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Verified RealSomething Went Wrong in Jet Crash, Expert Says
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Monday 12 October 2026
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Two birth milestones share this date — Mao Zedong born (1893) and Jared Leto born (1971), 78 years apart.
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From CurioVault
Today's curiosity
Its copper-based blood detects bacteria — and pharma bleeds it.
Read on CurioVault.co → Today's headlines
- Something Went Wrong in Jet Crash, Expert SaysHall of Fame◆
- 1984CHINA'S CHRISTIANS GET SOME BREATHING ROOMThe New York Times◆
- 2025Perry Bamonte, guitarist and keyboardist for the Cure, dies aged 65The Guardian◆
- 2011How John Galliano changed the face of fashionThe Guardian◆
- 1980Witnesses report the first of several sightings of unexplained lights near RAF Woodbridge, in Rendlesham Forest, Suffolk, England, United Kingdom, an incident called "Britain's Roswell".Wikipedia◆
- 1871Thespis, the first comic opera by Gilbert and Sullivan, premiered at the Gaiety Theatre in London.Wikipedia◆
- 1800Philip Gidley King, Governor of New South Wales, ordered the formation of the Governor's Body Guard of Light Horse, described as the first full-time military unit raised in Australia.Wikipedia◆
- 1723Johann Sebastian Bach (pictured) directed the premiere of Darzu ist erschienen der Sohn Gottes, his first Christmas cantata composed in Leipzig.Wikipedia◆
- 1709The opera Agrippina, described as George Frideric Handel's first masterpiece, premiered in Venice.Wikipedia◆
- 1606The first known performance of King Lear, a tragedy written by William Shakespeare (pictured) and based on the legend of Leir of Britain, took place before King James I.Wikipedia◆
- 1871Thespis, the first Gilbert and Sullivan collaboration, debuts.Wikipedia◆
- 1811A theater fire in Richmond, Virginia kills 72 people, including the Governor of Virginia George William Smith and the president of the First National Bank of Virginia Abraham B. Venable.Wikipedia◆
- 1799Henry Lee III's eulogy to George Washington in congress declares him as "first in war, first in peace and first in the hearts of his countrymen".Wikipedia◆
- 1793Second Battle of Wissembourg: France defeats Austria.Wikipedia◆
- Something Went Wrong in Jet Crash, Expert SaysHall of Fame◆
- 1984CHINA'S CHRISTIANS GET SOME BREATHING ROOMThe New York Times◆
- 2025Perry Bamonte, guitarist and keyboardist for the Cure, dies aged 65The Guardian◆
- 2011How John Galliano changed the face of fashionThe Guardian◆
- 1980Witnesses report the first of several sightings of unexplained lights near RAF Woodbridge, in Rendlesham Forest, Suffolk, England, United Kingdom, an incident called "Britain's Roswell".Wikipedia◆
- 1871Thespis, the first comic opera by Gilbert and Sullivan, premiered at the Gaiety Theatre in London.Wikipedia◆
- 1800Philip Gidley King, Governor of New South Wales, ordered the formation of the Governor's Body Guard of Light Horse, described as the first full-time military unit raised in Australia.Wikipedia◆
- 1723Johann Sebastian Bach (pictured) directed the premiere of Darzu ist erschienen der Sohn Gottes, his first Christmas cantata composed in Leipzig.Wikipedia◆
- 1709The opera Agrippina, described as George Frideric Handel's first masterpiece, premiered in Venice.Wikipedia◆
- 1606The first known performance of King Lear, a tragedy written by William Shakespeare (pictured) and based on the legend of Leir of Britain, took place before King James I.Wikipedia◆
- 1871Thespis, the first Gilbert and Sullivan collaboration, debuts.Wikipedia◆
- 1811A theater fire in Richmond, Virginia kills 72 people, including the Governor of Virginia George William Smith and the president of the First National Bank of Virginia Abraham B. Venable.Wikipedia◆
- 1799Henry Lee III's eulogy to George Washington in congress declares him as "first in war, first in peace and first in the hearts of his countrymen".Wikipedia◆
- 1793Second Battle of Wissembourg: France defeats Austria.Wikipedia◆
Birthday twins
You share your birthday with...
Kit Harington1986- Jared Leto1971
- Mao Zedong1893
26 December in history
0 eventsEvents, inventions, discoveries and releases. Looking for people or sport? See , and below.
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What happened on this day · Odd history for today
Vintage News — December 26
1980 WeirdWitnesses report the first of several sightings of unexplained lights near RAF Woodbridge, in Rendlesham Forest, Suffolk, England, United Kingdom, an incident called "Britain's Roswell".
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
1871 First everThespis, the first comic opera by Gilbert and Sullivan, premiered at the Gaiety Theatre in London.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
1800 First everPhilip Gidley King, Governor of New South Wales, ordered the formation of the Governor's Body Guard of Light Horse, described as the first full-time military unit raised in Australia.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
1723 First everJohann Sebastian Bach (pictured) directed the premiere of Darzu ist erschienen der Sohn Gottes, his first Christmas cantata composed in Leipzig.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
1709 First everThe opera Agrippina, described as George Frideric Handel's first masterpiece, premiered in Venice.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
From The Guardian Archives — On This Day
2025The GuardianPerry Bamonte, guitarist and keyboardist for the Cure, dies aged 65Starting as a roadie and guitar tech, Bamonte joined the band in 1990 after its breakthrough album Disintegration
Read on The Guardian →
2011The GuardianHow John Galliano changed the face of fashionImogen Fox: The former Dior creative director's racist rant ended his career – and the age of the designer as untouch…
Read on The Guardian →- 1984The New York Times · Front pageCHINA'S CHRISTIANS GET SOME BREATHING ROOM
An hour before midnight mass it took shoving to get out of the frigid courtyard into the vestibule of Nantang Cathedr…
Read on NYTimes.com →
Headlines via The Guardian Open Platform · Historic front pages via the NYT Archive API
Facts from Wikipedia On This Day API (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Wikimedia. Thumbnails CC BY-SA. Headlines via The Guardian Open Platform and the NYT Archive API. Historic pages via Library of Congress Chronicling America. Curated by OddlyTrue.
Strange but true headlines of the day
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When was “Witnesses report the first of several sightings of unexplained lights near RAF Woodbridge, in Rendlesham Forest, Suffolk, England, United Kingdom, an incident called "Britain's Roswell".” happening? Slide to your guess.
1950
Weird history, same day
- ???? Weird
Witnesses report the first of several sightings of unexplained lights near RAF Woodbridge, in Rendlesham Forest, Suffolk, England, United Kingdom, an incident called "Britain's Roswell".
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
- 1871 First ever
Thespis, the first comic opera by Gilbert and Sullivan, premiered at the Gaiety Theatre in London.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
- 1800 First ever
Philip Gidley King, Governor of New South Wales, ordered the formation of the Governor's Body Guard of Light Horse, described as the first full-time military unit raised in Australia.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
Hall of Fame headlines are manually verified clippings (source linked); nothing is scraped from Newspapers.com. Facts from Wikipedia On This Day API (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Wikimedia. Clippings from the Library of Congress, Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers site.
Pick another date or enter your birthday (day + month only)
Viewing 26 December — today is 12 October.
Born on this day
3
1893Birth
Mao Zedong born
Mao Zedong was born. Chinese leader.
1971Birth
Jared Leto born
Jared Leto was born. American actor and musician.
1986Birth
Kit Harington born
Kit Harington was born. English actor known for Game of Thrones.
Died on this day
17 in the archiveFive infamous ends — executed, assassinated or murdered — drawn at random from the archive. All infamous ends →
Accident
2020Death
Kobe Bryant dies
Kobe Bryant, professional basketball player, died on this day in 2020. Helicopter crash. Remembered as: Five-time NBA champion with the LA Lakers.
Executed
1793Death
Death of Louis XVI
King Louis XVI of France was executed by guillotine in Paris during French Revolution.
Assassinated
1948Death
Death of Mahatma Gandhi
Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated in New Delhi by Nathuram Godse.
Suicide
2014Death
Robin Williams dies
Robin Williams, actor and comedian, died on this day in 2014. Suicide. Remembered as: Known for his improvisational skills and wide variety of roles.
Suicide
1994Death
Kurt Cobain dies
Kurt Cobain, musician, died on this day in 1994. Suicide by gunshot. Remembered as: Frontman of Nirvana, voice of a generation.
Famous birthdays
22 this weekToday · 26 December
- Kit HaringtonEnglish actor (born 1986)Born 1986 · 40 years ago today
- Jared LetoAmerican actor and musician (born 1971)Born 1971 · 55 years ago today
- Mao ZedongLeader of China from 1949 to 1976Born 1893 · 133 years ago today
Coming up this week
Salman KhanIndian actor and film producer (born 1965)27 December · born 1965
Gerard DepardieuFrench actor (born 1948)27 December · born 1948
Louis PasteurFrench chemist, pharmacist and microbiologist (1822–1895)27 December · born 1822
Sienna MillerBritish actress (born 1981)28 December · born 1981
Denzel WashingtonAmerican actor (born 1954)28 December · born 1954
Stan LeeAmerican comic book writer (1922–2018)28 December · born 1922
Holiday26 December
Boxing Day
A traditional public holiday originating in the UK, historically recognized as a day to give boxes of gifts to tradesmen and the poor.
Music · No.1 on this day
What was topping the charts
The official No.1 singles and albums in the UK and the USA on this date, decade by decade.
2016 10 yrs ago
2006 20 yrs ago
1996 30 yrs ago
1986 40 yrs ago
1976 50 yrs ago
1966 60 yrs ago
1956 70 yrs ago
Sport on this day
0Finals, medals and records decided on 26 December.
No recorded sporting finals on this date yet.
Sporting almanac
Who was champion, 10, 25 and 50 years ago
World Cups, Olympics, Wimbledon, the Masters, Super Bowl and more — year by year since 1877.
2016 10 yrs ago
- Olympic GamesSummer Olympics in Rio
- WimbledonAndy Murray and Serena Williams win Wimbledon
- Super BowlDenver Broncos win Super Bowl 50
- Tour de FranceChris Froome wins the Tour de France
- The MastersDanny Willett wins the Masters
- World SeriesChicago Cubs win the World Series
2001 25 yrs ago
- WimbledonGoran Ivanisevic and Venus Williams win Wimbledon
- Super BowlBaltimore Ravens win Super Bowl XXXV
- The MastersTiger Woods wins the Masters
- World SeriesArizona Diamondbacks win the World Series
- NBA FinalsLos Angeles Lakers win the NBA Finals
- Stanley CupColorado Avalanche win the Stanley Cup
1976 50 yrs ago
- Olympic GamesSummer Olympics in Montreal
- Olympic GamesWinter Olympics in Innsbruck
- WimbledonBjorn Borg and Chris Evert win Wimbledon
- Super BowlPittsburgh Steelers win Super Bowl X
- Tour de FranceLucien Van Impe wins the Tour de France
- The MastersRaymond Floyd wins the Masters
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