What’s Happening Today?

Independence Day (Pakistan). It commemorates the day when Pakistan achieved independence and was declared a sovereign state following the end of the British Raj in 1947. Pakistan came into existence as a result of the Pakistan Movement, which aimed for the creation of an independent Muslim state in the north-western regions of South Asia via partition. The movement was led by the All-India Muslim League under the leadership of Muhammad Ali Jinnah. The event was brought forth by the Indian Independence Act 1947 under which the British Raj gave independence to the Dominion of Pakistan which comprised West Pakistan (present-day Pakistan) and East Pakistan (now Bangladesh). 

Falklands Day. It is the celebration of the first sighting of the Falkland Islands, an archipelago in the South Atlantic Ocean on the Patagonian Shelf, by John Davis in 1592, and is celebrated on 14 August.

It was once seen as the national day of the Falklands but has largely been replaced by Liberation Day which commemorates the end of the Falklands War.

What Happened Today?

1. In 2007, the World Health Organization announced that results of laboratory tests done on blood samples from Kampala and Kamwenge by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, USA confirmed Marburg virus infection in a mine worker, and in one of his close contacts during his illness. The Marburg fever was however quickly defeated in the country.

2. In 2010, the first Youth Olympics began in Singapore. The Olympic-style games meet was organized by the International Olympic Committee. Like the Olympic Games, the Youth Olympics are held every 4 years and have both summer and winter versions. The first Winter Youth Olympics were held in Innsbruck, Austria in January 2012. Only athletes aged 14 to 18 years are allowed to compete in these games.

3. In 2015,  the US Embassy in Havana, Cuba re-opened after 54 years of being closed when Cuba–United States relations were broken off. The embassy was officially reopened by the US Secretary of State, John Kerry at a ceremony in Havana, on behalf of President Barrack Obama.

Birthdays

1. 1959 – Earvin “Magic” Johnson Jr, retired professional basketball player in the NBA and former LA Lakers Executive.

2. 1983 – Mila Kunis, Ukrainian-born Hollywood actress.

3. 1989 – Ander Herrera, PSG Spanish football player who formerly played for Manchester United and Atletic Bilbao.

Sources: Wikipedia, checkiday, bornglorious.com and WHO

Picture credit: Pinterest