3-9 January 2015
Saturday
Transfers kick off
Is Lionel Messi on his way to the English Premier League? Will Emile Heskey be heading to Sunderland (while aiming for Middlesbrough)? Football’s January transfer window is open until 2 February.
Sunday
Insightful invention
World Braille Day raises awareness of visual impairment and marks the birthday of Louis Braille, who was born in 1809 and had developed his eponymous raised-dot system of written language by the age of 15.
Monday
Answer the (bird) call
The RSPB Big Schools’ Birdwatch runs until 13 February, encouraging schoolchildren across the UK to get involved in monitoring bird populations. So grab those binoculars and start twitching. Go to bit.lyBirdwatch
Tuesday
Revolutionary relics
The oldest time capsule found in the US was opened today. Buried by patriots Paul Revere and Samuel Adams in 1795, the box was discovered during renovation work at Massachusetts State House in Boston.
Wednesday
Professional opinion
England’s education secretary Nicky Morgan was due to answer questions from the Commons Education Select Committee on careers guidance. She must have a few tips about how to get on in politics.
Thursday
Divine lottery
It’s not your average church raffle, but then the organiser was Pope Francis himself. Prizes for the Vatican draw consisted of gifts he had received, from a new Fiat Panda to an espresso machine and a panama hat.
Friday
Bear necessities
A village celebrating the burning of a man in a straw costume: the plot of The Wicker Man, yes, but also the theme of Whittlesea’s Straw Bear Festival. In this case, only the costume is set alight, you’ll be glad to hear.
10-16 January 2015
Saturday
Forever young
He wears it well (perhaps that has something to do with all the handbags and the gladrags), so it might be a surprise to learn that crooner Rod Stewart is sailing into his seventies today.
Sunday
Lose the trews
Don’t be shocked if you see people going trouserless on the train. With scant regard for the temperature, travellers across the globe are expected to take part in the 14th annual No Pants Subway Ride.
Monday
Horror in Haiti
Today is the fifth anniversary of the devastating Haiti earthquake. The epicentre was 15 miles from the Caribbean nation’s densely populated capital, Port-au-Prince, leading to tens of thousands of fatalities.
Tuesday
Happy new year.again
New Year’s Eve may seem a distant, hazy memory, but if you’d like to recapture the holidays, head to Europe, where many countries will be welcoming in the Old New Year, based on the Julian calendar.
Wednesday
Razzie dazzle
Nominees for the Golden Raspberry Awards (Razzies) will be revealed, highlighting the very worst in film over the past 12 months. Expect nods for Transformers: Age of Extinction and A Million Ways to Die in the West.
Thursday
Footnote in history
Students’ homework was revolutionised on this day in 2001 when Wikipedia launched, banishing Encarta 2000 to the annals of history. At least, that’s what it says on Wikipedia, so it must be true.right?
Friday
Tremendous teachers
Teachers in Thailand will be honoured for everything they do on the country’s Teachers’ Day. First celebrated in 1957, the event involves the closure of many schools, giving teachers a well-earned break.
