Summary of the Day ✨ 5 March (05/03)
Estonia witnessed a political shift as two center-right liberal parties secured an absolute majority in parliamentary elections, while Pope Francis began a historic visit to Iraq during the ongoing pandemic. Meanwhile, a suicide car bombing in Mogadishu killed 20 people, four prisoners briefly escaped from a Mauritanian jail before being recaptured, and Syrian forces suspended operations in Deir ez-Zor due to Turkish military action in Afrin.
Historical Events 📜
- 2023: The 2023 Estonian parliamentary election is held, with two centre-right liberal parties gaining an absolute majority for the first time.
- 2023: A group of four prisoners escape from the Nouakchott Civil Prison, before being caught the next day.
- 2021: Pope Francis begins a historic visit to Iraq amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
- 2021: Twenty people are killed and 30 injured in a suicide car bombing in Mogadishu, Somalia.
- 2018: Syrian civil war: The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) pause the Deir ez-Zor campaign due to the Turkish-led invasion of Afrin.
- 2012: Tropical Storm Irina kills over 75 as it passes through Madagascar.
- 2012: Two people are killed and six more are injured in a shooting at a hair salon in Bucharest, Romania.
- 2011: An Antonov An-148 crashes in Russia’s Alexeyevsky District, Belgorod Oblast during a test flight, killing all seven aboard.
- 2003: In Haifa, 17 Israeli civilians are killed in the Haifa bus 37 suicide bombing.
- 2002: An earthquake in Mindanao, Philippines, kills 15 people and injures more than 100.
- 2001: In Mina, Saudi Arabia, 35 pilgrims are killed in a stampede on the Jamaraat Bridge during the Hajj.
- 1993: Palair Macedonian Airlines Flight 301 crashes at Skopje International Airport in Petrovec, North Macedonia, killing 83.
- 1991: Aeropostal Alas de Venezuela Flight 109 crashes in Venezuela, killing 45.
- 1982: Soviet probe Venera 14 lands on Venus.
- 1981: The ZX81, a pioneering British home computer, is launched by Sinclair Research and would go on to sell over 11⁄2 million units around the world.
Famous Births 👶
- 2007: Roman Griffin Davis, English actor
- 2000: Doug Edert, American basketball player
- 1999: Madison Beer, American singer-songwriter
- 1999: Justin Fields, American football player
- 1999: Yeri, South Korean singer and actress
- 1998: Bo Bichette, American baseball player
- 1997: Milena Venega, Cuban rower
- 1996: Taylor Hill, American model
- 1996: Emmanuel Mudiay, Congolese-American basketball player
- 1994: Daria Saville, Russian-Australian tennis player
- 1994: MJ, South Korean singer and actor
- 1993: El Hadji Ba, French footballer
- 1993: Joshua Coyne, American violinist and composer
- 1993: Fred, Brazilian footballer
- 1993: Ahmed Hassan, Egyptian footballer
Notable Deaths 🕊️
- 2017: Kurt Moll, German opera singer (born 1938)
- 2016: Hassan Al-Turabi, Sudanese activist and politician (born 1932)
- 2016: Ray Tomlinson, American computer programmer and engineer (born 1941)
- 2016: Al Wistert, American football player and coach (born 1920)
- 2015: Vlada Divljan, Serbian singer-songwriter and guitarist (born 1958)
- 2015: Edward Egan, American cardinal and former Archbishop of New York (born 1932)
- 2014: Geoff Edwards, American actor and game show host (born 1931)
- 2014: Ailsa McKay, Scottish economist and academic (born 1963)
- 2014: Leopoldo María Panero, Spanish poet and translator (born 1948)
- 2014: Ola L. Mize, American colonel, Medal of Honor recipient (born 1931)
- 2013: Paul Bearer, American wrestler and manager (born 1954)
- 2013: Hugo Chávez, Venezuelan colonel and politician, President of Venezuela (born 1954)
- 2013: Duane Gish, American biochemist and academic (born 1921)
- 2012: Paul Haines, New Zealand-Australian author (born 1970)
- 2012: Philip Madoc, Welsh-English actor (born 1934)
Holidays & Observances 🎉
- Christian feast day:
Ciarán of Saigir - Christian feast day:
John Joseph of the Cross - Christian feast day:
Piran - Christian feast day:
Theophilus, bishop of Caesarea - Christian feast day:
Thietmar of Minden - Christian feast day:
March 5 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) - Learn from Lei Feng Day (China)
- St Piran’s Day (Cornwall)