popular Wiki of the Day: Recent Episodes
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pWotD Episode 3387: Roblox
Welcome to popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 4,781,328 views on Monday, 10 August 2026 our article of the day is Roblox.
Roblox ( , ROH-bloks) is an online game platform and game creation system developed by Roblox Corporation that allows users to program and play games created by themselves or other users. It was developed by David Baszucki and Erik Cassel in 2004, and released to the public in 2006. As of February 2025, the platform has reported an average of 85.3 million daily active users. According to the company, its monthly player base includes half of all American children under the age of 16.
The platform hosts millions of user-created games, created using Luau, a modified dialect of the programming language Lua and the platform's game engine, Roblox Studio. While Roblox is free-to-play, it features in-game purchases done through its virtual currency known as Robux, and game developers on the platform are able to create items that cost Robux. The platform hosts a large virtual economy centered around those items and Robux. Using the platform's Developer Exchange program, creators are able to exchange their earned Robux for real-world currency. The platform has been used to host virtual concerts and events, as well as advergames.
While Roblox started off small—both in playerbase and as a company—it began to grow rapidly in the second half of the 2010s. This growth was further accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic. By 2020, over 5,000 games on Roblox had been played over a million times, and over 20 had been played over one billion times. Although critic reviews for Roblox have been positive, it has faced criticism concerning child safety and its content moderation, due to material pornographic or politically extremist in nature. It has been criticized for its alleged exploitative practices toward children and microtransactions. The platform has been restricted or completely blocked in several countries, including China, Egypt, Turkey, and Iraq.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:22 UTC on Tuesday, 11 August 2026.
For the full current version of the article, see Roblox on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
Follow us on Bluesky at @wikioftheday.com.
Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.
Until next time, I'm standard Brian.
pWotD Episode 3386: Tobey Maguire
Welcome to popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 25,315 views on Sunday, 9 August 2026 our article of the day is Tobey Maguire.
Tobias Vincent Maguire (born June 27, 1975), is an American actor and film producer. He began his career in supporting roles, before gaining international recognition and critical praise for his role as Spider-Man in Sam Raimi's 2002 film Spider-Man. Maguire reprised the role in two sequels, Spider-Man 2 (2004) and Spider-Man 3 (2007). He returned to the role in Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021).
Maguire expanded his career with dramatic roles in Seabiscuit (2003), The Good German (2006), and The Great Gatsby (2013). He received critical acclaim and a Golden Globe Award nomination for Best Actor in a Motion Picture Drama for his role as a PTSD-stricken soldier in the war film Brothers (2009).
Outside of acting, Maguire has also produced several films, including 25th Hour (2002) and Seabiscuit. He later established his own production company, Material Pictures, in 2012 and co-produced Good People (2012), Pawn Sacrifice (2014), and Babylon (2022).
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:46 UTC on Monday, 10 August 2026.
For the full current version of the article, see Tobey Maguire on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
Follow us on Bluesky at @wikioftheday.com.
Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.
Until next time, I'm standard Aditi.
pWotD Episode 3385: House of the Dragon
Welcome to popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 32,002 views on Saturday, 8 August 2026 our article of the day is House of the Dragon.
House of the Dragon is an American fantasy drama television series created by George R. R. Martin and Ryan Condal for HBO. A prequel to Game of Thrones (2011–2019), it is the second television series in Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire franchise. Based on parts of Martin's 2018 book Fire & Blood, the series begins about 100 years after the Seven Kingdoms are united by the Targaryen conquest, nearly 200 years before the events of Game of Thrones, and 172 years before the birth of Daenerys Targaryen. Featuring an ensemble cast, the show portrays the events leading up to the decline of House Targaryen, a devastating war of succession known as the "Dance of the Dragons".
House of the Dragon received a straight-to-series order in October 2019, with Ryan Condal and Miguel Sapochnik serving as showrunners. The series premiered on August 21, 2022, with the first season consisting of ten episodes. The series was renewed for a second season five days after its premiere. Sapochnik departed as showrunner after the first season, leaving Condal as the sole showrunner for the second season. The second season premiered on June 16, 2024, with eight episodes. The series was renewed for a third season in June 2024, which premiered on June 21, 2026 and is expected to consist of eight episodes. A fourth and final season is in development and expected to be released in 2028.
The premiere of House of the Dragon was watched by over 10 million viewers across the linear channels and HBO Max on the first day, the biggest in HBO's history. The series has received positive reviews. It won a Golden Globe Award for Best Television Series – Drama, while Emma D'Arcy earned two nominations for Best Actress in a Television Series – Drama. It earned nine Emmy Award nominations, including Outstanding Drama Series, and won three British Academy Television Craft Awards.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:33 UTC on Sunday, 9 August 2026.
For the full current version of the article, see House of the Dragon on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.
Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.
Until next time, I'm generative Joanna.
pWotD Episode 3384: Chris Hansen
Welcome to popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 218,524 views on Friday, 7 August 2026 our article of the day is Chris Hansen.
Christopher Edward Hansen (born September 13, 1959) is an American television presenter, journalist, and YouTube personality. During his tenure as a correspondent for Dateline NBC, he hosted the program's segment To Catch a Predator (2004–2007), which revolved around catching potential Internet predators using a sting operation. When the segment's three-year run concluded, Hansen continued to host shows on other networks with a similar format.
After parting ways with NBC in 2013, he began hosting Killer Instinct on Investigation Discovery in 2015, a short-lived series that documented homicide investigations. That same year, he replaced Matt Doran as the host of the syndicated series Crime Watch Daily, which he hosted for two seasons and had his own segment similar to his Dateline feature, Hansen vs. Predator. He co-founded the true crime–oriented streaming service TruBlu in 2020, for which he produced and starred in the web series Takedown with Chris Hansen.
Hansen has earned several accolades, including ten Emmy Awards, five Edward R. Murrow Awards, three Clarion awards, the National Press Club award, and awards for excellence from the Associated Press and United Press International. Hansen and numerous subjects of his investigations have garnered online cult followings, and Hansen is considered a progenitor in content centered around sting operations.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:33 UTC on Saturday, 8 August 2026.
For the full current version of the article, see Chris Hansen on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.
Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.
Until next time, I'm generative Jasmine.
pWotD Episode 3383: Abdul El-Sayed
Welcome to popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 395,696 views on Thursday, 6 August 2026 our article of the day is Abdul El-Sayed.
Abdulrahman Mohamed El-Sayed (born October 31, 1984) is an American politician and epidemiologist who is the Democratic nominee in the 2026 United States Senate election in Michigan. From 2023 to 2025, he was the director of the Department of Health, Human, and Veterans Services of Wayne County.
El-Sayed is a graduate of the University of Michigan and Oriel College, Oxford, attending them on a full-tuition scholarship and a Rhodes Scholarship, respectively. He received his Doctor of Medicine from Columbia University. El-Sayed was an assistant professor of epidemiology at Columbia University from 2014 to 2015. He was the executive director of the Detroit Health Department and Health Officer for the City of Detroit from 2015 to 2017. His publications in public health include three books and several academic journal articles.
A progressive Democrat, El-Sayed supports Medicare for All, enforcing an arms embargo on Israel and abolishing ICE. He ran for governor in 2018, placing second to Gretchen Whitmer in the Democratic primary.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:50 UTC on Friday, 7 August 2026.
For the full current version of the article, see Abdul El-Sayed on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
Follow us on Bluesky at @wikioftheday.com.
Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.
Until next time, I'm neural Joey.
pWotD Episode 3382: Perez Hilton
Welcome to popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 723,840 views on Wednesday, 5 August 2026 our article of the day is Perez Hilton.
Mario Armando Lavandeira Jr. (born March 23, 1978), known professionally as Perez Hilton, is an American blogger, columnist, and media personality. His blog is known for posts covering gossip items about celebrities, and for posting tabloid photos over which he has added his own captions or "doodles". The blog has received controversy for its attitude, its former practice of outing alleged closeted celebrities, and its role in the increasing coverage of celebrities in all forms of media.
Besides blogging, Hilton has written four books, hosts a podcast with Chris Booker, has two YouTube channels, has appeared in various films and television shows, and has acted in two off-Broadway shows. In 2018, he was dubbed "the original celebrity social media influencer" by BroadwayWorld.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 03:47 UTC on Thursday, 6 August 2026.
For the full current version of the article, see Perez Hilton on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.
Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.
Until next time, I'm neural Salli.
pWotD Episode 3381: Zendaya
Welcome to popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 165,485 views on Tuesday, 4 August 2026 our article of the day is Zendaya.
Zendaya Maree Stoermer Coleman ( zen-DAY-ə; born September 1, 1996), known mononymously as Zendaya, is an American actress and singer. Her accolades include two Primetime Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe. In 2022, Time named her one of the 100 most influential people in the world.
Born in Oakland, California, Zendaya began her career as a child model and dancer before gaining prominence for her roles on the Disney Channel sitcoms Shake It Up (2010–2013) and K. C. Undercover (2015–2018), the latter of which she also produced. For her performance as Rue Bennett, a struggling drug-addicted teenager in the HBO teen drama series Euphoria (2019–2026), Zendaya won two Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series, becoming the youngest performer to win in the category.
Zendaya made her feature film debut as MJ in the Marvel Cinematic Universe film Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017). She reprised her role in its sequels Far From Home (2019), No Way Home (2021), and Brand New Day (2026). She has since starred in the musical film The Greatest Showman (2017), Denis Villeneuve's Dune trilogy (2021–2026), Christopher Nolan's epic The Odyssey (2026), and earned praise for her performances in the romance films Malcolm & Marie (2021), Challengers (2024) and The Drama (2026).
In 2011, Zendaya released the singles "Swag It Out" and "Watch Me", the latter a collaboration with Bella Thorne. Signed to Hollywood Records, she released her self-titled studio album in 2013. Its lead single, "Replay", was a moderate success, peaking in the top 40 of the US Billboard Hot 100. Her duet with Zac Efron, "Rewrite the Stars", from The Greatest Showman soundtrack (2017), charted in the top 20 and achieved multi-platinum status in various countries. She has also written and performed several songs for Euphoria.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:42 UTC on Wednesday, 5 August 2026.
For the full current version of the article, see Zendaya on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.
Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.
Until next time, I'm generative Amy.
pWotD Episode 3380: Tom Holland
Welcome to popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 201,223 views on Monday, 3 August 2026 our article of the day is Tom Holland.
Thomas Stanley Holland (born 1 June 1996) is a British actor. His accolades include a BAFTA Award as well as two Critics' Choice Awards nominations. His films as a lead actor have grossed over $9.9 billion worldwide. He was featured on the Forbes 30 Under 30 Europe list of 2019.
Holland's career began as a teen when he played a supporting role and later the title role in Billy Elliot the Musical on the West End from 2008 to 2010. He made his film debut in the disaster drama The Impossible (2012) followed by roles in the romance drama How I Live Now (2013) and the historical adventure dramas In the Heart of the Sea (2015) and The Lost City of Z (2016).
Holland achieved international recognition playing Peter Parker/Spider-Man in six Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) superhero films, beginning with Captain America: Civil War (2016). The following year, Holland received the BAFTA Rising Star Award and became the youngest actor to play a title role in an MCU film in Spider-Man: Homecoming. Its sequels, Far From Home (2019) and No Way Home (2021), each grossed more than $1 billion worldwide; the latter became the highest-grossing film of the year. Holland played against-type roles in the crime dramas The Devil All the Time (2020) and Cherry (2021), and starred in the big-budget films Uncharted (2022) and The Odyssey (2026).
Holland has voiced roles in the animated features Spies in Disguise (2019) and Onward (2020). On television, he took roles in the BBC historical miniseries Wolf Hall (2015) and the Apple TV+ psychological thriller limited series The Crowded Room (2023). He returned to the stage starring as one of the title roles in the West End revival of Romeo and Juliet (2024). Outside of acting, he is married to his Spider-Man co-star Zendaya.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:49 UTC on Tuesday, 4 August 2026.
For the full current version of the article, see Tom Holland on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
Follow us on Bluesky at @wikioftheday.com.
Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.
Until next time, I'm generative Joanna.
pWotD Episode 3379: SummerSlam (2026)
Welcome to popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 574,416 views on Sunday, 2 August 2026 our article of the day is SummerSlam (2026).
The 2026 SummerSlam, also promoted as SummerSlam: Minnesota, was a professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) and livestreaming event produced by WWE. It was the 39th annual SummerSlam and took place as a two-night event on Saturday, August 1, and Sunday, August 2, 2026, at U. S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota, held for wrestlers from the promotion's Raw and SmackDown brand divisions.
This was the first WWE stadium event held in Minneapolis and the second SummerSlam overall in the city, after the 1999 event, which took place at the Target Center. It was the first SummerSlam to air on the ESPN streaming service in the United States. This edition of SummerSlam featured the WWE in-ring debut of Nick Aldis on Night 1, which was his first match since October 2023 on the independent circuit. Night 1 also featured the return of Randy Orton, who had been on hiatus since WrestleMania 42 earlier that year in April, while Night 2 saw the return of Kevin Owens, who had been out with an injury since April 2025.
The card included 12 matches, split evenly between both nights. In the main event of Night 1, Raw's Oba Femi defeated free agent Brock Lesnar in a Hell in a Cell match. In other prominent matches, CM Punk defeated Cody Rhodes to retain SmackDown's Undisputed WWE Championship, Gunther defeated Nick Aldis by submission, and in the opening bout, Liv Morgan defeated Iyo Sky to retain Raw's Women's World Championship.
In the main event of Night 2, Roman Reigns defeated Seth Rollins to retain Raw's World Heavyweight Championship. In other prominent matches, Chad Gable defeated Penta by submission to win Raw's WWE Intercontinental Championship, Chelsea Green defeated Charlotte Flair, Jade Cargill, Lash Legend, and Tiffany Stratton in a Five-way ladder match to become SmackDown's Interim WWE Women's Champion, and in the opening bout, Kevin Owens defeated Finn Bálor, Gunther, and Sami Zayn in a Fatal four-way match to become the #1 contender for the Undisputed WWE Championship.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:36 UTC on Monday, 3 August 2026.
For the full current version of the article, see SummerSlam (2026) on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.
Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.
Until next time, I'm neural Joey.
pWotD Episode 3378: Nirmal Purja
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With 458,352 views on Saturday, 1 August 2026 our article of the day is Nirmal Purja.
Nirmal Purja (known as Nims or Nimsdai) (Nepali: निर्मल पुर्जा; 25 July 1983 – 30 July 2026) was a Nepalese-British mountaineer. Before beginning a career in mountaineering, he served in the British Army with the Brigade of Gurkhas and later in the Special Boat Service (SBS), the special forces unit of the Royal Navy.
Purja climbed all 14 eight-thousanders (peaks above 8,000 metres or 26,000 feet) in six months and six days with the aid of bottled oxygen between April and October 2019; this was a record until it was broken in 2023. Purja was the first person to reach the summits of Mount Everest, Lhotse, and Makalu within 48 hours. In 2021, he and a team of nine other Nepalese climbers completed the first winter ascent of K2. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest mountaineers in history and a pioneer of modern mountaineering.
In July 2026, Purja and nine other climbers died in an avalanche on Pakistan's Broad Peak.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 03:16 UTC on Sunday, 2 August 2026.
For the full current version of the article, see Nirmal Purja on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
Follow us on Bluesky at @wikioftheday.com.
Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.
Until next time, I'm generative Ruth.
pWotD Episode 3377: Ceuta
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With 546,834 views on Friday, 31 July 2026 our article of the day is Ceuta.
Ceuta (UK: , US: ; Spanish: [ˈθewta, ˈsewta] ; Moroccan Arabic: سَبْتَة, romanized: Sabtah) is an autonomous city of Spain on the North African coast. Bordered by Morocco, it lies along the boundary between the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. Ceuta is one of the special territories of members of the European Economic Area.
Phoenicians founded a settlement in the La Almina Peninsula, which had continuity under Roman and Byzantine rule (Septem Fratres). It was annexed to the early caliphates upon the Islamic conquest of the Maghreb, only to be destroyed during the Berber Revolt. It was rebuilt in the ninth century by Majkasa Ghomaras. For much of the Middle Ages, regional powers north and south of the Strait of Gibraltar vied for control over Ceuta, which was a key contested port in the so-called Battle of the Strait. In 1415, it was annexed to the Kingdom of Portugal, and subsequently, after 1580, to the Hispanic Monarchy, with the city choosing to stay in the latter after 1640. Ceuta was a regular municipality belonging to the Spanish province of Cádiz prior to the passing of its Statute of Autonomy in March 1995, as provided by the Spanish Constitution, henceforth becoming an autonomous city.
Along with the Canary Islands, Ceuta was classified as a free port before Spain joined the European Union. Ceuta's majority population is predominantly Arab Muslims (who comprise approximately 45% of Ceuta's residents) and Andalusian Christians, with a small minority of Sephardic Jews and Sindhi Hindus (from Pakistan). Spanish is the official language of Ceuta, while Darija Arabic (Ceuta Arabic dialect) is also widely spoken.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 03:39 UTC on Saturday, 1 August 2026.
For the full current version of the article, see Ceuta on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
Follow us on Bluesky at @wikioftheday.com.
Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.
Until next time, I'm standard Brian.
pWotD Episode 3376: Matthias Jaissle
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With 231,128 views on Thursday, 30 July 2026 our article of the day is Matthias Jaissle.
Matthias Jaissle (born 5 April 1988) is a German professional football manager and former player who is the current head coach of Saudi Pro League club Al-Ahli.
During his coaching career, he has won two Austrian Championships (2021–22 and 2022–23) and one Austrian Cup (2021–22) with Red Bull Salzburg, and led the club to the UEFA Champions League knockout stage for the first time ever (2021–22 season).
He began his journey as an assistant manager of Brøndby, and in 2021 became the manager of Liefering, then moved on to Austrian Bundesliga side Red Bull Salzburg, where he most recently coached before joining as a manager for Al-Ahli in 2023.
Jaissle also enjoyed an 11-year career as a professional player from 2003 to 2014. His position was centre-back, and he was a member of the 1899 Hoffenheim team that won promotion to the 2. Bundesliga as well as to the Bundesliga the following season.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 03:29 UTC on Friday, 31 July 2026.
For the full current version of the article, see Matthias Jaissle on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.
Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.
Until next time, I'm standard Joanna.
pWotD Episode 3375: Glen Hansard
Welcome to popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 657,637 views on Wednesday, 29 July 2026 our article of the day is Glen Hansard.
Glen James Hansard (21 April 1970 – 29 July 2026) was an Irish singer-songwriter and actor. From 1990, he was the frontman of the Irish rock band the Frames, with whom he released six studio albums, four of which reached the top ten of the Irish Album Charts. Hansard was one half of folk rock duo the Swell Season before releasing his debut solo album, Rhythm and Repose, in 2012. His second album, Didn't He Ramble (2015), was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Folk Album.
Primarily a musician, Hansard also acted and wrote music for film. He appeared in the BAFTA-winning comedy-drama The Commitments (1991) and the Golden Globe-nominated romantic drama Cyrano (2021). Hansard starred in the musical drama Once (2007), which earned several major awards including the Academy Award for Best Original Song for "Falling Slowly", with co-writer and co-star Markéta Irglová. The film was later adapted into a musical theatre production.
From Ballymun in Dublin, Hansard married Finnish poet Maire Saaritsa in 2022; they had a child. He died in a motorcycle crash at the Strawberry Beds on the outskirts of Dublin in July 2026 at the age of 56.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 04:04 UTC on Thursday, 30 July 2026.
For the full current version of the article, see Glen Hansard on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.
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Until next time, I'm generative Kajal.
pWotD Episode 3374: Spider-Man: Brand New Day
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With 361,888 views on Tuesday, 28 July 2026 our article of the day is Spider-Man: Brand New Day.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day is a 2026 American superhero film based on the Marvel Comics character Spider-Man. Produced by Columbia Pictures, Marvel Studios, and Pascal Pictures, and distributed by Sony Pictures Releasing, it is the 38th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) and the fourth film in the MCU Spider-Man film series following Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021). The film was directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, and written by Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers. Tom Holland stars as Peter Parker / Spider-Man, alongside Zendaya, Sadie Sink, Jacob Batalon, Jon Bernthal, Tramell Tillman, Michael Mando, and Mark Ruffalo. In the film, Parker anonymously protects New York City as the hero Spider-Man and investigates a powerful new threat while his superpowers undergo a surprising and potentially dangerous evolution.
Sony was developing a fourth MCU Spider-Man film by August 2019, and producer Amy Pascal revealed in November 2021 that it was intended to be the first in a new trilogy starring Holland. Work on the story began that December, with Holland more involved in development than he was for the previous films. McKenna and Sommers returned as writers by February 2023, Cretton was hired to direct by October 2024, and the title—derived from the 2008 comic book storyline "Brand New Day" that reset Spider-Man's status quo—was announced in March 2025. The producers wanted Holland's Parker to be a "proper Spider-Man" for the first time, on his own and fighting street-level crime in New York City. Ahead of filming, Bernthal and Ruffalo were revealed to be reprising their MCU roles of Frank Castle / Punisher and Bruce Banner / Hulk. Filming took place from August to December 2025, with location filming in Glasgow, Scotland, and throughout England. Soundstage work occurred at Pinewood Studios in England.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day premiered at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, Los Angeles, on July 27, 2026, and is scheduled to be released in the United States on July 31, as part of Phase Six of the MCU. The film received positive reviews from critics.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:54 UTC on Wednesday, 29 July 2026.
For the full current version of the article, see Spider-Man: Brand New Day on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
Follow us on Bluesky at @wikioftheday.com.
Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.
Until next time, I'm generative Danielle.
pWotD Episode 3373: Bill Oddie
Welcome to popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 341,705 views on Monday, 27 July 2026 our article of the day is Bill Oddie.
William Edgar Oddie (7 July 1941 – 25 July 2026) was an English actor, birder, television presenter and writer. He was a member of the British comedy trio the Goodies.
A birder since his childhood in Quinton, Birmingham, Oddie later established a reputation as a naturalist, conservationist, and television presenter on wildlife issues. Some of his books were illustrated with his own paintings and drawings. His wildlife programmes for the BBC included Springwatch and Autumnwatch, How to Watch Wildlife, Wild in Your Garden, Birding with Bill Oddie, Britain Goes Wild with Bill Oddie and Bill Oddie Goes Wild.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:40 UTC on Tuesday, 28 July 2026.
For the full current version of the article, see Bill Oddie on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.
Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.
Until next time, I'm standard Emma.
pWotD Episode 3372: David Jonsson
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With 340,693 views on Sunday, 26 July 2026 our article of the day is David Jonsson.
David Jonsson (born 4 September 1993) is a British actor. He began his career on the West End, winning a Black British Theatre Award for his performance in the play and breathe... (2021). He is known for his performance in the BBC Two and HBO television series Industry (2020–22), as well as his roles in the films Rye Lane (2023), Alien: Romulus (2024), and The Long Walk (2025).
In 2022, Jonsson appeared on the Evening Standard list of Londoners to watch and was one of British GQ's Men of the Year Honourees. He was named a 2023 Bright Young Thing by Tatler and a Screen International Star of Tomorrow. In 2025, he won the BAFTA Rising Star Award and was nominated at the British Independent Film Awards in the Best Lead Performance category for his role in the film Wasteman (2025). At the 2026 Comic-Con, Jonsson was announced as the new actor to portray Black Panther in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 03:05 UTC on Monday, 27 July 2026.
For the full current version of the article, see David Jonsson on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
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Until next time, I'm neural Olivia.
pWotD Episode 3371: Pralhad Joshi
Welcome to popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 756,586 views on Saturday, 25 July 2026 our article of the day is Pralhad Joshi.
Pralhad Venkatesh Joshi (born 27 November 1962) is an Indian politician who is serving as the 13th Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and the 10th Minister of New and Renewable Energy since 2024. In July 2026, following the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan over the 2026 NEET controversy and weak management of the National Testing Agency, Joshi was assigned the additional charge of the Minister of Education while continuing to hold his existing portfolios.
He was also the Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, the Minister of Coal and the Minister of Mines from 2019 to 2024. Joshi has also been a Member of Parliament in the Lok Sabha since 2004, representing the Dharwad Lok Sabha constituency. He was also the State President of Bharatiya Janata Party, Karnataka (BJP) from 2014 to 2016. He served in the panel of chairpersons of the Lok Sabha (2014–2018).
Joshi first came to public notice with Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) when they organised a movement to hoist the Flag of India at the Idagah Maidan Hubli, Karnataka during 1992–1994. Recently, the Supreme Court of India has upheld the Karnataka High Court order restoring the ownership of the said maidan to the Hubli-Dharwad Municipal Corporation. He has been elected to Lok Sabha in the general elections of 2004, 2009, 2014, 2019 and 2024.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:53 UTC on Sunday, 26 July 2026.
For the full current version of the article, see Pralhad Joshi on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
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Until next time, I'm standard Joey.
pWotD Episode 3370: LeBron James
Welcome to popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 270,930 views on Friday, 24 July 2026 our article of the day is LeBron James.
LeBron Raymone James Sr. ( lə-BRON; born December 30, 1984) is an American professional basketball player who last played for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Nicknamed "King James", he is the NBA's all-time leading scorer and has won four NBA championships from 10 NBA Finals appearances, including eight consecutive appearances between 2011 and 2018. He has won three Olympic gold medals as a member of the U. S. national team, and is widely considered to be one of the greatest basketball players of all time and one of the greatest athletes in modern history.
In addition to ranking fourth in NBA career assists and sixth in NBA career steals, James holds several individual honors, including four NBA MVP awards, four Finals MVP awards, the Rookie of the Year award, three All-Star Game MVP awards, the inaugural NBA Cup MVP, and the Olympics MVP in the 2024 Summer Olympics. A record 22-time All-Star and 21-time All-NBA selection (including a record 13 First Team selections), he has also made six All-Defensive Teams. The oldest active player in the NBA, he holds records for the most seasons played with 23, the most games played, the most minutes played, and the most field goals made in league history.
Born and raised in Akron, Ohio, James gained national attention at St. Vincent–St. Mary High School and was heavily touted as a future NBA superstar for his all-around scoring, passing, athleticism and playmaking abilities. A prep-to-pro, the Cleveland Cavaliers selected James with the first overall pick of the 2003 NBA draft. He won Rookie of the Year and quickly established himself as one of the league's premier players, leading Cleveland to its first NBA Finals appearance in 2007 and winning the scoring title in 2008. After winning back-to-back MVPs in 2009 and 2010, he joined the Miami Heat as a free agent in 2010, a controversial move announced in the television special The Decision.
With the Heat, James won his first two NBA championships in 2012 and 2013, earning MVP and Finals MVP honors both years. After four seasons in Miami, he returned to Cleveland in 2014, leading the Cavaliers to their first-ever championship in 2016, ending the Cleveland sports curse. He signed with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2018, winning another title in 2020 and becoming the first player to win Finals MVP with three different teams. Off the court, James has earned further wealth and fame from numerous endorsement contracts. He is the first player in NBA history to accumulate $1 billion in earnings as an active player. James has been listed by Forbes as one of the world's ten highest-paid athletes fifteen times. In 2011, 2014 and 2017, he was selected for the Forbes 30 under 30 list in the Sports, Entertainment and All Star categories, and subsequently in the Forbes 30 under 30 Hall of Fame in 2022. He was among Time's 100 most influential people in the world in 2005, 2013, 2017, and 2019—the most selections for a professional athlete.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 03:44 UTC on Saturday, 25 July 2026.
For the full current version of the article, see LeBron James on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm neural Ruth.
pWotD Episode 3369: ChatGPT
Welcome to popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 196,704 views on Thursday, 23 July 2026 our article of the day is ChatGPT.
ChatGPT is a generative artificial intelligence chatbot developed by OpenAI. Originally released on November 30, 2022, the product uses large language models—specifically generative pre-trained transformers (GPTs)—to generate text, speech, and images in response to user prompts. ChatGPT accelerated the AI boom, an ongoing period marked by rapid investment and public attention toward the field of artificial intelligence (AI). OpenAI operates the service on a freemium model. Users can interact with ChatGPT through text, audio, and image prompts.
ChatGPT was quickly adopted, reaching 100 million monthly active users two months after its release and 900 million weekly active users in February 2026. Proponents say that it has the potential to transform numerous professional fields, and it has instigated public debate about the nature of creativity and the future of knowledge work.
The chatbot has also been criticized for its limitations and potential for unethical use. It can generate plausible-sounding but incorrect or nonsensical answers, known as hallucinations. Biases in its training data have been reflected in its responses. The chatbot can facilitate academic dishonesty, generate misinformation, and create malicious code. The ethics of its development, particularly the use of copyrighted content as training data, have also drawn controversy.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:57 UTC on Friday, 24 July 2026.
For the full current version of the article, see ChatGPT on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm neural Justin.
pWotD Episode 3368: Calypso (mythology)
Welcome to popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 48,968 views on Wednesday, 22 July 2026 our article of the day is Calypso (mythology).
In Greek mythology, Calypso (; Ancient Greek: Καλυψώ, romanized: Kalypsṓ, lit. 'she who conceals') was a nymph who lived on the island of Ogygia, where, according to Homer's Odyssey, she detained Odysseus for seven years against his will. She promised Odysseus immortality if he would stay with her, but Odysseus preferred to return home. Eventually, after the intervention of the other gods, Calypso was forced to let Odysseus go.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 03:33 UTC on Thursday, 23 July 2026.
For the full current version of the article, see Calypso (mythology) on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm generative Stephen.
pWotD Episode 3367: Shakira
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With 203,437 views on Tuesday, 21 July 2026 our article of the day is Shakira.
Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll ( shə-KEER-ə, Spanish: [ʃaˈkiɾa isaˈβel meβaˈɾak riˈpol]; born 2 February 1977) is a Colombian singer-songwriter, dancer, and record producer. Referred to as the "Queen of Latin Music", she has had a significant impact on the musical landscape of Latin America and has been credited with popularizing Hispanophone music globally, contributing to increased learning and use of the Spanish language worldwide. She is also credited with opening the doors of the international market for other Latin artists. Her accolades include four Grammy Awards and 15 Latin Grammy Awards.
Shakira made her recording debut with Sony Music Colombia at the age of 14. She rose to prominence with the albums Pies Descalzos (1995) and Dónde Están los Ladrones? (1998). Her first English release, Laundry Service (2001), sold over 13 million copies worldwide, becoming the best-selling album by a female Latin artist. Her success was further solidified with the Spanish-language albums Fijación Oral, Vol. 1 (2005), Sale el Sol (2010), El Dorado (2017), and Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran (2024), all of which topped the Billboard Top Latin Albums chart, making her the first woman with number-one albums across four different decades. Her English albums Oral Fixation, Vol. 2 (2005), She Wolf (2009), and Shakira (2014) achieved platinum status worldwide.
Shakira is among the world's best-selling musicians with numerous number-one singles, including "Estoy Aquí", "Ciega, Sordomuda", "Whenever, Wherever / Suerte", "Underneath Your Clothes", "Objection (Tango)", "La Tortura", "Hips Don't Lie", "Beautiful Liar", "She Wolf", "Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)", "Loca", "Rabiosa", "Can't Remember to Forget You", "Dare (La La La)", "La Bicicleta", "Chantaje", "Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53", "TQG", and "Dai Dai". Shakira served as a coach on two seasons of the American singing competition television series The Voice (2013–2014), had a voice role in the animated films Zootopia (2016) and Zootopia 2 (2025), and executive produced and judged the dance competition series Dancing with Myself (2022). Billboard named her the Top Female Latin Artist of the Decade twice (2000s and 2010s), and she was nominated for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2026. Involved with the FIFA World Cup at various points since 2006, Shakira has been described as the tournament's artistic, publicity, and humanitarian icon.
Shakira has written or co-written a vast majority of music and lyrics she performed during her career and is regarded as an "international phenomenon", known for blending Western and Middle Eastern influences. She received the Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year and Harvard Foundation Artist of the Year awards in 2011, for her philanthropic and humanitarian work, such as the Barefoot Foundation, and was appointed to the President's Advisory Commission on Educational Excellence for Hispanics. Additionally, she was granted the honor of Chevalier of the Order of Arts and Letters by the French government in 2012, and advocates for equitable development of the Global South, the rights and interests of children, the Latino minority in the U. S. and Canada, women, and other under-represented groups.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 05:00 UTC on Wednesday, 22 July 2026.
For the full current version of the article, see Shakira on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm standard Geraint.
pWotD Episode 3366: Kevin Keegan
Welcome to popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 688,797 views on Monday, 20 July 2026 our article of the day is Kevin Keegan.
Joseph Kevin Keegan (14 February 1951 – 20 July 2026) was an English footballer and manager. Nicknamed "King Kev" or "Mighty Mouse", Keegan was recognised for his dribbling ability, finishing and presence in the air, and is regarded as one of the greatest players of all time.
Keegan began his playing career at Scunthorpe United in 1968, before Bill Shankly signed him for Liverpool. There, he won three First Division titles, the UEFA Cup twice, the FA Cup and, in his final season, the European Cup. During this period, he was a regular member of the England national team, and captained the team on 31 occasions, including at UEFA Euro 1980. He moved to Hamburger SV in the summer of 1977 and was named European Footballer of the Year in both 1978 and 1979. Hamburg won the Bundesliga title in the 1978–79 season and reached the 1980 European Cup final. Keegan left Hamburg and played at Southampton for two seasons, before transferring to Newcastle United in the Second Division in 1982. He helped Newcastle secure promotion in his second season, and retired from playing in 1984. He scored 204 goals in 592 appearances in his club career, adding 21 goals in 63 caps for England.
He moved into management at Newcastle in 1992, and the team won promotion to the Premier League as First Division champions in his first full season. Newcastle finished second in the Premier League in the 1995–96 season, despite leading the way for most of the campaign. After managing Fulham for two seasons, he took charge of the England national team in February 1999, but resigned in October 2000 following a 1–0 loss against Germany in qualification for the 2002 FIFA World Cup. In 2001, he became manager of Manchester City for four years, until he resigned in 2005. Keegan had been out of football for almost three years when he returned to Newcastle for a second spell as manager in January 2008, but this lasted only eight months, as he resigned in September following speculation about a dispute with the club's directors. He had the unique distinction of being promoted as champions in his first full season with the three clubs he managed.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:38 UTC on Tuesday, 21 July 2026.
For the full current version of the article, see Kevin Keegan on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm standard Aditi.
pWotD Episode 3365: FIFA
Welcome to popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 101,698 views on Sunday, 19 July 2026 our article of the day is FIFA.
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) is an international self-regulatory governing body of association football, beach soccer, and futsal. It was founded on 21 May 1904 to oversee international competition among the national associations of Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland. Headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, its membership now comprises 211 national associations. These national associations must also be members of one of the six regional confederations: CAF (Africa), AFC (Asia), UEFA (Europe), CONCACAF (North and Central America and the Caribbean), OFC (Oceania), and CONMEBOL (South America).
FIFA has several objectives in its organisational statutes, including growing the game internationally, ensuring it is accessible to everyone, and advocating for integrity and fair play. It is responsible for organising and promoting association football's major international tournaments, notably the World Cup which began in 1930, and the Women's World Cup which commenced in 1991.
FIFA is a member of the International Football Association Board, which is responsible for the laws of the game, and FIFA applies and enforces the rules across its competitions. FIFA tournaments generate revenue from sponsorships; in 2022, FIFA had revenues of over US$5.8 billion, ending the 2019–2022 cycle with a net positive of $1.2 billion, and cash reserves of over $3.9 billion.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 04:00 UTC on Monday, 20 July 2026.
For the full current version of the article, see FIFA on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm neural Joanna.
pWotD Episode 3364: Sonam Wangchuk
Welcome to popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 230,297 views on Saturday, 18 July 2026 our article of the day is Sonam Wangchuk.
Sonam Wangchuk (born 1 September 1966) is an Indian engineer, activist, innovator, education reformer, and environmentalist. He is the founding-director of the Students' Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh (SECMOL), which was founded in 1988 by a group of students who had been, in his own words, the 'victims' of an alien education system foisted on Ladakh. He was also known for designing the SECMOL campus that runs on solar energy and uses no fossil fuels for cooking, lighting or heating.
Wangchuk was instrumental in the launch of Operation New Hope in 1994, a collaboration of the government, village communities and the civil society to bring reforms in the government school system. He was inspired by artificial glaciers designed and constructed by Padma Shri awardee Chewang Norphel, in creating his own version known as Ice Stupa technique, used for storing winter water in the form of a cone-shaped ice heap.
Wangchuk's contributions to Ladakh’s education sector and climate-related challenges, and his innovative solutions to local problems have earned him numerous accolades. As of 2025, he has received around 15 awards, including the Ramon Magsaysay Award (2018), the title of Eminent Technologist of the Himalayan Region by IIT Mandi (2018), and the Global Award for Sustainable Architecture (2017).
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:46 UTC on Sunday, 19 July 2026.
For the full current version of the article, see Sonam Wangchuk on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm neural Joey.
pWotD Episode 3363: Odyssey
Welcome to popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 311,479 views on Friday, 17 July 2026 our article of the day is Odyssey.
The Odyssey (; Ancient Greek: Ὀδύσσεια, romanized: Odýsseia [odýsseːa]) is one of two major epics of ancient Greek literature attributed to Homer. It is one of the oldest surviving works of literature and remains popular with modern audiences. Like the Iliad, the Odyssey is divided into 24 books. It follows the heroic king of Ithaca, Odysseus, also known by the Latin variant Ulysses, and his homecoming journey after the ten-year-long Trojan War. His journey from Troy to Ithaca lasts an additional ten years, during which time he encounters many perils and all of his crewmates are killed. In Odysseus's long absence, he is presumed dead, leaving his wife Penelope and son Telemachus to contend with a group of unruly suitors competing for Penelope's hand in marriage.
The Odyssey was first composed in Homeric Greek around the 8th or 7th century BC; by the mid-6th century BC, it had become part of the Greek literary canon. In antiquity, Homer's authorship was taken as true, but contemporary scholarship predominantly assumes that the Iliad and the Odyssey were composed independently, as part of long oral traditions. Given widespread illiteracy, the poem was performed for an audience by an aoidos or rhapsode.
Key themes in the epic include the ideas of nostos (νόστος; 'return', homecoming), wandering, xenia (ξενία; 'guest-friendship'), testing, and omens. Scholars discuss the narrative prominence of certain groups within the poem, such as women and slaves, who have larger roles than in other works of ancient literature. This focus is especially remarkable when contrasted with the Iliad, which centers upon the exploits of soldiers and kings during the Trojan War.
The Odyssey is regarded as one of the most significant works of the Western canon. The first English translation of the Odyssey was in the 16th century. Adaptations and re-imaginings continue to be produced across a wide variety of media. In 2018, when BBC Culture polled experts around the world to find literature's most enduring narrative, the Odyssey topped the list.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 16:13 UTC on Saturday, 18 July 2026.
For the full current version of the article, see Odyssey on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm neural Jasmine.
pWotD Episode 3362: The Odyssey (2026 film)
Welcome to popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 614,398 views on Thursday, 16 July 2026 our article of the day is The Odyssey (2026 film).
The Odyssey is a 2026 epic fantasy action film written and directed by Christopher Nolan. An adaptation of Homer's ancient Greek epic the Odyssey, the film stars Matt Damon as Odysseus, the Greek king of Ithaca, and chronicles his long and perilous journey home after the Trojan War and his encounters with mythical beings as he attempts to reunite with his wife, Penelope, portrayed by Anne Hathaway. The ensemble cast includes Tom Holland, Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyong'o, Samantha Morton, Zendaya, and Charlize Theron. Nolan and his wife Emma Thomas produced the film through their production company, Syncopy.
Nolan began writing The Odyssey in March 2024, secured the project with Universal Pictures by October, and the film was announced in December. Casting occurred from late 2024 through early 2025, and Damon was confirmed for the lead role in February 2025. Nolan studied several translations of the Odyssey. He depicted a realistic interpretation of Greek mythology, drawing inspiration from the epic historical films Andrei Rublev (1966) and Ran (1985), as well as the films of special effects artist Ray Harryhausen. Filming took place from February to August 2025 in Morocco, Greece, Italy, Scotland, Iceland, Western Sahara, and Malta, as well as at the Universal Studios Lot in Los Angeles. With an estimated budget of $250 million, the film is among the most expensive of Nolan's career, and the first to be shot entirely on IMAX's 70 mm film cameras. Leading up to the film's release, the costume and production designs, accents, dialogue, and casting choices sparked critical discussion and scrutiny regarding historical accuracy to the source material and the setting depicted.
The Odyssey premiered on July 6, 2026, at the Odeon Luxe Leicester Square in London, ahead of a theatrical release by Universal Pictures on July 17 in the United States and the United Kingdom. It was made available in IMAX and multiple premium large formats. The film received critical acclaim, with praise for Nolan's direction.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 07:13 UTC on Friday, 17 July 2026.
For the full current version of the article, see The Odyssey (2026 film) on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm generative Tiffany.
pWotD Episode 3361: 2026 FIFA World Cup
Welcome to popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 489,237 views on Wednesday, 15 July 2026 our article of the day is 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is the 23rd FIFA World Cup and the current edition of the quadrennial international men's soccer championship contested by the national teams of the member associations of FIFA. The tournament began on June 11, 2026, and will conclude on July 19. It is jointly hosted by 16 cities—11 in the United States, 3 in Mexico, and 2 in Canada. The tournament is the first FIFA World Cup to be hosted by three countries and the first to include 48 teams, an expansion from the previous 32-team format.
The 2026 tournament is the first World Cup since 2002 to be hosted by multiple nations. Mexico became the first country to host the World Cup three times, having hosted the 1970 and 1986 tournaments. The United States previously hosted the World Cup in 1994, while it is Canada's first time hosting the tournament. The event returned to its traditional June–July schedule after the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, which was uniquely held in November and December to avoid Qatar's extreme summer heat.
As host nations, Canada, Mexico, and the United States all automatically qualified for the tournament. Cape Verde, Curaçao, Jordan, and Uzbekistan all made their World Cup debuts. Argentina is the defending champion, having won its third World Cup in 2022. On June 25, 2026, total attendance reached 3,605,357 spectators, setting the record for the highest attendance in World Cup history and surpassing the previous record held by the American-hosted 1994 edition.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 03:31 UTC on Thursday, 16 July 2026.
For the full current version of the article, see 2026 FIFA World Cup on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.
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Until next time, I'm generative Niamh.
pWotD Episode 3360: Lamine Yamal
Welcome to popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 381,020 views on Tuesday, 14 July 2026 our article of the day is Lamine Yamal.
Lamine Yamal Nasraoui Ebana (born 13 July 2007) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a right winger for La Liga club Barcelona and the Spain national team. He is regarded as one of the best players in the world.
Yamal was a member of FC Barcelona's youth academy, La Masia, before breaking into the first team squad in the 2023–24 season. He became the youngest player to be nominated for the Ballon d'Or (at age 17) and also won the Kopa Trophy in 2024 and 2025, presented to the best young player in the world. In the following season, he was integral to Barcelona winning the domestic treble: the La Liga title, the Copa del Rey, and the Supercopa de España. At 18 years old, Yamal finished as runner-up for the 2025 Ballon d'Or.
Yamal has represented Spain internationally at various youth levels and made his debut for the senior team in 2023, becoming the youngest player to represent and score for the country at age 16. He was selected for UEFA Euro 2024, playing an important role in helping Spain win their fourth title, while also winning the tournament's Young Player Award. He holds multiple records in his international career, including the youngest player and youngest goalscorer in the UEFA European Championship (aged 16) as well as the youngest in a championship final (aged 17). In 2026, Yamal reached the FIFA World Cup final with Spain.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:27 UTC on Wednesday, 15 July 2026.
For the full current version of the article, see Lamine Yamal on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.
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Until next time, I'm neural Jasmine.
pWotD Episode 3359: Sam Neill
Welcome to popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 2,453,026 views on Monday, 13 July 2026 our article of the day is Sam Neill.
Sir Nigel John Dermot "Sam" Neill (14 September 1947 – 13 July 2026) was a New Zealand actor and businessman. Known as a leading man in film and television, he has received nominations for three Primetime Emmy Awards and two Golden Globe Awards. He was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in the 1991 Queen's Birthday Honours, for services as an actor.
Born in Northern Ireland to an English mother and a New Zealand father, Neill moved to Christchurch with his family in 1954. He first achieved recognition with his appearance in the film Sleeping Dogs (1977), followed by leading roles in My Brilliant Career (1979), The Final Conflict (1981), Possession (1981), Evil Angels (1988), Dead Calm (1989), Death in Brunswick (1990), The Hunt for Red October (1990), The Piano (1993), In the Mouth of Madness (1994), Event Horizon (1997), The Dish (2000), and Hunt for the Wilderpeople (2016). He came to international prominence as Dr. Alan Grant in Jurassic Park (1993), a role he reprised in Jurassic Park III (2001) and Jurassic World Dominion (2022).
On television, he portrayed Merlin in the miniseries Merlin (1998) and Merlin's Apprentice (2006), the former of which earned him nominations for the Primetime Emmy Award and the Golden Globe Award. He was also Golden Globe-nominated for playing Sidney Reilly in Reilly, Ace of Spies (1983) and a British Officer during World War II in One Against the Wind (1991). He also played Thomas Wolsey in The Tudors (2007), and as Major Chester Campbell in Peaky Blinders (2013–2014). He is also known for narrating various documentary projects.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 04:05 UTC on Tuesday, 14 July 2026.
For the full current version of the article, see Sam Neill on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.
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Until next time, I'm long-form Patrick.
pWotD Episode 3358: Lindsey Graham
Welcome to popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 2,652,838 views on Sunday, 12 July 2026 our article of the day is Lindsey Graham.
Lindsey Olin Graham ( GRAM; July 9, 1955 – July 11, 2026) was an American politician and attorney who represented South Carolina in the United States Senate from 2003 until his death in 2026. A member of the Republican Party, he previously represented South Carolina's 3rd congressional district in the U. S. House of Representatives from 1995 to 2003 and served in the South Carolina House of Representatives from 1993 to 1995.
Born in Central, South Carolina, Graham graduated from the University of South Carolina and its law school. He served on active duty in the United States Air Force from 1982 to 1989 as a member of the Judge Advocate General's Corps, working as a defense attorney and as the Air Force's chief prosecutor in Europe. He later served in the South Carolina Air National Guard and the United States Air Force Reserve, retiring as a colonel in 2015. He received the Bronze Star Medal in 2014 for his legal work relating to military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Graham gained national attention as a member of the House Judiciary Committee and as a House impeachment manager during the impeachment trial of President Bill Clinton. He was elected to the Senate in 2002 and reelected in 2008, 2014, and 2020. He won the Republican nomination for a fifth term in June 2026 but died before the general election.
A foreign-policy hawk, Graham advocated an interventionist role for the United States and was a prominent supporter of Israel, Ukraine, and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. He frequently worked with members of both parties, particularly on immigration and national-security legislation, and was closely associated with senators John McCain and Joe Lieberman, with whom he formed a group known as the "Three Amigos". Graham chaired the Senate Judiciary Committee from 2019 to 2021 and the Senate Budget Committee from 2025 until his death. He also played a prominent role in the confirmation of President Donald Trump's judicial nominees.
Graham sought the Republican presidential nomination in 2016 but withdrew before the primaries began. Although he was an outspoken critic of Trump during the 2016 campaign, he later became one of Trump's closest congressional allies and supported him throughout both of his presidencies.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 03:08 UTC on Monday, 13 July 2026.
For the full current version of the article, see Lindsey Graham on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
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Until next time, I'm neural Kendra.
pWotD Episode 3357: Linda Nosková
Welcome to popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 386,024 views on Saturday, 11 July 2026 our article of the day is Linda Nosková.
Linda Nosková (Czech pronunciation: [ˈlɪnda ˈnoskovaː]; born 17 November 2004) is a Czech professional tennis player. She has a career-high singles ranking of world No. 10 by the WTA, and a doubles ranking of No. 58, both achieved on 22 June 2026. Nosková has won three WTA Tour singles titles, including a major, the 2026 Wimbledon Championships, and one in doubles.
From an early age, Nosková showed signs of becoming a promising tennis player. As a junior, she peaked at world No. 5 in the rankings, achieved on 14 June 2021. She won the 2021 French Open in the girls' singles event and made the semifinals of the girls' doubles event, as well as the girls' doubles quarterfinals of the 2020 Australian Open.
In August 2022, she became the youngest player ranked in the world's top 100 and in February 2023 the youngest in the top 50. On the ITF Circuit, she has collected six singles titles and one doubles title.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 03:48 UTC on Sunday, 12 July 2026.
For the full current version of the article, see Linda Nosková on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm generative Danielle.
pWotD Episode 3356: Ann Widdecombe
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With 1,272,087 views on Friday, 10 July 2026 our article of the day is Ann Widdecombe.
Ann Noreen Widdecombe (4 October 1947 – c. 9 July 2026) was a British politician and television personality. As a member of the Conservative Party, she was Member of Parliament (MP) for Maidstone and The Weald and the former Maidstone constituency from 1987 to 2010. She was a member of the Brexit Party from 2019 and served as the Member of the European Parliament (MEP) for South West England from 2019 to 2020. She joined Reform UK in 2023 and served as the party's Immigration and Justice spokesperson from 2023 until her death in 2026.
Born in Bath, Somerset, Widdecombe read Latin at the University of Birmingham, then PPE at Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford. She was a religious convert from Anglicanism to Roman Catholicism and was a member of the Conservative Christian Fellowship. She served as Minister of State for Employment from 1994 to 1995 and Minister of State for Prisons from 1995 to 1997. She later served in the Shadow Cabinet of William Hague as Shadow Secretary of State for Health from 1998 to 1999 and Shadow Home Secretary from 1999 to 2001. She was appointed to the Privy Council in 1997.
Widdecombe stood down from the House of Commons at the 2010 general election. From 2002 she made numerous television and radio appearances, including as a television presenter. She was a contestant on the eighth series of Strictly Come Dancing in 2010, and was runner-up of the twenty-first series of Celebrity Big Brother in 2018. A prominent Eurosceptic, in 2016 she supported the Vote Leave campaign to withdraw the United Kingdom from the European Union (EU). Widdecombe returned to politics as the lead candidate for the Brexit Party in South West England at the 2019 European Parliament election; she won the seat in line with results nationally and served until the country left the EU on 31 January 2020. In the general election of December 2019, she fought Plymouth Sutton and Devonport for the Brexit Party, where she came third but retained her deposit.
Ideologically, Widdecombe identified herself as a social conservative and stressed the importance of traditional values and conservatism. As a member of the House of Commons, she opposed the legality of abortion, opposed granting LGBT people legal rights such as the same age of consent as heterosexuals, and opposed the repeal of Section 28. She supported the reintroduction of the death penalty for murder. She was opposed to all forms of assisted dying. She had a history of supporting rigorous laws on animal protection and was opposed to fox hunting.
Widdecombe was found dead at her home on Dartmoor, Devon, on 9 July 2026, aged 78. The following day, police arrested a man on suspicion of murder.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 04:06 UTC on Saturday, 11 July 2026.
For the full current version of the article, see Ann Widdecombe on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm generative Matthew.
pWotD Episode 3355: Bonnie Tyler
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With 1,271,358 views on Thursday, 9 July 2026 our article of the day is Bonnie Tyler.
Gaynor Sullivan (née Hopkins; 8 June 1951 – 8 July 2026), known professionally as Bonnie Tyler, was a Welsh singer and songwriter. Known for her distinctive husky voice, she came to prominence with the release of her debut studio album The World Starts Tonight (1977) and its singles "Lost in France" and "More Than a Lover". Her 1977 single "It's a Heartache" reached number four on the UK singles chart and number three on the US Billboard Hot 100.
In the 1980s, Tyler ventured into rock music with songwriter and producer Jim Steinman. He wrote Tyler's biggest hit, "Total Eclipse of the Heart", which sold over 13 million copies worldwide and was released as the lead single from her UK chart-topping album Faster Than the Speed of Night (1983). Steinman also wrote Tyler's other major 1980s hit, "Holding Out for a Hero". Her other successful singles during this period included "Here She Comes" from the 1984 soundtrack to Metropolis and "If You Were a Woman (And I Was a Man)", written by Desmond Child and produced by Steinman. She had success in mainland Europe during the 1990s with Dieter Bohlen, who wrote and produced her hit "Bitterblue". In 2003, Tyler re-recorded "Total Eclipse of the Heart" with singer Kareen Antonn; their bilingual duet, titled "Si demain... (Turn Around)", topped the French charts.
Tyler released Rocks and Honey in 2013, featuring the single "Believe in Me", which she performed while representing the United Kingdom at the Eurovision Song Contest 2013 in Malmö, Sweden. After reuniting with the producer David Mackay, she released Between the Earth and the Stars (2019) and The Best Is Yet to Come (2021).
Tyler's work earned her three Grammy Award nominations and three Brit Award nominations (including twice for British Female Solo Artist), among other accolades. In 2022, she was awarded an MBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours for services to music. Her singles "Total Eclipse of the Heart" and "It's a Heartache" have estimated sales of over 6 million units each, and are among the best-selling singles of all time.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 04:11 UTC on Friday, 10 July 2026.
For the full current version of the article, see Bonnie Tyler on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
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Until next time, I'm neural Brian.
pWotD Episode 3354: Anna's Archive
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With 44,990 views on Wednesday, 8 July 2026 our article of the day is Anna's Archive.
Anna's Archive is an open source search engine for shadow libraries that was launched by the pseudonymous Anna shortly after law enforcement efforts to shut down Z-Library in 2022. The site aggregates records from Z-Library, Sci-Hub, and Library Genesis (LibGen), among other sources. It calls itself "the largest truly open library in human history", and has said it aims to "catalog all the books in existence" and "track humanity's progress toward making all these books easily available in digital form". It claims not to be liable for downloads of copyrighted works since it does not directly host any files, instead linking to third-party downloads. It has nonetheless been targeted for engaging in large-scale copyright infringement, facing government blocks and legal action from rightsholders and publishing trade associations.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:28 UTC on Thursday, 9 July 2026.
For the full current version of the article, see Anna's Archive on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm neural Brian.
pWotD Episode 3353: Mitch McConnell
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With 461,984 views on Tuesday, 7 July 2026 our article of the day is Mitch McConnell.
Addison Mitchell McConnell III ( mə-KON-əl; born February 20, 1942) is an American politician and attorney serving as the senior United States senator from Kentucky, a seat he has held since 1985. A member of the Republican Party, McConnell is in his seventh Senate term, making him the longest-serving senator in Kentucky history. He served from 2007 to 2025 as the leader of the Senate Republican Conference, including two stints as minority leader (2007 to 2015 and 2021 to 2025), and was majority leader from 2015 to 2021, making him the longest-serving Senate party leader in U. S. history.
McConnell holds conservative political positions, although he was known as a pragmatist and a moderate Republican early in his political career. He led opposition to stricter campaign finance laws, culminating in the U. S. Supreme Court decision Citizens United v. FEC, which partially overturned the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (McCain-Feingold) in 2010. McConnell worked to withhold Republican support for major presidential initiatives during the Obama administration, making frequent use of the filibuster, and blocked many of President Barack Obama's judicial nominees, including Supreme Court nominee Merrick Garland.
During the first Trump administration, the Senate Republican majority under McConnell's leadership passed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief and Consumer Protection Act in 2018, the First Step Act, and the Great American Outdoors Act, and confirmed a record number of federal appeals court judges during a president's first two years. McConnell invoked the nuclear option to eliminate the 60-vote requirement to end a filibuster for Supreme Court nominations, after his predecessor Harry Reid had eliminated the filibuster for all other presidential nominations; Trump subsequently won Supreme Court confirmation battles over Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett. While supportive of most of Trump's domestic and foreign policies, McConnell criticized Trump's attempts to overturn the 2020 presidential election, and despite voting to acquit in Trump's second impeachment trial for reasons related to the constitutionality of impeaching a former president, deemed him "practically and morally responsible" for the January 6 United States Capitol attack.
In 2015, 2019, and 2023, Time listed McConnell as one of the 100 most influential people in the world. On February 28, 2024, McConnell announced that he would step down as the Senate Republican Conference Leader in January 2025, but would serve the remainder of his Senate term. An internal election to fill the post of Senate Republican Leader was held on November 13, in which South Dakota senator John Thune was selected. On February 20, 2025, McConnell announced he would not run for an eighth Senate term in 2026 and would retire from politics. This came after increasing concerns about his health and ability to continue serving following multiple public episodes and health scares. McConnell has made no appearances or statements since his hospitalization after being found unconscious on June 14, 2026, and very little information has been given about his whereabouts or condition, leading some to question the severity of his condition.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:54 UTC on Wednesday, 8 July 2026.
For the full current version of the article, see Mitch McConnell on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm generative Aria.
pWotD Episode 3352: Jude Bellingham
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With 572,783 views on Monday, 6 July 2026 our article of the day is Jude Bellingham.
Jude Victor William Bellingham (born 29 June 2003) is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for La Liga club Real Madrid and the England national team. He is regarded as one of the best players in the world.
Bellingham joined Birmingham City as an under-8, became the club's youngest first-team player when he made his senior debut in August 2019, at the age of 16 years, 38 days, and played regularly during the 2019–20 season. He joined Borussia Dortmund in July 2020, and in his first appearance became the club's youngest goal-scorer. Over three seasons with the club he made 132 appearances and won the 2020–21 DFB-Pokal; his performances in the 2022–23 season helped Dortmund finish as runners-up and earned him the Bundesliga Player of the Season award. Later that year he won both major awards for male footballers aged under 21: the European Golden Boy and the worldwide Kopa Trophy.
He then signed for Real Madrid for a fee of €103 million. In his first season, Bellingham was the club's top league scorer, helped them win the league title and the Champions League, and was voted La Liga Player of the Season. He was included in the FIFPRO World 11 for three consecutive years (2023, 2024, 2025), and finished third in the Ballon d'Or and The Best FIFA Men's Player in 2024.
Bellingham represented England at under-15, under-16, under-17, and under-21 levels. He made his first appearance for the senior team in November 2020, and was part of the squads for the UEFA European Championship in 2020 and 2024, as well as the FIFA World Cup in 2022 and 2026.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:40 UTC on Tuesday, 7 July 2026.
For the full current version of the article, see Jude Bellingham on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm generative Brian.
pWotD Episode 3351: Naomi Osaka
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With 340,925 views on Sunday, 5 July 2026 our article of the day is Naomi Osaka.
Naomi Osaka (Japanese pronunciation: [oːsaka naomi]; born October 16, 1997) is a Japanese professional tennis player. She was ranked as the world No. 1 in women's singles by the WTA for 25 weeks starting in January 2019, the first Asian player to hold the top ranking in singles. Osaka has won seven career singles titles, including four majors: two each at the Australian Open and the US Open. She is the first Japanese player to win a major singles title.
Born in Japan to a Haitian-American father and a Japanese mother, Osaka has lived and trained in the United States since age three. She came to prominence at age 16 when she defeated former US Open champion Samantha Stosur in her WTA Tour debut at the 2014 Stanford Classic. Two years later, she reached her first WTA final at the 2016 Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo and entered the top 50 of the WTA rankings. Osaka broke into the upper echelon of women's tennis in 2018, winning her first Tour title at the Indian Wells Open, then defeating Serena Williams in the final of the US Open. After winning the Australian Open in early 2019, she reached the world No. 1 ranking for the first time. Following two more major titles, in 2021, Osaka suffered from depression and other issues, which led to a publicly scrutinized retirement from the French Open and withdrawal from Wimbledon. She took maternity leave in 2023, returning to competition in 2024.
Osaka is one of the world's most marketable athletes. In 2020, she ranked eighth among athletes in endorsement income and had the highest-ever annual income of any female athlete. Osaka is also recognized as an activist, having showed support for the Black Lives Matter protests. She was named one of the 2020 Sports Illustrated Sportspersons of the Year for her activism, particularly during her US Open championship run, and was included on Time's annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2019, 2020, and 2021. Osaka was the 2021 Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year. At the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, she became the first tennis player to light the Olympic cauldron during the opening ceremony.
On the court, Osaka has an aggressive playing style with a powerful serve that can reach 201 kilometers per hour (125 mph).
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 03:01 UTC on Monday, 6 July 2026.
For the full current version of the article, see Naomi Osaka on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm neural Kimberly.
pWotD Episode 3350: Vozinha
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With 506,757 views on Saturday, 4 July 2026 our article of the day is Vozinha.
Josimar José Évora Dias (born 3 June 1986), commonly known as Vozinha, is a Cape Verdean professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for the Cape Verde national team.
Vozinha's club career has consisted of spells in Cape Verde, Angola, Moldova, Portugal, Cyprus, and Slovakia. A full international since 2012, and the second-highest caps earner in the history of the Cape Verde national team, he has played in five major international tournaments: the Africa Cup of Nations in 2013, 2015, 2021, and 2023 and the FIFA World Cup in 2026. Vozinha attracted significant international attention and acclaim for his performance at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, keeping clean sheets against Spain and Saudi Arabia as well as leading Cape Verde in a highly-lauded bout against defending champions Argentina in the knockout phase.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:46 UTC on Sunday, 5 July 2026.
For the full current version of the article, see Vozinha on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm long-form Gregory.
pWotD Episode 3349: Diogo Jota
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With 409,930 views on Friday, 3 July 2026 our article of the day is Diogo Jota.
Diogo José Teixeira da Silva (4 December 1996 – 3 July 2025), commonly known as Diogo Jota, was a Portuguese professional footballer who played as a forward and winger. He was known for his finishing, pace, dribbling ability, and work rate.
Jota started his career with Paços de Ferreira, before signing for La Liga club Atlético Madrid in 2016. After two seasons in the Primeira Liga, he was consecutively loaned to Primeira Liga club Porto in 2016 and EFL Championship club Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2017. Having helped them gain promotion to the Premier League, he joined the club in 2018 for a reported €14 million and made 131 appearances for them, scoring 44 goals. In 2020, he signed for Liverpool for a fee reported to be £41 million. He played 182 games and scored 65 goals over five seasons for Liverpool, winning the Premier League in 2025, as well as one FA Cup and two EFL Cup titles.
As a Portugal youth international, Jota represented his country at under-19, under-21, and under-23 levels. He made his senior international debut in November 2019 and was chosen in the squads for two UEFA European Championships (2020 and 2024), but missed the 2022 FIFA World Cup due to injury. He also won the UEFA Nations League in 2019 and 2025.
On 3 July 2025, Jota and his brother, André Silva, both died in a car accident in Cernadilla, Spain.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:49 UTC on Saturday, 4 July 2026.
For the full current version of the article, see Diogo Jota on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm standard Kendra.
pWotD Episode 3348: Malik Tillman
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With 352,877 views on Thursday, 2 July 2026 our article of the day is Malik Tillman.
Malik Leon Tillman (born May 28, 2002) is a professional soccer player who plays as an attacking midfielder for Bundesliga club Bayer Leverkusen. Born in Germany, he represents the United States national team.
Tillman played for Greuther Fürth and joined Bayern Munich's youth system in 2015. He featured for Bayern Munich II before making his debut for Bayern's first-team in August 2021. In July 2022, he moved to Scottish Premiership club Rangers on loan, where he won the PFA Scotland Young Player of the Year award for the 2022–23 season. In August 2023, he went on loan to Eredivisie club PSV Eindhoven and won the league in 2023–24, with the club permanently signing him in May 2024, winning the league again in 2024–25. In July 2025, Tillman signed a five-year contract with Bayer Leverkusen.
Tillman represented Germany, his country of birth, and the United States at youth international level. He made his senior international debut for the United States in June 2022.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 18:10 UTC on Friday, 3 July 2026.
For the full current version of the article, see Malik Tillman on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm neural Amy.
pWotD Episode 3347: Harry Kane
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With 367,545 views on Wednesday, 1 July 2026 our article of the day is Harry Kane.
Harry Edward Kane (born 28 July 1993) is an English professional footballer who plays as a striker for Bundesliga club Bayern Munich and captains the England national team. Regarded as one of the best strikers in the world, he has scored over 500 career goals for club and country.
Beginning his senior career with Tottenham Hotspur in 2009, Kane had loan spells out to clubs across the English football pyramid, including Leyton Orient, Millwall, Leicester City, and Norwich City. Kane's involvement at Tottenham increased after Mauricio Pochettino became head coach in 2014, being named PFA Young Player of the Year in the 2014–15 season. In the 2015–16 and 2016–17 seasons, Kane finished as the league's top goalscorer. In the latter campaign, he helped Tottenham finish as Premier League runners-up and was named PFA Fans' Player of the Year. In the 2018–19 season, Kane finished as UEFA Champions League runner-up and ended the 2020–21 season as the Premier League's top goalscorer (23) and top assist provider (14). In 2023, Kane became the most expensive signing in Bundesliga history as he joined Bayern Munich in a transfer worth €110 million. In his debut season, he scored 36 league goals, winning the European Golden Shoe, and in the following season, he earned his first major trophy, winning the Bundesliga. In the 2025-26 season, Kane scored 70 goals for Bayern Munich and England, the second highest tally in a single season ever.
Kane has scored 84 goals in 118 appearances for England, making him their all-time top goalscorer. He appeared more than 30 times at youth international level and made a goalscoring debut with the senior team in March 2015, at age 21. Kane featured and scored during England's successful UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying campaign, and represented the country at the tournament. He was named England captain just before the 2018 FIFA World Cup, in which he finished as the competition's top goalscorer, winning the Golden Boot, leading England to fourth place, their highest finish since 1990. He led England to the runner-up position at UEFA Euro 2020, marking their first appearance in the final at the tournament and their first major final since 1966. At UEFA Euro 2024, Kane finished as the tournament's joint-top scorer as he again captained England to the final.
Kane is Tottenham Hotspur's all-time top goalscorer (280), England's all-time top goalscorer (82), and the highest-scoring English player in the Champions League (54). He is also the Premier League's second-highest all-time goalscorer (213) and the seventh-highest goalscorer for Bayern Munich (146).
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:22 UTC on Thursday, 2 July 2026.
For the full current version of the article, see Harry Kane on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.
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Until next time, I'm neural Ruth.
pWotD Episode 3346: .xyz
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With 355,402 views on Tuesday, 30 June 2026 our article of the day is .xyz.
.xyz is a top-level domain name that was proposed in ICANN's new generic top-level domain (gTLD) Program for consisting of the last three letters of the Latin-script alphabet. XYZ.com and CentralNic are the registries for the domain, which was created by entrepreneur Daniel Negari. It became available to the general public on June 2, 2014, thereafter becoming widely used by tech startups, creators, and Web3 projects.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 04:01 UTC on Wednesday, 1 July 2026.
For the full current version of the article, see .xyz on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm neural Justin.
pWotD Episode 3345: Penelope Keith
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With 335,463 views on Monday, 29 June 2026 our article of the day is Penelope Keith.
Dame Penelope Anne Constance Keith (née Hatfield; 2 April 1940 – 29 June 2026) was an English actress. Active in film, radio, stage and television, where she was also a presenter, Keith is primarily known for her roles in the British sitcoms The Good Life and To the Manor Born. Keith succeeded Lord Olivier as president of the Actors' Benevolent Fund after his death in 1989 and was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in the 2014 New Year Honours for services to the arts and to charity.
Keith joined the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1963, and went on to win the 1976 Olivier Award for Best Comedy Performance for the play Donkeys' Years. She became a household name in the UK playing Margo Leadbetter in the sitcom The Good Life (1975–1978), winning the 1977 BAFTA TV Award for Best Light Entertainment Performance.
In 1978, Keith won the BAFTA TV Award for Best Actress for The Norman Conquests. She then starred as Audrey fforbes-Hamilton in the sitcom To the Manor Born (1979–1981), a show that received audiences of more than 20 million. Keith went on to star in another six sitcoms, including Executive Stress (1986–1988), No Job for a Lady (1990–1992) and Next of Kin (1995–1997). From 2000, she worked mainly in the theatre, with her roles including Madam Arcati in Blithe Spirit (2004) and Lady Bracknell in The Importance of Being Earnest (2007).
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 03:49 UTC on Tuesday, 30 June 2026.
For the full current version of the article, see Penelope Keith on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
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Until next time, I'm standard Justin.
pWotD Episode 3344: Stephen Eustáquio
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With 323,585 views on Sunday, 28 June 2026 our article of the day is Stephen Eustáquio.
Stephen Antunes Eustáquio (born 21 December 1996) is a Canadian professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder for Major League Soccer club Los Angeles FC, on loan from Primeira Liga club Porto, and vice-captains the Canada national team.
After starting out at Nazarenos, he has spent most of his club career in Portugal with Torreense, Leixões, Chaves, Paços de Ferreira and Porto. He also played briefly in Mexico with Cruz Azul.
Born in Canada, Eustáquio represented Portugal at youth level. However, in 2019 he committed to play for Canada and debuted for them in November of that year. He was part of their squad that reached the semi-finals of the 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup, also being selected for two FIFA World Cups and the 2024 Copa América. He scored the winning goal in stoppage time for Canada against South Africa in the 2026 World Cup round of 32, Canada's first knockout stage win.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:38 UTC on Monday, 29 June 2026.
For the full current version of the article, see Stephen Eustáquio on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
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Until next time, I'm long-form Patrick.
pWotD Episode 3343: K. Bhagyaraj
Welcome to popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 377,967 views on Saturday, 27 June 2026 our article of the day is K. Bhagyaraj.
Krishnaswamy Bhagyaraj (7 January 1953 – 27 June 2026) was an Indian filmmaker, actor, musician and politician. He worked predominantly in Tamil cinema, while also directing and acting in films in other Indian languages. He wrote and directed more than 25 films and acted in over 75 films, and was regarded as one of the most influential writer-directors in Tamil cinema during the 1980s. He edited the Tamil weekly magazine Bhagya and authored several novels.
Bhagyaraj was born in Vellankoil, near Gobichettipalayam, in 1953. He began working in the Tamil film industry in the mid-1970s as an assistant director under G. Ramakrishnan and Bharathiraja. He began writing scripts and dialogues for films, while also appearing in smaller acting roles. Beginning in the early 1980s, Bhagyaraj started directing films and often appeared in the lead role in the films he directed. He also directed a few remakes of his films in Hindi. He emerged as one of the leading screenwriters and directors in Tamil cinema during the 1980s and early 1990s. In later years, he directed a few films, and also appeared as a supporting actor in several films.
Bhagyaraj founded MGR Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam in 1989. He joined the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam later, before joining the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam in 2005. He was active in politics in the 1990s and early 2000s.
Bhagyaraj received the Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Dialogue Writer for Puthiya Vaarpugal (1979), the Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Tamil for Mundhanai Mudichu (1983), and the SIIMA Lifetime Achievement Award in 2014.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 03:25 UTC on Sunday, 28 June 2026.
For the full current version of the article, see K. Bhagyaraj on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm long-form Patrick.
pWotD Episode 3342: Supergirl (2026 film)
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With 212,087 views on Friday, 26 June 2026 our article of the day is Supergirl (2026 film).
Supergirl is a 2026 American superhero film based on the eponymous character from DC Comics. Directed by Craig Gillespie and written by Ana Nogueira, it is the second film in the DC Universe (DCU), and stars Milly Alcock as Kara Zor-El / Supergirl, who travels across the galaxy on a murderous quest for revenge. Matthias Schoenaerts, Eve Ridley, David Krumholtz, Emily Beecham, David Corenswet, and Jason Momoa accompany the cast. The film is produced by Peter Safran and James Gunn of DC Studios.
A film featuring Supergirl entered development as part of the DC Extended Universe (DCEU) franchise in August 2018, and the character was introduced in the 2023 film The Flash, portrayed by Sasha Calle. Plans for the standalone project were altered when Gunn and Safran became co-CEOs of DC Studios in October 2022. A new Supergirl film was announced in January 2023 as an adaptation of the 2021–22 comic book miniseries Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow by Tom King and Bilquis Evely. Nogueira was hired by November 2023; Alcock was cast in January 2024 to debut in the first DCU film, Superman (2025); and Gillespie joined that May. Filming took place from January to May 2025 at Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden and London in England, and in Scotland.
Supergirl premiered in Brooklyn on June 22, 2026, and was theatrically released by Warner Bros. Pictures in the United States on June 26. It is part of the DCU's Chapter One: Gods and Monsters. It received mixed reviews from critics, and has grossed $13 million.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:53 UTC on Saturday, 27 June 2026.
For the full current version of the article, see Supergirl (2026 film) on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm neural Brian.
pWotD Episode 3341: 2026 FIFA World Cup knockout stage
Welcome to popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 220,789 views on Thursday, 25 June 2026 our article of the day is 2026 FIFA World Cup knockout stage.
The knockout stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be the second and final stage of the competition, following the group stage. Played from June 28 to July 19, 2026, the knockout stage will end with the final, to be held at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The top two teams from each of the twelve groups, along with the best eight third-placed teams, will advance to the knockout stage to compete in a single-elimination tournament. There will be 32 matches in the knockout stage, including a match for third place.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 05:25 UTC on Friday, 26 June 2026.
For the full current version of the article, see 2026 FIFA World Cup knockout stage on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm neural Arthur.
pWotD Episode 3340: Cristiano Ronaldo
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With 226,342 views on Wednesday, 24 June 2026 our article of the day is Cristiano Ronaldo.
Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro (born 5 February 1985), nicknamed CR7, is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays as a forward for and captains both Saudi Pro League club Al-Nassr and the Portugal national team. Widely regarded as one of the greatest players in history and the greatest Portuguese player ever, he has won numerous individual accolades throughout his career, including five Ballon d'Or awards, a record three UEFA Men's Player of the Year Awards, and four European Golden Shoes. He was also named the world's best player five times by FIFA.
Ronaldo is one of the most decorated players in the history of professional football, having won 35 trophies in his career, including five UEFA Champions Leagues, two UEFA Nations Leagues and the UEFA European Championship. He holds the records for most goals (140) and assists (42) in the Champions League, goals (14) and assists (8) in the European Championship, and most international appearances (230), men's international goals (145) and most international victories (140). He is the only player to have scored 100 goals with four different clubs and to finish as top scorer in four different domestic leagues. He has made over 1,300 professional career appearances, the most by an outfield player, and has scored over 970 official senior career goals for club and country, making him the top goalscorer of all time.
Born in Funchal, Madeira, Ronaldo began his career with Sporting CP before signing with Manchester United in 2003. He gradually established himself as an integral player for the club, and won three consecutive Premier League titles, the Champions League, and the FIFA Club World Cup. For his performances in 2007–08, Ronaldo was awarded his first Ballon d'Or at age 23. In 2009, Ronaldo became the subject of the then-most expensive transfer in history when he joined Real Madrid in a deal worth €94 million (£80 million). At Madrid, he was at the forefront of the club's resurgence as a dominant European force, helping them win four Champions Leagues between 2014 and 2018, including the long-awaited La Décima in 2014, where he set the record for most goals scored in a Champions League season. He also won two La Liga titles, and became the club's all-time top goalscorer. At Madrid, he won the Ballon d'Or in 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017.
Following issues with the club hierarchy, Ronaldo signed for Juventus in 2018 in a transfer worth a league record of €100 million, where he was pivotal in winning two consecutive Serie A titles, the Coppa Italia, and the Capocannoniere in 2021 as the league's top scorer. In 2021, he returned to Manchester United, but had his contract terminated in 2022 after a dispute with the club's management. Ronaldo joined Al-Nassr in 2023, and led them to the Saudi Pro League title in 2026, while also finishing as the league top scorer back-to-back in 2024 and 2025.
Ronaldo made his international debut for Portugal in 2003 at the age of 18 and has earned more than 200 caps, making him history's most-capped male player. He has played in twelve major tournaments. He scored his first international goal in Euro 2004, where he helped Portugal reach the final and subsequently made the Team of the Tournament. He assumed the captaincy of the national team ahead of Euro 2008; and at Euro 2012, he was named in the team of the tournament. Ronaldo led Portugal to their first major tournament title at Euro 2016, being named in the team of the tournament for the third time, and received the Golden Boot as the top scorer of Euro 2020. He won the UEFA Nations Leagues in 2019 and 2025, finishing as the top scorer in both the tournaments. In 2026, he became the first player to score in six World Cup tournaments.
One of the world's most marketable and famous athletes, Ronaldo has been ranked by Sportico as the third highest-paid athlete of all time in April 2026. In 2026, Ronaldo appeared on the Forbes World’s Billionaires list for the first time at $1.2B net worth. Time included him on their list of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2014. He is the most popular sportsperson on social media: he counts over 1 billion total followers across Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram, making him the first person to achieve that feat. Ronaldo was named in the UEFA Ultimate Team of the Year in 2015, the All-time UEFA Euro XI in 2016, and the Ballon d'Or Dream Team in 2020. In recognition of his record-breaking goalscoring success, he received special awards for Outstanding Career Achievement by FIFA in 2021 and Champions League All-Time Top Scorer by UEFA in 2024.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 03:03 UTC on Thursday, 25 June 2026.
For the full current version of the article, see Cristiano Ronaldo on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.
Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.
Until next time, I'm generative Amy.
pWotD Episode 3339: Erling Haaland
Welcome to popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 374,533 views on Tuesday, 23 June 2026 our article of the day is Erling Haaland.
Erling Braut Haaland (né Håland, Urban East Norwegian: [ˈæ̂ːlɪŋ ˈhòːlɑn]; born 21 July 2000) is a Norwegian professional footballer who plays as a striker for Premier League club Manchester City and the Norway national team. Regarded as one of the best players in the world, and the greatest Norwegian player of all time, he is known for his speed, strength, positioning, and finishing inside the box.
Haaland began his senior career with Bryne and Molde before signing with Red Bull Salzburg in 2019, where he won the Austrian Bundesliga and Austrian Cup. He joined Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund in 2020, where he won the DFB-Pokal in 2021. In 2022, Haaland transferred to Manchester City for a fee of €60 million (£51.2 million) and won the continental treble in his debut campaign: he set the record for most goals scored by a player in a Premier League season (36) and most goals by a Premier League player in all competitions in one season (52), winning the Premier League Golden Boot, European Golden Shoe and the Gerd Müller Trophy. He was named UEFA Men's Player of the Year, IFFHS World's Best Player, and finished runner-up in the Ballon d'Or. Haaland ranks as Manchester City's fourth-highest all-time top goalscorer.
Haaland has won several individual awards and holds numerous records: he is the only player to win Premier League Young Player and Player of the Season in one season. He won the 2020 Golden Boy, was named Bundesliga Player of the Season in 2021, and was included in the FIFA FIFPro World11 for 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024. He has scored the most goals in a Premier League season and is the quickest player to score eight hat-tricks.
Haaland represented Norway at youth level, winning the Golden Boot at the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup, where he scored a record nine goals in a single match. He made his senior international debut for Norway in 2019, and has since scored 55 goals in 48 appearances, making him Norway's all-time top goalscorer. Haaland is the fastest player to reach 50 international goals, doing so in just 46 games.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:34 UTC on Wednesday, 24 June 2026.
For the full current version of the article, see Erling Haaland on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
Follow us on Bluesky at @wikioftheday.com.
Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.
Until next time, I'm generative Matthew.
pWotD Episode 3338: Andy Burnham
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With 934,733 views on Monday, 22 June 2026 our article of the day is Andy Burnham.
Andrew Murray Burnham (born 7 January 1970) is a British politician who has served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Makerfield since June 2026. A Labour Co-op member, he is currently a candidate for the 2026 Labour Party leadership election to succeed Keir Starmer as Prime Minister and leader of the Labour Party. He previously served as the Mayor of Greater Manchester from 2017 to 2026 and the MP for Leigh from 2001 to 2017. During his parliamentary career before becoming mayor, he held several cabinet positions, lastly as Secretary of State for Health from 2009 to 2010 under Gordon Brown. Burnham identifies as a socialist and is associated with the soft left faction of the Labour Party.
Born in Aintree, Liverpool, and raised in Culcheth, Burnham was educated at St Aelred's Catholic High School in Newton-le-Willows and studied English at Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge. He joined the Labour Party at the age of 15 and his early career included working as a researcher for Tessa Jowell, a parliamentary officer for the NHS Confederation and an administrator with the Football Task Force. From 1998 to 2001, he was a special adviser to Culture Secretary Chris Smith. At the 2001 general election, he was elected as MP for Leigh in Greater Manchester. Under Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, he held several government roles, including parliamentary private secretary; Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department; Minister of State for Health; Chief Secretary to the Treasury; and Culture Secretary, a role in which he launched the second Hillsborough inquiry. In 2009, he was promoted to Health Secretary, a role in which he responded to the swine flu pandemic and launched an independent inquiry into the Stafford Hospital scandal.
Following the 2010 general election, Burnham was a candidate in the 2010 Labour leadership election won by Ed Miliband, coming fourth out of five candidates. From 2010 to 2015, he served as Shadow Education Secretary and Shadow Health Secretary under Miliband. Following the 2015 general election, Burnham contested the resulting Labour leadership election, and finished second behind Jeremy Corbyn. From 2015 to 2016, Burnham served as Shadow Home Secretary under Corbyn. After being selected as Labour's candidate for the new Greater Manchester Mayoralty, he stood down as an MP at the 2017 general election, won the 2017 mayoral election, and was re-elected in the 2021 and 2024 elections.
Burnham has been cited as the most likely successor to Starmer. While Starmer's honeymoon period was brief, Burnham maintained high approval in Greater Manchester for the entire 9 years of his mayoralty, and, by August 2025, polls identified Burnham as the most popular senior Labour figure. During the crisis surrounding Starmer's leadership, which culminated in widespread loss of support for Labour in the May 2026 local elections, and Scottish and Wales parliamentary elections, Burnham became widely seen as a possible successor. Josh Simons, the MP for Makerfield in Greater Manchester, stood down to allow Burnham to stand for parliament again, a necessary step to seek the party leadership. Burnham won the resulting by-election on 18 June with 54.8% of the vote. Four days later Starmer announced he would resign. The same day, Burnham announced his candidacy in the Labour Party leadership election to succeed Starmer, with Wes Streeting, seen as his most likely competitor, announcing he would not compete but would support Burnham.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 03:45 UTC on Tuesday, 23 June 2026.
For the full current version of the article, see Andy Burnham on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
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Until next time, I'm generative Niamh.
pWotD Episode 3337: Wyndham Clark
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With 362,807 views on Sunday, 21 June 2026 our article of the day is Wyndham Clark.
Wyndham Robert Clark (born December 9, 1993) is an American professional golfer who plays on the PGA Tour. He has won two major championships, the 2023 and 2026 U. S. Opens.
After playing collegiately for the Oklahoma State Cowboys and the Oregon Ducks, Clark turned professional in 2017 and earned PGA Tour membership in 2018 through the Web.com Tour. He had a breakout year in 2023; he won his first PGA Tour title at the Wells Fargo Championship in May and his first major championship at the U. S. Open the following month. Clark added his second major at the 2026 U. S Open.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 03:25 UTC on Monday, 22 June 2026.
For the full current version of the article, see Wyndham Clark on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm neural Ruth.
pWotD Episode 3336: Amelia Dimoldenberg
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With 582,467 views on Saturday, 20 June 2026 our article of the day is Amelia Dimoldenberg.
Amelia Dimoldenberg ( dim-OHL-dən-burg; born 30 January 1994) is an English comedian, writer and presenter. She is the creator and host of the web series Chicken Shop Date, in which she interviews celebrities in fried chicken restaurants while subjecting them to her sarcastic, deadpan, and awkward sense of humour.
In 2025, Dimoldenberg was named in Time magazine's inaugural "TIME100 Creators" list - branded by the publication as the 100 most influential digital voices.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:15 UTC on Sunday, 21 June 2026.
For the full current version of the article, see Amelia Dimoldenberg on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
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Until next time, I'm generative Matthew.
pWotD Episode 3335: Juneteenth
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With 606,543 views on Friday, 19 June 2026 our article of the day is Juneteenth.
Juneteenth, officially Juneteenth National Independence Day, is a federal holiday in the United States. It is celebrated annually on June 19 to commemorate the end of slavery in the United States. The holiday's name, first used in the 1890s, is a portmanteau of June and nineteenth, referring to June 19, 1865, the day when Major General Gordon Granger ordered the final enforcement of the Emancipation Proclamation in Texas at the end of the American Civil War.
During the Civil War period, slavery came to an end in various areas of the United States at different times. Many enslaved Southerners escaped, demanded wages, stopped work, or took up arms against the Confederacy of slave states. In January 1865, Congress proposed the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution for the national abolition of slavery. By June 1865, almost all of the enslaved population had been freed by the victorious Union Army or by state abolition laws. When the national abolition amendment was ratified in December, the remaining enslaved people in Delaware and Kentucky were freed.
Early Juneteenth celebrations date back to 1866, at first involving church-centered community gatherings in Texas. They spread across the South among newly freed African-Americans and their descendants and became more commercialized in the 1920s and 1930s, often centering on a food festival. Participants in the Great Migration brought these celebrations to the rest of the country. During the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s, Juneteenth celebrations were eclipsed by the nonviolent determination to achieve civil rights, but they grew in popularity again in the 1970s, with a focus on African-American freedom and African-American arts. Beginning with Texas by proclamation in 1938, and by legislation in 1979, every U. S. state and the District of Columbia has formally recognized the holiday in some way.
Juneteenth was recognized as a federal holiday in 2021, when the 117th U. S. Congress enacted and President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act into law. Juneteenth became the first new federal holiday since Martin Luther King Jr. Day was adopted in 1983. Juneteenth is also celebrated by the Mascogos, descendants of Black Seminoles who escaped from slavery in 1852 and settled in Coahuila, Mexico.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:35 UTC on Saturday, 20 June 2026.
For the full current version of the article, see Juneteenth on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.
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Until next time, I'm generative Niamh.
pWotD Episode 3334: Daveigh Chase
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With 728,789 views on Thursday, 18 June 2026 our article of the day is Daveigh Chase.
Daveigh Elizabeth Chase ( də-VAY; née Chase-Schwallier; July 24, 1990 – June 16, 2026) was an American actress. She first came to prominence as a child actress, portraying Samantha Darko in the film Donnie Darko (2001) and voicing the characters of Chihiro Ogino in the English dub of the Studio Ghibli film Spirited Away (2001) and Lilo Pelekai in the Walt Disney Animation Studios animated feature film Lilo & Stitch (2002). For her performance in the latter, she won an Annie Award in 2003, and she continued to voice Lilo in its subsequent media franchise.
In 2002, Chase achieved wider international recognition for her portrayal of the vengeful child antagonist Samara Morgan in the blockbuster horror film The Ring. Her performance earned her the MTV Movie Award for Best Villain at the 2003 ceremony. Chase transitioned to adult roles with her supporting part in the HBO drama series Big Love (2006–2011), in which she portrayed Rhonda Volmer, a manipulative and sociopathic teenager raised within a fundamentalist polygamist compound. She later reprised her role as Samantha Darko in S. Darko (2009), a sequel to Donnie Darko, and appeared in various independent movies, concluding her acting career with the 2016 films Jack Goes Home and American Romance.
After her retirement from acting, Chase experienced several heavily publicized personal and legal difficulties, which coincided with a prolonged withdrawal from the public eye. Following a period of homelessness, she died in June 2026 at 35 years old of septic shock and meningitis complications.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:44 UTC on Friday, 19 June 2026.
For the full current version of the article, see Daveigh Chase on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.
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Until next time, I'm standard Salli.
pWotD Episode 3333: Lionel Messi
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With 707,855 views on Wednesday, 17 June 2026 our article of the day is Lionel Messi.
Lionel Andrés "Leo" Messi (born 24 June 1987) is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as a forward for and captains both the Major League Soccer club Inter Miami and the Argentina national team. Widely regarded as one of the greatest players in history, Messi has set numerous records for individual accolades won throughout his professional footballing career, including eight Ballons d'Or, six European Golden Shoes, and eight times being named the world's best player by FIFA. In 2025, he was named the All Time Men's World Best Player by the IFFHS.
Messi is the most decorated player in the history of professional football, having won 46 team trophies. His records include most goals in a calendar year (91), most goals for a single club (672 for Barcelona), most goals in La Liga (474), tied most goals scored in the FIFA World Cup (16), and most assists in international football (61). Messi has scored over 910 senior career goals and provided over 410 assists for club and country, resulting in over 1,320 goal contributions—the highest total in the sport's history.
Messi made his competitive debut for Barcelona at age 17 in October 2004. He gradually established himself as an integral player for the club, and during his first uninterrupted season in 2008–09 he helped Barcelona achieve the first treble in Spanish football. This resulted in Messi winning the first of four consecutive Ballon d'Ors, and by the 2011–12 season he had set the European record for most goals in a season and established himself as Barcelona's all-time top scorer. During the 2014–15 season, where he became the all-time top scorer in La Liga, he led Barcelona to a historic second treble, earning his fifth Ballon d'Or. Messi was named Barcelona's captain in 2018. While playing for the club, he won a club-record 34 trophies, including ten La Liga titles and four UEFA Champions Leagues. Financial difficulties at Barcelona led Messi to depart in August 2021 and sign with Paris Saint-Germain, where he won the Ligue 1 title during both of his seasons there. He joined the Major League Soccer club Inter Miami in July 2023, and led them to their first MLS Cup victory in 2025, while also winning back-to-back league MVP awards in 2024 and 2025.
An Argentine international, Messi is the national team's all-time leading goalscorer and most-capped player. Several years after his senior debut in 2005, he won the gold medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics. Assuming captaincy in 2011, he led Argentina to three consecutive finals in the 2014 World Cup, the 2015 Copa América and the Copa América Centenario, all of which they lost. After announcing his retirement from international football in 2016, he returned to help Argentina qualify for the 2018 World Cup. Messi was central to ending Argentina's 28-year trophy drought by winning the 2021 Copa América. In 2022, he led Argentina to a World Cup victory, the country's first in 36 years. Messi's third major international title arrived when Argentina won the 2024 Copa América.
Messi has endorsed the sportswear company Adidas since 2006. He was ranked the world's highest-paid athlete by Forbes in 2019 and 2022, and was among Time's 100 most influential people in the world in 2011, 2012, and 2023. In 2020 and 2023, he was named the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year, the first team-sport athlete to win the award. In 2020, Messi was named to the Ballon d'Or Dream Team and became the second footballer and second team-sport athlete to surpass $1 billion in career earnings. In 2026, Messi appeared on the World's Billionaires list for the first time at $1.1B net worth. Following his arrival and impact on football in the United States, Messi was named Time's Athlete of the Year in 2023, and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by US president Joe Biden in 2025.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 12:39 UTC on Thursday, 18 June 2026.
For the full current version of the article, see Lionel Messi on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.
Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.
Until next time, I'm neural Emma.
pWotD Episode 3332: Kylian Mbappé
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With 382,926 views on Tuesday, 16 June 2026 our article of the day is Kylian Mbappé.
Kylian Mbappé Lottin (born 20 December 1998) is a French professional footballer who plays as a forward for La Liga club Real Madrid and captains the France national team. Widely regarded as one of the best players in the world, he is known for his pace, dribbling, and clinical finishing.
Born in Paris and raised in nearby Bondy, Mbappé began his senior club career in 2015 with Monaco. With Monaco, he won the Ligue 1 title for the 2016–17 season. In 2017, at age 18, Mbappé signed for Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) on an eventual permanent transfer worth €180 million, making him the second-most-expensive player and most expensive teenage player of all time. With PSG, he won six Ligue 1 titles, four Coupes de France, including a domestic quadruple in the 2019–20 season and became the club's all-time top goalscorer. He is a record 5 time Ligue 1 Player of the Year and a record 6 time Ligue 1 top goalscorer. In 2024, after several years of speculation, Mbappé joined Real Madrid on a free transfer. He topped the La Liga goalscoring charts in 2025 and 2026 and also finished as the UEFA Champions League top scorer in the latter year. He won his first European Golden Shoe in his debut season.
At the international level, Mbappé made his senior debut for France in 2017. At the 2018 FIFA World Cup, Mbappé became the youngest French player to score at a World Cup, as well as the second teenager, after Pelé, to score in a World Cup final. He finished as the joint second-highest goalscorer as France won the tournament, and he was honored as the FIFA World Cup Best Young Player and French Player of the Year. He helped France to victory in the UEFA Nations League in 2021, receiving the top scorer award in the finals. At the 2022 FIFA World Cup, France reached the final again; Mbappé won the Golden Boot and Silver Ball, and set a new record for the most goals scored in World Cup final matches. Mbappé, who scored a hat trick in the match, is one of only two players to have scored in two consecutive World Cup finals. In France's opening match at the 2026 World Cup, Mbappé reached 58 international goals to become his country's all-time top goalscorer.
Mbappé finished in third place for the 2023 Ballon d'Or and was runner-up for The Best FIFA Men's Player award of 2022. He has been the UEFA Champions League top scorer twice. Mbappé has been named in the FIFA FIFPro World11 six times, the IFFHS Men's World Team five times and was awarded the IFFHS World's Best Top Goal Scorer twice. He was awarded the Golden Boy in 2017 and the Kopa Trophy in 2018. in the 2021–22 season, he became the first player to finish as both Ligue 1 top scorer and top assist provider. Mbappé was named one of Time's 100 most influential people in the world in 2023 and was listed by Forbes as one of the world's ten highest-paid athletes in 2023 and 2024.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:37 UTC on Wednesday, 17 June 2026.
For the full current version of the article, see Kylian Mbappé on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm generative Brian.
pWotD Episode 3331: Cape Verde
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With 1,232,812 views on Monday, 15 June 2026 our article of the day is Cape Verde.
Cape Verde, in Portuguese Cabo Verde, in Cape Verdean Creole Kabu Verdi, officially the Republic of Cabo Verde, is an archipelagic country in the central Atlantic Ocean off the coast of West Africa. It consists of ten volcanic islands with a combined land area of about 4,033 square kilometres (1,557 sq mi). These islands lie between 600 and 850 kilometres (370 and 530 miles) west of Cap-Vert, the westernmost point of continental Africa, after which they are named. Cape Verde forms part of the Macaronesia ecoregion, along with the Azores, the Canary Islands, Madeira and the Savage Isles.
The archipelago was uninhabited until the 15th century, when Portuguese explorers settled the islands, establishing one of the first European settlements in the tropics. Its strategic position gave it a significant role in the transatlantic slave trade during the 16th and 17th centuries; the islands saw rapid economic growth driven by the trade of manufactured goods, rum, and cloth for African slaves, ivory, and gold. By the mid 19th century, increased foreign competition, persistent drought, and the decline of the slave trade led to economic decline and emigration; Cape Verde gradually recovered as an important commercial centre and stopping point for major shipping routes.
Cape Verde became independent in 1975. Since the early 1990s, it has been a stable representative democracy and has remained one of the most developed and democratic countries in Africa. Lacking natural resources, its developing economy is mostly service-oriented, with a growing focus on tourism and foreign investment. With a population of around 491,233 (as of 2021), Cape Verde is among the least populous countries in Africa. The Cape Verdean people trace their ancestry primarily to West African populations, with additional contributions from early Portuguese settlers and other groups who came to the islands during the Atlantic era. A sizeable diaspora exists across the world, especially in the United States and Portugal, considerably outnumbering the inhabitants on the islands. Cape Verde is a member state of the African Union.
The official language is Portuguese, while the recognized national language is Cape Verdean Creole (Crioulo), which is spoken by the vast majority of the population. As of the 2021 census, the most populous islands were Santiago (269,370)—which hosts the country's capital and largest city, Praia—São Vicente (74,016), Santo Antão (36,632), Fogo (33,519) and Sal (33,347). The largest cities are Praia (137,868), Mindelo (69,013), Espargos (24,500) and Assomada (21,297).
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 03:06 UTC on Tuesday, 16 June 2026.
For the full current version of the article, see Cape Verde on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm long-form Patrick.
pWotD Episode 3330: Oliver Tree
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With 1,508,668 views on Sunday, 14 June 2026 our article of the day is Oliver Tree.
Oliver Tree Nickell (June 29, 1993 – June 14, 2026) was an American singer-songwriter, rapper, record producer, comedian, and filmmaker. Born in Santa Cruz, California, Tree signed to Atlantic Records in 2017 after his song "When I'm Down" went viral and released his debut studio album Ugly Is Beautiful on July 17, 2020. He achieved international recognition with his songs "Life Goes On" in 2021, and "Miss You" in 2022.
Tree released his second studio album, Cowboy Tears on February 18, 2022, his third studio album, Alone in a Crowd, on September 29, 2023, and his fourth studio album, Love You Madly Hate You Badly, on April 24, 2026. Tree died on June 14, 2026, in a helicopter crash in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 05:14 UTC on Monday, 15 June 2026.
For the full current version of the article, see Oliver Tree on Wikipedia.
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Until next time, I'm neural Olivia.
pWotD Episode 3329: Folarin Balogun
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With 958,598 views on Saturday, 13 June 2026 our article of the day is Folarin Balogun.
Folarin Jerry Balogun (born July 3, 2001) is a professional soccer player who plays as a striker for Ligue 1 club Monaco and the United States national team.
A Hale End academy prospect of Arsenal, Balogun was promoted to the first team in 2020 and featured sparingly for the club, later going on loan to EFL Championship side Middlesbrough in 2022. In the following season, Balogun made his breakthrough in a loan to Ligue 1 side Reims, where he scored 22 goals in his first season; the highest ever for an American in a top five European league. In August 2023, Balogun left Arsenal and signed with Monaco for €40 million ($43 million), where he was named the 2025–26 Monaco Player of the Season.
Balogun represented both the United States and England at the youth international level. In May 2023, he decided to play for the United States senior national team. He made his debut in June 2023, winning the 2023 CONCACAF Nations League and scoring his first goal in the final.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:55 UTC on Sunday, 14 June 2026.
For the full current version of the article, see Folarin Balogun on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm standard Brian.
pWotD Episode 3328: David Hockney
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With 287,022 views on Friday, 12 June 2026 our article of the day is David Hockney.
David Hockney (9 July 1937 – 11 June 2026) was an English painter, stage designer and photographer. As an important contributor to the pop art movement of the 1960s, he is considered one of the most influential British artists of the 20th and 21st centuries.
Hockney studied at the Royal College of Art before moving to Los Angeles in the 1960s. The light and lifestyle of California had a profound effect on his work, using acrylic paint he worked on large portrait studies before turning to prints and photocollages in his later career. He used digital applications extensively in the final decades of his career and returned to the Yorkshire landscapes of his childhood with large en plein air pieces. He was also a celebrated operatic stage designer. He exhibited internationally with several important retrospectives at leading institutions and was the recipient of major civic and institutional honours. Hockney came out as gay as a young man several years before the decriminalisation of homosexuality in Britain. He lived between Britain and America. In the late 2010s auctions sales established him as the most expensive living artist.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:59 UTC on Saturday, 13 June 2026.
For the full current version of the article, see David Hockney on Wikipedia.
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Until next time, I'm generative Salli.
pWotD Episode 3327: OG Anunoby
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With 488,031 views on Thursday, 11 June 2026 our article of the day is OG Anunoby.
Ogugua "OG" Anunoby Jr. (born 17 July 1997) is an English professional basketball player for the New York Knicks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Indiana Hoosiers and was selected by the Toronto Raptors in the first round of the 2017 NBA draft. With Toronto, Anunoby won an NBA championship in 2019 and led the league in steals while earning his first NBA All-Defensive Team selection during the 2022–23 season. In December 2023, Anunoby was traded to the Knicks. In 2026, he was named to his second All-Defensive Team and reached the NBA Finals with New York. In the Finals, he tipped in the game-winning shot in Game 4 to complete the largest single-game comeback in NBA Finals history.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 03:22 UTC on Friday, 12 June 2026.
For the full current version of the article, see OG Anunoby on Wikipedia.
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Until next time, I'm neural Kajal.
pWotD Episode 3326: Bharathiraja
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With 333,667 views on Wednesday, 10 June 2026 our article of the day is Bharathiraja.
Bharathiraja (; 23 August 1942 – 10 June 2026) was an Indian film director, producer, screenwriter and actor who worked mainly in the Tamil film industry. Making his debut in 1977 with 16 Vayathinile, he was known for realistic and sensitive portrayals of rural life in his films and popularly referred to as Iyakkunar Imayam (transl. The Pinnacle of Directors). Bharathiraja had won six National Film Awards, four Filmfare Awards South, six Tamil Nadu State Film Awards and a Nandi Award. He also directed films in Telugu and Hindi. The Government of India honoured him with the Padma Shri award, India's fourth-highest civilian honour, in 2004 for his contribution to the film industry. In 2005, he was conferred with the Doctor of Letters (honorary degree) from Sathyabama University.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:39 UTC on Thursday, 11 June 2026.
For the full current version of the article, see Bharathiraja on Wikipedia.
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Until next time, I'm standard Geraint.
pWotD Episode 3325: Murder of Austin Metcalf
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With 206,632 views on Tuesday, 9 June 2026 our article of the day is Murder of Austin Metcalf.
On April 2, 2025, Austin Metcalf, a white 17-year-old student at Memorial High School, was murdered by Karmelo Anthony, a black Centennial High School student of the same age, while attending a school track meet in Frisco, Texas. Anthony stabbed Metcalf after an altercation, and Metcalf died of his injuries. Anthony surrendered himself to authorities soon after the stabbing and was charged with murder. He pled not guilty, alleging self-defense. Anthony was found guilty of murder on June 9, 2026, after an 8-day trial. He was sentenced to 35 years in prison later that day. The case was the subject of considerable national public attention due to the races of the perpetrator and victim.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 03:04 UTC on Wednesday, 10 June 2026.
For the full current version of the article, see Murder of Austin Metcalf on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm generative Aria.
pWotD Episode 3324: 2026 Peruvian general election
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With 281,754 views on Monday, 8 June 2026 our article of the day is 2026 Peruvian general election.
General elections were held in Peru from 12 to 13 April 2026 to elect the president, vice presidents, and the national legislature. As no presidential candidate achieved a majority of votes in the first round, a runoff election was held on 7 June. The presidential election will determine the president and vice presidents. The congressional elections will determine the composition of the Congress of Peru, which will return to being a bicameral legislature with a Senate (the first since the 1990 election) and a Chamber of Deputies.
The elections come after proposals to hold them earlier due to the 2022–2023 Peruvian protests were rejected. In the first round, right-wing politician Keiko Fujimori placed first. Left-wing candidate Roberto Sánchez placed second, narrowly surpassing far-right businessman Rafael López Aliaga. Due to delays in various polling stations, election authorities extended voting by one day for voters unable to cast their ballots. Following Sánchez's rise in votes later in the tabulation process, López Aliaga reportedly began a disinformation campaign against electoral authorities, accusing the vote-counting process of being fraudulent. Electoral observers from the European Union and Peruvian authorities denied that voting irregularities took place. López Aliaga faces potential criminal charges related to an alleged incitement of civil disorder after calling for an insurgency. The National Jury of Elections (JNE) ruled that it would not annul the first round of elections and that the runoff election would take place on the scheduled date of 7 June 2026.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 05:20 UTC on Tuesday, 9 June 2026.
For the full current version of the article, see 2026 Peruvian general election on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm neural Danielle.
pWotD Episode 3323: Alexander Zverev
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With 476,702 views on Sunday, 7 June 2026 our article of the day is Alexander Zverev.
Alexander "Sascha" Zverev (German pronunciation: [alɛkˈsandɐ ˈzaʃa ˈzvɛʁɛf]; born 20 April 1997) is a German professional tennis player and the current world No. 3. He has been ranked as high as world No. 2 in men's singles by the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP), achieved in June 2022. Zverev has won 25 ATP Tour–level titles in singles, including a major at the 2026 French Open, and three trophies in doubles. He has also won a gold medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, and the 2018 and the 2021 ATP Finals.
Zverev is a former junior world No. 1, and won a junior major singles title at the 2014 Australian Open. He had an early breakthrough on the professional tour, becoming one of the youngest ATP Challenger Tour title winners in history at the age of 17. As a teenager, Zverev won two ATP titles and upset then–world No. 3 Roger Federer on grass. At 20 years old, he became the youngest player to debut in the top 20 since Novak Djokovic. At the Laver Cup, Zverev played an instrumental role in Team Europe's early success, winning the clinching matches in 2018 and 2019. After reaching his career-best results in 2021 and 2022, he suffered an ankle injury at the French Open, from which he recovered to re-enter the top 10 the following year, and has remained among the top players since 2024. He won his first major title at the French Open in 2026.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 03:10 UTC on Monday, 8 June 2026.
For the full current version of the article, see Alexander Zverev on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm neural Niamh.
pWotD Episode 3322: Mirra Andreeva
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With 260,296 views on Saturday, 6 June 2026 our article of the day is Mirra Andreeva.
Mirra Aleksandrovna Andreeva (born 29 April 2007) is a Russian professional tennis player. She has been ranked by the WTA as high as world No. 5 in singles, achieved in July 2025, and No. 12 in doubles, achieved in September 2025. Andreeva has won six WTA Tour–level singles titles, including a major at the 2026 French Open.
In doubles, Andreeva has won three titles, including two WTA 1000 events, and was a silver medalist in women's doubles at the 2024 Paris Olympics partnering Diana Shnaider.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 03:04 UTC on Sunday, 7 June 2026.
For the full current version of the article, see Mirra Andreeva on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm standard Emma.
pWotD Episode 3321: Anthony Head
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With 900,115 views on Friday, 5 June 2026 our article of the day is Anthony Head.
Anthony Stewart Head (20 February 1954 – 1 June 2026) was an English actor and singer. Primarily a performer in musical theatre, he rose to fame in the UK in the 1980s following his role in the Gold Blend couple television advertisements for Nescafé, which led to major roles in several television series.
Head was best known for his prominent role as Rupert Giles in Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997–2003), as well as the Prime Minister in Little Britain (2003–2006), Uther Pendragon in Merlin (2008–2012), and Rupert Mannion in Ted Lasso (2020–2023). He was also known for his distinctive baritone voice, in advertising and voice roles such as Herc Shipwright in BBC Radio 4's Cabin Pressure (2011–2014). On film, he was known for his roles in Persuasion (2007), Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance (2011), The Iron Lady (2011), Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters (2013) and Upgraded (2024).
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 03:47 UTC on Saturday, 6 June 2026.
For the full current version of the article, see Anthony Head on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm neural Brian.
pWotD Episode 3320: Marjane Satrapi
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With 304,952 views on Thursday, 4 June 2026 our article of the day is Marjane Satrapi.
Marjane Satrapi (French: [maʁʒan satʁapi]; Persian: مرجان ساتراپی, [mæɾˈdʒɒːn(e) sɒːtɾɒːˈpiː]; 22 November 1969 – June 2026) was a French and Iranian graphic novelist, film director, and children's book author. Her best-known works include the graphic novel Persepolis and its film adaptation; the graphic novel Chicken with Plums; Woman, Life, Freedom; and the Marie Curie biopic Radioactive.
The success of Persepolis established Satrapi as one of the most widely read Iranian authors in the world, and her role in co-directing the film led to Satrapi becoming the first woman to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 04:08 UTC on Friday, 5 June 2026.
For the full current version of the article, see Marjane Satrapi on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm generative Joanna.
pWotD Episode 3319: Peabo Bryson
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With 318,908 views on Wednesday, 3 June 2026 our article of the day is Peabo Bryson.
Robert Peapo "Peabo" Bryson ( PEE-boh; April 13, 1951 – June 2, 2026) was an American singer and songwriter. After collaborating with singers Luther Vandross and Cissy Houston on his debut album Peabo (1976), he signed to Capitol Records and released the 1978 albums Reaching for the Sky and Crosswinds, which were certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). He later released the collaborative projects We're the Best of Friends (1979) with Natalie Cole and Born to Love (1983) with Roberta Flack, the latter of which included the hit single "Tonight, I Celebrate My Love".
In 1984, he signed to Elektra Records and released the single "If Ever You're in My Arms Again", which spent several weeks atop the adult contemporary chart. During this period, he earned several top ten albums on the U. S. Billboard R&B albums chart, with Can You Stop the Rain (1991) topping the chart. Bryson also contributed to several Disney animated feature soundtracks collaborating with Celine Dion on "Beauty and the Beast", and Regina Belle on "A Whole New World", with the latter becoming the first song from an animated feature film to top the Billboard Hot 100. Bryson was a winner of two Grammy Awards, both attributed to his Disney duets.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 03:18 UTC on Thursday, 4 June 2026.
For the full current version of the article, see Peabo Bryson on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm neural Jasmine.
pWotD Episode 3318: Murder of Henry Nowak
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With 463,123 views on Tuesday, 2 June 2026 our article of the day is Murder of Henry Nowak.
On 3 December 2025, Henry Nowak, a white 18‑year‑old British university student, was murdered by Vickrum Digwa in Southampton, England. Digwa, a 23-year-old British Sikh man, cut and stabbed Nowak a total of five times with a dagger. When police officers from Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary arrived, Digwa accused Nowak of assault, and officers handcuffed Nowak. Police body‑worn camera footage showed Nowak repeatedly telling the officers that he couldn’t breathe, proclaiming that he had been stabbed and pleading for help, to which an officer replied with, "I don't think you have [been stabbed] mate." He died shortly after being handcuffed.
Shortly before the stabbing, Nowak had filmed Digwa walking away from him during a verbal altercation. Digwa maintained that he acted in self-defence after Nowak continued pursuing him, apparently made racist remarks, and punched him, to which there is no evidence, leading prosecutors to agree that these allegations were baseless and fabricated in an attempt to justify Digwa's stabbing.
The jury convicted Digwa of murder on 28 May 2026. Digwa's mother, Kiran Kaur, was found guilty of assisting an offender. The judge rejected Digwa's accusations that Nowak had physically or racially abused him. Digwa received a life sentence with a minimum term of 21 years. The police response to the crime, recorded on body‑worn cameras, was referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 03:11 UTC on Wednesday, 3 June 2026.
For the full current version of the article, see Murder of Henry Nowak on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm generative Olivia.
pWotD Episode 3317: Callum Turner
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With 265,165 views on Monday, 1 June 2026 our article of the day is Callum Turner.
Callum Robilliard Turner (born 15 February 1990) is an English actor. After working as a fashion model, he began working in film and television. He had lead roles in the drama film Queen and Country (2014) and the TV mystery drama Glue (2014), and played Theseus, the brother of Newt Scamander, in the fantasy films Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (2018) and Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore (2022).
Turner's performance in the mystery series The Capture (2019) earned him a nomination for the British Academy Television Award for Best Actor. He has since starred as Joe Rantz in the biographical film The Boys in the Boat (2023), as John "Bucky" Egan in the miniseries Masters of the Air (2024), and alongside Miles Teller and Elizabeth Olsen in the fantasy romantic comedy Eternity (2025).
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 05:06 UTC on Tuesday, 2 June 2026.
For the full current version of the article, see Callum Turner on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm generative Matthew.
pWotD Episode 3316: Victor Wembanyama
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With 429,610 views on Sunday, 31 May 2026 our article of the day is Victor Wembanyama.
Victor Nonga Wembanyama-de Fautereau-Vassel ( WEM-bən-YAH-mə; French: [viktɔʁ wɛmbanjama]; born 4 January 2004), nicknamed "Wemby" and "the Alien", is a French professional basketball player for the San Antonio Spurs of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was selected first overall by the Spurs in the 2023 NBA draft and is considered one of the best basketball prospects ever due to his rare combination of height, agility, and skills.
Wembanyama began his professional career at age 15 with Nanterre 92 of the LNB Pro A in 2019. Two years later, he moved to ASVEL and won the Pro A title in his only season with the team. In the 2022–23 season, Wembanyama signed with Metropolitans 92 and became the youngest player to win the Pro A MVP award, while earning Pro A Best Defender honours and leading the league in scoring, rebounds and blocks. He was unanimously named an LNB All-Star twice, winning the All-Star Game MVP once, and was a three-time Pro A Best Young Player from 2021 to 2023.
Following a historic rookie season in the NBA in which he led the league in blocks per game, Wembanyama was unanimously named the 2024 NBA Rookie of the Year and became the first rookie and youngest player ever to be named to the All-Defensive First Team. During the 2025–26 season, Wembanyama became the youngest and first unanimous winner of the Defensive Player of the Year award. That same year, he led the Spurs to the NBA Finals in his first postseason appearance.
Wembanyama also plays for the French national team, with whom he won a silver medal at the 2024 Olympics. At the youth level, he led his team to two silver medals, including at the 2021 FIBA Under-19 World Cup, where he set the FIBA record for blocks per game in a single tournament.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:51 UTC on Monday, 1 June 2026.
For the full current version of the article, see Victor Wembanyama on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm neural Kimberly.
pWotD Episode 3315: Andoni Iraola
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With 255,170 views on Saturday, 30 May 2026 our article of the day is Andoni Iraola.
Andoni Iraola Sagarna (Basque: [andoni iɾa.ola s̺aɣarna], Spanish: [anˈdoni iɾaˈola saˈɣaɾna]; born 22 June 1982) is a Spanish professional football manager and former player.
Utilised primarily as a right-back through his career, he was highly combative and possessed good passing skills. He spent the vast majority of his professional career with Athletic Bilbao, appearing in 510 competitive matches over 12 seasons.
Iraola began managing in 2018, winning the Cypriot Super Cup with AEK Larnaca. He then joined Segunda División club Mirandés before departing for Rayo Vallecano where he spent three seasons and won promotion to the top tier in his first. In 2023, he was appointed at Premier League side Bournemouth, guiding the team to the highest league finish in their history in 2025–26 with a first-ever qualification for European football.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 03:31 UTC on Sunday, 31 May 2026.
For the full current version of the article, see Andoni Iraola on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm standard Ivy.
pWotD Episode 3314: Backrooms (film)
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With 414,298 views on Friday, 29 May 2026 our article of the day is Backrooms (film).
Backrooms is a 2026 American science fiction psychological horror film directed and co-scored by Kane Parsons (in his feature-length directorial debut) and written by Will Soodik. It is based on Parsons' web series and inspired by the "Backrooms" creepypasta. In the film, Clark (Chiwetel Ejiofor), a furniture store owner and his therapist, Mary (Renate Reinsve), discover a dimension of seemingly endless liminal spaces accessed through the basement of the store; Mark Duplass, Finn Bennett, and Lukita Maxwell also star.
After publishing the web series in January 2022, Parsons was approached by several studios about potentially adapting his series into a feature film. In February 2023, it was officially announced that work had begun on a film adaptation of The Backrooms based on Parsons' videos, with Parsons directing. Roberto Patino was initially set to write the screenplay, but was replaced by Will Soodik. Filming began in the summer of 2025, and concluded in August 2025.
Backrooms premiered at the Aero Theatre in Los Angeles on May 7, 2026, and was later released in the United States by A24 on May 29, 2026. The film received positive reviews from critics.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:43 UTC on Saturday, 30 May 2026.
For the full current version of the article, see Backrooms (film) on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm neural Amy.
pWotD Episode 3313: Claude Lemieux
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With 375,808 views on Thursday, 28 May 2026 our article of the day is Claude Lemieux.
Claude Percy Lemieux (July 16, 1965 – May 28, 2026) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player who played 21 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for six teams between 1983 and 2009. Lemieux won four Stanley Cup championships during his career, including two with the New Jersey Devils, with whom he won the Conn Smythe Trophy during the team's victory in the 1995 Stanley Cup Final. He was one of 11 players to win a Stanley Cup championship with at least three different teams. He was also known as one of the greatest playoff performers, with his 80 career playoff goals ranking as the ninth most in NHL history.
Lemieux was born in Buckingham, Quebec, but grew up in Mont-Laurier, Quebec. He was drafted in the second round of the 1983 NHL entry draft by the Montreal Canadiens and played with them from 1983–1990, winning his first Stanley Cup with the team in 1986. In 1990, he was traded to the Devils, with whom he played five seasons and won a second Stanley Cup. He was traded to the Colorado Avalanche in 1995 and won his third Stanley Cup during the 1996 Cup Final. During the playoffs that season, Lemieux hit Kris Draper of the Detroit Red Wings from behind, breaking Draper's orbital, cheek, and jaw bones, and sparking a vicious rivalry between the Avalanche and Red Wings. In 1999, Lemieux was traded back to the Devils and won a fourth Stanley Cup with them in the 2000 Cup Final. Over the next few seasons, he played for the Phoenix Coyotes and Dallas Stars. Lemieux left the NHL in 2003 and briefly joined EV Zug of the Swiss Nationalliga A before retiring as a player. In 2005, he was named president of the ECHL's Phoenix RoadRunners, a position he held for two years. Lemieux returned to the NHL with the San Jose Sharks for the 2008–2009 season, but retired again after that year. Following his retirement, Lemieux became a sports agent, serving in the role until his death.
His son, Brendan Lemieux, is also a former NHL player, and currently plays for HC Davos of the National League in Switzerland.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:42 UTC on Friday, 29 May 2026.
For the full current version of the article, see Claude Lemieux on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm neural Kevin.
pWotD Episode 3312: Ken Paxton
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With 188,233 views on Wednesday, 27 May 2026 our article of the day is Ken Paxton.
Warren Kenneth Paxton Jr. (born December 23, 1962) is an American politician and lawyer who has served as the attorney general of Texas since 2015. A member of the Republican Party, he is the Republican nominee in the U. S. Senate election in Texas in 2026.
Paxton has served in the Texas Senate representing the eighth district and as a member of the Texas House of Representatives. He was first elected attorney general in 2014, rising to power as an ally of the Tea Party movement. In 2015, Paxton was indicted on state securities fraud charges relating to activities before taking office; he pleaded not guilty. After Paxton fulfilled a pretrial agreement for restitution to the victims, ethics training, and community service, the charges were dismissed in 2025. In May 2023, Paxton was impeached by the Texas House of Representatives by a vote of 121–23, leading to his suspension. The articles of impeachment included allegations that Paxton gave preferential treatment to a political donor who bribed him, misapplied public resources and made false statements against whistleblowers, obstructed justice in the securities fraud trial against him, and made false statements regarding his financial interests. In September 2023, the Texas Senate voted 16–14 to acquit Paxton of all articles of impeachment, ending his suspension from office.
Paxton has been described by media as a staunch ally of President Donald Trump, and as an ultraconservative or far-right politician. After Joe Biden won the 2020 U. S. presidential election and Trump refused to concede while making unfounded claims of election fraud, Paxton aided Trump in his efforts to overturn the result. He filed the unsuccessful Texas v. Pennsylvania case in the U. S. Supreme Court and spoke at the rally Trump held on January 6, 2021 that preceded the attack on the U. S. Capitol. Throughout the course of Biden's presidency, Paxton pursued legal action against the administration 106 times.
In April 2025, Paxton announced that he would run for the United States Senate in the 2026 election in Texas, challenging incumbent senator John Cornyn. Following a primary election, Paxton defeated Cornyn in a runoff for the Republican nomination. He will face Democrat James Talarico in the general election.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 03:24 UTC on Thursday, 28 May 2026.
For the full current version of the article, see Ken Paxton on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm standard Justin.
pWotD Episode 3311: Jalen Brunson
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With 152,654 views on Tuesday, 26 May 2026 our article of the day is Jalen Brunson.
Jalen Marquis Brunson (born August 31, 1996) is an American professional basketball player for the New York Knicks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The son of former NBA guard Rick Brunson, he was selected 33rd overall in the 2018 NBA draft by the Dallas Mavericks and played his first four seasons in the NBA with them. Brunson also played college basketball for the Villanova Wildcats, earning national player of the year honors as a junior and winning two national championships.
Brunson participated in the 2015 McDonald's All-American Boys Game, Jordan Brand Classic and Nike Hoop Summit. He led Stevenson to the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Class 4A championship. He won Illinois Mr. Basketball and earned the MVP of the 2015 FIBA Under-19 World Cup. Brunson was a role player for the championship season of the 2015–16 Villanova Wildcats and named the national player of the year and a consensus first-team 2018 All-American for the championship season of the 2017–18 Wildcats.
Brunson played four years for the Mavericks. After helping them reach the Western Conference finals, he signed with the Knicks as a free agent in 2022. With the Knicks, he became an NBA All-Star and received an All-NBA Team selection for the first time in 2024. He set the NBA record for most three-point shots made in a half without a miss (8) and tied the NBA record for most three-point shots made in a single game without a miss (9). In 2024–25, he led the Knicks to their first Eastern Conference finals in 25 years, and in 2025–26 led them to their first NBA Finals appearance in 27 years and he was named the Eastern Conference finals MVP.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 03:25 UTC on Wednesday, 27 May 2026.
For the full current version of the article, see Jalen Brunson on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm long-form Ruth.
pWotD Episode 3310: .xxx
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With 360,291 views on Monday, 25 May 2026 our article of the day is .xxx.
.xxx is a sponsored top-level domain (sTLD) intended as a voluntary option for pornographic sites on the Internet. The sponsoring organization is the International Foundation for Online Responsibility (IFFOR). The registry is operated by ICM Registry LLC. The ICANN Board voted to approve the sTLD on 18 March 2011. It went into operation on 15 April 2011.
The TLD entered its sunrise period on 7 September 2011 at 16:00 UTC; the sunrise period ended 28 October 2011. Landrush period lasted from 8 November through 25 November, and general availability commenced on 6 December 2011.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 13:39 UTC on Tuesday, 26 May 2026.
For the full current version of the article, see .xxx on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm neural Niamh.
pWotD Episode 3309: The Mandalorian and Grogu
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With 165,391 views on Sunday, 24 May 2026 our article of the day is The Mandalorian and Grogu.
Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu (titled The Mandalorian and Grogu on-screen) is a 2026 American science fiction film directed by Jon Favreau, who co-wrote the film with Dave Filoni and Noah Kloor. Produced by Lucasfilm and Fairview Entertainment, and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, it is part of the Star Wars franchise and is a continuation of the Disney+ television series The Mandalorian (2019–2023). Pedro Pascal stars as Din Djarin / The Mandalorian—who was also portrayed on set by Brendan Wayne and Lateef Crowder—alongside Jeremy Allen White, Jonny Coyne, Martin Scorsese, and Sigourney Weaver. In the film, which is set following the fall of the Galactic Empire, Djarin and his apprentice Grogu are enlisted by the New Republic to rescue Rotta the Hutt (White) in exchange for information on a target.
Favreau and Filoni wrote a fourth season of The Mandalorian by February 2023, but production was delayed by the 2023 Hollywood labor disputes. During this time, Lucasfilm re-evaluated their plans for the franchise and decided to prioritize a Mandalorian film over the fourth season. The Mandalorian and Grogu was announced in January 2024 with Favreau directing and co-writing with Filoni and Kloor, and Pascal reprising his role from the series. Filming began in California by August 2024 and was completed by that December. Further casting was revealed around and after filming, including the return of various characters from The Mandalorian and other Star Wars media. The series's composer Ludwig Göransson returned to score the film.
Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu premiered on May 14, 2026, at TCL Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles, and was released in the United States on May 22. The Mandalorian and Grogu had a reported cost of $300 million for marketing and the budget. It has grossed $165 million worldwide and received mixed reviews, with critics praising the score and Pascal's performance, while criticizing the plot, visuals, and action sequences.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 12:33 UTC on Tuesday, 26 May 2026.
For the full current version of the article, see The Mandalorian and Grogu on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
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Until next time, I'm neural Amy.
pWotD Episode 3308: Obsession (2025 film)
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With 203,802 views on Saturday, 23 May 2026 our article of the day is Obsession (2025 film).
Obsession is a 2025 American supernatural horror film written, directed, and edited by Curry Barker. The film follows Bear (played by Michael Johnston), a music store employee who buys a supernatural toy that grants him his wish for his childhood friend Nikki (Inde Navarrette) to fall in love with him, resulting in horrifying consequences. Cooper Tomlinson, Megan Lawless, and Andy Richter also appear in supporting roles.
Obsession premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 5, 2025, as part of its Midnight Madness section. It had a theatrical release in the United States on May 15, 2026, by Focus Features. The film received positive reviews and has grossed $75 million worldwide.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 12:27 UTC on Tuesday, 26 May 2026.
For the full current version of the article, see Obsession (2025 film) on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm generative Jasmine.
pWotD Episode 3307: Cockroach Janta Party
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With 253,301 views on Friday, 22 May 2026 our article of the day is Cockroach Janta Party.
The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP; lit. 'Cockroach People's Party') is an Indian satirical political movement founded on 16 May 2026 by Abhijeet Dipke, a political communications strategist who formerly worked with the Aam Aadmi Party. It emerged in response to remarks made by the incumbent chief justice of India, Surya Kant, on 15 May 2026, in which he compared unemployed youth to "cockroaches" and "parasites of society". The name is a parody of the ruling party in India, the Bharatiya Janata Party. Within days of its founding, the movement garnered over 350,000 sign-ups and over 20 million followers on Instagram. The movement has also engaged in offline activities, with volunteers participating in protests and clean-up drives dressed in cockroach costumes.
Though the movement is not registered as a political party with the Election Commission of India, it campaigns against broader societal, economic, and political issues affecting the Indian youth.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 11:03 UTC on Tuesday, 26 May 2026.
For the full current version of the article, see Cockroach Janta Party on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm standard Aditi.
pWotD Episode 3306: Kyle Busch
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With 772,735 views on Thursday, 21 May 2026 our article of the day is Kyle Busch.
Kyle Thomas Busch (May 2, 1985 – May 21, 2026) was an American professional stock car driver and racing team owner, who raced from 2001 to 2026, most notably driving the No. 18 (for the NASCAR Cup Series), No. 51 (primarily for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series), and No. 54 (for the NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series and occasionally the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series) Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing and Kyle Busch Motorsports between 2008 and 2023; Busch last competed full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series, driving the No. 8 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for Richard Childress Racing and part-time in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, driving the No. 7 Chevrolet Silverado RST for Spire Motorsports. Busch was the younger brother of 2004 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series champion Kurt Busch.
Born and raised into a racing family in Las Vegas, Nevada, Busch began helping work on race cars as a child before moving into competitive driving in go-karts and short-track racing during his adolescence. By his early teens, he was already winning local championships; Busch’s rapid rise through stock car racing caught the attention of major teams. He made his national NASCAR debut in 2001 in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, competing for Roush Racing. In 2003, he joined Hendrick Motorsports as a development driver and later advancing to NASCAR's major touring series. Busch remained with Hendrick Motorsports through the 2007 season before joining Joe Gibbs Racing in 2008, where he competed through 2022 and achieved the most successful stretch of his career. In 2023, he moved to Richard Childress Racing, continuing his career with the organization until his death in 2026.
Busch is widely regarded as one of the most accomplished and influential drivers of his generation, as well as one of the defining competitors in NASCAR history, known for his dominance across all three of the sport's national touring series. At the time of his death, he ranked ninth on the all-time NASCAR Cup Series wins list and first in overall wins between the top three NASCAR divisions. Amongst his various accolades, Busch was the 2009 NASCAR Nationwide Series champion and a two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion, winning titles in 2015 and 2019, and was named as one of the NASCAR's 75 Greatest Drivers class in 2023. He was also the recipient of several awards, including two NASCAR Rookie of the Year awards and two ESPY Awards for best driver. Outside of stock car racing, Busch briefly held the WWE 24/7 Championship. Known for his aggressive driving style and demeanor, Busch earned several nicknames over the course of his career. In addition to his driving career, Busch owned and operated Kyle Busch Motorsports, a race team that competed in the NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series from 2011 to 2013 and the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series from 2010 to 2023.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 04:19 UTC on Friday, 22 May 2026.
For the full current version of the article, see Kyle Busch on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm neural Joey.
pWotD Episode 3305: Thomas Massie
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With 218,583 views on Wednesday, 20 May 2026 our article of the day is Thomas Massie.
Thomas Harold Massie (born January 13, 1971) is an American politician and engineer. A member of the Republican Party, Massie has been the United States representative for Kentucky's 4th congressional district since 2012. The district is dominated by the Kentucky side of the Cincinnati area and Louisville's eastern suburbs extending over much of northeastern Kentucky.
Raised in Vanceburg, Kentucky, Massie earned a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he worked on technology that lets computers simulate touch. He later founded a startup based on that work, returning to Kentucky after selling the company. In 2010, Massie was elected judge-executive of Lewis County.
A libertarian Republican, Massie was first elected to Congress in a 2012 special election with the backing of the Tea Party movement. His staunch opposition to increases in federal spending, reauthorization of warrantless surveillance programs, and interventionism have earned him the nickname "Mr. No." During President Donald Trump's second administration, Massie drew national attention for his disputes with Republican leadership over the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and the Epstein Files Transparency Act. He ran for re-election in 2026, but lost renomination to Ed Gallrein – a candidate supported by Trump – in what became the most expensive U. S. House primary in history.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:18 UTC on Thursday, 21 May 2026.
For the full current version of the article, see Thomas Massie on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm generative Aria.
pWotD Episode 3304: Murder of Dominic Russo and Davion Flanagan
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With 295,851 views on Tuesday, 19 May 2026 our article of the day is Murder of Dominic Russo and Davion Flanagan.
The murder of Dominic Russo and Davion Flanagan occurred on July 31, 2022, when Mackenzie Shirilla intentionally crashed her vehicle into a brick wall in Strongsville, Ohio, killing two passengers: her boyfriend, Dominic Russo, and his friend, Davion Flanagan.
Both Russo and Flanagan were pronounced dead at the scene, while Shirilla was seriously injured and taken to the hospital. Shirilla, who was 17 years old at the time of the crime, was later arrested and charged with the murder of Russo and Flanagan. In a 2023 bench trial, the judge concluded she intentionally crashed the car in an act of premeditated murder. Shirilla was convicted of 12 felony charges and sentenced to 2 concurrent life sentences, with the possibility of parole after 15 years. As of 2026, she was incarcerated at Ohio Reformatory for Women. Multiple documentaries about the case have been made.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:30 UTC on Wednesday, 20 May 2026.
For the full current version of the article, see Murder of Dominic Russo and Davion Flanagan on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm neural Jasmine.
pWotD Episode 3303: Aaron Rai
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With 455,711 views on Monday, 18 May 2026 our article of the day is Aaron Rai.
Aaron Rai (born 3 March 1995) is a British Indian professional golfer who plays on the PGA Tour and the European Tour. He has won one major championship, the 2026 PGA Championship.
Rai achieved a three-win promotion on the Challenge Tour in 2017 and gained his first win on the European Tour in 2018. He earned PGA Tour status through the 2021 Korn Ferry Tour Finals and began to compete primarily in the United States. Rai won his first PGA Tour title in 2024 at the Wyndham Championship.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 03:41 UTC on Tuesday, 19 May 2026.
For the full current version of the article, see Aaron Rai on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm standard Amy.
pWotD Episode 3302: Gina Carano
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With 520,590 views on Sunday, 17 May 2026 our article of the day is Gina Carano.
Gina Joy Carano (born April 16, 1982) is an American actress and mixed martial artist. She competed in Elite Xtreme Combat and Strikeforce from 2006 to 2009, where she compiled a 7–2 record. Her popularity led to her being called the "face of women's MMA", although Carano rejected this title. She and Cris Cyborg were the first women to headline a major MMA event during their 2009 Strikeforce bout. Carano retired from competition after her first professional MMA defeat to Cyborg. She returned to compete in 2026, for a bout against Ronda Rousey.
Transitioning from the ring to the screen, Carano landed her first major role as the lead of the action film Haywire (2011), which was followed by appearances in Fast & Furious 6 (2013) and Deadpool (2016). She also portrayed Cara Dune in the first two seasons of the Disney+ Star Wars series The Mandalorian from 2019 to 2020. She was fired from the series in 2021. She later filed a lawsuit against Disney in 2024 for wrongful termination, which ultimately ended in a settlement the following year.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 03:23 UTC on Monday, 18 May 2026.
For the full current version of the article, see Gina Carano on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm neural Kimberly.
pWotD Episode 3301: Eurovision Song Contest 2026
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With 528,304 views on Saturday, 16 May 2026 our article of the day is Eurovision Song Contest 2026.
The Eurovision Song Contest 2026 was the 70th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest. It consisted of two semi-finals on 12 and 14 May and a final on 16 May 2026, held at Wiener Stadthalle in Vienna, Austria, and presented by Victoria Swarovski and Michael Ostrowski, with Emily Busvine acting as the green room host. It was organised by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and host broadcaster Österreichischer Rundfunk (ORF), which staged the event after winning the 2025 contest for Austria with the song "Wasted Love" by JJ.
Broadcasters from thirty-five countries participated in the contest, two fewer than in 2025 and the smallest number of participants since 2003, before the introduction of semi-finals. Iceland, Ireland, the Netherlands, Slovenia, and Spain opted not to participate in protest at Israel's inclusion in the context of the Gaza war, marking the largest number of boycotting countries in the contest's history since 1970, while Bulgaria, Moldova, and Romania returned after absences from recent editions.
The winner was Bulgaria with the song "Bangaranga", performed by Dara and written by her with Anne Judith Wik, Cristian Tarcea, and Dimitris Kontopoulos. The song won both the jury vote and televote, and gave Bulgaria its first win in the contest. Israel, Romania, Australia, and Italy rounded out the top five, with Romania equaling its best placement from 2005 and 2010 while achieving its highest point total to date.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 03:01 UTC on Sunday, 17 May 2026.
For the full current version of the article, see Eurovision Song Contest 2026 on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm neural Matthew.
pWotD Episode 3300: Iceman (Drake album)
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With 259,180 views on Friday, 15 May 2026 our article of the day is Iceman (Drake album).
Iceman is the ninth studio album by the Canadian rapper Drake. It was released by OVO Sound and Republic Records on May 15, 2026, alongside his tenth and eleventh albums Maid of Honour and Habibti. The albums serve as a follow-up to Drake's collaborative album Some Sexy Songs 4 U (2025) with PartyNextDoor and mark his first full-length solo releases since his eighth album For All the Dogs (2023). Iceman features guest appearances from Future, Molly Santana, and 21 Savage, and was preceded by the lead single "What Did I Miss?".
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 03:15 UTC on Saturday, 16 May 2026.
For the full current version of the article, see Iceman (Drake album) on Wikipedia.
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Until next time, I'm standard Joey.
pWotD Episode 3299: Wes Streeting
Welcome to popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 227,168 views on Thursday, 14 May 2026 our article of the day is Wes Streeting.
Wesley Paul William Streeting (; born 21 January 1983) is a British politician who served as Secretary of State for Health and Social Care from 2024 until his resignation in May 2026. A member of the Labour Party, he has been Member of Parliament (MP) for Ilford North since 2015.
Streeting read history at the University of Cambridge and was president of the Cambridge Students' Union from 2004 to 2005. He was president of the National Union of Students (NUS) from 2008 to 2010. Streeting also worked for Progress, a Labour Party–related organisation, for a year before working in the public sector. In 2010 he was elected to Redbridge London Borough Council for Labour and became deputy leader of the council in May 2014. Streeting was elected to the House of Commons as MP for Ilford North at the 2015 general election and resigned as the council's deputy leader before standing down as a councillor in 2018. He was returned to Parliament at both the 2017 and the 2019 general elections.
Following Keir Starmer's election as Leader of the Labour Party in the 2020 leadership election, Streeting joined the front bench as Shadow Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury in April 2020. He became Shadow Minister for Schools in October 2020 after the resignation of Margaret Greenwood before joining the shadow cabinet as Shadow Secretary of State for Child Poverty in the May 2021 shadow cabinet reshuffle. In the November 2021 shadow cabinet reshuffle, Streeting became, following a promotion by Starmer, Shadow Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, a position he remained in until July 2024.
Following Labour's victory at the 2024 general election, Streeting was appointed Secretary of State for Health and Social Care in the Starmer ministry. He resigned from this position in May 2026 following Labour's results in the 2026 United Kingdom local elections, Scottish Parliament election, and Senedd election, citing a lack of confidence in Starmer's leadership.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:42 UTC on Friday, 15 May 2026.
For the full current version of the article, see Wes Streeting on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm long-form Patrick.
pWotD Episode 3298: Jason Collins
Welcome to popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 274,077 views on Wednesday, 13 May 2026 our article of the day is Jason Collins.
Jason Paul Collins (December 2, 1978 – May 12, 2026) was an American professional basketball player who was a center for 13 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Stanford Cardinal, earning third-team All-American honors in 2001. Collins was selected by the Houston Rockets in the first round of the 2001 NBA draft with the 18th overall pick. He went on to play for the New Jersey Nets, Memphis Grizzlies, Minnesota Timberwolves, Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics, Washington Wizards, and Brooklyn Nets.
After the 2012–13 NBA season concluded, Collins publicly came out as gay. He became a free agent and did not play again until February 2014, when he signed with the Nets and became the first publicly gay athlete to play in any of the four major North American pro sports leagues. In 2014, Collins was featured on the cover of Time's "100 Most Influential People in the World". He died of glioblastoma on May 12, 2026, at the age of 47.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 03:54 UTC on Thursday, 14 May 2026.
For the full current version of the article, see Jason Collins on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm standard Kimberly.
pWotD Episode 3297: Brandon Clarke
Welcome to popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 582,581 views on Tuesday, 12 May 2026 our article of the day is Brandon Clarke.
Brandon Clarke (September 19, 1996 – May 11, 2026) was a Canadian-American professional basketball player. He played in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for the Memphis Grizzlies. He played college basketball for the San Jose State Spartans and Gonzaga Bulldogs. He was selected 21st overall by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2019 NBA draft and then immediately traded to the Grizzlies. He was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team and participated in the Rising Stars All-Star Game in 2020.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 03:32 UTC on Wednesday, 13 May 2026.
For the full current version of the article, see Brandon Clarke on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm neural Emma.
pWotD Episode 3296: Sheryl Underwood
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With 174,316 views on Monday, 11 May 2026 our article of the day is Sheryl Underwood.
Sheryl Patrice Underwood (born October 28, 1963) is an American comedian, actress and television host. She first rose to prominence in the comedy world as the first female finalist in 1989's Miller Lite Comedy Search. Underwood was one of the hosts on the CBS Daytime talk show The Talk from September 2011 to December 2024, becoming the show's longest running co-host. She received a Daytime Emmy Award in 2017 and overall has been nominated seven times.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 03:41 UTC on Tuesday, 12 May 2026.
For the full current version of the article, see Sheryl Underwood on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm neural Kendra.
pWotD Episode 3295: Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu
Welcome to popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 322,104 views on Sunday, 10 May 2026 our article of the day is Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.
The Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu is the head of government of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. In accordance with the Constitution of India, the governor is the state's nominal head, but real executive authority rests with the chief minister. Following elections to the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, the state's governor usually invites the party (or coalition) with a majority of seats to form the government. The governor appoints the chief minister, whose council of ministers are collectively responsible to the assembly. Given that he has the confidence of the assembly, the chief minister's term is for five years and is subject to no term limits.
Since 1950, Tamil Nadu has had 14 chief ministers. The first four chief ministers belonged to the Indian National Congress, of which K. Kamaraj held the post for the longest for more than nine years. With the rise of Dravidian parties in the state, C. N. Annadurai of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) became the first non-Congress chief minister in 1969. Annadurai, who was from the Tamil film industry, and since his tenure, a significant number of the state's chief ministers have hailed from the industry.
M. Karunanidhi of the DMK succeeded Annadurai, and was the longest-serving chief minister, who held the office for nearly nineteen years across five tenures. M. G. Ramachandran of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) took office 1977 and served for a decade across three terms. V. N. Janaki Ramachandran of the AIADMK was the first woman to hold the position of chief minister in 1987. J. Jayalalithaa of the AIADMK became the chief minister in 1991, and had the second longest tenure, holding the office for more than fourteen years across multiple terms.
There have been four instances of President's rule in Tamil Nadu, most recently in 1991. C. Joseph Vijay of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam is the incumbent since 10 May 2026, and the first chief minister from a non-Dravidian party since 1969.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:54 UTC on Monday, 11 May 2026.
For the full current version of the article, see Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm neural Aria.
pWotD Episode 3294: Suvendu Adhikari
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With 250,096 views on Saturday, 9 May 2026 our article of the day is Suvendu Adhikari.
Suvendu Adhikari (Śubhēndu Adhikārī, Bengali pronunciation: [ʃubʱend̪u od̪ʱikaɾi]; born 15 December 1970) is an Indian politician who is serving as the 9th Chief Minister of West Bengal since 9 May 2026. He is the 1st Chief Minister of West Bengal under Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
He also served as Leader of the Opposition from 2021 to 2026. Adhikari previously worked in the state ministry for the West Bengal government from 2016 to 2020. He was elected Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Nandigram in 2016, 2021 and 2026, and simultaneously from Bhabanipur in 2026. Previously he was elected from Kanthi Dakshin in 2005, and Member of Parliament (MP) for Tamluk in 2009, and 2014.
He previously served as the Minister of Transport from 2016 to 2020, Irrigation and Water resource from 2018 to 2020 in the Government of West Bengal. He was also a member of Lok Sabha from Tamluk from 2009 to 2016 and the chairperson of Jute Corporation of India from 2020 to 2021. He was a member of the Trinamool Congress from 1998 to 2020 and Indian National Congress from 1995 to 1998. He is the son of Sisir Adhikari, Member of Parliament and former Union Minister of State for Rural Development in the Manmohan Singh government.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 03:58 UTC on Sunday, 10 May 2026.
For the full current version of the article, see Suvendu Adhikari on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm standard Aditi.
pWotD Episode 3293: David Attenborough
Welcome to popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 788,980 views on Friday, 8 May 2026 our article of the day is David Attenborough.
Sir David Frederick Attenborough (; born 8 May 1926) is an English broadcaster, natural historian, conservationist, writer, producer and narrator. His presenting career began as host of Zoo Quest in 1954, and has spanned eight decades; it includes the nine documentary series forming The Life Collection, Natural World, Wildlife on One, the Planet Earth franchise, The Blue Planet and Frozen Planet. He is the only person to have won BAFTA Awards in black-and-white, colour, high-definition, 3D and 4K resolution. Over his life, he has collected dozens of honorary degrees and awards, including three Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Narrator and one Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Daytime Personality – Non-Daily.
Attenborough was a senior manager at the BBC, working as controller of BBC Two and director of programming for BBC Television in the 1960s and 1970s. While his earlier work focused primarily on the natural world, his later work has been more vocal in support of environmental causes. He has advocated for restoring planetary biodiversity, limiting population growth, switching to renewable energy, mitigating climate change, reducing meat consumption and setting aside more areas for natural preservation. On his broadcasting and passion for nature, NPR stated that Attenborough "roamed the globe and shared his discoveries and enthusiasms with his patented semi-whisper way of narrating". He is widely considered a national treasure in the UK, though he does not embrace the term.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 03:01 UTC on Saturday, 9 May 2026.
For the full current version of the article, see David Attenborough on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm neural Amy.
pWotD Episode 3292: Orthohantavirus
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With 410,426 views on Thursday, 7 May 2026 our article of the day is Orthohantavirus.
Orthohantavirus is a genus of viruses that includes all hantaviruses (family Hantaviridae) that cause disease in humans. Hantaviruses are naturally found primarily in rodents. In general, each hantavirus is carried by one rodent species and each rodent that carries a hantavirus carries one hantavirus species. Hantaviruses in their natural reservoirs usually cause an asymptomatic, persistent infection. In humans, however, hantaviruses cause two diseases: hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) and hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS). HFRS is mainly caused by hantaviruses in Africa, Asia, and Europe, called Old World hantaviruses, and HPS is usually caused by hantaviruses in the Americas, called New World hantaviruses.
Hantaviruses are transmitted mainly through aerosols and droplets that contain rodent excretions, as well as through contaminated food, bites, and scratches. Environmental factors such as rainfall, temperature, and humidity influence transmission. HFRS is marked by kidney disease with kidney swelling, excess protein in urine, and blood in urine. The case fatality rate of HFRS varies from less than 1% to 15% depending on the virus. A mild form of HFRS often called nephropathia epidemica is often caused by Puumala virus and Dobrava-Belgrade virus. For HPS, initial symptoms are flu-like, with fever, headache, and muscle pain, followed by sudden respiratory failure. HPS has a higher case fatality rate than HFRS, at 30–60%. For both HFRS and HPS, illness is the result of increased vascular permeability, decreased platelet count, and overreaction of the immune system.
The hantavirus genome consists of three single-stranded negative-sense RNA segments that encode one protein each: an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp), a spike glycoprotein precursor, and the N protein. Segments are encased in N proteins to form ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complexes that each have a copy of RdRp attached. RNP complexes are surrounded by a lipid envelope that has spike proteins emanating from its surface. Replication begins when spikes attach to the surface of cells. After entering the cell, the envelope fuses with endosomes and lysosomes, which empties RNPs into the cytoplasm. RdRp then transcribes the genome to produce messenger RNA (mRNA) for translation by host ribosomes to produce viral proteins and replicates the genome for progeny viruses. Old World hantaviruses assemble in the Golgi apparatus and obtain their envelope from it, before being transported to the cell membrane to leave the cell via exocytosis. New World hantaviruses assemble near the cell membrane and obtain their envelope from it as they leave the cell by budding from its surface.
Hantaviruses were first discovered following the Korean War. During the war, HFRS was a common ailment in soldiers stationed near the Hantan river. The first hantavirus was isolated in 1978 in South Korea, and was named the Hantaan virus. It was shown to be responsible for the outbreak during the war. Within a few years, other hantaviruses that cause HFRS were discovered throughout Eurasia. In 1982, the World Health Organization gave HFRS its name, and in 1987, hantaviruses were classified as a distinct genus for the first time. In 1993, an outbreak of HPS occurred in the Four Corners region in the United States, which led to the discovery of pathogenic New World hantaviruses and the second disease caused by hantaviruses. Since then, hantaviruses have been found not just in rodents but also in moles, shrews, and bats.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:24 UTC on Friday, 8 May 2026.
For the full current version of the article, see Orthohantavirus on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm standard Geraint.
pWotD Episode 3291: Ted Turner
Welcome to popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 837,142 views on Wednesday, 6 May 2026 our article of the day is Ted Turner.
Robert Edward Turner III (November 19, 1938 – May 6, 2026) was an American businessman, television producer, media proprietor and philanthropist. He founded CNN, the first 24-hour cable news channel. In addition, he founded WTBS, which pioneered the superstation concept in cable television, as well as television network TNT.
As a philanthropist, he gave $1 billion to create the United Nations Foundation, a public charity to broaden U. S. support for the United Nations. Turner served as chairman of the United Nations Foundation board of directors. Additionally, in 2001, Turner co-founded the Nuclear Threat Initiative with U. S. senator Sam Nunn (D-GA). NTI is a non-partisan organization dedicated to reducing global reliance on, and preventing the proliferation of nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons. He served as co-chairman of the board of directors.
Turner's media empire began with his father's billboard business, Turner Outdoor Advertising, which he took over in March 1963, after his father's suicide at the age of 53. It was worth $1 million. His purchase of an Atlanta UHF station in 1970 began the Turner Broadcasting System. In 1980, he founded CNN, one of the most prominent news networks in the world. Turner turned the Atlanta Braves baseball team into a nationally popular franchise (including winning the 1995 World Series under his ownership), and launched the charitable Goodwill Games. He helped revive interest in professional wrestling by purchasing Jim Crockett Promotions which was then rebranded as World Championship Wrestling (WCW).
Turner's penchant for controversial statements earned him the nicknames "The Mouth of the South" and "Captain Outrageous". He also devoted his assets to environmental causes. He was the largest private landowner in the United States until John C. Malone surpassed him in 2011. He used much of his land for ranches to re-popularize bison meat (for his Ted's Montana Grill chain) and amassed the largest herd in the world. He also created the environmental-themed animated series Captain Planet and the Planeteers.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 05:50 UTC on Thursday, 7 May 2026.
For the full current version of the article, see Ted Turner on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm standard Amy.
pWotD Episode 3290: Vijay (actor)
Welcome to popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 519,672 views on Tuesday, 5 May 2026 our article of the day is Vijay (actor).
Chandrasekaran Joseph Vijay (born 22 June 1974) is an Indian actor and politician who has served as the Chief Minister-designate of Tamil Nadu since 2026. He is the founder and leader of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, which emerged as the single largest party in its debut election in the 2026 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election.
In a career spanning over three decades in Tamil cinema, Vijay has appeared in 69 films as a lead actor and is among the highest-paid actors in India. He is widely regarded as one of the most commercially successful actors in the industry, with several of his films ranking among the highest-grossing Tamil films. He has received numerous accolades, as listed in his awards and nominations.
Popularly referred to as "Thalapathy" (Tamil for "Commander"), he enjoys a significant fan following.
Vijay made his debut as a child actor in the Tamil film Vetri (1984). After playing as a child actor in few of the films directed by his father, he played his first lead role in the film Naalaiya Theerpu (1992) at the age of 18. He continued doing lead roles for the next few years and notable films amongst them included Poove Unakkaga (1996), Love Today (1997), Kadhalukku Mariyadhai (1997), Thullatha Manamum Thullum (1999), Kushi (2000), Priyamaanavale (2000) and Friends (2001).
He starred in the commercially successful action films Thirumalai (2003) and Ghilli (2004), transitioning away from romance films. With subsequent successes of Thirupaachi (2005) and Pokkiri (2007), he established himself as one of the leading and commercially successful actors in Tamil cinema. Following a period of moderate success, Vijay acted in several critically and commercially successful films starting from the early 2010s including Thuppakki (2012), Kaththi (2014), Mersal (2017), Sarkar (2018), Master (2021), Beast (2022), Leo (2023), and The Greatest of All Time (2024).
In February 2024, Vijay announced his retirement from films and his entry into politics with the launch of his political party Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam. His final film Jana Nayagan is yet to release. In the 2026 Assembly election, his party emerged as the single largest in the assembly, though it was not able to reach the majority mark.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:42 UTC on Wednesday, 6 May 2026.
For the full current version of the article, see Vijay (actor) on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm long-form Ruth.
pWotD Episode 3289: 2026 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election
Welcome to popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 1,152,883 views on Monday, 4 May 2026 our article of the day is 2026 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election.
Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly elections were held on 23 April 2026 to elect all 234 members of the 17th Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly. The votes were counted and the results were declared on 4 May 2026 by the Election Commission of India. This election recorded a voter turnout of 85.1 percent—the highest ever in the history of the state's assembly elections.
The election resulted in a hung assembly, with the newcomer Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) emerging as the single largest party. It won 108 seats, defeating both the incumbent Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and the opposition All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK). The DMK's Secular Progressive Alliance was reduced to 73 seats, 59 of which were of the DMK, becoming the new opposition of the house. Its ally, the Lok Sabha opposition Indian National Congress, won 5 seats. The AIADMK-led National Democratic Alliance with the ruling party of the union government, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), won 53 seats. The AIADMK secured 45 seats, while the BJP was reduced to a single seat.
Outgoing chief minister, M. K. Stalin of the DMK, lost the election from the Kolathur constituency, becoming the first incumbent CM since the AIADMK's J. Jayalalithaa in 1996 to lose an election. This election also marked the first time a non-Dravidian party emerged as the single largest party in the state since 1967, when self-described Dravidian parties began dominating the state's politics.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:28 UTC on Tuesday, 5 May 2026.
For the full current version of the article, see 2026 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.
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Until next time, I'm generative Aria.
pWotD Episode 3288: The Devil Wears Prada 2
Welcome to popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 232,055 views on Sunday, 3 May 2026 our article of the day is The Devil Wears Prada 2.
The Devil Wears Prada 2 is a 2026 American comedy drama film directed by David Frankel and written by Aline Brosh McKenna. A sequel to the 2006 film The Devil Wears Prada, it sees Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt, and Stanley Tucci reprising their roles, with Justin Theroux, Lucy Liu, and Kenneth Branagh joining as new additions.
Despite the success of The Devil Wears Prada, starring cast members Streep and Hathaway were initially hesitant on the prospects of a sequel. Development on the film began in July 2024, with all four leading actors – Streep, Hathaway, Blunt, and Tucci – signing on to reprise their roles, and Frankel and McKenna returning to direct and write, respectively. Additional castings for new characters were revealed between then and November 2025. Principal photography took place from June to October 2025 in Manhattan and Milan, with additional filming in Newark, New Jersey.
The Devil Wears Prada 2 premiered on April 20, 2026, in New York, and was released in theaters in the United States by 20th Century Studios on May 1. It received generally positive reviews from critics and has grossed $234 million against a $100 million production budget, making it the seventh highest-grossing film of 2026.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:38 UTC on Monday, 4 May 2026.
For the full current version of the article, see The Devil Wears Prada 2 on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm standard Raveena.
pWotD Episode 3287: Spirit Airlines
Welcome to popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 326,869 views on Saturday, 2 May 2026 our article of the day is Spirit Airlines.
Spirit Airlines, Inc. was an American ultra low-cost airline headquartered in Dania Beach, Florida, in the Miami metropolitan area. The airline operated scheduled flights throughout the United States, the Caribbean, and Latin America. In 2023, it was the seventh-largest passenger carrier in North America and the region’s largest ultra-low-cost carrier.
Spirit originated as a charter operator before finding success by bringing the ultra low-cost carrier model to the United States, offering very low base fares supplemented by additional fees for nearly every service. The approach allowed the airline to expand rapidly by attracting price-conscious leisure travelers, but also left it highly sensitive to cost pressures. By the 2020s, its business model came under increasing pressure as the legacy carriers introduced basic economy fares, eroding its price advantage, while labor, aircraft, and operating costs increased.
In 2022, Frontier Airlines reached an agreement to acquire Spirit, but the deal was abandoned after a higher competing bid from JetBlue; that merger was later blocked by federal regulators in the Biden administration, leaving Spirit to continue independently in a weakened financial position. Spirit filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in November 2024 and again in August 2025 amid mounting losses and debt. Although it briefly emerged from restructuring in early 2025, its financial condition continued to deteriorate. In May 2026, the airline ceased operations after bailout negotiations with the second Trump administration failed, and the carrier faced a sharp rise in jet fuel prices linked to the 2026 Iran war, leaving it unable to sustain its low-cost model.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 03:08 UTC on Sunday, 3 May 2026.
For the full current version of the article, see Spirit Airlines on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm generative Salli.
pWotD Episode 2755: Jake Paul
Welcome to Popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 2,275,162 views on Saturday, 16 November 2024 our article of the day is Jake Paul.
Jake Joseph Paul (born January 17, 1997) is an American professional boxer, YouTuber and actor. He began his career posting videos on Vine in September 2013 and had amassed 5.3 million followers and 2 billion views before the app discontinued. As an actor, he played Dirk Mann on the Disney Channel series Bizaardvark (2016–2018). Paul launched his YouTube channel in May 2014, and has ranked on the Forbes list as one of the highest paid YouTube creators in 2017, 2018, 2021, and 2023. He also ranked third on the 2022 Forbes list of the world's highest paid athletes.
His boxing career began in August 2018 with a white-collar boxing match against Deji Olatunji, which he won via technical knockout. His professional boxing debut was against AnEsonGib in January 2020. He later faced and defeated former basketball player Nate Robinson and former MMA fighters Ben Askren, Tyron Woodley (twice), and Anderson Silva. In February 2023, Paul lost to Tommy Fury via split decision in his first fight with an active professional boxer. He then continued a winning streak defeating Nate Diaz, Andre August, Ryan Bourland and Mike Perry. His bout against Mike Tyson, which he won via
unanimous decision, became the biggest boxing gate outside of Las Vegas in US history.
In 2021, Paul founded Most Valuable Promotions, a boxing promotion alongside his adviser Nakisa Bidarian, and founded Anti Fund, a venture capital firm with Geoffrey Woo.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:42 UTC on Sunday, 17 November 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Jake Paul on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.
Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.
Until next time, I'm generative Ruth.
pWotD Episode 2754: Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson
Welcome to Popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 1,128,543 views on Friday, 15 November 2024 our article of the day is Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson.
Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson is an ongoing professional boxing match between YouTuber-turned-professional boxer Jake Paul and former undisputed heavyweight world champion Mike Tyson. The bout is scheduled for November 15, 2024, at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The main card will be streamed globally on Netflix; the preliminary card was streamed on YouTube.
Originally, the bout was scheduled to take place on July 20, but was postponed due to Tyson suffering an ulcer flare-up aboard a plane.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 03:41 UTC on Saturday, 16 November 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.
Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.
Until next time, I'm generative Joanna.
pWotD Episode 2753: Matt Gaetz
Welcome to Popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 1,217,564 views on Thursday, 14 November 2024 our article of the day is Matt Gaetz.
Matthew Louis Gaetz II ( GAYTS; born May 7, 1982) is an American politician who served as the U. S. representative for Florida's 1st congressional district from 2017, until his resignation in November 2024. His district included all of Escambia, Okaloosa, and Santa Rosa counties, and portions of Walton County. A member of the Republican Party, he is widely regarded as a staunch proponent of far-right politics as well as an ally of president-elect Donald Trump.
The son of prominent Florida politician Don Gaetz and grandson of North Dakota politician Jerry Gaetz, Gaetz was raised in Fort Walton Beach, Florida. After graduating from the William & Mary Law School in Williamsburg, Virginia, he briefly worked in private practice before running for state representative. He served in the Florida House of Representatives from 2010 until 2016, and received national attention for defending Florida's "stand-your-ground law". In 2016, he was elected to the U. S. House of Representatives, and was re-elected in 2018, 2020, 2022, and 2024.
In 2020, Matt Gaetz was accused of child sex trafficking and statutory rape. Following an investigation, the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) decided not to pursue charges against him. Prior to his resignation as representative, Gaetz was also under ethics investigation by the House Ethics Committee for allegations of underage sexual abuse, illegal drug use, sharing inappropriate images and videos on the House floor, misusing state identification records, converting campaign funds for personal use, and accepting impermissible gifts. Gaetz has denied all of the allegations.
In October 2023, Gaetz filed a motion to vacate the position of Speaker of the U. S. House of Representatives, resulting in the removal of Kevin McCarthy from his role as Speaker. Gaetz's actions in leading the motion were part of broader tensions within the Republican Party, with many members critical of McCarthy's leadership and handling of various legislative matters.
Gaetz has endorsed the Great Replacement theory. In 2021, he called the Anti-Defamation League a "racist organization" after it condemned Tucker Carlson's promotion of Great Replacement theory. Gaetz said that Carlson "is correct about Replacement Theory as he explains what is happening to America".
On November 13, 2024, president-elect Donald Trump announced he would nominate Gaetz to serve as United States attorney general. Gaetz resigned from the U. S. House of Representatives shortly after the announcement. His nomination led to surprise, alarm, and negative reception from some Senate Republicans.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:36 UTC on Friday, 15 November 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Matt Gaetz on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.
Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.
Until next time, I'm standard Ivy.
pWotD Episode 2752: Pete Hegseth
Welcome to Popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 2,835,307 views on Wednesday, 13 November 2024 our article of the day is Pete Hegseth.
Peter Brian Hegseth (born June 6, 1980) is an American television presenter, author, and Army National Guard officer who is to be the nominee for United States Secretary of Defense in Donald Trump's second cabinet. A political commentator for Fox News since 2014 and co-host of Fox & Friends Weekend from 2017 to 2024, he was previously the executive director of Vets for Freedom and Concerned Veterans for America.
Hegseth has been active in conservative and Republican politics since his undergraduate days at Princeton University. In 2016, he emerged as a strong supporter and ally of Donald Trump's presidential candidacy and served as an occasional advisor to Trump throughout the latter's first term as president. He reportedly persuaded Trump to pardon three American soldiers accused or convicted of war crimes related to the shooting of non-combatants in Iraq. Hegseth, who was a platoon leader at Guantanamo Bay during his military service, defended the treatment of inmates detained there.
Hegseth was considered to lead the United States Department of Veterans Affairs in the first Trump administration, prior to the selection of David Shulkin in 2017. In November 2024, President-elect Trump announced that he intends to nominate Hegseth for Secretary of Defense.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:45 UTC on Thursday, 14 November 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Pete Hegseth on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.
Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.
Until next time, I'm standard Kimberly.
pWotD Episode 2751: Microsoft
Welcome to Popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 537,399 views on Tuesday, 12 November 2024 our article of the day is Microsoft.
Microsoft Corporation is an American multinational corporation and technology company headquartered in Redmond, Washington. Its best-known software products are the Windows line of operating systems, the Microsoft 365 suite of productivity applications, the Azure cloud computing platform, and the Edge web browser. Its flagship hardware products are the Xbox video game consoles and the Microsoft Surface lineup of touchscreen personal computers. Microsoft ranked No. 14 in the 2022 Fortune 500 rankings of the largest United States corporations by total revenue; and it was the world's largest software maker by revenue in 2022 according to Forbes Global 2000. It is considered one of the Big Five American information technology companies, alongside Alphabet (parent company of Google), Amazon, Apple, and Meta (parent company of Facebook).
Microsoft was founded in 1975 by Bill Gates and Paul Allen to develop and sell BASIC interpreters for the Altair 8800. It rose to dominate the personal computer operating system market with MS-DOS in the mid-1980s, followed by Windows. The company's 1986 initial public offering (IPO) and subsequent rise in its share price created three billionaires and an estimated 12,000 millionaires among Microsoft employees. Since the 1990s, it has increasingly diversified from the operating system market and has made several corporate acquisitions, the largest being the acquisition of Activision Blizzard for $68.7 billion in October 2023, followed by its acquisition of LinkedIn for $26.2 billion in December 2016, Nuance Communications for $16 billion in March 2022, and Skype Technologies for $8.5 billion in May 2011.
As of 2015, Microsoft is market-dominant in the IBM PC compatible operating system market and the office software suite market, although it has lost the majority of the overall operating system market to Android. The company also produces a wide range of other consumer and enterprise software for desktops, laptops, tabs, gadgets, and servers, including Internet search (with Bing), the digital services market (through MSN), mixed reality (HoloLens), cloud computing (Azure), and software development (Visual Studio).
Steve Ballmer replaced Gates as CEO in 2000 and later envisioned a "devices and services" strategy. This unfolded with Microsoft acquiring Danger, Inc. in 2008, entering the personal computer market for the first time in June 2012 with the launch of the Microsoft Surface, and later forming Microsoft Mobile through the acquisition of Nokia's devices and services division. Since Satya Nadella took over as CEO in 2014, the company has scaled back on hardware and instead focused on cloud computing, a move that helped the company's shares reach their highest value since December 1999. Under Nadella's direction, the company has also heavily expanded its gaming business to support the Xbox brand, establishing the Microsoft Gaming division in 2022, dedicated to operating Xbox in addition to its three subsidiaries (publishers). Microsoft Gaming is the third-largest gaming company in the world by revenue as of 2024.
In 2018, Microsoft became the most valuable publicly traded company in the world, a position it has repeatedly traded with Apple in the years since. In April 2019, Microsoft reached a trillion-dollar market cap, becoming the third U. S. public company to be valued at over $1 trillion after Apple and Amazon, respectively. As of 2024, Microsoft has the third-highest global brand valuation.
Microsoft has been criticized for its monopolistic practices and the company's software has been criticized for problems with ease of use, robustness, and security.
Microsoft is one of only two U. S.-based companies that have a prime credit rating of AAA.
Microsoft recognizes seven trade unions representing 1,750 workers in the United States at its video game subsidiaries Activision Blizzard and ZeniMax Media. U. S. workers have been vocal in opposing military and law-enforcement contracts with Microsoft. Bethesda Game Studios is unionized in Canada. Microsoft South Korea recognizes its union since 2017. German employees have elected works councils since 1998.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:34 UTC on Wednesday, 13 November 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Microsoft on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.
Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.
Until next time, I'm neural Olivia.
pWotD Episode 2750: Elise Stefanik
Welcome to Popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 323,020 views on Monday, 11 November 2024 our article of the day is Elise Stefanik.
Elise Marie Stefanik ( stə-FAH-nick; born July 2, 1984) is an American politician serving as the U. S. representative for New York's 21st congressional district. As chair of the House Republican Conference since 2021, she is the fourth-ranking House Republican. Stefanik's district covers most of the North Country and the Adirondack Mountains, some of the outer suburbs of Utica and the Capital District in New York. In addition to being the first woman to occupy her House seat, Stefanik was 30 when first elected to the House in 2014, making her the youngest woman elected to Congress at the time.
Initially elected as a moderate conservative, Stefanik has moved considerably towards the right, as she aligned herself with the then-President Donald Trump. She strongly opposed the first impeachment of Trump in 2019 amid the Trump–Ukraine scandal and backed Trump's attempts to overturn the 2020 United States presidential election, objecting to Pennsylvania's electoral votes after Trump supporters were involved in the 2021 United States Capitol attack. As the U. S. House Select Committee on the January 6 Attack began to investigate, Stefanik claimed that Speaker Nancy Pelosi was responsible for the attack. Stefanik was elected chair of the House Republican Conference in May 2021 after incumbent Liz Cheney was removed due to her opposition to President Trump.
Stefanik gained national attention in December 2023 for her intense questioning of university presidents during a widely televised U. S. congressional hearing on antisemitism. Stefanik's questioning contributed to the resignation of Liz Magill, the president of the University of Pennsylvania.
In November 2024, CNN reported that Trump had offered Stefanik the position of United States ambassador to the United Nations.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:32 UTC on Tuesday, 12 November 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Elise Stefanik on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.
Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.
Until next time, I'm neural Brian.
pWotD Episode 2749: 2016 United States presidential election
Welcome to Popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 225,331 views on Sunday, 10 November 2024 our article of the day is 2016 United States presidential election.
The 2016 United States presidential election was the 58th quadrennial presidential election, held on Tuesday, November 8, 2016. The Republican ticket of businessman Donald Trump and Indiana governor Mike Pence defeated the Democratic ticket of former secretary of state and First Lady of the United States Hillary Clinton and Virginia junior senator Tim Kaine, in what was considered one of the biggest political upsets in American history. It was the fifth and most recent presidential election in which the winning candidate lost the popular vote. It was also the sixth and most recent presidential election in U. S. history in which both major party candidates were registered in the same home state; the others have been in 1860, 1904, 1920, 1940, and 1944.
Incumbent Democratic president Barack Obama was ineligible to pursue a third term due to the term limits established by the Twenty-second Amendment to the U. S. Constitution. Clinton secured the nomination over U. S. senator Bernie Sanders in the Democratic primary and became the first female presidential nominee of a major American political party. Trump emerged as his party's front-runner amidst a wide field of candidates in the Republican primary, defeating, among other candidates, U. S. senators Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio and governors John Kasich and Jeb Bush. Trump's right-wing populist, nationalist campaign, which promised to "Make America Great Again" and opposed political correctness, illegal immigration, and many United States free-trade agreements, garnered extensive free media coverage due to Trump's inflammatory comments. Clinton emphasized her extensive political experience, denounced Trump and many of his supporters as a "basket of deplorables", bigots, and extremists, and advocated the expansion of president Barack Obama's policies, racial, LGBT, and women's rights, and inclusive capitalism.
The tone of the general election campaign was widely characterized as divisive, negative, and troubling. Trump faced controversy over his views on race and immigration, incidents of violence against protesters at his rallies, and numerous sexual misconduct allegations including the Access Hollywood tape. Clinton's popularity and public image were tarnished by concerns about her ethics and trustworthiness, and a controversy and subsequent FBI investigation regarding her improper use of a private email server while serving as secretary of state, which received more media coverage than any other topic during the campaign. Clinton led in almost every nationwide and swing-state poll, with some predictive models giving Clinton over a 90 percent chance of winning.
On Election Day, Trump over-performed his polls, winning several key swing states, while losing the popular vote by 2.87 million votes. Trump received the majority in the Electoral College and won upset victories in the Democratic-leaning Rust Belt states of Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. The pivotal victory in this region, which Trump won by fewer than 80,000 votes in the three states with the combined 46 electoral votes, was considered the catalyst that won him the Electoral College vote. Trump's surprise victories were perceived to have been assisted by Clinton's lack of campaigning in the region, the rightward shift of the white working class, and the influence of Sanders–Trump voters who refused to back her after Bernie Sanders dropped out. Ultimately, Trump received 304 electoral votes and Clinton 227, as two faithless electors defected from Trump and five from Clinton. Trump flipped six states that had voted Democratic in 2012: Florida, Iowa, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, as well as Maine's 2nd congressional district. Trump was the first president with neither prior public service nor military experience.
With ballot access to the entire national electorate, Libertarian nominee Gary Johnson received nearly 4.5 million votes (3.27%), the highest nationwide vote share for a third-party candidate since Ross Perot in 1996, while Green Party nominee Jill Stein received almost 1.45 million votes (1.06%). Independent candidate Evan McMullin received 21.4% of the vote in his home state of Utah, the highest share of the vote for a non-major party candidate in any state since 1992.
On January 6, 2017, the United States Intelligence Community concluded that the Russian government had interfered in the 2016 elections, and that it did so in order to "undermine public faith in the U. S. democratic process, denigrate Secretary Clinton, and harm her electability and potential presidency". A Special Counsel investigation of alleged collusion between Russia and the Trump campaign began in May 2017, and ended in March 2019. The investigation concluded that Russian interference in favor of Trump's candidacy occurred "in sweeping and systematic fashion" but it "did not establish that members of the Trump campaign conspired or coordinated with the Russian government".
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:58 UTC on Monday, 11 November 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see 2016 United States presidential election on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.
Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.
Until next time, I'm standard Kimberly.
pWotD Episode 2748: Tony Todd
Welcome to Popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 481,080 views on Saturday, 9 November 2024 our article of the day is Tony Todd.
Anthony Tiran "Tony" Todd (December 4, 1954 – November 6, 2024) was an American actor. He was best known for playing the title character in the Candyman film series (1992–2021) and William Bludworth in the Final Destination franchise (2000–2025). For the former, he was nominated at the Critics' Choice and Fangoria Chainsaw Awards.
Todd's films include Platoon (1986), Night of the Living Dead (1990), The Crow (1994), The Rock (1996), Wishmaster (1997), Hatchet, Minotaur (both 2006), The Man from Earth (2007), Frankenstein (2015), Death House (2017), and Hell Fest (2018). On television, he played Kurn in Star Trek: The Next Generation (1990–1991) and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1996), and appeared in the MTV series Scream (2019).
Todd was a prolific voice actor, notably voicing The Fallen in Michael Bay's Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009), Zoom in The Flash (2014–2023), Darkseid in the DC Animated Movie Universe (2015–2020), and Venom in the video game Marvel's Spider-Man 2 (2023). For the latter, he received a British Academy Games Award nomination.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:40 UTC on Sunday, 10 November 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Tony Todd on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.
Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.
Until next time, I'm standard Joanna.
pWotD Episode 2747: Susie Wiles
Welcome to Popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 1,469,379 views on Friday, 8 November 2024 our article of the day is Susie Wiles.
Susan Summerall Wiles (born May 14, 1957) is an American political consultant who served as co-chair of Donald Trump's successful 2024 presidential campaign, having previously worked on his 2016 campaign, as well as Ronald Reagan's 1980 campaign. She was chosen by president-elect Trump to serve as the 32nd White House chief of staff in the second Trump administration, set to begin in January 2025. She will be the first woman to hold the position.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:23 UTC on Saturday, 9 November 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Susie Wiles on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.
Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.
Until next time, I'm standard Justin.
pWotD Episode 2746: Donald Trump
Welcome to Popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 949,465 views on Thursday, 7 November 2024 our article of the day is Donald Trump.
Donald John Trump (born June 14, 1946) is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who served as the 45th president of the United States from 2017 to 2021. A member of the Republican Party, he is the president-elect after winning the 2024 presidential election and is scheduled to be inaugurated as the 47th president on January 20, 2025.
Born in New York City, Trump graduated with a bachelor's degree in economics from the University of Pennsylvania in 1968. After becoming president of the family real estate business in 1971, Trump renamed it the Trump Organization and reoriented the company toward building and renovating skyscrapers, hotels, casinos, and golf courses. After a series of business failures in the late 1990s, he launched side ventures, mostly licensing the Trump name. From 2004 to 2015, he produced and hosted the reality television series The Apprentice. He and his businesses have been involved in more than 4,000 legal actions, including six business bankruptcies.
Trump won the 2016 presidential election as the Republican Party nominee, defeating Democratic Party candidate Hillary Clinton despite losing the popular vote, and became the first U. S. president without prior military or government experience. The Mueller investigation later determined that Russia interfered in the 2016 election to help Trump. His campaign positions were described as populist, protectionist, and nationalist. His election and policies sparked numerous protests and led to the creation of a political movement and cult of personality. Trump promoted conspiracy theories and made many false and misleading statements during his campaigns and presidency, to a degree unprecedented in American politics. Many of his comments and actions have been characterized as racially charged, racist, and misogynistic.
In his first term, Trump ordered a travel ban on citizens from several Muslim-majority countries, diverted military funding toward building a wall on the U. S.–Mexico border, and implemented a family separation policy. He rolled back more than 100 environmental policies and regulations and signed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, which cut taxes and eliminated the individual mandate penalty of the Affordable Care Act. He appointed Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett to the U. S. Supreme Court. He reacted slowly to the COVID-19 pandemic, ignored or contradicted recommendations from health officials, used political pressure to interfere with testing efforts, and spread unverified information about unproven treatments. Trump initiated a trade war with China and withdrew the U. S. from the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement, the Paris Agreement on climate change, and the Iran nuclear deal. He met with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un three times, but made no progress on denuclearization.
Trump lost the 2020 presidential election to Democrat Joe Biden but refused to concede, falsely claiming widespread electoral fraud and attemping to overturn the results. On January 6, 2021, Trump urged his supporters to march to the U. S. Capitol, which many of them attacked. He is the only U. S. president to have been impeached twice: in 2019 for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress after he pressured Ukraine to investigate Biden, and in 2021 for incitement of insurrection; the Senate acquitted him in both cases. After his first term, scholars and historians ranked Trump one of the worst presidents in American history. In 2024, a New York jury found him guilty of falsifying business records related to a hush money payment to Stormy Daniels, making him the first U. S. president to be convicted of a felony. Trump faced more felony indictments related to his alleged mishandling of classified documents and interference in the 2020 election, and he was found liable in civil trials for sexual abuse, defamation, and financial fraud.
After leaving office, Trump continued to dominate the Republican Party. He became its nominee again in the 2024 presidential election and defeated Democratic candidate Kamala Harris, winning both the popular and electoral vote. He became the second president in U. S. history after Grover Cleveland to be elected to non-consecutive terms.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:28 UTC on Friday, 8 November 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Donald Trump on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.
Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.
Until next time, I'm generative Joanna.
pWotD Episode 2745: 2020 United States presidential election
Welcome to Popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 3,943,922 views on Wednesday, 6 November 2024 our article of the day is 2020 United States presidential election.
The 2020 United States presidential election was the 59th quadrennial presidential election, held on Tuesday, November 3, 2020. The Democratic ticket of former vice president Joe Biden and the junior U. S. senator from California Kamala Harris defeated the incumbent Republican president Donald Trump, and vice president Mike Pence. The election took place against the backdrop of the global COVID-19 pandemic and related recession. The election saw the highest voter turnout by percentage since 1900. Biden received more than 81 million votes, the most votes ever cast for a candidate in a U. S. presidential election.
In a competitive primary that featured the most candidates for any political party in the modern era of American politics, Biden secured the Democratic presidential nomination. Biden's running mate, Harris, became the first African-American, first Asian-American, and third female vice presidential nominee on a major party ticket. Trump secured re-nomination, getting a total of 2,549 delegates, one of the most in presidential primary history, in the Republican primaries. Jo Jorgensen secured the Libertarian presidential nomination with Spike Cohen as her running mate, and Howie Hawkins secured the Green presidential nomination with Angela Nicole Walker as his running mate.
The central issues of the election included the public health and economic impacts of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic; civil unrest in reaction to the police murder of George Floyd and others; the Supreme Court following the death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg and confirmation of Amy Coney Barrett; and the future of the Affordable Care Act. Due to the ongoing pandemic, a record number of ballots were cast early and by mail. Thirty-eight states had over half of all votes cast using these methods, and only three states had fewer than 25%.
Many more registered Democrats voted by mail than registered Republicans. As a result of a large number of mail-in ballots, some swing states saw delays in vote counting and reporting; this led to major news outlets delaying their projection of Biden and Harris as the president-elect and vice president-elect until the morning of November 7. Major media networks project a state for a candidate once there is high statistical confidence that the outstanding vote would be unlikely to prevent the projected winner from ultimately winning that state.
Biden received the majority in the Electoral College with 306 electoral votes, while Trump received 232. Trump was the first president to lose re-election since George H. W. Bush in 1992. Key to Biden's victory were his wins in the Democratic-leaning Rust Belt states of Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, which Trump narrowly carried in 2016 and whose combined 46 electoral votes were enough to swing the election to either candidate. Biden also became the first Democrat to win a presidential election in Georgia since 1992 and in Arizona since 1996, as well as Nebraska's 2nd congressional district since 2008.
Before, during, and after Election Day, Trump and numerous other Republicans engaged in an aggressive and unprecedented attempt to subvert the election and overturn the results, falsely alleging widespread voter fraud and trying to influence the vote-counting process in swing states in what has been described as an attempted self-coup d'état. Attorney General William Barr and officials in each of the 50 states found no evidence of fraud (widespread or otherwise) or irregularities in the election. Federal agencies overseeing election security said it was the most secure in American history. The Trump campaign and its allies, including Republican members of Congress, continued to attempt to overturn the results of the election by filing numerous lawsuits in several states (most of which were withdrawn or dismissed), spreading conspiracy theories alleging fraud, pressuring Republican state election officials (including, notably, Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, in a phone call that later became widely publicized) and legislators to change results, pressuring the Department of Justice to declare the election "corrupt" and intervene, objecting to the Electoral College certification in Congress, and refusing to cooperate with the presidential transition of Biden. With Trump vowing that he would never concede the election and after exhorting his followers to "fight like hell", a mob of Trump supporters attacked the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021, during the joint session of Congress held to certify the Electoral College count. On January 7, Trump acknowledged the incoming administration without mentioning Biden's name. Biden and Harris were inaugurated on January 20, 2021; in a break from tradition, Trump did not attend his successor's inauguration. Trump was indicted on August 1, 2023, on four counts relating to conspiring to overturn the results.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:12 UTC on Thursday, 7 November 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see 2020 United States presidential election on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.
Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.
Until next time, I'm standard Russell.
pWotD Episode 2744: Kamala Harris
Welcome to Popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 628,816 views on Tuesday, 5 November 2024 our article of the day is Kamala Harris.
Kamala Devi Harris (English: , born October 20, 1964) is an American politician and attorney who has been the 49th and current vice president of the United States since 2021, serving under President Joe Biden. Harris is the Democratic presidential nominee in the 2024 United States presidential election. She is the first female vice president of the United States, making her the highest-ranking female official in U. S. history. She is also the first African American and first Asian American vice president. From 2017 to 2021, she represented California in the United States Senate. Before that, she was Attorney General of California from 2011 to 2017.
Born in Oakland, California, Harris graduated from Howard University and the University of California, Hastings College of the Law. She began her law career in the office of the district attorney of Alameda County. She was recruited to the San Francisco District Attorney's Office and later to the office of the city attorney of San Francisco. She was elected district attorney of San Francisco in 2003 and attorney general of California in 2010, and reelected as attorney general in 2014. As the San Francisco district attorney and the attorney general of California, Harris was the first woman, the first African American, and the first Asian American to hold each office.
Harris was the junior U. S. senator from California from 2017 to 2021. She won the 2016 Senate election, becoming the second Black woman and first South Asian American U. S. senator. As a senator, Harris advocated for stricter gun control laws, the DREAM Act, federal legalization of cannabis, and reforms to healthcare and taxation. She gained a national profile for her pointed questioning of Trump administration officials during Senate hearings, including Trump's second Supreme Court nominee, Brett Kavanaugh.
Harris sought the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination in 2019, but withdrew from the race before the primaries. Biden selected her as his running mate, and their ticket defeated the incumbent president and vice president, Donald Trump and Mike Pence, in the 2020 election. Presiding over an evenly split Senate upon entering office, Harris played a crucial role as president of the Senate. She cast more tie-breaking votes than any other vice president, which helped pass bills such as the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 stimulus package and the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. After Biden withdrew from the 2024 presidential election, Harris launched her campaign with Biden's endorsement and soon became the presumptive nominee. On August 6, 2024, she chose Tim Walz, the governor of Minnesota, as her running mate.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:17 UTC on Wednesday, 6 November 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Kamala Harris on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.
Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.
Until next time, I'm neural Olivia.
pWotD Episode 2743: Quincy Jones
Welcome to Popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 1,063,332 views on Monday, 4 November 2024 our article of the day is Quincy Jones.
Quincy Delight Jones Jr. (March 14, 1933 – November 3, 2024) was an American record producer, songwriter, composer, arranger, and film and television producer. Over the course of his career he received several accolades including 28 Grammy Awards, a Primetime Emmy Award and a Tony Award as well as nominations for seven Academy Awards and four Golden Globe Awards.
Jones came to prominence in the 1950s as a jazz arranger and conductor before producing pop hit records for Lesley Gore in the early 1960s (including "It's My Party") and serving as an arranger and conductor for several collaborations between the jazz artists Frank Sinatra and Count Basie. Jones produced three of the most successful albums by pop star Michael Jackson: Off the Wall (1979), Thriller (1982), and Bad (1987). In 1985, Jones produced and conducted the charity song "We Are the World", which raised funds for victims of famine in Ethiopia.
Jones composed numerous films scores including for The Pawnbroker (1965), In the Heat of the Night (1967), In Cold Blood (1967), The Italian Job (1969), The Wiz (1978), and The Color Purple (1985). He won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Music Composition for a Series for the miniseries Roots (1977). He received a Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical as a producer for the revival of The Color Purple (2016).
Throughout career he was the recipient of numerous honorary awards including the Grammy Legend Award in 1992, the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award in 1995, the Kennedy Center Honors in 2001, the National Medal of the Arts in 2011, the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres in 2014, and the Academy Honorary Award in 2024. He was named one of the most influential jazz musicians of the 20th century by Time.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 06:51 UTC on Tuesday, 5 November 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Quincy Jones on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.
Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.
Until next time, I'm generative Amy.
pWotD Episode 2742: 2024 United States presidential election
Welcome to Popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 340,548 views on Sunday, 3 November 2024 our article of the day is 2024 United States presidential election.
The 2024 United States presidential election, the 60th quadrennial presidential election, is scheduled to be held on Tuesday, November 5, 2024. Voters in each state and the District of Columbia will choose electors to the Electoral College, who will then elect a president and vice president for a term of four years.
The incumbent president, Joe Biden of the Democratic Party, initially ran for re-election, and became the party's presumptive nominee, facing little opposition; however, Biden's performance in the presidential debate held in June 2024 intensified concerns about his age and health, and led to calls within his party for him to leave the race. Although he was initially adamant he would remain in the race, Biden withdrew on July 21, becoming the first eligible incumbent president to withdraw from the race since Lyndon B. Johnson in 1968, endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris, who became the party's nominee on August 5. Harris selected Tim Walz, the governor of Minnesota, as her running mate.
Biden's predecessor, Donald Trump, a member of the Republican Party, is running for re-election for a second, non-consecutive term, after losing to Biden in 2020. He was nominated during the 2024 Republican National Convention along with his running mate, Ohio senator JD Vance. The Trump campaign has been noted for making many false and misleading statements, engaging in anti-immigrant fearmongering, and promoting conspiracy theories. Trump has continued to repeat his false claims that the 2020 election was stolen from him, which prompted the January 6 Capitol attack. Trump's embrace of far-right extremism, as well as increasingly violent, dehumanizing, and authoritarian rhetoric against his political opponents, has been described by historians and scholars as populist, authoritarian, fascist, unlike anything a political candidate has ever said in U. S. history, and a continued breaking of political norms. The Republican Party has made efforts to disrupt the 2024 presidential election as part of a larger election denial movement among U. S. conservatives. In May 2024, Trump was found guilty on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records, becoming the first former U. S. president to be convicted of a crime. In 2023 and 2024, he was found liable in civil proceedings for sexual abuse, defamation, and financial fraud. Trump remains under multiple indictments for his attempts to overturn the 2020 election and role in the January 6 attack and his racketeering prosecution to overturn the 2020 presidential election in the state of Georgia. Trump survived an assassination attempt in July 2024 during a campaign rally.
The presidential election will take place at the same time as elections for the U. S. Senate, House, state governorships, and state legislatures. Key swing states for the presidential election include Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. Leading campaign issues are abortion, climate change, democracy, the economy, education, foreign policy, healthcare, immigration, and LGBTQ rights. The economy has consistently been cited by voters in polls as being the most important issue in the election. The winners are scheduled to be inaugurated on January 20, 2025, as the 47th president and 50th vice president of the United States, respectively.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:54 UTC on Monday, 4 November 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see 2024 United States presidential election on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.
Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.
Until next time, I'm neural Ivy.
pWotD Episode 2741: Kemi Badenoch
Welcome to Popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 539,547 views on Saturday, 2 November 2024 our article of the day is Kemi Badenoch.
Olukemi Olufunto Adegoke Badenoch ( KEM-ee BAY-də-nok; née Adegoke; born 2 January 1980) is a British politician who has served as Leader of the Opposition and Leader of the Conservative Party since November 2024. She previously served in the Cabinet under Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak from 2022 to 2024. She has served as Member of Parliament (MP) for North West Essex since 2024, and previously represented Saffron Walden from 2017 to 2024.
In 2012, Badenoch unsuccessfully contested a seat in the London Assembly, but became a member of the London Assembly after Victoria Borwick was elected as an MP in 2015. A supporter of Brexit in the 2016 referendum, Badenoch was elected to the House of Commons in the 2017 general election. After Boris Johnson became prime minister in July 2019, Badenoch was appointed Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Children and Families. In the February 2020 reshuffle, she was appointed Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury and Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Equalities. In September 2021, she was promoted to Minister of State for Equalities and appointed Minister of State for Local Government, Faith and Communities.
In July 2022, Badenoch resigned from government in protest at Johnson's leadership; she stood unsuccessfully to replace him in the July–September 2022 Conservative Party leadership election. After Liz Truss was appointed prime minister in September 2022, Badenoch was appointed as Secretary of State for International Trade and President of the Board of Trade and was appointed to the Privy Council; she was reappointed Trade Secretary by Truss's successor, Rishi Sunak, the following month, also becoming Minister for Women and Equalities.
In the February 2023 Cabinet reshuffle, Badenoch assumed the position of Secretary of State for Business and Trade following the merging of the Department for International Trade with elements of the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. Badenoch retained the responsibilities of Women and Equalities Minister. After the Conservatives' defeat in the 2024 general election, Badenoch was appointed Shadow Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government in Sunak's Shadow Cabinet and later launched her bid to become leader of the Conservative Party in the 2024 leadership election. She defeated Robert Jenrick in the members' ballot, becoming party leader and Leader of the Opposition.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:19 UTC on Sunday, 3 November 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Kemi Badenoch on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.
Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.
Until next time, I'm generative Joanna.
pWotD Episode 2740: Singham Again
Welcome to Popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 225,644 views on Friday, 1 November 2024 our article of the day is Singham Again.
Singham Again is a 2024 Indian Hindi-language action film written and directed by Rohit Shetty, who also co-produced it under Rohit Shetty Picturez, alongside Reliance Entertainment, Jio Studios and Devgn Films. The film stars Ajay Devgn, Akshay Kumar, Ranveer Singh, Tiger Shroff, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Deepika Padukone, Arjun Kapoor and Jackie Shroff. It is the fifth installment of Shetty's Cop Universe franchise and a direct sequel to Singham Returns (2014).
The film was announced in September 2017 under the working title Singham 3, and the official title was announced in December 2022. Principal photography began in September 2023, and wrapped in September 2024. The film was shot in Mumbai, Hyderabad, Kashmir and Sri Lanka. It was released on 1 November 2024, coinciding with Diwali in standard and IMAX formats.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:15 UTC on Saturday, 2 November 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Singham Again on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
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Until next time, I'm neural Kimberly.
pWotD Episode 2739: Diwali
Welcome to Popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 354,333 views on Thursday, 31 October 2024 our article of the day is Diwali.
Diwali (English: ), also called Deepavali (IAST: Dīpāvalī), is the Hindu festival of lights, with variations celebrated in other Indian religions such as Jainism and Sikhism. It symbolises the spiritual victory of Dharma over Adharma, light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance. Diwali is celebrated during the Hindu lunisolar months of Ashvin (according to the amanta tradition) and Kartika—between around mid-September and mid-November. The celebrations generally last five or six days.
Diwali is connected to various religious events, deities and personalities, such as being the day Rama returned to his kingdom in Ayodhya with his wife Sita and his brother Lakshmana after defeating the demon king Ravana. It is also widely associated with Lakshmi, the goddess of prosperity, and Ganesha, the god of wisdom and the remover of obstacles. Other regional traditions connect the holiday to Vishnu, Krishna, Durga, Shiva, Kali, Hanuman, Kubera, Yama, Yami, Dhanvantari, or Vishvakarman.
Primarily a Hindu festival, variations of Diwali are also celebrated by adherents of other faiths. The Jains observe their own Diwali which marks the final liberation of Mahavira. The Sikhs celebrate Bandi Chhor Divas to mark the release of Guru Hargobind from a Mughal prison. Newar Buddhists, unlike other Buddhists, celebrate Diwali by worshipping Lakshmi, while the Hindus of Eastern India and Bangladesh generally celebrate Diwali by worshipping the goddess Kali.
During the festival, the celebrants illuminate their homes, temples and workspaces with diyas (oil lamps), candles and lanterns. Hindus, in particular, have a ritual oil bath at dawn on each day of the festival. Diwali is also marked with fireworks as well as the decoration of floors with rangoli designs and other parts of the house with jhalars. Food is a major focus with families partaking in feasts and sharing mithai. The festival is an annual homecoming and bonding period not only for families, but also for communities and associations, particularly those in urban areas, which will organise activities, events, and gatherings. Many towns organise community parades and fairs with parades or music and dance performances in parks. Some Hindus, Jains, and Sikhs will send Diwali greeting cards to family near and far during the festive season, occasionally with boxes of Indian confectionery. Another aspect of the festival is remembering the ancestors.
Diwali is also a major cultural event for the Hindu, Sikh, and Jain diaspora. The main day of the festival of Diwali (the day of Lakshmi Puja) is an official holiday in Fiji, Guyana, India, Malaysia, Mauritius, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago and in some US states.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:49 UTC on Friday, 1 November 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Diwali on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.
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Until next time, I'm standard Amy.
pWotD Episode 2738: Pidakala War
Welcome to Popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 196,500 views on Wednesday, 30 October 2024 our article of the day is Pidakala War.
The Pidakala War (also known as the Pidakala Samaram or Peddanuggulata) is a local folklore-based annual cow dung fight held in the village of Kairuppala, Aspari in Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh, India. It is a ritual specific to the Kairuppala village, and is not related to any festival or ritual from any Hindu scriptures. The village is split into two sides representing various local communities. This celebration is assumed to have started in this village based on local traditions, and is not sanctioned by any major Hindu religious body (Matha).
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:34 UTC on Thursday, 31 October 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Pidakala War on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
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Until next time, I'm standard Raveena.
pWotD Episode 2737: Teri Garr
Welcome to Popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 596,348 views on Tuesday, 29 October 2024 our article of the day is Teri Garr.
Terry Ann Garr (December 11, 1944 – October 29, 2024), known as Teri Garr, was an American actress. Known for her comedic roles in film and television she received nominations for an Academy Award, and a British Academy Film Award.
Garr was raised primarily in North Hollywood, California. She was the third child of a comedic-actor father and a studio costumer mother. In her youth, Garr trained in ballet and other forms of dance. She began her career as a teenager with small roles in television and film in the early 1960s, including appearances as a dancer in six Elvis Presley musicals. After spending two years attending college, Garr left Los Angeles, and studied acting at the Lee Strasberg Institute in New York City. She had her big break appearing in an episode of Star Trek.: 61–64
Garr was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her comedic role as an acting student in Tootsie (1982). She is known for her roles in Francis Ford Coppola's thriller The Conversation (1974) and One from the Heart (1982), Mel Brooks's comedy Young Frankenstein (1974), Steven Spielberg's science fiction film Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977) and Martin Scorsese's black comedy After Hours (1985). She also acted in the comedy films Oh, God! (1977), Mr. Mom (1983), Dumb and Dumber (1994), Michael (1996) and Ghost World (2001).
Garr's quick wit and charming banter made her a sought-after guest on late-night shows such as The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson and Late Night with David Letterman. On television, she took a guest role as Phoebe Abbott in the sitcom Friends (1997–98). In 2002, Garr announced that she had been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, the symptoms of which had affected her ability to perform. She retired from acting in 2011.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:24 UTC on Wednesday, 30 October 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Teri Garr on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
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Until next time, I'm standard Kendra.
pWotD Episode 2736: 2024 Ballon d'Or
Welcome to Popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 679,780 views on Monday, 28 October 2024 our article of the day is 2024 Ballon d'Or.
The 2024 Ballon d'Or was the 68th annual ceremony of the Ballon d'Or. It was presented by France Football that recognised the best footballers in the world in the 2023–24 season. It is the third time in the history of the award, it has been given based on the results of the season instead of the calendar year. This is the period from 1 August 2023 to 31 July 2024. The nominees were announced on 4 September 2024 and the ceremony took take place on 28 October 2024. Two new accolades are set to be awarded: Men's Coach of the Year and Women's Coach of the Year, recognising the contribution of coaches to success on the pitch. UEFA co-organized the Ballon d'Or gala for the first time, while France Football retained the voting system and the Ballon d'Or name.
For the first time, both the Ballon d'Or masculine and féminin were awarded to players from the same country, with Rodri and Aitana Bonmatí coming from Spain, in addition to the Kopa Trophy being also awarded to Lamine Yamal, also from Spain.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:14 UTC on Tuesday, 29 October 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see 2024 Ballon d'Or on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.
Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.
Until next time, I'm standard Joanna.
pWotD Episode 2735: Wiki
Welcome to Popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 633,663 views on Sunday, 27 October 2024 our article of the day is Wiki.
A wiki ( WI-kee) is a form of hypertext publication on the internet which is collaboratively edited and managed by its audience directly through a web browser. A typical wiki contains multiple pages that can either be edited by the public or limited to use within an organization for maintaining its internal knowledge base.
Wikis are powered by wiki software, also known as wiki engines. Being a form of content management system, these differ from other web-based systems such as blog software or static site generators in that the content is created without any defined owner or leader. Wikis have little inherent structure, allowing one to emerge according to the needs of the users. Wiki engines usually allow content to be written using a lightweight markup language and sometimes edited with the help of a rich-text editor. There are dozens of different wiki engines in use, both standalone and part of other software, such as bug tracking systems. Some wiki engines are free and open-source, whereas others are proprietary. Some permit control over different functions (levels of access); for example, editing rights may permit changing, adding, or removing material. Others may permit access without enforcing access control. Further rules may be imposed to organize content. In addition to hosting user-authored content, wikis allow those users to interact, hold discussions, and collaborate.
There are hundreds of thousands of wikis in use, both public and private, including wikis functioning as knowledge management resources, note-taking tools, community websites, and intranets. Ward Cunningham, the developer of the first wiki software, WikiWikiWeb, originally described wiki as "the simplest online database that could possibly work". "Wiki" (pronounced [wiki]) is a Hawaiian word meaning "quick".
The online encyclopedia project Wikipedia is the most popular wiki-based website, as well being one of the internet's most popular websites, having been ranked consistently as such since at least 2007. Wikipedia is not a single wiki but rather a collection of hundreds of wikis, with each one pertaining to a specific language. The English-language Wikipedia has the largest collection of articles, standing at 6,900,744 as of October 2024.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:47 UTC on Monday, 28 October 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Wiki on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
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Until next time, I'm neural Salli.
pWotD Episode 2734: Freddie Freeman
Welcome to Popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 374,296 views on Saturday, 26 October 2024 our article of the day is Freddie Freeman.
Frederick Charles Freeman (born September 12, 1989) is a Canadian and American professional baseball first baseman for the Los Angeles Dodgers of Major League Baseball (MLB). Previously, Freeman played for the Atlanta Braves for 12 seasons, making his MLB debut with the team in 2010. In his final season with Atlanta, Freeman won the 2021 World Series over the Houston Astros.
An eight-time MLB All-Star, Freeman won a Gold Glove Award in 2018, the Silver Slugger Award in 2019, 2020 and 2021, and the National League's Most Valuable Player Award in 2020. After 12 seasons with the Braves, he entered free agency and then signed a six-year, $162 million contract with the Dodgers. Freeman also represents the Canadian national team in international competition.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:59 UTC on Sunday, 27 October 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Freddie Freeman on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.
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Until next time, I'm neural Matthew.
pWotD Episode 2733: KK (singer)
Welcome to Popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 196,766 views on Friday, 25 October 2024 our article of the day is KK (singer).
Krishnakumar Kunnath (23 August 1968 – 31 May 2022), popularly known as KK, was an Indian playback singer. He recorded songs primarily in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu and Kannada. Noted for his versatility in a variety of music genres, KK is regarded among the greatest playback singers of India. He was a recipient of two Screen Awards, along with nominations for six Filmfare Awards.
KK began his career by singing advertising jingles and made his film debut in 1996 with a song in Maachis. KK released his debut album, Pal in 1999. The songs "Pal" and "Yaaron" from the album became popular, and are used in school graduations. The album turned out to be his career breakthrough. The song "Tadap Tadap Ke" from the 1999 film Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, earned him his first Filmfare Award for Best Male Playback Singer nomination.
KK went onto establish himself as one of the leading singers of the 2000s with successful songs in various languages. His most popular songs include — "Koi Kahe Kehta Rahe" from Dil Chahta Hai (2001), "O Humdum Suniyo Re" from Saathiya (2002), "Dola Re Dola" from Devdas (2002), "Uyirin Uyirae" from Kaaka Kaaka (2003), "Apadi Podu" from Ghilli (2004), "Dus Bahane" from Dus (2005), "Kya Mujhe Pyaar Hai" from Woh Lamhe... (2006), "Tu Hi Meri Shab Hai" from Gangster: A Love Story (2006), "Aankhon Mein Teri" from Om Shanti Om (2007), "Khuda Jane" from Bachna Ae Haseeno (2008), "Zara Sa" from Jannat (2008), "Sajde" from Khatta Meetha (2010), "Piya Aaye Na" from Aashiqui 2 (2013), "Mat Aazma Re" from Murder 3 (2013), "India Wale" from Happy New Year (2014), and "Tu Jo Mila" from Bajrangi Bhaijaan (2015).
KK was popularly known as "The Mesmerizer", for his romantic songs. KK received the Screen Awards for Best Singer – Male (non-film music) for his song "Pal" and Best Playback Singer – Male for "Khuda Jaane", from the film Bachna Ae Haseeno.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:41 UTC on Saturday, 26 October 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see KK (singer) on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.
Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.
Until next time, I'm standard Amy.
pWotD Episode 2732: Venom: The Last Dance
Welcome to Popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 338,159 views on Thursday, 24 October 2024 our article of the day is Venom: The Last Dance.
Venom: The Last Dance is a 2024 American superhero film written & directed by Kelly Marcel, which features the Marvel Comics character Venom. A sequel to Venom & Let There Be Carnage and the fifth film in Sony's Spider-Man Universe. The film stars Tom Hardy stars as Eddie Brock and Venom, alongside Chiwetel Ejiofor, Juno Temple, Rhys Ifans, Stephen Graham, Peggy Lu, Clark Backo and Alanna Ubach. In the film, Eddie and Venom are on the run from both of their worlds.
Hardy revealed in August 2018 that he was signed on to appear in a third and final Venom film and Sony Pictures began development by December 2021 after the second film was released. Marcel and Hardy were writing the script by June 2022, and Marcel was set to make her directorial debut with the film that October. New cast members, including Ejiofor and Temple, joined in mid-2023 and filming began at the end of June 2023 in Spain. Production was halted the next month due to the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike, resumed that November after the strike ended. The film was completed by the end of February 2024 and the title was revealed a month later.
Venom: The Last Dance premiered at the Regal Times Square theater in New York City on October 21, 2024, and was released in the United States on October 25, 2024. The film received mixed reviews from critics with praise for Hardy's performance, action sequences and visual effects, but criticism for its script.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 05:54 UTC on Friday, 25 October 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Venom: The Last Dance on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.
Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.
Until next time, I'm standard Russell.
pWotD Episode 2731: Fernando Valenzuela
Welcome to Popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 412,854 views on Wednesday, 23 October 2024 our article of the day is Fernando Valenzuela.
Fernando Valenzuela Anguamea (Latin American Spanish pronunciation: [feɾˈnando βalenˈswela]; November 1, 1960 – October 22, 2024) was a Mexican-American professional baseball pitcher. Valenzuela played 17 Major League Baseball (MLB) seasons, from 1980 to 1997 (except for a one-year sabbatical in Mexico in 1992). While he played for six MLB teams, his longest tenure — and most significant achievements — were with the Los Angeles Dodgers, which signed him in 1979 and gave him his MLB debut in 1980. Valenzuela batted and threw left-handed, with an unorthodox windup. He was one of a small number of pitchers who regularly threw a screwball in the modern era.
Valenzuela enjoyed his breakout year in 1981, when "Fernandomania" rapidly catapulted him from relative obscurity to stardom. He won his first eight starts, five of them shutouts, and dazzled not just the Dodgers and their fans, but all of Major League Baseball. He finished with a record of 13–7 and had a 2.48 ERA in a season that was shortened by a player's strike. He became the first, and as of 2024, only player to win both the Cy Young and Rookie of the Year awards in the same season. The Dodgers won the World Series that year.
Valenzuela peaked from 1981 to 1986, when he was named a National League (NL) All-Star in each season. He won an NL-leading 21 games in 1986, although Mike Scott of the Houston Astros narrowly beat him out in the Cy Young Award voting. Valenzuela was also one of the better hitting pitchers of his era. He had ten career home runs and was occasionally used by Los Angeles Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda as a pinch-hitter. In 1986, he signed the largest contract for a pitcher in baseball history ($5.5 million/3 years). However, nagging shoulder problems diminished the remainder of his Dodgers career. He was on the Dodgers' 1988 World Series championship team, but sat out the postseason with a shoulder injury. On June 29, 1990, Valenzuela threw his only MLB no-hitter against the St. Louis Cardinals, leading Los Angeles to a 6–0 home victory in his final season as a Dodger. Despite this renewed flash of greatness, the Dodgers unceremoniously released Valenzuela prior to the 1991 season. He spent the rest of his major league career with the California Angels, Baltimore Orioles, Philadelphia Phillies, San Diego Padres, and St. Louis Cardinals, before pitching a couple of seasons in Mexico in his 40s.
Valenzuela returned to the Dodgers organization after retiring, serving as a broadcaster from 2003 to 2024, the year of his death. The Dodgers retired his No. 34 in 2023. His career highlights include a win-loss record of 173–153, with an earned run average (ERA) of 3.54. His 41.5 career wins above replacement (according to Baseball-Reference) is the highest of any Mexican-born MLB player.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:19 UTC on Thursday, 24 October 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Fernando Valenzuela on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.
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Until next time, I'm neural Niamh.
pWotD Episode 2730: Tusi (drug)
Welcome to Popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 148,548 views on Tuesday, 22 October 2024 our article of the day is Tusi (drug).
Tusi (tussi, tuci, tucibi), also known as pink cocaine, is a toxic very dangerous drug that contains a mixture of different psychoactive substances, and is most commonly found in pink-dyed powder form. The concoction is also referred to as "pink cocaine", as it typically circulates on the illicit market in pink powder form. Tusi is believed to have originated in Latin America around 2018. Drug-checking studies in Latin America report tusi to be a concoction of ketamine, MDMA, cocaine, methamphetamine, caffeine, opioids, and other new psychoactive substances (NPS). Existing literatures suggest tusi to have no standard proportions of the constituent drugs.
The name "tusi" phonetically translates to "2C", while they may be pronounced in a similar way, tuci is not the same psychoactive substance as 2C-B or more broadly, the 2C family. Tuci, according to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, contained no 2C-B in most instances as of 2022.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:19 UTC on Wednesday, 23 October 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Tusi (drug) on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
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Until next time, I'm standard Kendra.
pWotD Episode 2729: Lidia Thorpe
Welcome to Popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 190,378 views on Monday, 21 October 2024 our article of the day is Lidia Thorpe.
Lidia Alma Thorpe (born 1973) is an Aboriginal Australian independent politician. She has been a senator for Victoria since 2020 and is the first Aboriginal senator from that state. She was a member of the Australian Greens until February 2023 when she quit the party over disagreements concerning the proposed Indigenous Voice to Parliament, and became a leading figure in the "progressive No" campaign for the Voice referendum in October 2023. She had also served as the Greens' deputy leader in the Senate from June to October 2022.
Thorpe has previously been a member of the Victorian Parliament. On winning the Northcote state by-election on 18 November 2017 she became the first known Aboriginal woman elected to the state's parliament and served as the member for the division of Northcote in the Legislative Assembly from 2017 to 2018.
Thorpe has received media attention for her support of the Blak Sovereign Movement and her criticism of the legitimacy of Australian political institutions, which she views as stemming from colonialism.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:20 UTC on Tuesday, 22 October 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Lidia Thorpe on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
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Until next time, I'm standard Nicole.
pWotD Episode 2728: Woman of the Hour
Welcome to Popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 259,433 views on Sunday, 20 October 2024 our article of the day is Woman of the Hour.
Woman of the Hour is a 2023 American crime thriller film directed by Anna Kendrick in her directorial debut and written by Ian McDonald. It is based on the life of serial killer Rodney Alcala, who in 1978 appeared on the television show The Dating Game in the midst of his murder spree. The film revolves around the events of the game show and stars Kendrick as contestant Cheryl Bradshaw.
Woman of the Hour premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 8, 2023, and was released by Netflix on October 18, 2024.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:23 UTC on Monday, 21 October 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Woman of the Hour on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
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Until next time, I'm neural Ivy.
pWotD Episode 2727: Rodney Alcala
Welcome to Popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 533,904 views on Saturday, 19 October 2024 our article of the day is Rodney Alcala.
Rodney James Alcala (born Rodrigo Jacques Alcala; August 23, 1943 – July 24, 2021) was an American serial killer and sex offender who was sentenced to death in California for five murders committed between 1977 and 1979. He also pleaded guilty and received a sentence of 25 years to life for two further murders committed in New York and was also indicted for a murder in Wyoming, although charges were dropped due to a technicality. While he has been conclusively linked to eight murders, Alcala's true number of victims remains unknown and could be as high as 130.
Alcala compiled a collection of more than 1,000 photographs of women, teenage girls and boys, many in sexually explicit poses. In 2016, he was charged with the 1977 murder of a woman identified in one of his photos. Alcala is known to have assaulted one other photographic subject, and police have speculated that others could be rape or murder victims as well.
Prosecutors have said that Alcala "toyed" with his victims, strangling them until they lost consciousness, then waiting until they revived, sometimes repeating this process several times before finally killing them. One police detective described Alcala as "a killing machine," and others have compared him to Ted Bundy. Alcala is often referred to as the Dating Game Killer because of his 1978 appearance on the television show The Dating Game in the midst of his murder spree. Alcala died of unspecified natural causes in prison in Corcoran, California, on July 24, 2021 at 77.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:51 UTC on Sunday, 20 October 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Rodney Alcala on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
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Until next time, I'm neural Olivia.
pWotD Episode 2726: Yahya Sinwar
Welcome to Popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 475,444 views on Friday, 18 October 2024 our article of the day is Yahya Sinwar.
Yahya Ibrahim Hassan Sinwar (Arabic: يحيى إبراهيم حسن السنوار, romanized: Yaḥyá Ibrāhīm Ḥasan al-Sinwār; 29 October 1962 – 16 October 2024) was a Palestinian militant and politician who served as the leader of the Hamas government in the Gaza Strip from February 2017 and as the leader of Hamas as a whole from August 2024 until his death, succeeding Ismail Haniyeh in both roles.
Sinwar was born in the Khan Yunis refugee camp in Egyptian-ruled Gaza in 1962 to a family who had been expelled or fled from Majdal 'Asqalan (modern Ashkelon) during the 1948 Palestine War. He finished his studies at the Islamic University of Gaza, where he received a bachelor's degree in Arabic studies. In 1989, Sinwar was sentenced to four life sentences in Israel for orchestrating the abduction and killing of two Israeli soldiers and four Palestinians he considered to be collaborators. He spent 22 years in prison until his release among 1,026 others in a 2011 prisoner exchange for Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit. During his time in prison, Sinwar continued to coordinate the execution of Palestinians suspected of collaboration with Israel and planned the abduction of Israeli soldiers. Sinwar was one of the co-founders of the security apparatus of Hamas.
In 2017, Sinwar was elected as the leader of Hamas in Gaza and claimed to pursue 'peaceful, popular resistance' the following year, supporting the 2018–2019 Gaza border protests, though he is also reported to have been dedicated to eradicating Israel and is said to have seen military confrontation as the only path to "liberating Palestine", saying that this would be achieved "by force, not negotiations". He also developed strong ties with Iran. Re-elected as Hamas leader in 2021, Sinwar survived an assassination attempt by Israel that same year. He is widely regarded as the mastermind behind the 7 October Hamas-led attack on Israel in 2023. The attack killed 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and led to the capture of 250 hostages, making the day of the attack the deadliest in Israel's history. Israel responded with an invasion of the Gaza Strip, which has caused widespread destruction in Gaza and killed more than 42,000 Palestinians. The ongoing conflict has since expanded, leading to an Israeli invasion of Lebanon targeted at Hezbollah and exchanges of strikes between Israel and Iran. Sinwar was killed on 16 October 2024, during a firefight with the Israeli military.
Hamas and the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades have been designated terrorist organisations by the United States, the European Union, and other countries and, in September 2015, Sinwar was specifically designated a terrorist by the United States government. In May 2024, Karim Khan, the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, announced his intention to apply for an arrest warrant for Sinwar for war crimes and crimes against humanity, as part of the ICC investigation in Palestine.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:09 UTC on Saturday, 19 October 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Yahya Sinwar on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.
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Until next time, I'm generative Amy.
pWotD Episode 2725: Cheryl (singer)
Welcome to Popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 1,014,654 views on Thursday, 17 October 2024 our article of the day is Cheryl (singer).
Cheryl Ann Tweedy (born 30 June 1983) is an English singer and television personality. She rose to fame as a member of Girls Aloud, a pop girl group created through ITV's reality competition show Popstars: The Rivals in 2002. Named the United Kingdom's best-selling girl group of the 21st century in 2012, Girls Aloud amassed a string of 20 consecutive UK top ten singles (including four number ones), two UK number one albums, five consecutive platinum-selling studio albums, and five Brit Award nominations, winning Best Single for "The Promise" in 2009. The group went on an indefinite hiatus in 2013, before reuniting for a tour in 2024.
While still in Girls Aloud, Cheryl began a solo career in April 2009, and between then and 2014, she released four studio albums – 3 Words (2009), Messy Little Raindrops (2010), A Million Lights (2012) and Only Human (2014). Collectively, the albums spawned ten singles, five of which – "Fight for This Love", "Promise This", "Call My Name", "Crazy Stupid Love" and "I Don't Care" – reached the top position on the UK Singles Chart. Cheryl was the first British female solo artist to have five number-one singles in the UK, and she held the record until Jess Glynne overtook her in 2018.
Cheryl became a judge on the UK show of the television talent show The X Factor in 2008. She mentored two of the eventual winners of the competition (Alexandra Burke in series five and Joe McElderry in series six), before resigning in 2011 after series seven and joining the panel of the US version of the series, which she left during the auditions stage. She returned to judge series eleven and twelve of the UK series in 2014 and 2015. Cheryl next served as a judge on the television dance competition The Greatest Dancer from 2019 to 2020, and made her stage debut in the West End play 2:22 A Ghost Story in 2023.
Cheryl has become a recognised and photographed style icon, being referred to as a "fashionista" by the press. She has been photographed for the covers of British Vogue, Elle and Harper's Bazaar, and fronted cosmetic company L'Oréal from 2009 to 2018.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:04 UTC on Friday, 18 October 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Cheryl (singer) on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.
Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.
Until next time, I'm generative Amy.
pWotD Episode 2724: Liam Payne
Welcome to Popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 2,439,358 views on Wednesday, 16 October 2024 our article of the day is Liam Payne.
Liam James Payne (29 August 1993 – 16 October 2024) was an English singer who rose to fame as a member of the pop boy band One Direction. Payne made his debut as a singer in 2008 when he auditioned for the British television series The X Factor. After being eliminated in the competition, he auditioned again in 2010 and was put into a group with four other boys to form One Direction, which went on to become one of the best-selling boy bands of all time. Payne worked with other producers under the monikers "Big Payno" and "Payno", creating remixes for songs by his group and Cheryl.
After One Direction went into hiatus in 2015, Payne signed a recording contract with Republic Records in North America. In May 2017, Payne released "Strip That Down" as the lead single from his debut solo studio album. It peaked at number three on the UK Singles Chart and number ten on the US Billboard Hot 100, being certified platinum in both countries. His debut studio album, LP1, was released in December 2019. He sold over 18 million singles in under three years after One Direction's hiatus, and accumulated over 3.9 billion career streams in that span. Payne died on 16 October 2024, after falling from a third-floor balcony of a hotel in the Palermo neighbourhood of Buenos Aires, Argentina, at the age of 31.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 04:41 UTC on Thursday, 17 October 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Liam Payne on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.
Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.
Until next time, I'm standard Emma.
pWotD Episode 2723: Thomas Tuchel
Welcome to Popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 179,728 views on Tuesday, 15 October 2024 our article of the day is Thomas Tuchel.
Thomas Tuchel (German pronunciation: [ˈtoːmas ˈtʊxl̩]; born 29 August 1973) is a German professional football manager and former player who was most recently the head coach of Bundesliga club Bayern Munich. Widely regarded as a tactical innovator in modern football, Tuchel is considered one of the best coaches in the world.
Born in Krumbach, Tuchel retired as a footballer at age 25 due to a knee cartilage injury. He began his coaching career in 2000 as a youth coach at VfB Stuttgart, and in 2009, after a one-year period at FC Augsburg II, he was hired by Mainz 05. He departed Mainz in 2014 and was appointed at Borussia Dortmund in 2015 and won the DFB-Pokal before being dismissed in 2017. He was hired by Paris Saint-Germain in 2018 and won two league titles, including a domestic quadruple in his second season, and guided the club to its first UEFA Champions League final.
Tuchel became manager of Chelsea in 2021 and won the Champions League in his debut season, being named The Best FIFA Football Coach. After disagreements with Chelsea owner Todd Boehly, Tuchel was dismissed in 2022. He signed with Bayern Munich in 2023 and won the Bundesliga title before being sacked by Bayern the following season.
On 15 October 2024, Tuchel became the new head coach of the England national team from 1 January 2025 on an 18 month contract.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 03:07 UTC on Wednesday, 16 October 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Thomas Tuchel on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.
Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.
Until next time, I'm neural Ruth.
pWotD Episode 2722: Terrifier 3
Welcome to Popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 177,578 views on Monday, 14 October 2024 our article of the day is Terrifier 3.
Terrifier 3 (titled onscreen as Damien Leone's Terrifier 3) is a 2024 American Christmas supernatural slasher film written and directed by Damien Leone. It stars Lauren Lavera, Elliott Fullam, Margaret Anne Florence, Bryce Johnson, Antonella Rose, Samantha Scaffidi and David Howard Thornton. On the days leading up to Christmas, the story follows Sienna Shaw as she attempts to rebuild her life. At the same time, Art the Clown is pursuing her alongside his new accomplice, a possessed Victoria Heyes. It is the sequel to Terrifier 2 (2022) and is the third installment in the Terrifier franchise.
Following the critical and commercial success of Terrifier 2, Leone began writing for the third film with plans for an overarching narrative. Leone wanted to feature Victoria more prominently, as he regretted leaving the character underdeveloped in the first film. Principal photography began in February 2024 and wrapped that April.
Terrifier 3 premiered at Fantastic Fest in Austin, Texas on September 19, 2024, and was theatrically released in the United States on October 11, 2024. The film received generally positive reviews from critics. The film has grossed $19.4 million on a $2 million budget, making it the highest-grossing film from the franchise.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:49 UTC on Tuesday, 15 October 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Terrifier 3 on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.
Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.
Until next time, I'm standard Emma.
pWotD Episode 2721: .xxx
Welcome to Popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 322,932 views on Sunday, 13 October 2024 our article of the day is .xxx.
.xxx (pronounced "dot triple-ecks" or "dot ecks ecks ecks") is a sponsored top-level domain (sTLD) intended as a voluntary option for pornographic sites on the Internet. The sponsoring organization is the International Foundation for Online Responsibility (IFFOR). The registry is operated by ICM Registry LLC. The ICANN Board voted to approve the sTLD on 18 March 2011. It went into operation on 15 April 2011.
The TLD entered its sunrise period on 7 September 2011 at 16:00 UTC; the sunrise period ended 28 October 2011. Landrush period lasted from 8 November through 25 November, and general availability commenced on 6 December 2011.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:37 UTC on Monday, 14 October 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see .xxx on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
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Until next time, I'm neural Joey.
pWotD Episode 2720: Baba Siddique
Welcome to Popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 365,435 views on Saturday, 12 October 2024 our article of the day is Baba Siddique.
Baba Ziauddin Siddique (13 September 1958 – 12 October 2024) was an Indian politician who was a Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) in the state of Maharashtra for the Bandra West constituency. He was the MLA for three consecutive terms in 1999, 2004 and 2009, and had also served as Minister of State for Food & Civil Supplies (FDA) and Labour under Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh between 2004 and 2008.
Siddique had also served as a Municipal Corporator earlier for two consecutive terms between 1992 and 1997. Before his death, he served as the Chairperson & Senior Vice President of the Mumbai Regional Congress Committee & Parliamentary Board of the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee. On 8 February 2024, he resigned from the primary membership of the Indian National Congress party. He later joined the Nationalist Congress Party led by Ajit Pawar on 12 February 2024.
Siddique died on 12 October 2024 after being shot 3 rounds of gunshots in front of his son's office. He was taken to lilavati hospital where he was declared dead around 11:30pm.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:21 UTC on Sunday, 13 October 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Baba Siddique on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
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Until next time, I'm generative Danielle.
pWotD Episode 2719: Noel Tata
Welcome to Popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 423,933 views on Friday, 11 October 2024 our article of the day is Noel Tata.
Noel Naval Tata (born 1957) is an Indian-born Irish businessman. He is the chairman of the Tata Trusts, Trent and Tata Investment Corporation, the managing director of Tata International, and the vice chairman of Titan Company and Tata Steel.
He was appointed chairman of the Tata Trusts on 11 October 2024, after the death of his half-brother Ratan Tata. Tata Trusts holds a 66% stake in Tata Sons, the holding company of the numerous firms of the Tata group.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:56 UTC on Saturday, 12 October 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Noel Tata on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.
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Until next time, I'm standard Matthew.
pWotD Episode 2718: Tata family
Welcome to Popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 886,037 views on Thursday, 10 October 2024 our article of the day is Tata family.
The Tata family is an Indian business family, based in Mumbai, India. The parent company is Tata Sons, which is the main holding company of the Tata Group. About 65% of the stock in these companies is owned by various Tata family charitable trusts, mainly the Ratan Tata Trust and the Dorab Tata Trust. Approximately 18% of the shares are held by the Pallonji Mistry family, and the rest by various Tata sons.
The Tatas are a Parsi family and originally came to Mumbai from Navsari in the state of Gujarat. The founder of the family's fortune was Jamshedji Tata.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:24 UTC on Friday, 11 October 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Tata family on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
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Until next time, I'm neural Joanna.
pWotD Episode 2717: Ratan Tata
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With 1,194,391 views on Wednesday, 9 October 2024 our article of the day is Ratan Tata.
Ratan Naval Tata (28 December 1937 – 9 October 2024) was an Indian industrialist and philanthropist who served as chairman of Tata Group and Tata Sons from 1991 to 2012, and then as interim chairman from October 2016 through February 2017. In 2008, he received the Padma Vibhushan, the second highest civilian honour in India. Ratan had previously received the Padma Bhushan, the third highest civilian honour, in 2000. He died in 2024, due to age-related illnesses.
Ratan Tata was the son of Naval Tata, who was adopted by Ratanji Tata. Ratanji Tata was the son of Jamshedji Tata, the founder of the Tata Group. He graduated from the Cornell University College of Architecture with a bachelor's degree in architecture. He joined Tata in 1961, where he worked on the shop floor of Tata Steel. He later succeeded J. R. D. Tata as chairman of Tata Sons upon the latter's retirement in 1991. During his tenure, the Tata Group acquired Tetley, Jaguar Land Rover, and Corus, in an attempt to turn Tata from a largely India-centric group into a global business. Tata was also a philanthropist.
Tata invested in over 30 start-ups, most in a personal capacity and some via his investment company.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 08:30 UTC on Thursday, 10 October 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Ratan Tata on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
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Until next time, I'm neural Brian.
pWotD Episode 2716: 2024 Haryana Legislative Assembly election
Welcome to Popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 199,549 views on Tuesday, 8 October 2024 our article of the day is 2024 Haryana Legislative Assembly election.
The 2024 Haryana Legislative Assembly elections were held in Haryana on 5 October 2024 to elect all 90 members of the Haryana Legislative Assembly.
The tenure of the 14th Haryana Assembly was slated to end on 3 November 2024. In the previous Assembly elections held in October 2019, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) emerged as the single largest party and formed a coalition government with Jannayak Janta Party. Before the elections, Nayab Singh Saini of the BJP was the incumbent Chief Minister.
The schedule of the election was announced by the Election Commission of India on 16 August 2024. The ballots were counted and the results were declared on 8 October 2024. A majority of the exit polls predicted a victory for the Indian National Congress-led alliance. However, contrary to the predictions, the BJP again emerged as the single largest party, winning 48 seats, enough for a majority, although the popular vote totals between the two were close, differing by less than one percentage point.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:40 UTC on Wednesday, 9 October 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see 2024 Haryana Legislative Assembly election on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.
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Until next time, I'm standard Salli.
pWotD Episode 2715: Hurricane Milton
Welcome to Popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 94,022 views on Monday, 7 October 2024 our article of the day is Hurricane Milton.
Hurricane Milton is an extremely powerful tropical cyclone active in the Gulf of Mexico, currently impacting the Yucatán Peninsula. The thirteenth named storm, ninth hurricane, fourth major hurricane, and second Category 5 hurricane of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, Milton formed from a long-tracked tropical disturbance which originated in the western Caribbean Sea and consolidated in the Bay of Campeche on October 5. The storm then underwent explosive intensification into a Category 5 hurricane on October 7. Milton is expected to impact Florida less than two weeks after Hurricane Helene devastated its Big Bend region. At peak intensity, the hurricane was the fifth-most intense in the Atlantic on record.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 05:41 UTC on Tuesday, 8 October 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Hurricane Milton on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.
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Until next time, I'm standard Nicole.
pWotD Episode 2714: Bad Blood (2024)
Welcome to Popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 291,364 views on Sunday, 6 October 2024 our article of the day is Bad Blood (2024).
The 2024 Bad Blood was a professional wrestling event produced by the American company WWE. It was the fourth Bad Blood and took place on Saturday, October 5, 2024, at the State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia, which was the 27-year anniversary of the first event that also featured the first Hell in a Cell match. The event aired via pay-per-view (PPV) and livestreaming and was the first Bad Blood to be held for wrestlers from both the Raw and SmackDown brand divisions, after the Raw-exclusive 2003 and 2004 events, the first Bad Blood to be held since 2004, and the first Bad Blood to air on WWE's livestreaming platforms. WWE wrestlers Naomi and reigning WWE Women's Tag Team Champions Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill served as hosts of the event.
This was the first WWE event to take place on the same night as an Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) PPV after the two companies merged to form TKO Group Holdings in September 2023. As a result, Bad Blood had a start time of 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time to avoid counter programming against UFC 307.
Five matches were contested at the event. In the main event, which was the main match from SmackDown, Cody Rhodes and Roman Reigns defeated The Bloodline (Solo Sikoa and Jacob Fatu) in a tag team match. In the opening bout, which was Raw's main match, CM Punk defeated Drew McIntyre in a Hell in a Cell match. The event marked the returns of Raquel Rodriguez, Jimmy Uso, and The Rock, as well as an appearance by WWE Hall of Famer Goldberg.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 16:04 UTC on Monday, 7 October 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Bad Blood (2024) on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.
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Until next time, I'm neural Kevin.
pWotD Episode 2713: Greek alphabet
Welcome to Popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 1,559,477 views on Saturday, 5 October 2024 our article of the day is Greek alphabet.
The Greek alphabet has been used to write the Greek language since the late 9th or early 8th century BC. It is derived from the earlier Phoenician alphabet, and was the earliest known alphabetic script to have distinct letters for vowels as well as consonants. In Archaic and early Classical times, the Greek alphabet existed in many local variants, but, by the end of the 4th century BC, the Euclidean alphabet, with 24 letters, ordered from alpha to omega, had become standard and it is this version that is still used for Greek writing today.
The uppercase and lowercase forms of the 24 letters are:
Α α, Β β, Γ γ, Δ δ, Ε ε, Ζ ζ, Η η, Θ θ, Ι ι, Κ κ, Λ λ, Μ μ, Ν ν, Ξ ξ, Ο ο, Π π, Ρ ρ, Σ σ/ς, Τ τ, Υ υ, Φ φ, Χ χ, Ψ ψ, Ω ω.
The Greek alphabet is the ancestor of the Latin and Cyrillic scripts. Like Latin and Cyrillic, Greek originally had only a single form of each letter; it developed the letter case distinction between uppercase and lowercase in parallel with Latin during the modern era. Sound values and conventional transcriptions for some of the letters differ between Ancient and Modern Greek usage because the pronunciation of Greek has changed significantly between the 5th century BC and today. Modern and Ancient Greek also use different diacritics, with modern Greek keeping only the stress accent (acute) and the diaeresis.
Apart from its use in writing the Greek language, in both its ancient and its modern forms, the Greek alphabet today also serves as a source of international technical symbols and labels in many domains of mathematics, science, and other fields.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:52 UTC on Sunday, 6 October 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Greek alphabet on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.
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Until next time, I'm long-form Danielle.
pWotD Episode 2712: Eminem
Welcome to Popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 176,268 views on Friday, 4 October 2024 our article of the day is Eminem.
Marshall Bruce Mathers III (born October 17, 1972), known professionally as Eminem (stylized as EMINƎM), is an American rapper, songwriter, and record producer. He is credited with popularizing hip hop in Middle America and is regarded as among the greatest rappers of all time. His success is considered to have broken racial barriers to the acceptance of white rappers in popular music. While much of his transgressive work during the late 1990s and early 2000s made him a controversial figure, he came to be a representation of popular angst of the American underclass and has been cited as influencing many musical artists. His most successful songs on the U. S. Billboard Hot 100 include "The Real Slim Shady", "Without Me", "Lose Yourself", "Not Afraid", "Love the Way You Lie", "The Monster", "Godzilla" and "Houdini".
After the release of his debut album Infinite (1996) and the extended play Slim Shady EP (1997), Eminem signed with Dr. Dre's Aftermath Entertainment and subsequently achieved mainstream popularity in 1999 with The Slim Shady LP. His next two releases, The Marshall Mathers LP (2000) and The Eminem Show (2002), were worldwide successes and nominated for the Grammy Award for Album of the Year, the latter becoming the best-selling album worldwide of 2002. After the release of his next album, Encore (2004), Eminem went on hiatus, largely due to a prescription drug addiction. He returned to the music industry with the releases of Relapse (2009) and Recovery (2010), the latter becoming the best-selling album worldwide of 2010. He then released the U. S. number-one albums The Marshall Mathers LP 2 (2013), Revival (2017), Kamikaze (2018), Music to Be Murdered By (2020), and The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce) (2024).
Eminem was also a member of the hip hop groups New Jacks, Soul Intent, Outsidaz, and D12, and has collaborated with fellow Detroit-based rapper Royce da 5'9" as the duo Bad Meets Evil. Eminem played a dramatized version of himself in the 2002 musical drama film 8 Mile. "Lose Yourself", a song from its soundtrack, topped the Billboard Hot 100 for 12 weeks—the most for a solo rap song—and won the Academy Award for Best Original Song, making him the first hip hop artist ever to win the award. He also co-founded Shady Records, which helped launch the careers of artists such as D12, 50 Cent, and Obie Trice, and established his own Sirius XM Radio channel, Shade 45.
Eminem is among the best-selling music artists of all time, with estimated worldwide sales of over 220 million records. He was the best-selling music artist in the United States for the 2000s, placing third for the 2010s. He was the first artist to have ten albums consecutively debut at number one on the Billboard 200 chart, and has had five number-one singles on the Billboard Hot 100. The Marshall Mathers LP, The Eminem Show, Curtain Call: The Hits (2005), "Lose Yourself", "Love the Way You Lie", and "Not Afraid" have all been certified Diamond or higher by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). He has won numerous awards, including 15 Grammy Awards, eight American Music Awards, 17 Billboard Music Awards, a Primetime Emmy Award, and an MTV Europe Music Global Icon Award. Billboard named him the "Artist of the Decade (2000–2009)", and Rolling Stone named him one of the "100 Greatest Artists of All Time" and "100 Greatest Songwriters of All Time". In 2022, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:29 UTC on Saturday, 5 October 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Eminem on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.
Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.
Until next time, I'm neural Ivy.
pWotD Episode 2711: Joker: Folie à Deux
Welcome to Popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 270,085 views on Thursday, 3 October 2024 our article of the day is Joker: Folie à Deux.
Joker: Folie à Deux is a 2024 American musical psychological thriller film directed by Todd Phillips from a screenplay co-written with Scott Silver. Loosely based on DC Comics characters, it is the sequel to Joker (2019) and stars Joaquin Phoenix reprising his role as the titular character, with Lady Gaga joining him as his love interest Harley Quinn. Zazie Beetz also reprises her role from the previous film, while Brendan Gleeson and Catherine Keener join the cast. It is produced by Warner Bros. Pictures and DC Studios in association with Joint Effort.
Joker was conceived as a standalone film, although Warner Bros. intended the film to launch a DC Black film series. Phillips expressed interest in making a sequel. The sequel entered development in June 2022, with Gaga and Beetz joining later that year. Principal photography took place in New York City, Los Angeles, and Belleville, New Jersey, from December 2022 to April 2023.
Joker: Folie à Deux premiered at the 81st Venice International Film Festival on September 4, 2024, and is scheduled to be released in the United States and the United Kingdom on October 4, 2024. It received mixed reviews from critics.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 05:13 UTC on Friday, 4 October 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Joker: Folie à Deux on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.
Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.
Until next time, I'm neural Kevin.
pWotD Episode 2710: JD Vance
Welcome to Popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 453,838 views on Wednesday, 2 October 2024 our article of the day is JD Vance.
James David Vance (born James Donald Bowman; August 2, 1984) is an American politician, author, venture capitalist, and Marine veteran who has served as the junior United States senator from Ohio since 2023. Vance is the Republican nominee for vice president in the 2024 United States presidential election.
After high school, Vance joined the US Marine Corps, where he served as a military journalist from 2003 to 2007. He graduated from Ohio State University and Yale Law School. He practiced briefly as a corporate lawyer before embarking on a career in the tech industry as a venture capitalist. His memoir, Hillbilly Elegy, was published in 2016, and was adapted into a film in 2020.
Vance won the 2022 United States Senate election in Ohio, defeating Democratic nominee Tim Ryan. After opposing Donald Trump's candidacy in the 2016 election, Vance has become a strong Trump supporter since Trump's presidency. In July 2024, Trump selected Vance as his running mate before the Republican National Convention.
Vance has been characterized as a national conservative and right-wing populist, and he describes himself as a member of the postliberal right. His political positions include opposition to abortion, same-sex marriage, gun control, and American military aid to Ukraine. Vance is also an outspoken critic of childlessness. He has acknowledged the influence of Catholic theology on his socio-political positions.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:35 UTC on Thursday, 3 October 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see JD Vance on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.
Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.
Until next time, I'm standard Amy.
pWotD Episode 2709: Pete Rose
Welcome to Popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 718,767 views on Tuesday, 1 October 2024 our article of the day is Pete Rose.
Peter Edward Rose Sr. (April 14, 1941 – September 30, 2024), nicknamed "Charlie Hustle", was an American professional baseball player and manager. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1963 to 1986, most prominently as a member of the Cincinnati Reds lineup known as the Big Red Machine for their dominance of the National League in the 1970s. He was successful playing for the Philadelphia Phillies, where he won his third World Series championship, and had a brief stint with the Montreal Expos. He managed the Reds from 1984 to 1989.
Rose was a switch hitter, and is MLB's all-time leader in hits (4,256), games played (3,562), at-bats (14,053), singles (3,215) and outs (10,328). He won three World Series championships, three batting titles, one Most Valuable Player Award, two Gold Glove Awards, and the Rookie of the Year Award. He made 17 All-Star appearances in an unequaled five positions (second baseman, left fielder, right fielder, third baseman, and first baseman). He won two Gold Glove awards when he was an outfielder, in 1969 and 1970.
In August 1989 (his last year as a manager and three years after retiring as a player), Rose was penalized with permanent ineligibility from baseball amidst accusations that he gambled on baseball games while he played for and managed the Reds; the charges of wrongdoing included claims that he bet on his own team. In 1991, the Baseball Hall of Fame formally voted to ban those on the "permanently ineligible" list from induction, after previously excluding such players by informal agreement among voters. After years of public denial, he admitted in 2004 that he bet on baseball and on the Reds. The issue of his election to the Hall of Fame remains contentious throughout baseball.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:16 UTC on Wednesday, 2 October 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Pete Rose on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.
Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.
Until next time, I'm neural Ivy.
pWotD Episode 2708: Kris Kristofferson
Welcome to Popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 1,696,188 views on Monday, 30 September 2024 our article of the day is Kris Kristofferson.
Kristoffer Kristofferson (June 22, 1936 – September 28, 2024) was an American country singer, songwriter, and actor.
Kristofferson was a pioneering figure in the outlaw country movement of the 1970s, moving away from the polished Nashville sound and toward a more raw, introspective style. He released his debut album Kristofferson in 1970. Among his songwriting credits are "Me and Bobby McGee", "For the Good Times", "Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down", and "Help Me Make It Through the Night", all of which became hits for other artists. Kristofferson was also a member of the country music supergroup the Highwaymen between 1985 and 1995. He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2004 and received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2014.
During the 1970s, Kristofferson also embarked on a successful career as a Hollywood actor. He became known for his roles in Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid (1973), Blume in Love (1973), Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore (1974), and A Star Is Born (1976); for the latter, he earned a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor. His acting career waned somewhat following his role in the box office bomb Heaven's Gate (1980), but he continued to act in films such as Stagecoach (1986), Lone Star (1996), and the Blade film trilogy (1998–2004).
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:26 UTC on Tuesday, 1 October 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Kris Kristofferson on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.
Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.
Until next time, I'm standard Joey.
pWotD Episode 2707: Lyle and Erik Menendez
Welcome to Popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 892,577 views on Sunday, 29 September 2024 our article of the day is Lyle and Erik Menendez.
Joseph Lyle Menendez (born January 10, 1968) and Erik Galen Menendez (born November 27, 1970), collectively referred to as the Menendez brothers, are American brothers who were convicted in 1996 of the murders of their parents, José and Mary Louise "Kitty" Menendez.
During their trial, the brothers first stated that they committed the murders out of fear that their father would kill them after they threatened to expose him for years of sexual, emotional, and physical abuse, while the prosecution argued that they did it to inherit their father's multimillion-dollar estate. They were first tried separately with one jury for each brother. However, both juries deadlocked, resulting in mistrials. For the second trial, they were tried together by a single jury that found them guilty after the judge excluded evidence of abuse from their defense. Both brothers were sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:55 UTC on Monday, 30 September 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Lyle and Erik Menendez on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.
Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.
Until next time, I'm standard Raveena.
pWotD Episode 2706: Hassan Nasrallah
Welcome to Popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 879,976 views on Saturday, 28 September 2024 our article of the day is Hassan Nasrallah.
Hassan Nasrallah (Arabic: حسن نصر الله [ħasan nasˤrɑɫɫɑh]; 31 August 1960 – 27 September 2024) was a Lebanese cleric and the secretary-general of Hezbollah, a Shia Islamist political party and militant group.
Born into a Shia family in the suburbs of Beirut in 1960, Nasrallah finished his education in Tyre, when he briefly joined the Amal Movement, and afterward at a Shia seminary in Baalbek. He later studied and taught at an Amal school. Nasrallah joined Hezbollah, which was formed to fight the 1982 Israeli invasion of Lebanon. After a brief period of religious studies in Iran, Nasrallah returned to Lebanon and became Hezbollah's leader after his predecessor, Abbas al-Musawi, was assassinated by an Israeli airstrike in 1992.
Under Nasrallah's leadership, Hezbollah acquired rockets with a longer range, which allowed them to strike at northern Israel. After Israel suffered heavy casualties during its 18-year occupation of southern Lebanon, it withdrew its forces in 2000, which greatly increased Hezbollah's popularity in the region, and bolstered Hezbollah's position within Lebanon. Hezbollah cultivated Nasrallah's media image as a charismatic authority, though this image could be weakened, for instance, by his 2013 support for an unpopular Syrian regime and by Arab media supported by the Gulf states. Hezbollah's role in ambushing an Israeli border patrol unit leading up to the 2006 Lebanon War was subject to local and regional criticism, though he projected the end of the war as a Lebanese and Arab victory. During the Syrian civil war, Hezbollah fought on the side of the Syrian army against what Nasrallah termed "Islamist extremists". He has also promoted the "Axis of Resistance", an informal coalition of Iran-backed militias focused on opposing Israel and the United States. Following Hamas's 7 October attack on Israel, he opted to engage in the conflict, initiating attacks on Israel, which resulted in a conflict between Israel and Hezbollah that impacted both sides of the border.
On 27 September 2024, the Israel Defense Forces announced that its air force had struck Hezbollah's main headquarters with the goal of assassinating Nasrallah. Hezbollah confirmed his death the following day.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:57 UTC on Sunday, 29 September 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Hassan Nasrallah on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.
Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.
Until next time, I'm generative Matthew.
pWotD Episode 2705: Maggie Smith
Welcome to Popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 2,038,345 views on Friday, 27 September 2024 our article of the day is Maggie Smith.
Dame Margaret Natalie Smith (28 December 1934 − 27 September 2024) was a British actress. Known for her wit in comedic roles, she had an extensive career on stage and screen over seven decades and was one of Britain's most recognisable and prolific actresses. She received numerous accolades, including two Academy Awards, five BAFTA Awards, four Emmy Awards, three Golden Globe Awards and a Tony Award, as well as nominations for six Laurence Olivier Awards. Smith was one of the few performers to earn the Triple Crown of Acting.
Smith began her stage career as a student, performing at the Oxford Playhouse in 1952, and made her professional debut on Broadway in New Faces of '56. Over the following decades Smith established herself alongside Judi Dench as one of the most significant British theatre performers, working for the National Theatre and the Royal Shakespeare Company. On Broadway, she received Tony Award nominations for Noël Coward's Private Lives (1975) and Tom Stoppard's Night and Day (1979), and won the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play for Lettice and Lovage (1990).
Smith won Academy Awards for Best Actress for The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (1969) and Best Supporting Actress for California Suite (1978). She was Oscar-nominated for Othello (1965), Travels with My Aunt (1972), A Room with a View (1985) and Gosford Park (2001). She portrayed Professor Minerva McGonagall in the Harry Potter film series (2001–2011). She also acted in Death on the Nile (1978), Hook (1991), Sister Act (1992), The Secret Garden (1993), The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2012), Quartet (2012) and The Lady in the Van (2015).
Smith received newfound attention and international fame for her role as Violet Crawley in the British period drama Downton Abbey (2010–2015). The role earned her three Primetime Emmy Awards; she had previously won one for the HBO film My House in Umbria (2003). Over the course of her career she was the recipient of numerous honorary awards including the British Film Institute Fellowship in 1993, the BAFTA Fellowship in 1996 and the Society of London Theatre Special Award in 2010. Smith was made a Dame by Queen Elizabeth II in 1990.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:34 UTC on Saturday, 28 September 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Maggie Smith on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.
Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.
Until next time, I'm standard Joey.
pWotD Episode 2704: Eric Adams
Welcome to Popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 367,273 views on Thursday, 26 September 2024 our article of the day is Eric Adams.
Eric Leroy Adams (born September 1, 1960) is an American politician and former police officer currently serving as the 110th mayor of New York City since 2022. Adams was an officer in the New York City Transit Police and then the New York City Police Department (NYPD) for more than 20 years, retiring at the rank of captain. He served in the New York State Senate from 2006 to 2013, representing the 20th Senate district in Brooklyn. In November 2013, Adams was elected Brooklyn Borough President, the first African-American to hold the position, and reelected in November 2017.
Adams was elected mayor of New York City in the city's 2021 mayoral election. He received the Democratic Party's nomination after narrowly winning a crowded Democratic mayoral primary which used instant-runoff voting (ranked-choice voting). In the general election, Adams won a landslide victory over Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa. Adams was sworn in as mayor shortly after midnight on January 1, 2022. As mayor, he has taken what is seen as a tough-on-crime approach and reintroduced a plain-clothed unit of police officers that had been disbanded by the previous administration. He has also implemented, alongside increased police presence, a zero-tolerance policy on homeless people sleeping in subway cars.
In September 2024, a series of criminal investigations into Adams's administration emerged. On September 25, Adams was indicted on federal charges of bribery, fraud, and soliciting illegal foreign campaign donations, following a federal corruption investigation. He is the first mayor in New York City history to be charged with crimes while in office.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:59 UTC on Friday, 27 September 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Eric Adams on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.
Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.
Until next time, I'm standard Kendra.
pWotD Episode 2703: Murder of Felicia Gayle
Welcome to Popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 441,259 views on Wednesday, 25 September 2024 our article of the day is Murder of Felicia Gayle.
Felicia Gayle "Lisha" Picus was an American journalist murdered during a burglary in her gated community in University City, Missouri, on August 11, 1998. Gayle, a 42-year-old reporter for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, was found dead in her home, having been stabbed up to 43 times with a butcher's knife taken from her kitchen.
Marcellus Williams was charged with the murder of Felicia Gayle. Prosecutors based evidence mainly on alleged confessions Williams had made, including one alleged by a jailhouse snitch. In August 2001, Williams was sentenced to death. On appeal, he raised several issues, including claims of errors in evidentiary rulings, jury instructions, and victim impact testimony. He also challenged the use of his prior criminal history and alleged improper prosecutorial comments during closing arguments. The death sentence was controversial, as DNA evidence had been claimed to prove his innocence, and the family of Gayle repeatedly stating they did not want Williams executed. The court rejected these arguments, finding no abuse of discretion by the trial court.
The Missouri Supreme Court rejected Williams's appeal, concluding that it was neither disproportionate nor influenced by prejudice. They concluded that there were sufficient statutory aggravating circumstances, such as the brutality of the crime and Williams' prior convictions. The court affirmed both the conviction and the death sentence. Williams was executed on September 24, 2024, amid ongoing protests, including from the prosecutor and the victim's family, who opposed the use of the death penalty in his case.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:38 UTC on Thursday, 26 September 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Murder of Felicia Gayle on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.
Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.
Until next time, I'm neural Kendra.
pWotD Episode 2702: Jayden Daniels
Welcome to Popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 247,272 views on Tuesday, 24 September 2024 our article of the day is Jayden Daniels.
Jayden Daniels (born December 18, 2000) is an American professional football quarterback for the Washington Commanders of the National Football League (NFL). He played three seasons of college football for the Arizona State Sun Devils and two with the LSU Tigers, winning the 2023 Heisman Trophy with the latter after leading the FBS in total yards and setting its single-season passer rating record. Daniels was selected by the Commanders second overall in the 2024 NFL draft.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:31 UTC on Wednesday, 25 September 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Jayden Daniels on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.
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Until next time, I'm neural Gregory.
pWotD Episode 2701: Thunderbolts*
Welcome to Popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 186,210 views on Monday, 23 September 2024 our article of the day is Thunderbolts*.
Thunderbolts* is an upcoming American superhero film based on the Marvel Comics team Thunderbolts. Produced by Marvel Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, it is intended to be the 36th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). The film is directed by Jake Schreier and written by Eric Pearson, Lee Sung Jin, and Joanna Calo. It stars an ensemble cast featuring David Harbour, Hannah John-Kamen, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Sebastian Stan, Wyatt Russell, Geraldine Viswanathan, Lewis Pullman, Olga Kurylenko, and Florence Pugh. In the film, a group of antiheroes goes on missions for the government.
Marvel Studios began teasing the formation of a Thunderbolts team within the MCU in 2021. The film was revealed to be in development in June 2022, when Schreier and Pearson were attached. The film's main cast members were revealed that September, followed by additional casting through early 2023. Lee joined to rewrite the film's script by March 2023, one of several creatives who returned to work with Schreier from the Netflix series Beef (2023). Production was delayed due to the 2023 Hollywood labor disputes, causing some actors to leave the project and be replaced in early 2024, when Calo joined. Filming took place from February to June 2024 at Trilith Studios and Atlanta Metro Studios in Atlanta, Georgia, with additional filming in Utah.
Thunderbolts* is scheduled to be released in the United States on May 2, 2025, as the last film of Phase Five of the MCU.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:11 UTC on Tuesday, 24 September 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Thunderbolts* on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.
Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.
Until next time, I'm standard Russell.
pWotD Episode 2700: Anthony Joshua
Welcome to Popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 226,480 views on Sunday, 22 September 2024 our article of the day is Anthony Joshua.
Anthony Oluwafemi Olaseni Joshua (born 15 October 1989) is a British professional boxer. He is a two-time former unified world heavyweight champion, having held the World Boxing Association (WBA) (Super version), International Boxing Federation (IBF), and World Boxing Organization (WBO) titles twice between 2016 and 2021.
As an amateur, Joshua represented England at the 2011 World Championships in the super-heavyweight division, winning a silver medal. He also represented Great Britain at the 2012 Olympics, winning gold. In 2014, a year after turning professional, he was named Prospect of the Year by The Ring magazine.
In 2017, his victorious fight against Wladimir Klitschko was named Fight of the Year by The Ring and the Boxing Writers Association of America.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:08 UTC on Monday, 23 September 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Anthony Joshua on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.
Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.
Until next time, I'm standard Justin.
pWotD Episode 2699: Daniel Dubois
Welcome to Popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 388,354 views on Saturday, 21 September 2024 our article of the day is Daniel Dubois.
Daniel Dubois (born 6 September 1997) is a British professional boxer. He has held the International Boxing Federation (IBF) heavyweight title since June 2024. Previously, he held the World Boxing Association (WBA) heavyweight title (Regular version) from 2022 to 2023 and the interim IBF heavyweight title in 2024. At regional level, he has held multiple heavyweight championships, including the British and Commonwealth titles from 2019 to 2020. As an amateur, he was a five-time national junior titlist and British champion. He currently holds a 95% knockout-to-win percentage.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:56 UTC on Sunday, 22 September 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Daniel Dubois on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.
Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.
Until next time, I'm neural Arthur.
pWotD Episode 2698: Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story
Welcome to Popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 200,399 views on Friday, 20 September 2024 our article of the day is Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story.
Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story is the second season of the American biographical crime drama anthology television series Monster, created by Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan for Netflix. This season centers on the 1989 murders of José (Javier Bardem) and Kitty Menéndez (Chloë Sevigny), who were killed by their sons, Lyle (Nicholas Alexander Chavez) and Erik (Cooper Koch). It was released on September 19, 2024.
It is the second season in the Monster anthology series, following Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story. Having initially ordered the program in 2020 as a limited series, Netflix announced on November 7, 2022 that it had been renewed as an anthology series, with two further editions based on the lives of "other monstrous figures". The second season, which focuses on the Menéndez brothers, was first announced to be in development on May 1, 2023.
The third season will explore the life of serial killer Ed Gein, portrayed by Charlie Hunnam.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:41 UTC on Saturday, 21 September 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
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Until next time, I'm standard Russell.
pWotD Episode 2697: Lyle and Erik Menéndez
Welcome to Popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 664,166 views on Thursday, 19 September 2024 our article of the day is Lyle and Erik Menéndez.
Joseph Lyle Menéndez (born January 10, 1968) and Erik Galen Menéndez (born November 27, 1970), collectively referred to as the Menéndez brothers, are American brothers who were convicted in 1996 of the murders of their parents, José and Mary Louise "Kitty" Menéndez.
During their trial, the brothers stated that they committed the murders out of fear that their father would kill them after they threatened to expose him for years of sexual, emotional, and physical abuse, while the prosecution argued that they did it to inherit their father's multimillion-dollar estate. They were first tried separately with one jury for each brother. However, both juries deadlocked, resulting in a mistrial. For the second trial, they were tried together by a single jury that found them guilty after the judge excluded the evidences of abuse for the defense. Both brothers were sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:26 UTC on Friday, 20 September 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Lyle and Erik Menéndez on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
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Until next time, I'm neural Justin.
pWotD Episode 2696: Anna Sorokin
Welcome to Popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 245,809 views on Wednesday, 18 September 2024 our article of the day is Anna Sorokin.
Anna Sorokin (Russian: Анна Сорокина; born January 23, 1991), also known as Anna Delvey, is a con artist and fraudster who posed as a wealthy heiress to access upper-class New York social and art scenes from 2013 to 2017.
Born to working-class parents in the Soviet Union (now Russia), Sorokin emigrated from Russia to Germany with her family at the age of 16 in 2007. In 2011, she left Germany to live in London and Paris before relocating to New York City in 2013, where she interned for the French fashion magazine Purple. Sorokin conceived of a private members' club and arts foundation, which included leasing a large building to feature pop-up shops and exhibitions by notable artists she met while interning. She later created fake financial documents to substantiate her claims of having a multi-million-euro trust fund, and forged multiple wire transfer confirmations. Sorokin used these documents, as well as fraudulent checks, to trick banks, acquaintances, and realtors into paying out cash and granting large loans without collateral. She used this to fund her lavish lifestyle, including residencies in multiple upscale hotels. Between 2013 and 2017, Sorokin defrauded and deceived major financial institutions, banks, hotels, and individuals out of $275,000.
In 2017, the NYPD arrested Sorokin in a sting operation with the help of her former friend, Rachel DeLoache Williams, who accused Sorokin of defrauding her of $62,000. In 2019, a New York state court convicted Sorokin of attempted grand larceny, larceny in the second degree, and theft of services, and she was sentenced to 4 to 12 years in prison. After serving two years, she was remanded into the custody of U. S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for deportation to Germany. On 5 October 2022, Sorokin was granted a $10,000 bail bond and released from prison.
Sorokin's story gained publicity when Williams wrote a lengthy article in Vanity Fair about her experiences with Sorokin in 2018. She expanded on the story in her 2019 book My Friend Anna. The same year, journalist Jessica Pressler wrote an article for New York about Sorokin's life as a socialite; Netflix paid Sorokin $320,000 for the rights to her story and developed it into the 2022 miniseries Inventing Anna. Sorokin's life story has been the subject of multiple other television shows, interviews, podcasts, and theater productions.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:56 UTC on Thursday, 19 September 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Anna Sorokin on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.
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Until next time, I'm neural Aria.
pWotD Episode 2695: Sean Combs
Welcome to Popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 319,582 views on Tuesday, 17 September 2024 our article of the day is Sean Combs.
Sean Love Combs (born Sean John Combs; November 4, 1969), also known by his stage name Diddy, formerly Puff Daddy and P. Diddy, is an American rapper, record producer and record executive. He is credited with the discovery and cultivation of artists such as the Notorious B. I. G., Mary J. Blige, and Usher. Combs has won three Grammy Awards from 13 nominations, two MTV Video Music Awards, and a Guinness World Record for "Most Successful Rap Producer" in 1997.
Born in Harlem and raised in Mount Vernon, New York, Combs worked as a talent director at Uptown Records before founding his own record label, Bad Boy Records, in 1993. He embarked on his recording career following the mainstream success of his first signee, the Notorious B. I. G., for whom he served as manager and hype man. Released in the wake and memory of B. I. G's unsolved murder, Combs' debut studio album, No Way Out (1997), was met with critical acclaim, peaked atop the Billboard 200 and received septuple platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Its two preceding singles, "Can't Nobody Hold Me Down" (featuring Mase) and "I'll Be Missing You" (with Faith Evans featuring 112), both peaked the Billboard Hot 100—the latter became the first hip hop song to debut atop the chart. His second and third albums, Forever (1999) and The Saga Continues... (2001), both peaked at number two on the Billboard 200 despite mixed critical reception, while his fourth, Press Play (2006), peaked atop the chart once more. Combs then formed the musical group Diddy – Dirty Money—with R&B singers Kalenna Harper and Dawn Richard—to release the collaborative album Last Train to Paris (2010), which peaked at number seven and was supported by the single "Coming Home" (featuring Skylar Grey). His fifth studio album, The Love Album: Off the Grid (2023), was met with moderate critical and commercial response, and served as his first release without a major label.
Outside of music, he has worked in production for other media, including MTV's reality series Making the Band. He launched the clothing retailer Sean John in 1998, for which he won Menswear Designer of the Year by the Council of Fashion Designers of America in 2004, having previously been nominated in 2000. Combs served as brand ambassador for the vodka retailer Cîroc from 2007 to 2023, and co-founded the television network Revolt in 2013. Zack O'Malley Greenburg estimated Combs' net worth at US$1 billion in 2022, making him one of the wealthiest musical artists.
Combs has been the subject of a number of sexual misconduct allegations, which began in late 2023 after Cassie Ventura, with whom Combs had a long-term relationship, filed a multi-million dollar lawsuit against him for sexual assault, which was settled out of court. In the following days, weeks, and months, over 11 more lawsuits were filed by additional claimants, with similar allegations of misconduct ranging from 1991 to 2009. In the wake of the allegations, various companies and brands dissociated themselves from Combs, and an honorary doctorate from Howard University was revoked. In March 2024, several properties tied to Combs were raided by the Department of Homeland Security as part of an ongoing investigation. In May 2024, surveillance footage of Combs physically assaulting Ventura at a hotel was released, for which Combs issued a public apology. After several similar misconduct allegations arose, he was indicted by a federal New York grand jury and arrested in Manhattan on September 16, 2024; he was charged with sex trafficking and racketeering. His commercial enterprises were additionally alleged to have been involved with narcotics offenses, kidnapping, arson and bribery, and Combs was alleged to have committed physical and sexual abuse against victims.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:31 UTC on Wednesday, 18 September 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Sean Combs on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.
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Until next time, I'm standard Joey.
pWotD Episode 2694: Tito Jackson
Welcome to Popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 513,274 views on Monday, 16 September 2024 our article of the day is Tito Jackson.
Toriano Adaryll "Tito" Jackson (October 15, 1953 – September 15, 2024) was an American musician. He was an original member of the Jackson 5 (later known as the Jacksons), who rose to fame in the late 1960s and 1970s with the Motown label and later had continued success with the group on the Epic label in the late 1970s and 1980s. Tito began a solo career in 2003 performing as a blues musician. Throughout his career, he was nominated for three Grammy Awards and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the Jackson 5.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:42 UTC on Tuesday, 17 September 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Tito Jackson on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.
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Until next time, I'm neural Joey.
pWotD Episode 2693: Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
Welcome to Popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 172,837 views on Sunday, 15 September 2024 our article of the day is Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is a 2024 American dark fantasy comedy horror film directed by Tim Burton from a screenplay by Alfred Gough and Miles Millar. A sequel to Beetlejuice (1988) and the second film of the Beetlejuice franchise, the film stars Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder, and Catherine O'Hara reprising their roles alongside new cast members Justin Theroux, Monica Bellucci, Jenna Ortega, and Willem Dafoe. Set over three decades after the first Beetlejuice, it follows Lydia Deetz, now a mother, struggling to keep her family together in the wake of a loss as the specter Betelgeuse returns to haunt her.
After the success of Beetlejuice, plans for a sequel were announced by The Geffen Film Company, its original producers, but did not materialize until 2011 when Warner Bros. Pictures hired Seth Grahame-Smith to pitch a story and went through numerous revisions before being shelved in late 2019 and eventually got revived three years later. Burton co-produced the film with Brad Pitt's studio Plan B Entertainment, and the casting process continued till early 2023. Principal photography, supervised by cinematographer Haris Zambarloukos, took place at parts of England and United States from May to November 2023, despite being suspended for four months due to the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike. The official title was revealed in February 2024. During post-production, editing was handled by Jay Prychidny and the musical score was composed by longtime collaborator Danny Elfman.
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice opened the 81st Venice International Film Festival on August 28, 2024, and was theatrically released overseas on September 4, 2024, and in the United States by Warner Bros. Pictures two days later. The film has received generally positive reviews from critics and has grossed $264 million worldwide on a $99–100 million budget.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:03 UTC on Monday, 16 September 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Beetlejuice Beetlejuice on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
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Until next time, I'm neural Aria.
pWotD Episode 2692: Perry Farrell
Welcome to Popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 239,826 views on Saturday, 14 September 2024 our article of the day is Perry Farrell.
Perry Farrell (born Peretz Bernstein; March 29, 1959) is an American singer, songwriter, and musician referred to as the "Godfather of Alternative Music". Farrell began his career with Psi Com in the early 1980s, before becoming the frontman of the band Jane's Addiction. He became well known for his success with Jane's Addiction; the band quickly became a key act in the '80s Los Angeles music scene, blending punk, metal, and psychedelic rock to create a unique sound. Their daring live performances and experimental approach resonated with disillusioned youth, contributing to the rise of alternative music as a form of rebellion and self-expression.
As part of the farewell tour for Jane's Addiction in 1991, Farrell founded Lollapalooza, which has evolved into an annual festival of multiple genres. Farrell is the frontman of Porno for Pyros, who are releasing new music and touring North America throughout 2024.
Farrell has also released a number of solo albums, and also launched a number of other music related projects, including Kind Heaven Orchestra and Heaven After Dark.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:05 UTC on Sunday, 15 September 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Perry Farrell on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.
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Until next time, I'm neural Kimberly.
pWotD Episode 2691: Tua Tagovailoa
Welcome to Popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 235,236 views on Friday, 13 September 2024 our article of the day is Tua Tagovailoa.
Tuanigamanuolepola Donny Tagovailoa ( TUNG-oh-vy-LOW-uh; born March 2, 1998) is an American professional football quarterback for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Alabama Crimson Tide and was named the Offensive MVP of the 2018 College Football Playoff National Championship during his freshman season. As a sophomore, Tagovailoa won the Maxwell and Walter Camp awards en route to an appearance in the 2019 National Championship.
After his junior season was cut short by a hip injury, Tagovailoa was selected fifth overall by the Dolphins in the 2020 NFL draft. He spent his rookie season alternating as a backup and starter before becoming the team's primary starter in 2021. Tagovailoa led the league in passer rating in 2022 and passing yards in 2023, earning Pro Bowl honors in the latter, and helping the Dolphins qualify for the playoffs both seasons.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:24 UTC on Saturday, 14 September 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Tua Tagovailoa on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.
Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.
Until next time, I'm neural Brian.
pWotD Episode 2690: Laura Loomer
Welcome to Popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 312,947 views on Thursday, 12 September 2024 our article of the day is Laura Loomer.
Laura Elizabeth Loomer (born May 21, 1993) is an American far-right political activist, internet personality and conspiracy theorist. She was the Republican nominee to represent Florida's 21st congressional district in the 2020 United States House of Representatives elections, losing to Democrat Lois Frankel. She also ran in the Republican primary for Florida's 11th congressional district in 2022, losing to incumbent Daniel Webster. She has been described as espousing anti-Muslim, white nationalist and conspiracy theorist views.
Loomer has worked as an activist for several organizations, including Project Veritas, the Geller Report, The Rebel Media and InfoWars. Loomer gained notoriety as a result of being banned from numerous social media platforms including Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, payment processors, vehicles for hire, and food delivery mobile apps for various reasons, including violating policies on hate speech and posting misinformation. Loomer has also been banned and removed from events, and had press credentials revoked, for harassment and causing disturbances.
In April 2023 it was reported that Donald Trump wanted to hire Loomer for a campaign role. However the idea was said to have been met with heavy resistance from Trump's team, as well as warnings from Marjorie Taylor Greene over hiring a "documented liar". Since October 2023, Loomer has written and posted false claims about the Israel–Hamas war.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:02 UTC on Friday, 13 September 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Laura Loomer on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.
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Until next time, I'm neural Olivia.
pWotD Episode 2689: September 11 attacks
Welcome to Popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 488,772 views on Wednesday, 11 September 2024 our article of the day is September 11 attacks.
The September 11 attacks, commonly known as 9/11, were four coordinated Islamist terrorist suicide attacks carried out by al-Qaeda against the United States in 2001. On that morning, 19 terrorists hijacked four commercial airliners scheduled to travel from the East Coast to California. The hijackers crashed the first two planes into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City and aimed the next two flights toward targets in or near Washington, D. C., in an attack on the nation's capital. The third team succeeded in striking the Pentagon, the headquarters of the U. S. Department of Defense in Arlington County, Virginia, while the fourth plane crashed in rural Pennsylvania during a passenger revolt. The September 11 attacks killed 2,977 people, making it the deadliest terrorist attack in history. In response to the attacks, the United States waged the multi-decade global war on terror to eliminate hostile groups deemed terrorist organizations, as well as the foreign governments purported to support them, in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, and several other countries.
Ringleader Mohamed Atta flew American Airlines Flight 11 into the North Tower of the World Trade Center complex in Lower Manhattan at 8:46 a.m. Seventeen minutes later, at 9:03, the World Trade Center's South Tower was hit by United Airlines Flight 175. Both 110-story skyscrapers collapsed within an hour and forty-one minutes, bringing about the destruction of the remaining five structures in the WTC complex and damaging or destroying nearby buildings. American Airlines Flight 77 flew towards Washington, D. C. and crashed into the Pentagon at 9:37 a.m., causing a partial collapse. The fourth and final flight, United Airlines Flight 93, also changed course towards Washington, believed by investigators to target either the United States Capitol or the White House. Alerted to the previous attacks, the passengers revolted against the hijackers who then crashed the aircraft into a Stonycreek Township field, near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, at 10:03 a.m. The Federal Aviation Administration ordered an indefinite ground stop for all air traffic in U. S. airspace at 9:45 a.m. (59 minutes following the first impact), preventing any further aircraft departures until September 13 and requiring all airborne aircraft to return to their point of origin or divert to Canada. The actions undertaken in Canada to support incoming aircraft and their occupants were collectively titled Operation Yellow Ribbon.
That evening, the Central Intelligence Agency informed President George W. Bush that its Counterterrorism Center had identified the attacks as having been the work of Al-Qaeda under Osama bin Laden. The United States formally responded by launching the war on terror and invading Afghanistan to depose the Taliban, which rejected the conditions of U. S. terms to expel Al-Qaeda from Afghanistan and extradite its leaders. The U. S.'s invocation of Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty—its only usage to date—called upon allies to fight Al-Qaeda. As U. S. and NATO invasion forces swept through Afghanistan, bin Laden eluded them by disappearing into the White Mountains. He denied any involvement until 2004, when excerpts of a taped statement in which he accepted responsibility for the attacks were released. Al-Qaeda's cited motivations included U. S. support of Israel, the presence of U. S. military bases in Saudi Arabia and sanctions against Iraq. The nearly decade-long manhunt for bin Laden concluded on May 2, 2011, when he was killed during a U. S. military raid on his compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan. The war in Afghanistan continued for another eight years until the agreement was made in February 2020 for American and NATO troops to withdraw from the country. The last members of the U. S. armed forces left the region on August 30, 2021, after which the Taliban rapidly returned to power. Ayman al-Zawahiri, another planner of the attacks who succeeded bin Laden as leader of Al-Qaeda, was killed by U. S. drone strikes in Kabul, Afghanistan on July 31, 2022.
Excluding the hijackers, the attacks killed 2,977 people, injured thousands more and gave rise to substantial long-term health consequences while also causing at least $10 billion in infrastructure and property damage. It remains the deadliest terrorist attack in history as well as the deadliest incident for firefighters and law enforcement personnel in American history, killing 343 and 72 members, respectively. The loss of life stemming from the impact of Flight 11 made it the most lethal multi-plane crash in aviation history followed by the death toll incurred by Flight 175. The destruction of the World Trade Center and its environs seriously harmed the U. S. economy and induced global market shocks. Many other countries strengthened anti-terrorism legislation and expanded their powers of law enforcement and intelligence agencies. The total number of deaths caused by the attacks, combined with the death tolls from the conflicts they directly incited, has been estimated by the Costs of War Project to be over 4.5 million. Cleanup of the World Trade Center site (colloquially "Ground Zero") took eight months and was completed in May 2002, while the Pentagon was repaired within a year. After delays in the design of a replacement complex, six new buildings were planned to replace the lost towers, along with a museum and memorial dedicated to those who were killed or injured in the attacks. The tallest building, One World Trade Center, began construction in November 2006; it opened in November 2014. Memorials to the attacks include the National September 11 Memorial & Museum in New York City, the Pentagon Memorial in Arlington County, Virginia, and the Flight 93 National Memorial at the Pennsylvania crash site.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:20 UTC on Thursday, 12 September 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see September 11 attacks on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.
Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.
Until next time, I'm standard Matthew.
pWotD Episode 2688: Angel Gomes
Welcome to Popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 151,064 views on Tuesday, 10 September 2024 our article of the day is Angel Gomes.
Adilson Angel Abreu de Almeida Gomes (born 31 August 2000) is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Ligue 1 club Lille and the England national team. A versatile player, he has been deployed as an attacking midfielder, central midfielder and wide midfielder in his career.
Joining Manchester United at the age of six, Gomes made his first-team debut for the club in May 2017 and became the first player born in the 2000s to play in the Premier League. After 10 appearances for the team, he was released at the end of his contract in 2020. He then signed for Lille in August and was immediately loaned out to Boavista for a season. Upon his return to France in 2021, he was included in the squad which won the 2021 Trophée des Champions, before making his Ligue 1 debut in August and his UEFA Champions League debut in September.
Gomes is eligible to represent England, Angola or Portugal at international level. He made more than 50 appearances for England's youth national teams, from under-16 to under-21 level. He was the captain of the England under-17 team that won the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup, and was a member of the under-21 squad that won the 2023 UEFA European Under-21 Championship. He debuted for the senior team in September 2024.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:23 UTC on Wednesday, 11 September 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Angel Gomes on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.
Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.
Until next time, I'm standard Kendra.
pWotD Episode 2687: James Earl Jones
Welcome to Popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 1,070,030 views on Monday, 9 September 2024 our article of the day is James Earl Jones.
James Earl Jones (January 17, 1931 – September 9, 2024) was an American actor known for his film roles and for his work in theatre. Jones has been described as "one of America's most distinguished and versatile" actors for his performances on stage and screen. He has also been called "one of the greatest actors in American history". He was inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame in 1985. He was honoured with the National Medal of Arts in 1992, the Kennedy Center Honor in 2002, the Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award in 2009, and the Honorary Academy Award in 2011.
Born in Arkabutla, Mississippi in 1931, he had a stutter since childhood. Jones said that poetry and acting helped him overcome the challenges of his disability. A pre-med major in college, he served in the United States Army during the Korean War before pursuing a career in acting. His deep voice was praised as a "stirring basso profondo that has lent gravel and gravitas" to his projects. Jones made his Broadway debut in 1957 in Sunrise at Campobello (1957). He gained prominence for acting in numerous productions with Shakespeare in the Park including Othello, Hamlet, Coriolanus, and King Lear. Jones worked steadily in theatre, winning the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play for his role as a boxer in The Great White Hope (1968), which he reprised in the 1970 film adaptation, earning him Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations.
Jones won his second Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play for his role as a working class father in August Wilson's Fences (1987). He was a Tony award nominee for his roles as the husband in Ernest Thompson's On Golden Pond (2005) about an ageing couple, and as a former president in the Gore Vidal play The Best Man (2012). His other Broadway performances included Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (2008), Driving Miss Daisy (2010–2011), You Can't Take It with You (2014), and The Gin Game (2015–2016). He received a Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in 2017.
Jones made his film debut in Stanley Kubrick's Dr. Strangelove (1964). He received a Golden Globe Award nomination for Claudine (1974). Jones gained international fame for his voice role as Darth Vader in the Star Wars franchise, beginning with the original 1977 film. Jones' other notable roles include parts in Conan the Barbarian (1982), Matewan (1987), Coming to America (1988), Field of Dreams (1989), The Hunt for Red October (1990), The Sandlot (1993), and The Lion King (1994). Jones reprised his roles in Star Wars media, The Lion King (2019), and Coming 2 America (2021). On television, Jones won two Primetime Emmy Awards for his roles in TNT thriller film Heat Wave (1990) and the crime series Gabriel's Fire (1991). He was Emmy-nominated for East Side West Side (1963), By Dawn's Early Light (1990), Picket Fences (1994), Under One Roof (1995), Frasier (1997), and Everwood (2004). He also acted in Roots (1977), Jesus of Nazareth (1977), and Homicide: Life on the Street (1997).
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 08:28 UTC on Tuesday, 10 September 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see James Earl Jones on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.
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Until next time, I'm neural Gregory.
pWotD Episode 2686: The Greatest of All Time
Welcome to Popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 256,901 views on Sunday, 8 September 2024 our article of the day is The Greatest of All Time.
The Greatest of All Time (also marketed as GOAT) is a 2024 Indian Tamil-language science fiction action film directed by Venkat Prabhu and produced by AGS Entertainment. The film stars Vijay in dual roles, alongside Prashanth, Prabhu Deva, Mohan, Ajmal Ameer, Jayaram, Sneha, Laila, Meenakshi Chaudhary, Vaibhav, Yogi Babu, Premgi Amaren and Yugendran. It is the twenty-fifth production of the studio and the penultimate film of Vijay before his political entry. The film follows Gandhi, former leader of a special anti-terrorism squad, who reconciles with his squad members to address the problems which were stemmed from their previous actions.
The film was officially announced in May 2023 under the tentative title Thalapathy 68, as it is Vijay's 68th film as a leading actor, and the official title was announced that December. Principal photography commenced in October 2023 and wrapped by late-June 2024. Filming locations included Chennai, Thailand, Hyderabad, Sri Lanka, Pondicherry, Thiruvananthapuram, Russia and United States. The film has music composed by Yuvan Shankar Raja, cinematography handled by Siddhartha Nuni and editing by Venkat Raajen. Made on a production budget of ₹400 crore, it is AGS' most expensive film and one of the most expensive Indian films.
The Greatest of All Time was released worldwide on 5 September 2024 in standard and IMAX formats to mixed reviews from critics, who criticized the lack of character development and writing. However, Vijay's performance, action sequences and climax received praise. It set several box office records, including highest first day gross for a Tamil film in 2024, and is currently emerging as the second highest-grossing Tamil film in 2024.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:49 UTC on Monday, 9 September 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see The Greatest of All Time on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
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Until next time, I'm neural Kendra.
pWotD Episode 2685: Aryna Sabalenka
Welcome to Popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 368,051 views on Saturday, 7 September 2024 our article of the day is Aryna Sabalenka.
Aryna Siarhiejeŭna Sabalenka (born 5 May 1998) is a Belarusian professional tennis player. She is a former world No. 1 in both singles and doubles by the Women's Tennis Association (WTA). Sabalenka has won three major singles titles, at the 2023 and 2024 Australian Opens and the 2024 US Open, and two major doubles titles, at the 2019 US Open and the 2021 Australian Open, both partnering with Elise Mertens. She has won 22 career titles in total, 16 in singles and 6 in doubles.
Sabalenka came to prominence in 2017, when together with Aliaksandra Sasnovich they led the Belarus Fed Cup team to a runner-up finish, despite both of them being ranked outside the top 75 at the time. She finished both 2018 and 2019 ranked No. 11 in the world in singles. Following two major singles semifinal appearances in 2021, Sabalenka peaked at the world No. 2 ranking, but struggled to consistently maintain that success in 2022. In 2023, she won her first major singles title at the Australian Open, reached the semifinals at all four major tournaments (also finishing runner-up at the US Open), and obtained the world No. 1 ranking, being named the ITF World Champion for the season. Sabalenka also began playing doubles regularly in 2019. With Mertens as her partner, she completed the Sunshine Double by winning the two Premier Mandatory tournaments in March, the Indian Wells Open and the Miami Open. After the US Open doubles title later in the year, she also qualified for the WTA Finals for the first time. With the 2021 Australian Open doubles title, she became the world No. 1 in the discipline. Sabalenka has a very aggressive style of play, often accumulating high numbers of winners and unforced errors. With her height, she also has a very powerful serve.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:47 UTC on Sunday, 8 September 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Aryna Sabalenka on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm standard Russell.
pWotD Episode 2684: Linkin Park
Welcome to Popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 540,248 views on Friday, 6 September 2024 our article of the day is Linkin Park.
Linkin Park is an American rock band formed in Agoura Hills, California, in 1996. The band's current lineup consists of vocalist/rhythm guitarist/keyboardist Mike Shinoda, lead guitarist Brad Delson, DJ/turntablist Joe Hahn, bassist Dave Farrell, co-lead vocalist Emily Armstrong, and drummer Colin Brittain. The lineup for the band's first seven studio albums included lead vocalist Chester Bennington and drummer Rob Bourdon; following Bennington's suicide in July 2017, the band entered an indefinite hiatus. In September 2024, Linkin Park's reformation was announced along with the addition of Armstrong and Brittain.
Categorized mainly as alternative rock and nu metal, Linkin Park's earlier music spanned a fusion of heavy metal and hip hop, while their later music features more electronica and pop elements. Linkin Park rose to international fame with their debut studio album, Hybrid Theory (2000), which became certified Diamond by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Released during the peak of the nu metal scene, the album's singles' heavy airplay on MTV led to the singles "One Step Closer", "Crawling", and "In the End" all charting highly on the US Mainstream Rock chart. The lattermost also crossed over to the number two spot on the nation's Billboard Hot 100. Their second album, Meteora (2003), continued the band's success. The band explored experimental sounds on their third album, Minutes to Midnight (2007). By the end of the decade, Linkin Park was among the most successful and popular rock acts.
The band continued to explore a wider variation of musical types on their fourth album, A Thousand Suns (2010), layering their music with more electronic sounds. The band's fifth album, Living Things (2012), combined musical elements from all of their previous records. Their sixth album, The Hunting Party (2014), returned to a heavier rock sound, while their seventh album, One More Light (2017), was a substantially more pop-oriented record.
Linkin Park is among both the best-selling bands of the 21st century and the world's best-selling music artists, having sold over 100 million records worldwide. They have won two Grammy Awards, six American Music Awards, two Billboard Music Awards, four MTV Video Music Awards, 10 MTV Europe Music Awards, and three World Music Awards. In 2003, MTV2 named Linkin Park the sixth-greatest band of the music video era and the third-best of the new millennium. Billboard ranked Linkin Park No. 19 on the Best Artists of the Decade list. In 2012, the band was voted as the greatest artist of the 2000s in a Bracket Madness poll on VH1. In 2014, the band was declared as "The Biggest Rock Band in the World Right Now" by Kerrang!.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:25 UTC on Saturday, 7 September 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Linkin Park on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
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Until next time, I'm neural Emma.
pWotD Episode 2683: Rich Homie Quan
Welcome to Popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 641,006 views on Thursday, 5 September 2024 our article of the day is Rich Homie Quan.
Dequantes Devontay Lamar (October 4, 1990 – September 5, 2024), known professionally as Rich Homie Quan, was an American rapper. Beginning his career in 2011, Lamar first saw mainstream success with his 2013 single "Type of Way", which peaked at number 50 on the Billboard Hot 100. His 2015 single, "Flex (Ooh, Ooh, Ooh)" saw further success at number 26 on the chart. Alongside fellow Atlanta rapper Young Thug, Lamar was a member of Cash Money Records' spin-off project Rich Gang, who found success with their 2014 single "Lifestyle".
Lamar's debut studio album, Rich as in Spirit (2018), entered the Billboard 200 at number 32.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:37 UTC on Friday, 6 September 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Rich Homie Quan on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm long-form Ruth.
pWotD Episode 2682: Cleopatra
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With 137,832 views on Wednesday, 4 September 2024 our article of the day is Cleopatra.
Cleopatra VII Thea Philopator (Koinē Greek: Κλεοπάτρα Θεά Φιλοπάτωρ lit. 'Cleopatra father-loving goddess'; 70/69 BC – 10 August 30 BC) was Queen of the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt from 51 to 30 BC, and its last active ruler. A member of the Ptolemaic dynasty, she was a descendant of its founder Ptolemy I Soter, a Macedonian Greek general and companion of Alexander the Great. Her first language was Koine Greek, and she is the only Ptolemaic ruler known to have learned the Egyptian language. After her death, Egypt became a province of the Roman Empire, marking the end of the last Hellenistic-period state in the Mediterranean, a period which had lasted since the reign of Alexander (336–323 BC).
In 58 BC, Cleopatra presumably accompanied her father, Ptolemy XII Auletes, during his exile to Rome after a revolt in Egypt (a Roman client state) allowed his rival daughter Berenice IV to claim his throne. Berenice was killed in 55 BC when Ptolemy returned to Egypt with Roman military assistance. When he died in 51 BC, Cleopatra began reigning alongside her brother Ptolemy XIII, but a falling-out between them led to an open civil war. Roman statesman Pompey fled to Egypt after losing the 48 BC Battle of Pharsalus in Greece against his rival Julius Caesar (a Roman dictator and consul) in Caesar's civil war. Pompey had been a political ally of Ptolemy XII, but Ptolemy XIII, at the urging of his court eunuchs, had Pompey ambushed and killed before Caesar arrived and occupied Alexandria. Caesar then attempted to reconcile the rival Ptolemaic siblings, but Ptolemy's chief adviser, Potheinos, viewed Caesar's terms as favoring Cleopatra, so his forces besieged her and Caesar at the palace. Shortly after the siege was lifted by reinforcements, Ptolemy XIII died in the Battle of the Nile; Cleopatra's half-sister Arsinoe IV was eventually exiled to Ephesus for her role in carrying out the siege. Caesar declared Cleopatra and her brother Ptolemy XIV joint rulers but maintained a private affair with Cleopatra that produced a son, Caesarion. Cleopatra traveled to Rome as a client queen in 46 and 44 BC, where she stayed at Caesar's villa. After Caesar's assassination, followed shortly afterwards by that of Ptolemy XIV (on Cleopatra's orders), she named Caesarion co-ruler as Ptolemy XV.
In the Liberators' civil war of 43–42 BC, Cleopatra sided with the Roman Second Triumvirate formed by Caesar's grandnephew and heir Octavian, Mark Antony, and Marcus Aemilius Lepidus. After their meeting at Tarsos in 41 BC, the queen had an affair with Antony which produced three children. He carried out the execution of Arsinoe at her request, and became increasingly reliant on Cleopatra for both funding and military aid during his invasions of the Parthian Empire and the Kingdom of Armenia. The Donations of Alexandria declared their children rulers over various erstwhile territories under Antony's triumviral authority. This event, their marriage, and Antony's divorce of Octavian's sister Octavia Minor led to the final war of the Roman Republic. Octavian engaged in a war of propaganda, forced Antony's allies in the Roman Senate to flee Rome in 32 BC, and declared war on Cleopatra. After defeating Antony and Cleopatra's naval fleet at the 31 BC Battle of Actium, Octavian's forces invaded Egypt in 30 BC and defeated Antony, leading to Antony's suicide. When Cleopatra learned that Octavian planned to bring her to his Roman triumphal procession, she killed herself by poisoning, contrary to the popular belief that she was bitten by an asp.
Cleopatra's legacy survives in ancient and modern works of art. Roman historiography and Latin poetry produced a generally critical view of the queen that pervaded later Medieval and Renaissance literature. In the visual arts, her ancient depictions include Roman busts, paintings, and sculptures, cameo carvings and glass, Ptolemaic and Roman coinage, and reliefs. In Renaissance and Baroque art, she was the subject of many works including operas, paintings, poetry, sculptures, and theatrical dramas. She has become a pop culture icon of Egyptomania since the Victorian era, and in modern times, Cleopatra has appeared in the applied and fine arts, burlesque satire, Hollywood films, and brand images for commercial products.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:14 UTC on Thursday, 5 September 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Cleopatra on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
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Until next time, I'm neural Salli.
pWotD Episode 2681: James Darren
Welcome to Popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 274,210 views on Tuesday, 3 September 2024 our article of the day is James Darren.
James William Ercolani (June 8, 1936 – September 2, 2024), known by his stage name James Darren, was an American television and film actor, television director, and singer. During the late 1950s and early 1960s, he had notable starring and supporting roles in films including Gidget (1959) and its sequels, The Gene Krupa Story (1959), All the Young Men (1960), The Guns of Navarone (1961), and Diamond Head (1962). As a teen pop singer, he achieved hit singles including "Goodbye Cruel World" in 1961. He later became more active in television, starring as Dr. Anthony Newman in the science fiction series The Time Tunnel (1966–1967). He appeared in the regular role of Officer James Corrigan in the police drama T. J. Hooker (1983–1986) and in the recurring role of Vic Fontaine in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1998–1999).
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:15 UTC on Wednesday, 4 September 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see James Darren on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
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Until next time, I'm standard Joanna.
pWotD Episode 2680: Labor Day
Welcome to Popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 177,725 views on Monday, 2 September 2024 our article of the day is Labor Day.
Labor Day is a federal holiday in the United States celebrated on the first Monday of September to honor and recognize the American labor movement and the works and contributions of laborers to the development and achievements in the United States.
Beginning in the late 19th century, as the trade union and labor movements grew, trade unionists proposed that a day be set aside to celebrate labor. "Labor Day" was promoted by the Central Labor Union and the Knights of Labor, which organized the first parade in New York City. In 1887, Oregon was the first state of the United States to make it an official public holiday. By the time it became an official federal holiday in 1894, thirty states in the U. S. officially celebrated Labor Day.
Canada's Labour Day is also celebrated on the first Monday of September. More than 150 other countries celebrate International Workers' Day on May 1, the European holiday of May Day. May Day was chosen by the Second International of socialist and communist parties to commemorate the general labor strike in the United States and events leading to the Haymarket affair, which occurred in Chicago, Illinois, from May 1 – May 4, 1886.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 03:03 UTC on Tuesday, 3 September 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Labor Day on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm standard Matthew.
pWotD Episode 2679: Emma Navarro
Welcome to Popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 275,993 views on Sunday, 1 September 2024 our article of the day is Emma Navarro.
Emma Navarro (born May 18, 2001) is an American professional tennis player. She has a career-high singles ranking of No. 12 by the WTA and a doubles ranking of No. 93, achieved in August 2024. She played college tennis at Virginia and won the NCAA Singles Championship in 2021, later becoming the first women's singles NCAA champion to reach the US Open quarterfinals. She won her first WTA Tour title at the 2024 Hobart International.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:48 UTC on Monday, 2 September 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Emma Navarro on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
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Until next time, I'm neural Justin.
pWotD Episode 2678: Bash in Berlin
Welcome to Popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 379,045 views on Saturday, 31 August 2024 our article of the day is Bash in Berlin.
WWE Bash in Berlin was a professional wrestling event produced by the American promotion WWE. It took place on Saturday, August 31, 2024, at the Uber Arena in Berlin, Germany and featured wrestlers from the promotion's Raw and SmackDown brand divisions. The event aired via pay-per-view (PPV) and livestreaming, marking WWE's first PPV and livestreaming event to be held in Germany.
Five matches were contested at the event. In the main event, which was the main match from Raw, Gunther defeated Randy Orton by technical submission to retain the World Heavyweight Championship. In the opening match, which was SmackDown's main match, Cody Rhodes defeated Kevin Owens to retain the Undisputed WWE Championship.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:07 UTC on Sunday, 1 September 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Bash in Berlin on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
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Until next time, I'm standard Joey.
pWotD Episode 2677: Johnny Gaudreau
Welcome to Popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 793,910 views on Friday, 30 August 2024 our article of the day is Johnny Gaudreau.
John Michael Gaudreau (August 13, 1993 – August 29, 2024) was an American professional ice hockey winger who played 11 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL). He played for the NCAA Division I's Boston College Eagles from 2011 to 2014, and was selected by the Calgary Flames in the fourth round, 104th overall, of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. Nicknamed "Johnny Hockey", he was named the 2014 winner of the Hobey Baker Award as the best player in the NCAA, and, during his first full NHL season in 2014–15, he was selected to play in the 2015 NHL All-Star Game, as well as being selected in the 2014 NHL All-Rookie team. Johnny was a Calder Memorial Trophy finalist for the NHL's best rookie. He won the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy as the NHL's most gentlemanly player for the 2016–17 season. In 2022, Gaudreau signed with the Columbus Blue Jackets, where he spent two seasons with the team.
Gaudreau and his brother, Matthew, were killed by a suspected drunk driver while cycling on August 29, 2024, in Oldmans Township, New Jersey.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:02 UTC on Saturday, 31 August 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Johnny Gaudreau on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm standard Geraint.
pWotD Episode 2676: Toby Keith
Welcome to Popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 295,444 views on Thursday, 29 August 2024 our article of the day is Toby Keith.
Toby Keith Covel (July 8, 1961 – February 5, 2024) was an American country music singer, songwriter, record producer, actor, and businessman.
Keith released his chart-topping debut single, "Should've Been a Cowboy", in 1993. During the 1990s, Keith released his first four studio albums, each of which earned gold or higher certification. Keith's breakthrough single, "How Do You Like Me Now?!", was the title track to his 1999 album of the same name. The single was the number one country song of 2000. Keith's next three albums were certified 4× Platinum, and each album produced three number one singles. In 2005, Keith founded the label Show Dog Nashville, which later became Show Dog-Universal Music. Keith also made his acting debut in 2006, starring in the film Broken Bridges. He co-starred with comedian Rodney Carrington in the 2008 film Beer for My Horses, inspired by his song of the same name.
In all, Keith released 19 studio albums, two Christmas albums, and five compilation albums, totaling worldwide sales of over 40 million albums. He charted 61 singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts, including 20 number one hits and 22 additional top 10 hits. His longest-lasting number one hits are "Beer for My Horses" (a 2003 duet with Willie Nelson) and "As Good as I Once Was" (2005). He was nominated for seven Grammy Awards. Keith was awarded the National Medal of Arts by President Donald Trump in a closed ceremony alongside Ricky Skaggs on January 13, 2021.
Keith died on February 5, 2024 from stomach cancer. He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2024, having been elected just hours after his death.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:34 UTC on Friday, 30 August 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Toby Keith on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
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Until next time, I'm neural Niamh.
pWotD Episode 2675: Federico Chiesa
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With 155,506 views on Wednesday, 28 August 2024 our article of the day is Federico Chiesa.
Federico Chiesa (Italian pronunciation: [fedeˈriːko ˈkjɛːza; ˈkjeːza]; born 25 October 1997) is an Italian professional footballer who plays as a winger or forward for Serie A club Juventus and the Italy national team. He is the son of former footballer Enrico Chiesa.
Coming through Fiorentina's youth academy, Chiesa made his first-team debut in 2016. He stayed at the club for four years, scoring 34 goals in 153 appearances in all competitions. Chiesa moved to Juventus in the 2020–21 season, winning the Coppa Italia and Supercoppa Italiana in his first season.
At international level, Chiesa made his senior debut for Italy in March 2018. He helped his country win the UEFA Euro 2020, while being named in the Team of the Tournament.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:01 UTC on Thursday, 29 August 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Federico Chiesa on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm neural Gregory.
pWotD Episode 2674: Oasis (band)
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With 515,435 views on Tuesday, 27 August 2024 our article of the day is Oasis (band).
Oasis are an English rock band formed in Manchester in 1991. The group initially consisted of Liam Gallagher (lead vocals), Paul Arthurs (guitar), Paul McGuigan (bass guitar) and Tony McCarroll (drums), with Liam asking his older brother Noel Gallagher (lead guitar, vocals) to join as a fifth member a few months later to finalise their formation. Noel became the de facto leader of the group and took over the songwriting duties for the band's first four albums. They are characterised as one of the defining and most globally successful groups of the Britpop genre.
Oasis signed to independent record label Creation Records in 1993 and released their record-setting debut album Definitely Maybe (1994), which topped the UK Albums Chart and quickly became the fastest-selling debut album in British history at the time. The following year they released (What's the Story) Morning Glory? (1995) with new drummer Alan White, in the midst of a highly publicised chart rivalry with peers Blur. Spending ten weeks at number one on the British charts, (What's the Story) Morning Glory? was also an international chart success and became one of the best-selling albums of all time, the fifth-best-selling album in the UK and the biggest-selling album in the UK of the 1990s. The Gallagher brothers featured regularly in tabloid newspapers throughout the 1990s for their public disputes and wild lifestyles. In 1996, Oasis performed two nights at Knebworth for an audience of 125,000 each time, the largest outdoor concerts in UK history at the time. In 1997, Oasis released their highly anticipated third studio album, Be Here Now, which became the fastest-selling album in UK chart history.
Founder members Arthurs and McGuigan left in 1999 during the recording of the band's fourth studio album Standing on the Shoulder of Giants (2000). They were replaced by former Heavy Stereo guitarist Gem Archer on guitar and former Ride guitarist Andy Bell on bass. White departed in 2004, replaced by guest drummer Zak Starkey, and later by Chris Sharrock. Oasis released three more studio albums in the 2000s: Heathen Chemistry (2002), Don't Believe the Truth (2005) and Dig Out Your Soul (2008). The group abruptly disbanded in 2009 after the sudden departure of Noel Gallagher. The remaining members of the band continued under the name Beady Eye until their disbandment in 2014. Both Gallagher brothers have continued on to have successful solo careers. On 27 August 2024, Oasis announced that they would reform for performances in the UK and Ireland in the summer of 2025 during their Live '25 Tour.
As of 2024, Oasis have sold over 75 million records worldwide, making them one of the best-selling music artists of all time. They are among the most successful acts in the history of the UK Singles Chart and the UK Albums Chart, with eight UK number-one singles and eight UK number-one albums. The band also achieved three Platinum albums in the US. They won 17 NME Awards, nine Q Awards, four MTV Europe Music Awards and six Brit Awards, including one in 2007 for Outstanding Contribution to Music and one for the "Best Album of the Last 30 Years" for (What's the Story) Morning Glory?. They were also nominated for two Grammy Awards.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:56 UTC on Wednesday, 28 August 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Oasis (band) on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.
Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.
Until next time, I'm neural Amy.
pWotD Episode 2673: Sven-Göran Eriksson
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With 503,262 views on Monday, 26 August 2024 our article of the day is Sven-Göran Eriksson.
Sven-Göran Eriksson (Swedish pronunciation: [svɛnˈjœ̂ːran ˈêːrɪkˌsɔn] ; 5 February 1948 – 26 August 2024) was a Swedish football player and manager.
After a playing career as a right-back, Eriksson went on to experience major success in club management between 1977 and 2001, winning 18 trophies with a variety of league clubs in Sweden, Portugal, and Italy. In European competition, he won both the UEFA Cup and the European Cup Winners' Cup (the last edition of the latter trophy before its abolition) and reached the final of the European Cup.
Eriksson later managed the national teams of England, Mexico, Philippines and the Ivory Coast, as well as Manchester City and Leicester City in England. Eriksson coached in ten countries: Sweden, Portugal, Italy, England, Mexico, Ivory Coast, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates, China and the Philippines.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:55 UTC on Tuesday, 27 August 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Sven-Göran Eriksson on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
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Until next time, I'm neural Danielle.
pWotD Episode 2672: All In (2024)
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With 310,686 views on Sunday, 25 August 2024 our article of the day is All In (2024).
The 2024 All In, also promoted as All In London at Wembley Stadium or simply All In London, was a professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) event produced by the American promotion All Elite Wrestling (AEW). It was the second annual All In by AEW, and third All In overall. The event took place on August 25, 2024, at Wembley Stadium in London, England, coinciding with the United Kingdom's August Bank Holiday weekend.
Twelve matches were contested at the event, including three on the Zero-Hour pre-show. In the main event, Bryan Danielson defeated Swerve Strickland in a Title vs. Career match to win the AEW World Championship in Swerve's first submission loss in AEW. In other prominent matches, Mercedes Moné defeated Dr. Britt Baker, D. M. D. to retain the AEW TBS Championship, Will Ospreay defeated MJF to win the AEW International Championship, and "The Glamour" Mariah May defeated "Timeless" Toni Storm to win the AEW Women's World Championship. The event also featured the AEW debut of former WWE wrestler Ricochet, the return of Jamie Hayter, who had been out with an injury since November 2023, and appearances by Sting and Grizzled Young Veterans (James Drake and Zack Gibson). The event also featured the in-ring return of English wrestler Nigel McGuinness following his retirement in 2011 and subsequent transition into color commentary.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:33 UTC on Monday, 26 August 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see All In (2024) on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm neural Amy.
pWotD Episode 2671: Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Welcome to Popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 564,912 views on Saturday, 24 August 2024 our article of the day is Robert F. Kennedy Jr..
Robert Francis Kennedy Jr. (born January 17, 1954), also known by his initials RFK Jr., is an American politician, environmental lawyer, anti-vaccine activist, and conspiracy theorist. He is the chairman and founder of Children's Health Defense, an anti-vaccine advocacy group that is a leading proponent of COVID-19 vaccine misinformation, and was an independent candidate in the 2024 United States presidential election. A member of the Kennedy family, he is a son of the U. S. attorney general and senator Robert F. Kennedy, and a nephew of the U. S. president John F. Kennedy and the senator Ted Kennedy.
After growing up in the Washington, D. C. area and Massachusetts, Kennedy graduated from Harvard University and obtained his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Virginia School of Law. He began his career as an assistant district attorney in New York City. In the mid-1980s, he joined two nonprofits focused on environmental protection: Riverkeeper and the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). His work at Riverkeeper set long-term environmental legal standards. At both organizations, Kennedy won legal battles against large corporate polluters. He became an adjunct professor of environmental law at Pace University School of Law in 1986. In 1987, Kennedy founded Pace's Environmental Litigation Clinic, and held the positions of supervising attorney and co-director there until 2017. He founded the nonprofit environmental group Waterkeeper Alliance in 1999, serving as the president of its board until 2020.
Since 2005, Kennedy has promoted anti-vaccine misinformation and public-health conspiracy theories, including the scientifically disproven claim of a causal link between vaccines and autism. Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, he has emerged as a leading proponent of COVID-19 vaccine misinformation in the United States. Many of his often false public health claims have targeted such prominent figures as Anthony Fauci, Bill Gates, and Joe Biden. He has written books including The Real Anthony Fauci (2021) and A Letter to Liberals (2022).
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:25 UTC on Sunday, 25 August 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm standard Brian.
pWotD Episode 2670: Maya Harris
Welcome to Popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 513,695 views on Friday, 23 August 2024 our article of the day is Maya Harris.
Maya Lakshmi Harris (born January 30, 1967) is an American lawyer, public policy advocate, and writer. Harris was one of three senior policy advisors for Hillary Clinton's 2016 presidential campaign's policy agenda and she also served as chair of the 2020 presidential campaign of her sister, Kamala Harris.
Harris was born in Champaign–Urbana, Illinois, and was educated at Bishop O'Dowd High School, the University of California, Berkeley, and Stanford University. She was involved with PolicyLink, the American Civil Liberties Union, and the Center for American Progress.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:38 UTC on Saturday, 24 August 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Maya Harris on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm neural Kendra.
pWotD Episode 2669: Bill Clinton
Welcome to Popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 342,902 views on Thursday, 22 August 2024 our article of the day is Bill Clinton.
William Jefferson Clinton (né Blythe III; born August 19, 1946) is an American lawyer and politician who served as the 42nd president of the United States from 1993 to 2001. A member of the Democratic Party, he previously served as governor of Arkansas from 1979 to 1981 and again from 1983 to 1992. Clinton, whose policies reflected a centrist "Third Way" political philosophy, became known as a New Democrat.
Clinton was born and raised in Arkansas. He graduated from Georgetown University in 1968, and later from Yale Law School, where he met his future wife, Hillary Rodham. After graduating from law school, Clinton returned to Arkansas and won election as state attorney general, followed by two non-consecutive tenures as Arkansas governor. As governor, he overhauled the state's education system and served as chairman of the National Governors Association. Clinton was elected president in the 1992 election, defeating the incumbent Republican Party president George H. W. Bush and the independent businessman Ross Perot. He became the first president to be born in the Baby Boomer generation.
Clinton presided over the longest period of peacetime economic expansion in American history. He signed into law the North American Free Trade Agreement and the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act, but failed to pass his plan for national health care reform. Starting in the mid-1990s, he began an ideological evolution as he became much more conservative in his domestic policy, advocating for and signing the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act, the State Children's Health Insurance Program and financial deregulation measures. He appointed Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Stephen Breyer to the U. S. Supreme Court. In foreign policy, Clinton ordered U. S. military intervention in the Bosnian and Kosovo wars, eventually signing the Dayton Peace agreement. He also called for the expansion of NATO in Eastern Europe and many former Warsaw Pact members joined NATO during his presidency. Clinton's foreign policy in the Middle East saw him sign the Iraq Liberation Act which gave aid to groups against Saddam Hussein. He also participated in the Oslo I Accord and Camp David Summit to advance the Israeli–Palestinian peace process, and assisted the Northern Ireland peace process.
Clinton won re-election in the 1996 election, defeating Republican nominee Bob Dole and Reform Party nominee Perot. His second term was dominated by the Clinton–Lewinsky scandal, which began in 1995, when he had a sexual relationship with the then 22-year-old White House intern Monica Lewinsky. In January 1998, news of the affair made tabloid headlines. This scandal escalated throughout the year, culminating in December when Clinton was impeached by the House of Representatives, becoming the first U. S. president to be impeached since Andrew Johnson. The two impeachment articles that the House passed were centered around perjury and Clinton using the powers of the presidency to commit obstruction of justice. In 1999, Clinton's impeachment trial began in the Senate, where he was acquitted on both charges. During the last three years of Clinton's presidency, the Congressional Budget Office reported a budget surplus—the first such surplus since 1969.
Clinton left office in 2001 with the joint-highest approval rating of any U. S. president. His presidency ranks among the middle to upper tier in historical rankings of U. S. presidents. However, his personal conduct and misconduct allegations have made him the subject of substantial scrutiny. Since leaving office, Clinton has been involved in public speaking and humanitarian work. He created the Clinton Foundation to address international causes such as the prevention of HIV/AIDS and global warming. In 2009, he was named the United Nations special envoy to Haiti. After the 2010 Haiti earthquake, Clinton founded the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund with George W. Bush and Barack Obama. He has remained active in Democratic Party politics, campaigning for his wife's 2008 and 2016 presidential campaigns.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:37 UTC on Friday, 23 August 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Bill Clinton on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm neural Joanna.
pWotD Episode 2668: Doug Emhoff
Welcome to Popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 413,782 views on Wednesday, 21 August 2024 our article of the day is Doug Emhoff.
Douglas Craig Emhoff (born October 13, 1964) is an American lawyer who is the second gentleman of the United States. He is married to Kamala Harris, the 49th vice president of the United States. As the first husband of a vice president, Emhoff is the first second gentleman in American federal history. He is also the first Jewish spouse of an American president or vice president.
Emhoff began his career as an entertainment lawyer. He was managing director of Venable's West Coast offices and later became a partner at DLA Piper. He is also a distinguished visiting professor at Georgetown University Law Center.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:03 UTC on Thursday, 22 August 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Doug Emhoff on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
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Until next time, I'm neural Kendra.
pWotD Episode 2667: Ashley Biden
Welcome to Popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 382,358 views on Tuesday, 20 August 2024 our article of the day is Ashley Biden.
Ashley Blazer Biden (born June 8, 1981) is an American social worker, activist, and fashion designer. She served as the executive director of the Delaware Center for Justice from 2014 to 2019. Prior to her administrative role at the center, Biden worked in the Delaware Department of Services for Children, Youth, and Their Families. She founded the fashion company Livelihood, which partners with the online retailer Gilt Groupe to raise money for community programs focused on eliminating income inequality in the United States, launching it at New York Fashion Week in 2017. Biden's parents are President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 03:08 UTC on Wednesday, 21 August 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Ashley Biden on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm neural Amy.
pWotD Episode 2666: Mike Lynch (businessman)
Welcome to Popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 537,343 views on Monday, 19 August 2024 our article of the day is Mike Lynch (businessman).
Michael Richard Lynch (born 16 June 1965) is a British-Irish technology entrepreneur, known as the co-founder of Autonomy Corporation and the founder of Invoke Capital. Lynch additionally became a co-founder, alongside Invoke Capital, of cybersecurity company Darktrace. He has also had various other roles, including in an advisory capacity.
Following a degree, PhD and post-doctoral research at Cambridge University, he applied his research in machine learning to set up software companies and become a major figure in Silicon Fen. The sale of Autonomy to Hewlett-Packard in 2011 led to accusations of fraud and resulted in civil litigation in the UK and Lynch's extradition to the US, where he went on trial in March 2024 and was found not guilty of all charges in June 2024.
He has been missing since 19 August 2024, after the Bayesian—one of the largest sailing yachts—capsized and sank off the coast of Sicily.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:28 UTC on Tuesday, 20 August 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Mike Lynch (businessman) on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
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Until next time, I'm standard Joanna.
pWotD Episode 2665: Alain Delon
Welcome to Popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 616,050 views on Sunday, 18 August 2024 our article of the day is Alain Delon.
Alain Fabien Maurice Marcel Delon (French: [alɛ̃ dəlɔ̃]; 8 November 1935 – 18 August 2024) was a French actor. Acknowledged as a cultural and cinematic leading man of the 20th century, Delon emerged as one of the foremost European actors of the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s, and became an international sex symbol. His style, looks, and roles made him an icon of cinema worldwide and earned him enduring popularity. Delon achieved critical acclaim for his roles in films such as Women Are Weak (1959), Purple Noon (1960), Rocco and His Brothers (1960), L'Eclisse (1962), The Leopard (1963), Le Samouraï (1967), The Girl on a Motorcycle (1968), La Piscine (1969), Le Cercle Rouge (1970), Un flic (1972), and Monsieur Klein (1976). Over the course of his career, Delon worked with many directors, including Luchino Visconti, Jean-Luc Godard, Jean-Pierre Melville, Michelangelo Antonioni, and Louis Malle.
Delon received many film and entertainment awards throughout his career. In 1985, he won the César Award for Best Actor for his performance in Notre histoire (1984). In 1991, he became a member of France's Legion of Honour. At the 45th Berlin International Film Festival, he won the Honorary Golden Bear. At the 2019 Cannes Film Festival, he received the Honorary Palme d'Or.
In addition to his acting career, Delon also recorded the spoken part in the popular 1973 song "Paroles, paroles", a duet with Dalida as the main singing voice. He acquired Swiss citizenship in 1999.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 03:00 UTC on Monday, 19 August 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Alain Delon on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
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Until next time, I'm neural Emma.
pWotD Episode 2664: Stree 2
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With 282,411 views on Saturday, 17 August 2024 our article of the day is Stree 2.
Stree 2: Sarkate Ka Aatank (transl. Woman 2: Terror of the Headless) is a 2024 Hindi-language comedy horror film directed by Amar Kaushik, written by Niren Bhatt, and produced jointly by Maddock Films and Jio Studios. It is the fifth installment in the Maddock Supernatural Universe and is a sequel to Stree (2018). The film stars Rajkummar Rao, Shraddha Kapoor, Pankaj Tripathi, Abhishek Banerjee and Aparshakti Khurana.
Kaushik expressed interest in a sequel to Stree as early as October 2018, and Rao later confirmed that development was underway in February 2022. The production houses officially announced the sequel in April 2023. Principal photography commenced the following July and was predominantly shot in Chanderi and Bihar before wrapping by mid‐2024. The film has music composed by Sachin–Jigar, score composed by Justin Varghese, cinematography handled by Jishnu Bhattacharjee and editing by Hemanti Sarkar.
Stree 2 was theatrically released in India on 15 August 2024, coinciding with Independence Day. The film received positive reviews from critics and has grossed ₹130 crore at the box office, emerging as the sixth highest-grossing Hindi film of 2024.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:22 UTC on Sunday, 18 August 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Stree 2 on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.
Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.
Until next time, I'm neural Kimberly.
pWotD Episode 2663: Alien: Romulus
Welcome to Popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 347,199 views on Friday, 16 August 2024 our article of the day is Alien: Romulus.
Alien: Romulus is a 2024 American science fiction horror film directed and co-written by Fede Álvarez. Produced by Scott Free Productions and Brandywine Productions, it is the seventh installment in the Alien franchise and serves as a standalone interquel set between the events of Alien (1979) and Aliens (1986). It stars Cailee Spaeny, David Jonsson, Archie Renaux, Isabela Merced, Spike Fearn, and Aileen Wu. The story concerns a group of young space colonists who, while scavenging a derelict space station, come face to face with a xenomorph.
The film was released by 20th Century Studios in theatres on August 16, 2024 in the United States to positive reviews from critics.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:47 UTC on Saturday, 17 August 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Alien: Romulus on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
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Until next time, I'm neural Kevin.
pWotD Episode 2662: Gena Rowlands
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With 399,666 views on Thursday, 15 August 2024 our article of the day is Gena Rowlands.
Virginia Cathryn "Gena" Rowlands (; June 19, 1930 – August 14, 2024) was an American actress, whose career in film, stage, and television spanned nearly seven decades. A four-time Emmy and two-time Golden Globe winner, she is known for her collaborations with her actor-director husband John Cassavetes in ten films, including A Woman Under the Influence (1974) and Gloria (1980), both of which earned her nominations for the Academy Award for Best Actress. She also won the Silver Bear for Best Actress for Opening Night (1977). She is also known for her performances in Woody Allen's Another Woman (1988), and her son Nick Cassavetes's film, The Notebook (2004). In 2021, Richard Brody of The New Yorker said, "The most important and original movie actor of the past half century-plus is Gena Rowlands." In November 2015, Rowlands received an Honorary Academy Award in recognition of her unique screen performances.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:45 UTC on Friday, 16 August 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Gena Rowlands on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
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Until next time, I'm standard Emma.
pWotD Episode 2661: It Ends with Us
Welcome to Popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 165,481 views on Wednesday, 14 August 2024 our article of the day is It Ends with Us.
It Ends with Us is a romance novel by Colleen Hoover, published by Atria Books on August 2, 2016. Based on the relationship between her mother and father, Hoover described it as "the hardest book I've ever written."
As of 2019, the novel had sold over one million copies worldwide and been translated into over twenty languages. In 2021, the novel experienced a resurgence in popularity through TikTok and topped sales lists for 2022 and 2023. A sequel titled It Starts with Us was published in October 2022. A film adaptation was released in August 2024, with a screenplay by Christy Hall. It was directed by Justin Baldoni, with Blake Lively, Baldoni, and Brandon Sklenar in lead roles.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:06 UTC on Thursday, 15 August 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see It Ends with Us on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
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Until next time, I'm neural Kimberly.
pWotD Episode 2660: 2018 Horizon Air Q400 incident
Welcome to Popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 145,547 views on Tuesday, 13 August 2024 our article of the day is 2018 Horizon Air Q400 incident.
On August 10, 2018, a Horizon Air De Havilland Canada Dash 8-400 was stolen from Seattle–Tacoma International Airport (Sea–Tac) by 28-year-old Richard Russell, a Horizon Air ground service agent with no piloting experience. After Russell performed an unauthorized takeoff, two McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle fighters were scrambled to intercept the aircraft. Sea–Tac air traffic control made radio contact with Russell, the sole occupant, who described himself as a "broken guy, got a few screws loose, I guess." About 1 hour and 15 minutes after takeoff, Russell crashed the aircraft on lightly populated Ketron Island in Puget Sound, killing himself.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 03:04 UTC on Wednesday, 14 August 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see 2018 Horizon Air Q400 incident on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm neural Stephen.
pWotD Episode 2659: 2028 Summer Olympics
Welcome to Popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 178,180 views on Monday, 12 August 2024 our article of the day is 2028 Summer Olympics.
The 2028 Summer Olympics, officially the Games of the XXXIV Olympiad and commonly known as Los Angeles 2028 or LA28, is an upcoming international multi-sport event scheduled to take place from July 14–30, 2028, in the United States. Los Angeles will be the host city, with various events also scheduled to be held at other cities spread across the Greater Los Angeles area, plus two subsites in Oklahoma City.
Los Angeles had originally bid for the 2024 Summer Olympics. However, after multiple withdrawals that left only Los Angeles and Paris in contention, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) approved a process to concurrently award the 2024 and 2028 Summer Olympics to the two remaining candidates; Paris displayed a preference for the 2024 Games, and Los Angeles agreed to host in 2028. Both of the bids were praised for high technical plans and innovative ways to use a record-breaking number of existing and temporary facilities. Los Angeles was formally awarded the Games at the 131st IOC Session in Lima, Peru, on September 13, 2017. They will mark the fifth Summer Olympics (first since Atlanta 1996), and ninth Olympics overall, to be hosted by the United States. Having previously hosted the Summer Olympics in 1932 and 1984, Los Angeles becomes the third three-time host city after London (1908, 1948, 2012) and Paris (1900, 1924, 2024), and the first non-European city to do so.
After debuting in 2020 as optional events, skateboarding, sport climbing, and surfing have been promoted to the Summer Olympics' "core" event program. Boxing, modern pentathlon, and weightlifting had been provisionally removed due to governance issues; modern pentathlon and weightlifting were later reinstated following reform efforts, with the former expected to employ a new format replacing show jumping with obstacle course racing, while the decision on boxing was postponed. The 2028 Games will feature the debut of flag football and squash as optional sports, joined by the return of baseball/softball, cricket (for the first time since 1900) and lacrosse (for the first time since 1908).
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:22 UTC on Tuesday, 13 August 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see 2028 Summer Olympics on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.
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Until next time, I'm neural Ruth.
pWotD Episode 2658: Sifan Hassan
Welcome to Popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 420,276 views on Sunday, 11 August 2024 our article of the day is Sifan Hassan.
Sifan Hassan (Oromo: Siifan Hassan; born 1993) is an Ethiopian-born Dutch middle- and long-distance runner. She is most recognized for her versatility in running championship and world leading performances in widely disparate distances. She completed an unprecedented triple at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, winning gold medals in both the 5,000 metres and 10,000 metres and a bronze medal for the 1,500 metres. Hassan is the only athlete in Olympic history to win medals across a middle-distance event and both long-distance races in a single Games. She is only the second of three women to complete an Olympic distance double. At the Paris 2024 Olympics, Hassan secured a bronze medal in both the women's 5,000 m and 10,000 m events and gold in the women's marathon, becoming the only woman to win the Olympic gold medal in 5,000 metres, 10,000 metres and Marathon race.
At the World Athletics Championships, Hassan took 1,500 m and 10,000 m titles in 2019, becoming the only athlete (male or female) in history to win both events at a single World Championships or Olympic Games. She won a bronze at the 1500 m in 2015, and at the 5000 m in 2017 when she also finished fifth in the 1,500 m. Hassan is a three-time World Indoor Championships medallist, winning gold at 1500 m in 2016 as well as silver at 3000 m and bronze for 1500 m in 2018. She earned six European medals (including two cross country titles), and one European indoor medal. She is also a three-time Diamond League winner, having secured the 1500 m/5000 m double in 2019. In her debut over the classic 26.2-mile distance, she won the 2023 London Marathon.
Hassan has been the world record holder for the one hour run since 2020. She held the world record for the one mile on the track from July 2019 to July 2023, when Faith Kipyegon overtook it. She held a world record at 10,000 m for two days in June 2021. She holds six European records (1500 m, 3000 m, 5000 m, 10,000 m, half marathon, marathon) and three other Dutch records.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:06 UTC on Monday, 12 August 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Sifan Hassan on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
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Until next time, I'm neural Matthew.
pWotD Episode 2657: Susan Wojcicki
Welcome to Popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 582,020 views on Saturday, 10 August 2024 our article of the day is Susan Wojcicki.
Susan Diane Wojcicki ( wuutch-ITS-kee; July 5, 1968 – August 9, 2024) was an American business executive who was the chief executive officer of YouTube from 2014 to 2023. Her net worth was estimated at $765 million in 2022.
Wojcicki worked in the technology industry for over twenty years. She became involved in the creation of Google in 1998 when she rented out her garage as an office to the company's founders. She worked as Google's first marketing manager in 1999, and later led the company's online advertising business and original video service. After observing the success of YouTube, she suggested that Google should buy it; the deal was approved for $1.65 billion in 2006. She was appointed CEO of YouTube in 2014, serving until resigning in February 2023.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:13 UTC on Sunday, 11 August 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Susan Wojcicki on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
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Until next time, I'm generative Ruth.
pWotD Episode 2656: Hunter Woodhall
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With 414,283 views on Friday, 9 August 2024 our article of the day is Hunter Woodhall.
Hunter Woodhall (born February 17, 1999) is an American track and field athlete. He won a bronze medal in the Men's 400m T62 at the 2020 Summer Paralympics.
He made his international debut in 2015 with a silver and bronze medal at the 2015 IPC Athletics World Championships, and later won a bronze and silver medal at the 2016 Summer Paralympics. After graduating from Syracuse High School, he became the first double amputee to earn an NCAA Division I scholarship.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:22 UTC on Saturday, 10 August 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Hunter Woodhall on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.
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Until next time, I'm neural Kimberly.
pWotD Episode 2655: Sobhita Dhulipala
Welcome to Popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 518,650 views on Thursday, 8 August 2024 our article of the day is Sobhita Dhulipala.
Sobhita Dhulipala (born 31 May 1992) is an Indian actress who works in Hindi films and television shows. She won the Femina Miss India Earth 2013 title at Femina Miss India 2013 pageant and represented India at Miss Earth 2013. Dhulipala made her acting debut in Anurag Kashyap's Raman Raghav 2.0 (2016) and subsequently played the lead role in the Amazon Prime Video drama series Made in Heaven (2019–2023).
Dhulipala went on to appear in the Telugu films Goodachari (2018) and Major (2022), the Malayalam films Moothon (2019) and Kurup (2021), the two-part Tamil epic Ponniyin Selvan: I (2022) and Ponniyin Selvan: II (2023), and the crime thriller series The Night Manager (2023). She expanded to American cinema with the action thriller Monkey Man (2024).
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:07 UTC on Friday, 9 August 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Sobhita Dhulipala on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
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Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.
Until next time, I'm neural Kajal.
pWotD Episode 2654: Vinesh Phogat
Welcome to Popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 491,178 views on Wednesday, 7 August 2024 our article of the day is Vinesh Phogat.
Vinesh Phogat (born 25 August 1994) is an Indian professional freestyle wrestler. She is a multiple Commonwealth Games gold medalist, having won golds at the 2014, 2018 and 2022 Games. She became the first Indian woman wrestler to win a gold medal at the Commonwealth and Asian Games after she won the gold medal in the 2018 Asian Games. She has also won two bronze medals at the World Wrestling Championships.
She is a three time Olympian, having competed in three different weight classes - 48 kg in 2016, 53 kg in 2020 and 50 kg in 2024. In the 2024 Summer Olympics, she became the first international wrestler to defeat the then reigning Olympic champion Yui Susaki on the way to becoming the first Indian female wrestler to reach an Olympic final. However, she was later disqualified for being above the stipulated weight by about 100 grams during the weigh-in on the morning of the finals and therefore became ineligible for the medals.
Phogat was nominated for the Laureus World Sports Awards in 2019 and was the first Indian to get a nomination for the award. In 2023, she was part of the 2023 Indian wrestlers' protest against then president of Indian Wrestling Federation and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Singh, who was accused of sexual harassment by several female wrestlers.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:12 UTC on Thursday, 8 August 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Vinesh Phogat on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
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Until next time, I'm generative Ruth.
pWotD Episode 2653: Tim Walz
Welcome to Popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 3,830,600 views on Tuesday, 6 August 2024 our article of the day is Tim Walz.
Timothy James Walz ( WAWLZ; born April 6, 1964) is an American politician, former schoolteacher, and retired U. S. Army non-commissioned officer who has served as the 41st governor of Minnesota since 2019. A member of the Democratic Party, he is its presumptive nominee for vice president in the 2024 United States presidential election. He was a member of the United States House of Representatives from 2007 to 2019, representing Minnesota's 1st congressional district.
Walz was born in West Point, Nebraska. He joined the Army National Guard and worked a blue-collar manufacturing job after high school. He later graduated with a teaching degree from Chadron State College in Nebraska before moving to Minnesota in 1996. Before running for Congress, he was a social studies teacher and football coach in the Mankato school district. He was elected to the United States House of Representatives for Minnesota's 1st congressional district in 2006, defeating six-term Republican incumbent Gil Gutknecht. He was reelected five times, resigning in 2019 after being elected governor. Walz represented a large, mostly rural section of southern Minnesota situated along the border with Iowa.
Walz was elected governor of Minnesota in November 2018, defeating the Republican nominee, Hennepin County commissioner Jeff Johnson. He was reelected in 2022, defeating Republican nominee Scott Jensen. During his second term, Walz pushed for and signed a wide range of legislation that included tax modifications, free school meals, bolstering state infrastructure, gun background checks, codifying abortion rights and free college tuition for low-income families.
On August 6, 2024, Vice President Kamala Harris announced her selection of Walz as her running mate in the 2024 U. S. presidential election.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:27 UTC on Wednesday, 7 August 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Tim Walz on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.
Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.
Until next time, I'm standard Amy.
pWotD Episode 2652: Armand Duplantis
Welcome to Popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 588,887 views on Monday, 5 August 2024 our article of the day is Armand Duplantis.
Armand Gustav "Mondo" Duplantis (born 10 November 1999) is a Swedish-American pole vaulter, the current world outdoor and indoor record holder (6.25 metres (20 ft 6 in) and 6.22 metres (20 ft 5 in) respectively), two-time Olympic (2020 and 2024) champion, two-time World outdoor (2022 and 2023) and two-time indoor champion, the current European champion, and the current Diamond League champion. He won the silver medal at the 2019 World Championships. Duplantis is a three-time European champion from 2018, when he set current world under-20 record, and from 2022 and 2024, he is 2022 World Indoor Championship and 2021 European Indoor Championship gold medalist. He is widely considered the greatest pole vaulter of all time.
Duplantis won titles as a 15-year-old at the 2015 World Youth Championships. A year later, he placed third at the World U20 Championships. In 2017, he took the European U20 title, and the following year, World U20 title. Duplantis is also a three-time Diamond League champion.
Both European and World Athletics Male Rising Star of the Year in 2018, two years later he was voted World Male Athlete of the Year. At the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Duplantis won his first Olympic Gold Medal. For his 2022 season, which saw him breaking the world records three times, becoming World outdoor and indoor champion, European and Diamond League champion, and clearing six-metre-plus 22 times, Duplantis was crowned both European and World Male Athlete of the Year. As of February 2023, he has cleared six metres or higher 60 times, the most of any athlete in history.
At various points in his career, Mondo has cleared the nine highest jumps of all time after Renaud Lavillenie jumped a WR 6.16 m (20 ft 2+1⁄2 in) in 2016. Since then, Duplantis has cleared every single height from 6.17m all the way to his current WR of 6.25m, which he did at the 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris. Duplantis won the gold medal with a jump of 6.00m and broke the world record with a jump of 6.25m in the same final, on his final attempt at the height.
Duplantis is one of only eleven athletes (along with Valerie Adams, Usain Bolt, Veronica Campbell-Brown, Jacques Freitag, Yelena Isinbayeva, Kirani James, Faith Kipyegon, Jana Pittman, Dani Samuels, and David Storl) to win world championships at the youth, junior, and senior level of an athletic event.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 15:51 UTC on Tuesday, 6 August 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Armand Duplantis on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.
Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.
Until next time, I'm standard Matthew.
pWotD Episode 2651: SummerSlam (2024)
Welcome to Popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 568,349 views on Sunday, 4 August 2024 our article of the day is SummerSlam (2024).
The 2024 SummerSlam, also promoted as SummerSlam: Cleveland, was a professional wrestling event produced by WWE. It was the 37th annual SummerSlam and took place on Saturday, August 3, 2024, at Cleveland Browns Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio. The event aired via pay-per-view (PPV) and livestreaming and featured wrestlers from the promotion's Raw and SmackDown brand divisions. This was the second SummerSlam event to emanate from Cleveland, after the 1996 event, which was held at the Gund Arena (now known as Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse). WWE wrestler and Cleveland area native The Miz served as the host of the event.
This was the first SummerSlam held after WWE merged with the Endeavor subsidiary Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) in September 2023, under the banner of TKO Group Holdings. It was the final SummerSlam to livestream on the standalone WWE Network, which is set to close in any markets where the service is still available in January 2025, with WWE content moving to Netflix.
Seven matches were contested at the event. In the main event, which was the main match from SmackDown, Cody Rhodes defeated Solo Sikoa in a Bloodline Rules match retain the Undisputed WWE Championship. In another prominent match, which was Raw's main match, Gunther defeated Damian Priest to win the World Heavyweight Championship. The event marked the return of Roman Reigns to WWE since going on a hiatus following WrestleMania XL in April 2024.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:40 UTC on Monday, 5 August 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see SummerSlam (2024) on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.
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Until next time, I'm neural Danielle.
pWotD Episode 2650: Sha'Carri Richardson
Welcome to Popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 332,972 views on Saturday, 3 August 2024 our article of the day is Sha'Carri Richardson.
Sha'Carri Richardson ( shə-KERREE; born March 25, 2000) is an American track and field sprinter who competes in the 100 meters and 200 meters races. Richardson rose to fame in 2019 as a freshman at Louisiana State University, running 10.75 seconds to break the 100 m collegiate record at the NCAA Division I Championships. This winning time made her one of the ten fastest women in history at 19 years old.
In April 2021, Richardson ran a new personal best of 10.72 seconds, becoming the sixth-fastest woman of all time (at the time) and the fourth-fastest American woman in history. She qualified for the 2020 Summer Olympics after winning the women's 100-meter dash with 10.86 in the United States Olympic Trials. On July 1, it was reported that Richardson had tested positive for cannabis use following her 100 m final at the U. S. Trials, invalidating her win and making her ineligible to compete in the 100 m at the Olympics. After successfully completing a counseling program, she accepted a one-month period of ineligibility that began on June 28, 2021. In July 2023, she became the US national champion in the women's 100 metres at the 2023 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, running 10.82 seconds.
Richardson won gold in the 100 m at the 2023 World Championships in Budapest, beating Shericka Jackson and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce in a new championships record time of 10.65 seconds. On the penultimate day of the 2023 World Championships, she also won gold as part of Team USA in the women's 4 × 100m relay final with a championship record of 41.03 seconds. On June 22, 2024, Richardson defended her title as the US national champion in the 100-metre sprint event by winning the women's 100m final in 10.71 seconds (WL), qualifying for the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France, where she won a silver medal in the 100m.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:49 UTC on Sunday, 4 August 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Sha'Carri Richardson on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.
Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.
Until next time, I'm neural Niamh.
pWotD Episode 2649: Imane Khelif
Welcome to Popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 2,637,462 views on Friday, 2 August 2024 our article of the day is Imane Khelif.
Imane Khelif (Arabic: إيمان خليف, romanized: ʾĪmān Khalīf, pronounced [ʔiːˈmaːn xaˈliːf]; born 2 May 1999) is an Algerian professional boxer. She represented Algeria at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo and the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.
Following Khelif's victory over Italy's Angela Carini during the 2024 Olympic Games, rumors surfaced on social media falsely claiming that Khelif was a transgender woman, or speculation that she is intersex. The controversy traces back to Khelif's disqualification from the 2023 Women's World Boxing Championships organised by the International Boxing Association (IBA). The International Olympic Committee (IOC) and its Paris Boxing Unit stated Khelif was eligible to compete in the Olympics, criticized the IBA disqualification, and described many reports as misleading.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 03:16 UTC on Saturday, 3 August 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Imane Khelif on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.
Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.
Until next time, I'm neural Ruth.
pWotD Episode 2648: Katie Ledecky
Welcome to Popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 610,582 views on Thursday, 1 August 2024 our article of the day is Katie Ledecky.
Kathleen Genevieve Ledecky ( lə-DEH-kee; born March 17, 1997) is an American competitive swimmer. She has won eight Olympic gold medals and 21 world championship gold medals, the most in history for a female swimmer. With 13 medals, she is also the most decorated female American Olympian in history. She has won a world record 16 individual gold medals at the World Aquatics Championships. Ledecky's 8 individual gold medals at the Olympics and 26 overall medals at the World Aquatics Championships are records in women's swimming. Ledecky is the world record holder in the women's 800- and 1500-meter freestyle (both long course and short course) as well as the former world record holder in the women's 400-meter freestyle (long course). She also holds the fastest-ever times in the women's 500-, 1000-, and 1650-yard freestyle events. She is widely regarded as the greatest female swimmer of all time and one of the greatest Olympians of all time.
In her international debut at the 2012 London Olympic Games as a 15-year-old, Ledecky unexpectedly won the gold medal in the women's 800-metre freestyle. Four years later, she left Rio de Janeiro as the most decorated female athlete of the 2016 Olympic Games, with four gold medals, one silver medal, and two world records. At the 2020 Olympic Games, Ledecky also emerged as the most decorated U. S. female athlete and became the first American female swimmer to win an individual event in three straight Olympiads. In 2023, she won gold in the 800 meter World Championship, becoming the only swimmer—male or female—to win six World Championship gold medals in the same event. In total, she has won 47 medals (36 golds, 9 silvers, and 2 bronzes) in major international competitions, spanning the Summer Olympics, World Championships, and Pan Pacific Championships. During her career, she has broken sixteen world records.
Ledecky's success has earned her Swimming World's Female World Swimmer of the Year a record-breaking five times. Ledecky was also named Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year in 2017 and 2022, international female Champion of Champions by L'Équipe in 2014 and 2017, United States Olympic Committee Female Athlete of the Year in 2013, 2016 and 2017, Sportswoman of the Year by the Women's Sports Foundation in 2017, and the ESPY Best Female Athlete in 2022. In 2024, she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Joe Biden.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:15 UTC on Friday, 2 August 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Katie Ledecky on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.
Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.
Until next time, I'm standard Ivy.
pWotD Episode 2647: Ismail Haniyeh
Welcome to Popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 636,456 views on Wednesday, 31 July 2024 our article of the day is Ismail Haniyeh.
Ismail Haniyeh (1962/1963 – 31 July 2024) was a Palestinian political figure who was the political leader of the Hamas organization that has governed the Gaza Strip since 2007. From 2017 until his assassination in 2024, he had mostly lived in Qatar.
Haniyeh was born in the al-Shati refugee camp in the then Egyptian-controlled Gaza Strip in 1962 or 1963, to parents who were expelled or fled from Ashkelon during the 1948 Palestine war. He gained a bachelor's degree in Arabic literature in 1987 from the Islamic University of Gaza, where he first became involved with Hamas after it was created during the First Intifada against the Israeli occupation, leading to his imprisonment for three short periods after having participated in protests. After his release in 1992, he was exiled to Lebanon, returning a year later to become a dean at Gaza's Islamic University. Haniyeh was appointed to head a Hamas office in 1997 and subsequently rose in the ranks of the organization.
Haniyeh was head of the Hamas list that won the Palestinian legislative elections of 2006, which campaigned on armed resistance against the Israeli occupation, and so became Prime Minister of the State of Palestine. However, Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian President, dismissed Haniyeh from office on 14 June 2007. Due to the then-ongoing Fatah–Hamas conflict, Haniyeh did not acknowledge Abbas' decree and continued to exercise prime ministerial authority in the Gaza Strip. Haniyeh was the leader of Hamas in the Gaza Strip from 2006 until February 2017, when he was replaced by Yahya Sinwar. Haniyeh was seen as relatively one of the more pragmatic and moderate figures in Hamas.
On 6 May 2017, Haniyeh was elected chairman of Hamas's Political Bureau, replacing Khaled Mashal; at the time, Haniyeh relocated to Qatar from the Gaza Strip. Following the start of the Israel-Hamas war in late 2023, Israel declared its intention to assassinate all Hamas leaders. In early 2024, three of his sons and three grandchildren were killed in an Israeli airstrike in the Gaza Strip. In May 2024, Karim Khan, the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, announced his intention to apply for an arrest warrant for Haniyeh, and other Hamas leaders, for war crimes and crimes against humanity, as part of the ICC investigation in Palestine. On 31 July 2024, Haniyeh was assassinated, allegedly by an Israeli strike, in his residence in Tehran during his visit in Iran for the inauguration of its newly-elected president.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:29 UTC on Thursday, 1 August 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Ismail Haniyeh on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.
Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.
Until next time, I'm neural Aria.
pWotD Episode 2646: Daniel Wiffen
Welcome to Popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 268,687 views on Tuesday, 30 July 2024 our article of the day is Daniel Wiffen.
Daniel Wiffen (born 14 July 2001) is a swimmer from Northern Ireland who competes at the Olympic Games, World championships and European championships for Ireland and at the Commonwealth Games for Northern Ireland. He is the Olympic and world champion at 800 metres.
Wiffen won gold at the men's 800 metre freestyle final at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, setting an Olympic record time of 7:38.19. He won the 800 and 1500 metres freestyle at the 2024 World Aquatics Championships in Doha, the first time a male Irish swimmer had become world champion. He won the 400, 800 and 1500 metre freestyle at the 2023 European Swimming Championships (25m) in Otopeni, and the inaugural European Under-23 title in 2023 in Dublin.
Wiffen holds the 800 metres freestyle short-course world record with a time of 7:20.46.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:15 UTC on Wednesday, 31 July 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Daniel Wiffen on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.
Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.
Until next time, I'm standard Matthew.
pWotD Episode 2645: Simone Biles
Welcome to Popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 627,778 views on Monday, 29 July 2024 our article of the day is Simone Biles.
Simone Arianne Biles Owens (née Biles; born March 14, 1997) is an American-Belizean artistic gymnast representing the United States. With 7 Olympic and 30 World Championship medals, she is the most decorated gymnast in history and is widely considered one of the greatest gymnasts of all time. With seven Olympic medals, she is the ninth-most decorated female Olympic gymnast, and is tied with Shannon Miller for the most Olympic medals earned by a U. S. gymnast.
At the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Biles won individual gold medals in the all-around, vault, and floor, bronze on balance beam, and gold as part of the United States team, dubbed the "Final Five". At the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, where she was favored to win at least four of the six available gold medals, she withdrew from most of the competition due to "the twisties", a temporary loss of air awareness while performing twisting elements. She won a silver medal with her team and a bronze medal on the balance beam.
Biles is a six-time World all-around champion (2013–2015, 2018–2019, 2023), six-time World floor exercise champion (2013–2015, 2018–2019, 2023), four-time World balance beam champion (2014–2015, 2019, 2023), two-time World vault champion (2018–2019), nine-time United States national all-around champion (2013–2016, 2018–2019, 2021, 2023–2024), and was a member of the gold medal-winning American teams at the 2014, 2015, 2018, 2019, and 2023 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships. She is also a four-time World silver medalist (2013–2014 and 2023 on vault, 2018 on uneven bars) and a three-time World bronze medalist (2015 on vault, 2013 and 2018 on balance beam).
In 2019, Biles broke the record for most World Championship medals in gymnastics; she won her 24th and 25th medals at the event, surpassing Vitaly Scherbo's 23 World medals. Biles has since secured an additional five World medals, for a total of 30. She holds the record for World all-around titles (6), and is the sixth woman to win an individual all-around title at both the World Championships and the Olympics, the first since Lilia Podkopayeva in 1996 to hold both titles simultaneously. Biles is the tenth female gymnast and first American female gymnast to win a World medal on every event, and the first female gymnast since Daniela Silivaș in 1988 to win a medal on every event at a single Olympic Games or World Championships.
In 2022, Joe Biden awarded her the Presidential Medal of Freedom. In 2023, she won her eighth U. S. Gymnastics title, breaking the 90-year-old U. S. Gymnastics title record previously held by Alfred Jochim. Biles has won the Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year thrice (2017, 2019, 2020), and Comeback of the Year once (2024).
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:23 UTC on Tuesday, 30 July 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Simone Biles on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.
Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.
Until next time, I'm standard Brian.
pWotD Episode 2644: Doctor Doom
Welcome to Popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 618,668 views on Sunday, 28 July 2024 our article of the day is Doctor Doom.
Doctor Doom (Dr. Victor von Doom) is a character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, the character first appeared in The Fantastic Four #5 (July 1962). In his comic book appearances, Doctor Doom is depicted as the monarch of Latveria whose goal is to bring order to humanity through world conquest. He serves as the archenemy of Reed Richards and the Fantastic Four, though he has also come into conflict with other superheroes in the Marvel Universe, including Spider-Man, Iron Man, Doctor Strange, the Black Panther, the X-Men, and the Avengers. While usually portrayed as a villain, Doom has also been an ally at times, working with heroes if their goals align and only if it benefits him.
Doctor Doom was ranked #4 by Wizard on its list of the 101 Greatest Villains of All Time and #3 on IGN's list of the Top 100 Comic Book Villains of All Time. In a later article, IGN would declare Doom as Marvel's greatest villain.
The character has been substantially adapted from the comics into several forms of media, including television series, video games, and merchandise such as action figures and trading cards. Most notably, Doctor Doom has been portrayed in licensed Fantastic Four live-action feature films by Joseph Culp in Roger Corman's unreleased 1994 film, Julian McMahon in the 2005 film and its 2007 sequel, and Toby Kebbell in the 2015 film. Robert Downey Jr. will portray the character in the Marvel Cinematic Universe films Avengers: Doomsday (2026) and Avengers: Secret Wars (2027).
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:21 UTC on Monday, 29 July 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Doctor Doom on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.
Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.
Until next time, I'm neural Brian.
pWotD Episode 2643: Stiff-person syndrome
Welcome to Popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 239,235 views on Saturday, 27 July 2024 our article of the day is Stiff-person syndrome.
Stiff-person syndrome (SPS), also known as stiff-man syndrome, is a rare neurological disorder of unclear cause characterized by progressive muscular rigidity and stiffness. The stiffness primarily affects the truncal muscles and is characterised by spasms, resulting in postural deformities. Chronic pain, impaired mobility, and lumbar hyperlordosis are common symptoms.
SPS occurs in about one in a million people and is most commonly found in middle-aged people. A small minority of patients have the paraneoplastic variety of the condition. Variants of the condition, such as stiff-limb syndrome, which primarily affects a specific limb, are often seen.
SPS was first described in 1956. Diagnostic criteria were proposed in the 1960s and refined two decades later. In the 1990s and 2000s, the role of antibodies in the condition became clearer. SPS patients generally have glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) antibodies, which seldom occur in the general population. In addition to blood tests for GAD, electromyography tests can help confirm the condition's presence.
Benzodiazepine-class drugs are the most common treatment; they are used for symptom relief from stiffness. Other common treatments include baclofen, intravenous immunoglobin, and rituximab. Limited but encouraging therapeutic experience of haematopoietic stem cell transplantation exists for SPS.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:55 UTC on Sunday, 28 July 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Stiff-person syndrome on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.
Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.
Until next time, I'm neural Kimberly.
pWotD Episode 2642: Celine Dion
Welcome to Popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 327,591 views on Friday, 26 July 2024 our article of the day is Celine Dion.
Céline Marie Claudette Dion ( say-LEEN dee-ON, French: [selin maʁi klodɛt djɔ̃]; born 30 March 1968) is a Canadian singer. Referred to as the "Queen of Power Ballads", she is noted for her powerful and technically skilled vocals. Her music has incorporated genres such as pop, rock, R&B, gospel, and classical music. Her recordings have been mainly in English and French, although she has also sung in several other languages.
Born into a large family in Charlemagne, Quebec, Dion was discovered by her future manager and husband, René Angélil, and emerged as a teen star in her home country with a series of French-language albums during the 1980s. She gained international recognition by winning the 1988 Eurovision Song Contest, where she represented Switzerland with "Ne partez pas sans moi". Her debut English-language album, Unison (1990), established her as a viable pop artist primarily in North America and several English-speaking markets, while The Colour of My Love (1993) gave her global superstardom. Dion continued her success throughout the 1990s with several of the bestselling albums in history, such as Falling into You (1996) and Let's Talk About Love (1997), which were certified diamond in the US with more than 30 million sales worldwide each. She also released a series of international number-one hits, including "The Power of Love", "Think Twice", "To Love You More", "Because You Loved Me", "It's All Coming Back to Me Now", "I'm Your Angel", "That's the Way It Is", "I'm Alive" and "My Heart Will Go On", the theme for the 1997 film Titanic, which solidified her popularity.
Dion continued releasing French-language albums between each English record; D'eux (1995) became the best-selling French-language album of all time, while S'il suffisait d'aimer (1998), Sans attendre (2012), and Encore un soir (2016), were all certified diamond in France. During the 2000s, she built her reputation as a successful live performer with A New Day... on the Las Vegas Strip (2003–07), the highest-grossing concert residency of all time, and the Taking Chances World Tour (2008–09), one of the highest-grossing concert tours of the 2000s. In 2009, she was named by the Los Angeles Times as the top-earning artist of the decade, with combined album sales and concert revenue exceeding $747 million. In 2022, Dion canceled a tour due to her diagnosis of stiff-person syndrome, a rare neurological disease.
With over 200 million records sold worldwide, Dion is the best-selling Canadian recording artist, the best-selling French-language artist, and one of the best-selling musical artists of all time. She is the sixth most successful female artist in the history of US Billboard 200 and received recognition from the IFPI for selling over 50 million albums in Europe. Seven of her albums have sold at least 10 million copies worldwide, the second most among women in history. She was ranked as the fourth most outstanding pop vocalist by Cover Magazine and the ninth greatest voice in music by MTV. One of the highest-grossing touring artists in history, she is the second woman to accumulate US$1 billion in concert revenue. According to Forbes, Dion was the world's highest-paid female musician in 1997, 1998, 2004, and 2006. She received two honorary doctorates in music degree from Berklee College of Music and Université Laval.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:34 UTC on Saturday, 27 July 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Celine Dion on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm neural Niamh.
pWotD Episode 2641: 2024 Summer Olympics
Welcome to Popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 256,198 views on Thursday, 25 July 2024 our article of the day is 2024 Summer Olympics.
The 2024 Summer Olympics (French: Jeux olympiques d'été de 2024), officially the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad (French: Jeux de la XXXIIIe Olympiade) and officially branded as Paris 2024, is an ongoing international multi-sport event taking place from 24 July to 11 August 2024 in France, with the Opening Ceremony taking place on 26 July. Paris is the main host city, with events held at 16 other cities spread across Metropolitan France, plus one subsite in Tahiti, French Polynesia.
Paris was awarded the Games at the 131st IOC Session in Lima, Peru, on 13 September 2017. After multiple withdrawals that left only Paris and Los Angeles in contention, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) approved a process to concurrently award the 2024 and 2028 Summer Olympics to the two remaining candidate cities; both of the bids were praised for high technical plans and innovative ways to use a record-breaking number of existing and temporary facilities. Having previously hosted in 1900 and 1924, Paris will become the second city ever to host the Summer Olympics three times (after London, which hosted the 1908, 1948 and 2012 Games). Paris 2024 will mark the centenary of Paris 1924 and Chamonix 1924 (which in turn marks the centenary of the Winter Olympics), will be the sixth Olympic Games hosted by France (three Summer Olympics and three Winter Olympics) and the first French Olympics since the 1992 Winter Games in Albertville. The Summer Games will return to the traditional four-year Olympiad cycle, after the 2020 Tokyo Olympics were postponed until 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Paris 2024 will feature the debut of breakdancing as an Olympic event, and will be the final Olympic Games held during the IOC presidency of Thomas Bach. The 2024 Games are expected to cost €9 billion.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:52 UTC on Friday, 26 July 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see 2024 Summer Olympics on Wikipedia.
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Until next time, I'm neural Ruth.
pWotD Episode 2640: Deadpool & Wolverine
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With 459,808 views on Wednesday, 24 July 2024 our article of the day is Deadpool & Wolverine.
Deadpool & Wolverine is a 2024 American superhero film based on Marvel Comics featuring the characters Deadpool and Wolverine, produced by Marvel Studios, Maximum Effort, and 21 Laps Entertainment, and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. It is the 34th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) and the sequel to Deadpool (2016) and Deadpool 2 (2018). The film is directed by Shawn Levy from a screenplay he wrote with Ryan Reynolds, Rhett Reese, Paul Wernick, and Zeb Wells. Reynolds and Hugh Jackman star as Deadpool and Wolverine, respectively, alongside Emma Corrin and Matthew Macfadyen. In the film, the Time Variance Authority (TVA) pulls Deadpool from his quiet life and sets him on a mission with Wolverine that will change the history of the MCU.
Development on a third Deadpool film began at 20th Century Fox by November 2016, but was placed on hold after the studio was acquired by Disney in March 2019. Control of the character was transferred to Marvel Studios, which began developing a new film with Reynolds. It integrates Deadpool with the MCU and retains the R rating of the previous films, making it the first MCU film to have such a rating. Wendy Molyneux and Lizzie Molyneux-Logelin joined in November 2020 as writers. Reese and Wernick returned from the previous films for rewrites by March 2022, when Levy was hired as director. They, along with Reynolds and Wells, had difficulty figuring out the film's story until Jackman decided to reprise his role as Wolverine from Fox's X-Men film series in August 2022. Filming began in May 2023 at Pinewood Studios in England, with additional filming in Norfolk and at Bovingdon Film Studios. Production was suspended in July due to the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike, but resumed in November and wrapped in January 2024. The film's title was revealed a month later.
Deadpool & Wolverine premiered on July 22, 2024, at the David H. Koch Theater in New York City, and is scheduled to be released in the United States on July 26, 2024, as part of Phase Five of the MCU. It received positive reviews.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 05:54 UTC on Thursday, 25 July 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Deadpool & Wolverine on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm standard Russell.
pWotD Episode 2639: Kimberly Cheatle
Welcome to Popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 508,508 views on Tuesday, 23 July 2024 our article of the day is Kimberly Cheatle.
Kimberly A. Cheatle (born 1970/1971) is an American law enforcement officer who served as the 27th Director of the United States Secret Service from September 2022 to July 2024. She previously held multiple roles in the United States Secret Service over twenty-seven years. Prior to her secret service appointment, she worked for PepsiCo.
She was in charge of the Secret Service during the attempted assassination of Donald Trump, which brought her into the national spotlight where she faced widespread criticism and calls to resign. She resigned on July 23, 2024.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:22 UTC on Wednesday, 24 July 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Kimberly Cheatle on Wikipedia.
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Until next time, I'm neural Stephen.
pWotD Episode 2638: Donald J. Harris
Welcome to Popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 419,802 views on Monday, 22 July 2024 our article of the day is Donald J. Harris.
Donald Jasper Harris, OM (born August 23, 1938) is a Jamaican-American economist and professor emeritus at Stanford University, known for applying post-Keynesian ideas to development economics. He is the father of the 49th and current vice president of the United States, Kamala Harris, as well as of her sister, lawyer and political commentator Maya Harris.
Throughout his career, Harris has worked on economic analysis and policy regarding the economy of Jamaica, his native country. He served there, at various times, as economic policy consultant to the Government of Jamaica and as economic adviser to successive prime ministers. On October 18, 2021, he was honored with appointment to the Order of Merit, Jamaica's National Honor award, "for his outstanding contribution to national development".
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:04 UTC on Tuesday, 23 July 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Donald J. Harris on Wikipedia.
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Until next time, I'm standard Kimberly.
pWotD Episode 2637: Kamala Harris
Welcome to Popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 1,508,623 views on Sunday, 21 July 2024 our article of the day is Kamala Harris.
Kamala Devi Harris (born October 20, 1964) is an American politician and attorney who is the 49th and current vice president of the United States since 2021, under President Joe Biden. She is the first female vice president and the highest-ranking female official in U. S. history, as well as the first African-American and first Asian-American vice president. A member of the Democratic Party, she was previously a U. S. senator from California from 2017 to 2021 and the attorney general of California from 2011 to 2017.
Born in Oakland, California, Harris graduated from Howard University and the University of California, Hastings College of the Law. She began her law career in the office of the district attorney (DA) of Alameda County, before being recruited to the San Francisco DA's Office and later the city attorney of San Francisco's office. In 2003, she was elected DA of San Francisco. She was elected attorney general of California in 2010 and re-elected in 2014. Harris served as the junior U. S. senator from California from 2017 to 2021; she defeated Loretta Sanchez in the 2016 Senate election to become the second African-American woman and the first South Asian American to serve in the U. S. Senate.
As a senator, Harris advocated for gun control laws, the DREAM Act, a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, federal legalization of cannabis, as well as healthcare and taxation reform. She gained a national profile for her pointed questioning of Trump administration officials during Senate hearings, including Trump's second Supreme Court nominee, Brett Kavanaugh.
Harris sought the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination, but withdrew from the race prior to the primaries. Biden selected her to be his running mate, and their ticket went on to defeat the then incumbent president and vice president, Donald Trump and Mike Pence, in the 2020 election. Harris and Biden were inaugurated on January 20, 2021. After the withdrawal of Biden from the 2024 presidential election, Harris launched her own campaign for president with Biden's endorsement. If elected, she would become the first female and first Asian-American president of the United States, and second Black American president after Barack Obama.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:48 UTC on Monday, 22 July 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Kamala Harris on Wikipedia.
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Until next time, I'm neural Kajal.
pWotD Episode 2636: Sheila Jackson Lee
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With 279,639 views on Saturday, 20 July 2024 our article of the day is Sheila Jackson Lee.
Sheila Jackson Lee (January 12, 1950 – July 19, 2024) was an American lawyer and politician who was the U. S. representative for Texas's 18th congressional district, from 1995 until her death in 2024. The district includes most of central Houston. She was a member of the Democratic Party and served as an at-large member of the Houston City Council before being elected to the House. She was also co-dean of Texas's congressional delegation.
Born in Queens, New York, Jackson Lee earned a scholarship for Black students at New York University before transferring to graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in political science from Yale University in 1972 and a Juris Doctor from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1975. In 1987, after she had moved to Houston, she was appointed as a municipal judge for the city by Kathy Whitmire. In 1989, Jackson Lee was elected to the Houston City Council. She served in the office until 1994 when she began a campaign for Congress. In the Democratic primary, she defeated incumbent Craig Washington and went on to easily win the general election.
During her congressional tenure, Jackson Lee supported many progressive policies. She introduced the Essential Transportation Worker Identification Credential Assessment Act in 2013 and the Sabika Sheikh Firearm Licensing and Registration Act in 2021. In 2019, Jackson Lee stepped down as chair of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation and a subcommittee in the House Judiciary after a lawsuit filed by a former staffer claimed she was fired due to planned legal action against an alleged rape by a supervisor.
Jackson Lee announced her candidacy for the 2023 Houston mayoral election in March of that year. In the first round, she placed second behind state senator John Whitmire. However, as no candidate crossed the 50% threshold to win outright, a runoff election occurred on December 9, 2023. Despite several key endorsements, Jackson Lee lost the election in a landslide to Whitmire. On December 11, she filed to run for re-election to her congressional seat and won the Democratic primary on March 5, 2024. She died from cancer in July 2024.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:12 UTC on Sunday, 21 July 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Sheila Jackson Lee on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
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Until next time, I'm neural Matthew.
pWotD Episode 2635: CrowdStrike
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With 902,233 views on Friday, 19 July 2024 our article of the day is CrowdStrike.
CrowdStrike Holdings, Inc. is an American cybersecurity technology company based in Austin, Texas. It provides cloud workload protection and endpoint security, threat intelligence, and cyberattack response services.
The company has been involved in investigations of several high-profile cyberattacks, including the 2014 Sony Pictures hack, the 2015–16 cyberattacks on the Democratic National Committee (DNC), and the 2016 email leak involving the DNC. In July 2024, a faulty update to its security software caused global computer outages, impacting air travel, banking, broadcasting, and other services.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:55 UTC on Saturday, 20 July 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see CrowdStrike on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm neural Joey.
pWotD Episode 2634: Donald Trump Jr.
Welcome to Popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 516,259 views on Thursday, 18 July 2024 our article of the day is Donald Trump Jr..
Donald John Trump Jr. (born December 31, 1977) is an American businessman. He is the eldest child of former U. S. president Donald Trump and his first wife Ivana Trump.
Trump serves as a trustee and executive vice president of The Trump Organization, running the company alongside his younger brother Eric. During their father's presidency, the brothers continued to do deals and investments in foreign countries, as well as collect payments in their U. S. properties from foreign governments, despite a pledge that they would not do so. He served as a boardroom judge on the reality TV show featuring his father, The Apprentice. He authored Triggered in 2019 and Liberal Privilege in 2020.
Trump was active in his father's 2016 presidential campaign. He cooperated with Russia in their interference in the 2016 United States elections and had a meeting with a Russian lawyer who promised damaging information about the campaign of Hillary Clinton in the 2016 presidential election. Trump campaigned for several Republicans during the 2018 midterm elections. He has promoted several conspiracy theories.
Trump was also active in his father's 2020 presidential campaign, often being on the campaign trail and being featured in the news for making unfounded claims. During the election he called for "total war" as the results were counted and promoted the stolen election conspiracy theory. Following his father's defeat, he engaged in attempts to overturn the results. He spoke at the rally that led to the storming of the Capitol, where he threatened Trump's opponents that "we're coming for you." In January 2021, Attorney General for the District of Columbia Karl Racine said that he is looking at whether to charge Donald Trump Jr. with inciting the violent attack on the U. S. Capitol in the criminal investigation into the attack. CNN reported in April 2022 that two days after the election, Trump Jr. sent a text message to White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows outlining paths to subvert the Electoral College process and ensure his father a second term.
At the 2024 Republican National Convention, he led the introductions of his friend, J. D. Vance, who had been selected as the former president's running mate.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:20 UTC on Friday, 19 July 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Donald Trump Jr. on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm neural Joey.
pWotD Episode 2633: Ingrid Andress
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With 289,575 views on Wednesday, 17 July 2024 our article of the day is Ingrid Andress.
Ingrid Elizabeth Andress (born September 21, 1991) is an American country music singer-songwriter. She first gained prominence when her US breakthrough single, "More Hearts Than Mine" (2019) peaked at number 30 on the Billboard Hot 100. Her single "The Stranger" (2020) peaked at number 49 on Country Airplay and her single "Wishful Drinking" (2021) became her second entry on the Billboard Hot 100. She has released two albums: Lady Like (2020) and Good Person (2022). She has also cowritten songs recorded by other artists including "Boys" (2017) by Charli XCX.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:57 UTC on Thursday, 18 July 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Ingrid Andress on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm neural Matthew.
pWotD Episode 2632: Usha Vance
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With 972,256 views on Tuesday, 16 July 2024 our article of the day is Usha Vance.
Usha Chilukuri Vance (née Chilukuri), born January 6, 1986 is an American lawyer.
After graduating from Yale Law School, Vance was a law clerk for multiple federal judges, including Chief Justice John Roberts, Judge Brett Kavanaugh, and Judge Amul Thapar. She is the wife of the junior United States Senator from Ohio, J. D. Vance, who is Donald Trump's running mate in the 2024 U. S. presidential election. If Vance is elected as Vice President, she would become the first woman of Indian descent to serve as Second Lady of the United States.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:24 UTC on Wednesday, 17 July 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Usha Vance on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm generative Matthew.
pWotD Episode 2631: J. D. Vance
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With 5,118,729 views on Monday, 15 July 2024 our article of the day is J. D. Vance.
James David Vance (born James Donald Bowman; August 2, 1984) is an American author, venture capitalist, and politician serving as the junior United States senator from Ohio since 2023. A member of the Republican Party, he is the party's nominee for vice president in the 2024 election.
Born in Middletown, Ohio, Vance served in the Marine Corps and attended Ohio State University, graduating in 2009. He graduated from Yale Law School in 2013. He came to prominence with his 2016 memoir, Hillbilly Elegy, which describes his upbringing in the Rust Belt, poverty, drug addiction, and Appalachian culture. It became a New York Times bestseller and was later made into a film. It attracted significant press attention during the 2016 United States presidential election. Vance defeated Democratic nominee Tim Ryan in the 2022 United States Senate election in Ohio. Initially opposed to his candidacy in the 2016 election, he has become a strong supporter of Donald Trump. In July 2024, Trump selected Vance as his running mate in the 2024 presidential election, and he was officially nominated at the Republican National Convention on July 15.
During his time in the Senate, Vance has been described as a neoreactionary, national conservative, and a right-wing populist. He has cited Curtis Yarvin, Rod Dreher, Patrick Deneen, René Girard and Yoram Hazony as influences on his political and religious beliefs. Vance has been considered a maverick from Republican orthodoxy on economics, supporting raises to the minimum wage, unionization, tariffs, antitrust policy, and has opposed American military aid to Ukraine.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 10:29 UTC on Tuesday, 16 July 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see J. D. Vance on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm standard Joanna.
pWotD Episode 2630: Shannen Doherty
Welcome to Popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 1,537,581 views on Sunday, 14 July 2024 our article of the day is Shannen Doherty.
Shannen Maria Doherty (; April 12, 1971 – July 13, 2024) was an American actress who played roles in both television and film, including Jenny Wilder in Little House on the Prairie (1982–1983), Maggie Malene in Girls Just Want to Have Fun (1985), Kris Witherspoon in Our House (1986–1988), Heather Duke in Heathers (1989), Brenda Walsh in Beverly Hills, 90210 (1990–1994), 90210 (2008–2009) and BH90210 (2019), Prue Halliwell in Charmed (1998–2001), and Dobbs in Fortress (2021).
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:14 UTC on Monday, 15 July 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Shannen Doherty on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm standard Justin.
pWotD Episode 2629: Richard Simmons
Welcome to Popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 608,434 views on Saturday, 13 July 2024 our article of the day is Richard Simmons.
Milton Teagle "Richard" Simmons (July 12, 1948 – July 13, 2024) was an American fitness personality and public figure. He was a promoter of weight-loss programs, most prominently through his Sweatin' to the Oldies line of aerobics videos.
Simmons began his weight-loss career by opening his gym Slimmons in Beverly Hills, California, catering to the overweight, and he became widely known through exposure on television and through the popularity of his consumer products. He was often parodied and was a frequent guest of late-night television and radio talk shows, such as the Late Show with David Letterman and The Howard Stern Show.
He continued to promote health and exercise through a decades-long career, and later broadened his activities to include political activism – such as in 2008 in support of a bill mandating noncompetitive physical education in public schools as a part of the No Child Left Behind Act.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:55 UTC on Sunday, 14 July 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Richard Simmons on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
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Until next time, I'm standard Russell.
pWotD Episode 2628: Longlegs
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With 249,300 views on Friday, 12 July 2024 our article of the day is Longlegs.
Longlegs is a 2024 American horror thriller film written and directed by Osgood Perkins. It stars Maika Monroe and Nicolas Cage, who also produced the film through his Saturn Films production company. The cast also features Blair Underwood, Alicia Witt, Michelle Choi-Lee, Dakota Daulby, and Kiernan Shipka in supporting roles. The film follows an FBI agent tasked with tracking down an occultist serial killer, whom she realises she has a personal connection to.
Longlegs was released in the United States by Neon on July 12, 2024. It received acclaim from critics.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:54 UTC on Saturday, 13 July 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Longlegs on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
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Until next time, I'm neural Kendra.
pWotD Episode 2627: Shelley Duvall
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With 885,844 views on Thursday, 11 July 2024 our article of the day is Shelley Duvall.
Shelley Alexis Duvall (July 7, 1949 – July 11, 2024) was an American actress. Known for her collaborations with Robert Altman and for playing eccentric characters, she was the recipient of several accolades including nominations for a British Academy Film Award and two Primetime Emmys.
Born in Texas, Duvall was discovered by director Robert Altman, who was impressed with her upbeat presence and cast her in the black comedy film Brewster McCloud (1970). Despite her hesitance towards becoming an actress, she continued to work with him, appearing in McCabe & Mrs. Miller (1971) and Thieves Like Us (1974).
Duvall's breakthrough role was in Altman's Nashville (1975), and her leading role in his drama 3 Women (1977) won her the Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actress and a nomination for the British Academy Film Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role. She followed this with a supporting role in Woody Allen's satirical romantic comedy Annie Hall and hosted Saturday Night Live (both 1977). She became famous for her leading roles across the 1980s, such as Olive Oyl in Altman's live-action feature version of Popeye and Wendy Torrance in Stanley Kubrick's horror film The Shining (both 1980).
Through the 1980s, Duvall appeared in Terry Gilliam's fantasy film Time Bandits (1981), the short comedy horror film Frankenweenie (1984), and the comedy Roxanne (1987). She ventured into producing television programming aimed at children and youth in the latter half of the 1980s, creating and hosting the programs Faerie Tale Theatre (1982–1987) and Nightmare Classics (1989), and earning Primetime Emmy Award nominations for creating and hosting Tall Tales & Legends (1985–1987) and Shelley Duvall's Bedtime Stories (1992–1994).
Across the 1990s, Duvall acted sporadically, playing supporting roles in Steven Soderbergh's thriller The Underneath (1995) and Jane Campion's drama The Portrait of a Lady (1996). After Manna from Heaven (2002), she left acting until returning for her final role in the horror film The Forest Hills (2023). Her mental health in the interim was covered by various media, briefly turning her private life public.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:04 UTC on Friday, 12 July 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Shelley Duvall on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.
Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.
Until next time, I'm neural Kimberly.
pWotD Episode 2626: Ollie Watkins
Welcome to Popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 445,542 views on Wednesday, 10 July 2024 our article of the day is Ollie Watkins.
Oliver George Arthur Watkins (born 30 December 1995) is an English professional footballer who plays as a forward for Premier League club Aston Villa and the England national team.
Watkins is a product of the Exeter City academy and made his breakthrough at the club, winning the EFL Young Player of the Year award, before departing in 2017 for Brentford. He had a successful three-year spell at the club, culminating in being the joint top-scorer in the 2019–20 Championship and being named Championship Player of the Year in 2020.
During September 2020, Watkins signed for his present club, Aston Villa. In the summer of 2024, he was awarded the honour of the Premier League Playmaker of the Season.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:01 UTC on Thursday, 11 July 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Ollie Watkins on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.
Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.
Until next time, I'm long-form Ruth.
pWotD Episode 2625: Gladiator II
Welcome to Popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 231,874 views on Tuesday, 9 July 2024 our article of the day is Gladiator II.
Gladiator II is an upcoming epic historical drama film directed and co-produced by Ridley Scott. Serving as a sequel to Gladiator (2000), the film was written by David Scarpa, from a story by Peter Craig and Scarpa, and stars Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, Connie Nielsen, May Calamawy and Denzel Washington. It was produced by Scott Free Productions in association with Red Wagon Entertainment for Paramount Pictures. The story follows Lucius, the former heir to the Roman Empire, who becomes a gladiator after his home is invaded by the Roman army, led by general Marcus Acacius, during the reign of co-emperors Caracalla and Geta.
A sequel to Gladiator was discussed as early as June 2001, with David Franzoni and John Logan set to return as screenwriters. Over the next few years, Scott offered occasional updates, including the possible involvement of the original film's lead actor, Russell Crowe, and plot ideas around the Roman afterlife and different historical time periods. Development was halted when DreamWorks sold the rights to the property to Paramount in 2006.
The film was finally announced in 2018, and Mescal was hired in the lead role in January 2023, with a script by Scarpa. The rest of the cast signed on over the next several months, and filming took place between June 2023 and January 2024, with a five-month hiatus due to the 2023 Hollywood labor disputes (including the 2023 actors strike). Gladiator II is scheduled to be released internationally, including the United Kingdom, on November 15, 2024, and later in the United States and Canada on November 22.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:34 UTC on Wednesday, 10 July 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Gladiator II on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.
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Until next time, I'm neural Aria.
pWotD Episode 2624: 2024 French legislative election
Welcome to Popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 426,630 views on Monday, 8 July 2024 our article of the day is 2024 French legislative election.
A legislative election was held in France on 30 June 2024, with a second round held on 7 July (one day earlier for some overseas voters), to elect all 577 members of the 17th National Assembly of the Fifth French Republic. The election followed the dissolution of the National Assembly by President Emmanuel Macron, who decided to call a snap election in the aftermath of the 2024 European Parliament election in France in which the National Rally made substantial gains against his Besoin d'Europe electoral list. The latter lost a considerable number of seats compared to the 2019 European Parliament election.
The legislative election featured four main blocs: Ensemble, the coalition of pro-Macron forces including Renaissance, the Democratic Movement, and Horizons; the New Popular Front (NFP), bringing together the main parties of the left, including La France Insoumise, the Socialist Party, The Ecologists, and the French Communist Party; the National Rally (RN), which also supported several dozen candidates backed by Éric Ciotti of The Republicans (LR) in addition to its own candidates, precipitating a leadership crisis within the latter; and the vast majority of other LR candidates, who were supported by the party's national investiture committee.
Pre-election opinion polls suggested that high turnout and the level of tripolarisation of the electorate between Ensemble, the New Popular Front, and the National Rally had the potential to lead to an unprecedented number of three-way runoffs in the second round of the election. Analysts also noted that the consolidation of the electorate behind these three main political forces could also result in total institutional deadlock after the elections in the event that no bloc was able to secure the votes of an absolute majority of members of the National Assembly, which could force Macron to call a second snap election as soon as a year after the 2024 election, as stipulated by the constitution.
In the first round of the election, the RN and their allies led with 33.21% of the vote, followed by the parties of the New Popular Front with 28.14%, those of Ensemble with 21.28%, and LR candidates with 6.57%, with an overall turnout of 66.71%, the highest since 1997. On the basis of these results, 306 constituencies were headed to three-way runoffs and 5 to four-way runoffs. A total of 76 candidates were directly elected in the first round, and RN-supported candidates qualified for the second round in 444 other constituencies, compared to 415 for the NFP, 321 for Ensemble, and 63 for LR (according to Le Monde's classifications of candidates). By the second round, after 134 NFP-supported and 82 Ensemble-supported candidates withdrew (of whom most did so in order to attempt to prevent the RN from winning), only 89 three-way and 2 four-way runoffs remained.
Contrary to pre-election projections, NFP-supported candidates won a plurality of seats after the second round, with Ensemble candidates also beating expectations by coming second ahead of RN-supported candidates in third, trailed by LR candidates in fourth place. According to candidate labeling by the Ministry of the Interior, candidates belonging to NFP parties received 180 seats (well short of the 289 needed for a majority), compared to 159 for those belonging to Ensemble parties, 142 for RN-supported candidates, and 39 for LR candidates, resulting in a hung parliament. Unofficial media classifications of candidates' affiliations may differ slightly from those used by the Ministry of Interior: according to Le Monde's analysis, 182 NFP-affiliated candidates were elected, compared with 168 for Ensemble, 143 for the RN, and 45 for LR. The turnout for the second round, 66.63%, likewise set the record for being the highest since 1997.
In the aftermath of the results, Gabriel Attal announced that he would tender his resignation as prime minister on 8 July but indicated his willingness to remain in his post as long as necessary, and leading NFP figures called for the appointment of a prime minister from the left. Macron refused Attal's resignation "for the time being" the following day.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:02 UTC on Tuesday, 9 July 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see 2024 French legislative election on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.
Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.
Until next time, I'm neural Joanna.
pWotD Episode 2623: Emma Raducanu
Welcome to Popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 427,174 views on Sunday, 7 July 2024 our article of the day is Emma Raducanu.
Emma Raducanu (born 13 November 2002) is a British professional tennis player. She reached a career-high ranking of No. 10 by the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) on 11 July 2022, and is a former British No. 1. Raducanu is the first British woman to win a Grand Slam singles title since Virginia Wade at the 1977 Wimbledon Championships.
She made her WTA Tour debut on 10 June 2021. With a wildcard entry at Wimbledon, ranked outside the top 300, she reached the fourth round in her first major tournament. At the 2021 US Open, Raducanu became the first qualifier in the Open Era to win a major singles title, beating Leylah Fernandez in the final without dropping a set during the tournament. It was the second major tournament of her career, and she holds the Open Era record for the fewest majors played before winning a title.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:59 UTC on Monday, 8 July 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Emma Raducanu on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.
Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.
Until next time, I'm standard Joanna.
pWotD Episode 2622: Money in the Bank (2024)
Welcome to Popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 222,779 views on Saturday, 6 July 2024 our article of the day is Money in the Bank (2024).
The 2024 Money in the Bank was a professional wrestling event produced by the American company WWE. It was the 15th annual Money in the Bank event and took place on Saturday, July 6, 2024, at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The event aired via pay-per-view (PPV) and livestreaming and will be held for wrestlers from the promotion's Raw and SmackDown brand divisions. This was the first Money in the Bank event to be held in Canada, and the second consecutive to take place outside of the United States, after the 2023 event. The event is based around the Money in the Bank ladder match, a multi-person ladder match in which participants compete to obtain a contract that grants the respective men's and women's winners a match for a championship of their choice at any time within the next year. WWE Hall of Famer and Toronto native Trish Stratus was the host of the event.
Five matches were contested at the event. In the main event, which was SmackDown's main match, The Bloodline (Solo Sikoa, Jacob Fatu, and Tama Tonga) defeated Cody Rhodes, Kevin Owens, and Randy Orton in a Six-man tag team match. Additionally, Raw's Drew McIntyre and SmackDown's Tiffany Stratton won the respective men's and women's Money in the Bank ladder matches. In other prominent matches, Damian Priest defeated Seth "Freakin" Rollins and Drew McIntyre in a Triple threat match for the World Heavyweight Championship, which was the main match from Raw. The event also saw surprise appearance by John Cena.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:53 UTC on Sunday, 7 July 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Money in the Bank (2024) on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.
Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.
Until next time, I'm neural Joanna.
pWotD Episode 2621: Keir Starmer
Welcome to Popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 1,912,405 views on Friday, 5 July 2024 our article of the day is Keir Starmer.
Sir Keir Rodney Starmer ( ; born 2 September 1962) is a British politician and barrister who has served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom since 2024, as Leader of the Labour Party since 2020, and as Leader of the Opposition from 2020 to 2024. He has been Member of Parliament (MP) for Holborn and St Pancras since 2015, and previously was Director of Public Prosecutions from 2008 to 2013.
Born in London and raised in Surrey, Starmer attended the selective state Reigate Grammar School, which became a private school while he was a student. He was politically active from an early age and joined the Labour Party Young Socialists at the age of 16. He graduated with a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Leeds in 1985 and gained a postgraduate Bachelor of Civil Law degree at St Edmund Hall at the University of Oxford in 1986. After being called to the bar, Starmer practised predominantly in criminal defence work, specialising in human rights. He served as a human rights adviser to the Northern Ireland Policing Board and was appointed a Queen's Counsel in 2002, later citing his work on policing in Northern Ireland as being a key influence on his decision to pursue a political career. During his time as Director of Public Prosecutions, he dealt with a number of major cases including the Stephen Lawrence murder case. He was appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB) in the 2014 New Year Honours for services to law and criminal justice.
Starmer was elected to the House of Commons at the 2015 general election. As a backbencher, he supported the unsuccessful Britain Stronger in Europe campaign in the 2016 European Union membership referendum. He was appointed to Jeremy Corbyn's shadow cabinet as Shadow Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, and advocated a proposed second referendum on Brexit. Following Corbyn's resignation after Labour's defeat at the 2019 general election, Starmer succeeded him by winning the 2020 leadership election on a left-wing platform. During his tenure as opposition leader, Starmer moved the party back more toward the centre, and emphasised the importance of eliminating antisemitism within the party. Starmer led Labour to victory in the local elections in 2023 and 2024. In 2023, Starmer set out five missions for his government, targeting issues such as economic growth, health, clean energy, crime and education.
In July 2024, Starmer led Labour to a landslide victory at the 2024 general election, ending fourteen years of Conservative government with Labour becoming the largest party in the House of Commons. He succeeded Rishi Sunak as prime minister on 5 July 2024, becoming the first Labour prime minister since Gordon Brown in 2010 and the first one to win a general election since Tony Blair at the 2005 general election.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:28 UTC on Saturday, 6 July 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Keir Starmer on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.
Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.
Until next time, I'm standard Joey.
pWotD Episode 2620: 2024 United Kingdom general election
Welcome to Popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 376,778 views on Thursday, 4 July 2024 our article of the day is 2024 United Kingdom general election.
The 2024 United Kingdom general election was held on Thursday 4 July 2024 to elect 650 Members of Parliament (MPs) to the House of Commons. The election resulted in a landslide victory for the opposition Labour Party led by Keir Starmer, similar to that achieved by Tony Blair at the 1997 general election, the last time a Labour opposition ousted a Conservative government. The governing Conservative Party under Prime Minister Rishi Sunak lost over 240 seats and suffered their worst ever defeat, ending its 14-year tenure as the primary governing party. The combined vote share for Labour and the Conservatives reached a record low, with Labour's vote share becoming the smallest of any majority government in UK electoral history. Smaller parties did significantly well; the Liberal Democrats made significant gains to reach their highest ever number of seats. Reform UK did well in vote share and had MPs elected to the Commons for the first time. The Green Party of England and Wales also won a record number of seats. The Scottish National Party (SNP) lost around three quarters of its seats to Scottish Labour. Labour returned to being the largest party in Scotland and remained so in Wales. The Conservatives won no seats in Wales or Cornwall and only one seat in North East England.
Discussion around the campaign focused on public opinion of a change in government, as Labour maintained significant leads in opinion polling over the Conservatives, but usually by around 20 percentage points, twice the lead they would eventually win. Significant constituency boundary changes were in effect, the first since those implemented at the 2010 general election. It was the first general election in which photographic identification was required to vote in person in Great Britain. The general election was the first since Brexit, the UK's departure from the European Union (EU) on 31 January 2020, which was a major issue in the 2019 general election; it was also the first to take place since the COVID-19 pandemic or under the Dissolution and Calling of Parliament Act 2022. This was the first victory for Labour in a general election in 19 years.
A record number of Conservatives lost their seats at the election. Eleven were cabinet ministers, the highest amount in history, including Penny Mordaunt, Grant Shapps, Alex Chalk, Liam Fox, Johnny Mercer, Gillian Keegan and Mark Harper. Other MPs who lost their seats included the former prime minister Liz Truss, Michael Fabricant, Jonathan Gullis, Jacob Rees-Mogg, George Galloway and Douglas Ross. Newly elected MPs included the Reform UK leader Nigel Farage and its chairman Richard Tice, and the Green Party of England and Wales co-leaders Carla Denyer and Adrian Ramsay. MPs who stood down at the election included the former prime minister Theresa May, former cabinet ministers Sajid Javid, Dominic Raab, Matt Hancock, Ben Wallace, Nadhim Zahawi, Kwasi Kwarteng and Michael Gove, and long-serving MPs Harriet Harman and Margaret Beckett.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 12:35 UTC on Friday, 5 July 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see 2024 United Kingdom general election on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.
Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.
Until next time, I'm long-form Ruth.
pWotD Episode 2619: Jannik Sinner
Welcome to Popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 165,276 views on Wednesday, 3 July 2024 our article of the day is Jannik Sinner.
Jannik Sinner (born 16 August 2001) is an Italian professional tennis player. He is currently ranked as the world No. 1 in singles by the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP), making him the highest-ranked Italian singles player in history.
Sinner has won 14 singles titles on the ATP Tour, including a Grand Slam title at the 2024 Australian Open and two Masters 1000 titles.
At the end of the 2023 season, Sinner was runner-up at the ATP Finals and led Italy to the Davis Cup crown, their first since 1976. Sinner also has a career-high ranking of world No. 124 in doubles, achieved in September 2021, and has won one ATP Tour title in doubles.
Sinner grew up in northern Italy in the predominantly German-speaking region of South Tyrol. After being a competitive skier between the ages of 8–12, Sinner switched to focus exclusively on tennis at age 13, and moved to Bordighera on the Italian Riviera to train with veteran coach Riccardo Piatti. Despite limited success as a junior, Sinner began playing in professional men's events aged 16, and became one of the few players to win multiple ATP Challenger Tour titles at age 17. In 2019, he broke into the top 100, winning the Next Generation ATP Finals and the ATP Newcomer of the Year award. In 2021, he became the youngest ATP 500 champion at the 2021 Citi Open, and became the first player born in the 2000s to enter the top 10 in rankings. Sinner won his first Masters 1000 title at the 2023 Canadian Open and finished the season by reaching the final of the ATP Finals and contributed to Italy lifting the Davis Cup. At the 2024 Australian Open, Sinner defeated world No. 1 Novak Djokovic in the semifinals to reach his first major final. He then defeated Daniil Medvedev in a five-set final, coming back from two sets down to win his first major title.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:38 UTC on Thursday, 4 July 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Jannik Sinner on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
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Until next time, I'm standard Kendra.
pWotD Episode 2618: 2024 Copa América
Welcome to Popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 152,788 views on Tuesday, 2 July 2024 our article of the day is 2024 Copa América.
The 2024 Copa América is the ongoing 48th edition of the Copa América, the quadrennial international men's soccer championship organized by South America's football ruling body CONMEBOL. The tournament is being held in the United States from June 20 to July 14, 2024, and is co-organized by CONCACAF.
The United States is hosting the tournament for the second time, having hosted the Copa América Centenario in 2016. Argentina is the defending champion. The final will be played on July 14, 2024, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:15 UTC on Wednesday, 3 July 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see 2024 Copa América on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.
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Until next time, I'm standard Brian.
pWotD Episode 2617: Project 2025
Welcome to Popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 238,994 views on Monday, 1 July 2024 our article of the day is Project 2025.
Project 2025, also known as the Presidential Transition Project, is a collection of conservative policy proposals from the Heritage Foundation to reshape the United States federal government in the event of a Republican Party victory in the 2024 presidential election. It proposes reclassifying tens of thousands of merit-based federal civil service workers as political appointees in order to replace them with loyal conservatives to further the objectives of the next Republican president. It also adopts a maximalist version of the unitary executive theory, a disputed interpretation of Article II of the Constitution of the United States, which asserts that the president has absolute power over the executive branch upon inauguration. Critics of Project 2025 have described this as an authoritarian, Christian nationalist plan to turn the United States into an autocracy. Several experts in law and conservatives have indicated that it would undermine the rule of law, the separation of powers, and civil liberties.
Project 2025 envisions widespread changes across the government, particularly economic and social policies and the role of the federal government and its agencies. The plan proposes taking partisan control of the Department of Justice (DOJ), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Department of Commerce, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and Federal Trade Commission (FTC), dismantling the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and sharply reducing environmental and climate change regulations to favor fossil fuel production. The blueprint seeks to institute tax cuts, though its writers disagree on the wisdom of protectionism. Project 2025 recommends abolishing the Department of Education, whose programs would be either transferred to other agencies, or terminated. Funding for climate research would be cut while the National Institutes of Health (NIH) would be reformed along conservative principles. The Project urges government to explicitly reject abortion as health care and eliminate the Affordable Care Act's coverage of emergency contraception. The Project seeks to infuse the government with elements of Christianity. It proposes criminalizing pornography, removing legal protections against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, and terminating diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, as well as affirmative action. Some conservatives and Republicans also criticized the plan for its stance on climate change and foreign trade. Other critics believe Project 2025 is rhetorical window dressing for what would be four years of personal vengeance at any cost. The project's authors also acknowledged that most of the proposals would require controlling both chambers of congress. Other aspects of the plan have recently been ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court and would face court challenges, while others still are norm-breaking proposals that might survive court challenges.
The Washington Post reported that Jeffrey Clark, a contributor to the project and a former official within the DOJ, would advise the future president to immediately deploy the military for domestic law enforcement by invoking the Insurrection Act of 1807. The Project recommends the arrest, detention, and deportation of undocumented immigrants living in the United States. It promotes capital punishment and the speedy "finality" of those sentences. Paul Dans, the project's director, explained that Project 2025 is "systematically preparing to march into office and bring a new army, aligned, trained, and essentially weaponized conservatives ready to do battle against the deep state." Dans acknowledged it was "counterintuitive" to recruit so many to join the government to shrink it, but pointed out the need for a future president to "regain control" of the government.
Although the project cannot by law promote a specific presidential candidate, many contributors have close ties to Donald Trump and his 2024 campaign. The Washington Post called the project the most detailed articulation of what Trump might do in a second term. While initially the Trump campaign said the project aligned well with their Agenda 47 proposals, the Project has increasingly caused friction with the Trump campaign which has generally avoided specific policy proposals that can be used to criticize him.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 03:05 UTC on Tuesday, 2 July 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Project 2025 on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.
Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.
Until next time, I'm neural Justin.
pWotD Episode 2616: ICC Men's T20 World Cup
Welcome to Popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 280,150 views on Sunday, 30 June 2024 our article of the day is ICC Men's T20 World Cup.
The ICC Men's T20 World Cup (formerly the ICC World Twenty20) is the Twenty20 International cricket tournament, organized by the International Cricket Council (ICC) since 2007.
The event has generally been held every two years. In May 2016, the ICC put forward the idea of having a tournament in 2018, with South Africa being the possible host, but the ICC later dropped the idea of a 2018 edition as the top member nations busied with bilateral commitments in 2018. The 2020 edition of the tournament was scheduled to take place but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the tournament was postponed until 2021, with the intended host changed to India. The 2021 ICC Men's T20 World Cup was later relocated to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Oman due to problems relating to the COVID-19 pandemic in India, taking place 5 years after the previous (2016) iteration.
As of 2024, nine editions have so far been played and a total of 24 teams have competed. Only the West Indies, England and India have won the tournament more than once, all three nations having won two titles. The inaugural 2007 World Twenty20, was staged in South Africa and won by India, who defeated Pakistan in the final at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg. The 2009 tournament took place in England, and was won by the previous runner-up, Pakistan, who defeated Sri Lanka in the final at Lord's. The third tournament was held in 2010, hosted by the countries making up the West Indies cricket team. England cricket team defeated Australia in the final in Barbados, which was played at Kensington Oval, winning their first international tournament. The fourth tournament, the 2012 World Twenty20, was held in Asia for the first time, with all matches played in Sri Lanka. The West Indies won the tournament by defeating Sri Lanka in the final, winning its first international tournament since the 2004 Champions Trophy. The fifth tournament, the 2014 ICC World Twenty20, was hosted by Bangladesh, and was won by Sri Lanka defeating India, Sri Lanka being the first team to play in three finals. The sixth tournament, the 2016 ICC World Twenty20, was hosted by India and was won by West Indies defeating England. The seventh tournament, the 2021 ICC Men's T20 World Cup , was hosted by UAE and was won by Australia defeating New Zealand. England beat Pakistan in the 2022 final, winning their second title, which was held in Australia. They became the first men's team to hold both limited-overs World Cups (T20 and ODI) simultaneously.
In the 2024 final, held in the West Indies and the United States, India won its second title against South Africa, equaling England and West Indies with the most titles in T20 World Cup. India became the first country to win the tournament without losing any game.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:00 UTC on Monday, 1 July 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see ICC Men's T20 World Cup on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.
Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.
Until next time, I'm neural Danielle.
pWotD Episode 2615: Martin Mull
Welcome to Popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 440,904 views on Saturday, 29 June 2024 our article of the day is Martin Mull.
Martin Eugene Mull (August 18, 1943 – June 27, 2024) was an American comic actor whose career included contributions as a musician and painter. Mull gained visibility on screen for Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman and its spin-off Fernwood 2 Night. His other notable roles included Colonel Mustard in the 1985 film Clue, Leon Carp on Roseanne, Willard Kraft on Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Vlad Masters / Vlad Plasmius on Danny Phantom, and Gene Parmesan on Arrested Development. He had a recurring role on Two and a Half Men as Russell, the drug-using, humorous pharmacist.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:27 UTC on Sunday, 30 June 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Martin Mull on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.
Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.
Until next time, I'm neural Kimberly.
pWotD Episode 2614: Joe Biden
Welcome to Popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 354,900 views on Friday, 28 June 2024 our article of the day is Joe Biden.
Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. ( BY-dən; born November 20, 1942) is an American politician who is the 46th and current president of the United States since 2021. A member of the Democratic Party, he previously served as the 47th vice president from 2009 to 2017 under President Barack Obama and represented Delaware in the United States Senate from 1973 to 2009.
Born in Scranton, Pennsylvania, Biden moved with his family to Delaware in 1953. He graduated from the University of Delaware before earning his law degree from Syracuse University. He was elected to the New Castle County Council in 1970 and to the U. S. Senate in 1972. As a senator, Biden drafted and led the effort to pass the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act and the Violence Against Women Act. He also oversaw six U. S. Supreme Court confirmation hearings, including the contentious hearings for Robert Bork and Clarence Thomas. Biden ran unsuccessfully for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1988 and 2008. In 2008, Obama chose Biden as his running mate, and he was a close counselor to Obama during his two terms as vice president. In the 2020 presidential election, Biden and his running mate, Kamala Harris, defeated incumbents Donald Trump and Mike Pence. He is the oldest president in U. S. history, and the first serving with a woman vice president.
As president, Biden signed the American Rescue Plan Act in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent recession. He signed bipartisan bills on infrastructure and manufacturing. He proposed the Build Back Better Act, which failed in Congress, but aspects of which were incorporated into the Inflation Reduction Act that he signed into law in 2022. Biden appointed Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court. He worked with congressional Republicans to resolve the 2023 United States debt-ceiling crisis by negotiating a deal to raise the debt ceiling. In foreign policy, Biden restored America's membership in the Paris Agreement. He oversaw the complete withdrawal of U. S. troops from Afghanistan that ended the war in Afghanistan, leading to the collapse of the Afghan government and the Taliban seizing control. He responded to the Russian invasion of Ukraine by imposing sanctions on Russia and authorizing civilian and military aid to Ukraine. During the Israel–Hamas war, Biden condemned the actions of Hamas and other Palestinian militants as terrorism, announced military support for Israel, and sent humanitarian aid to Palestinian civilians in Gaza. In April 2023, Biden announced his candidacy for the Democratic nomination in the 2024 presidential election, and is now the presumptive nominee.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:38 UTC on Saturday, 29 June 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Joe Biden on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm standard Nicole.
pWotD Episode 2613: Kalki 2898 AD
Welcome to Popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 624,347 views on Thursday, 27 June 2024 our article of the day is Kalki 2898 AD.
Kalki 2898 AD (pronounced [kə.l.kɪ]) is a 2024 Indian Telugu-language epic science fiction film directed by Nag Ashwin and produced by C. Aswani Dutt under Vyjayanthi Movies. The film stars an ensemble cast which includes Amitabh Bachchan, Prabhas, Deepika Padukone, Kamal Haasan and Disha Patani. It is the first instalment in the planned Kalki Cinematic Universe and inspired by Hindu mythology. Set in a post-apocalyptic world in the year 2898 AD, the film follows the few selected who are on a mission to save the unborn child, Kalki, of SUM-80, a lab subject.
The film was officially announced in February 2020 under the tentative title Prabhas 21, as it is the actor's 21st film in the lead role, later changed to Project K after the arrival of the main cast. Principal photography commenced a year later in July 2021 due to COVID-19 pandemic. It was shot sporadically in several legs over the next three years, and wrapped by mid-March 2024. The official title was announced in July 2023. The film has music composed by Santhosh Narayanan, cinematography handled by Djordje Stojiljkovic and editing by Kotagiri Venkateswara Rao. Made on a ₹600 crore (US$72 million) production budget, it is the most expensive Indian film.
Kalki 2898 AD was initially scheduled to release on 9 May 2024, but was postponed due to unfinished production works. It was released worldwide on 27 June 2024 in IMAX, 3D and other formats.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:43 UTC on Friday, 28 June 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Kalki 2898 AD on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm standard Raveena.
pWotD Episode 2612: Julian Assange
Welcome to Popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 503,331 views on Wednesday, 26 June 2024 our article of the day is Julian Assange.
Julian Paul Assange ( ə-SAHNZH; né Hawkins; born 3 July 1971) is an Australian editor, publisher, and activist who founded WikiLeaks in 2006. He came to international attention in 2010 after WikiLeaks published a series of leaks from Chelsea Manning, a former United States Army intelligence analyst: footage of a U. S. airstrike in Baghdad, U. S. military logs from the Afghanistan and Iraq wars, and U. S. diplomatic cables. Assange has won multiple awards for publishing and journalism.
Assange was raised in several towns in Australia until his family settled in Melbourne in his mid-teens. He became involved in the hacker community and was convicted for hacking in 1996. Following the establishment of WikiLeaks, Assange was its editor when it published the Bank Julius Baer documents, footage of the 2008 Tibetan unrest, and a report on political killings in Kenya with The Sunday Times.
In November 2010 Sweden issued a European arrest warrant for Assange for allegations of sexual assault. After losing his appeal against the warrant, he breached his bail and took refuge in the Embassy of Ecuador in London in June 2012. He was granted asylum by Ecuador in August 2012 on the grounds of political persecution and fears he might be extradited to the United States. In 2013 he launched the WikiLeaks Party and unsuccessfully stood for the Australian Senate. Swedish prosecutors dropped their investigation in 2019.
On 11 April 2019 Assange's asylum was withdrawn following a series of disputes with Ecuadorian authorities. The police were invited into the embassy and he was arrested. He was found guilty of breaching the United Kingdom Bail Act and sentenced to 50 weeks in prison. The U. S. government unsealed an indictment charging Assange with conspiracy to commit computer intrusion related to the leaks provided by Manning. In May 2019 and June 2020 the U. S. government unsealed new indictments against Assange, charging him with violating the Espionage Act of 1917 and alleging he had conspired with hackers. Assange was incarcerated in HM Prison Belmarsh in London from April 2019 to June 2024, as the United States government's extradition effort was contested in the British courts.
In June 2024 Assange agreed a plea deal with the American prosecutors. He pleaded guilty in the District Court for the Northern Mariana Islands to a charge of conspiring to obtain and disclose classified U. S. national defence documents under the Espionage Act. Under the terms of the deal, prosecutors from the U. S. Department of Justice sought a sentence that allowed for his immediate release. He was ordered to instruct WikiLeaks to return or destroy unpublished documents and provide an affidavit. Following the hearing Assange departed for Canberra and arrived on 26 June 2024, accompanied by the Australian ambassador to the U. S., Kevin Rudd, who is also a former prime minister.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:54 UTC on Thursday, 27 June 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Julian Assange on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm neural Brian.
pWotD Episode 2611: UEFA European Championship
Welcome to Popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.
With 182,561 views on Tuesday, 25 June 2024 our article of the day is UEFA European Championship.
The UEFA European Football Championship, less formally the European Championship and informally the Euros, is the primary association football tournament organised by the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA). The competition is contested by UEFA members' senior men's national teams, determining the continental champion of Europe. It is the second-most watched football tournament in the world after the FIFA World Cup; the Euro 2016 final was watched by a global audience of around 600 million. The competition has been held every four years since 1960, except for 2020, when it was postponed until 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Europe, but kept the name Euro 2020. Scheduled to be in the even-numbered year between FIFA World Cup tournaments, it was originally called the European Nations' Cup before changing to its current name in 1968. Since 1996, the individual events have been branded as "UEFA Euro [year]".
Before entering the tournament, all teams other than the host nations (which qualify automatically) compete in a qualifying process. Until 2016, the championship winners could compete in the following year's FIFA Confederations Cup, but were not obliged to do so. From the 2020 edition onwards, the winner competes in the CONMEBOL–UEFA Cup of Champions.
The sixteen European Championship tournaments have been won by ten national teams: Germany and Spain have each won three titles, Italy and France have won two titles, and the Soviet Union, Czechoslovakia, the Netherlands, Denmark, Greece and Portugal have won one title each. To date, Spain is the only team to have won consecutive titles, doing so in 2008 and 2012.
The most recent championship, held across Europe in 2021 (postponed from 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic), was won by Italy, who lifted their second European title after beating England in the final at Wembley Stadium in London on penalties.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:00 UTC on Wednesday, 26 June 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see UEFA European Championship on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm neural Kajal.
pWotD Episode 2610: Elon Musk
Welcome to popular Wiki of the Day where we read the summary of a popular Wikipedia page every day.
With 121,853 views on Monday, 24 June 2024 our article of the day is Elon Musk.
Elon Reeve Musk (; born June 28, 1971) is a businessman and investor known for his key roles in space company SpaceX and automotive company Tesla, Inc. Other involvements include ownership of X Corp., formerly Twitter, and his role in the founding of The Boring Company, xAI, Neuralink and OpenAI. He is one of the wealthiest people in the world; as of June 2024, Forbes estimates his net worth to be US$214 billion.
Musk was born in Pretoria, a member of the South African Musk family, and briefly attended the University of Pretoria before immigrating to Canada at age 18, acquiring citizenship through his Canadian-born mother. Two years later, he matriculated at Queen's University at Kingston in Canada. Musk later transferred to the University of Pennsylvania and received bachelor's degrees in economics and physics. He moved to California in 1995 to attend Stanford University, but dropped out after two days and, with his brother Kimbal, co-founded online city guide software company Zip2. The startup was acquired by Compaq for $307 million in 1999. That same year, Musk co-founded X.com, a direct bank. X.com merged with Confinity in 2000 to form PayPal. In October 2002, eBay acquired PayPal for $1.5 billion. Using $100 million of the money he made from the sale of PayPal, Musk founded SpaceX, a spaceflight services company, in 2002.
In 2004, Musk was an early investor in electric vehicle manufacturer Tesla Motors, Inc. (later Tesla, Inc.). He became the company's chairman and product architect, assuming the position of CEO in 2008. In 2006, Musk helped create SolarCity, a solar-energy company that was acquired by Tesla in 2016 and became Tesla Energy. In 2013, he proposed a hyperloop high-speed vactrain transportation system. In 2015, he co-founded OpenAI, a nonprofit artificial intelligence research company. The following year, Musk co-founded Neuralink—a neurotechnology company developing brain–computer interfaces—and The Boring Company, a tunnel construction company. In 2018, the U. S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) sued Musk, alleging that he had falsely announced that he had secured funding for a private takeover of Tesla. To settle the case, Musk stepped down as the chairman of Tesla and paid a $20 million fine. In 2022, he acquired Twitter for $44 billion. He subsequently merged the company into newly created X Corp. and rebranded the service as X the following year. In March 2023, Musk founded xAI, an artificial intelligence company.
Musk has expressed views that have made him a polarizing figure. He has been criticized for making unscientific and misleading statements, including COVID-19 misinformation and appearing to endorse antisemitic conspiracy theories, the latter of which he later apologized for. His ownership of Twitter has been similarly controversial, being marked by layoffs of large numbers of employees, an increase in hate speech, misinformation and disinformation posts on the website, and changes to Twitter Blue verification.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:19 UTC on Tuesday, 25 June 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Elon Musk on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm Joanna Standard.
pWotD Episode 2609: House of the Dragon
Welcome to popular Wiki of the Day where we read the summary of a popular Wikipedia page every day.
With 128,700 views on Sunday, 23 June 2024 our article of the day is House of the Dragon.
House of the Dragon is an American fantasy drama television series created by George R. R. Martin and Ryan Condal for HBO. A prequel to Game of Thrones (2011–2019), it is the second television series in the A Song of Ice and Fire franchise. Condal and Miguel Sapochnik served as the showrunners for the first season. Based on parts of Martin's 2018 book Fire & Blood, the series begins about 100 years after the Seven Kingdoms are united by the Targaryen conquest, nearly 200 years before the events of Game of Thrones, and 172 years before the birth of Daenerys Targaryen. Featuring an ensemble cast, the show portrays the events leading up to the decline of House Targaryen, a devastating war of succession known as the "Dance of the Dragons".
House of the Dragon received a straight-to-series order in October 2019, with casting beginning in July 2020 and principal photography starting in April 2021 in the United Kingdom. The series premiered on August 21, 2022, with the first season consisting of ten episodes. Five days after its premiere, the series was renewed for a second season. Sapochnik departed as showrunner after the first season, leaving Condal to serve as the sole showrunner for the second season. The second season premiered on June 16, 2024, consisting of eight episodes. In June 2024, ahead of the second season premiere, the series was renewed for a third season.
The first season received positive reviews, with praise towards its character development, visual effects, writing, score by Ramin Djawadi, and performances. However, the pacing, specifically of the time jumps, and the dark lighting of some scenes were criticized. The series premiere was watched by over 10 million viewers across the linear channels and HBO Max on the first day, the biggest in HBO's history. At the 80th Golden Globe Awards, House of the Dragon won Best Television Series – Drama and Emma D'Arcy was nominated for Best Actress in a Television Series – Drama. The series earned nine Emmy Award nominations, including Outstanding Drama Series, and won three British Academy Television Craft Awards.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 03:24 UTC on Monday, 24 June 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see House of the Dragon on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
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Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.
Until next time, I'm Amy Standard.
pWotD Episode 2608: Inside Out 2
Welcome to popular Wiki of the Day where we read the summary of a popular Wikipedia page every day.
With 161,656 views on Saturday, 22 June 2024 our article of the day is Inside Out 2.
Inside Out 2 is a 2024 American animated coming-of-age film produced by Pixar Animation Studios for Walt Disney Pictures. The sequel to Inside Out (2015), it was directed by Kelsey Mann (in his feature directorial debut) and produced by Mark Nielsen, from a screenplay written by Meg LeFauve and Dave Holstein, and a story conceived by Mann and LeFauve. Amy Poehler, Phyllis Smith, Lewis Black, Diane Lane, and Kyle MacLachlan reprise their roles from the first film, with Maya Hawke, Kensington Tallman, Tony Hale, Liza Lapira, Ayo Edebiri, Lilimar, Grace Lu, Sumayyah Nuriddin-Green, Adèle Exarchopoulos, and Paul Walter Hauser joining the cast. The film tells the story of Riley's emotions as they find themselves joined by new emotions that want to take over Riley's head.
First announced in September 2022 during the D23 Expo, Inside Out 2 features Pixar chief creative officer Pete Docter's "five to 27 emotions" idea from the first film that Mann pitched during its production to utilize "truthful" worldbuilding.
Inside Out 2 premiered at the El Capitan Theatre in Los Angeles on June 10, 2024, and was released in theaters in the United States on June 14. The film received positive reviews from critics and has grossed $512 million worldwide. It had the third-biggest opening day debut for an animated film domestically, behind Pixar's Incredibles 2 (2018) and Disney's The Lion King (2019), and is the fourth-highest-grossing film of 2024.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 04:14 UTC on Sunday, 23 June 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Inside Out 2 on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm Matthew Standard.
pWotD Episode 2607: Kiefer Sutherland
Welcome to popular Wiki of the Day where we read the summary of a popular Wikipedia page every day.
With 266,081 views on Friday, 21 June 2024 our article of the day is Kiefer Sutherland.
Kiefer William Frederick Dempsey George Rufus Sutherland (born 21 December 1966) is a Canadian actor and musician. He is best known for his starring role as Jack Bauer in the Fox drama series 24 (2001–2010, 2014), for which he won a Primetime Emmy Award and a Golden Globe Award.
Born to actors Donald Sutherland and Shirley Douglas, he got his first leading film role in the Canadian drama The Bay Boy (1984), which earned him a Genie Award nomination. He has since appeared in such films as Stand by Me (1986), The Lost Boys (1987), Young Guns (1988), Flatliners (1990), A Few Good Men (1992), The Three Musketeers (1993), Freeway (1996), A Time to Kill (1996), Dark City (1998), Phone Booth (2002), Melancholia (2011), Pompeii (2014), and The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial (2023).
He has also starred in the Fox drama Touch (2012–2013), and provided the facial motion capture and voice for Venom Snake in the video games Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes (2014) and Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain (2015). From 2016 to 2019, he starred in the ABC/Netflix political drama series Designated Survivor. Sutherland has been inducted to the Hollywood Walk of Fame and to Canada's Walk of Fame, and has received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Zurich Film Festival.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:30 UTC on Saturday, 22 June 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Kiefer Sutherland on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
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Until next time, I'm Amy Neural.
pWotD Episode 2606: Donald Sutherland
Welcome to popular Wiki of the Day where we read the summary of a popular Wikipedia page every day.
With 1,418,398 views on Thursday, 20 June 2024 our article of the day is Donald Sutherland.
Donald McNichol Sutherland (17 July 1935 – 20 June 2024) was a Canadian actor. A film career spanning over seven decades, Sutherland received numerous accolades, including a Primetime Emmy Award, and two Golden Globe Awards. He is cited as one of the best actors never to have received an Academy Award nomination, but received an Academy Honorary Award in 2017.
Born in Saint John, New Brunswick, and later moving to Bridgewater, Nova Scotia, Sutherland rose to fame after starring in films such as The Dirty Dozen (1967), MAS*H (1970), and Kelly's Heroes (1970). He subsequently starred in many films both in leading and supporting roles, including Start the Revolution Without Me (1970), Klute (1971), Don't Look Now (1973), The Day of the Locust (1975), Fellini's Casanova (1976), The Eagle Has Landed (1976), 1900 (1976), Animal House (1978), Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978), Ordinary People (1980), Eye of the Needle (1981), A Dry White Season (1989), Backdraft (1991), JFK (1991), Six Degrees of Separation (1993), Without Limits (1998), The Italian Job (2003), and Pride & Prejudice (2005). More recently, Sutherland portrayed President Snow in The Hunger Games franchise.
Sutherland also received accolades for his television roles. For his portrayal of Colonel Mikhail Fetisovin Citizen X (1995) he received the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie. He played Adam Czerniaków in Uprising (2001), and Clark Clifford in Path to War (2002) earning the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film.
Sutherland received various honours including inductions into the Canadian Walk of Fame in 2000 and the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2011. He was made an Officer of the Order of Canada (OC) in 1978, a Commandeur of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres in 2012 and received the Companion of the Order of Canada (CC) in 2019. He was the father of Kiefer, Rossif, and Angus, all actors. In October 2023, Canada Post issued a stamp in his honour, commemorating his career as one of Canada's most respected and versatile actors.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:44 UTC on Friday, 21 June 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Donald Sutherland on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm Aria Neural.
pWotD Episode 2605: Juneteenth
Welcome to popular Wiki of the Day where we read the summary of a popular Wikipedia page every day.
With 946,353 views on Wednesday, 19 June 2024 our article of the day is Juneteenth.
Juneteenth, officially Juneteenth National Independence Day, is a federal holiday in the United States. It is celebrated annually on June 19 to commemorate the ending of slavery in the United States. The holiday's name is a portmanteau of the words "June" and "nineteenth", as it was on June 19, 1865, when Major General Gordon Granger ordered the final enforcement of the Emancipation Proclamation in Texas at the end of the American Civil War. Although this date commemorates enslaved people learning of their freedom under the Emancipation Proclamation, this only applied to former Confederate states. There remained legally enslaved people in states that never seceded from the Union. These people did not gain their freedom until the ratification of the 13th Amendment to the United States Constitution on December 6, 1865.
Early celebrations date back to 1866, at first involving church-centered community gatherings in Texas. They spread across the South amongst newly freed African American slaves and their descendants and became more commercialized in the 1920s and 1930s, often centering on a food festival. Participants in the Great Migration brought these celebrations to the rest of the country. During the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s, these celebrations were eclipsed by the nonviolent determination to achieve civil rights, but grew in popularity again in the 1970s with a focus on African-American freedom and African-American arts. Beginning with Texas by proclamation in 1938, and by legislation in 1979, every U. S. state and the District of Columbia has formally recognized the holiday in some way.
Juneteenth is also celebrated by the Mascogos, descendants of Black Seminoles who escaped from slavery in 1852 and settled in Coahuila, Mexico.
The day was recognized as a federal holiday in 2021, when President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act into law. Juneteenth became the first new federal holiday since Martin Luther King Jr. Day was adopted in 1983.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:29 UTC on Thursday, 20 June 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Juneteenth on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm Kevin Neural.
pWotD Episode 2604: Jayson Tatum
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With 363,182 views on Tuesday, 18 June 2024 our article of the day is Jayson Tatum.
Jayson Christopher Tatum ( TAY-təm; born March 3, 1998) is an American professional basketball player for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was a McDonald's All-American in high school in Missouri and played college basketball for the Duke Blue Devils. Tatum was selected with the third overall pick by the Boston Celtics in the 2017 NBA draft and voted to the NBA All-Rookie First Team in 2018.
A five-time NBA All-Star and four-time All-NBA selection, Tatum was named the NBA Eastern Conference Finals Most Valuable Player in 2022 and helped the Celtics reach the NBA Finals. In 2024, he led the team to a league-best 64 wins, second NBA Finals appearance in three years and eighteenth NBA championship in franchise history, the first in sixteen years. Tatum also won a gold medal on the 2020 U. S. Olympic team in Tokyo. He holds the record for most points scored in an NBA All-Star Game, with 55, and the most points scored in a Game 7 of any NBA playoffs series, with 51.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:21 UTC on Wednesday, 19 June 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Jayson Tatum on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm Kajal Neural.
pWotD Episode 2603: Page 3
Welcome to popular Wiki of the Day where we read the summary of a popular Wikipedia page every day.
With 589,276 views on Monday, 17 June 2024 our article of the day is Page 3.
Page 3, or Page Three, was a British newspaper convention of publishing a large image of a topless female glamour model (known as a Page 3 girl) on the third page of mainstream red top tabloids. The Sun introduced the feature in November 1970, which boosted its readership and prompted competing tabloids—including The Daily Mirror, The Sunday People, and The Daily Star—to begin featuring topless models on their own third pages. Well-known Page 3 models included Linda Lusardi, Samantha Fox, Debee Ashby, Maria Whittaker, Katie Price, Keeley Hazell, and Jakki Degg.
Although Page 3's defenders portrayed it as a harmless British cultural tradition, the feature was controversial throughout its history, drawing criticism both from conservatives, who tended to view it as softcore pornography inappropriate for inclusion in national newspapers, and feminists, who argued that Page 3 objectified women's bodies, negatively affected girls' and women's body image, and perpetuated sexism. Some politicians, most notably Clare Short and Caroline Lucas, campaigned to have Page 3 images banned from newspapers, although other politicians, including Nick Clegg and Ed Vaizey, expressed concern that such a ban would compromise press freedom. The British government never enacted legislation against Page 3, although activists in 2012 launched the No More Page 3 campaign with the goal of persuading newspaper editors and owners to end the feature voluntarily.
In February 2013, Rupert Murdoch, owner of The Sun, suggested that Page 3 could become a "halfway house", featuring glamour photographs without showing nudity. In August of that year, The Sun's Republic of Ireland edition replaced topless Page 3 girls with clothed glamour models. The Sun's UK print editions followed suit in January 2015, discontinuing Page 3 after more than 44 years. The Sun's official Page 3 website ceased publishing new content in March 2017 and was taken offline the following year. In April 2019, The Daily Star became the last print daily to move to a clothed glamour format, ending the Page 3 convention in Britain's mainstream tabloid press. As of 2023, the only British tabloid still publishing topless models is the niche Sunday Sport.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:51 UTC on Tuesday, 18 June 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Page 3 on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
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Until next time, I'm Ivy Neural.
pWotD Episode 2602: Bryson DeChambeau
Welcome to popular Wiki of the Day where we read the summary of a popular Wikipedia page every day.
With 614,430 views on Sunday, 16 June 2024 our article of the day is Bryson DeChambeau.
Bryson James Aldrich DeChambeau (born September 16, 1993) is an American professional golfer who plays on the LIV Golf League. He formerly played on the PGA Tour, and has won two major championships, the 2020 and 2024 U. S. Open.
As an amateur, DeChambeau became the fifth player in history to win both the NCAA Division I championship and the U. S. Amateur in the same year. With his U. S. Open victory he became the third player to have won those three championships, after Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods.
Renowned for his analytical approaches to the sport, DeChambeau has acquired the nickname of "The Scientist". His clubs are specially designed to his specifications, with thicker than normal grips and irons that are all the same length. In 2020, he became the longest driver on the PGA Tour.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:34 UTC on Monday, 17 June 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Bryson DeChambeau on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm Aria Neural.
pWotD Episode 2601: Kevin Campbell (footballer)
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With 411,403 views on Saturday, 15 June 2024 our article of the day is Kevin Campbell (footballer).
Kevin Joseph Campbell (4 February 1970 – 15 June 2024) was an English professional footballer, sports television pundit and co-commentator. A striker, he played in the Premier League for Arsenal, Nottingham Forest, Everton and West Bromwich Albion. He also played in the Turkish Süper Lig for Trabzonspor, and in the Football League for Arsenal, Leyton Orient, Leicester City and Cardiff City.
Campbell was capped four times by England U21, scoring once and received a call-up to the England B team in 1991, for whom he earned one cap.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:37 UTC on Sunday, 16 June 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Kevin Campbell (footballer) on Wikipedia.
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Until next time, I'm Russell Standard.
pWotD Episode 2600: UEFA Euro 2024
Welcome to popular Wiki of the Day where we read the summary of a popular Wikipedia page every day.
With 322,633 views on Friday, 14 June 2024 our article of the day is UEFA Euro 2024.
The 2024 UEFA European Football Championship, commonly referred to as UEFA Euro 2024 (stylised as UEFA EURO 2024) or simply Euro 2024, is an ongoing 17th edition of the UEFA European Championship, the quadrennial international football championship organised by UEFA for the European men's national teams of its member associations. Germany hosts the tournament, which is taking place from 14 June 2024 to 14 July 2024, and the winner will later compete in the 2025 CONMEBOL–UEFA Cup of Champions against the 2024 Copa América winner. The tournament comprises 24 teams, with Georgia the only team making their European Championship finals debut.
It is the third time that European Championship matches are played on German territory and the second time in reunified Germany, as West Germany hosted the tournament's 1988 edition, and four matches of the multi-national Euro 2020 were played in Munich. It is the first time the competition is held in what was formerly East Germany with Leipzig as a host city, as well as the first major tournament since the 2006 FIFA World Cup that a reunified Germany serves as a solo host nation. The tournament will return to its usual four-year cycle, after the 2020 edition was postponed to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Italy are the defending champions, having won the 2020 tournament against England on penalties in the final.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:27 UTC on Saturday, 15 June 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see UEFA Euro 2024 on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm Ivy Standard.
pWotD Episode 2599: 2024 ICC Men's T20 World Cup
Welcome to popular Wiki of the Day where we read the summary of a popular Wikipedia page every day.
With 177,757 views on Thursday, 13 June 2024 our article of the day is 2024 ICC Men's T20 World Cup.
The 2024 ICC Men's T20 World Cup is the ninth edition of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup, a biennial Twenty20 International (T20I) tournament contested by men's national teams and organised by the International Cricket Council (ICC). It is being co-hosted by the West Indies and the United States from 1 to 29 June 2024. It is the first major ICC event tournament to feature matches played in the United States, and in any other country in the Americas outside the West Indies. The West Indies is hosting the T20 World Cup for the second time, having hosted the 2010 edition. England are the defending champions, having defeated Pakistan in the final of the previous edition.
The tournament is being contested by a record 20 teams, an expansion from 16 teams at the 2022 tournament; this includes the two hosts, the top eight teams from the 2022 edition, the next two teams in the ICC Men's T20I Team Rankings, and eight teams determined by regional qualifiers. Canada and Uganda qualified for the men's T20 World Cup for the first time, while the United States is participating for the first time by virtue of being co-host.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:36 UTC on Friday, 14 June 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see 2024 ICC Men's T20 World Cup on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm Joey Neural.
pWotD Episode 2598: Jerry West
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With 499,944 views on Wednesday, 12 June 2024 our article of the day is Jerry West.
Jerome Alan West (May 28, 1938 – June 12, 2024) was an American basketball executive and player. He played professionally for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). His nicknames included "the Logo", in reference to his silhouette being the basis for the NBA logo; "Mr. Clutch", for his ability to make a big play in a key situation such as his famous buzzer-beating 60-foot shot that tied Game 3 of the 1970 NBA Finals against the New York Knicks; "Mr. Outside", in reference to his perimeter play with the Los Angeles Lakers and "Zeke from Cabin Creek" for the creek near his birthplace of Chelyan, West Virginia. West played the small forward position early in his career: he was a standout at East Bank High School and at West Virginia University, where he led the Mountaineers to the 1959 NCAA championship game. He earned the NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player honor despite the loss in the championship. He then embarked on a 14-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers and was the co-captain of the 1960 U. S. Olympic gold medal team, a squad that was inducted as a unit into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2010. In 2024, he will be inducted to the Hall of Fame as a contributor to the sport as an executive and consultant.
West's NBA career was highly successful. Playing the guard position, he was voted 12 times into the All-NBA First and Second Teams, was elected into the NBA All-Star Team 14 times and was chosen as the All-Star MVP in 1972, the same year that he won the only title of his career. West holds the NBA record for the highest points per game average in a playoff series with 46.3. He was also a member of the first five NBA All-Defensive Teams (one second, followed by four firsts), which were introduced when he was 32 years old. Having played in nine NBA Finals, he is also the only player in NBA history to be named Finals MVP despite being on the losing team (1969). In 1980, West was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame and named to the NBA 35th Anniversary Team. West was named as one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA history in 1996, and to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team in 2021.
After his playing career ended, West took over as head coach of the Lakers for three years. He led Los Angeles into the playoffs each year and earned a Western Conference finals berth once. Working as a player-scout for three years, West was named general manager of the Lakers before the 1982–83 NBA season. Under his reign, Los Angeles won six championship rings. In 2002, West became general manager of the Memphis Grizzlies and helped the franchise win their first-ever playoff berths. For his contributions, West won the NBA Executive of the Year Award twice: once as a Lakers manager (1995) and then as a Grizzlies manager (2004). West's son, Jonnie, also played college basketball for West Virginia.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:57 UTC on Thursday, 13 June 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Jerry West on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm Amy Neural.
pWotD Episode 2597: Mohan Charan Majhi
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With 346,831 views on Tuesday, 11 June 2024 our article of the day is Mohan Charan Majhi.
Mohan Charan Majhi is an Indian politician who is serving as the 15th Chief Minister of Odisha thus ending the 24 year term of Naveen Patnaik. He was elected to the Odisha Legislative Assembly from Keonjhar (Odisha Vidhan Sabha constituency) in the 2019 Odisha Legislative Assembly election as a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party. He also represented the Keonjhar twice during the years 2000 to 2009.
He is an MLA from Keonjhar district (Odisha) constituency in the State Election 2024. He won the seat with a margin of 11577 votes against the BJD candidate.
On the 11th of June 2024, he was announced as the next Chief Minister of Odisha post 2024 Odisha Legislative Assembly election.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:44 UTC on Wednesday, 12 June 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Mohan Charan Majhi on Wikipedia.
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Until next time, I'm Salli Standard.
pWotD Episode 2596: Chirag Paswan
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With 272,341 views on Monday, 10 June 2024 our article of the day is Chirag Paswan.
Chirag Kumar Paswan (born 31 October 1982) is an Indian politician and former actor who serving as the 19th Minister of Food Processing Industries since 2024 and 1st president of the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) since 2021, 2nd president of Lok Janshakti Party from 2019 to 2021 and a Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha from Hajipur Lok Sabha constituency since 2024. He is the son of late Member of Parliament and Union Minister, Ram Vilas Paswan.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:56 UTC on Tuesday, 11 June 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Chirag Paswan on Wikipedia.
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Until next time, I'm Brian Standard.
pWotD Episode 2595: Michael Mosley (broadcaster)
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With 503,343 views on Sunday, 9 June 2024 our article of the day is Michael Mosley (broadcaster).
Michael Hugh Mosley (22 March 1957 – c. 5 June 2024) was a British television journalist, producer, presenter, and writer, who worked for the BBC from 1985. He was a presenter of television programmes on biology and medicine and regularly appeared on The One Show. Mosley was an advocate of intermittent fasting and low-carbohydrate diets who wrote books promoting the ketogenic diet. He died while on holiday on the Greek island of Symi in June 2024.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:34 UTC on Monday, 10 June 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Michael Mosley (broadcaster) on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm Joanna Neural.
pWotD Episode 2594: Iga Świątek
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With 265,596 views on Saturday, 8 June 2024 our article of the day is Iga Świątek.
Iga Natalia Świątek (Polish pronunciation: [ˈiɡa naˈtalja ˈɕfjɔntɛk] ; born 31 May 2001) is a Polish professional tennis player. She is currently ranked as the world No. 1 in women's singles by the Women's Tennis Association (WTA), having held the position for a total of 107 weeks. Świątek is a five-time major singles champion, having won the French Open in 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024, and the US Open in 2022. She is the first player representing Poland to win a major singles title. She has won a total of 22 singles titles, including the 2023 WTA Finals and ten WTA 1000 titles.
Świątek's father, Tomasz, is a retired Olympic rower. As a junior, Świątek was the 2018 French Open girls' doubles champion alongside Caty McNally and the 2018 Wimbledon girls' singles champion. Świątek began playing regularly on the WTA Tour in 2019, and entered the top 50 at 18 years old after her first Tour final and a fourth-round appearance at the 2019 French Open.
During her French Open title run in 2020, Świątek did not lose more than five games in any singles match. She entered the top ten of the WTA rankings for the first time in May 2021 after winning the Italian Open. Following back-to-back WTA 1000 titles in 2022 at Qatar and Indian Wells, Świątek reached a career-high ranking of No. 2. After the retirement of world No. 1 Ashleigh Barty, she became the first Polish player, male or female, to reach the top ranking in singles, on 4 April 2022. During this time, Świątek accumulated a 37-match winning streak, the longest on the WTA Tour in the 21st century. With major titles at the French and US Opens, she finished 2022 as the dominant No. 1. In 2023 she defended her French Open title and claimed the WTA Finals to finish as year-end No. 1 again. She has claimed the French Open title at four of her six appearances at the tournament, having never lost a match before the fourth round.
Świątek has an all-court playing style. She won the WTA Fan Favorite Shot of the Year in 2019 with a drop shot from the baseline, and was voted WTA Fan Favorite Singles Player of the Year in 2020. In 2023, she was named the L'Équipe Champion of Champions and Polish Sports Personality of the Year and included on Time's annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:54 UTC on Sunday, 9 June 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Iga Świątek on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm Joanna Standard.
pWotD Episode 2593: Pawan Kalyan
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With 265,184 views on Friday, 7 June 2024 our article of the day is Pawan Kalyan.
Konidela Pawan Kalyan (born Konidela Kalyan Babu; 2 September 1968 or 1971) is an Indian actor, politician, filmmaker, martial artist, and philanthropist who works in Telugu cinema. Known for his unique acting style and mannerisms, he has a large fan base and a cult following. One of the highest-paid actors of Indian cinema, he has been featured in Forbes India's Celebrity 100 list since 2013. Kalyan is the recipient of a Filmfare Awards South, a SIIMA Award, a CineMAA Award, and a Santosham Film Award. He is also the founder of the Jana Sena Party.
Kalyan made his acting debut in the 1996 film Akkada Ammayi Ikkada Abbayi but rose to prominence with the dramas Gokulamlo Seeta (1997) and Suswagatham (1998). He achieved stardom for his performance in Tholi Prema (1998), which won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu that year. Kalyan established himself as a leading actor with successful projects such as Thammudu (1999), Badri (2000), Kushi (2001), Balu (2005), Jalsa (2008), Gabbar Singh (2012), Attarintiki Daredi (2013), Gopala Gopala (2015), Vakeel Saab (2021), and Bheemla Nayak (2022). He received the Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Telugu for Gabbar Singh while Attarintiki Daredi held the record of being the highest-grossing Telugu film of all time. In addition to acting, he produces films under the banners Anjana Productions and Pawan Kalyan Creative Works.
In 2008, Kalyan entered into politics as the youth wing president of his brother Chiranjeevi's Praja Rajyam Party, but he left after it merged into the Congress party. He founded the Jana Sena Party in March 2014 and was listed as the most searched Indian celebrity politician on Google at the time. Kalyan is a known philanthropist and is the founder of the Andhra Pradesh charity Common Man Protection Force. He is a black belt in Karate and trains in various martial arts which he depicts in his films regularly. Kalyan is referred to as Power Star by his fans and in the media.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:26 UTC on Saturday, 8 June 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Pawan Kalyan on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm Justin Neural.
pWotD Episode 2592: Normandy landings
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With 494,081 views on Thursday, 6 June 2024 our article of the day is Normandy landings.
The Normandy landings were the landing operations and associated airborne operations on Tuesday, 6 June 1944 of the Allied invasion of Normandy in Operation Overlord during World War II. Codenamed Operation Neptune and often referred to as D-Day, it is the largest seaborne invasion in history. The operation began the liberation of France, and the rest of Western Europe, and laid the foundations of the Allied victory on the Western Front.
Planning for the operation began in 1943. In the months leading up to the invasion, the Allies conducted a substantial military deception, codenamed Operation Bodyguard, to mislead the Germans as to the date and location of the main Allied landings. The weather on the day selected for D-Day was not ideal, and the operation had to be delayed 24 hours; a further postponement would have meant a delay of at least two weeks, as the planners had requirements for the phase of the moon, the tides, and time of day, that meant only a few days each month were deemed suitable. Adolf Hitler placed Field Marshal Erwin Rommel in command of German forces and developing fortifications along the Atlantic Wall in anticipation of an invasion. U. S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt placed Major General Dwight D. Eisenhower in command of Allied forces.
The invasion began shortly after midnight on the morning of 6 June with extensive aerial and naval bombardment as well as an airborne assault—the landing of 24,000 American, British, and Canadian airborne troops. The early morning aerial assault was soon followed by Allied amphibious landings on the coast of France c. 06:30. The target 50-mile (80 km) stretch of the Normandy coast was divided into five sectors: Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno, and Sword. Strong winds blew the landing craft east of their intended positions, particularly at Utah and Omaha.
The men landed under heavy fire from gun emplacements overlooking the beaches, and the shore was mined and covered with obstacles such as wooden stakes, metal tripods, and barbed wire, making the work of the beach-clearing teams difficult and dangerous. Casualties were heaviest at Omaha, with its high cliffs. At Gold, Juno, and Sword, several fortified towns were cleared in house-to-house fighting, and two major gun emplacements at Gold were disabled using specialised tanks.
The Allies failed to achieve any of their major goals beyond the establishment of the beachheads on the first day. Carentan, Saint-Lô, and Bayeux remained in German hands, and Caen, a major objective, was not captured until 21 July. Only two of the beaches (Juno and Gold) were linked on the first day, and all five beachheads were not connected until 12 June; however, the operation gained a foothold that the Allies gradually expanded over the coming months. German casualties on D-Day have been estimated at 4,000 to 9,000 men. Allied casualties were documented for at least 10,000, with 4,414 confirmed dead.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:56 UTC on Friday, 7 June 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Normandy landings on Wikipedia.
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Until next time, I'm Kendra Standard.
pWotD Episode 2591: National Democratic Alliance
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With 356,392 views on Wednesday, 5 June 2024 our article of the day is National Democratic Alliance.
The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) (ISO: Rāṣṭrīya Lokatāṁtrika Gaṭhabaṁdhana) is a right-wing conservative Indian political alliance led by the right-wing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). It was founded in 1998 and currently controls the government of India as well as the government of 19 Indian states and one Union territory.
Its first chairman was then Prime Minister of India Atal Bihari Vajpayee. L. K. Advani, the former Deputy Prime Minister, took over as chairman in 2004 and served until 2014, and Amit Shah has been the chairman since 2014. The coalition ruled from 1998 to 2004. The alliance returned to power in the 2014 general elections with a combined vote share of 38.5%. Its leader Narendra Modi was sworn in as Prime Minister of India on 26 May 2014. In the 2019 general election, the alliance further increased its tally to 353 seats with combined vote share of 45.43%. In the 2024 general election, the alliance lost 60 seats, but the alliance won enough seats to form a coalition government, the first in over 10 years.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:47 UTC on Thursday, 6 June 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see National Democratic Alliance on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm Arthur Neural.
pWotD Episode 2590: 2019 Indian general election
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With 1,240,708 views on Tuesday, 4 June 2024 our article of the day is 2019 Indian general election.
General elections were held in India in seven phases from 11 April to 19 May 2019 to elect the members of the 17th Lok Sabha. Votes were counted and the result was declared on 23 May. Around 912 million people were eligible to vote, and voter turnout was over 67 per cent – the highest ever, as well as the highest ever participation by women voters until 2024 Indian general election.
The Bharatiya Janata Party received 37.36% of the vote, the highest vote share by a political party since the 1989 general election, and won 303 seats, further increasing its substantial majority. In addition, the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) won 353 seats. The BJP won 37.76% of votes, while the NDA's combined vote was 45% of the 603.7 million votes that were polled. The Indian National Congress won 52 seats, failing to get 10% of the seats needed to claim the post of Leader of the Opposition. In addition, the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) won 91 seats, while other parties won 98 seats.
Legislative assembly elections in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Odisha and Sikkim were held simultaneously with the general election, as well as by-elections of twenty-two seats of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:35 UTC on Wednesday, 5 June 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see 2019 Indian general election on Wikipedia.
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Until next time, I'm Emma Standard.
pWotD Episode 2589: Claudia Sheinbaum
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With 997,390 views on Monday, 3 June 2024 our article of the day is Claudia Sheinbaum.
Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo (born 24 June 1962) is a Mexican politician, scientist, and academic who is the president-elect of Mexico, the first female and person of predominantly Jewish ancestryNote to be elected to the position. A member of the left-wing political party Morena, she previously served as Head of Government of Mexico City – a position equivalent to that of a state governor – from 2018 to 2023.
From 2000 to 2006, Sheinbaum served as Secretary of the Environment under future president Andrés Manuel López Obrador during his tenure as Head of Government. Sheinbaum served as Delegational Chief of the Tlalpan borough from 2015 to 2017 and was elected Head of Government in the 2018 election, where she ran a campaign that emphasized curbing crime and enforcing zoning laws.
A scientist by profession, Sheinbaum received her Ph. D. in energy engineering from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). As an academic, she has authored over 100 articles and two books on energy, the environment, and sustainable development. Sheinbaum contributed to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, and in 2018 she was listed as one of BBC's 100 Women.
On 12 June 2023, Sheinbaum resigned from her position as Head of Government of Mexico City to seek Morena's presidential nomination in the 2024 election. On 6 September, Sheinbaum secured the party's nomination over her nearest rival, former foreign secretary Marcelo Ebrard. On 2 June 2024, Sheinbaum won the general election in a landslide.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:35 UTC on Tuesday, 4 June 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Claudia Sheinbaum on Wikipedia.
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Until next time, I'm Geraint Standard.
pWotD Episode 2588: Islam Makhachev
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With 231,163 views on Sunday, 2 June 2024 our article of the day is Islam Makhachev.
Islam Ramazanovich Makhachev (Russian: Ислам Рамазанович Махачев; born 27 October 1991) is a Russian professional mixed martial artist and former sambo competitor. He currently competes in the Lightweight division in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where he is the current UFC Lightweight Champion. Makhachev has competed professionally since 2010, along with becoming a combat sambo world champion in 2016 and two-time Russian national champion at 74 kg (2014, 2016). As of 7 November 2023, he is #1 in the UFC men's pound-for-pound rankings.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:37 UTC on Monday, 3 June 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Islam Makhachev on Wikipedia.
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Until next time, I'm Joey Standard.
pWotD Episode 2587: Carlo Ancelotti
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With 271,170 views on Saturday, 1 June 2024 our article of the day is Carlo Ancelotti.
Carlo Ancelotti (born 10 June 1959) is an Italian professional football manager and former player who is the manager of Real Madrid. Nicknamed "Carletto" in Italy and "Don Carlo" in Spain, he is regarded as one of the greatest football managers of all time. Ancelotti is the most successful manager in UEFA Champions League history, having won the trophy a record five times as coach (twice with AC Milan and three times with Real Madrid). He is also the first and only one to have managed teams in six Champions League finals. As a player, he won the European Cup twice with AC Milan in 1989 and 1990, making him one of seven people to have won the European Cup or Champions League as both a player and a manager. Ancelotti is also the first and only manager ever to have won league titles in all of Europe's top five leagues. He has won the FIFA Club World Cup three times, and is also the manager with the joint-most UEFA Super Cup triumphs, having won the trophy on four occasions, managing Milan and Real Madrid.
Ancelotti played as a midfielder and began his career with Italian club Parma, helping the club to Serie B promotion in 1979. He moved to Roma the following season, where he won a Serie A title and four Coppa Italia titles, and also played for the late 1980s Milan team, with which he won two league titles and two European Cups, among other titles. At international level he played for the Italy national team on 26 occasions, scoring once, and appeared in two FIFA World Cups, finishing in third place in the 1990 edition of the tournament, as well as UEFA Euro 1988, where he helped his nation to reach the semi-finals.
As a manager, Ancelotti worked for Reggiana, Parma and Juventus between 1995 and 2001, before rising to prominence with Milan. Appointed as manager in 2001, he went onto win both the 2002–03 Champions League and 2002–03 Coppa Italia. The following season, he won the Scudetto with an Italian record of 82 points from 34 games, and three years later he won his second Champions League with Milan. During his tenure with Milan, Ancelotti was awarded the Serie A Coach of the Year twice. He resigned from Milan after the 2008–09 season, leaving as Milan's longest-serving manager in a single spell.
In 2009, Ancelotti was appointed manager of Chelsea, winning the domestic double of the Premier League and FA Cup in his first season. In 2011, he became the manager of French club Paris Saint-Germain; the following season he won them their first Ligue 1 title in 19 years and was awarded joint Ligue 1 Manager of the Year. Following his success in France, Ancelotti was appointed manager of Real Madrid. In his first season, he led Real Madrid to their long-sought tenth Champions League title, La Décima, and also won the Copa del Rey. Despite collecting further honours with the club and being awarded the Miguel Muñoz Trophy in 2014–15 for the best performing manager in La Liga, Ancelotti was dismissed from Real Madrid in May 2015. He became the manager of Bayern Munich in 2016, where he won the Bundesliga title in his first season, and following stints at Napoli and Everton between 2018 and 2021, he returned to Real Madrid in the summer of 2021, where he won two La Liga–Champions League doubles in 2022 and 2024.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:50 UTC on Sunday, 2 June 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Carlo Ancelotti on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
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Until next time, I'm Ivy Standard.
pWotD Episode 2586: Luka Dončić
Welcome to popular Wiki of the Day where we read the summary of a popular Wikipedia page every day.
With 164,023 views on Friday, 31 May 2024 our article of the day is Luka Dončić.
Luka Dončić ( LOO-kə DON-chitch; Slovene: [ˈlùːka ˈdòːntʃitʃ]; born February 28, 1999) is a Slovenian professional basketball player for the Dallas Mavericks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Nicknamed "Luka Magic", he also plays for the Slovenia national team and is regarded as one of the greatest European players of all time.
Born in Ljubljana, Dončić shone as a youth player for Union Olimpija before joining the youth academy of Real Madrid. In 2015, he made his debut for the academy's senior team at age 16, becoming the youngest in club history. Dončić led Madrid to the 2018 EuroLeague title, winning the EuroLeague MVP and the Final Four MVP. He was named the ACB Most Valuable Player and won back-to-back EuroLeague Rising Star and ACB Best Young Player awards. Dončić was also selected to the EuroLeague 2010–20 All-Decade Team.
In 2018, Dončić declared for the NBA draft, where he was drafted third overall by the Atlanta Hawks and then traded to the Dallas Mavericks. Dončić was unanimously selected to the NBA All-Rookie First Team and won Rookie of the Year for the 2018–19 season. Since his rookie season, Dončić has been selected to five consecutive NBA All-Star games and five All-NBA First Team selections. He led the NBA in scoring during the 2023–24 season, becoming the first European to lead the NBA in scoring and second international player to achieve the feat. That season, he led the Mavericks to their third NBA Finals appearance. Dončić is also the Mavericks' franchise leader in career triple-doubles, and holds the record for most points in a Mavericks' season.
Dončić made his senior debut for Slovenia in 2016 at only 17 years of age. He would later help his country win its first EuroBasket title in 2017 while also being named to the All-Tournament Team.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:21 UTC on Saturday, 1 June 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Luka Dončić on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
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Until next time, I'm Ruth Neural.
pWotD Episode 2585: Donald Trump
Welcome to popular Wiki of the Day where we read the summary of a popular Wikipedia page every day.
With 289,195 views on Thursday, 30 May 2024 our article of the day is Donald Trump.
Donald John Trump (born June 14, 1946) is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who served as the 45th president of the United States from 2017 to 2021.
Trump received a Bachelor of Science in economics from the University of Pennsylvania in 1968. His father named him president of his real estate business in 1971. Trump renamed it the Trump Organization and reoriented the company toward building and renovating skyscrapers, hotels, casinos, and golf courses. After a series of business failures in the late twentieth century, he successfully launched side ventures, mostly licensing the Trump name. From 2004 to 2015, he co-produced and hosted the reality television series The Apprentice. He and his businesses have been plaintiffs or defendants in more than 4,000 legal actions, including six business bankruptcies.
Trump won the 2016 presidential election as the Republican Party nominee against Democratic Party nominee Hillary Clinton while losing the popular vote. A special counsel investigation established that Russia had interfered in the election to favor Trump. During the campaign, his political positions were described as populist, protectionist, isolationist, and nationalist. His election and policies sparked numerous protests. He was the first U. S. president without prior military or government experience. Trump promoted conspiracy theories and made many false and misleading statements during his campaigns and presidency, to a degree unprecedented in American politics. Many of his comments and actions have been characterized as racially charged, racist, and misogynistic.
As president, Trump ordered a travel ban on citizens from several Muslim-majority countries, diverted military funding toward building a wall on the U. S.–Mexico border, and implemented a family separation policy. He weakened environmental protections, rolling back more than 100 environmental policies and regulations. He signed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, which cut taxes and set the financial penalty to nil for the individual health insurance mandate of the Affordable Care Act. He appointed Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett to the U. S. Supreme Court. He reacted slowly to the COVID-19 pandemic, ignored or contradicted many recommendations from health officials, used political pressure to interfere with testing efforts, and spread misinformation about unproven treatments. Trump initiated a trade war with China and withdrew the U. S. from the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement, the Paris Agreement on climate change, and the Iran nuclear deal. He met with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un three times, but made no progress on denuclearization.
Trump is the only American president to have been impeached twice, in 2019–20 for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress after he pressured Ukraine to investigate Joe Biden, and in 2021 for incitement of insurrection. The Senate acquitted him in both cases. Trump refused to concede after losing the 2020 presidential election to Biden, falsely claiming widespread electoral fraud, and attempted to overturn the results. On January 6, 2021, he urged his supporters to march to the U. S. Capitol, which many of them attacked. Scholars and historians rank Trump as one of the worst presidents in American history. Since leaving office, Trump has continued to dominate the Republican Party. He is the party's presumptive nominee for the 2024 presidential election.
In May 2024, a jury in New York found Trump guilty on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records related to a hush-money payment to Stormy Daniels. Trump thus became the first U. S. president to be convicted of a crime. He is facing 54 other felony counts in three other indictments: a federal prosecution in Florida related to his mishandling of classified documents; a federal prosecution in Washington, D. C., on charges of conspiracy and obstruction for efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election; and a state prosecution in Georgia on racketeering and other felonies committed in an effort to overturn the state's 2020 election results. In separate civil proceedings in New York state court, Trump was found liable for financial fraud in 2024, and in 2023 was found liable for sexually abusing E. Jean Carroll. Trump is appealing both judgments.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 04:06 UTC on Friday, 31 May 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Donald Trump on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm Joanna Neural.
pWotD Episode 2584: Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga
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With 128,336 views on Wednesday, 29 May 2024 our article of the day is Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga.
Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (or simply Furiosa) is a 2024 Australian post-apocalyptic action film directed and produced by George Miller, who wrote the screenplay with Nico Lathouris. It is the fifth installment in the Mad Max franchise, serving as a prequel and spin-off to Mad Max: Fury Road (2015), and focuses on the Fury Road character Imperator Furiosa. The film stars Anya Taylor-Joy and Alyla Browne as younger versions of Furiosa (originally portrayed by Charlize Theron), alongside Chris Hemsworth and Tom Burke.
Set 15 to 20 years before the events of Fury Road, in a desert wasteland where warlords fight over the last remaining sources of water, food, weapons, and gasoline, Furiosa traces the young title character's life from her kidnapping by the forces of warlord Dementus (Hemsworth) to her revenge on the warlord for the loss of her mother. For over a decade, she struggles to survive as a slave and, eventually, a trusted lieutenant of the Citadel's cult leader, Immortan Joe (Lachy Hulme), and his military commander Praetorian Jack (Burke).
Miller initially intended to shoot Furiosa back-to-back with Fury Road, but the former spent several years in development hell amidst salary disputes with Warner Bros. Pictures, Fury Road's distributor. Several crew members from Fury Road returned for Furiosa, including composer Tom Holkenborg, costume designer Jenny Beavan, editor Margaret Sixel (Miller's wife), and screenwriter Lathouris. Filming took place in Australia from June to October 2022.
Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga premiered at the 77th Cannes Film Festival on 15 May 2024. It was released in theaters in Australia by Warner Bros. and Village Roadshow Pictures on 23 May 2024, and in the United States the following day. The film received positive reviews from critics and has grossed $67 million worldwide.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:49 UTC on Thursday, 30 May 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
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Until next time, I'm Ivy Standard.
pWotD Episode 2583: .xxx
Welcome to popular Wiki of the Day where we read the summary of a popular Wikipedia page every day.
With 176,197 views on Tuesday, 28 May 2024 our article of the day is .xxx.
.xxx (pronounced "dot triple-ecks" or "dot ecks ecks ecks") is a sponsored top-level domain (sTLD) intended as a voluntary option for pornographic sites on the Internet. The sponsoring organization is the International Foundation for Online Responsibility (IFFOR). The registry is operated by ICM Registry LLC. The ICANN Board voted to approve the sTLD on 18 March 2011. It went into operation on 15 April 2011.
The TLD entered its sunrise period on 7 September 2011 at 16:00 UTC; the sunrise period ended 28 October 2011. Landrush period lasted from 8 November through 25 November, and general availability commenced on 6 December 2011.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:50 UTC on Wednesday, 29 May 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see .xxx on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm Danielle Neural.
pWotD Episode 2582: Bill Walton
Welcome to popular Wiki of the Day where we read the summary of a popular Wikipedia page every day.
With 544,946 views on Monday, 27 May 2024 our article of the day is Bill Walton.
William Theodore Walton III (November 5, 1952 – May 27, 2024) was an American professional basketball player and television sportscaster. He played college basketball at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for the Portland Trail Blazers, San Diego / Los Angeles Clippers, and Boston Celtics. He is a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame.
Walton played for coach John Wooden and the UCLA Bruins, winning three consecutive national college player of the year awards (1972–1974), while leading UCLA to NCAA championships in 1972 and 1973 and an 88-game winning streak. After being selected as the first overall pick in the 1974 NBA draft, Walton led the Portland Trail Blazers to an NBA championship in 1977, earning the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award. The following season Walton was the 1978 NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP).
However, Walton's professional career was significantly hampered by multiple foot injuries requiring numerous surgeries. Walton sat out the 1978–79 season and was then signed by the Clippers, for whom he played four injury-plagued seasons. His career was rehabilitated during two seasons with the Celtics at the end of his career. Playing as a backup center behind Robert Parish, Walton earned the NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award in the 1985–86 season, winning his second NBA championship. He was named to the NBA's 50th and 75th anniversary teams. Walton was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1993 and the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame in 2006.
After retiring from the NBA, Walton overcame stuttering and embarked on a second career as a sportscaster, working both as a studio analyst and color commentator with several networks and teams. He earned an Emmy Award in 1991. Walton was a fan of the Grateful Dead, as a self-described "Deadhead", and often mentioned them in his broadcasts. He hosted several podcasts and satellite radio programs featuring the music of the Grateful Dead.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 04:23 UTC on Tuesday, 28 May 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Bill Walton on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm Brian Neural.
pWotD Episode 2581: Charles Leclerc
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With 228,898 views on Sunday, 26 May 2024 our article of the day is Charles Leclerc.
Charles Marc Hervé Perceval Leclerc (French pronunciation: [ʃaʁl ləklɛʁ]; born 16 October 1997) is a Monégasque racing driver, currently racing in Formula One for Scuderia Ferrari. He won the GP3 Series championship in 2016 and the FIA Formula 2 Championship in 2017.
Leclerc made his Formula One debut in 2018 for Sauber, a team affiliated with Ferrari, for which he was part of the Ferrari Driver Academy. With Sauber having finished last the year before, Leclerc led the charge to improve its finishing position in the Constructors' Championship to eighth, and was the higher ranked of the two Sauber drivers. He joined Ferrari the next season and became the second-youngest driver to qualify on pole position in Formula One at the 2019 Bahrain Grand Prix. The 2019 season also saw Leclerc take his first career win in Belgium. He won the FIA Pole Trophy for most pole positions in the 2019 season, becoming the youngest driver to win it, before winning it again in 2022. Leclerc finished runner-up to Max Verstappen in the 2022 World Drivers' Championship.
As of the 2024 Monaco Grand Prix, Leclerc has achieved 6 race wins, 24 pole positions, and 9 fastest laps in Formula One. He scored the first grand slam of his career at the 2022 Australian Grand Prix. Leclerc is set to remain at Ferrari until at least the end of the 2026 season.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:04 UTC on Monday, 27 May 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Charles Leclerc on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
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Until next time, I'm Amy Neural.
pWotD Episode 2580: King and Queen of the Ring (2024)
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With 412,750 views on Saturday, 25 May 2024 our article of the day is King and Queen of the Ring (2024).
The 2024 King and Queen of the Ring was a professional wrestling event produced by the American company WWE. It was the 12th King of the Ring event, but under a new name, and took place on Saturday, May 25, 2024, at the Jeddah Super Dome in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. It aired via pay-per-view (PPV) and livestreaming and featured wrestlers from the promotion's Raw and SmackDown brand divisions. The event hosted the finals of both the 23rd King of the Ring tournament and the second Queen of the Ring tournament, with the last tournaments for each held in 2021.
This was the 11th event that WWE held in Saudi Arabia under a 10-year partnership in support of Saudi Vision 2030, thus marking the first King of the Ring event held outside of the United States. The event was originally scheduled to be held at the same location in May 2023, but plans were changed and it was replaced by Night of Champions. This was the first King of the Ring event since 2015, which was livestreamed exclusively on the WWE Network, the first to livestream on Peacock in the United States, the first to air on traditional PPV since 2002, and the first dedicated event for the Queen of the Ring tournament, which was originally established in 2021 as the Queen's Crown tournament. For the 2024 event, winners of each tournament received a world championship match at SummerSlam.
Six matches were contested at the event, including one on the Countdown to King and Queen of the Ring pre-show. In the main event, Cody Rhodes defeated Logan Paul to retain SmackDown's Undisputed WWE Championship. In other prominent matches, Raw's Gunther defeated SmackDown's Randy Orton to win the King of the Ring tournament, earning a match for his brand's World Heavyweight Championship at SummerSlam, SmackDown's Nia Jax defeated Raw's Lyra Valkyria to win the Queen of the Ring tournament, earning a match for her brand's WWE Women's Championship at SummerSlam, and in the opening bout, Liv Morgan defeated Becky Lynch to win Raw's Women's World Championship.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:02 UTC on Sunday, 26 May 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see King and Queen of the Ring (2024) on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm Geraint Standard.
pWotD Episode 2579: Morgan Spurlock
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With 519,940 views on Friday, 24 May 2024 our article of the day is Morgan Spurlock.
Morgan Valentine Spurlock (November 7, 1970 – May 23, 2024) was an American documentary filmmaker, playwright, screenwriter, and television producer. He directed 23 films and was the producer of nearly 70 films throughout his career. He received acclaim for directing the documentary Super Size Me (2004), which was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature Film. He produced What Would Jesus Buy? (2007) and directed Where in the World Is Osama bin Laden? (2008), POM Wonderful Presents: The Greatest Movie Ever Sold (2011), Comic-Con Episode IV: A Fan's Hope (2011), and One Direction: This Is Us (2013).
Spurlock was executive producer and star of the reality television series 30 Days (2005–2008). In June 2013, he became the producer and host of the CNN show Morgan Spurlock Inside Man (2013–2016). He was also the co-founder of the short-film content marketing company Cinelan, which produced the Focus Forward campaign for GE.
The documentary Super Size Me 2: Holy Chicken! was set to be released in 2017, until Spurlock wrote a social media post says that he had a history of sexual misconduct and referred to himself as "part of the problem", leading to a distribution drop and his resignation from the production company. The film was instead distributed in 2019. He died at the age of 53 of complications relating to cancer.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:45 UTC on Saturday, 25 May 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Morgan Spurlock on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.
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Until next time, I'm Aditi Standard.
pWotD Episode 2578: Pine Tree Flag
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With 119,046 views on Thursday, 23 May 2024 our article of the day is Pine Tree Flag.
The Pine Tree Flag (or the An Appeal to Heaven Flag) was one of the flags used during the American Revolution. The flag, which featured a pine tree with the motto "An Appeal to Heaven", or less frequently "An Appeal to God", was originally used by a squadron of six frigates that were commissioned under George Washington's authority as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army in October 1775.
The pine tree is a traditional symbol of New England. The phrase "appeal to heaven" is used in John Locke's Second Treatise on Government to describe the right of revolution .
It is the official maritime ensign for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, though the script was removed in 1971. It was used by state navy vessels in addition to privateers sailing from Massachusetts.
Use of the flag fell out of fashion until the 2020s, when it became seen as a symbol of support for former President Donald Trump among a religious strand of his "Stop the Steal" campaign. By 2024, The Associated Press reported that the Pine Tree Flag had become appropriated as a "banner of the far-right" by Christian nationalist and pro-Trump groups that believed in false claims that the 2020 election was stolen, and had been carried by rioters during the January 6 United States Capitol attack.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 03:26 UTC on Friday, 24 May 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Pine Tree Flag on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
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Until next time, I'm Salli Neural.
pWotD Episode 2577: Ademola Lookman
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With 520,953 views on Wednesday, 22 May 2024 our article of the day is Ademola Lookman.
Ademola Olajade Alade Aylola Lookman (born 20 October 1997) is a professional footballer who plays as a winger for Serie A club Atalanta. Born in England, he plays for the Nigeria national team.
Lookman made his senior debut in 2015, playing as a forward for Charlton Athletic of the Championship. He signed for Everton in January 2017, where he played mainly as a winger. He has represented England from under-19 to under-21 levels. In 2022, Lookman made his debut for Nigeria.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:24 UTC on Thursday, 23 May 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Ademola Lookman on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
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Until next time, I'm Danielle Neural.
pWotD Episode 2576: Toni Kroos
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With 164,184 views on Tuesday, 21 May 2024 our article of the day is Toni Kroos.
Toni Kroos (born 4 January 1990) is a German professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for La Liga club Real Madrid and the Germany national team. Widely regarded as one of the greatest midfielders of all time, he is known for his vision, passing, creativity, crossing and set-piece ability. Kroos plays mainly as a central midfielder, but has also been deployed as a deep-lying playmaker in his career.
Kroos began his senior club career playing for Bayern Munich, where he made his debut at age 17 in 2007. He was sparingly used, and opted for an 18-month loan spell at fellow Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen, where he became a key contributor, and returned to his parent club with an increased profile in 2010. With Bayern, Kroos won two consecutive league titles (three titles in total), a UEFA Champions League title, two DFB-Pokal titles, and was voted into the league team of the season three times. In 2014, he joined Real Madrid in a transfer worth €25 million.
In Madrid, Kroos has won twenty-one trophies, including four La Liga titles and four UEFA Champions League titles, three of which he won consecutively from 2016 to 2018, each time being selected in the competition's team of the season. He has been selected in the FIFPro World11 and UEFA Team of the Year three times, and the league's team of the season twice. He was voted the IFFHS World's Best Playmaker in 2014 and German Footballer of the Year in 2018.
Kroos won Golden Player at the 2006 UEFA European Under-17 Championship, where he also finished as top goalscorer, and won the Golden Ball at the 2007 FIFA U-17 World Cup. He made his senior debut for Germany in 2010, at age 20, and appeared in six major tournaments. Kroos helped Germany win the 2014 FIFA World Cup, where he was top assist provider and voted to the All-Star Team, Dream Team, and German Player of the Year. At UEFA Euro 2016, he was selected to the Team of the Tournament. He announced his international retirement following Germany's elimination from UEFA Euro 2020 in 2021, after being heavily criticised for his poor performance. Kroos announced his return to the national team in 2024 to play the Euro 2024. On 21 May 2024, he announced his retirement after the tournament.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:23 UTC on Wednesday, 22 May 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Toni Kroos on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm Matthew Neural.
pWotD Episode 2575: Ebrahim Raisi
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With 1,188,373 views on Monday, 20 May 2024 our article of the day is Ebrahim Raisi.
Ebrahim Raisolsadati (Persian: ابراهیم رئیسالساداتی; 14 December 1960 – 19 May 2024), commonly known as Ebrahim Raisi (Persian: ابراهیم رئیسی [ebɾɒːˈhiːm-e ræʔiːˈsiː] ), was an Iranian politician who served as the eighth president of Iran from 2021 until his death in 2024. A Principlist and a Muslim jurist, he became president after the 2021 election.
Raisi began his clerical studies at age 15, but his exact qualification is disputed. Raisi served in several positions in Iran's judicial system, including as Prosecutor of Karaj, Prosecutor of Hamadan and Deputy Prosecutor and Prosecutor of Tehran. Raisi was criticized for his role in the 1988 executions of Iranian political prisoners; United Nations special rapporteurs and other organizations accused him of crimes against humanity. The U. S. Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned him after Iran shot down an American drone in 2019.
He was later Deputy Chief Justice (2004–2014), Attorney General (2014–2016), and Chief Justice (2019–2021). He was Custodian and Chairman of Astan Quds Razavi, a bonyad, from 2016 until 2019. He was a member of Assembly of Experts from South Khorasan Province, being elected for the first time in the 2006 election. He was the son-in-law of Mashhad Friday prayer leader and Grand Imam of Imam Reza shrine, Ahmad Alamolhoda.
Raisi ran for president in 2017 as the candidate of the conservative Popular Front of Islamic Revolution Forces, losing to moderate incumbent president Hassan Rouhani, 57% to 38%. Raisi successfully ran for president a second time in 2021 with 63% of the votes, succeeding Rouhani. According to many observers, the 2021 Iranian presidential election was rigged in favour of Raisi, who was considered an ally of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Considered a hardliner in Iranian politics, Raisi's presidency saw deadlock in negotiations with the U. S. over the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and large-scale protests throughout the country in late 2022, triggered by the death of Mahsa Amini on 16 September. During Raisi's term, Iran intensified uranium enrichment, hindered international inspections, and supported Russia in its invasion of Ukraine. Iran also launched a missile and drone attack on Israel during the Gaza conflict and continued arming proxy groups like Hezbollah and the Houthi movement. Often seen as a frontrunner to succeed Khamenei as Supreme Leader, Raisi died in 2024 following a helicopter crash near Varzaqan.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:44 UTC on Tuesday, 21 May 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Ebrahim Raisi on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.
Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.
Until next time, I'm Salli Standard.
pWotD Episode 2574: Oleksandr Usyk
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With 513,731 views on Sunday, 19 May 2024 our article of the day is Oleksandr Usyk.
Oleksandr Oleksandrovych Usyk (Ukrainian: Олександр Олександрович Усик; born 17 January 1987) is a Ukrainian professional boxer. He is the undisputed heavyweight champion, holding the WBA (Super), IBF and WBO titles since 2021, the Ring magazine title since 2022, and the WBC title since 2024. Previously, he held the undisputed cruiserweight championship from 2018 to 2019. In both the heavyweight and cruiserweight divisions, he is the first boxer to hold all four major world titles. Usyk is only the third male boxer in history (after Terence Crawford and Naoya Inoue) to become the undisputed champion in two weight classes in the four-belt era.
As an amateur boxer, Usyk won heavyweight gold medals at the 2011 World Championships and 2012 Olympics, He turned professional in 2013, and won the undisputed cruiserweight championship in his 15th professional fight in 2018. Three of his titles were won during the inaugural World Boxing Super Series, in which he won the Muhammad Ali Trophy, as well as the Ring and lineal cruiserweight titles. Usyk was named the 2018 Fighter of the Year by Sports Illustrated, ESPN, The Ring and the Boxing Writers Association of America (BWAA).
In 2018 Usyk became the fourth male boxer in history to simultaneously hold the WBA, WBC, IBF and WBO titles, after Jermain Taylor, Bernard Hopkins and Terence Crawford. He was the first Ukrainian undisputed champion. He is particularly notable for the speed of his accomplishments, winning his first world title in his tenth fight, and becoming the undisputed champion of his weight class by his fifteenth fight. Usyk vacated his cruiserweight titles in 2019 to move up to heavyweight. By that point, in sixteen fights he had defeated five current or former world champions. In September 2021, Usyk defeated unified heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua to win the WBA, IBF, WBO, and IBO titles. He defended the titles in a rematch against Joshua in August 2022, whilst winning the vacant Ring title, and defeated Tyson Fury in May 2024 to claim the WBC title.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:35 UTC on Monday, 20 May 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Oleksandr Usyk on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.
Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.
Until next time, I'm Salli Neural.
pWotD Episode 2573: Tyson Fury
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With 313,188 views on Saturday, 18 May 2024 our article of the day is Tyson Fury.
Tyson Luke Fury (born 12 August 1988) is a British professional boxer. He has held multiple heavyweight world titles, including the unified titles from 2015 to 2016, the Ring magazine title twice between 2015 and 2022, and the World Boxing Council (WBC) title from 2020 to 2024. He also held the International Boxing Organization (IBO) title during his first reign as champion.
As an amateur, he won a bronze medal at the 2006 World Junior Championships; gold at the 2007 EU Junior Championships; silver at the 2007 European Junior Championships; and won the ABA super-heavyweight title in 2008. At regional level, he has held multiple heavyweight championships, including the British title twice between 2011 and 2015; the European title from 2014 to 2015; and the Commonwealth title from 2011 to 2012.
In 2015, his victorious fight against Wladimir Klitschko was named Upset of the Year and earned him Fighter of the Year by The Ring. In 2018, his drawn fight against Deontay Wilder was named Round of the Year and earned him Comeback of the Year by The Ring. In 2020, with his defeat of Deontay Wilder, Fury became the third heavyweight, after Floyd Patterson and Muhammad Ali, to hold The Ring magazine title twice, and was widely considered by media outlets to be the lineal heavyweight champion. In 2021, his trilogy fight against Wilder was named Fight of the Year by The Ring.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:57 UTC on Sunday, 19 May 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Tyson Fury on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm Ruth Neural.
pWotD Episode 2572: Bridgerton
Welcome to popular Wiki of the Day where we read the summary of a popular Wikipedia page every day.
With 189,549 views on Friday, 17 May 2024 our article of the day is Bridgerton.
Bridgerton is an American historical romance television series created by Chris Van Dusen for Netflix. Based on the book series by Julia Quinn, it is Shondaland's first scripted show for Netflix. It revolves around an eponymous fictional family and is set in the competitive world of Regency era London's ton during the social season in the early 1800s, where young marriageable nobility and gentry are introduced into society.
The first season debuted on December 25, 2020. The second season premiered on March 25, 2022. The series was renewed for a third and fourth season in April 2021. In May 2023, Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story was released, a spin-off series focused on Queen Charlotte. The third season will premiere in two parts; the first premiered on May 16, 2024, and will be followed by the second on June 13, 2024.
The show's second season set a record and cemented Bridgerton as a franchise per Entertainment Weekly. Bridgerton was positively received for its direction, actor performances, production and set design, winning two Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards, a Make-Up Artists And Hair Stylists Guild Awards, and nominations at the Primetime Emmy Awards, Screen Actors Guild Awards, Satellite Awards and NAACP Image Awards. The music score by Kris Bowers earned a Grammy Award nomination for Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:27 UTC on Saturday, 18 May 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Bridgerton on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm Raveena Standard.
pWotD Episode 2571: Harrison Butker
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With 211,035 views on Thursday, 16 May 2024 our article of the day is Harrison Butker.
Harrison Butker Jr. (born July 14, 1995) is an American football kicker for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Georgia Tech, and was selected by the Carolina Panthers in the seventh round of the 2017 NFL draft. He is second in NFL history in career field goal percentage (minimum 100 attempts) with 89.1. Butker led the NFL in scoring in 2019, and is a three-time Super Bowl champion, having won LIV, LVII and LVIII with the Chiefs. He is nicknamed "Butt Kicker" (a play-on-words on his last name and position).
Butker, a traditional Catholic, made controversial comments stemming from his strong conservative beliefs in two commencement addresses in 2023 and 2024. His comments have been labeled as "sexist", "bigoted", "homophobic", "transphobic" and "anti-semitic". The NFL released a statement condemning his remarks writing, "His views are not those of the NFL as an organization. The NFL is steadfast in our commitment to inclusion, which only makes our league stronger."
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:58 UTC on Friday, 17 May 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Harrison Butker on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm Matthew Neural.
pWotD Episode 2570: Robert Fico
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With 407,470 views on Wednesday, 15 May 2024 our article of the day is Robert Fico.
Robert Fico (Slovak pronunciation: [ˈrɔbert ˈfitsɔ]; born 15 September 1964) is a Slovak politician. He has served as the Prime Minister of Slovakia since 2023, having previously served in the position from 2006 to 2010 and from 2012 to 2018. He founded the Direction – Social Democracy (Smer–SD) party in 1999 and has led that party since its foundation. Fico holds a record as the longest-serving prime minister in the country's history, having served for a total of over 10 years. First elected to Parliament in 1992, whilst within Czechoslovakia, he was appointed the following year to the Czechoslovak delegation of the Parliamentary Assembly to the Council of Europe. Following his party's victory in the 2006 parliamentary election, he formed his first Cabinet. His political positions have been described as populist.
After the 2010 parliamentary election, Fico served as an opposition member of parliament, effectively holding the position of the leader of the opposition. Following a motion of no confidence against the Iveta Radičová cabinet, Fico was re-appointed as prime minister after leading Smer to a landslide election victory in the 2012 parliamentary election, winning 83 seats and forming a government with an absolute majority in Parliament, the first such since 1989. In 2013, Fico declared his candidacy for the 2014 presidential election. Fico lost the election to his political rival Andrej Kiska, in the second round of voting on 29 March 2014.
On 15 March 2018, owing to the political crisis following the murder of Ján Kuciak, Fico delivered his resignation to President Andrej Kiska, who then charged Deputy Prime Minister Peter Pellegrini with the formation of a new government.
During the 2023 parliamentary election, Fico vowed to end military support for Slovakia's neighbor Ukraine, which was being invaded by Russia. His party Direction – Social Democracy (Smer), won the most votes in the election, with 22.95% of the vote, winning 42 seats. Fico formed a coalition with Voice – Social Democracy (Hlas) and the Slovak National Party, and began his fourth term as prime minister on 25 October. The Fico government has refused to join a Czech-led coalition of about 20 states in procuring military aid for Ukraine.
On 15 May 2024, Fico was hospitalized after an assassination attempt. Following initial reports of his "life-threatening" condition, he is "not in a life-threatening situation at this moment," according to the Slovak Deputy Prime Minister Tomáš Taraba, and "is expected to survive".
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 04:03 UTC on Thursday, 16 May 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Robert Fico on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm Kendra Standard.
pWotD Episode 2569: Megalopolis (film)
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With 115,179 views on Tuesday, 14 May 2024 our article of the day is Megalopolis (film).
Megalopolis is an upcoming American epic science fiction drama film written, directed, and produced by Francis Ford Coppola. Set in an imagined modern America following a devastating disaster, the film features an ensemble cast, including Adam Driver, Giancarlo Esposito, Nathalie Emmanuel, Aubrey Plaza, Shia LaBeouf, Jon Voight, Jason Schwartzman, Talia Shire, Grace VanderWaal, Laurence Fishburne, Kathryn Hunter, and Dustin Hoffman.
A longtime passion project for Coppola, who first conceived the idea for the film in 1977 and actively started developing it in 1983, Megalopolis underwent significant delays and numerous cancellations over the years. Coppola revived the project in 2019 by spending $120 million of his own money on the film. Filming took place from November 2022 to March 2023. The film is Coppola's first directorial effort since Twixt (2011), marking his longest gap between films.
The film was selected to compete for the Palme d'Or at the 77th Cannes Film Festival, where it is set to premiere on May 16, 2024.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:04 UTC on Wednesday, 15 May 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Megalopolis (film) on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm Joanna Neural.
pWotD Episode 2568: Von Erich family
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With 113,043 views on Monday, 13 May 2024 our article of the day is Von Erich family.
The Von Erich family is an American professional wrestling family. Originally from Texas, their actual surname is Adkisson, but every member who has been in the wrestling business has used the ring name "Von Erich," after the family patriarch, Fritz Von Erich (Jack Adkisson). Jack took on the name as part of his wrestling gimmick (i.e. in-ring persona) as he originally portrayed a Nazi heel, hence his use of a German name.
By the time Fritz died of cancer in his Denton County home in 1997 at age 68, five of his six sons had predeceased him, three by suicide. His firstborn, Jack Jr., was accidentally shocked and drowned in a puddle at age 6 in 1959, outside his Niagara Falls home. In 1984, David Von Erich died in a Tokyo hotel from enteritis at age 25. Mike, Chris, and Kerry all died by suicide; Mike took an overdose of Placidyl near Lewisville Lake in 1987 at age 23, Chris shot himself in the head with a 9mm handgun in 1991 at age 21, and Kerry shot himself in the chest in the family yard in 1993 at age 33. Kevin Von Erich is the last surviving son.
These deaths are the main basis for a widespread myth about a family curse. The term "Von Erich curse" is also used colloquially to refer to the chain of events. The story of the Von Erich family has been presented as a cautionary tale about parental influence, sibling rivalry, and the various dangers of the professional wrestling business.
The Von Erichs' involvement in wrestling has continued to a third generation: Kevin's sons Marshall and Ross began wrestling in 2012, and Kerry's daughter Lacey wrestled from 2007 until her retirement in 2010.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:34 UTC on Tuesday, 14 May 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Von Erich family on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm Emma Neural.
pWotD Episode 2567: Australia
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With 225,318 views on Sunday, 12 May 2024 our article of the day is Australia.
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands. Australia is the largest country by area in Oceania and the world's sixth-largest country. Australia is the oldest, flattest, and driest inhabited continent, with the least fertile soils. It is a megadiverse country, and its size gives it a wide variety of landscapes and climates, with deserts in the centre, tropical rainforests in the north-east, tropical savannas in the north, and mountain ranges in the south-east.
The ancestors of Aboriginal Australians began arriving from south-east Asia 50,000 to 65,000 years ago, during the last glacial period. They settled the continent and had formed approximately 250 distinct language groups by the time of European settlement, maintaining some of the longest known continuing artistic and religious traditions in the world. Australia's written history commenced with European maritime exploration. The Dutch were the first known Europeans to reach Australia, in 1606. British colonisation began in 1788 with the establishment of the penal colony of New South Wales. By the mid-19th century, most of the continent had been explored by European settlers and five additional self-governing British colonies were established, each gaining responsible government by 1890. The colonies federated in 1901, forming the Commonwealth of Australia. This continued a process of increasing autonomy from the United Kingdom, highlighted by the Statute of Westminster Adoption Act 1942, and culminating in the Australia Acts of 1986.
Australia is a federal parliamentary constitutional monarchy comprising six states and ten territories: the states of New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Tasmania, South Australia and Western Australia; the major mainland Australian Capital Territory and Northern Territory; and other minor or external territories. Its population of nearly 27 million is highly urbanised and heavily concentrated on the eastern seaboard. Canberra is the nation's capital, while its most populous cities are Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide. Australian governments have promoted multiculturalism since the 1970s. Australia is culturally diverse and has one of the highest foreign-born populations in the world. Its abundant natural resources and well-developed international trade relations are crucial to the country's economy, which generates its income from various sources: predominantly services (including banking, real estate and international education) as well as mining, manufacturing and agriculture. It ranks highly for quality of life, health, education, economic freedom, civil liberties and political rights.
Australia has a highly developed market economy and one of the highest per capita incomes globally. It is a middle power, and has the world's thirteenth-highest military expenditure. It is a member of international groups including the United Nations; the G20; the OECD; the World Trade Organization; Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation; the Pacific Islands Forum; the Pacific Community; the Commonwealth of Nations; and the defence and security organisations ANZUS, AUKUS, and the Five Eyes. It is also a major non-NATO ally of the United States.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:16 UTC on Monday, 13 May 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Australia on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm Matthew Neural.
pWotD Episode 2566: Aurora
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With 341,117 views on Saturday, 11 May 2024 our article of the day is Aurora.
An aurora (pl. aurorae or auroras),
also commonly known as the northern lights (aurora borealis) or southern lights (aurora australis), is a natural light display in Earth's sky, predominantly seen in high-latitude regions (around the Arctic and Antarctic). Auroras display dynamic patterns of brilliant lights that appear as curtains, rays, spirals, or dynamic flickers covering the entire sky.
Auroras are the result of disturbances in the Earth's magnetosphere caused by the solar wind. Major disturbances result from enhancements in the speed of the solar wind from coronal holes and coronal mass ejections. These disturbances alter the trajectories of charged particles in the magnetospheric plasma. These particles, mainly electrons and protons, precipitate into the upper atmosphere (thermosphere/exosphere). The resulting ionization and excitation of atmospheric constituents emit light of varying colour and complexity. The form of the aurora, occurring within bands around both polar regions, is also dependent on the amount of acceleration imparted to the precipitating particles.
Most of the planets in the Solar System, some natural satellites, brown dwarfs, and even comets also host auroras.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:46 UTC on Sunday, 12 May 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Aurora on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm Stephen Neural.
pWotD Episode 2565: Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes
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With 226,863 views on Friday, 10 May 2024 our article of the day is Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes.
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes is a 2024 American science fiction action film directed by Wes Ball and written by Josh Friedman. The sequel to War for the Planet of the Apes (2017), it is the fourth installment in the Planet of the Apes reboot franchise and the tenth film overall. It stars Owen Teague in the lead role alongside Freya Allan, Kevin Durand, Peter Macon, and William H. Macy. The film takes place 300 years after the events of War and follows a young chimpanzee named Noa, who embarks on a journey alongside a human woman named Mae to determine the future for apes and humans alike.
Development on a new Planet of the Apes film began in April 2019, following Disney's acquisition of 20th Century Fox, with Ball attached as writer and director that December. Much of the script was written during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, with casting commencing in June 2022, following the script's completion. Teague was cast in the lead role that August, with the film's title and additional casting revealed in the following months. Principal photography began in October 2022 in Sydney and wrapped in February 2023.
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes premiered at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles on May 2, 2024, and was released by 20th Century Studios in the United States on May 10. The film received positive reviews, with praise for Ball's direction, action sequences, visual effects, and performances of the cast.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:36 UTC on Saturday, 11 May 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm Ruth Neural.
pWotD Episode 2564: Eurovision Song Contest 2024
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With 228,496 views on Thursday, 9 May 2024 our article of the day is Eurovision Song Contest 2024.
The Eurovision Song Contest 2024 is the 68th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest. It is taking place in Malmö, Sweden, following the country's victory at the 2023 contest with the song "Tattoo" by Loreen. Organised by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and host broadcaster Sveriges Television (SVT), the contest is being held at the Malmö Arena, and consists of two semi-finals on 7 and 9 May, and a final on 11 May 2024. The three live shows are presented by Petra Mede and Malin Åkerman, with Mede having previously taken on the role in 2013 and 2016.
Thirty-seven countries are participating in the contest, with Luxembourg returning 31 years after its last participation in 1993, while Romania opted not to participate after doing so the previous year. The inclusion of Israel among the participants in the context of the ongoing Israel–Hamas war was harshly criticised, with strengthened the security measures in place for the event.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 03:11 UTC on Friday, 10 May 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Eurovision Song Contest 2024 on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm Kendra Standard.
pWotD Episode 2563: Steve Albini
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With 439,796 views on Wednesday, 8 May 2024 our article of the day is Steve Albini.
Steve Albini (; July 22, 1962 – May 7, 2024) was an American musician, record producer, audio engineer, and music journalist. He was the founder, owner and principal engineer at Electrical Audio, a recording studio complex in Chicago. It has been estimated that he worked on several thousand albums over his career. He worked with acts such as Nirvana, Pixies, Bush, the Breeders, PJ Harvey, the Jesus Lizard, and former Led Zeppelin members Jimmy Page and Robert Plant. He also played in various bands, most notably Big Black and Shellac.
Albini was critical of the music industry, arguing that it exploited and stylistically homogenized artists. As a part of his opposition he refused to take royalties from artists he worked with, arguing that it was unethical.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:49 UTC on Thursday, 9 May 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Steve Albini on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm Russell Standard.
pWotD Episode 2562: Drake–Kendrick Lamar feud
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With 330,507 views on Tuesday, 7 May 2024 our article of the day is Drake–Kendrick Lamar feud.
The Drake–Kendrick Lamar feud is an ongoing rap feud between Canadian rapper Drake and American rapper Kendrick Lamar. The conflict escalated in March 2024 after the release of "Like That" by Future and Metro Boomin, featuring Lamar.
Their first collaboration was in 2011, on Drake's album Take Care, with another collaboration a year later on Lamar’s album Good Kid, M. A. A. D City. Lamar later dissed Drake and several other rappers on the 2013 song "Control" by Big Sean, saying he wanted to "murder" them in music. He clarified that his verse was intended to be seen as "friendly competition".
In 2023, J. Cole proposed on the track "First Person Shooter" from Drake's album For All the Dogs that he, Drake, and Lamar were the "Big Three" of hip hop, prior to stating that he feels like Muhammad Ali, implying that he sees himself as the greatest out of the "Big Three". The conflict was reignited in March 2024 when Lamar dissed Cole and Drake on the song "Like That", rejecting the existence of a "Big Three". Cole then responded to Lamar on the diss track "7 Minute Drill", which Cole thereafter apologized for and removed from streaming services.
Drake then released the songs "Push Ups" and "Taylor Made Freestyle" in April, with the latter containing AI-generated vocals of Tupac Shakur and Snoop Dogg. "Taylor Made Freestyle" was later deleted from social media after Shakur's estate expressed its disapproval of the song and threatened Drake with legal action. In response, Lamar released the song "Euphoria" on April 30 and "6:16 in LA" on May 3. Drake responded with "Family Matters" later that day, accusing Lamar of being a domestic abuser and alleging that one of Lamar's children was fathered by Dave Free. Twenty minutes later, Lamar released "Meet the Grahams", accusing Drake of being a sexual predator and fathering another secret child. Lamar then released "Not Like Us" the following evening and on May 5, Drake responded with "The Heart Part 6", denying Lamar's accusations and claiming his team gave Lamar false information about the secret child.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 04:21 UTC on Wednesday, 8 May 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Drake–Kendrick Lamar feud on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm Emma Neural.
pWotD Episode 2561: Kendrick Lamar
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With 214,148 views on Monday, 6 May 2024 our article of the day is Kendrick Lamar.
Kendrick Lamar Duckworth (born June 17, 1987) is an American rapper and songwriter. Often regarded as one of the greatest rappers of all time by music publications such as Billboard and Vibe, he is the only musician outside of the classical and jazz genres to be awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Music. His inclusion of social commentary and political criticism in his songwriting has influenced a rise in social conscience within his generation.
Lamar began releasing music under the stage name K. Dot while he was attending high school. He signed with Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE) in 2005, where he co-founded the hip hop supergroup Black Hippy. Following the success of his alternative rap debut album Section.80 (2011), Lamar secured a joint contract with Aftermath Entertainment and Interscope Records. He rose to prominence with his gangsta rap-influenced second album Good Kid, M. A. A. D City (2012) and its top 40 singles "Swimming Pools (Drank)", "Poetic Justice" and "Bitch, Don't Kill My Vibe". It is the longest-charting hip hop studio album on the Billboard 200, spending over ten consecutive years on the chart.
Inspired by a visit to South Africa, Lamar embraced jazz and G-funk styles on his third album, To Pimp a Butterfly (2015). It became his first of four consecutive number-one albums in the U. S., and was one of the most critically acclaimed albums of the 2010s. His work on the remix of "Bad Blood" (by Taylor Swift) garnered his first number-one single on the Billboard Hot 100. Lamar's critical and commercial success continued with his R&B and pop-leaning fourth album Damn (2017), yielding his second chart-topping single "Humble". He left TDE through the double album Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers (2022), and scored his third number-one single with "Like That" (2024; with Future and Metro Boomin).
Lamar has received various accolades throughout his career, including one Primetime Emmy Award, one Brit Award, four American Music Awards, six Billboard Music Awards, 11 MTV Video Music Awards (including two Video of the Year wins), 17 Grammy Awards (the third-most won by a rapper), and 29 BET Hip Hop Awards (the most won by any artist). Time listed him as one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2016. Two of his concert tours, the Damn Tour (2017–2018) and the Big Steppers Tour (2022–2023), are amongst the highest-grossing rap tours in history. Three of his works were included in Rolling Stone's 2020 revision of the 500 greatest albums of all time. Outside of music, Lamar co-founded the creative company PGLang and ventured into film with his creative partner, Dave Free. He has worked with various charities and advocates for racial equality and mental health awareness.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:28 UTC on Tuesday, 7 May 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Kendrick Lamar on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
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Until next time, I'm Ruth Neural.
pWotD Episode 2560: Bernard Hill
Welcome to popular Wiki of the Day where we read the summary of a popular Wikipedia page every day.
With 439,510 views on Sunday, 5 May 2024 our article of the day is Bernard Hill.
Bernard Hill (17 December 1944 – 5 May 2024) was an English actor. He is known for playing Théoden, King of Rohan, in The Lord of the Rings film trilogy, Captain Edward Smith in Titanic, and Luther Plunkitt, the Warden of San Quentin Prison, in the Clint Eastwood film True Crime. Hill is also known for playing roles in television dramas, including Yosser Hughes, the troubled "hard man" whose life is falling apart in Alan Bleasdale's Boys from the Blackstuff in the 1980s, and more recently, as the Duke of Norfolk in the BBC adaptation of Hilary Mantel's Wolf Hall.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:52 UTC on Monday, 6 May 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Bernard Hill on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
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Until next time, I'm Nicole Standard.
pWotD Episode 2559: Backlash France
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With 358,492 views on Saturday, 4 May 2024 our article of the day is Backlash France.
Backlash France was a 2024 professional wrestling event produced by the American company WWE. It was the 19th Backlash event and took place on Saturday, May 4, 2024, at the LDLC Arena in Décines-Charpieu in the Metropolis of Lyon, France. The event aired via pay-per-view (PPV) and livestreaming and was held for wrestlers from the promotion's Raw and SmackDown brand divisions. This was WWE's first PPV and livestreaming event to be held in France, and the first Backlash held outside of North America. The concept of the event was based around the backlash from WrestleMania XL.
Five matches were contested at the event. In the main event, Cody Rhodes defeated AJ Styles to retain SmackDown's Undisputed WWE Championship. In other prominent matches, Damian Priest defeated Jey Uso to retain Raw's World Heavyweight Championship and Bayley defeated Naomi and Tiffany Stratton in a triple threat match to retain SmackDown's WWE Women's Championship. The event was also notable for the WWE return of Tama Tonga’s adopted brother (biological cousin), Tanga Loa, who performed for WWE as Camacho from 2009 to 2014. It was also the largest gate in WWE's history.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:07 UTC on Sunday, 5 May 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Backlash France on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm Aria Neural.
pWotD Episode 2558: Hope Hicks
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With 238,679 views on Friday, 3 May 2024 our article of the day is Hope Hicks.
Hope Charlotte Hicks (born October 21, 1988) is an American public relations executive and political advisor who served in President Donald Trump’s administration from 2017 to 2018 and 2020 to 2021. She served as White House director of strategic communications from January to September 2017, as White House communications director from 2017 to 2018, and returned to serve as a counselor to the president from 2020 to 2021.
Hicks was a teenage model, before following her father into a career in media and communications. After college and a couple of years' work in public relations, she became an employee of the Trump Organization. From there, she became press secretary and early communications director for the Trump 2016 presidential campaign, shifting to national press secretary for the presidential transition team before joining the Trump Administration. When Hicks resigned from the Administration in March 2018, she was Trump's longest-serving political aide. After her resignation, she was Fox Corporation's chief communications officer and executive vice president. She returned to the White House as Counselor to President Trump in March 2020, before departing for the final time on January 13, 2021.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:21 UTC on Saturday, 4 May 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Hope Hicks on Wikipedia.
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Until next time, I'm Matthew Neural.
pWotD Episode 2557: Heeramandi
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With 255,471 views on Thursday, 2 May 2024 our article of the day is Heeramandi.
Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar is an Indian Hindi-language period drama television series created and directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali. The series is about the lives of tawaifs at the red-light district of Heera Mandi in Lahore during the Indian independence movement against the British Raj. It stars Manisha Koirala, Sonakshi Sinha, Aditi Rao Hydari, Richa Chadha, Sanjeeda Sheikh and Sharmin Segal.
Principal photography took place from June 2022 to June 2023. The series was released on Netflix on 1 May 2024.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:59 UTC on Friday, 3 May 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Heeramandi on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm Nicole Standard.
pWotD Episode 2556: Labour Day
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With 463,629 views on Wednesday, 1 May 2024 our article of the day is Labour Day.
Labour Day is an annual holiday to celebrate the achievements of workers. Labour Day has its origins in the labour union movement, specifically the eight-hour day movement, which advocated eight hours for work, eight hours for recreation, and eight hours for rest.
For most countries, Labour Day is synonymous with, or linked with, International Workers' Day, which occurs on 1 May. For other countries, Labour Day is celebrated on a different date, often one with special significance for the labour movement in that country. Labour Day is a public holiday in many countries.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:47 UTC on Thursday, 2 May 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Labour Day on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm Justin Neural.
pWotD Episode 2555: International Workers' Day
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With 193,272 views on Tuesday, 30 April 2024 our article of the day is International Workers' Day.
International Workers' Day, also known as Labour Day in some countries and often referred to as May Day, is a celebration of labourers and the working classes that is promoted by the international labour movement and occurs every year on 1 May, or the first Monday in May.
Traditionally, 1 May is the date of the European spring festival of May Day. In 1889, the Marxist International Socialist Congress met in Paris and established the Second International as a successor to the earlier International Workingmen's Association. They adopted a resolution for a "great international demonstration" in support of working-class demands for the eight-hour day. The 1 May date was chosen by the American Federation of Labor to commemorate a general strike in the United States, which had begun on 1 May 1886 and culminated in the Haymarket affair four days later. The demonstration subsequently became a yearly event. The 1904 Sixth Conference of the Second International, called on "all Social Democratic Party organisations and trade unions of all countries to demonstrate energetically on the First of May for the legal establishment of the eight-hour day, for the class demands of the proletariat, and for universal peace".
The 1st of May, or first Monday in May, is a national public holiday in many countries, in most cases as "International Workers' Day" or a similar name. Some countries celebrate a Labour Day on other dates significant to them, such as the United States and Canada, which celebrate Labor Day on the first Monday of September. In 1955, the Catholic Church dedicated 1 May to "Saint Joseph the Worker". Saint Joseph is the patron saint of workers and craftsmen, among others.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:07 UTC on Wednesday, 1 May 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see International Workers' Day on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm Kendra Neural.
pWotD Episode 2554: Anthony Edwards (basketball)
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With 191,102 views on Monday, 29 April 2024 our article of the day is Anthony Edwards (basketball).
Anthony Edwards (born August 5, 2001), nicknamed "Ant-Man" or simply “Ant,” is an American professional basketball player for the Minnesota Timberwolves of the National Basketball Association (NBA). A shooting guard, he played college basketball for the University of Georgia Bulldogs and was selected with the first overall pick by the Timberwolves in the 2020 NBA draft.
Edwards finished his high school career at Holy Spirit Preparatory School in his hometown of Atlanta, where he was rated a consensus five-star recruit and one of the best players in the 2019 class by major recruiting services. As a senior, he earned McDonald's All-American and USA Today All-USA first team honors. He committed to play college basketball for Georgia, becoming the highest rated recruit to do so, and was named SEC Freshman of the Year after his freshman season with the team.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:10 UTC on Tuesday, 30 April 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Anthony Edwards (basketball) on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm Stephen Neural.
pWotD Episode 2553: Queen of Tears
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With 133,593 views on Sunday, 28 April 2024 our article of the day is Queen of Tears.
Queen of Tears (Korean: 눈물의 여왕) is a 2024 South Korean television series written by Park Ji-eun, co-directed by Jang Young-woo and Kim Hee-won, and starring Kim Soo-hyun and Kim Ji-won. The series depicts the story of a married couple in a crisis. It aired on tvN from March 9, to April 28, 2024, every Saturday and Sunday at 21:20 (KST). It is also available for streaming on TVING in South Korea, and on Netflix in selected regions.
Queen of Tears reached a nationwide rating of 24.850% for its final episode and became the highest-rated tvN series, surpassing Crash Landing on You. It also became the third highest-rated series in Korean cable television for viewership ratings and the second highest by number of viewers.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:12 UTC on Monday, 29 April 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Queen of Tears on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm Salli Standard.
pWotD Episode 2552: Cleopatra
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With 138,235 views on Saturday, 27 April 2024 our article of the day is Cleopatra.
Cleopatra VII Thea Philopator (Koinē Greek: Κλεοπάτρα Θεά Φιλοπάτωρ lit. Cleopatra "father-loving goddess"; 70/69 BC – 10 August 30 BC) was Queen of the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt from 51 to 30 BC, and its last active ruler. A member of the Ptolemaic dynasty, she was a descendant of its founder Ptolemy I Soter, a Macedonian Greek general and companion of Alexander the Great. After the death of Cleopatra, Egypt became a province of the Roman Empire, marking the end of the last Hellenistic-period state in the Mediterranean and of the age that had lasted since the reign of Alexander (336–323 BC). Her first language was Koine Greek, and she was the only known Ptolemaic ruler to learn the Egyptian language.
In 58 BC, Cleopatra presumably accompanied her father, Ptolemy XII Auletes, during his exile to Rome after a revolt in Egypt (a Roman client state) allowed his rival daughter Berenice IV to claim his throne. Berenice was killed in 55 BC when Ptolemy returned to Egypt with Roman military assistance. When he died in 51 BC, the joint reign of Cleopatra and her brother Ptolemy XIII began, but a falling-out between them led to an open civil war. After losing the 48 BC Battle of Pharsalus in Greece against his rival Julius Caesar (a Roman dictator and consul) in Caesar's civil war, the Roman statesman Pompey fled to Egypt. Pompey had been a political ally of Ptolemy XII, but Ptolemy XIII, at the urging of his court eunuchs, had Pompey ambushed and killed before Caesar arrived and occupied Alexandria. Caesar then attempted to reconcile the rival Ptolemaic siblings, but Ptolemy's chief adviser, Potheinos, viewed Caesar's terms as favoring Cleopatra, so his forces besieged her and Caesar at the palace. Shortly after the siege was lifted by reinforcements, Ptolemy XIII died in the Battle of the Nile; Cleopatra's half-sister Arsinoe IV was eventually exiled to Ephesus for her role in carrying out the siege. Caesar declared Cleopatra and her brother Ptolemy XIV joint rulers but maintained a private affair with Cleopatra that produced a son, Caesarion. Cleopatra traveled to Rome as a client queen in 46 and 44 BC, where she stayed at Caesar's villa. After Caesar's assassination, followed shortly afterwards by that of Ptolemy XIV (on Cleopatra's orders), she named Caesarion co-ruler as Ptolemy XV.
In the Liberators' civil war of 43–42 BC, Cleopatra sided with the Roman Second Triumvirate formed by Caesar's grandnephew and heir Octavian, Mark Antony, and Marcus Aemilius Lepidus. After their meeting at Tarsos in 41 BC, the queen had an affair with Antony which produced three children. He carried out the execution of Arsinoe at her request, and became increasingly reliant on Cleopatra for both funding and military aid during his invasions of the Parthian Empire and the Kingdom of Armenia. The Donations of Alexandria declared their children rulers over various erstwhile territories under Antony's triumviral authority. This event, their marriage, and Antony's divorce of Octavian's sister Octavia Minor led to the final war of the Roman Republic. Octavian engaged in a war of propaganda, forced Antony's allies in the Roman Senate to flee Rome in 32 BC, and declared war on Cleopatra. After defeating Antony and Cleopatra's naval fleet at the 31 BC Battle of Actium, Octavian's forces invaded Egypt in 30 BC and defeated Antony, leading to Antony's suicide. When Cleopatra learned that Octavian planned to bring her to his Roman triumphal procession, she killed herself by poisoning, contrary to the popular belief that she was bitten by an asp.
Cleopatra's legacy survives in ancient and modern works of art. Roman historiography and Latin poetry produced a generally critical view of the queen that pervaded later Medieval and Renaissance literature. In the visual arts, her ancient depictions include Roman busts, paintings, and sculptures, cameo carvings and glass, Ptolemaic and Roman coinage, and reliefs. In Renaissance and Baroque art, she was the subject of many works including operas, paintings, poetry, sculptures, and theatrical dramas. She has become a pop culture icon of Egyptomania since the Victorian era, and in modern times, Cleopatra has appeared in the applied and fine arts, burlesque satire, Hollywood films, and brand images for commercial products.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:39 UTC on Sunday, 28 April 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Cleopatra on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm Gregory Neural.
pWotD Episode 2551: Challengers (film)
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With 198,436 views on Friday, 26 April 2024 our article of the day is Challengers (film).
Challengers is a 2024 American romantic sports film directed by Luca Guadagnino and written by Justin Kuritzkes. The plot follows a professional tennis champion (Mike Faist) who plots a comeback with the help of his wife (Zendaya), a former tennis prodigy who retired after an injury, as he goes up against another player (Josh O'Connor), who also happens to be his former best friend and wife's former lover.
After being delayed from its initial September 2023 release date and pulled out from its slot as the opening film of the 80th Venice International Film Festival due to the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike, Challengers premiered in Sydney, Australia, on March 26, 2024, and it was released in the United States by Amazon MGM Studios on April 26, 2024.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:47 UTC on Saturday, 27 April 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Challengers (film) on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm Ayanda Neural.
pWotD Episode 2550: 2024 NFL draft
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With 152,115 views on Thursday, 25 April 2024 our article of the day is 2024 NFL draft.
The 2024 NFL draft is the ongoing 89th annual meeting of National Football League (NFL) franchises to select newly eligible players. The draft is being held around Campus Martius Park and Hart Plaza in Detroit, Michigan, on April 25–27, 2024. The Chicago Bears held the first pick in the draft, traded from the Carolina Panthers, who had the worst record in the 2023 season. The Bears selected USC quarterback Caleb Williams with the first pick, which is the first time they selected first overall since 1947.
This draft saw six quarterbacks selected in the first round, the most since 1983. This draft also saw seven wide receivers taken in the first round, the most since 2004. In all, 23 offensive players were chosen in the first round, the most in the "common draft era" (starting in 1967, when the NFL and American Football League first held a joint draft). The previous record of 19 was first set in 1968 and tied in 2004 and 2019. Also, the first defensive player was selected 15th overall—by far the latest for such a selection. During the common draft era, the latest position for the first defensive player selected was 8th in 2021.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 05:34 UTC on Friday, 26 April 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see 2024 NFL draft on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm Salli Neural.
pWotD Episode 2549: Shōgun (2024 miniseries)
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With 178,759 views on Wednesday, 24 April 2024 our article of the day is Shōgun (2024 miniseries).
Shōgun is an American historical drama television miniseries created by Rachel Kondo and Justin Marks. It is based on the 1975 novel by James Clavell, which was previously adapted into a 1980 miniseries. Its ensemble cast includes Hiroyuki Sanada, Cosmo Jarvis, Anna Sawai, Tadanobu Asano, Takehiro Hira, Tommy Bastow, and Fumi Nikaido.
The series premiered its first two episodes on February 27, 2024, on FX on Hulu and FX, with the rest being released weekly until April 23, 2024. It received widespread critical acclaim, particularly for the directing, writing, visuals, production values, performances of its cast, and faithfulness to the source material.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:39 UTC on Thursday, 25 April 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Shōgun (2024 miniseries) on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm Amy Standard.
pWotD Episode 2548: XXXTentacion
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With 208,496 views on Tuesday, 23 April 2024 our article of the day is XXXTentacion.
Jahseh Dwayne Ricardo Onfroy (January 23, 1998 – June 18, 2018), known professionally as XXXTentacion, (English: eks-eks-eks-ten-tə-SYOHN Spanish pronunciation: [tentaˈθjon]) was an American rapper and singer-songwriter. Though a controversial figure due to his widely publicized legal troubles, XXXTentacion gained a cult following among his young fanbase during his short career with his depression- and alienation-themed music. Critics and fans often credit him for his musical versatility, with his music exploring emo, trap, trap metal, nu metal, indie rock, lo-fi, hip hop, R&B, and punk rock. He is considered to be a leading figure in the establishment of the emo rap and SoundCloud rap genres, which garnered mainstream attention during the mid-to-late 2010s.
Born in Plantation, Florida, XXXTentacion spent most of his childhood in Lauderhill. He began writing music after being released from a juvenile detention center and soon started his music career on SoundCloud in 2013, employing styles and techniques that were unconventional in rap music such as distortion and heavy guitar-backed instrumentals, drawing inspiration from third-wave emo and grunge. In 2014, he formed the underground collective Members Only and alongside other members of the collective soon became a popular figure in SoundCloud rap, a trap music scene that takes elements of lo-fi music and harsh 808s. XXXTentacion gained mainstream attention with the single "Look at Me". His debut album 17 (2017) is certified triple-platinum in the US and reached number two on the Billboard 200. His second album ? (2018) debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and is certified quintuple-platinum in the US. Its lead single, "Sad!", posthumously reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100, and had amassed more than 1.2 billion views on YouTube and 2.1 billion streams on Spotify by February 2024, as well as being certified Diamond by the RIAA in August 2021.
XXXTentacion faced a variety of legal issues throughout his lifetime, most notably the controversy that arose from the battery charges that were levied against him in 2016. His history of legal issues and alleged violence has been described by some as defining his legacy, while others have criticized the media's portrayal of him, arguing that his perceived improvements in character later in life have made his legacy into a tale of the power of second chances and redemption.
On June 18, 2018, XXXTentacion, age 20, was murdered when he was shot near a motorcycle dealership in Deerfield Beach, Florida. The attackers fled the scene in an SUV after stealing his Louis Vuitton bag containing $50,000 in cash. Four suspects were arrested and charged with first-degree murder among other charges. In August 2022, one of the four men pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in exchange for testimony against the other three defendants in their trial. The trial initiated on February 7, 2023. On March 20, 2023, all three were found guilty on all counts. On April 6, 2023, they were sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.
XXXTentacion has RIAA-certified sales of 61 million units in the US and BPI-certified sales of over 7 million units in the UK, bringing his total to 68 million certified records sold in the two countries. Since his death, he has won an American Music Award and a BET Hip Hop Award and received 11 Billboard Music Award nominations. Two posthumous albums were released, Skins (2018) and Bad Vibes Forever (2019); the former became his second number-one album on the Billboard 200, while the latter entered the top 5.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:54 UTC on Wednesday, 24 April 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see XXXTentacion on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
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Until next time, I'm Emma Neural.
pWotD Episode 2547: AEW Dynasty
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With 147,216 views on Monday, 22 April 2024 our article of the day is AEW Dynasty.
AEW Dynasty was a professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) event produced by All Elite Wrestling (AEW). It took place on April 21, 2024, at Chaifetz Arena in St. Louis, Missouri, marking AEW's first pay-per-view event to be held in Missouri.
Twelve matches were contested at the event, including three on the "Zero Hour" pre-show. In the main event, Swerve Strickland defeated Samoa Joe to win the AEW World Championship. In other prominent matches, The Young Bucks (Matthew Jackson and Nicholas Jackson) defeated FTR (Dax Harwood and Cash Wheeler) in a tournament final Ladder match to win the vacant AEW World Tag Team Championship and become record-setting three-time champions, Will Ospreay defeated Bryan Danielson, and Willow Nightingale defeated Julia Hart to win the AEW TBS Championship. The event also featured the return of Jack Perry, who had been absent from AEW programming since a legitimate backstage altercation at All In London in August 2023.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:47 UTC on Tuesday, 23 April 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see AEW Dynasty on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm Joey Neural.
pWotD Episode 2546: Candidates Tournament 2024
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With 165,923 views on Sunday, 21 April 2024 our article of the day is Candidates Tournament 2024.
The 2024 Candidates Tournament was an eight-player chess tournament, held to determine the challenger for the World Chess Championship 2024. The tournament took place at The Great Hall in Toronto, Canada, from April 3–22, 2024. The event was held alongside the Women's Candidates Tournament. The event was won by Gukesh D.
As with every Candidates tournament since 2013, it was a double round-robin tournament. The winner of the tournament earned the right to play the World Chess Championship 2024 against the current World Chess Champion Ding Liren.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:15 UTC on Monday, 22 April 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Candidates Tournament 2024 on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm Aria Neural.
pWotD Episode 2545: Mandisa
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With 262,140 views on Saturday, 20 April 2024 our article of the day is Mandisa.
Mandisa Lynn Hundley (October 2, 1976 – April 18, 2024), known mononymously as Mandisa, was an American gospel and contemporary Christian recording artist. She began her career as a contestant in the fifth season of American Idol finishing in ninth place. She is the fifth American Idol alumna to have won a Grammy Award, for her album Overcomer in the Best Contemporary Christian Music Album category.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:13 UTC on Sunday, 21 April 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Mandisa on Wikipedia.
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Until next time, I'm Emma Standard.
pWotD Episode 2544: The Tortured Poets Department
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With 651,193 views on Friday, 19 April 2024 our article of the day is The Tortured Poets Department.
The Tortured Poets Department (often shortened to Tortured Poets) is the eleventh studio album by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift. Released on April 19, 2024, via Republic Records, the album was written and produced by Swift, Jack Antonoff and Aaron Dessner. Swift announced the album at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards on February 4, 2024, after winning Best Pop Vocal Album for her tenth studio album, Midnights (2022).
Swift conceived The Tortured Poets Department shortly after finishing work on Midnights and continued developing the former during the Eras Tour (2023–2024), her ongoing sixth concert tour. Self-described as her "lifeline" album, The Tortured Poets Department was perceived by Swift as a culmination of imperative songwriting. A synth-pop album with stylings of rock and folk, its production incorporates synths, piano, and guitar. The subject matter delves into Swift's psyche, introspecting on her public and private lives. Critics have described the album as a cathartic and self-conscious project, blending sorrow and humor.
Issued as a double album, the standard volume of The Tortured Poets Department consists of sixteen songs, featuring collaborations with the American rapper Post Malone and the English indie rock band Florence and the Machine. The second volume, subtitled The Anthology, was surprise-released two hours after the standard volume and contains fifteen additional songs. "Fortnight", featuring Malone, was released as the lead single in tandem with the album.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 03:48 UTC on Saturday, 20 April 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see The Tortured Poets Department on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm Brian Neural.
pWotD Episode 2543: 2024 Indian general election
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With 238,295 views on Thursday, 18 April 2024 our article of the day is 2024 Indian general election.
A general election is to be held in India from 19 April 2024 to 1 June 2024 to elect the 543 members of the 18th Lok Sabha, in seven phases. The results will be announced on 4 June 2024. This is the largest-ever election in history, surpassing the 2019 Indian general election, and lasts 44 days, second only to the 1951–52 Indian general election. The incumbent prime minister Narendra Modi, who completed a second term, is running for a third consecutive term.
Approximately 970 million people out of a population of 1.44 billion people are eligible to vote. The state legislative assembly elections in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Odisha, and Sikkim are to be held simultaneously with the general election, along with the by-elections for 35 seats in 16 states.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:56 UTC on Friday, 19 April 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see 2024 Indian general election on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm Emma Standard.
pWotD Episode 2542: Jontay Porter
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With 225,230 views on Wednesday, 17 April 2024 our article of the day is Jontay Porter.
Jontay Porter (born November 15, 1999) is an American professional basketball center and power forward who last played for the Toronto Raptors of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Missouri Tigers. Porter was previously listed as a recruit under the Class of 2018 before reclassifying up a year to join his older brother, Michael Porter Jr., at Missouri.
On April 17, 2024, after four seasons playing in the NBA and the developmental G League, Porter received a lifetime ban by the league for gambling.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:59 UTC on Thursday, 18 April 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Jontay Porter on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm Salli Neural.
pWotD Episode 2541: 2024 WNBA draft
Welcome to popular Wiki of the Day where we read the summary of a popular Wikipedia page every day.
With 181,989 views on Tuesday, 16 April 2024 our article of the day is 2024 WNBA draft.
The 2024 WNBA Draft, the WNBA's draft for the 2024 WNBA season, following the 2023–24 NCAA Division I women's basketball season, was held on April 15, 2024, the 29th draft in WNBA history. The draft took place at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in Brooklyn, New York, and allowed fans to be in attendance for the first time since the 2016 WNBA Draft. It was exclusively televised on ESPN in the United States and on TSN1/3/4 in Canada at 7:30 p.m. EDT.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:05 UTC on Wednesday, 17 April 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see 2024 WNBA draft on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm Ayanda Neural.
pWotD Episode 2540: Etel Adnan
Welcome to popular Wiki of the Day where we read the summary of a popular Wikipedia page every day.
With 392,362 views on Monday, 15 April 2024 our article of the day is Etel Adnan.
Etel Adnan (Arabic: إيتيل عدنان; 24 February 1925 – 14 November 2021) was a Lebanese-American poet, essayist, and visual artist. In 2003, Adnan was named "arguably the most celebrated and accomplished Arab American author writing today" by the academic journal MELUS: Multi-Ethnic Literature of the United States. Besides her literary output, Adnan made visual works in a variety of media, such as oil paintings, films and tapestries, which have been exhibited at galleries across the world.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:21 UTC on Tuesday, 16 April 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Etel Adnan on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm Kimberly Standard.
pWotD Episode 2539: Scottie Scheffler
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With 835,210 views on Sunday, 14 April 2024 our article of the day is Scottie Scheffler.
Scott Alexander Scheffler (born June 21, 1996) is an American professional golfer who plays on the PGA Tour. He is currently ranked world number one, first reaching the position in the Official World Golf Ranking in March 2022, and has held that ranking for over 80 weeks. He has won two major championships, both the 2022 Masters Tournament and the 2024 Masters Tournament. He is the only player to win The Players Championship in back-to-back years (2023 and 2024).
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:13 UTC on Monday, 15 April 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Scottie Scheffler on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm Geraint Standard.
pWotD Episode 2538: Tama Tonga
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With 292,595 views on Saturday, 13 April 2024 our article of the day is Tama Tonga.
Alipate Aloisio Leone (born October 15, 1982), better known by his ring name Tama Tonga (タマ・トンガ Tama Tonga), is a Tongan professional wrestler. He is currently signed to WWE, where he performs on the SmackDown brand as a member of The Bloodline. He is best known for his tenure with New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) from 2010 to 2024, where he was a founding member of Bullet Club alongside Bad Luck Fale, Karl Anderson and Prince Devitt, as well as being a founding member of Guerrillas of Destiny (G. O. D.) alongside his brother Tanga Loa.
Tonga began to work with NJPW in 2010. In 2013, along other gaijin wrestlers, created the stable Bullet Club. In 2016, Tonga joined his brother, creating the tag team Guerrillas of Destiny. They won the IWGP Tag Team Championship seven times, the 2020 edition of the World Tag League tournament and, due to the collaboration between NJPW and Ring of Honor, the ROH World Tag Team Championship. As a singles wrestler, Tonga held the NEVER Openweight Championship four times. He has also worked with NJPW's partner promotion in Mexico, Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL) where he has held the CMLL World Tag Team Championship twice. On the April 12, 2024 edition of SmackDown, Tonga made his WWE debut as a member of the Bloodline.
Tonga is the nephew and adopted son of professional wrestler Haku.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:52 UTC on Sunday, 14 April 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Tama Tonga on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm Russell Standard.
pWotD Episode 2537: Fallout (American TV series)
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With 487,173 views on Friday, 12 April 2024 our article of the day is Fallout (American TV series).
Fallout is an American post-apocalyptic drama television series created by Graham Wagner and Geneva Robertson-Dworet for Amazon Prime Video. It is based on the role-playing video game franchise created by Interplay Entertainment and now owned by Bethesda Softworks.
Amazon purchased the rights to produce a live-action project in 2020, and the show was announced that July, with Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy's Kilter Films joined by Bethesda Game Studios in the production. Nolan directed the first three episodes. Bethesda Game Studios producer Todd Howard, who directed various games in the series, signed on to executive produce alongside Nolan and Joy. Robertson-Dworet and Wagner were hired as the series' showrunners in January 2022, and Walton Goggins and Ella Purnell were cast in February and March, respectively.
Fallout premiered on Prime Video on April 10, 2024. It received positive reviews from critics, who praised the performances (particularly Purnell, Moten, and Goggins), writing, visuals, production design, and faithfulness to the source material.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:46 UTC on Saturday, 13 April 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Fallout (American TV series) on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm Kevin Neural.
pWotD Episode 2536: O. J. Simpson
Welcome to popular Wiki of the Day where we read the summary of a popular Wikipedia page every day.
With 2,368,368 views on Thursday, 11 April 2024 our article of the day is O. J. Simpson.
Orenthal James Simpson (July 9, 1947 – April 10, 2024) was an American football player, actor, and broadcaster. He played in the National Football League (NFL) for eleven seasons, primarily with the Buffalo Bills, and is regarded as one of the greatest running backs of all time. Once a popular figure with the American public, his professional success was later overshadowed by his trial and controversial acquittal for the murders of his former wife Nicole Brown and her friend Ron Goldman in 1994.
Simpson played college football for the USC Trojans, where he won the Heisman Trophy as a senior, and was selected first overall by the Bills in the 1969 NFL/AFL draft. During his nine seasons with the Bills, he received five consecutive Pro Bowl and first-team All-Pro selections from 1972 to 1976. He also led the league in rushing yards four times, in rushing touchdowns twice, and in points scored in 1975. In 1973, he became the first NFL player to rush for more than 2,000 yards in a season, earning him NFL Most Valuable Player (MVP), and is the only NFL player to do so in a 14-game regular season. He holds the record for the single-season yards-per-game average at 143.1. After retiring with the San Francisco 49ers in 1979, he pursued an acting and broadcasting career. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1983 and the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1985.
In June 1994, Simpson was arrested and charged with the murders of Brown and Goldman. He was acquitted in a lengthy and internationally publicized trial, but found liable for the deaths three years later in a civil suit from the victims' families. He paid little of the $33.5 million judgment.
In 2007, Simpson was arrested in Las Vegas, Nevada, and charged with armed robbery and kidnapping. In 2008, he was convicted and sentenced to 33 years' imprisonment, with a minimum of nine years without parole. He served his sentence at the Lovelock Correctional Center in rural Nevada. He was granted parole in July 2017, released from prison in October, and granted early release from his parole in December 2021 by the Nevada Division of Parole and Probation. He died from prostate cancer on April 10, 2024, at the age of 76.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 03:03 UTC on Friday, 12 April 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see O. J. Simpson on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm Emma Standard.
pWotD Episode 2535: Eid Mubarak
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With 309,967 views on Wednesday, 10 April 2024 our article of the day is Eid Mubarak.
Eid Mubarak (Arabic: عِيد مُبَارَك ʿīd mubārak) is an Arabic term that means “Blessed feast/festival'”. The term is used by Muslims all over the world. Internationally, Muslims use it as a greeting on the feast. Meaning it’s a greeting for the end of Ramadan. In the social sense, people usually celebrate Eid al-Fitr after Ramadan and Eid al-Adha in the month of Dhul Hijjah (the 12th and final Islamic month). This exchange of greetings is a cultural tradition and not part of any religious obligation.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:39 UTC on Thursday, 11 April 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Eid Mubarak on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm Nicole Standard.
pWotD Episode 2534: Eid al-Fitr
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With 190,785 views on Tuesday, 9 April 2024 our article of the day is Eid al-Fitr.
Eid al-Fitr ( EED əl FIT-ər, -rə; Arabic: عيد الفطر, romanized: ʿĪd al-Fiṭr, IPA: [ʕiːd al ˈfɪtˤr], lit. 'Holiday of Breaking the Fast') is the earlier of the two official holidays celebrated within Islam (the other being Eid al-Adha). Eid al-Fitr is celebrated by Muslims worldwide because it marks the end of the month-long dawn-to-sunset fasting of Ramadan. Eid al-Fitr falls on the first day of Shawwal in the Islamic calendar; this does not always fall on the same Gregorian day, as the start of any lunar Hijri month varies based on when the new moon is sighted by local religious authorities. The holiday is known under various other names in different languages and countries around the world. The day is also called "Lesser Eid" (Arabic: العيد الصغير, romanized: al-ʿĪd al-Ṣaghīr), or simply Eid. Eid al-Fitr has a particular salat (Islamic prayer) that consists of two rakats (units) generally performed in an open field or large hall. It may only be performed in congregation (jamāʿat) and features seven additional Takbirs (raising of the hands to the ears while saying "Allāhu ʾAkbar", meaning "God is the greatest") in the Hanafi school of Sunni Islam: three at the start of the first rakat and three just before rukūʿ in the second rakat. Other Sunni schools usually have 12 Takbirs, similarly split in groups of seven and five. In Shia Islam, the salat has six Takbirs in the first rakat at the end of qira'a, before rukūʿ, and five in the second. Depending on the juristic opinion of the locality, this salat is either farḍ (فرض, obligatory), mustaḥabb (strongly recommended) or mandūb (مندوب, preferable). After the salat, Muslims celebrate the Eid al-Fitr in various ways with food ("Eid cuisine") being a central theme, which also gives the holiday the nickname "Sweet Eid" or "Sugar Feast".
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:23 UTC on Wednesday, 10 April 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Eid al-Fitr on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
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Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.
Until next time, I'm Olivia Neural.
pWotD Episode 2533: Solar eclipse
Welcome to popular Wiki of the Day where we read the summary of a popular Wikipedia page every day.
With 491,270 views on Monday, 8 April 2024 our article of the day is Solar eclipse.
A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between Earth and the Sun, thereby obscuring the view of the Sun from a small part of Earth, totally or partially. Such an alignment occurs approximately every six months, during the eclipse season in its new moon phase, when the Moon's orbital plane is closest to the plane of Earth's orbit. In a total eclipse, the disk of the Sun is fully obscured by the Moon. In partial and annular eclipses, only part of the Sun is obscured. Unlike a lunar eclipse, which may be viewed from anywhere on the night side of Earth, a solar eclipse can only be viewed from a relatively small area of the world. As such, although total solar eclipses occur somewhere on Earth every 18 months on average, they recur at any given place only once every 360 to 410 years.
If the Moon were in a perfectly circular orbit and in the same orbital plane as Earth, there would be total solar eclipses once a month, at every new moon. Instead, because the Moon's orbit is tilted at about 5 degrees to Earth's orbit, its shadow usually misses Earth. Solar (and lunar) eclipses therefore happen only during eclipse seasons, resulting in at least two, and up to five, solar eclipses each year, no more than two of which can be total. Total eclipses are rarer because they require a more precise alignment between the centers of the Sun and Moon, and because the Moon's apparent size in the sky is sometimes too small to fully cover the Sun.
An eclipse is a natural phenomenon. In some ancient and modern cultures, solar eclipses were attributed to supernatural causes or regarded as bad omens. Astronomers' predictions of eclipses began in China as early as the 4th century BC; eclipses hundreds of years into the future may now be predicted with high accuracy.
Looking directly at the Sun can lead to permanent eye damage, so special eye protection or indirect viewing techniques are used when viewing a solar eclipse. Only the total phase of a total solar eclipse is safe to view without protection. Enthusiasts known as eclipse chasers or umbraphiles travel to remote locations to see solar eclipses.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:19 UTC on Tuesday, 9 April 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Solar eclipse on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
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Until next time, I'm Ivy Standard.
pWotD Episode 2532: Zach Edey
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With 183,025 views on Sunday, 7 April 2024 our article of the day is Zach Edey.
Zachry Cheyne Edey ( EE-dee; born May 14, 2002) is a Canadian college basketball player for the Purdue Boilermakers of the Big Ten Conference. He is listed at 7 feet 4 inches (2.24 meters), making him the tallest player in Big Ten history. At the close of the 2023 season, Edey was named the Big Ten Player of the Year and consensus National Player of the Year. He repeated as Big Ten Player of the Year in 2024.
Edey also represented Canada at the 2021 FIBA Under-19 Basketball World Cup in Latvia.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:46 UTC on Monday, 8 April 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Zach Edey on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm Amy Standard.
pWotD Episode 2531: Dawn Staley
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With 190,575 views on Saturday, 6 April 2024 our article of the day is Dawn Staley.
Dawn Michelle Staley (born May 4, 1970) is an American basketball Hall of Fame player and coach who is currently the head coach for the South Carolina Gamecocks. Staley won three Olympic gold medals with Team USA as a player and later was head coach of another U. S. gold-medal winning team. Staley was elected to carry the United States flag at the opening ceremony of the 2004 Summer Olympics. After playing point guard for the University of Virginia under Debbie Ryan, and winning the gold medal at the 1996 Summer Olympics, she went on to play professionally in the American Basketball League and the WNBA. In 2011, fans named Staley one of the top 15 players in WNBA history. Staley was inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in 2012. She was elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2013.
While still a WNBA player, she started coaching the Temple University Owls women's basketball team in 2000. In eight years at Temple, she led the program to six NCAA tournaments, three regular-season conference championships, and four conference tournament titles.
On May 7, 2008, she was named head coach for women's basketball at the University of South Carolina. Staley built South Carolina from the ground up. In her first six seasons as head coach, she improved her program's record every year, winning the SEC in 2013–14. In late 2014 her team achieved the program's first #1 ranking, making her only the second individual to both play on and coach a #1-ranked team. Staley has gone on to lead South Carolina to eight SEC regular season championships, eight SEC tournament championships, eight Sweet Sixteens, five Final Fours, and two NCAA women's basketball national championships.
On April 2, 2020, Staley became the first person to win the Naismith Award as both a player and a coach. She also won the other three major National Coach of the Year awards after she led her team to a 32 win season and a final ranking of #1 in both major polls.
Staley served as the United States women's national team head coach from 2017–2021, finishing with a perfect 45–0 record, before returning full time to South Carolina. In the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Staley won her first gold medal as head coach for Team USA, and fourth overall, winning all six games. On April 3, 2022, Staley led the Gamecocks to their 2nd national title with a 64–49 win over UConn, finishing the season 35–2 and being ranked #1 in both major polls for the entire season. Staley again would be named Naismith Award winner as the best coach in the nation for 2022 and 2024.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:53 UTC on Sunday, 7 April 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Dawn Staley on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.
Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.
Until next time, I'm Justin Standard.
pWotD Episode 2530: Solar eclipse of April 8, 2024
Welcome to popular Wiki of the Day where we read the summary of a popular Wikipedia page every day.
With 189,524 views on Friday, 5 April 2024 our article of the day is Solar eclipse of April 8, 2024.
A total solar eclipse will take place at the Moon's ascending node on Monday, April 8, 2024, visible across North America and dubbed the Great North American Eclipse by some media. A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between Earth and the Sun, thereby obscuring the image of the Sun for a viewer on Earth. A total solar eclipse occurs when the Moon's apparent diameter is larger than the Sun's, blocking all direct sunlight, turning day into darkness. Totality occurs only in a narrow path across Earth's surface, with the partial solar eclipse visible over a surrounding region thousands of kilometres wide.
Occurring only one day after perigee (perigee on Sunday, April 7, 2024), the Moon's apparent diameter will be 5.5% larger than average. With a magnitude of 1.0566, its longest duration of totality will be of 4 minutes and 28.13 seconds near the Mexican town of Nazas, Durango, (about 4 mi (6 km) north), and the nearby city of Torreón, Coahuila.
This eclipse will be the first total solar eclipse to be visible in the provinces of Canada since February 26, 1979, the first in Mexico since July 11, 1991, and the first in the United States since August 21, 2017. It will be the only total solar eclipse in the 21st century where totality will be visible in Mexico, the U. S., and Canada. It will also be the last total solar eclipse visible in the contiguous United States until August 23, 2044.
The final solar eclipse of the year will occur six months later, on October 2, 2024.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:28 UTC on Saturday, 6 April 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Solar eclipse of April 8, 2024 on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm Joey Standard.
pWotD Episode 2529: Premier League
Welcome to popular Wiki of the Day where we read the summary of a popular Wikipedia page every day.
With 147,890 views on Thursday, 4 April 2024 our article of the day is Premier League.
The Premier League is the highest level of the English football league system. Contested by 20 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the English Football League (EFL). Seasons typically run from August to May, with each team playing 38 matches: two against each other team, one home and one away. Most games are played on Saturday and Sunday afternoons, with occasional weekday evening fixtures. The competition was founded as the FA Premier League on 20 February 1992 following the decision of First Division (top-tier league from 1888 until 1992) clubs to break away from the English Football League. However, teams may still be relegated to and promoted from the EFL Championship. The Premier League takes advantage of a £5 billion television rights deal, with Sky and BT Group securing the domestic rights to broadcast 128 and 32 games, respectively. This deal will rise to £6.7 billion for the four seasons from 2025 to 2029. The league is projected to earn $7.2bn in overseas TV rights from 2022 to 2025. The Premier League is a corporation managed by a chief executive, with member clubs acting as shareholders. Clubs were apportioned central payment revenues of £2.4 billion in 2016–17, with a further £343 million in solidarity payments to EFL clubs. The Premier League is the most-watched sports league in the world, broadcast in 212 territories to 643 million homes, with a potential TV audience of 4.7 billion people. For the 2018–19 season, the average Premier League match attendance was at 38,181, second to the German Bundesliga's 43,500, while aggregated attendance across all matches was the highest of any association football league at 14,508,981, and most stadium occupancies are near capacity. As of 2023, the Premier League is ranked first in the UEFA coefficient rankings based on performances in European competitions over the past five seasons, ahead of Spain's La Liga. The English top-flight has produced the second-highest number of European Cup / UEFA Champions League titles, with a record six English clubs having won fifteen European championships in total. Fifty-one clubs have competed in the Premier League since its inception in 1992: 49 from England and two from Wales. Seven of them have won the title: Manchester United (13), Manchester City (7), Chelsea (5), Arsenal (3), Blackburn Rovers (1), Leicester City (1) and Liverpool (1); the two Manchester clubs hold the distinction of having won three titles in a row, while six clubs have avoided relegation: Arsenal, Chelsea, Everton, Liverpool, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:35 UTC on Friday, 5 April 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Premier League on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.
Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.
Until next time, I'm Nicole Standard.
pWotD Episode 2528: Hunter Schafer
Welcome to popular Wiki of the Day where we read the summary of a popular Wikipedia page every day.
With 182,815 views on Wednesday, 3 April 2024 our article of the day is Hunter Schafer.
Hunter Schafer (born December 31, 1998) is an American actress, model, director, and LGBT rights activist. She made her acting debut as transgender high school student Jules Vaughn in the HBO teen drama television series Euphoria (2019–present), which earned her nominations for a Shorty Award, an MTV Movie & TV Award, and a Dorian Award. In 2023, she portrayed Tigris Snow in The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes.
For her activism against North Carolina's anti-LGBT legislation HB2, Teen Vogue listed Schafer on its "21 Under 21" list in 2017.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 15:18 UTC on Thursday, 4 April 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Hunter Schafer on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
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Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.
Until next time, I'm Ayanda Neural.
pWotD Episode 2527: Caitlin Clark
Welcome to popular Wiki of the Day where we read the summary of a popular Wikipedia page every day.
With 338,739 views on Tuesday, 2 April 2024 our article of the day is Caitlin Clark.
Caitlin Elizabeth Clark (born January 22, 2002) is an American college basketball player for the Iowa Hawkeyes of the Big Ten Conference. She is the NCAA Division I all-time leading scorer and is regarded as one of the greatest players in college basketball history.
Clark attended Dowling Catholic High School in her hometown of West Des Moines, Iowa, where she was named a McDonald's All-American and rated the fourth-best player in her class by ESPN. In her freshman season with Iowa, she led the NCAA Division I in scoring and earned All-American honors. As a sophomore, Clark was a unanimous first-team All-American and became the first women's player to lead Division I in points and assists in a single season. In her junior season, she won all major national player of the year awards and led Iowa to its first national championship game. Clark again led Division I in assists and set Big Ten single-season marks in points and assists. As a senior, she became the Division I career leader in points and three-pointers. She also broke Division I single-season records in points and three-pointers and the all-time conference record in assists.
At the youth international level, Clark has won three gold medals with the United States, including two at the FIBA Under-19 Women's World Cup, where she was named Most Valuable Player in 2021. During her college career, she has been credited with drawing unprecedented national interest to women's basketball, with her games surpassing attendance and television viewership records for the sport. She is estimated to be one of the top earners among college athletes from name, image and likeness deals.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 14:21 UTC on Thursday, 4 April 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Caitlin Clark on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.
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Until next time, I'm Aria Neural.
pWotD Episode 2526: Vontae Davis
Welcome to popular Wiki of the Day where we read the summary of a popular Wikipedia page every day.
With 432,258 views on Monday, 1 April 2024 our article of the day is Vontae Davis.
Vontae Ottis Davis (May 27, 1988 – April 1, 2024) was an American professional football player who played as a cornerback for the Miami Dolphins, Indianapolis Colts and Buffalo Bills of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Illinois Fighting Illini and was selected by the Dolphins in the first round of the 2009 NFL draft. He made two Pro Bowls in his career.
Davis abruptly retired from the NFL in the middle of the Bills' second game of the 2018 season, removing himself from the game at halftime.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:44 UTC on Tuesday, 2 April 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Vontae Davis on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.
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Until next time, I'm Justin Neural.
pWotD Episode 2525: Chance Perdomo
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With 507,899 views on Sunday, 31 March 2024 our article of the day is Chance Perdomo.
Chance Perdomo (19 October 1996 – 29/30 March 2024) was a British actor, born in Los Angeles, and raised in Southampton, England. He earned a British Academy Television Award nomination for his performance in the BBC Three film Killed by My Debt (2018). He gained further prominence through his roles as Ambrose Spellman in the Netflix series Chilling Adventures of Sabrina (2018–2020) and Andre Anderson in the first season of the Amazon Prime series Gen V (2023).
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:02 UTC on Monday, 1 April 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Chance Perdomo on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm Justin Neural.
pWotD Episode 2524: Cowboy Carter
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With 172,652 views on Saturday, 30 March 2024 our article of the day is Cowboy Carter.
Cowboy Carter (also referred to as Act II: Cowboy Carter) is the eighth studio album by the American singer Beyoncé. Released on March 29, 2024, via Parkwood Entertainment and Columbia Records, the album is the second installment of Beyoncé's trilogy project conceived during the COVID-19 pandemic, following Renaissance (2022). Mostly labeled a country, western and R&B album, Cowboy Carter contains elements of pop, opera, house, Jersey club, classic rock, hip hop, blues, soul, rock, rhythm and blues and folk.
Conceptually, Cowboy Carter is presented as a broadcast by a fictional radio station (called KNTRY Radio) in Texas, with country singers Dolly Parton, Linda Martell and Willie Nelson acting as radio DJs. The album also features lesser known country artists such as Tanner Adell, Brittney Spencer, Tiera Kennedy, Reyna Roberts, Shaboozey and Willie Jones, alongside collaborations with musicians Miley Cyrus, Post Malone, Rhiannon Giddens, Stevie Wonder, Nile Rodgers, Raye, Ryan Beatty and Jon Batiste. Two co-lead singles supported the album—"Texas Hold 'Em" and "16 Carriages".
Upon release, Cowboy Carter was met with critical acclaim for Beyoncé's embrace of country music in context of celebrating the genre's Black roots with emphasis on the vocal performance and lyrics. Publications opined that Cowboy Carter highlighted Black musicians' place within country music, causing the listenership of Black country artists on streaming platforms and country radio to increase.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 03:13 UTC on Sunday, 31 March 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Cowboy Carter on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm Ayanda Neural.
pWotD Episode 2523: Louis Gossett Jr.
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With 441,029 views on Friday, 29 March 2024 our article of the day is Louis Gossett Jr..
Louis Cameron Gossett Jr. (May 27, 1936 – March 29, 2024) was an American actor. Born in Coney Island, Brooklyn, New York City, he made his stage debut at the age of 17. Shortly thereafter, he successfully auditioned for the Broadway play Take a Giant Step. Gossett continued acting onstage in critically acclaimed plays including A Raisin in the Sun (1959), The Blacks (1961), Tambourines to Glory (1963), and The Zulu and the Zayda (1965). In 1977, Gossett appeared in the popular miniseries Roots, for which he won Outstanding Lead Actor for a Single Appearance in a Drama or Comedy Series at the Emmy Awards.
Gossett continued acting in high-profile films, television, plays, and video games. In 1982, for his role as Gunnery Sergeant Emil Foley in An Officer and a Gentleman, he won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor and became the first black actor to win in this category. At the Emmy Awards, Gossett continued to receive recognition, with nominations for The Sentry Collection Presents Ben Vereen: His Roots (1978), Palmerstown, U. S. A. (1981), Sadat (1983). Gossett appeared in 1985's
Enemy Mine with Dennis Quaid, A Gathering of Old Men (1987), Touched by an Angel (1997), and Watchmen (2019). He won and was nominated at other ceremonies including the Golden Globe Awards, Black Reel Awards, and NAACP Image Awards. Gossett was also well-known for his role as Colonel Chappy Sinclair in the Iron Eagle film series (1986-1995).
Gossett's other film appearances include Hal Ashby's The Landlord (1970), Paul Bogart's Skin Game (1971), George Cukor's Travels with My Aunt (1972), Stuart Rosenberg's The Laughing Policeman (1974), Philip Kaufman's The White Dawn (1974), Peter Yates's The Deep (1977), Wolfgang Petersen's Enemy Mine (1985), Christopher Cain's The Principal (1987), Mark Goldblatt's The Punisher (1989), Daniel Petrie's Toy Soldiers (1991), and Jasper, Texas (2003), and his television appearances include Bonanza (1971), The Jeffersons (1975), American Playhouse (1990), Stargate SG-1 (2005), Left Behind: World at War (2005), Boardwalk Empire (2013), and The Book of Negroes (2015).
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:19 UTC on Saturday, 30 March 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Louis Gossett Jr. on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm Matthew Neural.
pWotD Episode 2522: Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire
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With 223,411 views on Thursday, 28 March 2024 our article of the day is Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire.
Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire is a 2024 American monster film directed by Adam Wingard. Produced by Legendary Pictures, it is a sequel to Godzilla vs. Kong (2021), and the fifth film in the MonsterVerse franchise. It is also the 38th film of the Godzilla franchise and the 13th film in the King Kong franchise. The film stars Rebecca Hall, Brian Tyree Henry, Dan Stevens, Kaylee Hottle, Alex Ferns, and Fala Chen. Hall, Henry, and Hottle reprise their roles from the previous film. In the film, Kong encounters more of his species in the Hollow Earth and must unite with Godzilla to stop their tyrannical leader and a powerful, climate-changing Titan from destroying the surface.
Because of the box office and streaming success of Godzilla vs. Kong during the COVID-19 pandemic, Legendary announced a sequel in March 2022 and that filming would commence later that year. In May 2022, it was announced that Wingard would return to direct and Stevens had been cast as a lead. Filming began in July 2022 in the Gold Coast, Australia, and finished in November 2022.
Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire premiered at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles on March 25, 2024, and was released internationally two days later. The film has received mixed reviews.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 05:17 UTC on Friday, 29 March 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm Matthew Standard.
pWotD Episode 2521: Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse
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With 292,006 views on Wednesday, 27 March 2024 our article of the day is Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse.
On March 26, 2024, at 1:28 a.m. EDT (05:28 UTC), the main spans of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, across the Patapsco River between Baltimore and Dundalk in the U. S. state of Maryland, collapsed after the Singapore-flagged container ship Dali struck one of its support pillars. Two people were rescued from the river; one had no injuries, while the other was transported to a hospital in critical condition. Six members of a construction crew working on the roadway were reported missing, presumed dead.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:51 UTC on Thursday, 28 March 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm Ivy Neural.
pWotD Episode 2520: Francis Scott Key Bridge (Baltimore)
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With 1,446,189 views on Tuesday, 26 March 2024 our article of the day is Francis Scott Key Bridge (Baltimore).
The Francis Scott Key Bridge was a steel arch continuous through truss bridge spanning the lower Patapsco River and outer Baltimore Harbor / Port carrying Maryland Route 695 (the Baltimore Beltway) between Hawkins Point, a neighborhood of Baltimore, and Dundalk in Maryland, United States. The main spans of the bridge were destroyed on March 26, 2024, when a container ship, the MV Dali, crashed into one of its support pillars. The crossing between Baltimore City and Baltimore County also passed through a small portion of Anne Arundel County. It was first known as the Outer Harbor Crossing until 1976, when it was renamed while still under construction. It has also been known as Key Bridge or Beltway Bridge. The main span of 1,200 feet (366 m) was the third longest span of any continuous truss in the world, and the total length was 8,636 feet (2,632 m) long. It was the second-longest bridge in the Baltimore metropolitan area, after the Chesapeake Bay Bridge.
The bridge was opened on March 23, 1977, named for amateur poet Francis Scott Key (1779–1843), the author of the lyrics to the American national anthem, "The Star-Spangled Banner". The Key Bridge was a toll facility operated by the Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA). The bridge was the outermost of three toll crossings of Baltimore's Harbor, two tunnels and one bridge.
The bridge carried an estimated 11.5 million vehicles annually. It was a designated hazardous materials truck route, as HAZMATs were prohibited in the Baltimore Harbor and Fort McHenry tunnels. Once completed, the bridge structure and its approaches became the final links in Interstate 695, the "Baltimore Beltway", completing a two-decade-long project. Despite being signed as part of I-695, the bridge was officially considered part of the state highway system and designated Maryland Route 695.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 06:13 UTC on Wednesday, 27 March 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Francis Scott Key Bridge (Baltimore) on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm Salli Neural.
pWotD Episode 2519: The Three-Body Problem (novel)
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With 271,098 views on Monday, 25 March 2024 our article of the day is The Three-Body Problem (novel).
The Three-Body Problem (Chinese: 三体; lit. 'Three-Body') is a story by Chinese science fiction author Liu Cixin, the first novel in the Remembrance of Earth's Past trilogy. The series portrays a fictional past, present and future wherein Earth encounters an alien civilization from a nearby system of three sun-like stars orbiting one another, a representative example of the three-body problem in orbital mechanics.
The story was originally serialized in Science Fiction World in 2006 before it was published as a standalone book in 2008. In 2006, it received the Galaxy Award (Yínhé Jiǎng) for Chinese science fiction. In 2012, it was described as one of the genre's most successful novels of the previous two decades. The English translation by Ken Liu was published by Tor Books in 2014. That translation was the first novel by an Asian writer to win a Hugo Award for Best Novel; it was also nominated for the Nebula Award for Best Novel. The book has been adapted into other media. In 2015, a Chinese film adaptation of the same name was in production, but it was never released. A Chinese TV series, Three-Body, released in early 2023 to critical success locally. An English language Netflix series, 3 Body Problem, was released in March 2024.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 03:00 UTC on Tuesday, 26 March 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see The Three-Body Problem (novel) on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm Matthew Neural.
pWotD Episode 2518: 2024 Indian Premier League
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With 460,306 views on Sunday, 24 March 2024 our article of the day is 2024 Indian Premier League.
The 2024 Indian Premier League (also known as IPL 17 and branded as TATA IPL 2024) is the 17th edition of the Indian Premier League, a franchise Twenty20 cricket league in India, organised by the Board of Control for Cricket in India. The tournament features ten teams and is being held from 22 March to 26 May 2024. Chennai Super Kings are the defending champions, having won their fifth title during the previous season beating Gujarat Titans, becoming the joint-successful franchise in the history of the tournament along with Mumbai Indians.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:52 UTC on Monday, 25 March 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see 2024 Indian Premier League on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm Salli Neural.
pWotD Episode 2517: Indian Premier League
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With 716,771 views on Saturday, 23 March 2024 our article of the day is Indian Premier League.
The Indian Premier League (IPL), also known as the TATA IPL, is a men's Twenty20 (T20) cricket league held annually in India. Founded by the BCCI in 2007, the league features ten city-based franchise teams. The IPL usually takes place during the summer, between March and May each year. It has an exclusive window in the ICC Future Tours Programme, resulting in fewer international cricket tours occurring during the IPL seasons. The IPL is the most popular cricket league in the world; in 2014, it ranked sixth in average attendance among all sports leagues. In 2010, the IPL became the first sporting event to be broadcast live on YouTube. Inspired by the success of the IPL, other Indian sports leagues have been established. In 2022, the league's brand value was estimated at ₹90,038 crore (US$11 billion). According to the BCCI, the 2015 IPL season contributed ₹1,150 crore (US$140 million) to India's GDP. In December 2022, the IPL achieved a valuation of US$10.9 billion, becoming a decacorn and registering a 75% growth in dollar terms since 2020 when it was valued at $6.2 billion, according to a report by the consulting firm D and P Advisory. Its 2023 final became the most streamed live event on the internet, with 32 million viewers. In 2023, the league sold its media rights for the period of 2023–2027 for US$6.4 billion to Viacom18 and Star Sports, meaning each IPL match was valued at $13.4 million. As of 2023, there have been sixteen seasons of the tournament. The current champions are the Chennai Super Kings, who won the 2023 season after defeating the Gujarat Titans in the final.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:58 UTC on Sunday, 24 March 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Indian Premier League on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm Geraint Standard.
pWotD Episode 2516: Catherine, Princess of Wales
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With 477,408 views on Friday, 22 March 2024 our article of the day is Catherine, Princess of Wales.
Catherine, Princess of Wales, (born Catherine Elizabeth Middleton; 9 January 1982) is a member of the British royal family. She is married to William, Prince of Wales, heir apparent to the British throne.
Born in Reading, Catherine grew up in Bucklebury, Berkshire. She was educated at St Andrew's School and Marlborough College before studying art history at the University of St Andrews in Scotland, where she met Prince William in 2001. She held several jobs in retail and marketing and pursued charity work before their engagement was announced in November 2010. They married on 29 April 2011 at Westminster Abbey. The couple have three children: George, Charlotte, and Louis.
Catherine holds patronage with over 20 charitable and military organisations including the Anna Freud Centre, Action for Children, SportsAid, and the National Portrait Gallery. She undertakes projects through the Royal Foundation, with her charity work focusing on issues surrounding early childhood care, addiction, and art. To encourage people to discuss their mental health problems, Catherine envisioned the mental health awareness campaign Heads Together, which she launched with her husband William and brother-in-law Harry in April 2016. The media have called Catherine's impact on British and American fashion the "Kate Middleton effect". Time listed her as one of the most influential people in the world in 2011, 2012 and 2013 and as a finalist in 2018. On 9 September 2022, she became Princess of Wales when her husband was created Prince of Wales by his father, King Charles III.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:16 UTC on Saturday, 23 March 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Catherine, Princess of Wales on Wikipedia.
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Until next time, I'm Kimberly Neural.
pWotD Episode 2515: Brian Peck
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With 274,805 views on Thursday, 21 March 2024 our article of the day is Brian Peck.
Brian Richard Peck (born July 29, 1960) is an American convicted sex offender, former actor, dialogue coach, director and producer. As an actor, Peck is best known for his role as Scuz in The Return of the Living Dead as well as Pickle Boy on All That, the latter of which employed him as a dialogue coach. Peck also appeared on Boy Meets World, Growing Pains and The Amanda Show. He also directed comedy horror anthology film The Willies (1990). He was a body double for Alan Thicke on Growing Pains. He was arrested on August 19, 2003, for lewd conduct with a minor, being initially charged with 11 counts. In March 2024, on the Investigation Discovery documentary series Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV, Nickelodeon star Drake Bell, whom Peck worked with on The Amanda Show, was revealed to be his victim. In 2004, Peck was convicted of two counts and was sentenced to serve 16 months in prison and register as a sex offender. After his release, he was hired to work on the Disney Channel teen sitcom The Suite Life of Zack & Cody. He did voiceover work for three episodes but was later fired after Disney Channel executives learned of his conviction, and his voice lines and on-screen credits were replaced; he was never on set nor interacted with the show's cast or crew. He lives in Los Angeles, California as of 2024 and has not worked in the entertainment industry since 2019.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:38 UTC on Friday, 22 March 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Brian Peck on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm Geraint Standard.
pWotD Episode 2514: Aaron Taylor-Johnson
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With 266,391 views on Wednesday, 20 March 2024 our article of the day is Aaron Taylor-Johnson.
Aaron Perry Taylor-Johnson (né Johnson; born 13 June 1990) is an English actor. He is known for his portrayal of the title character in Kick-Ass (2010) and its 2013 sequel as well as the Marvel Cinematic Universe character Pietro Maximoff in Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015).
Johnson began performing as a child and appeared in films including Shanghai Knights (2003), The Illusionist (2006), and Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging (2008). He had his breakthrough performance as John Lennon in the biopic Nowhere Boy (2009), directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson, whom he married in 2012. He followed this with roles in the crime thriller Savages (2012), period drama Anna Karenina (2012), and monster film Godzilla (2014).
For his performance as a psychopathic drifter in the thriller film Nocturnal Animals (2016), Taylor-Johnson won the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture and earned a nomination for the BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role. He has since appeared in the action films Tenet (2020) and Bullet Train (2022).
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:28 UTC on Thursday, 21 March 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Aaron Taylor-Johnson on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm Arthur Neural.
pWotD Episode 2513: Nowruz
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With 996,028 views on Tuesday, 19 March 2024 our article of the day is Nowruz.
Nowruz (Persian: نوروز [noːˈɾuːz]) is the Iranian or Persian New Year celebrated by various ethnic groups worldwide. It is a festival based on the spring equinox— which marks the first day of the new year in the Iranian Solar Hijri calendar, on or around 21 March on the Gregorian calendar.
The day of Nowruz has its origins in the Iranian religion of Zoroastrianism and is thus rooted in the traditions of the Iranian peoples; however, it has been celebrated by diverse communities for over 3,000 years in Western Asia, Central Asia, the Caucasus, the Black Sea Basin, the Balkans, and South Asia. Presently, while it is largely a secular holiday for most celebrants and enjoyed by people of several different faiths and backgrounds, Nowruz remains a holy day for Zoroastrians, Baháʼís, and some Muslim communities. As the spring equinox, Nowruz marks the beginning of spring in the Northern Hemisphere, i.e. the moment at which the Sun crosses the celestial equator and equalizes night and day is calculated exactly every year. Traditional customs of Nowruz include fire and water, ritual dances, gift exchanges, reciting poetry, symbolic objects and more; these customs differ between the diverse peoples and countries that celebrate the festival.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:30 UTC on Wednesday, 20 March 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Nowruz on Wikipedia.
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Until next time, I'm Kajal Neural.
pWotD Episode 2512: 2024 Russian presidential election
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With 207,392 views on Monday, 18 March 2024 our article of the day is 2024 Russian presidential election.
Presidential elections were held in Russia from 15 to 17 March 2024. It was the eighth presidential election in the country. Incumbent president Vladimir Putin claimed victory with 87% of the vote, the highest percentage of victory in a presidential election in post-Soviet Russia, gaining a fifth term that was widely viewed as a foregone conclusion. He is scheduled to be inaugurated on 7 May 2024. In November 2023, former member of the State Duma, Boris Nadezhdin, became the first person backed by a registered political party to announce his candidacy, running on an anti-war platform. He was followed by incumbent and independent candidate Vladimir Putin in December 2023, who is eligible to seek re-election as a result of the 2020 constitutional amendments. Later the same month, Leonid Slutsky of the LDPR, Nikolay Kharitonov of the Communist Party and Vladislav Davankov of New People announced their candidacies.
Other candidates also declared their candidacy but were barred for various reasons. Despite passing the initial stages of the process, on 8 February 2024, Nadezhdin was barred from running. The decision was announced at a special CEC session, citing alleged irregularities in the signatures of voters supporting his candidacy. Nadezhdin's status as the only explicitly anti-war candidate was widely regarded as the real reason for his disqualification, although Davankov also promised "peace and negotiations" with Ukraine. As was the case in the 2018 presidential election, and as anticipated by international observers, the election was not free and fair. The election campaign was held amid political repressions, with Putin's authoritarian rule intensifying after he launched a full-scale war with Ukraine in 2022. No credible opposition figures were permitted to stand for election; genuine critics of Putin were dead, imprisoned, living in exile, or barred from the ballot. Opposition leader Alexei Navalny, viewed as the most viable Putin rival, was imprisoned on politically motivated charges in 2021, was imprisoned at a remote Arctic penal colony in 2021; his prison term was repeatedly extended, and he was deemed ineligible for the ballot. Nalvany died in prison in February 2024, weeks before the election, under suspicious circumstances. The three-day balloted period was marked by state propaganda, censorship, and electoral fraud and manipulation. Novaya Gazeta, an independent newspaper, estimated that 31.6 million votes, half the total number of votes recorded, were fake. Russia held the election in the Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine; Russian soldiers and election officials forced many Ukrainians to vote, sometimes at gunpoint.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:29 UTC on Tuesday, 19 March 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see 2024 Russian presidential election on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm Aria Neural.
pWotD Episode 2511: Saint Patrick's Day
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With 541,434 views on Sunday, 17 March 2024 our article of the day is Saint Patrick's Day.
Saint Patrick's Day, or the Feast of Saint Patrick (Irish: Lá Fhéile Pádraig, lit. 'the Day of the Festival of Patrick'), is a religious and cultural holiday held on 17 March, the traditional death date of Saint Patrick (c. 385 – c. 461), the foremost patron saint of Ireland.
Saint Patrick's Day was made an official Christian feast day in the early 17th century and is observed by the Catholic Church, the Anglican Communion (especially the Church of Ireland), the Eastern Orthodox Church, and the Lutheran Church. The day commemorates Saint Patrick and the arrival of Christianity in Ireland, and, by extension, celebrates the heritage and culture of the Irish in general. Celebrations generally involve public parades and festivals, céilithe, and the wearing of green attire or shamrocks. Christians who belong to liturgical denominations also attend church services and historically the Lenten restrictions on eating and drinking alcohol were lifted for the day, which has encouraged and propagated the holiday's tradition of alcohol consumption. Saint Patrick's Day is a public holiday in the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador (for provincial government employees), and the British Overseas Territory of Montserrat. It is also widely celebrated in the United Kingdom, Canada, Brazil, United States, Argentina, Australia, South Africa, and New Zealand, especially amongst Irish diaspora. Saint Patrick's Day is celebrated in more countries than any other national festival. Modern celebrations have been greatly influenced by those of the Irish diaspora, particularly those that developed in North America. However, there has been criticism of Saint Patrick's Day celebrations for having become too commercialised and for fostering negative stereotypes of the Irish people.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:05 UTC on Monday, 18 March 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Saint Patrick's Day on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm Joey Neural.
pWotD Episode 2510: Poor Things (film)
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With 181,885 views on Saturday, 16 March 2024 our article of the day is Poor Things (film).
Poor Things is a 2023 film directed by Yorgos Lanthimos and written by Tony McNamara, based on the 1992 novel by Alasdair Gray. A co-production between Ireland, the United Kingdom, and the United States, the film stars Emma Stone, Mark Ruffalo, Willem Dafoe, Ramy Youssef, Christopher Abbott, and Jerrod Carmichael. It focuses on Bella Baxter, a woman in Victorian London who is brought back to life via brain transplant and embarks on an odyssey of self-discovery.
Principal photography took place in Hungary from August to December 2021. Poor Things premiered at the 80th Venice International Film Festival on September 1, 2023, and won the Golden Lion there. The film was released theatrically in the United States on December 8, 2023, and in the United Kingdom and Ireland on January 12, 2024, by Searchlight Pictures. It has grossed over $108 million worldwide on a budget of $35 million.
Poor Things was named one of the top ten films of 2023 by the National Board of Review and the American Film Institute, and received numerous other accolades, including four wins at the 96th Academy Awards, two wins at the 81st Golden Globe Awards, and five wins at the 77th British Academy Film Awards, with Stone winning Best Actress at each of these ceremonies.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:41 UTC on Sunday, 17 March 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Poor Things (film) on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm Ivy Neural.
pWotD Episode 2509: Ides of March
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With 232,921 views on Friday, 15 March 2024 our article of the day is Ides of March.
The Ides of March (; Latin: Idus Martiae, Late Latin: Idus Martii) is the day on the Roman calendar marked as the Idus, roughly the midpoint of a month, of Martius, corresponding to 15 March on the Gregorian calendar. It was marked by several major religious observances. In 44 BC, it became notorious as the date of the assassination of Julius Caesar, which made the Ides of March a turning point in Roman history.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:05 UTC on Saturday, 16 March 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Ides of March on Wikipedia.
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Until next time, I'm Joanna Standard.
pWotD Episode 2508: Steak and Blowjob Day
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With 185,248 views on Thursday, 14 March 2024 our article of the day is Steak and Blowjob Day.
Steak and Blowjob Day (sometimes Steak & BJ Day or Steak and Knobber Day) is a satirical unofficial holiday created in the United States as a male response to Valentine's Day and celebrated a month later, on March 14. On the day, women are purportedly supposed to cook a filet steak for and perform fellatio on a man in response to cards, chocolate, flowers and other gifts given by men on Valentine's Day. The observance has no official status, being a popular Internet meme rather than an actual holiday, but various souvenirs and video clips have been produced about it. It was conceived in 2002 by DJ Tom Birdsey on WFNX radio.
It has been suggested that Steak and Blowjob Day is a backlash against the feminist movement; the holiday has been criticized as sexist and patriarchal, though it has also been positively received by some, and used as a platform to fundraise for breast cancer research.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:47 UTC on Friday, 15 March 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Steak and Blowjob Day on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
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Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.
Until next time, I'm Joey Standard.
pWotD Episode 2507: Iron lung
Welcome to popular Wiki of the Day where we read the summary of a popular Wikipedia page every day.
With 277,810 views on Wednesday, 13 March 2024 our article of the day is Iron lung.
An iron lung is a type of negative pressure ventilator (NPV), a mechanical respirator which encloses most of a person's body and varies the air pressure in the enclosed space to stimulate breathing. It assists breathing when muscle control is lost, or the work of breathing exceeds the person's ability. Need for this treatment may result from diseases including polio and botulism and certain poisons (for example, barbiturates, tubocurarine).
The use of iron lungs is largely obsolete in modern medicine as more modern breathing therapies have been developed and due to the eradication of polio in most of the world. However, in 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic revived some interest in the device as a cheap, readily-producible substitute for positive-pressure ventilators, which were feared to be outnumbered by patients potentially needing temporary artificially assisted respiration. The iron lung is a large horizontal cylinder designed to stimulate breathing in patients who have lost control of their respiratory muscles. The patient's head is exposed outside the cylinder, while the body is sealed inside. Air pressure inside the cylinder is cycled to facilitate inhalation and exhalation. Devices like the Drinker, Emerson, and Both respirators are examples of iron lungs, which can be manually or mechanically powered. Smaller versions, like the cuirass ventilator and jacket ventilator, enclose only the patient's torso. Breathing in humans occurs through negative pressure, where the rib cage expands and the diaphragm contracts, causing air to flow in and out of the lungs.
The concept of external negative pressure ventilation was introduced by John Mayow in 1670. The first widely used device was the iron lung, developed by Philip Drinker and Louis Shaw in 1928. Initially used for coal gas poisoning treatment, the iron lung gained fame for treating respiratory failure caused by polio in the mid-20th century. John Haven Emerson introduced an improved and more affordable version in 1931. The Both respirator, a cheaper and lighter alternative to the Drinker model, was invented in Australia in 1937. British philanthropist William Morris financed the production of the Both–Nuffield respirators, donating them to hospitals throughout Britain and the British Empire. During the polio outbreaks of the 1940s and 1950s, iron lungs filled hospital wards, assisting patients with paralyzed diaphragms in their recovery.
Polio vaccination programs and the development of modern ventilators have nearly eradicated the use of iron lungs in the developed world. Positive pressure ventilation systems, which blow air into the patient's lungs via intubation, have become more common than negative pressure systems like iron lungs. However, negative pressure ventilation is more similar to normal physiological breathing and may be preferable in rare conditions. As of 2008, around 30 patients in the U. S. were still using iron lungs. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the shortage of modern ventilators, some enterprises developed prototypes of new, easily producible versions of the iron lung.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:46 UTC on Thursday, 14 March 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Iron lung on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
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Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.
Until next time, I'm Olivia Neural.
pWotD Episode 2506: Eric Carmen
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With 395,694 views on Tuesday, 12 March 2024 our article of the day is Eric Carmen.
Eric Howard Carmen (August 11, 1949 – March 2024) was an American singer-songwriter, guitarist and keyboardist. He was first known as the lead vocalist of the Raspberries. He had numerous hit songs in the 1970s and 1980s, first as a member of the Raspberries (who had a million-selling single with "Go All the Way"), and then with his solo career, including hits such as "All by Myself", "Never Gonna Fall in Love Again", "She Did It", "Hungry Eyes", and "Make Me Lose Control".
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:53 UTC on Wednesday, 13 March 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Eric Carmen on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm Niamh Neural.
pWotD Episode 2505: Emma Stone
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With 1,046,349 views on Monday, 11 March 2024 our article of the day is Emma Stone.
Emily Jean "Emma" Stone (born November 6, 1988) is an American actress and producer. She is the recipient of various accolades, including two Academy Awards, two British Academy Film Awards, and two Golden Globe Awards. In 2017, she was the world's highest-paid actress and named by Time magazine as one of the 100 most influential people in the world.
Born and raised in Scottsdale, Arizona, Stone began acting as a child in a theater production of The Wind in the Willows in 2000. As a teenager, she relocated to Los Angeles and made her television debut in In Search of the New Partridge Family (2004), a reality show that produced only an unsold pilot. After small television roles, she appeared in a series of well-received teen comedy films, such as Superbad (2007), Zombieland (2009), and Easy A (2010), which was Stone's first leading role. Following this breakthrough, she starred in the romantic comedy Crazy, Stupid, Love (2011) and the period drama The Help (2011), and gained wider recognition as Gwen Stacy in the The Amazing Spider-Man (2012) and its 2014 sequel.
Stone has won two Academy Awards for Best Actress: for her role as an aspiring actress in Damien Chazelle's romantic musical La La Land (2016); and for her role as a resurrected suicide victim in Yorgos Lanthimos fantasy film Poor Things (2023). She received Academy Award nominations for Best Supporting Actress for her roles as a recovering drug addict in Birdman (2014), and as Abigail Masham in The Favourite (2018). She also starred in the dark comedy miniseries Maniac (2018) and in The Curse (2023), and portrayed the title role in the crime comedy Cruella (2021).
On Broadway, Stone has starred as Sally Bowles in a revival of the musical Cabaret (2014–2015). She and her husband, Dave McCary, founded the production company Fruit Tree in 2020, under which they have produced the films When You Finish Saving the World (2022) and Problemista (2023).
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:06 UTC on Tuesday, 12 March 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Emma Stone on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm Kimberly Neural.
pWotD Episode 2504: Chelonitoxism
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With 291,037 views on Sunday, 10 March 2024 our article of the day is Chelonitoxism.
Chelonitoxism or chelonitoxication is a type of food poisoning which occasionally results from eating turtles, particularly marine turtles, in the region of the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. It is considered rare. Four species of marine turtle have been associated with chelonitoxism: hawksbill turtle (Eremochelys imbricata), green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas), loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta gigas), leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea), plus the freshwater species New Guinea giant softshell turtle (Pelochelys bibroni). Consumption of these species has caused poisoning incidents at various times of year in various tropical and subtropical locations, including such places as Southeast Asia, Indonesia, the Philippines and New Guinea, as well as southern South Asia (Gulf of Mannar) and the Zanzibar archipelago. The southern South Asia region has recorded 89 deaths from (primarily hawksbill and green) sea turtle poisoning from 1840 to 1983, mainly in Tamil Nadu and northern and western Sri Lanka. Chelonitoxism can be deadly, and supportive treatment is the only treatment available; there is no known antidote. Sea turtle is a traditional food in the region of the Western Pacific and Indian Oceans. Symptoms of chelonitoxism begin to show up within hours to a week following ingestion of turtle meat which has not been repeatedly parboiled. Children are especially susceptible, and the toxins have been reported to transfer readily via breastfeeding, even when the mother experiences no illness. Digestive system signs include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, dysphagia, tongue abnormalities and a firm, nontender liver. Autopsies have revealed hemorrhage in liver, esophagus and stomach, with mucosal edema of the esophagus, stomach and intestines. Fatty changes and necrosis of the liver were present. Other organs found to be abnormal on autopsy include swollen gall bladder, congested kidneys and enlarged spleen. Cardiovascular signs include variable slight tachycardia and a moderate drop in systolic blood pressure, pallor and, on autopsy, a flabby heart with hemorrhagic petechiae. Neurological signs include increased salivation, sweating, vertigo, lethargy and diminished deep reflexes, sometimes followed by coma and death. Death was found to result from respiratory failure. On autopsy, cerebral cortical edema was found, along with hemorrhagic petechiae. Low fever, thirst, constipation and spontaneous abortion have also been reported, while typical signs of allergic reaction are absent. A full recovery can take weeks, and it is not known whether any aftereffects are permanent. While standard hospital toxicology screens detected no known toxins, stomach contents of hospitalized patients fed to small laboratory animals killed the animals. Silas and Bastian have speculated that chelonitoxism may involve a neurotoxin. Research on the biochemistry of both poisonous turtle tissues and tissues of turtle poisoning patients is scant, and local medical practitioners have minimal treatment protocols for chelonitoxism at their disposal. Currently, with loggerheads (and other turtles under pressure from hunting) under legal protection against hunting, researchers hope that programs to discourage turtle consumption on health grounds may both increase turtle numbers and prevent human morbidity and mortality.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:26 UTC on Monday, 11 March 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Chelonitoxism on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
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Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.
Until next time, I'm Emma Standard.
pWotD Episode 2503: Anthony Joshua
Welcome to popular Wiki of the Day where we read the summary of a popular Wikipedia page every day.
With 347,410 views on Saturday, 9 March 2024 our article of the day is Anthony Joshua.
Anthony Oluwafemi Olaseni Joshua (born 15 October 1989) is a British professional boxer. He is a two-time former unified world heavyweight champion, having held the World Boxing Association (WBA) (Super version), International Boxing Federation (IBF), and World Boxing Organization (WBO) titles twice between 2016 and 2021. He also held the International Boxing Organization (IBO) title twice during that reign. At regional level, he held the British and Commonwealth heavyweight titles from 2015 to 2016.
As an amateur, Joshua represented England at the 2011 World Championships in the super-heavyweight division, winning a silver medal. He also represented Great Britain at the 2012 Olympics, winning gold. In 2014, a year after turning professional, he was named Prospect of the Year by The Ring magazine. In 2017, his victorious fight against Wladimir Klitschko was named Fight of the Year by The Ring and the Boxing Writers Association of America. Joshua is the second English boxer, after James DeGale, to win both a gold medal at the Olympics and a world title by a major professional sanctioning body, as well as the first English heavyweight to do so.
As of October 2022, Joshua is ranked as the world's second-best active heavyweight by BoxRec, third by The Ring, and fourth by Transnational Boxing Rankings Board and ESPN, as well as the sixth-best active boxer, pound for pound, by BoxRec. He has been ranked by BoxRec as among the world's top 10 heavyweights since 2014, and was ranked at No. 1 at the conclusion of 2016 and 2017. Joshua's knockout-to-win percentage stands at 88%, with an overall knockout percentage of 58% in world heavyweight title fights.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:51 UTC on Sunday, 10 March 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Anthony Joshua on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.
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Until next time, I'm Joanna Standard.
pWotD Episode 2502: Akira Toriyama
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With 1,446,256 views on Friday, 8 March 2024 our article of the day is Akira Toriyama.
Akira Toriyama (Japanese: 鳥山 明, Hepburn: Toriyama Akira, April 5, 1955 – March 1, 2024) was a Japanese manga artist and character designer. He first achieved mainstream recognition for creating the popular manga series Dr. Slump, before going on to create Dragon Ball (his most notable work) and acting as a character designer for several popular video games such as the Dragon Quest series, Chrono Trigger, and Blue Dragon. Toriyama is regarded as one of the authors who changed the history of manga, as his works are highly influential and popular, particularly Dragon Ball, which many manga artists cite as a source of inspiration.
He earned the 1981 Shogakukan Manga Award for best shōnen manga with Dr. Slump, and it went on to sell over 35 million copies in Japan. It was adapted into a successful anime series, with a second anime created in 1997, 13 years after the manga ended. His next series, Dragon Ball, would become one of the most popular and successful manga in the world. Having sold 260 million copies worldwide, it is one of the best-selling manga series of all time and is considered to be one of the main reasons for the period when manga circulation was at its highest in the mid-1980s and mid-1990s. Overseas, Dragon Ball's anime adaptations have been more successful than the manga and are credited with boosting anime's popularity in the Western world. In 2019, Toriyama was decorated a Chevalier of the French Ordre des Arts et des Lettres for his contributions to the arts.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:47 UTC on Saturday, 9 March 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Akira Toriyama on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
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Until next time, I'm Justin Neural.
pWotD Episode 2501: Lola Beltrán
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With 389,127 views on Thursday, 7 March 2024 our article of the day is Lola Beltrán.
María Lucila "Lola" Beltrán Ruiz (7 March 1932 – 24 March 1996) was a Mexican actress and singer.
She is and was one of Mexico's most acclaimed singers of Ranchera and Huapango music. She collaborated with other Mexican music stars such as Amalia Mendoza, Juan Gabriel and Lucha Villa. She was internationally renowned for her interpretation of the songs "Cucurrucucú paloma" and "Paloma Negra" and sang before world leaders. She was nicknamed Lola la Grande ("Lola the Great"). Her song Soy infeliz ("I'm Unhappy") was the opening music for Pedro Almodóvar's film Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:03 UTC on Friday, 8 March 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Lola Beltrán on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm Ivy Neural.
pWotD Episode 2500: Bohemian Grove
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With 243,512 views on Wednesday, 6 March 2024 our article of the day is Bohemian Grove.
Bohemian Grove, Monte Rio, California (United States), is a restricted 2,700-acre (1,100 ha) campground at 20601 Bohemian Avenue, belonging to a private gentlemen's club known as the Bohemian Club. In mid-July each year, Bohemian Grove hosts a more than two-week encampment of some of the most prominent men in the world. The Bohemian Club's all-male membership includes artists and musicians, as well as many prominent business leaders, government officials, former U. S. presidents, senior media executives, and people of power. Members may invite guests to the Grove. Guests may be invited to the Grove for either the "Spring Jinks" in June or the main July encampment. Bohemian Club members can schedule private day-use events at the Grove any time it is not being used for Club-wide purposes, and they are allowed at these times to bring spouses, family, and friends, although female and minor guests must be off the property by 9 or 10 pm. After 40 years of membership, the men earn "Old Guard" status, giving them reserved seating at the Grove's daily talks, as well as other perks. Former U. S. president Herbert Hoover was inducted into the Old Guard on March 4, 1953; he had joined the club exactly 40 years prior. Redwood branches from the Grove were flown to the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City, where they were used to decorate a banquet room for the celebration. In his acceptance speech, Hoover compared the honor of the "Old Guard" status to his frequent role as veteran counselor to later presidents. The Club motto is "Weaving Spiders Come Not Here," which implies that outside concerns and business deals (networking) are to be left outside. When gathered in groups, Bohemians usually adhere to the injunction, although discussion of business often occurs between pairs of members. Important political and business deals have been developed at the Grove. The Grove is particularly famous for a Manhattan Project planning meeting that took place there in September 1942, which subsequently led to the atomic bomb. Those attending this meeting included Ernest Lawrence, J. Robert Oppenheimer, the S-1 Executive Committee heads, such as the presidents of Harvard, Yale, and Princeton, along with representatives of Standard Oil and General Electric as well as various military officials. At the time, Oppenheimer was not an S-1 member, although Lawrence and Oppenheimer hosted the meeting. Grove members take particular pride in this event and often relate the story to new attendees. Other behavior at the campground has led to numerous claims and even some parody in popular culture. One example was President Richard Nixon's comments from a May 13, 1971, tape recording talking about upper-class San Franciscans: "The Bohemian Grove, which I attend from time to time—it is the most faggy goddamned thing you could ever imagine, with that San Francisco crowd."
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:20 UTC on Thursday, 7 March 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Bohemian Grove on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
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Until next time, I'm Joanna Standard.
pWotD Episode 2499: Facebook
Welcome to popular Wiki of the Day where we read the summary of a popular Wikipedia page every day.
With 411,328 views on Tuesday, 5 March 2024 our article of the day is Facebook.
Facebook is a social media and social networking service owned by American technology conglomerate Meta Platforms. Created in 2004 by Mark Zuckerberg with four other Harvard College students and roommates Eduardo Saverin, Andrew McCollum, Dustin Moskovitz, and Chris Hughes, its name derives from the face book directories often given to American university students. Membership was initially limited to Harvard students, gradually expanding to other North American universities. Since 2006, Facebook allows everyone to register from 13 years old (or older), except in the case of a handful of nations, where the age limit is 14 years. As of December 2022, Facebook claimed 3 billion monthly active users. As of October 2023, Facebook ranked as the 3rd most visited website in the world, with 22.56% of its traffic coming from the United States. It was the most downloaded mobile app of the 2010s. Facebook can be accessed from devices with Internet connectivity, such as personal computers, tablets and smartphones. After registering, users can create a profile revealing information about themselves. They can post text, photos and multimedia which are shared with any other users who have agreed to be their friend or, with different privacy settings, publicly. Users can also communicate directly with each other with Messenger, join common-interest groups, and receive notifications on the activities of their Facebook friends and the pages they follow.
The subject of numerous controversies, Facebook has often been criticized over issues such as user privacy (as with the Cambridge Analytica data scandal), political manipulation (as with the 2016 U. S. elections) and mass surveillance. Facebook has also been subject to criticism over psychological effects such as addiction and low self-esteem, and various controversies over content such as fake news, conspiracy theories, copyright infringement, and hate speech. Commentators have accused Facebook of willingly facilitating the spread of such content, as well as exaggerating its number of users to appeal to advertisers.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:08 UTC on Wednesday, 6 March 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Facebook on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
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Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.
Until next time, I'm Kimberly Standard.
pWotD Episode 2498: Dune (2021 film)
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With 266,929 views on Monday, 4 March 2024 our article of the day is Dune (2021 film).
Dune (titled onscreen as Dune: Part One) is a 2021 American epic science fiction film directed and co-produced by Denis Villeneuve, who co-wrote the screenplay with Jon Spaihts and Eric Roth. It is the first of a two-part adaptation of the 1965 novel of the same name by Frank Herbert. Set in the distant future, the film follows Paul Atreides as his family, the noble House Atreides, is thrust into a war for the deadly and inhospitable desert planet Arrakis. The ensemble cast includes Timothée Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Oscar Isaac, Josh Brolin, Stellan Skarsgård, Dave Bautista, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Zendaya, Chang Chen, Sharon Duncan-Brewster, Charlotte Rampling, Jason Momoa, and Javier Bardem.
The film is the third adaptation of Dune, following David Lynch's 1984 film and John Harrison's 2000 television miniseries. After an unsuccessful attempt by Paramount Pictures to produce a new adaptation, Legendary Entertainment acquired the Dune film and television rights in 2016, with Villeneuve signing on as director in February 2017. Production contracts were secured only for the first film, relying on its success before a sequel would be produced. Principal photography took place from March to July 2019 at locations including Budapest, Jordan, Norway, and Abu Dhabi.
Dune was scheduled for a late 2020 release but was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The film premiered at the 78th Venice International Film Festival on September 3, 2021, before its international release on September 15; it was then released in United States theaters and streaming on HBO Max on October 22. Dune was a box office success, grossing almost $435 million on a $165 million budget. It was well received by critics and audiences with praise for Villeneuve's direction, screenplay, the visual effects, ambition, costume design, Hans Zimmer's musical score, cinematography, and faithfulness to the source material. The film won six awards at the 94th Academy Awards and was nominated in four other categories, including Best Picture, in addition to receiving numerous other accolades. A sequel, Dune: Part Two, was released in March 2024. In February 2024, Villeneuve said the script for the production of a third part was "almost finished".
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:28 UTC on Tuesday, 5 March 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Dune (2021 film) on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm Ruth Neural.
pWotD Episode 2497: Mukesh Ambani
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With 417,431 views on Sunday, 3 March 2024 our article of the day is Mukesh Ambani.
Mukesh Dhirubhai Ambani (born 19 April 1957) is an Indian billionaire businessman. He is the chairman and managing director of Reliance Industries, India's most valuable company by market value. With an estimated net worth of $112.1 billion according to Forbes as of February 2024, he is the richest person in Asia and 11th richest in the world. Sometimes characterized as a plutocrat; he has attracted both fame and notoriety for reports of market manipulation, political corruption, cronyism, and exploitation.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:02 UTC on Monday, 4 March 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Mukesh Ambani on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm Aria Neural.
pWotD Episode 2496: Dune: Part Two
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With 443,905 views on Saturday, 2 March 2024 our article of the day is Dune: Part Two.
Dune: Part Two is a 2024 American epic science fiction film directed and co-produced by Denis Villeneuve, who co-wrote the screenplay with Jon Spaihts. The sequel to Dune (2021), it is the second of a two-part adaptation of the 1965 novel Dune by Frank Herbert. It follows Paul Atreides as he unites with the Fremen people of the desert planet Arrakis to wage war against House Harkonnen. Timothée Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Josh Brolin, Stellan Skarsgård, Dave Bautista, Zendaya, Charlotte Rampling, and Javier Bardem reprise their roles from the first film, with Austin Butler, Florence Pugh, Christopher Walken, Léa Seydoux, and Souheila Yacoub joining the ensemble cast.
Development began after Legendary Entertainment acquired film and television rights for Dune in 2016. Villeneuve signed on as director for the film in 2017, with the intention of making a two-part adaptation of the novel due to its complexity. Production contracts were only secured for a first film, with the second film having to be green-lit based on the first's success. Though Villeneuve was concerned about the sequel's certainty after the first film had a simultaneous theatrical and HBO Max release, Warner Bros. Pictures assured him the sequel would happen if it performed well on HBO Max. After the critical and commercial success of the first film, Warner Bros. and Legendary green-lit Dune: Part Two in October 2021. Most of the new cast members were announced in 2022. Principal photography took place in Budapest, Italy, Jordan and Abu Dhabi between July and December 2022.
Dune: Part Two had its world premiere at the Auditorio Nacional in Mexico on February 6, 2024, and was released in the United States on March 1, 2024. The film received largely rave reviews from critics.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 04:10 UTC on Sunday, 3 March 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Dune: Part Two on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm Matthew Standard.
pWotD Episode 2495: George Galloway
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With 392,626 views on Friday, 1 March 2024 our article of the day is George Galloway.
George Galloway (born 16 August 1954) is a British politician, broadcaster, and writer who has served as member of Parliament (MP) for Rochdale since the 2024 by-election. He has been the leader of the Workers Party of Britain since he founded it in 2019. Between 1987 and 2010, and between 2012 and 2015, Galloway served as MP four constituencies, first for the Labour Party and later for the Respect Party, the latter of which he joined in 2004 and led from 2013 until its dissolution in 2016.
Galloway was born in Dundee, Scotland. After becoming the youngest ever chair of the Scottish Labour Party in 1981, he was general secretary of the London-based charity War on Want from 1983 until his election as MP for Glasgow Hillhead at the 1987 general election. In 2003, he was expelled from the Labour Party due to his prominent opposition to the Iraq War. In 2004, Galloway became a member of the Respect Party, and then the party's leader by late 2013. He was elected as MP for Bethnal Green and Bow at the 2005 general election. After losing in neighbouring Poplar and Limehouse in 2010, he returned to the House of Commons after being elected at the 2012 Bradford West by-election; he lost this seat at the 2015 general election. After unsuccessfully standing as an Independent candidate in two seats in the 2017 and 2019 general elections, Galloway founded the Workers Party of Britain; he stood for the Workers Party at the 2021 Batley and Spen by-election, finishing in third place, and won the 2024 Rochdale by-election with nearly 40 per cent of the vote.
Galloway testified to the United States Senate in 2005 over alleged illicit payments from the United Nations' Oil-for-Food Programme against Ba'athist Iraq. Among other international issues, Galloway has voiced his anti-Zionism and supports the Palestinians in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict, and was also involved in the Viva Palestina aid convoys to the Gaza Strip. He opposes India's role in the Kashmir conflict with Pakistan, and has voiced support for the insurgency in Indian-administered Kashmir. He voiced support for Jeremy Corbyn in the 2015 Labour Party leadership election and during Corbyn's leadership of the party. In the 2016 European Union (EU) membership referendum, he advocated a "Leave" vote, campaigning with the cross-party, pro-Brexit organisation Grassroots Out, while before the 2019 European Parliament election he announced, "for one-time only", he would support Nigel Farage's Brexit Party. He opposes Scottish independence and founded All for Unity, a party that campaigned on support for British unionism in the 2021 Scottish Parliament election, where it captured 0.9 per cent of the vote. He has defined himself as socially conservative. Galloway hosted the TalkRadio show The Mother of All Talk Shows between 2006 and 2010 and between 2016 and 2019 until his dismissal. He then broadcast on Russia Today (RT) until 2022, defending Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine, after which sanctions were imposed on RT. Galloway's talk show moved to social media platforms.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:48 UTC on Saturday, 2 March 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see George Galloway on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm Niamh Neural.
pWotD Episode 2494: Dave Myers (presenter)
Welcome to popular Wiki of the Day where we read the summary of a popular Wikipedia page every day.
With 235,434 views on Thursday, 29 February 2024 our article of the day is Dave Myers (presenter).
David James Myers (8 September 1957 – 28 February 2024) was an English television presenter, best known as one half of the Hairy Bikers, along with Si King. He was also known for his appearances on the BBC celebrity talent show Strictly Come Dancing. Together, Myers and King presented a multitude
of television cookery series for the BBC. They also launched their own product called The Hairy Bikers Diet Club.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:14 UTC on Friday, 1 March 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Dave Myers (presenter) on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm Brian Neural.
pWotD Episode 2493: Richard Lewis (comedian)
Welcome to popular Wiki of the Day where we read the summary of a popular Wikipedia page every day.
With 378,040 views on Wednesday, 28 February 2024 our article of the day is Richard Lewis (comedian).
Richard Philip Lewis (June 29, 1947 – February 27, 2024) was an American stand-up comedian, actor, and writer. He came to prominence in the 1980s and became known for his dark, neurotic, and self-deprecating humor.
As an actor, he was known for having co-starred with Jamie Lee Curtis in the sitcom Anything but Love, for playing the role of Prince John in the film Robin Hood: Men in Tights, and for his recurring role as a semi-fictionalized version of himself in HBO's Curb Your Enthusiasm.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:46 UTC on Thursday, 29 February 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Richard Lewis (comedian) on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm Kimberly Neural.
pWotD Episode 2492: Pornhub
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With 162,815 views on Tuesday, 27 February 2024 our article of the day is Pornhub.
Pornhub is a Canadian-owned internet pornography video-sharing website, one of several such sites owned by adult entertainment conglomerate Aylo. As of December 2023, Pornhub is the 14th most visited website in the world and the 2nd most visited adult website, after XVideos. The site allows visitors to view pornographic videos from various categories, including professional and amateur pornography, or to upload and share their own videos. Content can be flagged if it violates the website's terms of service. The site also hosts the Pornhub Awards annually.
In December 2020, following a New York Times exposé of non-consensual pornography and sex trafficking, and its associated potential backlash, payment processors Mastercard and Visa cut their services to Pornhub, who then removed all videos uploaded by unverified users, reducing the total content from 13 million to 4 million videos. A 2023 documentary, Money Shot: The Pornhub Story, covers the opposition to Pornhub and the views of some pornographic performers.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:35 UTC on Wednesday, 28 February 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Pornhub on Wikipedia.
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Until next time, I'm Russell Standard.
pWotD Episode 2491: Self-immolation of Aaron Bushnell
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With 306,552 views on Monday, 26 February 2024 our article of the day is Self-immolation of Aaron Bushnell.
On February 25, 2024, Aaron Bushnell, a 25-year-old serviceman of the United States Air Force, committed an act of self-immolation outside the front gate of the Embassy of Israel in Washington, D. C. During the incident, Bushnell said he was protesting "what people have been experiencing in Palestine at the hands of their colonizers" and declared that he "will no longer be complicit in genocide" before dousing himself with flammable liquid and lighting himself on fire. As he burned, Bushnell repeatedly shouted "Free Palestine!" while local emergency services arrived on scene. The act was livestreamed on Twitch. The D. C. Metropolitan Police Department responded to assist the United States Secret Service after Bushnell set himself on fire, and he was transported to a local hospital in critical condition. The Washington D. C. police confirmed Bushnell's death the following day. This was the second self-immolation protesting the war at an Israeli diplomatic station in the United States; another protestor set themself on fire at the country's Atlanta consulate in December.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 03:50 UTC on Tuesday, 27 February 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Self-immolation of Aaron Bushnell on Wikipedia.
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Until next time, I'm Salli Neural.
pWotD Episode 2490: Shane Gillis
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With 346,402 views on Sunday, 25 February 2024 our article of the day is Shane Gillis.
Shane Michael Gillis (born December 11, 1987) is an American stand-up comedian, actor, sketch comedy writer, and podcaster. He is co-host, along with fellow stand-up comedian Matt McCusker, of Matt and Shane's Secret Podcast, the most subscribed-to podcast on Patreon. In 2019, the Just for Laughs festival in Montreal named Gillis one of its "New Faces".
Gillis was announced as a new cast member on the NBC sketch comedy series Saturday Night Live in 2019, only to be fired from the show five days later due to backlash from clips of a 2018 episode of a podcast featuring jokes that contained ethnic slurs. In 2021, Gillis released his first comedy special, Shane Gillis: Live in Austin on YouTube. Gillis is also known for his collaborations with filmmaker John McKeever, on their online sketch series Gilly & Keeves. In September 2023, his second comedy special, Shane Gillis: Beautiful Dogs, was released on Netflix.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:01 UTC on Monday, 26 February 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Shane Gillis on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm Kajal Neural.
pWotD Episode 2489: Elimination Chamber: Perth
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With 536,767 views on Saturday, 24 February 2024 our article of the day is Elimination Chamber: Perth.
Elimination Chamber: Perth (known as No Escape in Germany) was the 14th Elimination Chamber professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) and livestreaming event produced by the American company WWE. It was held for wrestlers from the promotion's Raw and SmackDown brand divisions. The event took place on Saturday, February 24, 2024, at Optus Stadium in Perth, Western Australia, Australia, marking WWE's first event to be held in Australia since Super Show-Down in October 2018, and the only WWE event in the Asia–Pacific region in 2024. This was the third consecutive Elimination Chamber to be held outside of the United States, and it was also the first Elimination Chamber event to take place in an outdoor venue.
Five matches were contested at the event, including one on the Kickoff pre-show. The event featured two Elimination Chamber matches, one each for the men and women with wrestlers from both brands in each. The men's eponymous match was won by Drew McIntyre, earning a match for Raw's World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania XL, while the women's match, which was the opening bout, was won by Becky Lynch, earning a match for Raw's Women's World Championship, also at WrestleMania XL. In the main event, Australia native Rhea Ripley defeated Nia Jax to retain the Women's World Championship.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:48 UTC on Sunday, 25 February 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Elimination Chamber: Perth on Wikipedia.
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Until next time, I'm Kendra Standard.
pWotD Episode 2488: Wendy Williams
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With 162,376 views on Friday, 23 February 2024 our article of the day is Wendy Williams.
Wendy Williams Hunter (née Wendy Joan Williams; born July 18, 1964) is an American former broadcaster, media personality, and writer. From 2008 to 2021, she hosted the nationally syndicated television talk show The Wendy Williams Show.
Prior to television, Williams was a radio DJ and host and quickly became known in New York City as a shock jock. She gained notoriety for her on-air spats with celebrities and was the subject of the 2006 VH1 reality television series The Wendy Williams Experience, which broadcast events surrounding her radio show.
Williams' other endeavors include authoring several books, appearances in various films and television shows, touring her comedy show, and her own product lines, including a fashion line, a jewelry collection and a wig line. Williams was inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame in 2009. On her 50th birthday, the council of Asbury Park, New Jersey, renamed the street on which she grew up Wendy Williams Way.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:25 UTC on Saturday, 24 February 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Wendy Williams on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm Matthew Neural.
pWotD Episode 2487: Avatar: The Last Airbender (2024 TV series)
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With 181,153 views on Thursday, 22 February 2024 our article of the day is Avatar: The Last Airbender (2024 TV series).
Avatar: The Last Airbender, also known as Avatar: The Legend of Aang, is an American adventure fantasy television series. It is a live-action adaptation of the animated television series of the same name (2005–2008). First announced in September 2018, Albert Kim is the showrunner, with a cast that includes Gordon Cormier, Kiawentiio, Ian Ousley, Dallas Liu, Paul Sun-Hyung Lee, Ken Leung, and Daniel Dae Kim.
The series was released on February 22, 2024 on Netflix, and consists of eight episodes. It received mixed reviews.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:04 UTC on Friday, 23 February 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Avatar: The Last Airbender (2024 TV series) on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm Amy Neural.
pWotD Episode 2486: UEFA Champions League
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With 114,832 views on Wednesday, 21 February 2024 our article of the day is UEFA Champions League.
The UEFA Champions League (historically known as the European Cup and mostly abbreviated worldwide as the UCL) is an annual club association football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA). It is contested by top-division European clubs, deciding the competition winners through a round robin group stage to qualify for a double-legged knockout format, and a single leg final. It is the most watched club competition in the world and the third-most watched football competition overall, behind only the UEFA European Championship and the FIFA World Cup. It is one of the most prestigious football tournaments in the world and the most prestigious club competition in European football, played by the national league champions (and, for some nations, one or more runners-up) of their national associations.
Introduced in 1955 as the Coupe des Clubs Champions Européens (French for European Champion Clubs' Cup), and commonly known as the European Cup, it was initially a straight knockout tournament open only to the champions of Europe's domestic leagues, with its winner reckoned as the European club champion. The competition took on its current name and format in 1992, adding a round-robin group stage in 1991 and allowing multiple entrants from certain countries since the 1997–98 season. It has since been expanded, and while most of Europe's national leagues can still only enter their champion, the strongest leagues now provide up to four teams. Clubs that finish next-in-line in their national league, having not qualified for the Champions League, are eligible for the second-tier UEFA Europa League competition, and since 2021, for the third-tier UEFA Europa Conference League. In its present format, the Champions League begins in late June with a preliminary round, three qualifying rounds and a play-off round, all played over two legs. The six surviving teams enter the group stage, joining 26 teams qualified in advance. The 32 teams are drawn into eight groups of four teams and play each other in a double round-robin system. The eight group winners and eight runners-up proceed to the knockout phase that culminates with the final match in late May or early June. The winner of the Champions League automatically qualifies for the following year's Champions League, entering at group stage, the UEFA Super Cup, the FIFA Club World Cup and as of 2024 the new FIFA Intercontinental Cup which serves as a replacement for the previous annual format of the Club World Cup. Spanish clubs have the highest number of victories (19 wins), followed by England (15 wins) and Italy (12 wins). England has the largest number of winning teams, with six clubs having won the title. The competition has been won by 23 clubs, 13 of which have won it more than once, and eight successfully defended their title. Real Madrid is the most successful club in the tournament's history, having won it 14 times. Manchester City are the current European champions, having beaten Inter Milan 1–0 in the 2023 final for their first title.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:23 UTC on Thursday, 22 February 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see UEFA Champions League on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm Amy Neural.
pWotD Episode 2485: Saturn Devouring His Son
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With 228,418 views on Tuesday, 20 February 2024 our article of the day is Saturn Devouring His Son.
Saturn Devouring His Son is a painting by Spanish artist Francisco Goya. It is traditionally considered a depiction of the Greek myth of the Titan Cronus, whom the Romans called Saturn, eating one of his children out of fear of a prophecy by Gaea that one of his children would overthrow him. The work is one of the 14 so-called Black Paintings that Goya painted directly on the walls of his house sometime between 1820 and 1823. It was transferred to canvas after Goya's death and is now in the Museo del Prado in Madrid.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 23:19 UTC on Wednesday, 21 February 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Saturn Devouring His Son on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm Salli Standard.
pWotD Episode 2484: J. Robert Oppenheimer
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With 236,434 views on Monday, 19 February 2024 our article of the day is J. Robert Oppenheimer.
J. Robert Oppenheimer (born Julius Robert Oppenheimer; OP-ən-hy-mər; April 22, 1904 – February 18, 1967) was an American theoretical physicist. He was director of the Manhattan Project's Los Alamos Laboratory during World War II and is often called the "father of the atomic bomb".
Born in New York City, Oppenheimer earned a bachelor of arts degree in chemistry from Harvard University in 1925 and a doctorate in physics from the University of Göttingen in Germany in 1927, where he studied under Max Born. After research at other institutions, he joined the physics department at the University of California, Berkeley, where he became a full professor in 1936. He made significant contributions to theoretical physics, including achievements in quantum mechanics and nuclear physics such as the Born–Oppenheimer approximation for molecular wave functions, work on the theory of electrons and positrons, the Oppenheimer–Phillips process in nuclear fusion, and early work on quantum tunneling. With his students, he also made contributions to the theory of neutron stars and black holes, quantum field theory, and the interactions of cosmic rays.
In 1942, Oppenheimer was recruited to work on the Manhattan Project, and in 1943 he was appointed director of the project's Los Alamos Laboratory in New Mexico, tasked with developing the first nuclear weapons. His leadership and scientific expertise were instrumental in the project's success. On July 16, 1945, he was present at the first test of the atomic bomb, Trinity. In August 1945, the weapons were used against Japan in the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the only use of nuclear weapons in an armed conflict.
In 1947, Oppenheimer became the director of the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, New Jersey, and chaired the influential General Advisory Committee of the newly created U. S. Atomic Energy Commission. He lobbied for international control of nuclear power to avert nuclear proliferation and a nuclear arms race with the Soviet Union. He opposed the development of the hydrogen bomb during a 1949–1950 governmental debate on the question and subsequently took positions on defense-related issues that provoked the ire of some U. S. government and military factions. During the second Red Scare, Oppenheimer's stances, together with his past associations with the Communist Party USA, led to the revocation of his security clearance, following a 1954 security hearing. This effectively ended his access to the government's atomic secrets and his career as a nuclear physicist. Also stripped of his direct political influence, Oppenheimer nevertheless continued to lecture, write, and work in physics. In 1963, as a gesture of political rehabilitation, he was given the Enrico Fermi Award. He died four years later, of throat cancer. In 2022, the federal government vacated the 1954 revocation of his security clearance.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:39 UTC on Tuesday, 20 February 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see J. Robert Oppenheimer on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm Emma Neural.
pWotD Episode 2483: Mac McClung
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With 296,924 views on Sunday, 18 February 2024 our article of the day is Mac McClung.
Matthew "Mac" McClung (born January 6, 1999) is an American professional basketball player for the Osceola Magic of the NBA G League. He played college basketball for the Georgetown Hoyas and the Texas Tech Red Raiders. He was a consensus three-star recruit and among the highest-ranked high school players in Virginia. He is a two-time NBA Slam Dunk Contest champion, just one win away from the record of three held by Nate Robinson.
McClung went unselected in the 2021 NBA draft and spent time during the 2021–22 season with the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers. With the South Bay Lakers of the G League, he won the 2021–22 NBA G League Rookie of the Year award. McClung joined the Blue Coats for the 2022–23 season and signed with the 76ers in February 2023. He won the NBA Slam Dunk Contest at both the 2023 NBA All-Star Game and the 2024 NBA All-Star Game in back-to-back contests.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 16:11 UTC on Monday, 19 February 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Mac McClung on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm Justin Neural.
pWotD Episode 2482: YouTube
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With 282,543 views on Saturday, 17 February 2024 our article of the day is YouTube.
YouTube is an American online video sharing and social media platform owned by Google. Accessible worldwide, it was launched on February 14, 2005, by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim, three former employees of PayPal. Headquartered in San Bruno, California, United States, it is the second most visited website in the world, after Google Search. YouTube has more than 2.5 billion monthly users, who collectively watch more than one billion hours of videos every day. As of May 2019, videos were being uploaded to the platform at a rate of more than 500 hours of content per minute, and as of 2023, there were approximately 14 billion videos in total. In October 2006, YouTube was bought by Google for $1.65 billion (equivalent to $2.22 billion in 2022). Google's ownership of YouTube expanded the site's business model, expanding from generating revenue from advertisements alone to offering paid content such as movies and exclusive content produced by YouTube. It also offers YouTube Premium, a paid subscription option for watching content without ads. YouTube also approved creators to participate in Google's AdSense program, which seeks to generate more revenue for both parties. In 2021, YouTube's annual advertising revenue increased to $28.8 billion, an increase in revenue of $9 billion from the previous year. YouTube reported revenue of $29.2 billion in 2022. Since its purchase by Google, YouTube has expanded beyond the core website into mobile apps, network television, and the ability to link with other platforms. Video categories on YouTube include music videos, video clips, news, short films, feature films, songs, documentaries, movie trailers, teasers, live streams, vlogs, and more. Most content is generated by individuals, including collaborations between YouTubers and corporate sponsors. Established media corporations such as Disney, Paramount, NBCUniversal, and Warner Bros. Discovery have also created and expanded their corporate YouTube channels to advertise to a greater audience.
YouTube has had unprecedented social impact, influencing popular culture, internet trends, and creating multimillionaire celebrities. Despite its growth and success, the platform is sometimes criticized for allegedly facilitating the spread of misinformation, the sharing of copyrighted content, routinely violating its users' privacy, enabling censorship, endangering child safety and wellbeing, and for its inconsistent or incorrect implementation of platform guidelines.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 15:37 UTC on Monday, 19 February 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see YouTube on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm Stephen Neural.
pWotD Episode 2481: Alexei Navalny
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With 873,471 views on Friday, 16 February 2024 our article of the day is Alexei Navalny.
Alexei Anatolyevich Navalny (Russian: Алексей Анатольевич Навальный, IPA: [ɐlʲɪkˈsʲej ɐnɐˈtolʲjɪvʲɪtɕ nɐˈvalʲnɨj]; 4 June 1976 – 16 February 2024) was a Russian opposition leader, lawyer, anti-corruption activist, and political prisoner. He organised anti-government demonstrations and ran for office to advocate reforms against corruption in Russia, and against President Vladimir Putin and his government. Navalny was a Russian Opposition Coordination Council member. He was the leader of the Russia of the Future party and founder of the Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK). He was recognised by Amnesty International as a prisoner of conscience, and was awarded the Sakharov Prize for his work on human rights. As of 2021, Navalny had more than six million YouTube subscribers; through his social media channels, he and his team have published material about corruption in Russia, organised political demonstrations and promoted his campaigns. In a 2011 radio interview, he described Russia's ruling party, United Russia, as a "party of crooks and thieves", which became a popular epithet. Navalny and the FBK have published investigations detailing alleged corruption by high-ranking Russian officials and their associates.
In July 2013, Navalny received a suspended sentence for embezzlement, but was still allowed to run in the 2013 Moscow mayoral election and came in second, with 27% of the vote, outperforming expectations but losing to incumbent mayor Sergey Sobyanin, a Putin appointee. In December 2014, Navalny received another suspended sentence for embezzlement. Both of his criminal cases were widely considered to be politically motivated and intended to bar him from running in future elections. The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) later ruled that the cases violated Navalny's right to a fair trial, but the sentences were never overturned. In December 2016, Navalny launched his presidential campaign for the 2018 presidential election but was barred by Russia's Central Election Commission (CEC) after registering due to his prior criminal conviction; the Russian Supreme Court subsequently rejected his appeal. In 2017, the documentary He Is Not Dimon to You was released, accusing Dmitry Medvedev, the then prime minister and previous president, of corruption, leading to mass protests. In 2018, Navalny initiated Smart Voting, a tactical voting strategy intended to consolidate the votes of those who oppose United Russia, to the party of seats in elections. In August 2020, Navalny was hospitalised in serious condition after being poisoned with a Novichok nerve agent. He was medically evacuated to Berlin and discharged a month later. Navalny accused Putin of being responsible for his poisoning, and an investigation implicated agents from the Federal Security Service. In January 2021, Navalny returned to Russia and was immediately detained on accusations of violating parole conditions while he was hospitalised in Germany which were imposed as a result of his 2014 conviction. Following his arrest and the release of the documentary Putin's Palace, which accused Putin of corruption, mass protests were held across Russia. In February 2021, his suspended sentence was replaced with a prison sentence of over two and a half years' detention, and his organisations were later designated as extremist and liquidated, including the FBK. In March 2022, Navalny was sentenced to an additional nine years in prison after being found guilty of embezzlement and contempt of court in a new trial described as a sham by Amnesty International; his appeal was rejected and in June, he was transferred to a high-security prison. In August 2023, Navalny was sentenced to an additional 19 years in prison on extremism charges meaning he would be released in December 2038. Navalny commented that his sentence is as long as either his life or the life of the political regime in the country. In December 2023, Navalny went missing from prison for almost three weeks and then re-emerged in a new arctic circle jail in the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug. On 16 February 2024, the Russian prison service reported that Navalny had died at the age of 47.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:25 UTC on Saturday, 17 February 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Alexei Navalny on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
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Until next time, I'm Aditi Standard.
pWotD Episode 2480: Madame Web (film)
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With 483,944 views on Thursday, 15 February 2024 our article of the day is Madame Web (film).
Madame Web is a 2024 American superhero film based on Marvel Comics featuring the character of the same name. Produced by Columbia Pictures and Di Bonaventura Pictures in association with Marvel Entertainment and TSG Entertainment, and distributed by Sony Pictures Releasing, it is the fourth film in Sony's Spider-Man Universe (SSU). The film was directed by S. J. Clarkson from a screenplay she co-wrote with Claire Parker and the writing team of Matt Sazama and Burk Sharpless. It stars Dakota Johnson in the title role, alongside Sydney Sweeney, Celeste O'Connor, Isabela Merced, Tahar Rahim, Mike Epps, Emma Roberts, and Adam Scott. In the film, Cassie Webb (Johnson) confronts her past while trying to save three young women and their futures from Ezekiel Sims (Rahim).
Sony began development on a Madame Web film for its shared universe by September 2019, with Sazama and Sharpless hired to write the script. Clarkson joined as director in May 2020, making the film her feature film directorial debut, while Johnson was cast in early 2022. This was followed by additional castings in the following months, particularly for the three Spider-Women characters. Madame Web is a suspense thriller that depicts the titular character's origin story in a standalone universe with an approach that was more grounded and gritty compared to many previously released superhero films. Filming began in mid-July 2022 and wrapped before the end of the year, occurring throughout Massachusetts, including Boston, and in New York City. Clarkson and Parker's involvement as writers was revealed in November 2023.
Madame Web premiered at the Regency Village Theatre in Westwood, Los Angeles on February 12, 2024, and was released in the United States on February 14. The film was widely panned by critics.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 05:10 UTC on Friday, 16 February 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Madame Web (film) on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm Kevin Neural.
pWotD Episode 2479: Valentine's Day
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With 784,993 views on Wednesday, 14 February 2024 our article of the day is Valentine's Day.
Valentine's Day, also called Saint Valentine's Day or the Feast of Saint Valentine, is celebrated annually on February 14. It originated as a Christian feast day honoring a martyr named Valentine, and through later folk traditions it has also become a significant cultural, religious and commercial celebration of romance and love in many regions of the world. There are a number of martyrdom stories associated with various Saint Valentines connected to February 14, including an account of the imprisonment of Saint Valentine of Rome for ministering to Christians persecuted under the Roman Empire in the third century. According to an early tradition, Saint Valentine restored sight to the blind daughter of his jailer. Numerous later additions to the legend have better related it to the theme of love: tradition maintains that Saint Valentine performed weddings for Christian soldiers who were forbidden to marry by the Roman emperor; an 18th-century embellishment to the legend claims he wrote the jailer's daughter a letter signed "Your Valentine" as a farewell before his execution. The 8th-century Gelasian Sacramentary recorded the celebration of the Feast of Saint Valentine on February 14. The day became associated with romantic love in the 14th and 15th centuries, when notions of courtly love flourished, apparently by association with the "lovebirds" of early spring. In 18th-century England, it grew into an occasion for couples to express their love for each other by presenting flowers, offering confectionery, and sending greeting cards (known as "valentines"). Valentine's Day symbols that are used today include the heart-shaped outline, doves, and the figure of the winged Cupid. In the 19th century, handmade cards gave way to mass-produced greetings. In Italy, Saint Valentine's keys are given to lovers "as a romantic symbol and an invitation to unlock the giver's heart", as well as to children to ward off epilepsy (called Saint Valentine's Malady). Saint Valentine's Day is not a public holiday in any country, although it is an official feast day in the Anglican Communion and the Lutheran Church. Many parts of the Eastern Orthodox Church also celebrate Saint Valentine's Day on July 6 in honor of Roman presbyter Saint Valentine, and on July 30 in honor of Hieromartyr Valentine, the Bishop of Interamna (modern Terni).
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:41 UTC on Thursday, 15 February 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Valentine's Day on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm Raveena Standard.
pWotD Episode 2478: Steve Wright (DJ)
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With 441,915 views on Tuesday, 13 February 2024 our article of the day is Steve Wright (DJ).
Stephen Richard Wright (26 August 1954 – 12 February 2024) was an English disc jockey, radio personality, and occasional television presenter, credited with introducing the morning zoo format on British radio, known for its zany, multi-personality approach. He presented Steve Wright in the Afternoon for 12 years on BBC Radio 1 and 23 years on BBC Radio 2, two of the BBC's national radio stations, the latter being the most popular station in the United Kingdom, ending on 30 September 2022. He continued to present his Sunday Love Songs weekend mid-morning show on Radio 2 until his death, and in October 2023, he took over as the host of Pick of the Pops from Paul Gambaccini. On BBC Television Wright hosted Home Truths, The Steve Wright People Show, Auntie's TV Favourites, Top of the Pops and TOTP2. Wright won awards, including Best DJ of the Year as voted by the Daily Mirror Readers Poll and by Smash Hits in 1994. In 1998 he was awarded TRIC Personality of the Year for his radio programmes.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:14 UTC on Wednesday, 14 February 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Steve Wright (DJ) on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
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Until next time, I'm Salli Standard.
pWotD Episode 2477: Usher (musician)
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With 1,595,747 views on Monday, 12 February 2024 our article of the day is Usher (musician).
Usher Raymond IV (born October 14, 1978) is an American singer, songwriter, and dancer. He is widely recognized as an influential figure in contemporary R&B and pop music. Usher first released his self-titled debut album (1994) at the age of 16, and rose to fame in the late 1990s following the release of his second album, My Way (1997). It spawned his first Billboard Hot 100 number-one single "Nice & Slow", and the top-two singles "You Make Me Wanna..." and "My Way". His third album, 8701 (2001) saw continued success and contained two number-one singles, "U Remind Me" and "U Got It Bad", as well as the top-three single "U Don't Have to Call". It sold eight million copies worldwide and won his first two Grammy Awards for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance consecutively in 2002 and 2003.
Confessions (2004) established Usher as one of the best-selling musical artists of the 2000s decade, supported by four consecutive Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles—"Yeah!" (featuring Lil Jon and Ludacris), "Burn", "Confessions Part II", and "My Boo" (with Alicia Keys)—and the top-ten "Caught Up". The album sold over 20 million copies worldwide and received diamond certification by the RIAA. After splitting from his manager and mother in 2007, he released the albums Here I Stand (2008) and Raymond v. Raymond (2010), both of which debuted atop the Billboard 200 chart and spawned the respective number-one singles "Love in This Club" (featuring Young Jeezy) and "OMG" (featuring will.i.am). The latter spawned the single "There Goes My Baby", which won his third Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance.
His debut extended play, Versus (2010) produced the top-five single "DJ Got Us Fallin' in Love" (featuring Pitbull). His seventh album, Looking 4 Myself (2012) likewise debuted atop the chart and saw further electronic production; it spawned the top-ten single "Scream" and top 20 single "Climax"—which received a Grammy Award. His 2014 standalone single, "I Don't Mind" (featuring Juicy J) reached the top-15 of the Billboard Hot 100, and his eighth album, Hard II Love (2016) peaked at number five on the Billboard 200. His ninth album, Coming Home (2024) was released as a first independent project, preceded by the single "Good Good" (with 21 Savage and Summer Walker).
Usher has sold 33 million albums, 81 million digital songs in the United States. Internationally, he has sold 150 million records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling music artists of all time. At the end of 2009, Billboard named him the second most successful artist of the decade, the number-one Hot 100 artist of the decade, and ranked Confessions as the top solo album of the decade. The same magazine placed him at number 6 on their list of "Top 50 R&B/Hip-Hop Artists of the Past 25 Years". In 2023, Rolling Stone magazine named him the 97th greatest singer of all time. Usher has earned 9 number-one singles. Considered an icon and sex symbol, he has been inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame, the Black Music and Entertainment Walk of Fame, SoundExchange Hall of Fame, and the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Usher has won numerous awards and accolades including 8 Grammy Awards, 12 Soul Train Music Awards, 8 American Music Awards and 3 Guinness World Records. With 18 awards, Usher is the fifth-most awarded artist at the Billboard Music Awards. Usher co-founded the record label Raymond-Braun Media Group (RBMG) in a joint venture with talent manager Scooter Braun, which was the first label to sign Canadian singer Justin Bieber in 2008. Outside of music, Usher is acclaimed for involvement in humanitarian causes, having founded the charitable non-profit Usher's New Look in 1999.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:49 UTC on Tuesday, 13 February 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Usher (musician) on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.
Until next time, I'm Emma Standard.
pWotD Episode 2476: Super Bowl LVIII
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With 389,260 views on Sunday, 11 February 2024 our article of the day is Super Bowl LVIII.
Super Bowl LVIII was an American football game that was played to determine the champion of the National Football League (NFL) for the 2023 season. In a rematch of Super Bowl LIV, the American Football Conference (AFC) champion and defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs defeated the National Football Conference (NFC) champion San Francisco 49ers 25–22 in overtime to secure their second consecutive Super Bowl championship and becoming the first team to go back-to-back since the 2004 New England Patriots. The game was played on February 11, 2024, at Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nevada. It was also the second simulcast in Super Bowl history since Super Bowl I. It was the second Super Bowl to go into overtime, the first being Super Bowl LI. This was the first Super Bowl to be held in the state of Nevada. It marked the third straight year that the Super Bowl has been played in the Western United States, following host cities Inglewood, California, in 2022 and Glendale, Arizona, in 2023. The game was televised nationally by CBS, streamed on Paramount+, alternatively broadcast on youth-oriented sister network Nickelodeon, and televised on the Spanish-language network Univision.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 07:20 UTC on Monday, 12 February 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Super Bowl LVIII on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm Aditi Standard.
pWotD Episode 2475: Lunar New Year
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With 350,737 views on Saturday, 10 February 2024 our article of the day is Lunar New Year.
Lunar New Year is the beginning of the new year based on the lunar calendar or lunisolar calendar. Lunar calendars follow the lunar phase while lunisolar calendars follow both the lunar phase and the time of the solar year. The event is celebrated by numerous cultures in various ways at diverse dates.
The more well-known celebrations include New Year's Day (or week) in the Chinese calendar and Tibetan calendar of East Asia; the Buddhist and Hindu calendars of Southeast and South Asia; the Islamic calendar and the Jewish calendar that originated in the Middle East; and the Nisga'a calendar from Canada. The determination of the first month of a new lunar year varies by culture.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:20 UTC on Sunday, 11 February 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Lunar New Year on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
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Until next time, I'm Salli Standard.
pWotD Episode 2474: WrestleMania XL
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With 192,093 views on Friday, 9 February 2024 our article of the day is WrestleMania XL.
WrestleMania XL is the upcoming 40th annual WrestleMania professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) and livestreaming event produced by WWE. It will be held for wrestlers from the promotion's Raw and SmackDown brand divisions. The event is scheduled to be held as a two-night event, taking place on April 6 and 7, 2024, at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
This will be the second WrestleMania to be held in the city of Philadelphia and in the state of Pennsylvania, after WrestleMania XV in 1999. WrestleMania XL will also be the first WrestleMania after the company was sold to Endeavor, the parent company of Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). The sale was finalized in September 2023, with WWE and UFC merging to become divisions of a new entity called TKO Group Holdings, subsequently marking the first WrestleMania under TKO.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 06:14 UTC on Saturday, 10 February 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see WrestleMania XL on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm Matthew Standard.
pWotD Episode 2473: 2024 Pakistani general election
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With 324,530 views on Thursday, 8 February 2024 our article of the day is 2024 Pakistani general election.
General elections were held in Pakistan on 8 February 2024 to elect the members of the 16th National Assembly. The detailed schedule was announced by Election Commission of Pakistan on 15 December 2023.
The two major parties are Pakistan Muslim League (N) (PML-N), led by former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), led by former Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), founded by Imran Khan, was the largest party in the previous elections. However, it is forced to field its candidates as Independents after a controversial Supreme Court ruling stripped them of their electoral symbol in the run-up to the elections.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:55 UTC on Friday, 9 February 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see 2024 Pakistani general election on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.
Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.
Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.
Until next time, I'm Olivia Neural.
pWotD Episode 2472: Africa Cup of Nations
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With 169,381 views on Wednesday, 7 February 2024 our article of the day is Africa Cup of Nations.
The Africa Cup of Nations (French: Coupe d'Afrique des Nations), sometimes referred to as the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations for sponsorship reasons, or simply AFCON or CAN, is the main international men's association football competition in Africa. It is sanctioned by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), and was first held in 1957. Since 1968, it has been held every two years, switching to odd-numbered years in 2013.
In the first tournament in 1957, there were only three participating nations: Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia. South Africa was originally scheduled to join, but was disqualified due to the apartheid policies of the government then in power. Since then, the tournament has expanded greatly, making it necessary to hold a qualifying tournament. The number of participants in the final tournament reached 16 in 1998 (16 teams were to compete in 1996, but Nigeria withdrew, reducing the field to 15, and the same happened with Togo's withdrawal in 2010), and until 2017, the format had been unchanged, with the 16 teams being drawn into four groups of four teams each, with the top two teams of each group advancing to a "knock-out" stage. On 20 July 2017, the Africa Cup of Nations was moved from January to June and expanded from 16 to 24 teams. Egypt is the most successful nation in the cup's history, winning the tournament seven times. Three trophies have been awarded during the tournament's history, with Cameroon five times and Ghana four times. The current trophy was first awarded in 2002. Egypt won an unprecedented three consecutive titles in 2006, 2008, and 2010. In 2013, the tournament format was switched to being held in odd-numbered years so as not to interfere with the FIFA World Cup. Senegal are the tournament's current champions, having beaten Egypt on penalties in the 2021 final.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:05 UTC on Thursday, 8 February 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Africa Cup of Nations on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm Kendra Neural.
pWotD Episode 2471: Toby Keith
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With 1,896,816 views on Tuesday, 6 February 2024 our article of the day is Toby Keith.
Toby Keith Covel (July 8, 1961 – February 5, 2024), known professionally as Toby Keith, was an American country music singer, songwriter, record producer, and actor. In the 1990s, he released his first four studio albums—Toby Keith (1993), Boomtown (1994), Blue Moon (1996) and Dream Walkin' (1997)—and Greatest Hits Volume One under Mercury Records. These albums all earned gold or higher certification and had several top ten singles, including his chart-topping debut "Should've Been a Cowboy".
Signed to DreamWorks Records Nashville in 1998, Keith released his breakthrough single "How Do You Like Me Now?!" in late 1999. This song, the title track to his 1999 album of the same name, was the number one country song of 2000, and one of several chart-toppers during his tenure on DreamWorks Nashville. His next three albums, Pull My Chain, Unleashed, and Shock'n Y'all, produced three more number ones each, and all of the albums were certified 4× Platinum. A second Greatest Hits package followed in 2004, and after that, he released Honkytonk University.
When DreamWorks closed in 2005, Keith founded the label Show Dog Nashville, which merged with Universal South Records to become Show Dog-Universal Music in December 2009. He had released ten studio albums through Show Dog/Show Dog-Universal: 2006's White Trash with Money, 2007's Big Dog Daddy, 2008's That Don't Make Me a Bad Guy, 2009's American Ride, 2010's Bullets in the Gun, 2011's Clancy's Tavern, 2012's Hope on the Rocks, 2013's Drinks After Work, 2015's 35 MPH Town, 2017's The Bus Songs, and 2021's Peso in My Pocket, as well as the compilation 35 Biggest Hits in 2008. Keith also made his acting debut in 2006, starring in the film Broken Bridges, and co-starred with comedian Rodney Carrington in the 2008 film Beer for My Horses, inspired by his song of the same name.
Keith released 19 studio albums, 2 Christmas albums, and 5 compilation albums, totaling worldwide sales of over 40 million albums. He charted 61 singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts, including 20 number one hits and 22 additional top 10 hits. His longest-lasting number one hits are "Beer for My Horses" (a 2003 duet with Willie Nelson) and "As Good as I Once Was" (2005), at six weeks each. Keith was awarded the National Medal of Arts by President Donald Trump in a closed ceremony alongside Ricky Skaggs on January 13, 2021.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:17 UTC on Wednesday, 7 February 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Toby Keith on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm Joey Standard.
pWotD Episode 2470: Tracy Chapman
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With 956,623 views on Monday, 5 February 2024 our article of the day is Tracy Chapman.
Tracy Chapman (born March 30, 1964) is an American singer-songwriter. Chapman is best known for her hit singles "Fast Car" (1988) and "Give Me One Reason" (1995).
She was signed to Elektra Records by Bob Krasnow in 1987. The following year she released her debut album, Tracy Chapman, which became a commercial success, boosted by her appearance at the Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Tribute concert, and was certified 6× Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America. The album received six Grammy Award nominations, including one for Album of the Year, three of which she won: Best New Artist, Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for her single "Fast Car", and Best Contemporary Folk Album. In 1989 she released her second album, Crossroads, which earned her an additional Grammy Award nomination for Best Contemporary Folk Album. Her third album, Matters of the Heart, followed in 1992.
Her fourth album, New Beginning, was released in 1995 and became another worldwide success. It was certified 5× platinum by the RIAA and yielded the hit single "Give Me One Reason", which earned her the Grammy Award for Best Rock Song. Five years would pass before the release of her fifth album, Telling Stories (2000). Let It Rain and Where You Live followed in 2002 and 2005, respectively. Her most recent studio album, Our Bright Future, was released in 2008. The remastered compilation album Greatest Hits, which she curated, was released in 2015. In 2023, she became the first Black woman to score a country number one with a solo composition, and to win the Country Music Association Award for Song of the Year, when Luke Combs covered her song "Fast Car".
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:42 UTC on Tuesday, 6 February 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Tracy Chapman on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm Joanna Standard.
pWotD Episode 2469: Argylle
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With 168,224 views on Sunday, 4 February 2024 our article of the day is Argylle.
Argylle is a 2024 spy action comedy film directed and produced by Matthew Vaughn, and written by Jason Fuchs. The film features an ensemble cast that includes Bryce Dallas Howard, Sam Rockwell, Bryan Cranston, Catherine O'Hara, Henry Cavill, Sofia Boutella, Dua Lipa, Ariana DeBose, John Cena, and Samuel L. Jackson. Its plot centers on a reclusive author who realizes that a new spy novel she is writing mirrors real-world events.
Argylle premiered at Odeon Luxe Leicester Square in London on January 24, 2024, before it was released by Universal Pictures and Apple Original Films in the United Kingdom on February 1, and in the United States the following day. The film received generally negative reviews from critics and has grossed $35 million worldwide.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:47 UTC on Monday, 5 February 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Argylle on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm Kajal Neural.
pWotD Episode 2468: AFC Asian Cup
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With 182,822 views on Saturday, 3 February 2024 our article of the day is AFC Asian Cup.
The AFC Asian Cup is the primary association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), determining the continental champion of Asia. It is the second oldest continental football championship in the world after Copa América. The winning team becomes the champion of Asia and until 2015 qualified for the FIFA Confederations Cup. The Asian Cup was held once every four years from the 1956 AFC Asian Cup in Hong Kong until the 2004 tournament in China. However, since the Summer Olympic Games and the European Football Championship were also scheduled in the same year as the Asian Cup, the AFC decided to move their championship to a less crowded cycle. After 2004, the tournament was next held in 2007, when it was co-hosted by four countries in Southeast Asia: Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam. Thereafter, it has again been held every four years.
The Asian Cup has generally been dominated by a small number of top teams. Prominently successful teams include Japan (four times), Iran, Saudi Arabia (three times each) and South Korea (twice). The other teams which have achieved success are Qatar (2019 current champions), Australia (2015), Iraq (2007) and Kuwait (1980). Israel won in 1964 but was later expelled and has since joined UEFA.
Australia joined the Asian confederation in 2007 and hosted the Asian Cup finals in 2015, winning the competition in the final against South Korea. The 2019 tournament was expanded from 16 teams to 24 teams, with the qualifying process doubling as part of the qualification for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Qatar Airways, state-owned by Qatar, has sponsored the AFC Asian Cup since 2023 as part of Qatar's global soft power strategy.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:44 UTC on Sunday, 4 February 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see AFC Asian Cup on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm Salli Neural.
pWotD Episode 2467: Carl Weathers
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With 1,011,458 views on Friday, 2 February 2024 our article of the day is Carl Weathers.
Carl Weathers (January 14, 1948 – February 1, 2024) was an American actor, director and football linebacker. His roles included boxer Apollo Creed in the first four Rocky films (1976–1985), Colonel Al Dillon in Predator (1987), and Combat Carl in the Toy Story franchise. He also portrayed Det. Beaudreaux in the television series Street Justice (1991–1993) and a fictionalized version of himself in the comedy series Arrested Development (2004, 2013), and voiced Omnitraxus Prime in Star vs. the Forces of Evil (2017–2019). He had a recurring role as Greef Karga in the Star Wars series The Mandalorian (2019–2023), for which he was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series.
Weathers played college football for the San Diego State Aztecs. He signed with the Oakland Raiders of the National Football League (NFL) after going undrafted in the 1970 NFL Draft. After being released by the Raiders, he signed with the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League (CFL).
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 03:08 UTC on Saturday, 3 February 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Carl Weathers on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm Kevin Neural.
pWotD Episode 2466: James Baldwin
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With 388,413 views on Thursday, 1 February 2024 our article of the day is James Baldwin.
James Arthur Baldwin (né Jones; August 2, 1924 – December 1, 1987) was an American writer and civil rights activist. He garnered acclaim for his work across several forms, including essays, novels, plays, and poems. His first novel, Go Tell It on the Mountain, was published in 1953; in 2005, Time magazine included the novel on its list of the 100 best English-language novels released since the year of the Time's first publication in 1923. His first essay collection, Notes of a Native Son, was published in 1955. In Baldwin's fiction, he posed fundamental personal questions and dilemmas amid complex social and psychological pressures. Themes of masculinity, sexuality, race, and class intertwine to create intricate narratives that run parallel with some of the major political movements toward social change in mid-twentieth century America, such as the civil rights movement and the gay liberation movement. Baldwin's protagonists are often but not exclusively African American, and gay and bisexual men frequently feature prominently in his literature. These characters often face internal and external obstacles in their search for self- and social acceptance. Such dynamics are prominent in Baldwin's second novel, Giovanni's Room, which was written in 1956, well before the gay liberation movement. His reputation has endured since his death, and his work has been adapted for the screen to great acclaim. An unfinished manuscript, Remember This House, was expanded and adapted for cinema as the documentary film I Am Not Your Negro (2016), which was nominated for Best Documentary Feature at the 89th Academy Awards. One of his novels, If Beale Street Could Talk, was adapted into the Academy Award–winning film of the same name in 2018. In addition to writing, Baldwin was also a well-known public figure and orator, especially during the civil rights movement in the United States.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:36 UTC on Friday, 2 February 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see James Baldwin on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm Raveena Standard.
pWotD Episode 2465: Chita Rivera
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With 185,019 views on Wednesday, 31 January 2024 our article of the day is Chita Rivera.
Dolores Conchita Figueroa del Rivero Anderson (January 23, 1933 – January 30, 2024), known professionally as Chita Rivera, was an American actress, singer, and dancer. Rivera received numerous accolades including two Tony Awards, two Drama Desk Awards, and a Drama League Award. She was the first Latina and the first Latino American to receive a Kennedy Center Honor in 2002, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2009. She won the Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in 2018.
After making her Broadway debut as a dancer in Guys and Dolls (1950), she went on to originate roles in Broadway musicals such as Anita in West Side Story (1957), Velma Kelly in Chicago (1975), and the title role in Kiss of the Spider Woman (1993). She was a ten-time Tony Award nominee, winning the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical twice for her roles in The Rink (1984) and Kiss of the Spider Woman (1993). She was Tony-nominated for her roles in Bye Bye Birdie (1961), Chicago (1975), Bring Back Birdie (1981), Merlin (1983), Jerry's Girls (1986), Nine (2003), Chita Rivera: The Dancer's Life (2005), and The Visit (2015).
Rivera acted in the film Sweet Charity (1969) and appeared in Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1978), and Tick, Tick... Boom! (2021). She played Connie Richardson in the CBS sitcom The New Dick Van Dyke Show (1973–1974). She also appeared on television in The Judy Garland Show (1963), The Carol Burnett Show (1971), and Will & Grace (2005). Her autobiography, Chita: A Memoir, was published in 2023.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:08 UTC on Thursday, 1 February 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Chita Rivera on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm Arthur Neural.
pWotD Episode 2464: Fighter (2024 film)
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With 198,101 views on Tuesday, 30 January 2024 our article of the day is Fighter (2024 film).
Fighter is a 2024 Indian Hindi-language action film directed by Siddharth Anand, based on a story he wrote with Ramon Chibb. Produced under Viacom18 Studios and Marflix Pictures, the film stars Hrithik Roshan, Deepika Padukone and Anil Kapoor, and serves as the first installment in a planned aerial action franchise. The film was announced on 10 January 2021. The pre-production was delayed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Principal photography finally began in November 2022 with filming proceeding in various schedules across Assam, Hyderabad, Jammu and Kashmir and Mumbai, and wrapped in late-October. Real life Indian Air Force cadets worked for the film. The film has references to 2019 Pulwama attack, 2019 Balakot airstrike and 2019 India–Pakistan border skirmishes. The film's soundtrack album composed by Vishal–Shekhar consists of five songs. Satchith Paulose serves as the film's cinematographer. The visual effects are handled by DNEG.
Fighter was originally scheduled for a theatrical release on 30 September 2023 but was delayed due to production delays. It was theatrically released on 25 January 2024, coinciding with the Republic Day weekend.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:54 UTC on Wednesday, 31 January 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Fighter (2024 film) on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm Olivia Neural.
pWotD Episode 2463: Brock Purdy
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With 506,646 views on Monday, 29 January 2024 our article of the day is Brock Purdy.
Brock Purdy (born December 27, 1999) is an American football quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Iowa State Cyclones and was selected by the 49ers with the final pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, becoming that year's Mr. Irrelevant.
Purdy began his rookie season in the NFL as the third-string quarterback but took over the starting role following injuries to Trey Lance and Jimmy Garoppolo. Winning all five regular-season games he started, he played a key role in the 49ers' ten-game winning streak, securing a division title and an NFC Championship Game appearance. Purdy continued as the 49ers' starting quarterback in the 2023 season, where he led them to a repeat division title and led the league in multiple passing categories en route to Super Bowl LVIII. In addition, he set the franchise's single-season passing yards record and earned his first Pro Bowl nomination.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:06 UTC on Tuesday, 30 January 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Brock Purdy on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm Kendra Neural.
pWotD Episode 2462: Jannik Sinner
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With 841,493 views on Sunday, 28 January 2024 our article of the day is Jannik Sinner.
Jannik Sinner (born 16 August 2001) is an Italian professional tennis player. He has been ranked as high as world No. 4 by the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP), achieved on 2 October 2023, making him the highest ranked Italian male player in history (tied with Adriano Panatta). Sinner is a Grand Slam champion, having won the 2024 Australian Open. He has won a further ten ATP Tour singles titles, including a Masters 1000 title at the 2023 Canadian Open. Sinner also has a career-high ranking of world No. 124 in doubles, achieved on 27 September 2021, and has won one ATP Tour title in doubles. Sinner grew up in northern Italy in the German-speaking region of South Tyrol. He was active in skiing, football, and tennis as a child. After winning a national championship in skiing at age eight, Sinner switched his focus to tennis at age 13 and moved to Bordighera on the Italian Riviera to train with veteran coach Riccardo Piatti. Despite limited success as a junior, Sinner began playing in professional events at age 16 and became one of the few players to win multiple ATP Challenger Tour titles at age 17. He won the ATP Newcomer of the Year award in 2019 after breaking into the top 100 and winning the Next Generation ATP Finals in Milan.
Sinner continued his rise into the top 50 in 2020 with his first top 10 victory, a French Open quarterfinal, and his first ATP Tour title at the 2020 Sofia Open. In 2021, he became the youngest ATP 500 champion at the 2021 Citi Open, was a Masters runner-up at the Miami Open, and became the first player born in the 2000s to enter the top 10 in rankings. After reaching his first major semifinal at the 2023 Wimbledon Championships, Sinner won his first Masters 1000 title at the 2023 Canadian Open. He finished the season by reaching the final of the ATP Finals and leading Italy to win the 2023 Davis Cup title for the first time in 47 years. At the 2024 Australian Open, Sinner defeated world No. 1 Novak Djokovic in the semifinals to reach his first major final, ending Djokovic's undefeated 20–0 (in semifinals or later) Australian Open record. He then defeated Daniil Medvedev in a five-set final, coming back from two sets down to win his first major title.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:41 UTC on Monday, 29 January 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Jannik Sinner on Wikipedia.
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Until next time, I'm Kimberly Neural.
pWotD Episode 2461: Royal Rumble (2024)
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With 356,881 views on Saturday, 27 January 2024 our article of the day is Royal Rumble (2024).
The 2024 Royal Rumble was a professional wrestling event produced by WWE. It was the 37th annual Royal Rumble event and took place on January 27, 2024, at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida. The event was broadcast via pay-per-view and livestreaming, and featured wrestlers from WWE's Raw, SmackDown, and NXT brand divisions.
This was the third Royal Rumble held in the Tampa Bay area (following the 1995 and 2021 events), and the second at Tropicana Field. As the 2021 event was held without an audience under the ThunderDome setup due to the COVID-19 pandemic that year, this was the first Royal Rumble at Tropicana Field to have live fans in attendance.
The event is based around the Royal Rumble match, and the winner traditionally receives a world championship match at that year's WrestleMania. For the 2024 event, the respective men's and women's winners received a choice of which championship to challenge for at WrestleMania XL. The men's winner could choose to challenge for either Raw's World Heavyweight Championship or SmackDown's Undisputed WWE Universal Championship, while the women's winner had the choice between Raw's Women's World Championship and SmackDown's WWE Women's Championship. In the women's Royal Rumble, Bayley, the third entrant, won by last eliminating Liv Morgan, the 30th entrant. In the men's Royal Rumble, which was contested in the main event, 15th entrant Cody Rhodes won by last eliminating CM Punk, the 27th entrant. This made Rhodes the first wrestler since "Stone Cold" Steve Austin in 1998 to win back-to-back Royal Rumble matches, and fourth overall, after Austin (1997 and 1998), Shawn Michaels (1995 and 1996), and Hulk Hogan (1990 and 1991), and subsequently the 10th wrestler to win two Royal Rumble matches overall.
The event marked the WWE in-ring debut of Jade Cargill, who signed with the company in September 2023. It was also notable for an appearance by Total Nonstop Action Wrestling Knockouts World Champion Jordynne Grace, as well as the returns of Naomi, Liv Morgan, Andrade, and Sami Zayn. This was also CM Punk's first WWE televised match since the 2014 Royal Rumble.
In addition to the two Royal Rumble matches, two other matches were contested on the card, which were for SmackDown championships. In the first, Roman Reigns retained the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship in a fatal four-way match against Randy Orton, LA Knight, and AJ Styles, while Logan Paul defeated Kevin Owens by disqualification to retain the WWE United States Championship.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 07:35 UTC on Sunday, 28 January 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Royal Rumble (2024) on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm Brian Neural.
pWotD Episode 2460: Griselda Blanco
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With 692,160 views on Friday, 26 January 2024 our article of the day is Griselda Blanco.
Griselda Blanco Restrepo (February 14, 1943 – September 3, 2012), known as the Black Widow or Cocaine Godmother, was a Colombian drug lord who was prominent in the cocaine-based drug trade and underworld of Miami, US, during the 1970s through the early 2000s, and who has also been claimed by some to have been part of the Medellín Cartel. Blanco was assassinated in Medellín on September 3, 2012, aged 69.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:59 UTC on Saturday, 27 January 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Griselda Blanco on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm Kimberly Standard.
pWotD Episode 2459: Republic Day (India)
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With 351,940 views on Thursday, 25 January 2024 our article of the day is Republic Day (India).
Republic Day is the day when the Republic of India marks and celebrates the date on which the Constitution of India came into effect on 26 January 1950. This replaced the Government of India Act 1935 as the governing document of India, thus turning the nation from a dominion into a republic separate from British Raj. The constitution was adopted by the Indian Constituent Assembly on 26 November 1949 and came into effect on 26 January 1950. 26 January was chosen as the date for Republic Day as it was on the date of 1930 when the Declaration of Indian Independence was proclaimed by the Indian National Congress.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:37 UTC on Friday, 26 January 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Republic Day (India) on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm Kajal Neural.
pWotD Episode 2458: 2023 Africa Cup of Nations
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With 202,858 views on Wednesday, 24 January 2024 our article of the day is 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
The 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, known in short as the 2023 AFCON or CAN 2023 and for sponsorship purposes as the TotalEnergies 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, is the ongoing 34th edition of the biennial African association football tournament organised by Confederation of African Football. It is hosted by Ivory Coast, the second time it has done so having hosted the 1984 tournament.
This edition of the tournament was initially planned to take place in summer 2023, making it the third since 2019 to take place during the Northern Hemisphere's summer, in order to reduce scheduling conflicts with European club teams and competitions. However in July 2022 it was postponed by CAF to 13 January – 11 February 2024 due to the concerns about the summer weather in Ivory Coast. The competition retained the original name for sponsorship purposes. This followed the 2021 edition in Cameroon also being moved to the Northern Hemisphere's winter season for similar reasons. Senegal are the defending champions.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:36 UTC on Thursday, 25 January 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see 2023 Africa Cup of Nations on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm Matthew Standard.
pWotD Episode 2457: 96th Academy Awards
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With 316,664 views on Tuesday, 23 January 2024 our article of the day is 96th Academy Awards.
The 96th Academy Awards is an upcoming ceremony, presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), which will honor the best films of 2023, and is expected to take place at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, on March 10, 2024. The ceremony, to be televised in the United States by ABC, will be produced by Raj Kapoor and Katy Mullan, with Hamish Hamilton serving as director. Comedian Jimmy Kimmel will host the show for the fourth time, following the 2017, 2018 and 2023 ceremonies. The nominations were announced on January 23, 2024. Oppenheimer led with 13 nominations, followed by Poor Things and Killers of the Flower Moon with 11 and 10, respectively.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:41 UTC on Wednesday, 24 January 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see 96th Academy Awards on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm Olivia Neural.
pWotD Episode 2456: Ram Mandir
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With 575,427 views on Monday, 22 January 2024 our article of the day is Ram Mandir.
The Ram Mandir is a Hindu temple under construction in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, India. It is located at the site of Ram Janmabhoomi, the hypothesized birthplace of Rama, a principal deity of Hinduism. The site is the former location of the Babri Masjid which was built in 16th century CE. The idols of Rama and Sita were placed in the mosque in 1949, before it was attacked and demolished in 1992. In 2019, the Supreme Court of India delivered the verdict to give the disputed land to Hindus for construction of a temple, while Muslims would be given land elsewhere to construct a mosque. The court referenced a report from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) as evidence suggesting the presence of a structure beneath the demolished Babri Masjid, that was found to be non-Islamic. On 5 August 2020, the Bhumi Pujan (transl. ground breaking ceremony) for the commencement of the construction of Ram Mandir was performed by Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India. The temple, currently under construction, is being supervised by the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. On 22 January 2024, Modi served as the Mukhya Yajman (transl. chief patron) of rituals for the event and performed the Prana Pratishtha (transl. consecration) of Ram Lalla. The Prana Pratishtha ceremony was organised by the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra. The temple has attracted a number of controversies due to alleged misuse of donation, sidelining of its major activists and politicisation of the temple by the Bharatiya Janata Party.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:07 UTC on Tuesday, 23 January 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Ram Mandir on Wikipedia.
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Until next time, I'm Salli Neural.
pWotD Episode 2455: Shoaib Malik
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With 275,171 views on Sunday, 21 January 2024 our article of the day is Shoaib Malik.
Shoaib Malik (pronounced [ʃoeːb məlɪk]; born 1 February 1982) is a Pakistani cricketer who plays for the Pakistan national cricket team and currently plays for Karachi Kings in the Pakistan Super League (PSL). He was the captain of the Pakistan national cricket team from 2007 to 2009. He made his One-Day International debut in 1999 against the West Indies and his Test debut in 2001 against Bangladesh. On 3 November 2015, Malik announced his retirement from Test cricket to focus on the 2019 Cricket World Cup. On 2 July 2018, he became the first male cricketer to play 100 T20Is. On 5 July 2019, he announced his retirement from One Day International Cricket after Pakistan won their last group stage game against Bangladesh at Lord's at the 2019 Cricket World Cup. Malik was a member of the Pakistan team that won the 2009 ICC World Twenty20.
He has taken over 150 ODI wickets and has a batting average in the mid-30s in both Test and ODI cricket. His bowling action has come under scrutiny (particularly his doosra), but he has had elbow surgery to correct that. Malik was ranked second, behind teammate Shahid Afridi, in the ICC ODI all-rounder rankings in June 2008. In March 2010, Malik received a one-year ban from international cricket from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB); the ban was overturned two months later. Malik was captain of the now defunct Sialkot Stallions and led them to a domestic record eight domestic T20 titles, with the last one coming in 2015. On 13 September 2017, Malik became the highest run–scorer in T20I for Pakistan.
He made 126 runs against India in the 2009 ICC Champions Trophy.
In April 2018, he was named as the captain of Punjab's squad for the 2018 Pakistan Cup. On 1 July 2018, Malik also became the first Asian batsman to score 2,000 runs in T20Is, the third overall, and first player to play 100 T20Is in the world. In August 2018, during the 2018 Caribbean Premier League tournament, he became the fourth batsman to score 8,000 runs in T20s. On 10 October 2020, in the 2020–21 National T20 Cup, Shoaib Malik became the first Pakistani batsman to score 10,000 runs in Twenty20 cricket, doing so in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's match against Balochistan. In February 2023, while playing for the Rangpur Riders in the 2022–23 Bangladesh Premier League, he became the third cricketer (after Kieron Pollard and Dwayne Bravo from the West Indies) and the first Pakistani to play 500 T20 matches.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:47 UTC on Monday, 22 January 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Shoaib Malik on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm Niamh Neural.
pWotD Episode 2454: Sana Javed
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With 586,740 views on Saturday, 20 January 2024 our article of the day is Sana Javed.
Sana Javed (Urdu: ثنا جاوید, born 6 June 1993) is a Pakistani actress who appears on Urdu television. She made her debut in the 2012 with Shehr-e-Zaat and later on appeared in several serials. She received recognition after portraying the titular role in the romantic drama Khaani for which she received a nomination at the Lux Style Awards. Javed gained praise for her social based dramas Ruswai and Dunk and the former earned her the PISA Award for Best Actress Critics.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:43 UTC on Sunday, 21 January 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Sana Javed on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm Joey Neural.
pWotD Episode 2453: 2023 AFC Asian Cup
Welcome to popular Wiki of the Day where we read the summary of a popular Wikipedia page every day.
With 188,764 views on Friday, 19 January 2024 our article of the day is 2023 AFC Asian Cup.
The 2023 AFC Asian Cup is the current 18th edition of the AFC Asian Cup, the quadrennial international football tournament organised by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). It involves 24 national teams after expansion in 2019, with Qatar the defending champions. On 17 October 2022, the AFC announced that the tournament will be held in Qatar, replacing original hosts China. Due to the high summer temperatures and Qatar's participation in the 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup, the tournament was postponed to 12 January – 10 February 2024, while retaining the original name for both existing sponsorship and logistical purposes.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:08 UTC on Saturday, 20 January 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see 2023 AFC Asian Cup on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm Joanna Neural.
pWotD Episode 2452: Australian Open
Welcome to popular Wiki of the Day where we read the summary of a popular Wikipedia page every day.
With 174,914 views on Thursday, 18 January 2024 our article of the day is Australian Open.
The Australian Open is a tennis tournament held annually at Melbourne Park in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The tournament is the first of the four Grand Slam tennis events held each year, preceding the French Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open. The Australian Open starts in the middle of January and continues for two weeks coinciding with the Australia Day holiday. It features men's and women's singles; men's, women's, and mixed doubles; junior's championships; and wheelchair, legends, and exhibition events. Until 1987, it was played on grass courts, but since then two types of hardcourt surfaces have been used: green-coloured Rebound Ace up to 2007 and blue Plexicushion since 2008. First held in 1905 as the Australasian championships, the Australian Open has grown to become one of the biggest sporting events in the Southern Hemisphere. Nicknamed "the happy slam", the Australian Open is the highest attended Grand Slam event, with more than 902,000 people attending the 2023 tournament. It was also the first Grand Slam tournament to feature indoor play during wet weather or extreme heat with its three primary courts, Rod Laver Arena, John Cain Arena and the refurbished Margaret Court Arena equipped with retractable roofs.
The Australian Open features men's and women's singles, men's and women's doubles, mixed doubles, and wheelchair competitions. It is played on hard courts and is known for its fast-paced and aggressive style of play. The tournament has a long history dating back to 1905 and has been held at the Melbourne Park complex since 1988. The Australian Open is a major contributor to the Victorian economy; the 2020 Australian Open injected $387.7 million into the state's economy, while over the preceding decade the Australian Open had contributed more than $2.71 billion in economic benefits to Victoria and generated 1775 jobs for the state, with these jobs being predominantly in the accommodation, hotels, cafés and trade services sectors.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:52 UTC on Friday, 19 January 2024.
For the full current version of the article, see Australian Open on Wikipedia.
This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Until next time, I'm Justin Standard.
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Episode 1911: With 289193 views on Tuesday, 26 July 2022 our article of the day is Tony Dow.
Episode 1910: With 328299 views on Monday, 25 July 2022 our article of the day is Paul Sorvino.
Episode 1909: With 369370 views on Sunday, 24 July 2022 our article of the day is Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.
Episode 1908: With 365874 views on Saturday, 23 July 2022 our article of the day is The Gray Man (2022 film).
Episode 1907: With 299073 views on Friday, 22 July 2022 our article of the day is Nope (film).
Episode 1906: With 631234 views on Thursday, 21 July 2022 our article of the day is Droupadi Murmu.
Episode 1905: With 273686 views on Wednesday, 20 July 2022 our article of the day is Liz Truss.
Episode 1904: With 186612 views on Tuesday, 19 July 2022 our article of the day is Balamani Amma.
Episode 1903: With 394188 views on Monday, 18 July 2022 our article of the day is Jennifer Lopez.
Episode 1902: With 223498 views on Sunday, 17 July 2022 our article of the day is Rory McIlroy.
Episode 1901: With 162613 views on Saturday, 16 July 2022 our article of the day is Rishi Sunak.
Episode 1900: With 431225 views on Friday, 15 July 2022 our article of the day is Lalit Modi.
Episode 1899: With 777494 views on Thursday, 14 July 2022 our article of the day is Ivana Trump.
Episode 1898: With 528656 views on Wednesday, 13 July 2022 our article of the day is Penny Mordaunt.
Episode 1897: With 321523 views on Tuesday, 12 July 2022 our article of the day is James Webb Space Telescope.
Episode 1896: With 116837 views on Monday, 11 July 2022 our article of the day is YouTube.
Episode 1895: With 520025 views on Sunday, 10 July 2022 our article of the day is Novak Djokovic.
Episode 1894: With 490659 views on Saturday, 9 July 2022 our article of the day is Thor: Love and Thunder.
Episode 1893: With 3006615 views on Friday, 8 July 2022 our article of the day is Shinzo Abe.
Episode 1892: With 1055293 views on Thursday, 7 July 2022 our article of the day is James Caan.
Episode 1891: With 490544 views on Wednesday, 6 July 2022 our article of the day is Georgia Guidestones.
Episode 1890: With 212192 views on Tuesday, 5 July 2022 our article of the day is Jannik Sinner.
Episode 1889: With 249770 views on Monday, 4 July 2022 our article of the day is Independence Day (United States).
Episode 1888: With 408135 views on Sunday, 3 July 2022 our article of the day is Money in the Bank (2022).
Episode 1887: With 277382 views on Saturday, 2 July 2022 our article of the day is Nick Kyrgios.
Episode 1886: With 201537 views on Friday, 1 July 2022 our article of the day is Cameron Norrie.
Episode 1885: With 343698 views on Thursday, 30 June 2022 our article of the day is Eknath Shinde.
Episode 1884: With 275845 views on Wednesday, 29 June 2022 our article of the day is Cassidy Hutchinson.
Episode 1883: With 276150 views on Tuesday, 28 June 2022 our article of the day is Mary Mara.
Episode 1882: With 169545 views on Monday, 27 June 2022 our article of the day is AEW x NJPW: Forbidden Door.
Episode 1881: With 211638 views on Sunday, 26 June 2022 our article of the day is Elvis Presley.
Episode 1880: With 273901 views on Saturday, 25 June 2022 our article of the day is Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization.
Episode 1879: With 450387 views on Friday, 24 June 2022 our article of the day is 2022 NBA draft.
Episode 1878: With 198823 views on Thursday, 23 June 2022 our article of the day is The Umbrella Academy (TV series).
Episode 1877: With 188341 views on Wednesday, 22 June 2022 our article of the day is Tony Siragusa.
Episode 1876: With 509652 views on Tuesday, 21 June 2022 our article of the day is Draupadi Murmu.
Episode 1875: With 136568 views on Monday, 20 June 2022 our article of the day is Lightyear (film).
Episode 1874: With 435745 views on Sunday, 19 June 2022 our article of the day is Juneteenth.
Episode 1873: With 429734 views on Saturday, 18 June 2022 our article of the day is Ștefania Mărăcineanu.
Episode 1872: With 660691 views on Friday, 17 June 2022 our article of the day is Stephen Curry.
Episode 1871: With 589901 views on Thursday, 16 June 2022 our article of the day is Codename: Kids Next Door.
Episode 1870: With 188465 views on Wednesday, 15 June 2022 our article of the day is Brahmāstra (film).
Episode 1869: With 188852 views on Tuesday, 14 June 2022 our article of the day is Alfie (Lily Allen song).
Episode 1868: With 124606 views on Monday, 13 June 2022 our article of the day is Erling Haaland.
Episode 1867: With 205533 views on Sunday, 12 June 2022 our article of the day is Hustle (2022 film).
Episode 1866: With 191751 views on Saturday, 11 June 2022 our article of the day is Warren Jeffs.
Episode 1865: With 2374851 views on Friday, 10 June 2022 our article of the day is Nandamuri Balakrishna.
Episode 1864: With 253815 views on Thursday, 9 June 2022 our article of the day is Jurassic World Dominion.
Episode 1863: With 269447 views on Wednesday, 8 June 2022 our article of the day is Matthew McConaughey.
Episode 1862: With 167519 views on Tuesday, 7 June 2022 our article of the day is Stranger Things.
Episode 1861: With 404145 views on Monday, 6 June 2022 our article of the day is Angelo Moriondo.
Episode 1860: With 440803 views on Sunday, 5 June 2022 our article of the day is Rafael Nadal.
Episode 1859: With 645985 views on Saturday, 4 June 2022 our article of the day is Kiyoshi Kuromiya.
Episode 1858: With 312040 views on Friday, 3 June 2022 our article of the day is Vikram (2022 film).
Episode 1857: With 351208 views on Thursday, 2 June 2022 our article of the day is Elizabeth II.
Episode 1856: With 262056 views on Wednesday, 1 June 2022 our article of the day is Obi-Wan Kenobi (TV series).
Episode 1855: With 738429 views on Tuesday, 31 May 2022 our article of the day is KK (singer).
Episode 1854: With 2170267 views on Monday, 30 May 2022 our article of the day is Paresh Rawal.
Episode 1853: With 1213322 views on Sunday, 29 May 2022 our article of the day is Sidhu Moose Wala.
Episode 1852: With 343358 views on Saturday, 28 May 2022 our article of the day is Top Gun: Maverick.
Episode 1851: With 433858 views on Friday, 27 May 2022 our article of the day is Stranger Things (season 4).
Episode 1850: With 1978159 views on Thursday, 26 May 2022 our article of the day is Ray Liotta.
Episode 1849: With 1702270 views on Wednesday, 25 May 2022 our article of the day is Karan Johar.
Episode 1848: With 874820 views on Tuesday, 24 May 2022 our article of the day is Kagiso Rabada.
Episode 1847: With 191876 views on Monday, 23 May 2022 our article of the day is Travis Barker.
Episode 1846: With 796598 views on Sunday, 22 May 2022 our article of the day is The Great Gama.
Episode 1845: With 378110 views on Saturday, 21 May 2022 our article of the day is Anthony Albanese.
Episode 1844: With 207878 views on Friday, 20 May 2022 our article of the day is Ellen Barkin.
Episode 1843: With 212057 views on Thursday, 19 May 2022 our article of the day is Monkeypox.
Episode 1842: With 254375 views on Wednesday, 18 May 2022 our article of the day is Madison Cawthorn.
Episode 1841: With 134756 views on Tuesday, 17 May 2022 our article of the day is Cleopatra.
Episode 1840: With 278620 views on Monday, 16 May 2022 our article of the day is 2022 Buffalo shooting.
Episode 1839: With 575558 views on Sunday, 15 May 2022 our article of the day is Andrew Symonds.
Episode 1838: With 721055 views on Saturday, 14 May 2022 our article of the day is Mika (singer).
Episode 1837: With 377712 views on Friday, 13 May 2022 our article of the day is Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
Episode 1836: With 156017 views on Thursday, 12 May 2022 our article of the day is Naomi Judd.
Episode 1835: With 129182 views on Wednesday, 11 May 2022 our article of the day is Shireen Abu Akleh.
Episode 1834: With 192434 views on Tuesday, 10 May 2022 our article of the day is Eurovision Song Contest 2022.
Episode 1833: With 288762 views on Monday, 9 May 2022 our article of the day is 2022 Philippine presidential election.
Episode 1832: With 561575 views on Sunday, 8 May 2022 our article of the day is Dmitry Bivol.
Episode 1831: With 140110 views on Saturday, 7 May 2022 our article of the day is Mother's Day.
Episode 1830: With 242676 views on Friday, 6 May 2022 our article of the day is Karine Jean-Pierre.
Episode 1829: With 609948 views on Thursday, 5 May 2022 our article of the day is Cinco de Mayo.
Episode 1828: With 578503 views on Wednesday, 4 May 2022 our article of the day is Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
Episode 1827: With 1055872 views on Tuesday, 3 May 2022 our article of the day is Roe v. Wade.
Episode 1826: With 421846 views on Monday, 2 May 2022 our article of the day is Elijah McCoy.
Episode 1825: With 241467 views on Sunday, 1 May 2022 our article of the day is Ashley Judd.
Episode 1824: With 197397 views on Saturday, 30 April 2022 our article of the day is Monokini.
Episode 1823: With 490612 views on Friday, 29 April 2022 our article of the day is 2022 NFL Draft.
Episode 1822: With 219037 views on Thursday, 28 April 2022 our article of the day is Olivia Wilde.
Episode 1821: With 189724 views on Wednesday, 27 April 2022 our article of the day is Moon Knight (TV series).
Episode 1820: With 163607 views on Tuesday, 26 April 2022 our article of the day is Flakpanzer Gepard.
Episode 1819: With 186736 views on Monday, 25 April 2022 our article of the day is Twitter.
Episode 1818: With 201427 views on Sunday, 24 April 2022 our article of the day is Emmanuel Macron.
Episode 1817: With 309084 views on Saturday, 23 April 2022 our article of the day is Tyson Fury.
Episode 1816: With 278875 views on Friday, 22 April 2022 our article of the day is Climate change.
Episode 1815: With 240509 views on Thursday, 21 April 2022 our article of the day is John Wayne Gacy.
Episode 1814: With 572913 views on Wednesday, 20 April 2022 our article of the day is Amber Heard.
Episode 1813: With 327853 views on Tuesday, 19 April 2022 our article of the day is Johnny Depp.
Episode 1812: With 287060 views on Monday, 18 April 2022 our article of the day is Cristiano Ronaldo.
Episode 1811: With 235789 views on Sunday, 17 April 2022 our article of the day is Easter.
Episode 1810: With 191864 views on Saturday, 16 April 2022 our article of the day is Alia Bhatt.
Episode 1809: With 853510 views on Friday, 15 April 2022 our article of the day is K.G.F: Chapter 2.
Episode 1808: With 875764 views on Thursday, 14 April 2022 our article of the day is Russian cruiser Moskva.
Episode 1807: With 241149 views on Wednesday, 13 April 2022 our article of the day is Beast (2022 film).
Episode 1806: With 1039245 views on Tuesday, 12 April 2022 our article of the day is Gilbert Gottfried.
Episode 1805: With 336932 views on Monday, 11 April 2022 our article of the day is Nelson Peltz.
Episode 1804: With 265945 views on Sunday, 10 April 2022 our article of the day is 2022 French presidential election.
Episode 1803: With 726226 views on Saturday, 9 April 2022 our article of the day is Dwayne Haskins.
Episode 1802: With 127468 views on Friday, 8 April 2022 our article of the day is Tiger Woods.
Episode 1801: With 259711 views on Thursday, 7 April 2022 our article of the day is Jimmy Savile.
Episode 1800: With 184869 views on Wednesday, 6 April 2022 our article of the day is Bobby Rydell.
Episode 1799: With 189840 views on Tuesday, 5 April 2022 our article of the day is Elon Musk.
Episode 1798: With 518931 views on Monday, 4 April 2022 our article of the day is Jon Batiste.
Episode 1797: With 2186667 views on Sunday, 3 April 2022 our article of the day is Gay.
Episode 1796: With 310921 views on Saturday, 2 April 2022 our article of the day is WrestleMania 38.
Episode 1795: With 620150 views on Friday, 1 April 2022 our article of the day is 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Episode 1794: With 298059 views on Thursday, 31 March 2022 our article of the day is Morbius (film).
Episode 1793: With 461666 views on Wednesday, 30 March 2022 our article of the day is Bruce Willis.
Episode 1792: With 566176 views on Tuesday, 29 March 2022 our article of the day is Will Smith.
Episode 1791: With 1761821 views on Monday, 28 March 2022 our article of the day is Jada Pinkett Smith.
Episode 1790: With 288781 views on Sunday, 27 March 2022 our article of the day is Bridgerton.
Episode 1789: With 2288584 views on Saturday, 26 March 2022 our article of the day is Taylor Hawkins.
Episode 1788: With 483747 views on Friday, 25 March 2022 our article of the day is RRR (film).
Episode 1787: With 186158 views on Thursday, 24 March 2022 our article of the day is 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification.
Episode 1786: With 452670 views on Wednesday, 23 March 2022 our article of the day is Madeleine Albright.
Episode 1785: With 266672 views on Tuesday, 22 March 2022 our article of the day is Ketanji Brown Jackson.
Episode 1784: With 159354 views on Monday, 21 March 2022 our article of the day is Pat Riley.
Episode 1783: With 213196 views on Sunday, 20 March 2022 our article of the day is Nowruz.
Episode 1782: With 200066 views on Saturday, 19 March 2022 our article of the day is Deep Water (2022 film).
Episode 1781: With 218915 views on Friday, 18 March 2022 our article of the day is Murder of Samantha Josephson.
Episode 1780: With 465072 views on Thursday, 17 March 2022 our article of the day is Saint Patrick's Day.
Episode 1779: With 433501 views on Wednesday, 16 March 2022 our article of the day is Rosa Bonheur.
Episode 1778: With 789793 views on Tuesday, 15 March 2022 our article of the day is Scott Hall.
Episode 1777: With 483969 views on Monday, 14 March 2022 our article of the day is The Kashmir Files.
Episode 1776: With 581432 views on Sunday, 13 March 2022 our article of the day is William Hurt.
Episode 1775: With 323151 views on Saturday, 12 March 2022 our article of the day is Turning Red.
Episode 1774: With 252919 views on Friday, 11 March 2022 our article of the day is Cynthia Ann Parker.
Episode 1773: With 421500 views on Thursday, 10 March 2022 our article of the day is 2017 Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly election.
Episode 1772: With 294720 views on Wednesday, 9 March 2022 our article of the day is Ernest Shackleton.
Episode 1771: With 473702 views on Tuesday, 8 March 2022 our article of the day is International Women's Day.
Episode 1770: With 244845 views on Monday, 7 March 2022 our article of the day is Revolution (2022).
Episode 1769: With 322445 views on Sunday, 6 March 2022 our article of the day is Mike Krzyzewski.
Episode 1768: With 152486 views on Saturday, 5 March 2022 our article of the day is Member states of NATO.
Episode 1767: With 1359583 views on Friday, 4 March 2022 our article of the day is Shane Warne.
Episode 1766: With 247708 views on Thursday, 3 March 2022 our article of the day is Russian oligarch.
Episode 1765: With 312190 views on Wednesday, 2 March 2022 our article of the day is The Batman (film).
Episode 1764: With 806628 views on Tuesday, 1 March 2022 our article of the day is Thermobaric weapon.
Episode 1763: With 330527 views on Monday, 28 February 2022 our article of the day is NATO.
Episode 1762: With 673088 views on Sunday, 27 February 2022 our article of the day is Russo-Ukrainian War.
Episode 1761: With 1422247 views on Saturday, 26 February 2022 our article of the day is Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Episode 1760: With 1471939 views on Friday, 25 February 2022 our article of the day is Vladimir Putin.
Episode 1759: With 2095287 views on Thursday, 24 February 2022 our article of the day is 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Episode 1758: With 340729 views on Wednesday, 23 February 2022 our article of the day is Mark Lanegan.
Episode 1757: With 612920 views on Tuesday, 22 February 2022 our article of the day is Ukraine.
Episode 1756: With 536258 views on Monday, 21 February 2022 our article of the day is Jamal Edwards.
Episode 1755: With 192607 views on Sunday, 20 February 2022 our article of the day is The King's Man.
Episode 1754: With 437956 views on Saturday, 19 February 2022 our article of the day is Elimination Chamber (2022).
Episode 1753: With 128455 views on Friday, 18 February 2022 our article of the day is Kamila Valieva.
Episode 1752: With 370155 views on Thursday, 17 February 2022 our article of the day is Donald Trump.
Episode 1751: With 652881 views on Wednesday, 16 February 2022 our article of the day is Bappi Lahiri.
Episode 1750: With 161547 views on Tuesday, 15 February 2022 our article of the day is Eminem.
Episode 1749: With 778299 views on Monday, 14 February 2022 our article of the day is Dr. Dre.
Episode 1748: With 383056 views on Sunday, 13 February 2022 our article of the day is Joe Burrow.
Episode 1747: With 197325 views on Saturday, 12 February 2022 our article of the day is Simon Leviev.
Episode 1746: With 218084 views on Friday, 11 February 2022 our article of the day is Anna Sorokin.
Episode 1745: With 429555 views on Thursday, 10 February 2022 our article of the day is Nathan Chen.
Episode 1744: With 332241 views on Wednesday, 9 February 2022 our article of the day is Toni Stone.
Episode 1743: With 556119 views on Tuesday, 8 February 2022 our article of the day is Eileen Gu.
Episode 1742: With 260523 views on Monday, 7 February 2022 our article of the day is Euphoria (American TV series).
Episode 1741: With 2347336 views on Sunday, 6 February 2022 our article of the day is Lata Mangeshkar.
Episode 1740: With 205732 views on Saturday, 5 February 2022 our article of the day is Alan Ritchson.
Episode 1739: With 269403 views on Friday, 4 February 2022 our article of the day is 2022 Winter Olympics.
Episode 1738: With 338413 views on Thursday, 3 February 2022 our article of the day is Pamela Anderson.
Episode 1737: With 293279 views on Wednesday, 2 February 2022 our article of the day is Groundhog Day.
Episode 1736: With 309949 views on Tuesday, 1 February 2022 our article of the day is Tom Brady.
Episode 1735: With 721553 views on Monday, 31 January 2022 our article of the day is Justin Trudeau.
Episode 1734: With 1214867 views on Sunday, 30 January 2022 our article of the day is Royal Rumble (2022).
Episode 1733: With 589406 views on Saturday, 29 January 2022 our article of the day is Ashleigh Barty.
Episode 1732: With 148963 views on Friday, 28 January 2022 our article of the day is Rafael Nadal.
Episode 1731: With 172422 views on Thursday, 27 January 2022 our article of the day is Barry Cryer.
Episode 1730: With 303838 views on Wednesday, 26 January 2022 our article of the day is Stephen Breyer.
Episode 1729: With 224118 views on Tuesday, 25 January 2022 our article of the day is Republic Day (India).
Episode 1728: With 366978 views on Monday, 24 January 2022 our article of the day is Josh Allen (quarterback).
Episode 1727: With 263771 views on Sunday, 23 January 2022 our article of the day is Jimmy Garoppolo.
Episode 1726: With 300984 views on Saturday, 22 January 2022 our article of the day is Louie Anderson.
Episode 1725: With 2226708 views on Friday, 21 January 2022 our article of the day is Meat Loaf.
Episode 1724: With 135986 views on Thursday, 20 January 2022 our article of the day is 2021 Africa Cup of Nations.
Episode 1723: With 453689 views on Wednesday, 19 January 2022 our article of the day is Gaspard Ulliel.
Episode 1722: With 690673 views on Tuesday, 18 January 2022 our article of the day is Moon Knight.
Episode 1721: With 298215 views on Monday, 17 January 2022 our article of the day is Ben Roethlisberger.
Episode 1720: With 255753 views on Sunday, 16 January 2022 our article of the day is Aafia Siddiqui.
Episode 1719: With 188011 views on Saturday, 15 January 2022 our article of the day is Scream (2022 film).
Episode 1718: With 216997 views on Friday, 14 January 2022 our article of the day is Prince Andrew, Duke of York.
Episode 1717: With 465603 views on Thursday, 13 January 2022 our article of the day is Ronnie Spector.
Episode 1716: With 154108 views on Wednesday, 12 January 2022 our article of the day is Swami Vivekananda.
Episode 1715: With 192397 views on Tuesday, 11 January 2022 our article of the day is Robert Durst.
Episode 1714: With 4106650 views on Monday, 10 January 2022 our article of the day is Bob Saget.
Episode 1713: With 181301 views on Sunday, 9 January 2022 our article of the day is Pushpa: The Rise.
Episode 1712: With 377726 views on Saturday, 8 January 2022 our article of the day is Sinéad O'Connor.
Episode 1711: With 1064940 views on Friday, 7 January 2022 our article of the day is Sidney Poitier.
Episode 1710: With 245311 views on Thursday, 6 January 2022 our article of the day is Pepper's ghost.
Episode 1709: With 305984 views on Wednesday, 5 January 2022 our article of the day is Igor and Grichka Bogdanoff.
Episode 1708: With 507579 views on Tuesday, 4 January 2022 our article of the day is Elizabeth Holmes.
Episode 1707: With 469281 views on Monday, 3 January 2022 our article of the day is Antonio Brown.
Episode 1706: With 365295 views on Sunday, 2 January 2022 our article of the day is WWE Day 1.
Episode 1705: With 441665 views on Saturday, 1 January 2022 our article of the day is New Year's Day.
Episode 1704: With 3691754 views on Friday, 31 December 2021 our article of the day is Betty White.
Episode 1703: With 417432 views on Thursday, 30 December 2021 our article of the day is Ghislaine Maxwell.
Episode 1702: With 1425124 views on Wednesday, 29 December 2021 our article of the day is John Madden.
Episode 1701: With 163868 views on Tuesday, 28 December 2021 our article of the day is Encanto (film).
Episode 1700: With 224324 views on Monday, 27 December 2021 our article of the day is Desmond Tutu.
Episode 1699: With 430496 views on Sunday, 26 December 2021 our article of the day is Boxing Day.
Episode 1698: With 372283 views on Saturday, 25 December 2021 our article of the day is James Webb Space Telescope.
Episode 1697: With 240227 views on Friday, 24 December 2021 our article of the day is Don't Look Up (2021 film).
Episode 1696: With 183257 views on Thursday, 23 December 2021 our article of the day is The Matrix.
Episode 1695: With 251235 views on Wednesday, 22 December 2021 our article of the day is Hawkeye (2021 TV series).
Episode 1694: With 202934 views on Tuesday, 21 December 2021 our article of the day is The Matrix Resurrections.
Episode 1693: With 198557 views on Monday, 20 December 2021 our article of the day is Gabriel Boric.
Episode 1692: With 304188 views on Sunday, 19 December 2021 our article of the day is Jake Paul.
Episode 1691: With 326594 views on Saturday, 18 December 2021 our article of the day is The Witcher (TV series).
Episode 1690: With 262721 views on Friday, 17 December 2021 our article of the day is Émilie du Châtelet.
Episode 1689: With 251305 views on Thursday, 16 December 2021 our article of the day is Julia Butterfly Hill.
Episode 1688: With 189297 views on Wednesday, 15 December 2021 our article of the day is Sergio Agüero.
Episode 1687: With 681959 views on Tuesday, 14 December 2021 our article of the day is Spider-Man: No Way Home.
Episode 1686: With 623537 views on Monday, 13 December 2021 our article of the day is Miss Universe 2021.
Episode 1685: With 419479 views on Sunday, 12 December 2021 our article of the day is Max Verstappen.
Episode 1684: With 286356 views on Saturday, 11 December 2021 our article of the day is Michael Nesmith.
Episode 1683: With 839109 views on Friday, 10 December 2021 our article of the day is Demaryius Thomas.
Episode 1682: With 678521 views on Thursday, 9 December 2021 our article of the day is Katrina Kaif.
Episode 1681: With 1913753 views on Wednesday, 8 December 2021 our article of the day is Bipin Rawat.
Episode 1680: With 214435 views on Tuesday, 7 December 2021 our article of the day is Vicky Kaushal.