Welcome to Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026! Today marks the 24th day of the year, with 341 days still ahead of us.
Today in history:
On this day in 2011, a tragic event unfolded as a suicide bomber struck Moscow’s busiest airport, claiming the lives of 37 individuals. The responsibility for this attack was claimed by Chechen separatists.
Additional historical events on Jan. 24:
In 1835, a significant slave rebellion erupted in Bahia, Brazil, resulting in the deaths of numerous enslaved individuals during clashes with authorities and armed civilians in the capital city of Salvador. This uprising played a pivotal role in the eventual abolition of slavery in the country.
In 1848, James W. Marshall made a momentous discovery of a gold nugget at Sutter’s Mill in northern California, sparking the famous California gold rush.
In 1945, Associated Press war correspondent Joseph Morton was among a group of captives executed by German soldiers at the Mauthausen-Gusen concentration camp in Austria.
In 1965, the world bid farewell to Winston Churchill as he passed away in London at the age of 90.
In 1978, a nuclear-powered Soviet satellite known as Kosmos 954 disintegrated upon re-entering Earth’s atmosphere, scattering radioactive debris over parts of northern Canada.
In 1984, Apple Computer introduced its first Macintosh model, featuring a built-in 9-inch monochrome display, an 8-megahertz clock rate, and 128k of RAM.
In 1989, notorious serial killer Ted Bundy was executed in Florida’s electric chair.
In 2003, former Pennsylvania Governor Tom Ridge was sworn in as the inaugural secretary of the newly established Department of Homeland Security.
In 2013, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, under President Barack Obama, announced the lifting of a ban on women serving in direct ground combat roles.
In 2018, former sports doctor Larry Nassar, who had confessed to abusing top American gymnasts for years under the guise of medical treatment, was sentenced to 40 to 175 years in prison.
In 2023, a tragic incident unfolded as a farmworker carried out back-to-back shootings at two mushroom farms in Northern California, resulting in the loss of seven lives. The authorities classified it as a case of “workplace violence,” marking the state’s third mass killing within a week.
Notable birthdays today:
- Doug Kershaw, Cajun musician, turns 90.
- Ray Stevens, singer-songwriter, celebrates his 87th birthday.
- Neil Diamond, renowned singer-songwriter, is 85 today.
- Aaron Neville, beloved singer, also turns 85.
- Michio Kaku, distinguished physicist, is 79.
- Daniel Auteuil, talented actor, celebrates his 76th birthday.
- Yakov Smirnoff, comedian, turns 75.
- William Allen Young, actor, is 72 today.
- Jools Holland, musician, celebrates his 68th birthday.
- Nastassja Kinski, actor, turns 65.
- Mary Lou Retton, Olympic gymnastics gold medalist, is 58.
- Matthew Lillard, actor, celebrates his 56th birthday.
- Beth Hart, musician, is 54 today.
- Ed Helms, actor, turns 52.
- Kristen Schaal, actor-comedian, celebrates her 48th birthday.
- Tatyana Ali, actor, turns 47.
- Carrie Coon, actor, is 45 today.
- Daveed Diggs, actor and rapper, celebrates his 44th birthday.
- Mischa Barton, actor, turns 40.
- Sean McVay, NFL coach, is 40 today.
- Luis Suárez, soccer player, celebrates his 39th birthday.
- Callan McAuliffe, actor, turns 31.
- Johnny Orlando, singer, is 23 today.
