Whatcâ¬â?cs Happening Today?

Independence Day (Central African Republic). This is the National Day of the Central African Republic and marks its independence from France on August 13, 1960.

Ubangi-Shari gained its independence, becoming the Central African Republic, with David Dacko becoming its President. Dacko was the nephew of Bartholomew Boganda, founder of the pro-independence Social Evolution Movement of Black Africa and the first Central African to be elected to the French parliament.

International Left-Handers Day. International Left-Handers Day is an international day observed annually on August 13 to celebrate the uniqueness and differences of the left-handers. The day was first observed in 1976 by Dean R. Campbell, founder of the Lefthanders International, Inc.

International Left Hander's Day was created to celebrate sinistrality and raise awareness of the advantages and disadvantages of being left-handed in a predominantly right-handed world.

Whatcâ¬â?cs Happening Today?

1. In 1960, the first two-way telephonic conversation with a satellite was held. The conversation was made possible due to NASAcâ¬â?cs Echo 1, a balloon satellite. It was launched into space on August 12. The satellite worked as a reflector câ¬â?? signals sent to it were reflected back to the Earth.

2. In 1961, the construction of the Berlin Wall started. The wall divided West Berlin from East Berlin and was built by the German Democratic Republic or East Germany.

3. In 1999, the Ugandan army was sent to the Karamoja region to quell ethnic unrest following 155 killings in the previous month. A clan of ethnic Karimojong was attacked 2 weeks earlier by rival Karimojong and Turkanans from northern Kenya and at least 140 people were killed.

Birthdays

1. 1926 câ¬â?? Fidel Castro, Cuban revolutionary and former Prime Minister and President of Cuba.

2. 1994 câ¬â?? Yunus Sentamu, Uganda Cranes football striker

Sources: Wikipedia, checkiday, bornglorious and timelines

Picture credit: askideas