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KIU Trivia: May 15 in the Present and the Past

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What’s Happening Today?

International Day of Families. In 1993, the United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution declaring that every 15th of May should be celebrated as the International Day of Families. This day provides an opportunity to create awareness of issues relating to families and to increase the knowledge of the social, economic and demographic processes affecting families.

According to the UN, family homelessness is on the rise worldwide, and in some European countries, it is above 20% of the total homeless population.

Peace Officers Memorial Day (USA). It is observed to pay tribute to the local, state and federal peace (police) officers who have died or been disabled in the line of duty. The holiday was created in 1961 when the US Congress authorized President John F. Kennedy to designate May 15 to honour peace officers.

Independence Day (Paraguay). Paraguay celebrates achieving independence from Spain in 1811. Attainment of independence followed the May 14 revolution when a local ruling junta was created.

The country’s independence celebrations will be overshadowed by the global COVID-19 pandemic, which has killed 11 people in the country, out of the 754 positive cases registered so far.

What Happened Today?

1. In 1998, Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania announced plans to revive the East African Community, which had been dissolved in 1977 because of political divisions among the three states. These plans later led to the signing of the Treaty for Establishment of the East African Community in 1999, effectively creating political, economic and social integration of the East African states.

2. In 2004, Arsenal Football Club completed the entire Premier League season without losing a game, joining Preston North End F.C with the right to claim the title “The Invincibles”. Unfortunately, the North London club has been on a downward spiral since and is still waiting for their first league title since that astronomical triumph.

3. In 1928, the first Mickey Mouse cartoon called “Plane Crazy” premiered. The Walt Disney cartoon character was created by Walter Disney and Ub Iwerks at the Walt Disney Studios in 1928. Mickey Mouse typically wears red shorts, large yellow shoes and white gloves, and is one of the world’s most recognizable characters, earning a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1978.

Picture credit: wikipedia

Sources: Wikipedia, checkiday.com, uneca.org.