The Rhodesia Information Centre (RIC) represented the Rhodesian government in Australia from 1966 to 1980. As Australia did not recognise Rhodesia's independence it operated on an unofficial basis. The centre's activities included lobbying politicians, spreading propaganda about white minority rule in Rhodesia and advising Australian businesses on how they could evade the United Nations sanctions that had been imposed on the country. These activities violated United Nations Security Council resolutions. The RIC had little impact, with Australian media coverage of the Rhodesian regime being almost entirely negative and the government's opposition to white minority rule in Rhodesia hardening over time. The Australian government made several attempts to force the centre to close, all of which were unsuccessful. The Zimbabwean government shut the centre in May 1980 after the end of white minority rule and later established an official embassy in Australia.
Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhodesia_Information_Centre
_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:
1800:
French Revolutionary Wars: Facing starvation and a death rate of 100 soldiers per day, the French garrison in Malta surrendered to British forces, ending a two-year siege. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Malta_%281798%E2%80%931800%29
1843:
The state wedding of Teresa Cristina of the Two Sicilies and Emperor Pedro II of Brazil took place at the Cathedral of Rio de Janeiro. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teresa_Cristina_of_the_Two_Sicilies
1977:
The Golden Dragon massacre took place in Chinatown, San Francisco, leaving five dead and spurring police to end Chinese gang violence in the city. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Dragon_massacre
2010:
A magnitude-7.1 earthquake (damage pictured) struck the Canterbury Region of New Zealand, causing two deaths and up to NZ$40 billion in damages. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010_Canterbury_earthquake
_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:
downtime: 1. The amount of time lost due to forces beyond one's control, such as the breakdown of machinery or a computer crash. 2. A period of time when work or other activity is less intense or stops. 3. (chiefly Canada, US) A period of time set aside for relaxation and rest; leisure time, free time. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/downtime
___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:
Wasted away again in Margaritaville, Searchin' for my lost shaker of salt. Some people claim that there's a woman to blame, But I know it's nobody's fault. --Jimmy Buffett https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Jimmy_Buffett