The Master of Suspense (13 August 1899)

Alfred Hitchcock Born in London on August 13, 1899, Alfred Hitchcock worked for a short time in engineering before entering the film industry in 1920. He left for Hollywood in 1939, where his first American film, Rebecca, won an Academy Award for best picture. He created over 50 films, including the classics Rear Window, The 39 Steps and Psycho. He received the AFI's Life Achievement Award in 1979 and died in 1980.
Born in London on August 13, 1899, A¬¬lfred Hitchcock was raised by strict, Catholic parents. He described his childhood as lonely and sheltered, partly due to his obesity. He once said that he was sent by his father to the local police station with a note asking the officer to lock him away for 10 minutes as punishment for behaving badly. He also remarked that his mother would force him to stand at the foot OF her bed for several hours as punishment (a scene alluded to in his film Psycho). This idea of being harshly treated or wrongfully accused would later be reflected in Hitchcock's films.
He studied engineering at St. Ignatius College in London and quickly obtained a job as a draftsman and advertising designer for the cable company Henley's. It was while working at Henley's that he began to write, submitting short articles for the in-house publication. From his very first piece, he employed themes of false accusations, conflicted emotions and twist endings with impressive skill. In 1920, Hitchcock entered the film industry with a full-time position at the Famous Players-Lasky Company designing title cards for silent films. Within a few years, he was working as an assistant director. In 1925, he directed his first film and began making the "thrillers" for which he became known the world over. His 1929 film Blackmail is said to be the first British "talkie." During the 1930s he directed such classic suspense films as The Man Who Knew Too Much and The 39 Steps.
In 1939 Hitchcock left England for Hollywood. The first film he made there, Rebecca (1940), won an Academy Award for best picture. Some of his most famous films include Psycho, The Birds and Marnie. His works became renowned for their depictions of violence, although many of his plots merely function as decoys meant to serve as a tool for understanding complex psychological characters. His cameo appearances in his own films, as well as his interviews, film trailers and the television program Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1962-65) made him a cultural icon. Hitchcock directed more than 50 feature films in a career spanning six decades. His lifetime partner was Alma Reville, his assistant director and his closest collaborator. Hitchcock received the AFI's Life Achievement Award in 1979 and died peacefully in his sleep on April 29, 1980, in Bel Air, California.

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International Humanitarian Law (12 August 1949)

The Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocols are at the core of international humanitarian law, the body of international law that regulates the conduct of armed conflict and seeks to limit its effects. They specifically protect people who are not taking part in the hostilities (civilians, health workers and aid workers) and those who are no longer participating in the hostilities, such as wounded, sick and shipwrecked soldiers and prisoners of war. The Conventions and their Protocols call for measures to be taken to prevent or put an end to all breaches. They contain stringent rules to deal with what are known as "grave breaches". Those responsible for grave breaches must be sought, tried or extradited, whatever nationality they may hold.
Common Article
Article 3, common to the four Geneva Conventions, marked a breakthrough, as it covered, for the first time, situations of non-international armed conflicts. These types of conflicts vary greatly. They include traditional civil wars, internal armed conflicts that spill over into other States or internal conflicts in which third States or a multinational force intervenes alongside the government. Common Article 3 establishes fundamental rules from which no derogation is permitted. It is like a mini-Convention within the Conventions as it contains the essential rules of the Geneva Conventions in a condensed format and makes them applicable to conflicts not of an international character:
It requires humane treatment for all persons in enemy hands, without any adverse distinction. It specifically prohibits murder, mutilation, torture, cruel, humiliating and degrading treatment, the taking of hostages and unfair trial.
It requires that the wounded, sick and shipwrecked be collected and cared for.
It grants the ICRC the right to offer its services to the parties to the conflict.
It calls on the parties to the conflict to bring all or parts of the Geneva Conventions into force through so-called special agreements.
It recognizes that the application of these rules does not affect the legal status of the parties to the conflict.
Given that most armed conflicts today are non-international, applying Common Article 3 is of the utmost importance. Its full respect is required.

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Eritreans Federation with Ethiopia?11 August 1952

The Federation of Ethiopia and Eritrea was created and approved by the Federal Act in Ethiopia and the Eritrean on 15 September 1952. On 14 November 1962 the Federation was officially dissolved and Eritrea was annexed by Ethiopia. In 1953, Eritrea was forced into a federation with Ethiopia. The ELF began its armed struggle against Ethiopia in September, 1961.
The Ogaden people supported and provided necessary support for the Tigray and Eritrean people in their struggle with Ethiopian regimes. But, the Tigrains and Eritreans were not good with the Ogaden, Sudanese and Somalis. After 30 years, the Eritrean-Ethiopian war was ended with the EPLF, which later became the Peoples' Front for Democracy and Justice (PFDJ) capture of the capital city of Asmara on 24 May 1991. The war involved efforts to disrupt agricultural production in Eritrea and resulted in serious habitat changes.
However, the Eritrean people were and are against the idea of federation with Ethiopian governments. Ogaden people and also Sudanese, Djiboutian and Somalis believe the same idea. The Eritrean people believe any federation with Ethiopia means, Ethiopia’s occupation of Eretria, and such federation relationship between Eritrea and Ethiopia will take a dramatic turn for the war and worse.
Eritreans has historical problems with Amharas and Tigrians, and don’t want to repeat the past mistakes and be what they call "If you can't beat them, join them". This idea hinders any initiative to speed-up United Horn of Africa Community programme. Therefore, why the Eritreans are against federation with Ethiopia? Can we think about changing our situation and building our future and nations through regional peace building and integration of the communities?

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Atomic Bombing on Nagasaki (9 August 1945)

On August 9, 1945, Nagasaki was the target of the United States' second atomic bomb attack (and the second detonation of a plutonium bomb; the first was tested in central New Mexico, USA) at 11:02 a.m., when the north of the city was destroyed in less than a second, and an estimated 70,000 people were killed by the bomb codenamed "Fat Man." According to statistics found within Nagasaki Peace Park, the death toll from the atomic bombing totalled 73,884, including 2,000 Korean forced workers and eight POWs, as well as another 74,909 injured, and another several hundred thousand diseased and dying due to fallout and other illness caused by radiation. This bomb was supposed to be more destructive than "Little Boy" but exploded in a valley, and therefore did roughly the same amount of damage as Little Boy.
After the war

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Abu al-Qasim al-Khoei Died On 8 August 1992

Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Abul-Qassim al-Khoei (November 19, 1899 – August 8, 1992) was one of the most influential Twelver Shi'a Islamic scholars (marja), and the predecessor to Grand Ayatullah Sayyid Ali Al-Husayni Al-Sistani. He was the spiritual leader of much of the Shia world until his death in 1992. He was succeeded by Grand Ayatullah Sayyid Ali Al-Husayni Al-Sistani, his former student, whereby many of his followers became followers of Al Sistani and foundations previously headed by Khoei were handed to Al Sistani.
Born in the Iranian city of Khoy in 1899, Khoei grew up in Iran. Around the age of 13, he moved to Iraq and took up residence in the holy city of Najaf where he began studying Shia theology with the scholars of that city. He eventually attained the rank of Ayatollah and was subsequently made a marja. Khoei would continue to live in Najaf, becoming a teacher for the remainder of his life, and overseeing the studies of scholars who would be qualified to issue fatwas based on Shia theology.
Due to his prominent position as a teacher and scholar in Najaf, he became an important leader of worldwide Shias. He was made the most prominent Grand Ayatollah in 1971 after the death of Ayatollah Sayed Muhsin al-Hakim. In this position, he became a patron of numerous institutions across the globe that sought to provide welfare, and also provided scholarships to theological students from across the Muslim world.
He is considered as the architect of a distinct school of thought in the principles of jurisprudence and Islamic law, and one of the leading exponents of 'kalam'-scholastic theology- and 'rijal'- study of the biographies of transmitters of ahadith, the prophetic traditions, 'fiqh'- jurisprudence- and 'tafseer'- exegesis of the Qur'an. His interests included astronomy, mathematics, and philosophy.
After the Persian Gulf War, Khoei was arrested by Saddam Hussein during the mass Shia uprising that followed the defeat of Iraqi forces. While under arrest, he was taken to Baghdad and forced to make public appearances with Saddam Hussein. Hussein eventually allowed Khoei to return to Najaf, but he was placed under house arrest, and died in 1992 (1413 AH).
His Sons
Ayatollah Al Khoei had 6 sons. The elder was Ayatollah Seyed Jamalodiin Al Khoei, then Sayed Ali Al Khoei, then Sayed Abdul Saheb Al Khoei, then Sayed Mohammed Taqi Al Khoei, then Sayed Abdul Majid Al Khoei and Sayed Ibrahim Al Khoei.
One of his sons, Sayyid Mohammed Taqi al-Khoei, later died in a sudden car accident, allegedly setup by Saddam Hussein, on the night of 21 July 1994.
Soon after the fall of Baghdad to US forces in 2003 another one of his sons, Sayyid Abdul Majid al-Khoei returned to Iraq with plans to revive Najaf to the glory and splendor it enjoyed under the patronage of his father. Sayyid Abdul Majid al-Khoei was then the head of Al-Khoei Foundation, the organization responsible for the trusts of his father. He was assassinated on April 10, 2003, near the Imam Ali Shrine in Najaf.

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President Nixon Resigns (8 August 1974)

He resigned during his second term as the result of a political disaster known as the Watergate Scandal. It started during his reelection campaign, when five burglars were arrested in the Watergate Hotel, where the Democratic Party's headquarters were located. The burglars had been trying to install microphones in the building. Nixon denied any connection with the burglaries. However, several tape recordings were discovered in the White House, and these showed Nixon had been involved and had attempted to cover up the scandal. The tapes, made by Nixon, also had suspicious gaps, including one as long as 18 minutes.
Nixon resigned to avoid being impeached; the Judicial Committee of the House had already agreed to it, and it looked likely that the Senate would convict him if the impeachment went ahead.
When Gerald Ford became President, he pardoned Nixon for any and all crimes, and Nixon never admitted to criminal acts. But many in the White House staff were indicted, and some were convicted and imprisoned.

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Independent Jamaica (6 August 1962)

Jamaica gained a degree of local political control in the mid-1940s. The People's National Party (PNP) was founded in 1938. Its main rival, the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) was established five years later. The first elections under universal adult suffrage were held in 1944. Jamaica joined nine other UK territories in the Federation of the West Indies in 1958 but withdrew after Jamaican voters rejected membership in 1961. Jamaica gained independence on August 6, 1962, remaining a member of the Commonwealth of Nations. The first prime minister was Alexander Bustamante of the Jamaica Labour Party.
Initially, power swapped between the People's National Party and the Jamaican Labour Party regularly. Michael Manley was the first PNP prime minister in 1972. He introduced socialist policies and relations with Cuba. His second-term elections marked the start of repeated political violence. When the PNP lost power in 1980 Edward Seaga immediately began to reverse the policies of his predecessor, bringing in privatization and seeking closer ties with the USA. When the PNP and Manley returned to power in 1989 they continued the more moderate policies and were returned in the elections of 1993 and 1998. Manley resigned for health reasons in 1992 and was succeeded as leader of the PNP by Percival Patterson.
Historically, Jamaican emigration has been heavy. In the late 19th century and early 20th century, many Jamaicans migrated to Central America, Cuba, and the Dominican Republic to work in the banana and canefields. In the 1950s the primary destination was to the United Kingdom; but since the United Kingdom restricted emigration in 1962, major flow has been to the United States and Canada. The heaviest flow of emigration, particularly to New York and Miami, occurred during the 1990s and continues to the present day due to high economical crisis. About 20,000 Jamaicans emigrate to the United States each year; another 200,000 visit annually. New York, Hartford, CT, Miami, and Fort Lauderdale are among the U.S. cities with the largest Jamaican population. In New York, over half the Jamaican expatriate population resides in Brooklyn. Remittances from the expatriate communities in the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada make increasingly significant contributions to Jamaica's economy.

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