Svensson scoring his first Premier League goal, James Beattie extending the advantage, and Marian Pahars completing the rout.

ENTERTAINMENT

1977 | A riot ensued in Brisbane when Blondie failed to arrive for a gig, leading to the arrest of four people. Over 1,000 Australian fans had waited over an hour for the group to appear on stage, but the gig was canceled due to singer Debbie Harry being unwell.

AFRICA FACT

The recently discovered 9th-century Nigerian city of Eredo was encircled by a wall that measured 100 miles in length and reached heights of seventy feet in some places. The internal area encompassed a staggering 400 square miles.

Here is a look at some of the most notable events that happened on this day

ON THIS DAY: 7 December

2003 | Princess of Orange, Catharina-Amalia, arrives at Jupiter after a 6-year journey.

1999 | The Recording Industry Association of America files a copyright infringement suit against Napster.

1995 | The Galileo spacecraft reaches Jupiter after a 6-year journey.

1988 | Actress, singer, and model Emily Browning, winner of the AFI International Award for Best Actress.

1988 | Nelson Mandela, leader of the ANC, is moved from Constantiaberg clinic to Victor Verster Prison.

ALSO READ: What happened on 6 December?

BIRTHDAYS

1996 | Rapper Asian Doll.

1994 | Baseball player Pete Alonso.

1980 | Soccer player John Terry.

1977 | Soap opera actress Andrea López.

1973 | Football player Terrell Owens.

DEATHS

2020 | The passing of TV actress Natalie Desselle-Reid at the age of 53.

2016 | Pop singer Junaid Jamshed’s demise at the age of 52.

2011 | TV actor Harry Morgan’s death at 96.

1997 | Soccer player Billy Bremner’s passing at 54.

1973 | Activist, journalist, and ANC member Robert Resha.

SPORTS

2003 | Southampton secures a 3-2 victory against Charlton Athletic, with Brett Ormerod scoring a late winner. Michael Svensson and Ormerod contribute to the win, while Scott Parker levels with two dazzling strikes.

ENTERTAINMENT

2021 | Scottish singer-songwriter Steve Bronski dies in a fire at his Soho home at the age of 61. Co-founder of Bronski Beat, known for ‘Smalltown Boy’ and ‘Why?’; an LGBTQ activist.

AFRICA FACT

The East Coast, spanning from Somalia to Mozambique, boasts ruins of more than 50 towns and cities that thrived between the ninth and sixteenth centuries AD.

Here is a look at some of the most notable events that happened on this day

ON THIS DAY: 6 December

2013 | South Africans pay tribute to Nelson Mandela at the Grand Parade in Cape Town.

2006 | NASA releases photographs from Mars Global Surveyor suggesting the presence of water on the red planet.

1992 | The Babri Mosque in Ayodhya, India, is destroyed during a riot that started as a political protest.

1976 | Democrat Tip O’Neill is elected speaker of the House of Representatives, serving the longest consecutive term.

1975 | A Provisional IRA unit takes a couple hostage in Balcombe Street, London, initiating a 6-day siege.

ALSO READ: What happened on 6 December?

BIRTHDAYS

1990 | Kris Wu, Rapper.

1981 | Lee Dong-Wook, TV Actor.

1981 | Mr. Beat, YouTube Star.

1972 | Thandie Newton, Movie Actress.

1928 | Clarence Mlami Makwetu, former president of the Pan Africanist Congress.

DEATHS

2022 | Angelo Mosca, Football Player

2021 | King Von, Rapper, passes away at 26.

2004 | Fred Dibnah, TV Show Host, dies at 66.

2003 | Wrestler Michael John Lockwood passes away at 32.

1991 | Headman Tshabalala, a founding member of Ladysmith Black Mambazo, is shot and killed.

SPORTS

2006 | Newcastle United secures a crucial win against Reading with a 3-2 score, highlighted by Emre’s sensational 20-yard strike. Antoine Sibierski scores for Newcastle, while James Harper turns the match around with two quick goals before the break.

ENTERTAINMENT

2008 | Beyonce’s third studio album, ‘I Am Sasha Fierce,’ debuts at No.1 on the US album chart, making her the third female artist this decade, after Britney Spears and Alicia Keys, to have her first three albums debut in the top spot.

AFRICA FACT

The damaged mosque in the Kenyan city of Gedi had a limestone water purifier for recycling water.

Here is a look at some of the most notable events that happened on this day

ON THIS DAY: 5 December

2007 | A gunman armed with a semi-automatic rifle killed 8 people at Westroads Mall in Omaha, Neb., before taking his own life.

2006 | Commodore Frank Bainimarama overthrew the government in Fiji.

1983 | The military junta dissolved in Argentina.

1978 | The Soviet Union signed a 20-year friendship pact with Afghanistan.

1934 | The United South African National Party, also known as the United Party, was officially formed after a merger between the National Party, under the leadership of General J.B.M.

ALSO READ: What happened on 28 November?

BIRTHDAYS

1984 | TV actress Lauren London was born.

1982 | R&B singer Keri Hilson was born.

1953 | Gwen Lister, a South African-born Namibian journalist, publisher, and anti-apartheid activist.

1932 | Rock singer Little Richard was born.

1894 | Charles Robberts (Blackie) Swart, the first state president of South Africa, was born.

DEATHS

2021 | Folk singer Bill Staines passed away.

2013 | Nelson Mandela, the South African revolutionary and politician who played a pivotal role in ending apartheid, died at the age of 95.

2016 | Rapper Big Syke passed away at the age of 48.

2011 | Stage actress Violetta Villas passed away.

2008 | TV actress Beverly Garland died at the age of 82.

SPORTS

2009 | In a football match, Wigan Athletic lost 2-3 to Birmingham City. Birmingham City extended their unbeaten run to six league matches with victory over Wigan Athletic. They fell behind to a Charles N’Zogbia strike but hit back with three goals in the space of 11 second-half minutes, Sebastian Larsson scoring either side of a Christian Benitez effort.

ENTERTAINMENT

2011 | After spending 45 weeks at the top of the UK charts, Adele’s second album ’21’ became the biggest-selling LP in Britain this century, surpassing the late Amy Winehouse’s 2006 LP ‘Back to Black.’

AFRICA FACT

The Songhai Empire of 16th century West Africa had a government position known as the Minister for Etiquette and Protocol.

Here is a look at some of the most notable events that happened on this day

ON THIS DAY: 4 December

1996 | The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa stands as one of the most progressive in the world.

1992 | During the Somali Civil War, U.S. President George H. W. Bush deployed 28,000 troops to Somalia.

1991 | The final American hostages in Lebanon were released.

1985 | Robert McFarland resigned as National Security Advisor, with Admiral John Poindexter succeeding him.

1981 | President Ronald Reagan expanded the CIA’s powers, permitting domestic espionage in the United States.

ALSO READ: What happened on 28 November?

BIRTHDAYS

1990 | Cash Nasty, YouTube Sensation.

1973 | Tyra Banks, TV Show Host.

1969 | Jay-Z, Iconic Rapper.

1917 | Dr. Hendrik Josephus Terblanche, Compiler of Numerous Dictionaries and Grammar Books.

1893 | Allison Wessels George (Mhlongo) Champion, Trade Union Leader, Politician, and Businessman.

DEATHS

2017 | Ali Abdullah Saleh, a Global Leader, Passed Away at the Age of 75.

2017 | Shashi Kapoor, Renowned Film Actor, Succumbed at 79.

2007 | Pimp C, a Notable Rapper, Passed Away at the Age of 33.

2009 | Umaga, a Wrestler, Breathed His Last at 36.

2001 | Marike de Klerk, Former South African First Lady, Found Murdered in Her Cape Town Beachfront Apartment at the Age of 64.

SPORTS

2005 | Manchester City dominated Charlton Athletic with a convincing 5-2 victory, condemning the hosts to their fifth successive league defeat. Andrew Cole secured the lead for Manchester City after 25 minutes, and despite Darren Bent’s equalizer, the visitors quickly regained control with Trevor Sinclair’s goal a minute later.

ENTERTAINMENT

2015 | Justin Bieber achieved his third UK No.1 single with ‘Love Yourself’, toppling his own ‘Sorry’. The last living artists to achieve this were The Beatles in 1963.

AFRICA FACT

Chinese records from the 15th century AD mention Mogadishu having houses of “four or five storeys high.”

Here is a look at some of the most notable events that happened on this day

ON THIS DAY: 30 NOVEMBER

2005 | John Sentamu assumes the role of Archbishop of York, becoming the first black archbishop in the history of the Church of England.

2004 | Ken Jennings, a contestant on the game show Jeopardy!, concludes his remarkable run with 74 consecutive victories, marking the longest winning streak in the history of game shows and earning him over $3 million.

1998 | Exxon and Mobil oil companies reached a merger agreement worth $73.7 billion, forming Exxon-Mobil, the world’s largest company at the time.

1995 | The conclusion of Operation Desert Storm is officially declared.

1954 | D.F. Malan steps down from the position of Prime Minister.

ALSO READ: What happened on 28 November?

BIRTHDAYS

1993 | Lost Frequencies, DJ

1988 | Olurotimi Akinosho, known professionally as Rotimi, is a Nigerian-American actor and singer.

1951 | The South African actor, playwright, and singer was born on this day in Fort Beaufort in the Eastern Cape.

1985 | Furious Pete, Competitive Eater

1973 | Seven-time WWE Tag Team Champion with Edge and a six-time world champion with TNA Wrestling

DEATHS

2022 | John Hadl, Football Player died at 82

2018 | George H.W. Bush, US President died at 94

2017 | Terence Beesley, Movie Actor, died at 60

2014 | Pete Rodriguez, Football Coach died at 74

2013 | Paul Walker, Movie Actor died at 40

SPORTS

2002 | Chelsea secures a comfortable 3-0 victory over Sunderland, extending their unbeaten streak to seven matches under the management of Claudio Ranieri. William Gallas’s volley breaks the deadlock in the second half after Sunderland’s resilient defense in the first half. Marcel Desailly and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink score late goals to secure the points.

ENTERTAINMENT

2012 | Rihanna secures the No.1 spot on the UK album chart with her seventh studio album, Unapologetic. The album features seven singles, including ‘Diamonds,’ which becomes Rihanna’s twelfth No.1 song, tying her with Madonna and The Supremes for the fourth most No.1 songs in the history of the chart.

AFRICA FACT

In 1116 AD, the residence of the Ghanaian Emperor is described as “A well-built castle, thoroughly fortified, adorned with sculptures and paintings, and featuring glass windows.”

Here is a look at some of the most notable events that happened on this day

ON THIS DAY: 28 NOVEMBER

2007 | The Peninsula Manila is under siege by the Armed Forces of the Philippines in response to a mutiny by Senator Antonio Trillanes.

1973 | Sarah Jones, a Tony and Obie award-winning playwright, actress, and poet, gains recognition for her work in “Bridge & Tunnel.”

1967 | Resignation of US Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara is announced.

1929 | Establishment of the University of Pretoria.

1789 | Inauguration of the Groote Kerk pulpit in Cape Town, sculpted by Anton Anreith.

ALSO READ: What happened on 28 November?

BIRTHDAYS

1998 | Reginae Carter, Rapper

1995 | Laura Marano, Tv Actress

1976 | Chadwick Boseman, Movie Actor

1973 | Ryan Giggs, Soccer Player

1955 | Howie Mandel, Game Show Host

DEATHS

2021 | David Gulpilil, Movie Actor died at 68

2020 | Papa Bouba Diop, a Soccer Player died at 42

2005 | Macon McCalman, Movie Actor died at 72

2004 | John Drew Barrymore, Movie Actor died at 72

2001 | George Harrison, Guitarist, died at 58

SPORTS

2009 | Chelsea extends their lead in the Premier League with a 3-0 victory over Arsenal. Didier Drogba’s performance, including guiding a Cole cross into the top corner and Vermaelen’s goal, contributes to the win.

ENTERTAINMENT

2002 | Sir Paul McCartney’s paintings are purchased for £35 each at London’s Royal College of Art’s Secrets Postcard Sale. Buyers gamble on the identity of the artist, revealed only after the sale.

AFRICA FACT

In Southern Africa, over 600 stone-built ruins exist in Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and South Africa. Known as “Mazimbabwe” in the Shona language, these ruins signify great revered houses and courts built by the Bantu-speaking people.

Here is a look at some of the most notable events that happened on this day

ON THIS DAY: 28 NOVEMBER

2002 | An Israeli-owned hotel in Mombasa, Kenya is targeted by suicide bombers.

1991 | South Ossetia declares its independence from Georgia.

1989 | The Communist Party of Czechoslovakia announced its decision to relinquish its monopoly on political power.

1987 | The Helderberg 747 jet aircraft of South African Airways crashes into the Indian Ocean near Mauritius, claiming the lives of all 159 people on board.

1984 | Republican Robert Dole secures the position of Senate majority leader through election.

ALSO READ: What happened on 27 November?

BIRTHDAYS

1988 | English actor Joe Cole, renowned for his portrayal of John Shelby on the BBC 2 series Peaky Blinders, is born.

1984 | Trey Songz, an R&B singer and hip-hop artist, was born Tremaine Aldon Neverson.

1981 | Eric Redbeard, a wrestler recognized as a WWE star and a member of Nxt’s Wyatt family, is born. He later achieves a tag team championship with Luke Harper.

1979 | Chamillionaire, born Hakeem Seriki, emerges as an American rapper and an original member of the Color Changin’ Click.

1924 | Dennis Vincent Brutus was born on November 8, 1924, in Salisbury, southern Rhodesia (now Harare, Zimbabwe), to South African parents.

DEATHS

1951 | Trade unionist Lameck Koniwaka Kadali Muwamba, known by his adopted name Clements Kadalie, passes away at the age of 55.

2012 | Zig Ziglar, an author and motivational speaker renowned for his book “A View From the Top,” dies at the age of 86.

1998 | Pepe Kalle, a Congolese musician recognized for his unique, multi-octave vocal range and his contributions to the Cuban Rumba sub-genre of soukous music, dies at the age of 46.

2022 | Multimedia artist Tom Phillips passes away at the age of 85.

2021 | Frank Williams, the founder of the Williams F1 Formula One racing team in 1966, dies at the age of 79.

SPORTS

2004 | South Africa receives top honors from the International Rugby Board.

ENTERTAINMENT

2000 | Madonna performs her first British show in over seven years at London’s Brixton Academy, with tickets fetching over £1,000. QXL.com, the internet auctioneers, sells one pair for £2,204.

AFRICA FACT

In the Malian city of Gao stands the Mausoleum of Askia the Great, a peculiar sixteenth-century structure resembling a step pyramid.

Here is a look at some of the most notable events that happened on this day

ON THIS DAY: 27 NOVEMBER

2006 | The Canadian House of Commons approves a motion, presented by Prime Minister Stephen Harper, acknowledging the Quebecois as a nation within Canada.

2005 | The first partial human face transplant is successfully conducted in Amiens, France.

2004 | Pope John Paul II returns relics of Saint John Chrysostom to the Eastern Orthodox Church.

2001 | The Hubble Space Telescope identifies a hydrogen atmosphere on planet Osiris, marking the first detection of an atmosphere on an extrasolar planet.

1984 | An anti-Apartheid demonstration takes place outside the South African embassy in Washington.

ALSO READ: What happened on 24 November?

BIRTHDAYS

1995 | Stephanie Soo, a social media personality, is born.

1950 | Dr. Olive Shisana, a prominent South African academic,

1940 | Bruce Lee, the iconic martial artist, actor, and filmmaker, is born.

1929 | Isabella Winkie Direko, former teacher and recipient of the Bloemfonteiner of the Year Award in 1993, has been serving as the Premier of the Free State since June 17, 1999.

1820 | John Thomas Baines, a South African painter, traveler, and writer, is born.

DEATHS

2019 | Godfrey Gao, the Taiwanese model known for his major film debut in the 2013 motion picture “The Mortal Instruments,” passes away at the age of 35.

2018 | Young Busco, an Instagram star, is remembered.

2007 | Football player Sean Taylor dies at the age of 24.

1987 | Namibian artist John Ndevasia Muafangejo is noted.

1933 | Archibald Lamont, the former Mayor of Durban, is mentioned.

SPORTS

1999 | West Ham United defeats Liverpool 1-0, with Trevor Sinclair scoring the only goal. This loss ends Liverpool’s seven-match unbeaten streak, leaving them in sixth place with 27 points, while West Ham moves up to ninth.

ENTERTAINMENT

2014 | Taylor Swift’s fifth studio album, “1989,” tops the US album chart. With the highest debut week sales since 2002, it becomes the best-selling album of 2014 in the US, boasting over 9 million copies sold worldwide.

AFRICA FACT

The African continent, covering 20% of Earth’s surface, is divided into five sub-sections: North Africa, East Africa, Central Africa, Southern Africa, and West Africa.

Here is a look at some of the most notable events that happened on this day

ON THIS DAY: 24 NOVEMBER

2012 | A blaze at a garment factory in Dhaka, Bangladesh, claims the lives of more than 110 individuals.

2005 | South African President Thabo Mbeki commends Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf for achieving a historic milestone as Africa’s first elected female president in post-war elections.

1995 | Ireland decides by a narrow margin of 50.28% to 49.72% to lift its 70-year-old prohibition on divorce.

1992 | The Brady Bill, mandating a 5-day waiting period for handgun sales, is passed by the US Congress; it is named in honor of President Ronald Reagan’s press secretary, who was partially paralyzed by a bullet during an assassination attempt on Reagan.

1979 | The United States acknowledges that thousands of troops in Vietnam were exposed to the harmful Agent Orange.

ALSO READ: What happened on 11 November?

BIRTHDAYS

2005 | Youtube star Mikaria Janae.

1998 | Basketball player Liangelo Ball.

1978 | Movie actress Katherine Heigl.

1948 | South African sculptor Vuminkosi Zulu.

1905 | Hansi Pauline Pollak, welfare worker, and social activist.

DEATHS

2019 | Pop singer Goo Hara passes away at the age of 28.

2016 | George Royal, an African-American microbiologist, dies at the age of 95.

2010 | Civil rights leader Annie Lee Cooper passes away at the age of 100.

2006 | Football player Jack Ferrante dies at the age of 90.

1991 | Rock singer Freddie Mercury dies at the age of 45.

SPORTS

2007 | Everton dominates Sunderland with a 7-1 victory at Goodison Park, as Yakubu and Tim Cahill both score twice. Yakubu’s early goal and Cahill’s well-placed shot on the turn put Everton in control, and Steven Pienaar adds an excellent third goal before Dwight Yorke responds for Sunderland just before halftime.

ENTERTAINMENT

2002 | Robbie Williams begins a five-week reign at No.1 on the UK album chart with his fifth studio album ‘Escapology,’ the best-selling album of 2002 in the United Kingdom, selling 1.2 million copies.

AFRICA FACT

Glass windows were present in medieval Sudan, with archaeological evidence of window glass discovered at the Sudanese cities of Old Dongola and Hambukol.

Here is a look at some of the most notable events that happened on this day

ON THIS DAY: 22 NOVEMBER

2008 | A cease-fire was initiated between Hamas and Israel after eight days of violence, resulting in 150 deaths.

2005 | Angela Merkel made history as the first woman to become Chancellor of Germany, having previously served as the first secretary-general of the Christian Democratic Union.

2004 | The Orange Revolution, sparked by concerns of a rigged primary election, commenced in Ukraine. On December 26, the Supreme Court of Ukraine ordered a revote.

1994 | South Africa and Switzerland signed an agreement to support the Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP).

1990 | Margaret Thatcher, Britain’s Prime Minister, confirmed the end of her premiership by withdrawing from the leadership election of the Conservative Party.

ALSO READ: What happened on 21 November?

BIRTHDAYS

2004 | TikTok star Alessya Farrugia was born.

2000 | TV actress Baby Ariel was born.

2000 | YouTube star Bruce (Trey) Nelson was born.

1986 | South African sprint runner Oscar Pistorius was born.

1965 | Movie actor Mads Mikkelsen was born.

DEATHS

2020 | Mustafa Nadarevic, a TV actor, passed away at the age of 77.

1997 | Michael Hutchence, a rock singer, died at the age of 37.

1988 | Prof. Raymond Arthur Dart, a South African anthropologist and expert on the Taung Skull, passed away at the age of 95.

1981 | Boxer Arnold Taylor died at the age of 36.

1963 | John F. Kennedy, the 35th President of the United States, died at the age of 46.

SPORTS

2003 | Newcastle United secured a 3-0 victory over Manchester City, with two late goals from Alan Shearer, bringing his Premier League tally to 255. Shearer’s double, including a trademark header, sealed the win in the final 15 minutes and elevated Newcastle above their opponents in the table.

ENTERTAINMENT

2005 | A collection of poems written by Bob Dylan during his college days sold for $78,000 (£45,000) at a New York City auction. The 16 pages of poems marked the first known use of the name Dylan by Robert Zimmerman and originated from his studies at the University of Minnesota in 1959-60.

AFRICA FACT

By 250 BC, the foundations of West Africa’s oldest cities were established, including Old Djenné in Mali.

Here is a look at some of the most notable events that happened on this day

ON THIS DAY: 21 NOVEMBER

2006 | Anti-Syrian Lebanese Minister and MP Pierre Gemayel was assassinated in Beirut.

1995 | The Dayton Peace Agreement, initialed at Wright Patterson Air Force Base near Dayton, Ohio, formally ended the three-and-a-half-year war between Bosnia and Herzegovina.

1986 | The Justice Department initiated an inquiry into the National Security Council, leading to the Iran-Contra scandal.

1985 | US Navy intelligence analyst Jonathan Pollard was arrested for spying and passing classified information to Israel, receiving a life sentence on Nov. 1, 1987.

1985 | In Mamelodi, South African police gunned down thirteen residents following the declaration of a State of Emergency by President PW Botha on July 25, 1985.

ALSO READ: What happened on 21 November?

BIRTHDAYS

2000 | Isabel May, known for her role as Katie Cooper in the popular Netflix Original Series “Alexa & Katie,” gained fame as an actress.

1992 | Davido, a recording artist and music producer born in the United States but of Nigerian descent, rose to prominence in the music industry.

1992 | Conor Maynard, a pop singer, achieved recognition for his contributions to the music scene.

1984 | Jena Malone, an actress renowned for her work in films like “Donnie Darko,” “Into the Wild,” and “Sucker Punch,” rose to fame.

DEATHS

2018 | Pop singer Devin Lima passed away at the age of 41.

2015 | Pianist Jason Gaviati passed away at the age of 35.

2004 | Joyce Kgoali, serving as the Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces (NCOP), held a prominent position in South African politics.

2011 | Baseball player Greg Halman tragically passed away at the age of 24.

1942 | General Barry Hertzog, a former South African Prime Minister, died at the age of 76.

SPORTS

2009 | Sunderland secured a 1-0 victory against Arsenal, with Darren Bent scoring the lone goal by capitalizing on a rebound off teammate Fraizer Campbell.

ENTERTAINMENT

2004 | Eminem claimed the No.1 spot on the US album chart with ‘Encore,’ his third chart-topping album. Girls Aloud began a two-week reign atop the UK singles chart with their rendition of the Pretenders’ ‘I’ll Stand By You,’ released in support of the 2004 Children In Need appeal.

AFRICA FACT

Africa contains an enormous wealth of mineral resources, including some of the world’s largest reserves of fossil fuels, metallic ores, and gems and precious metals. This richness is matched by a great diversity of biological resources that includes the intensely lush equatorial rainforests of Central Africa and the world-famous populations of wildlife of the eastern and southern portions of the continent.

Here is a look at some of the most notable events that happened on this day

ON THIS DAY: 20 NOVEMBER

2008 | The Dow Jones Industrial Average experienced its lowest level in 11 years due to failures in the US financial system.

2005 | A Pretoria biker gained notoriety on 20 November 2005 at 6:42 for traveling at 284km/h on the R59 south near Kliprivier in Ekurhuleni.

1998 | The first module of the International Space Station, Zarya, is launched.

1992 | A fire in England’s Windsor Castle causes damages exceeding £50 million.

1981 | Microsoft releases Windows 1.0.

ALSO READ: What happened on 18 November?

BIRTHDAYS

1995 | Pop singer Ann Marie.

1983 | Future, also known as Nayvadius Cash, an Atlanta-based autotune rapper who released the chart-topping album “Pluto” in 2012.

1970 | Natasha Kate Sutherland, actress in the SA soap opera “Egoli.”

1942 | Joe Biden, a longtime politician who became the 46th President of the United States in 2021.

1923 | South African author and winner of the 1991 Nobel Prize for Literature, Nadine Gordimer.

DEATHS

2022 | Boxer Buster Drayton passes away at the age of 68.

2009 | Sportscaster Max Robertson dies at the age of 94.

2006 | American screenwriter and producer Chris passes away at the age of 81.

2014 | Director Mike Nichols dies at the age of 83.

1993 | John Lawrence, Winnie Mandela’s bodyguard, passes away.

SPORTS

1999 | Leeds United secures a 2-1 victory over Bradford City, moving up to second place. Alan Smith scores the opening goal, and Ian Harte doubles the lead from the penalty spot.

ENTERTAINMENT

2015 | Justin Bieber achieves the top spot on the UK singles chart with ‘Sorry,’ breaking a record for the most tracks inside the top 40. Bieber’s album “Purpose” features eight songs simultaneously in the chart, a first for a living artist.

AFRICA FACT

The largest waterfall in Africa is Victoria Falls, situated on the Zimbabwe-Zambia border, boasting a height of 355 feet and a width of nearly a mile.

Here is a look at some of the most notable events that happened on this day

ON THIS DAY: 18 NOVEMBER

2007 | The reinterment of human skeletal remains at Mapungubwe, an Iron Age archaeological site in Limpopo Province, involved a traditional handover and cleansing ceremony, engaging traditional healers and community members who asserted their lineage to the deceased.

2003 | Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court declares the state’s ban on same-sex marriages unconstitutional. Despite the legislature’s failure to act within the stipulated 180 days, on May 17, 2004, Massachusetts becomes the first U.S. state to legalize same-sex marriage.

2002 | UN weapons inspectors, led by Hans Blix, arrive in Iraq.

1993 | Twenty-one political parties endorse a new constitution for South Africa, broadening voter rights and marking the end of white minority rule.

1991 | After an 87-day siege, the Croatian city of Vukovar surrenders to the Yugoslav People’s Army and allied Serb paramilitary forces.

ALSO READ: What happened on 15 November?

BIRTHDAYS

1996 | Marlene Mendez, TikTok star

1993 | Francesca Farago, Canadian Instagram model with over 6 million followers on her francescafarago account

1992 | Nathan Kress, TV actor

1975 | David Ortíz, baseball player

1914 | Bettie Cilliers-Barnard, renowned South African painter and mother of actress Jana Celliers, was born in Rustenburg, Transvaal.

DEATHS

2017 | Naim Suleymanoglu, Turkish athlete, passed away at the age of 50.

2015 | Jonah Lomu, New Zealand Rugby Union football player, died at 40.

1999 | Paul Bowles, American composer, translator, and author, died at 89.

1994 | Cab Calloway, American composer and singer, passed away at the age of 87.

1978 | Jim Jones, American cult leader, passed away at the age of 47.

SPORTS

2000 | Manchester City 0-1 Manchester United: A stunning free-kick by David Beckham, just 95 seconds into the 125th Manchester derby, makes the difference. Beckham’s 30-yard set-piece secures Manchester United’s victory, dealing Manchester City a fourth successive league defeat.

ENTERTAINMENT

2005 | A Belgian songwriter triumphs in a plagiarism case against Madonna regarding her 1998 hit single ‘Frozen.’ Salvatore Acquaviva alleges that the song copied one of his recordings, and the judge concurs, citing four bars from Acquaviva’s song ‘Ma Vie Fout L’camp,’ translating to ‘My Life’s Getting Nowhere.’

AFRICA FACT

West African gold mining was extensive, with an estimated 3,500 tons mined up to 1500, valued at over $30 billion in today’s market.

Here is a look at some of the most notable events that happened on this day

ON THIS DAY: 17 NOVEMBER

2000 | Peru’s President Alberto Fujimori, embroiled in controversy, is ousted from office.

1993 | The North American Free Trade Agreement is endorsed as the US House of Representatives passes a resolution.

1989 | Riot police quell a student demonstration in Prague, sparking the Velvet Revolution that leads to the downfall of the communist government on December 29.

1986 | Georges Besse, President of Renault, is assassinated by leftists from the Direct Action Group in Paris.

1964 | British Prime Minister Harold Wilson announces in the House of Commons the decision to enforce an embargo on arms exports to South Africa.

ALSO READ: What happened on 15 November?

BIRTHDAYS

1978 | Rachel McAdams, a versatile Canadian actress, was born.

1952 | Cyril Matamela Ramaphosa becomes the 5th democratically elected President of South Africa.

1942 | Martin Scorsese, the American filmmaker renowned for his gritty portrayals of American culture, is born.

1903 | Nicolaas Johannes Diederichs, South Africa’s fourth state president, is born.

DEATHS

2022 | B. Smyth, the R&B artist, songwriter, and entertainer renowned for hits like “Twerkoholic” and “Leggo,” passed away at the age of 28.

2021 | Emma, an Instagram star who shared her battle with Fanconi anemia on her page, “Prayers For Emma,” succumbed to the illness at the age of 16.

2021 | Young Dolph, the rapper celebrated for singles such as “Major” and “RNB,” passed away at the age of 36.

2006 | Ruth Brown, the R&B singer, passed away at the age of 78.

1989 | Anton Fransch, an ANC guerrilla, was killed by the special forces of the apartheid regime.

SPORTS

2004 | Rugby gains prominence in South Africa during the late nineteenth century, with a temporary cease-fire declared during the Anglo-Boer War for a match between the British and the Boers.

ENTERTAINMENT

2016 | Peter Gabriel initiates “Imprisoned For Art” under The Voice Project, aiming to free global prisoners jailed for opposing their governments.

AFRICA FACT

Africa, encompassing approximately 11 million square miles (5.7% of the Earth’s surface), is the second-largest continent, constituting 20% of the total land surface.

Here is a look at some of the most notable events that happened on this day

ON THIS DAY: 16 NOVEMBER

1997 | After 18 years in prison, Chinese pro-democracy dissident Wei Jingsheng is released on health grounds.

1992 | While searching for a friend’s lost hammer near Hoxne, Suffolk, England, Eric Lawes discovers the Hoxne Hoard using a metal detector. It stands as the largest hoard of Roman silver and gold ever found in Britain and the most extensive collection of 4th and 5th-century coins within the former Roman Empire’s boundaries.

1992 | Following the Goldstone Commission’s initial disclosure of the South African Defence Force’s complicity in violence on October 16, 1992, they issued a press statement providing details about the employment of Ferdi Barnard by the Directorate: Covert Collection (DCC).

1989 | A Salvadoran Army death squad kills six Jesuit priests and two others at Jose Simeon Canas University.

1982 | The first operational flight of the space shuttle Columbia was completed.

ALSO READ: What happened on 15 November?

BIRTHDAYS

1930 | Chinua Achebe, a Nigerian author

1907 | Burgess Meredith, an American actor and director

1904 | Nnamdi Azikiwe, President of Nigeria

1890 | Elpidio Quirino, President of the Philippines

1874 | Aleksandr Vasilyevich Kolchak, a Russian naval officer

DEATHS

2006 | Milton Friedman, an American economist, passed away at the age of 94.

1965 | William Thomas Cosgrave, President of Ireland, died at the age of 85.

1952 | Charles Maurras, a French writer, and political theorist, dies at the age of 84.

1882 | Sam Rayburn, an American politician, died at the age of 79.

1831 | Carl von Clausewitz, a Prussian General, died at the age of 51.

SPORTS

2002 | In the North London derby, Arsenal delivered a remarkable performance, defeating local rivals Tottenham Hotspur 3-0. Thierry Henry’s spectacular strike opens the scoring, putting the Gunners on course to return to the Premier League summit.

ENTERTAINMENT

2000 | Elton John accuses his former lover and manager John Reid of betrayal over touring costs during a testimony in a London High Court. He alleges that Reid had been “caught with his hands in the till” and sues Andrew Haydon, the former managing director of John Reid Enterprises, for negligence in allowing excessive overseas tour expenses.

AFRICA FACT

By 250 BC, the groundwork for West Africa’s oldest cities, such as Old Djenné in Mali, had been laid.

Here is a look at some of the most notable events that happened on this day

ON THIS DAY: 15 NOVEMBER

2007 | Bangladesh experiences the devastating impact of Cyclone Sidr, resulting in an estimated 5,000 casualties.

1990 | The People’s Republic of Bulgaria transforms a new republican government takes over.

1988 | The Palestinian National Council formally declares the establishment of an independent State of Palestine.

1985 | An agreement known as British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and Irish Taoiseach Garret Fitzgerald sign the Anglo-Irish Agreement.

1988 | On November 15, 1988, 21-year-old Barend Strydom embarks on a shooting spree, targeting and attempting to harm every Black person he encounters with his pistol.

ALSO READ: What happened on 11 November?

BIRTHDAYS

1991- Shailene Woodley. American actress known for her roles in “The Fault in Our Stars” and the “Divergent” series.

1974 | Chad Kroeger , Canadian musician, lead vocalist, and guitarist for the rock band Nickelback.

1938 | South African anti-apartheid activist Ronnie Kasrils is born in Johannesburg

1932 | Petula Clark , British singer and actress.

1931 | Lucas Sithole, a renowned South African sculptor, was born in KwaThema

DEATHS

2019 | Harrison Dillard was born on July 8, 1923 in Cleveland, Ohio, USA. He was married to Joy Victoria Clemetson.

2019 | Vojtech Jasný was born on November 30, 1925 in Kelc,. He was a director and writer, known for When the Cat Comes (1963)

2019 | Zhengyi Fu was an editor, known for Soul Mates (1981)

2013 | Karla Álvarez was born on October 15, 1972 in Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico. She was an actress

1980 | Bill Lee was born on August 21, 1916 in Johnson, Nebraska, USA. He was an actor, known for One Hundred and One Dalmatians (1961)

SPORTS

1997 | The South African soccer team, Bafana Bafana, engages in an international friendly match against the German national soccer team in Dusseldorf, Germany.

ENTERTAINMENT

2007 | Jay-Z achieves a milestone as his album “American Gangster” secures the No.1 spot on the US album chart. This marks his 10th No.1 album, placing him joint second with Elvis Presley for the most No.1 albums on the chart. Only The Beatles have surpassed this record, with 19. Notably, since 1998, all eight of Jay-Z’s solo studio albums had reached No. 1, along with collaborative projects such as Collision Course with Linkin Park and Unfinished Business with R. Kelly.

AFRICA FACT

The Labyrinth situated in the Egyptian city of Hawara stands as an unparalleled architectural marvel from antiquity. Boasting a colossal layout featuring multiple courtyards, chambers, and halls, it holds the distinction of being the largest building of its time. With an impressive count of three thousand rooms, half above ground and the remaining half below ground, it remains a testament to ancient grandeur.

Here is a look at some of the most notable events that happened on this day

ON THIS DAY: 14 NOVEMBER

2012 | Israel initiates Operation Pillar of Defense against the Gaza Strip, governed by Hamas.

2008 | The inaugural G-20 economic summit is held in Washington, DC.

2001 | Northern Alliance forces seize control of Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan.

1984 | The crew of the Space Shuttle Discovery successfully rescues a second satellite.

1961 | A UN report alleges a conspiracy to murder Patrice Lumumba, involving the Presidents of Katanga and Congo.

ALSO READ: What happened on 11 November?

BIRTHDAYS

1981 | Tom Ferrier, British racing driver

1979 | Jean-Alain Boumsong, French footballer

1978 | Bobby Allen, American ice hockey player

1978 | Xavier Nady, American baseball player

1922 | Boutros Boutros Ghali, former UN Secretary General

DEATHS

2016 | Gardnar Mulloy, American tennis player, passes away at 102.

2012 | Brian Davies, Australian Rugby League player, dies at 82.

2010 | Wes Santee, American middle-distance runner, dies at 78.

2009 | Bruce Wells, English boxer, and actor, dies at 76.

2001 | Juan Carlos Lorenzo, Argentine soccer forward, and manager, dies at 79.

SPORTS

1966 | Muhammad Ali secures a TKO against Cleveland Williams in the third round, claiming the heavyweight title.

ENTERTAINMENT

1996 | In Sydney, Australia, Michael Jackson weds Debbie Rowe. They met during his vitiligo diagnosis, and they divorce on October 8, 1999, with Rowe receiving an $8-million settlement and Jackson gaining full custody of their children.

AFRICA FACT

Human fossil records suggest Africa as the first continent inhabited by humans approximately 7 million years ago.

Here is a look at some of the most notable events that happened on this day

ON THIS DAY: 13 NOVEMBER

2001 | US President George W. Bush signs an executive order allowing military tribunals against foreigners suspected of connections to planned or actual terrorist acts against the US.

2000 | Articles of impeachment are passed against Philippine President Joseph Estrada.

1985 | Approximately 23,000 people die when the Nevado del Ruiz erupts, melting a glacier and causing a massive mudslide that buries Armero, Colombia.

1982 | The Vietnam Veterans Memorial is dedicated in Washington, DC.

1925 | Initial experiments on the body of Egyptian King Tutankhamun conclude he is a fifteen-year-old boy.

ALSO READ: What happened on 11 November?

BIRTHDAYS

2002 | Emma Raducanu, a British tennis player, is born in Toronto, Canada.

2000 | 24kGoldn (Golden Landis Von Jones), an American rapper, is born in San Francisco, California.

1999 | Lando Norris, a British auto racer, is born in Bristol, England.

1997 | Shane Kinsman, an American actor.

1967 | Bonnie Ntshalintshali, a South African artist.

DEATHS

2022 | Frederick Swann, an American church and concert pipe organist, dies of cancer at 91.

2022 | Jerry Holland, an Irish rugby union lock and coach, passes away at 66.

2022 | Kevin Beardmore, an English rugby league hooker, dies at 62.

2021 | Wilbur Smith, a British-South African novelist, dies at the age of 88.

1980 | The Medical Association agrees to investigate Biko’s death.

SPORTS

2010 | Tottenham Hotspur ends Blackburn Rovers’ two-match winning streak with a 4-2 victory at White Hart Lane. Gareth Bale heads Spurs in front before Roman Pavlyuchenko adds a second just before the break, having previously missed a penalty.

ENTERTAINMENT

2015 | Adele’s comeback single ‘Hello’ achieves platinum sales status in the UK, just three weeks after its release, selling more than 600,000 copies.

AFRICA FACT

It might not be surprising that Africa is home to the world’s largest frog species, known as the Goliath Frog. This amphibian can grow up to a foot long and weigh up to 8lb, which is heavier than the average newborn baby. Despite its size, this harmless creature is found in Equatorial Guinea and Cameroon.

Here is a look at some of the most notable events that happened on this day

ON THIS DAY: 11 NOVEMBER

2008 | The RMS Queen Elizabeth 2 (QE2) embarks on its final journey, destined for Dubai.

2006 | The New Zealand War Memorial in London was revealed by Queen Elizabeth II.

2004 | The Palestine Liberation Organization confirms the death of its longstanding leader, Yasser Arafat; the exact cause of death remains inconclusive.

2001 | Journalists Pierre Billaud (France), Johanne Sutton (France), and Voker Handloik (Germany) lost their lives in Afghanistan during an attack on their convoy.

1969 | The Rand Daily Mail, an English-language opposition paper, publishes a feature article exposing the dire conditions in one of the government’s Bantu Homelands. The article not only delves into the circumstances within the homelands but also reflects the South African government’s mindset, media perspective, and White perceptions of Black bodies during that era.

ALSO READ: What happened on 10 November?

BIRTHDAYS

1990 | Dutch footballer Georginio Wijnaldum plays as a midfielder for the Italian club Roma and the French club Paris Saint-Germain

1986 | American singer, songwriter, musician, Jon Batiste

1983 | Ivorian Footballer, Arouna Kone

1974 | American R&B singer, rapper, songwriter and record producer Also a member of the R&B trio Playa. Static Major

1973 |  American musician Jason White, lead guitarist.

DEATHS

2021 | Frederik Willem de Klerk OMG DMS was a South African politician who served as state president of South Africa from 1989 to 1994 and as deputy president from 1994 to 1996.

2016 | Robert Vaughn – American actor, best known for his role in the TV series “The Man from U.N.C.L.E.”

2004 | Yasser Arafat – Palestinian statesman and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization.

1996 | Eva Cassidy – American singer and guitarist known for her interpretations of jazz, blues, folk, gospel, country, rock, and pop classics.

1992 | Denny Hulme – New Zealand racing driver and Formula One world champion.

SPORTS

2006 | Chelsea secured a decisive win over Watford, thanks to a hat-trick from Didier Drogba. The Ivorian striker initiated the scoring with a close-range goal in the 27th minute and quickly increased Chelsea’s lead with a tap-in. Drogba completed his hat-trick in the second half by converting a cross from Geremi, following Andriy Shevchenko’s goal that made it 3-0. 

ENTERTAINMENT

2014 | A celebrity auction raises $3.2 million (£2 million) through the sale of dresses and outfits worn by Madonna throughout her music and film career. The highest-priced item is a jacket from Desperately Seeking Susan, fetching $252,000, while a gown from her Material Girl video sells for $73,125.

AFRICA FACT

Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania holds the title of the tallest mountain in Africa, standing at a total height of 19,341 feet/5,895 meters. It is also the world’s tallest free-standing mountain.

Here is a look at some of the most notable events that happened on this day

ON THIS DAY: 10 NOVEMBER

2009 | Naval clash occurs between North Korean and South Korean ships off Daecheon Island.

2008 | NASA concludes the Phoenix mission after losing contact with the lander, marking the end of its exploration on the surface of Mars, five months after it commenced.

1992 | South Africans receive a warm welcome in India, adorned with garlands and standing ovations, playing to capacity crowds on this significant occasion.

1989 | The Berlin Wall began to be dismantled by German citizens.

1986 | President Ronald Reagan declined to disclose details of the Iran arms sale.

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BIRTHDAYS

1999 | Kiernan Shipka, the American actress, was born in Chicago, Illinois.

1988 | Chisaki Hama (Rika Izumi), Japanese actress, and model, born in Kyoto, Japan.

1969 | Ellen Pompeo, the American actress, was born in Everett, Massachusetts.

1959 | Marthinus van Schalkwyk, leader of the New National Party.

1919 | Mikhail Kalashnikov, Russian general and inventor of the AK-47.

DEATHS

2000 | Chief George Mzimvubu Mathanzima, the former Prime Minister of Transkei, passes away.

2000 | Jacques Chaban-Delmas, a French politician who served as Prime Minister of France and President of the National Assembly, passes away at the age of 85.

1999 | Robert Kramer, an American actor and director known for “Milestones,” succumbs to meningitis at the age of 60.

1998 | Svetlana Beriosova, a Lithuanian-British ballerina, dies at the age of 66.

1985 | Dr. James Sebe Moroka, a medical doctor, politician, and the great-grandson of Chief Moroka, passes away.

SPORTS

1934 | The first NHL penalty shot is given to Montreal Canadiens forward Armand Mondou, who is stopped by Toronto goaltender George Hainsworth in the Maple Leafs’ 2-1 victory.

ENTERTAINMENT

1983 | Miranda Lambert, the American country music singer and songwriter, is born in Longview, Texas.

AFRICA FACT

The giraffe, a record-holder for height in Africa and globally, is the tallest animal. Male giraffes surpass females, and the tallest giraffe ever recorded reached a height of 19.3 feet/5.88 meters. The neck’s special veins and blood vessels work against gravity to facilitate blood flow up to the brain.

Here is a look at some of the most notable events that happened on this day

ON THIS DAY: 09 NOVEMBER

2004 | South African President Thabo Mbeki, accompanied by Defence Minister Mosiuoa Lekota and Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Aziz Pahad, arrived in Abidjan (Ivory Coast) to assist in resolving the political turmoil in the country.

1989 | The Berlin Wall was opened, marking the end of a 28-year division of the city.

1967 | NASA successfully launched Apollo 4 into orbit, marking the first successful test of a Saturn V rocket.

1938 | Nazis killed 35 Jews, detained thousands, and razed Jewish synagogues, residences, and shops across Germany in an event famously referred to as Kristallnacht, the night of broken glass.

1935 | Japanese troops initiated an invasion of Shanghai, China.

ALSO READ: What happened on 08 November?

BIRTHDAYS

1974 | Italian footballer, Alessandro Del Piero born in Italy

1973 | Greek footballer, Zisis Vryzas born in Greece

1972 | American NFL linebacker, Mark Fields born in California

1971 | American NFL wide receiver (New Orleans Saints), Steve Rhem born in Florida

1934 | Author and playwright, Ronald Harwood in Cape Town

DEATHS

2020 | Italian boxer (Olympic gold flyweight 1964), Fernando Atzori dies at 78

2018 | American baseball player,  Ken Howell dies at 57

2013 | English rugby league fullback, Steve Prescott dies of cancer at 39

2011 | American ice hockey left wing, Roger Christian dies at 75

2008 | South African singer Miriam Makeba dies at the age of 76

SPORTS

1996 | Evander Holyfield pulled off a surprising 11th-round knockout victory over Mike Tyson in Las Vegas, recapturing the WBA heavyweight boxing title. He became the second boxer, following in the footsteps of Muhammad Ali, to secure the heavyweight title three times.

ENTERTAINMENT

2008 | Miriam Makeba, the renowned South African singer who achieved the 12th position on the Billboard chart in 1967 with ‘Pata Pata,’ suffered a fatal heart attack at the age of 76. Notably, she was the first African woman to win a Grammy, earning the award for Best Folk Recording in 1966 alongside Harry Belafonte for ‘An Evening With Belafonte / Makeba.’

AFRICA FACT

In the 16th century, West African scholars deemed a collection of 1,600 books to be a modest library. Professor Ahmed Baba of Timbuktu once mentioned that among his acquaintances, he possessed the most modest library, containing just 1,600 volumes.

Here is a look at some of the most notable events that happened on this day

ON THIS DAY: 08 NOVEMBER

2005 | Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf becomes the first female president of Liberia.

2002 | The UN Security Council, under Resolution 1441, unanimously approves a resolution on Iraq, pressuring Saddam Hussein to disarm or face serious consequences.

1958 | A year after Ghana gained independence from Britain under President Kwame Nkrumah, the All African People Conference took place in Accra in December 1958.

1923 | Adolf Hitler and the Nazi party stage the “Beer Hall Putsch” in Munich, Germany.

1864 | Abraham Lincoln, a Republican, is elected to his second term as American President.

ALSO READ: What happened on 25 October?

BIRTHDAYS

2003 | Lady Louise Windsor born in Surrey, England.

1974 | Seishi Kishimoto born in Nagi, Okayama Prefecture, Japan.

1923 | American electrical engineer (Nobel Prize in Physics, 2000 – handheld calculator, integrated circuit) born in Jefferson City, Missouri.

1922 | Dr. Chris Barnard, the medical practitioner who performed the first heart transplant.

1895 | SA educationist born in Luckhoff, OFS, Dr. Ernst Gideon Malherbe.

DEATHS

2010 | Alex Fagan – an American law enforcement official, dies at the age of 60.

2010 | Jack Levine – an American social realist painter, dies at the age of 95.

2002 | Jaun Elia – Pakistani scholar, poet, and philosopher, dies at the age of 70.

1960 | Otto Frederick Rohwedder – an American engineer known for inventing the bread-slicing machine, dies at the age of 80.

1890 | Vyacheslav Molotov – a Russian politician, dies at the age of 96.

SPORTS

2017: Brazilian surfer Rodrigo Koxa sets a world record by riding the biggest-ever wave at 24.4 meters in Nazaré, Portugal.

ENTERTAINMENT

2016: Adele becomes the richest British celebrity under 30, with an estimated £92 million, surpassing One Direction who held the top spot for three years. She was ranked fourth the previous year on Heat’s list of the 30 richest British stars under 30.

AFRICA FACT

The lowest point on the African continent can be found in Lake Assal, situated in the Afar Triangle in Djibouti. It rests at an elevation of 509 feet (155 meters) below sea level and ranks as the third-deepest point on Earth, following the Dead Sea and the Sea of Galilee.

Here is a look at some of the most notable events that happened on this day

ON THIS DAY: 07 NOVEMBER

2020 | Joe Biden, the former Vice-President, emerged victorious in the U.S. presidential race four days after the election, defeating the incumbent President, Donald Trump.

2000 | The controversial US presidential election between George W. Bush and Al Gore remained undecided, with the Supreme Court ultimately resolving the outcome in Bush’s favor.

1962 | Nelson Mandela was identified as the “mouthpiece and mastermind” behind a call for a national strike and the establishment of Umkhonto we Sizwe (Spear of the Nation).

1931 | The Chinese People’s Republic was declared by Mao Zedong.

1917 | The October Revolution took place in Russia, resulting in Lenin and the Bolsheviks seizing power, capturing the Winter Palace, and overthrowing the Provisional Government.

ALSO READ: What happened on 25 October?

BIRTHDAYS

1996 | New Zealand singer (Royals), Lorde

1995 | American video blogger, Bethany Mota

1994 | American singer-songwriter and actor, Shamir [Bailey]

1975 | American former Navy SEAL (“Lone Survivor”), Marcus Luttrell

1917 | Politician and Anti-Apartheid activist, Helen Suzman

DEATHS

2022 | British stage, screen, and radio actor (Carry On; Harry Potter films),  Leslie Phillips dies at 98 

2022 | American theatrical producer (Hair; Lenny), Michael Butler  dies at 95

2019| Canadian composer, Gabriel Charpentier dies at 94

2016 |  Canadian writer and singer-songwriter (“Hallelujah”; “Death of Ladies Man”; Suzanne”), Leonard Cohen dies at 82

2011 | American boxer (Olympic gold heavyweight 1964; undisputed world heavyweight champion 1970-73), Joe Frazier dies of liver cancer at 67

SPORTS

1991 | Magic Johnson announced that he had contracted the HIV virus and retired from the LA Lakers.

ENTERTAINMENT

2000 | R. Kelly’s fourth studio album, “TP-2.com,” was released (winner of the American Music Awards Favorite Male Soul/R&B Artist in 2001 and Billboard Album of the Year in 2001).

AFRICA FACT

The lowest point on the African continent can be found in Lake Assal, situated in the Afar Triangle in Djibouti. It rests at an elevation of 509 feet (155 meters) below sea level and ranks as the third-deepest point on Earth, following the Dead Sea and the Sea of Galilee.

Here is a look at some of the most notable events that happened on this day

ON THIS DAY: 06 NOVEMBER

2009 | President Barack Obama signs a congressional resolution, bestowing honorary U.S. citizenship upon Revolutionary War hero Casimir Pulaski.

1964 | Vuyisile Mini, a trade unionist and uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK) activist, faces execution by hanging for his role in the MK and anti-apartheid resistance, authorized by the authorities.

1913 | Mohandas K. Gandhi is arrested as he leads a march of Indian miners in South Africa, with the arrest being formalized by the law.

1860 | Republican Abraham Lincoln of Illinois is elected as the 16th President of the United States of America, as declared by the voters.

1991 | Russian President Boris Yeltsin outlaws the Communist Party, officially signing the end of its influence.

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BIRTHDAYS

1990 | Australian-born American comedian, actor and writer, Bowen Yang

1989 | American footballer, Jozy Altidore, 

1988 | American actress (The Amazing Spider-Man, La La Land), Emma Stone

1988 | Swedish footballer, Erik Lund, 

1987 | Serbian tennis player, Ana Ivanović

DEATHS

2010 | Romanian poet and politician, Adrian Păunescu dies at 67

2009 | Argentine historian and lyricist, Félix Luna. dies at 84

2008 | Royal Navy officer and master of Queen’s household, Paul Greening dies at 80

2007 | Swedish football midfielder and coach Nils Liedholm dies at 85

1982 | Social anthropologist and executive member of the SAIRR, Ellen Phyllis Hellmann, dies at 74

SPORTS

1993 | Evander Holyfield secures victory over Riddick Bowe in a 12-round match to claim the heavyweight boxing title.

ENTERTAINMENT

2002 | The 36th edition of the Country Music Association Awards sees Alan Jackson and Martina McBride emerge as winners.

AFRICA FACT

Africa boasts a select group of Nobel Prize laureates, with 23 distinguished recipients. Among them are iconic figures like Nelson Mandela, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Kofi Annan, and the most recent addition, Denis Mukwege.

Here is a look at some of the most notable events that happened on this day

ON THIS DAY: 04 NOVEMBER

2008 | Barack Obama achieves the historic milestone of becoming the first African-American President of the United States after defeating Republican candidate John McCain in the presidential election.

1995 | The Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin tragically loses his life when he is assassinated during a peace rally held in Tel Aviv.

1980 | Ronald Reagan secures his position as the 40th President of the United States by winning the presidential election.

1975 | Responding to South Africa’s invasion of Angola, the Cuban President Fidel Castro makes the decision to deploy Cuban troops to Angola.

1979 | At the American Embassy in Tehran, Iran, a group of militant student followers of Ayatollah Khomeini takes 90 people, including 63 Americans, hostage. They demand the return of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, who is receiving medical treatment in New York City.

1987 | The NBA announces the addition of four new franchises to the league, with Charlotte and Miami set to join in 1988, and Minneapolis and Orlando scheduled for entry in 1989.

ALSO READ: What happened on 25 October?

BIRTHDAYS

2009 | American journalist and pioneer of television news programming who became known as “the most trusted man in America, Walter Cronkite

1970 | American rapper, record producer, and clothing designer, Sean Combs

1960 | American Comedian And Actress, Kathy Griffin

1957 | Prime minister of Australia , Tony Abbott

1946 | American first lady, Laura Welch Bush

DEATHS

2017 | Gilbert Rogin, American journalist and author, dies at 87

2016 |Hubert van Herreweghen, Belgian poet, dies at 96

 2006 | Ernestine Gilbreth Carey, American author (Cheaper by the Dozen), dies at 98

2005 | Nadia Anjuman, Afghan poet and journalist, dies after being beaten by her husband at 24

 2003 | South African actor, Ken Gampu dies at 74

SPORTS

1987 | The NBA announces the addition of four new franchises to the league, with Charlotte and Miami set to join in 1988, and Minneapolis and Orlando scheduled for entry in 1989.

ENTERTAINMENT

2013 | Rihanna attains a remarkable achievement, joining the ranks of The Beatles and Elvis Presley as one of only three acts to achieve seven number-one singles on the UK singles chart within seven years. She reached the top spot as a featured artist on Eminem’s new track ‘The Monster.’

AFRICA FACT

Angola has more Portuguese speakers than Portugal.

Here is a look at some of the most notable events that happened on this day

ON THIS DAY: 03 NOVEMBER

2004 | South African President Thabo Mbeki extends his congratulations to his U.S. counterpart, President George W. Bush, on his re-election for a second term as President of the United States, emphasizing the importance of global peace.

1970 | Salvador Allende, a Marxist, is inaugurated as the President of Chile.

1964 | Lyndon B. Johnson wins a landslide victory and becomes the President of the United States, with Hubert Humphrey as his Vice President, defeating the Republican candidate Barry Goldwater.

1956 | Israeli forces successfully seize the Gaza Strip after several days of combat during the Suez Crisis.

1955 | Scientists Carlton E. Schwerdt and Fred L. Schaffer announce a breakthrough in crystallizing the pure polio virus, enabling them to gain a better understanding of its chemical and biological characteristics

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BIRTHDAYS

2002 | American singer-songwriter, Stephen Sanchez 

1995 | American model and TV personality (Keeping Up with the Kardashians) 

1971 Spanish soccer manager (Valencia, Spartak Moscow, Sevilla, PSG, Arsenal), Unai Emery, 

1955 | Deputy president of South Africa,  Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka

1964 | South African Pop Queen, Brenda Nokuzola Fassie

DEATHS

2015 | Ahmed Chalabi, Iraqi politician (supported US 2003 invasion), dies at 71

2015 | Howard Coble, American politician (Rep-R-NC, 1985-2015), dies at 84

2014 | Gordon Tullock, American economist (public choice theory), dies at 92

2013 | Gerard Cieślik, Polish soccer striker, dies at 86

2012 | Tommy Godwin, British track cyclist, dies at 91

SPORTS

1996 | Kobe Bryant, the Los Angeles Lakers’ superstar, makes his NBA debut at the age of 18 years, 2 months, and 11 days, helping his team secure a 91-85 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Great Western Forum.

ENTERTAINMENT

1998 | “Shakespeare in Love,” directed by John Madden and featuring Gwyneth Paltrow and Joseph Fiennes, debuts in New York and wins the Best Picture award in 1999.

AFRICA FACT

The San people, who are the direct descendants of the first Homo sapiens, hold the distinction of being the oldest tribe in Africa. They have inhabited Southern African nations like Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, and Angola for more than 20,000 years.

Here is a look at some of the most notable events that happened on this day

ON THIS DAY: 02 NOVEMBER

2000 | The inaugural resident crew arrives at the International Space Station.

1990 | Looking back on this date in history, Odile Harrington, a South African who had been convicted and incarcerated for espionage in Zimbabwe in 1987, was set free and returned to South Africa.

1983 | A bill instituting Martin Luther King, Jr., Day is signed into law by President Ronald Reagan.

1976 | Jimmy (James Earl) Carter secured victory as the 39th president of the United States.

1963 | The assassination of South Vietnamese President Ngo Dinh Diem takes place.

ALSO READ: What happened on 25 October?

BIRTHDAYS

1974 | American rapper, Nellyville. born in Austin, Texas

1966 | American actor (Friends, Madagascar), born in Queens, New York

1965 | Indian actor, producer and TV personality (My Name is Khan, Swades), born in New Delhi, India

1956 | South African artist, Lucas Seage

1952 | American chairman and CEO of BlackRock, born in Los Angeles, California

DEATHS

2021 | Mohamed Soukhane, Algerian soccer defender, dies at 90

2021 | American football running back Tom Matte, dies at 82

2007 | South African Actor, Henry Cele, dies at 66

2004 | 1st President of the United Arab Emirates, Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan dies at 85

1996 | American baseball second baseman Tone Stone dies at 75

SPORTS

1988 Mexican radio station erroneously reports Mike Tyson had died in car crash

ENTERTAINMENT

2016 | Taylor Swift was the highest-paid woman in music, according to Forbes’ annual list, having earned more than double her nearest competitor Adele. 

AFRICA FACT

1209 AD | Emperor Lalibela of Ethiopia dispatched a diplomatic mission to Cairo, presenting the sultan with unique offerings such as an elephant, a hyena, a zebra, and a giraffe.

Here is a look at some of the most notable events that happened on this day

ON THIS DAY: 01 NOVEMBER

2022 | Benjamin Netanyahu and his Likud party secure victory in the fifth Israeli election held in less than four years, defeating incumbent Prime Minister Yair Lapid.

1998 | The establishment of the European Court of Human Rights takes place.

1993 | The Maastricht Treaty, also known as the Treaty on European Union, officially goes into force.

1952 | Edward Teller and a group of American scientists conduct a test of the first thermonuclear bomb, harnessing its power through an uncontrolled, self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction.

1942 | Torpedoes launched by the German submarine U-178 sink the SS Mendoza, a vessel en route to Durban in the Indian Ocean. The SS Mendoza was originally a Vichy French ship seized by a British-armed merchant cruiser near Montevideo.

ALSO READ: What happened on 25 October?

BIRTHDAYS

1976 | Antonio Roybal, American painter and sculptor

1960 | Crown Prince of Iran, born in Tehran, Iran

1956 | British Prime Minister (Conservative: 2016-19), born in Eastbourne, England

1936 | South African international golfing legend, Gary Player

1924 | American Democratic politician and 39th US President (1977-81), born in Plains, Georgia

DEATHS

2008 | Swiss deep sea explorer (one of the first to explore the Mariana Trench), Jacques Piccard. dies at 86

2007 | US Air Force retired Brigadier General (b. 1915), Paul Tibbets

2006 | American novelist (Confess of Nat Turner, Sophie’s Choice), William Styron. dies at 81

 1999 | American physicist and Atomic Spy for the Soviet Union,   Theodore Hall. dies at 74

1996 | Prime Minister of Morocco Maati Bouabid. (1979-83), dies at 68

SPORTS

1990 | Sandra Miller awarded $100 for Mike Tyson fondling her breasts

ENTERTAINMENT

1997 | The inaugural public screening of James Cameron’s “Titanic,” a dramatic portrayal of the ill-fated ocean liner, took place at the Tokyo International Film Festival. The film would go on to become one of the top-grossing movies ever, propelling Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet to international stardom.

AFRICA FACT

African elephants are the largest living land animals; they are so big in fact that they can weigh over six tonnes and be up to seven metres long in size.

ON THIS DAY: 13 NOVEMBER

1925 | Initial experiments on the body of Egyptian King Tutankhamen, conclude he is a 15-year-old boy. Tutankhamen was an Egyptian Pharoah who ruled in the period known as the 18th Dynasty, the years between 1332 and 1323 BC.

1950 | Seretse Khama, who later became the first President of Botswana, is asked to relinquish his chieftaincy when he married an English woman Ruth Williams in September 1948, without approval from the tribal elders.

1970 | South African Maria Groesbeek is hanged for murdering her husband Christian Buys by poisoning him. Maria claimed her husband abused her and accused her of flirting with other men. 

1950 | Seretse Khama, who later became the first President of Botswana, is asked to relinquish his chieftaincy when he married an English woman Ruth Williams in September 1948, without approval from the tribal elders.

1980 | The investigation into Steve Biko’s death by the Medical Association under presiding magistrate Marthinus Prins finds that no one could be blamed for the death of the activist. 

1990 | The Harms Commission released its report on its investigations into the activities of the South African Defence Force and the South African Police counter-insurgency units. Supreme Court judge, Justice Louis Harms, headed the Commission. 

DEATHS

1978 | English born South African cricketer George Hearne dies at the age of 90

2011 | Rugby player Solomzi “Solly” Tyibilika, who played for the Lions and was the first black African to score a Test try for the Springboks, is shot dead at a tavern in Gugulethu, Cape Town.

2016 | Enzo Maiorca, Italian freediver (17 world records), dies at 85

BIRTHDAYS

1934 | Peter Arnett – TV journalist who worked for CNN for 18 years, and is known for interviewing both Osama bin Laden and Saddam Hussein.

1955 | Whoopi Goldberg – American actress known for films like The Color Purple, Sister Act and many more. She has won an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar, and a Tony Award.

1956 | Nosiviwe Noluthando Mapisa-Nqakula – South African politician who was appointed Minister of Defence and Military Veterans in 2012. 

1967 | Bonnie Ntshalintshali – South African artist.

1967 | Jimmy Kimmel – American TV host and producer.

1969 | Gerard Butler – Scottish actor, known for Law Abiding Citizen, Gods of Egypt and many more.

1972 | Andy Marinos, former Wales, Stormers, Newport RFC and Newport Gwent Dragons rugby player. 

1981 | Greg Minnaar – South African World Champion mountain bike racer competing in downhill cycling

SPORT

1946 | Australian great Don Bradman scores 106 for an Australian XI v the MCC

1954 | Great Britain beats France 16-12 in the first Rugby League World Cup 

1988 | Brazilian McLaren driver Ayrton Senna wins his first Formula 1 World Drivers Championship, beating rival Alain Prost to the title by 3 points.

1992 | Riddick Bowe wins the undisputed world heavyweight boxing crown against Evander Holyfield

2014 | Rohit Sharma of India sets a new record of 264 runs against Sri Lanka in an ODI innings.

ENTERTAINMENT

1995 | The 17th James Bond Film, “GoldenEye” is released, starring Pierce Brosnan for the first time and Dame Judi Dench.

1999 | “Toy Story 2”, starring Tom Hanks and Tim Allen, premiers in the US. It grossed more than $497 million and is regarded as the one of the greatest animated films ever made.

2001 | Shakira releases “Laundry Service”, her fifth studio album and first English language album.

2002 | Eminem releases a single ‘Lose Yourself’ from the soundtrack of “8 Mile”. It becomes the first rap song to win an Academy Award for Best Original Song.

AFRICA FACT

The African continent has the second largest population in the world, with more than one billion people. There are 2000 languages spoken by the people of Africa.