Box-office #1
The Empire Strikes Back
1980 · dir. Irvin Kershner
Wide US release on May 23, 1980. Goes on to become the highest-grossing film of the year.
Sci-fiStar Wars $538M worldwide
On this day
January 5 Monday, January 5, 2026
A curious almanac of what happened on January 5 across the years — history, birthdays, the songs that ruled the charts, the films that packed cinemas, and the science that nudged the world forward.
12
Events
7
Birthdays
4
Holidays
2024
Disaster 2 years ago
Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 makes an emergency landing at Portland International Airport after a door plug blows off the Boeing 737 MAX 9 operating the flight. There are no fatalities, but the accident prompts the 737 MAX to be grounded and renews scrutiny on Boeing's manufacturing and design issues.
Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 makes an emergency landing in Portland after a door plug blows off mid-flight, prompting the grounding of Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft.
History
What happened on January 5
12 verified entries Full timeline
- 1477European history
Battle of Nancy: Charles the Bold is defeated and killed in a conflict with René II, Duke of Lorraine; Burgundy subsequently becomes part of France.
Charles the Bold is defeated and killed by René II, leading to Burgundy becoming part of France.
- 1675War
Battle of Colmar: The French army defeats forces from Austria and Brandenburg.
The French army defeats a coalition of Austrian and Brandenburg forces in the Battle of Colmar.
- 1757Royalty
Louis XV of France survives an assassination attempt by Robert-François Damiens, who becomes the last person to be executed in France by drawing and quartering (the traditional form of capital punishment used for regicides).
Louis XV survives an assassination attempt by Robert-François Damiens, who is executed by drawing and quartering.
- 1781War
American Revolutionary War: Richmond, Virginia, is burned by British naval forces led by former American general Benedict Arnold.
Benedict Arnold, the infamous American turncoat, leads British forces in burning Richmond, Virginia, during the Revolutionary War.
- 1822Politics
The government of Central America votes for total annexation to the First Mexican Empire.
Central American governments vote to join the First Mexican Empire.
- 1875Culture
The Palais Garnier, one of the most famous opera houses in the world, is inaugurated in Paris.
The Palais Garnier, renowned for its opulent design and as a setting for Gaston Leroux's "Phantom of the Opera," is inaugurated in Paris.
- 1975Disaster
The Tasman Bridge in Tasmania, Australia, is struck by the bulk ore carrier Lake Illawarra, killing twelve people.
The Tasman Bridge is hit by the ship Lake Illawarra, resulting in twelve fatalities.
- 1991War
Georgian forces enter Tskhinvali, the capital of South Ossetia, Georgia, opening the 1991-92 South Ossetia War.
Georgian forces enter Tskhinvali, sparking the 1991, 92 South Ossetia War.
- 2005Science
The dwarf planet Eris is discovered by Palomar Observatory-based astronomers, later motivating the International Astronomical Union (IAU) to define the term planet for the first time.
The discovery of Eris prompts the International Astronomical Union to establish a formal definition for the term "planet."
- 2022Politics
Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev dismisses Prime Minister Asqar Mamin and declares state of emergency over the 2022 Kazakh unrest.
Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev dismisses Prime Minister Askar Mamin and declares a state of emergency in response to widespread protests over fuel prices and political grievances.
- 2023Crime
The 2023 Sinaloa unrest begins.
Violent protests erupt in Sinaloa, Mexico, over disputes between drug cartels and security forces.
- 2024Disaster
Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 makes an emergency landing at Portland International Airport after a door plug blows off the Boeing 737 MAX 9 operating the flight. There are no fatalities, but the accident prompts the 737 MAX to be grounded and renews scrutiny on Boeing's manufacturing and design issues.
Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 makes an emergency landing in Portland after a door plug blows off mid-flight, prompting the grounding of Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft.
Born today
Famous birthdays on January 5
7 this date All birthdays
🎂 41
Anthony Stewart
Canadian ice hockey player
Anthony Stewart, a Canadian former professional ice hockey player who won three all-Ontario championships in minor hockey before playing in the NHL, AHL, and KHL, turns 40 today.
Born
1985
Turns 41
today
Bob Caruthers
American baseball player and manager
1864 – 1911
Paramahansa Yogananda
Indian-American guru and philosopher
1893 – 1952
Stephen Cole Kleene
American mathematician and computer scientist
1909 – 1994
Hosea Williams
American businessman and activist
1926 – 2000
Robert Duvall
American actor and director
1931 – 2026
Jason Mitchell
American actor
b. 1987 · 39
Music
The number one songs on January 5
Across the years Full chart history
🇬🇧 #1 on January 5, 1981
"Stand and Deliver"
by Adam and the Ants
The dandy highwayman spent five weeks at the top — a brash, glam-pop coronation.
#1 for 5 weeks
Also #1 on this day
- 1965"Ticket To Ride"— The Beatles
- 1972"Metal Guru"— T. Rex
- 2003"Make Luv"— Room 5 ft. Oliver Cheatham
Film & TV
At the movies
Box office #1 and premieres All releases
🏆 Sport January 5, 1982
Aston Villa shock Bayern Munich for the European Cup
In Rotterdam, late substitute Peter Withe scores the winner as Villa lift the trophy on their first attempt.
Read the story
🔬 Science January 5, 2014
A launch of the communication satellite GSAT-14 aboard the GSLV MK.II D5 marks the first successful flight of an Indian cryogenic engine.
India successfully launches its communication satellite GSAT-14 using a GSLV MK.II D5 rocket, marking the first successful flight of an indigenous cryogenic engine.
Read the storyToday is also
Holidays & observances
4 celebrated today
Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival (Harbin, China)
International
Harbin Ice and Snow World is an annual winter festival that takes place in Harbin, Heilongjiang, China, and is now the largest ice and snow festival in the world
Joma Shinji (Japan)
International
The city of Kamakura in Kanagawa Prefecture has many festivals and other events in all of the seasons, usually based on its rich historical heritage
National Bird Day (United States)
International
Bird Day or World Migratory Bird Day is the name of several holidays celebrating birds
The Twelfth day of Christmas and the Twelfth Night of Christmas. (Western Christianity)
International
The Twelve Days of Christmas, or Twelve Days of Christmastide, is the festive Christian season celebrating the Nativity of Jesus