What’s Happening Today?

Jamahiriya Day (Libya). On March 2, Libyans celebrate Declaration of Jamahiriya Day, also known as Declaration of the People's Authority Day . In observance of this public holiday, schools and businesses are closed throughout the country. Citizens attend speeches and rallies in honor of the founding of the Jamahiriya, which has no official translation. The term, which is derived from the Arab word for republic, roughly means "state of the masses," "people's authority," or "people's power." The term Jamahiriya was created by Libyan leader Colonel Muammar Qaddafi, who defined it as a "state run by the people without a government" and characterized it as a political advancement for all humankind. 

Victory at Adwa Day (Ethiopia). Over a century ago, Ethiopian Emperor Menelik and his wife Empress Taytu led a successful campaign against invading Italian forces, emerging victorious from the Battle at Adwa in the northern part of the country. In addition to dashing the hopes of fascist Italy to capture and colonize the entire Horn of Africa region, the Adwa victory inspired a continent-wide movement of pan-Africanism. It also paved the way to the birth of the Organization of African Unity, later to become the African Union.

What Happened Today?

1. In 1933, the film King Kong (in the picture) premiered. The black and white movie marked a milestone in the history of film, especially due to Willis O’Brien's stop-motion effects.

2. In 1969, Concorde took off on its maiden flight. The supersonic airliner was retired in 2003, after Air France Flight 4590 crashed shortly after takeoff from Paris Charles de Gaulle airport on July 25.

3. 1970 Rhodesia (currently Zimbabwe) declared itself an independent republic. By severing the country's ties with the United Kingdom, white Prime Minister Ian Smith attempted to prevent the institution of black majority rule.

Birthdays

1. 1931 – Mikhail Gorbachev, the eigth and last leader of the Soviet union.

2. 1972 – Mauricio Pochettino, football manager who currently manages Paris St Germain football club in France.

Sources: Wikipedia & checkiday.com

Picture credit: WallPaperAccess