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Madonna (born August 16, 1958) is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and actress. Dubbed the "Queen of Pop", she is the best-selling female music artist of all time. She has released fifteen studio albums; among her most commercially successful releases are Like a Virgin (1984), True Blue (1986), Like a Prayer (1989), Ray of Light (1998), Music (2000), and Confessions on a Dance Floor (2005). Her top-charting singles include "Like a Virgin", "Papa Don't Preach", "La Isla Bonita", "Like a Prayer", "Vogue", "Take a Bow", "Frozen", "Music", "Hung Up", and "4 Minutes". Madonna's works, which explore social, political, sexual, and religious themes, have generated acclaim and controversy, and have made her a culturally significant and well-documented figure. Her accolades include seven Grammy Awards and a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction. She has pursued acting—winning a Golden Globe for her performance in Evita (1996)—as well as businesses, writing, health clubs, and filmmaking. ( Full article... )

A Ukrainian drone operator

• ... that various observers consider women drone operators in the Ukrainian military (example pictured) an essential part of Ukraine's war-time defence against Russia's invasion?
• ... that the Gujarati play Mena Gurjari was staged at the official residence of India's president during the 1957 Republic Day celebrations?
• ... that a 2024 Mandarin song by American singer Karencici went viral in South Korea?
• ... that the London Life Building included four bowling alleys for employees?
• ... that Clair Blank published the trilogy The Adventure Girls when she was only 20?
• ... that scaffolds made of silk biomaterials , which temporarily support tissue regeneration, can be designed to degrade as new tissue forms?
• ... that Ginny MacColl , who first stepped in a gym at the age of 63, became the oldest person to pass an obstacle in American Ninja Warrior?
• ... that Evo 2026 included a 1997 arcade fighting game among its twelve main tournament titles?
• ... that identical twins Liam and Markus Ruck were selected by the same team in the 2026 NHL entry draft?

Path of the solar eclipse

• A magnitude-7.7 earthquake strikes off the coast of Flores, East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia, causing at least 47 deaths.
• A solar eclipse (animated path shown) causes totality from Siberia to Iberia.
• Former premier of China Zhu Rongji dies at the age of 97.
• A magnitude-7.4 earthquake strikes Chocó Department, Colombia, leaving at least 294 people dead.
• In cycling, Demi Vollering wins the Tour de France Femmes .

August 16

San Sebastian Church in Manila

• 1891 – San Sebastian Church (pictured), an all-iron church in Manila, was officially consecrated.
• 1896 – A group including George Carmack and Skookum Jim Mason discovered gold near Dawson City, Canada, setting off the Klondike Gold Rush .
• 1900 – Second Boer War: A 10,000-strong column of soldiers led by Lord Kitchener broke a 13-day siege of a small garrison.
• 1906 – An earthquake registering approximately 8.2  M_w struck Valparaíso, Chile, killing 3,882 people.
• 1986 – Typhoon Wayne formed over the South China Sea, going on to become one of the longest-lived tropical cyclones in the north-western Pacific, lasting 21 days.