Louis Rwagasore (1932–1961) served as Prime Minister of Burundi from
28 September 1961 until his assassination two weeks later. Born in
Ruanda-Urundi, a Belgian-administered territory, Rwagasore attended
university in Belgium. After he returned to Burundi in the mid-1950s he
founded a series of cooperatives to economically empower Burundians. He
then became a leading figure of a nationalist political party, the Union
for National Progress (UPRONA). He pushed for national independence and
unity, and the institution of a constitutional monarchy. The Belgian
administration placed Rwagasore under house arrest in 1960 during
municipal elections. International pressure led the administration to
back down, and the following year UPRONA won an overwhelming majority in
the legislative elections. As a result, Rwagasore became the prime
minister, but was soon assassinated at the direction of leaders of a
rival political party with the probable support of the Belgian Resident.
Well-known in Burundi, Rwagasore remains relatively unknown
internationally.
Read more: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_Rwagasore>
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Today's selected anniversaries:
1853:
Giuseppe Verdi's La traviata premiered at La Fenice in Venice,
but the performance was considered so bad that it caused him to revise
portions of the opera.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_traviata>
1933:
The Nazi Party took the first step in the Gleichschaltung
process by passing the Enabling Act, giving the government the right to
make laws without the involvement of the Reichstag.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gleichschaltung>
1964:
In a radio broadcast, Nation of Islam leader Elijah Muhammad
announced that American boxer Cassius Clay would change his name to
Muhammad Ali (pictured).
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muhammad_Ali>
1987:
The ferry Herald of Free Enterprise capsized while leaving the
harbour of Zeebrugge, Belgium, killing 193 people on board.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MS_Herald_of_Free_Enterprise>
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Wiktionary's word of the day:
periodic table:
(chemistry) A tabular chart of the chemical elements according to their
atomic numbers so that elements with similar properties are in the same
group (column).
<https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/periodic_table>
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Wikiquote quote of the day:
So-called humanitarian corridors or other measures aimed at
providing respite to those affected by conflict must be well planned and
implemented with the agreement of the parties to the conflict.
Regardless of whether humanitarian corridors are implemented in the
coming days, parties must continue to protect civilians and civilian
infrastructure under international humanitarian law both for those who
choose to leave and those who remain.
--International Committee of the Red Cross
<https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/International_Red_Cross_and_Red_Crescent_Movement>
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