Historical Events
- Jan 1 16-time world darts champion Phil Taylor loses, 7-2 to fellow Englishman Rob Cross in the final of his last World Championship in London
- Jan 1 California becomes largest US state to legalise cannabis for recreational use
- Jan 1 Initiative of 300 Hollywood women called "Time's Up" announced to fight sexual harassment
Iranian Protests
Jan 1 Iranian President Hassan Rouhani says recent unrest "is nothing" after 30 people killed in 5 days of anti government demonstrations
- Jan 1 Japanese actress and former porn star Sora Aoi announces her engagement
Film & TV History
Jan 1 Javier Bardem becomes the ambassador of Greenpeace for the protection of Antarctica
- Jan 1 World Darts Championship: Retiring 16-time title holder Phil Taylor loses 7-2 to fellow Englishman Rob Cross in the Final at the Alexandra Palace, London.
- Jan 2 Bus crash in Pasamayo, Peru, kills 51 on notorious "Devil's Curve" road
- Jan 2 Storm Eleanor forms near Ireland then sweeps across the UK and Western Europe in next few days
- Jan 2 US senator Al Franken resigns
- Jan 2 WHO reveals it will classify gaming addiction as mental health condition in its next Classification of Diseases
- Jan 3 First bionic hand with a sense of touch, for use outside a lab unveiled in Rome
- Jan 3 Landslide and flooding caused by heavy rains in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, kills at least 37
Fire and Fury
Jan 3 Lawyers of US President Donald Trump try to stop the publication of book on Trump's administration "Fire and Fury" by Michael Wolff
- Jan 3 Previously unknown ancient Beringians group of people unearthed in Alaska, earliest known Native Americans at 11,500 years old
- Jan 3 Security expert reveal two security flaws, Meltdown and Spectre which affect most microprocessors
- Jan 4 'Bomb Cyclone' hits US Northeast prompting flooding and snow in New York subway system
African Player of the Year
Jan 4 Liverpool and Egyptian forward Mohamed Salah is named African Football Player of the Year
- Jan 4 Truck hits a train near Kroonstad city, South Africa killing 19 passengers
- Jan 5 "Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House" by Michael Wolff is published by Henry Holt and Company
- Jan 5 Kitwe in Zambia bans shaking hands and the sale of fresh food in attempt to prevent a cholera outbreak
- Jan 5 North Korea accepts South Korean invitation for high-level talks
Swiss Defeat Germany
Jan 6 Hopman Cup Tennis, Perth: Swiss pair Roger Federer & Belinda Bencic clinch 2-1 win over Germany; beat Angelique Kerber & Alexander Zverev 4-3, 4-2; Switzerland's 3rd event success
- Jan 6 Jon Gruden returns to the NFL as Oakland Raiders head coach after nearly a decade of broadcasting (ESPN Monday Night Football 2009-17)
- Jan 6 Oil tanker Sanchi collides with a freighter off the coast of Shanghai with 32 probable deaths
- Jan 6 Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota scores a touchdown off own pass in 22-21 victory over Kansas City Chiefs, second NFL quarterback to do so
"Ladybird", "Handmaiden's Tale" Win
Jan 7 75th Golden Globes: "Ladybird", "The Handmaid's Tale", Elisabeth Moss, Sterling K. Brown among the winners, Oprah Winfrey accepts Lifetime award with powerful speech
- Jan 7 It snows in the Sahara desert - 15 inches reported in Aïn Séfra, Northwest Algeria
- Jan 7 Sydney, Australia has its hottest day for 80 years as Penrith reaches 47.3 degrees
- Jan 8 College Football National Championship, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta: #4 Alabama beats #3 Georgia, 26-23
- Jan 8 Self-declared Republic of Somaliland passes its first ever law against rape
- Jan 8 US record year for cost of natural disasters announced - $306 billion in 2017
- Jan 9 Former White House strategist Steve Bannon leaves Breitbart News after his criticism of the White House in "Fire and the Fury" book
- Jan 9 Mudslides sweep away 100 houses in Montecito, California, killing at least 20, on land stripped bare by recent fires
- Jan 9 The first same-sex marriages take place in Australia after legislation passed a month earlier
- Jan 9 US President Trump cancels program allowing 200,000 Salvadorans 17-year temporary protected status to live in the US
Bezos Net Worth Passes $100B
Jan 10 Jeff Bezos becomes the second man worth over $100 billion as his wealth hits $106 billion due to a rise in Amazon's share price
- Jan 11 In China's first significant #MeToo moment Beihang University in Beijing fires a professor for sexual misconduct
- Jan 11 US President Donald Trump causes worldwide controversy when it is reported he called African countries "shitholes" during immigration meeting
YouTube Sanctions Logan Paul
Jan 11 YouTube issues sanctions against vlogger Logan Paul after he posted footage of suicide victim's body in Japan in December
Wahlberg Donates Fee
Jan 13 American actor Mark Wahlberg donates his $1.5M re-shoot fee for the film "All The Money In The World" to "Time's Up" movement after revelation co-star Michelle Williams was only paid $1000
- Jan 13 Chelsea Manning, former soldier responsible for Wikileaks announces her bid to run for US Senate
- Jan 13 Early-morning ballistic missile alert sent across Hawaii in error, revoked after 38 minutes
- Jan 15 Fashion photographers Mario Testino and Bruce Weber are suspended from magazines including Vogue, after allegations of sexual harassment in "The New York Times"
- Jan 15 Operation in El Junquito, Venezuela, to capture terrorist group including Oscar Pérez, accused of mounting a coup, ends in 4 deaths
Pope Visits Chile
Jan 15 Pope Francis arrives in Chile for a three-day visit amid child sexual abuse claims against church clergy
- Jan 15 Protests against the current government turn violent in Tunis, Tunisia marking the seventh anniversary of the revolution
- Jan 15 Romanian Social Democrat (PSD) Prime Minister Mihai Tudose resigns after 7 months in office
Biles Says She Too Abused
Jan 15 US Olympic gold medal winning gymnast Simone Biles says she is one of more than 130 women sexually abused by former team doctor Larry Nassar
- Jan 18 Brazilian surfer Maya Gabeira rides the largest-ever wave by a female surfer at 20.72 m (68 ft) at Praia do Norte in Nazaréin, Portugal
- Jan 18 First drone rescue of swimmers by lifeguards in New South Wales, Australia
- Jan 21 AFC Championship, Gillette Stadium, Foxborough: New England Patriots beat Jacksonville Jaguars, 24-20
Gambian Dictator Jammeh Concedes
Jan 21 Gambian Dictator Yahya Jammeh finally concedes office and leaves Gambia 2 months after losing the presidential election
- Jan 21 NFC Championship, Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia: Philadelphia Eagles beat Minnesota Vikings, 38-7
- Jan 22 Netflix becomes the largest digital media and entertainment company in the world worth $100 billion
Cousins Equals Abdul-Jabbar
Jan 22 New Orleans Pelicans' DeMarcus Cousins has 44 points, 24 rebounds & 10 assists in 132-128 double-OT win over Chicago Bulls; 1st player since Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (1972) with 40+ points, 20+ rebounds & 10+ assists
- Jan 22 US government ends three-day shutdown after an agreement in Congress to extend funding
Diamond Retires from Touring
Jan 23 American singer-songwriter Neil Diamond abruptly retires from touring after being diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease
- Jan 23 Chinese researchers report they have cloned two monkeys, using the same technology as Dolly the Sheep
LeBron's 30,000 Milestone
Jan 23 LeBron James becomes the 7th and youngest (33 years 24 days) to reach the 30,000 NBA point milestone during 114-102 loss to San Antonio Spurs
- Jan 23 Twelve camels disqualified from the King Abdulaziz Camel beauty contest, Saudi Arabia after their owners used botox on their lips
- Jan 24 Former US Olympic team doctor Larry Nassar found guilty of molesting over 150 girls, sentenced up to 175 years in prison
- Jan 24 UK charity Presidents Club forced to close after revelations of sexual harassment at event revealed by the "Financial Times"
- Jan 25 Doomsday clock moved by 30 seconds to 2 minutes to midnight by Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, closest since 1950s
- Jan 25 Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi asked "are there any bookshops in Nigeria?" in controversial French interview
- Jan 26 Residents left without heat in -27C in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan after boiler breaks in main power station
Wozniacki Beats Halep
Jan 27 Australian Open Women's Tennis: Caroline Wozniacki beats Simona Halep 7-6, 3-6, 6-4 to win her first Grand Slam title
- Jan 27 Bomb in an ambulance kills over 100 people in Kabul, Taliban claim responsibility
- Jan 27 Rashid Khan is bought by Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL
60th Grammy Awards
Jan 28 60th Grammy Awards: Bruno Mars wins Best Song "That's What I Like," and Best Album "24K Magic"
- Jan 28 63rd NHL All Star Games, Amalie Arena, Tampa, FL: Pacific Division All Stars win four-team, 3-on-3 tournament; MVP: Brock Boeser, Vancouver Canucks, RW
- Jan 28 Australian Open Men's Tennis: Roger Federer beats Marin Čilic 6-2, 6-7, 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 to win his record 20th Grand Slam title
- Jan 28 French drivers Sebastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia win their 6th Monte Carlo Rally in an M-Sport Ford WRT
- Jan 28 NFL Pro Bowl, Orlando, FL: AFC beats NFC, 24-23; MVPs: Delanie Walker, Tennessee Titans, TE; Von Miller, Denver Broncos, LB
- Jan 28 Seven survivors from missing Kiribati ferry carrying 100 people rescued after week at sea
- Jan 29 Cleveland Indians announce they will remove "Chief Wahoo" caricature logo from uniforms in 2019
Beckham Launches Inter Miami
Jan 29 David Beckham launches a Major League Soccer team in Florida; Inter Miami CF
- Jan 29 F.B.I deputy director Andrew G. McCabe steps down from office
"Black Panther"
Jan 29 Marvel film "Black Panther" directed by Ryan Coogler and starring Chadwick Boseman premieres in Los Angeles
- Jan 29 Toronto police arrest landscaper Bruce McArthur for murder after remains of at least 5 people found in potted plants
- Jan 30 Houston forward James Harden puts up highest scoring triple-double in NBA history (60 points, 10 rebounds, 11 assists) as the Rockets beat Orlando Magic, 114-107 in Houston
- Jan 31 Houston guard James Harden becomes first player in NBA history to log a 60-point triple-double with 60 points, 10 rebounds, 11 assists, 4 steals and a block in Rockets' 114-107 win over Orlando Magic
- Jan 31 Trump administration formally suspends the Clean Water Act
Famous Weddings
Elliot Page
Jan 3 Canadian actress Ellen Page reveals she has married Canadian dancer and choreographer Emma Portner; divorce in 2021
Ricky Martin
Jan 8 Puerto Rican "Livin' la Vida Loca" singer Ricky Martin (46) reveals he has married Syrian-Swedish painter Jwan Yosef (33)
Ryan Lochte
Jan 9 Swimmer and 12-time Olympic gold medalist Ryan Lochte weds model Kayla Rae Reid in Florida
- Jan 18 Italian social media influencer Chiara Ferragni (30) weds Italian rapper Fedez (28) in Noto, Sicily
Famous Deaths
- Jan 1 John V Tunney, American politician (Rep/Sen-D-California), dies of prostate cancer at 83
- Jan 1 Robert Mann, American composer and violinist (String Quartet 1952), dies at 97
- Jan 2 Rick Hall, American record producer, songwriter, and creator of the "Muscle Shoals sound" (FAME Studio), dies of prostate cancer at 85
- Jan 2 Thomas Monson, 16th president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, dies at 90
- Jan 3 Bra Willie [Keorapetse Kgositsile], South African poet and political activist (Point of Departure: Fire Dance Fire Song), dies at 79
- Jan 3 Colin Brumby, Australian composer (Fibonacci Variations), conductor (Queensland Opera, 1968-71), and educator, dies at 84
- Jan 3 Konrad Ragossnig, Austrian classical guitarist and lutenist, dies at 85
- Jan 4 Brendan Byrne, American politician (Governor of New Jersey 1974-82), dies at 93
- Jan 4 Ray Thomas, English rock vocalist and flautist (Moody Blues - "Legend Of A Mind"), dies at 76
- Jan 4 [Ervin] Aharon Appelfeld, Israeli writer (Blooms of Darkness; Badenheim), and holocaust survivor, dies at 85
- Jan 5 Antonio Valentín Angelillo, Italian-Argentinian footballer who played for both Argentina and Italy, dies at 80
- Jan 5 Bruce Hood, Canadian National Hockey League referee (1965-84), and author (Calling The Shots), dies of prostate cancer at 81
- Jan 5 Jerry Van Dyke, American actor (My Mother the Car, Coach), dies at 86
- Jan 5 John Young, American astronaut and 9th person to walk on the Moon (Gemini 3 & 10, Apollo 10 & 16, STS 1 & 9), dies of pneumonia complications at 87
- Jan 5 José Molina [Quijada], Spanish-born American flamenco dancer, dies of lung cancer at 81
- Jan 6 Horace Ashenfelter, American athlete (Olympic gold 3000m steeplechase 1952), dies at 94
- Jan 7 Anna Mae Hays [McCabe], American military officer and US military's 1st female General, dies from a heart attack at 97
- Jan 7 Isabelle "France" Gall, French pop singer (Donner Pour Donner, Sacré Charlemagne), dies from cancer at 70
- Jan 7 Peter Sutherland, Irish businessman (Allied Irish Banks) and politician (Fine Gael), dies at 71
- Jan 7 Tom Netherton, American pop and Christian music singer (Lawrence Welk Show), dies from pneumonia at 70
- Jan 8 Denise LaSalle [Ora Denise Allen], American blues and R&B singer recognized as the "Queen of the Blues" ("Trapped by a Thing Called Love"), dies from complications from surgery at 83
- Jan 8 Donnelly Rhodes, Canadian actor (Da Vinci's Inquest, Danger Bay), dies of cancer at 80
- Jan 9 Karin von Aroldingen, German ballet dancer (NYC Ballet), dies at 76
- Jan 9 Odvar Nordli, 21st Prime Minister of Norway (Labour: 1976-81), dies at 90
- Jan 9 Terence Marsh, British production designer (Oliver!; Dr. Zhivago; Spaceballs), dies of cancer at 86
- Jan 9 Tommy Lawrence, Scottish football player and goalkeeper (Liverpool, Tranmere Rovers), dies at 77
- Jan 10 "Fast" Eddie Clarke, British guitarist (Fastway, Motörhead), dies from pneumonia at 67
- Jan 10 Doreen Tracey, British-born American performer (Mickey Mouse Club-Mouseketeer), dies at 74
- Jan 10 Tom Luken, American politician (U.S. House of Representatives from Ohio), dies at 92
- Jan 10 Wiesje Backer, Dutch ballet dancer, actress. and playwright, dies at 79
- Jan 11 Doug Barnard Jr, American politician (Rep-D-GA, 1977-93), dies at 95
- Jan 11 Edgar Ray Killen, American convict, former preacher, K.K.K. member and murderer, dies at 92
- Jan 12 Bella Emberg [Sybil Dyke], British comic actress (The Russ Abbott Show), dies of alcohol toxicity at 80
- Jan 12 Danny Woods, American soul singer (Chairmen of the Board - "Give Me Just a Little More Time"), dies at 75
- Jan 12 Keith Jackson, American sportscaster (ABC Monday Night Football, college football), dies at 89
- Jan 12 Pierre Pincemaille, French organist, composer, and pedagogue, dies of lung cancer at 61
- Jan 13 Doug Harvey, American Baseball HOF umpire (NL 1962-92; 5 x World Series; 7 x MLB All-Star games; career total 4,673 games), dies at 87
- Jan 13 Jack Nel, South African cricket batsman (6 Tests, Western Province), dies at 89
- Jan 13 Tzimis Panousis, Greek musician, stand-up comedian, and radio presenter, dies of a heart attack at 63
- Jan 14 Daniel "Dan" Gurney, American race-car driver, coach and team owner (All American Racers), dies from complications of pneumonia at 86
- Jan 14 François Morel, Canadian pianist, conductor, and composer (Antiphonie; Me duele España), dies at 91
- Jan 14 Hugh Wilson, American screenwriter, film director The First Wives Club; Blast from the Past), and TV series creator (WKRP in Cincinnati; Frank's Place), dies of lung cancer and emphysema at 74
- Jan 14 Marlene VerPlanck [Pampinella], American jazz and pop vocalist, dies of pancreatic cancer at 84
- Jan 15 Cyrille Regis, English former footballer, dies of a heart attack at 59
Dolores O’Riordan (1971-2018)
Jan 15 Irish musician and singer-songwriter (The Cranberries - "Zombie"; ,"Linger"), drowns in the bath at 46
- Jan 15 Edwin Hawkins, American gospel musician, choir master and composer ("Oh Happy Day"), dies of pancreatic cancer at 74
- Jan 15 Joe Frank [Joseph Langermann], American radio personality (KCRW), dies of cancer at 79
- Jan 15 Mathilde Krim, American medical researcher and founding chairman of amfAR (Foundation for AIDS Research), dies at 91
- Jan 15 Peter Wyngarde [Cyril Goldbert], British actor (Department S and Jason King), dies at 90
- Jan 16 Bradford Dillman, American actor (Compulsion, Piranha, Sudden Impact, Enforcer), dies of complications of pneumonia at 87
- Jan 16 Dave Holland, English heavy metal rocker (Judas Priest - "Breakin' the Law"), dies at 69
- Jan 16 Jo Jo White, American basketballer (Olympic gold - 1968), dies of complications of dementia at 71
- Jan 17 Jessica Falkholt, Australian actress (Hope Morrison-Home and Away, dies at 29, three days after a car crash which also killed both her parents
- Jan 17 Simon Shelton Barnes, British actor (Teletubbies-Tinky Winky), dies of hypothermia at 52
- Jan 18 John Barton, British theatre director and co-founder of the Royal Shakespeare Company, dies at 89
- Jan 18 Lucas M Mangope, 1st president of Bophuthatswana (1977-94), dies at 94
- Jan 19 Allison Shearmur [Allison Ivy Brecker], American film executive and producer (Star Wars, The Hunger Games, Jason Bourne), dies of complications from lung cancer at 54
- Jan 19 Dorothy Malone, American actress (At Gunpoint, Night & Day, Peyton Place), dies at 93
- Jan 19 Geoffrey Caston, British diplomat and academic administrator (University of Oxford, 1972-79; Vice-Chancellor of University of the South Pacific, 1983-92), dies at 91
- Jan 19 Olivia Cole, American actress (Roots, Backstairs at the White House), dies of a heart attack at 75
- Jan 20 Bob Smith, American author and a groundbreaking gay comedian (The Tonight Show, Funny Gay Males), dies from Lou Gehrig’s disease at 59
- Jan 20 Graeme Langlands, Australian rugby league fullback, captain and coach (24 Tests; St. George RLFC; ARL "Immortal"), dies from dementia and Alzheimer's disease at 76
- Jan 20 Howard Lew Lewis, English comedian and actor (Maid Marian and Her Merry Men and Brush Strokes), dies at 76
- Jan 20 Jack Whitten, American abstract painter, dies of chronic leukemia at 78
- Jan 20 Jim Rodford, English rock bassist (The Kinks; Argent; Zombies), dies after a fall at 76
- Jan 20 John Coleman, American journalist, co-founder of The Weather Channel and broadcaster (1953-2014), dies at 83
- Jan 20 Naomi Parker Fraley, American who inspired "Rosie the Riveter" poster, dies at 96
- Jan 20 Paul Bocuse, French great chef (Legion of Honor), dies of Parkinson's disease at 91
- Jan 21 Chartchai Chionoi, Thai boxer (WBC/WBA flyweight champion), dies of Parkinson's disease at 75
- Jan 21 Connie Sawyer [Rosie Cohen], American actress known as "The Clown Princess of Comedy" (Pineapple Express, Dumb and Dumber), dies at 105
- Jan 21 David Pithey, Rhodesian cricket all-rounder (8 Tests for South Africa), dies from Alzheimer's disease at 81
- Jan 22 James "Jimmy" Armfield, British former-footballer, manager and pundit (BBC Radio Five Live), dies at 82
- Jan 22 Ursula K. Le Guin, American sci-fi author (The Left Hand of Darkness, Tombs of Atuan), dies at 88
- Jan 23 Hugh Masekela, South African trumpeter, described as the "father of South African jazz" ("Grazing in the Grass"; "Soweto Blues"; Sarafina!), and anti-apartheid activist dies of prostate cancer at 78
- Jan 23 Lari White, American country music singer and actress (You Can Be a Star winner- 1988), dies of peritoneal cancer at 52
- Jan 23 Nicanor Parra, Chilean poet, mathematician, and physicist (Defense of Violeta Parra), dies at 103
- Jan 23 Stansfield Turner, American admiral and CIA director (1977-81), dies at 94
- Jan 23 Wyatt Tee Walker, African-American pastor, civil rights leader, chief of staff for Martin Luther King, Jr. and cultural historian, dies at 88
- Jan 24 Jack Ketchum [Dallas William Mayr], American horror fiction author (Off Season, Red, The Woman), dies of cancer at 71
- Jan 24 Mark E. Smith, British rock vocalist (The Fall, The Post-Nearly Man), dies after a long illness at 60
- Jan 25 John Morris, American film and Broadway composer who commonly worked alongside Mel Brooks and Gene Wilder, dies of a respiratory infection at 91
- Jan 26 Francisco Savín, Mexican conductor and composer (Quasar I), dies at 88
- Jan 26 Igor Zhukov, Russian pianist, conductor (Moscow Chamber Orchestra), and sound engineer, dies at 80
Ingvar Kamprad (1926-2018)
Jan 27 Swedish eccentric businessman (founder of IKEA) and author (The Testament of a Furniture Dealer), dies at 91
