From Graaff-Reinet to Gaza: Today in History, World Happiness Rankings, and Shocking Global Milestones

Quote of the day

You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take. | Wayne Gretzky

Did you know?

Finland is the happiest country on Earth, according to the 2025 World Happiness Report. And that has been the case for the past six years in a row, but that’s not surprising, given that Finland is the home of Santa Claus, reindeer and one sauna for every 1.59 people. In contrast, South African are a pretty miserable lot, with the country ranked 95th out of 147, but still fourth happiest in Africa. Nonetheless, would you trust the report?

On this day in history, February 6

1795 The “Vryburgers” proclaim the Republic of Graaff-Reinet.

1820 The first 86 African-American immigrants leave New York to start a settlement (Liberia).

1838 Zulu king Dingaan signs the treaty drafted by Piet Retief on February 4, granting an extensive area between the Tugela and Umzimvubu rivers to the Voortrekkers. At the farewell function, Retief’s 70 men and 30 mounted servants are killed on Dingaan’s orders. They are bound and taken to a spot where they are spiked and clubbed to death.

1910 Belgian aviator Albert Kimmerling gives a flying display in Johannesburg – marking the start of serious aviation in South Africa.

1933 The highest sea wave (not tsunami), 34m, in a Pacific hurricane is recorded.

1935 The board game Monopoly goes on sale.

1952 King George VI of England dies, and his daughter becomes Queen Elizabeth II – England’s longest-reigning monarch.

1958 Eight Manchester United players and 15 others are killed in the Munich air disaster.

1959 Jack Kilby of Texas Instruments files the first patent for an integrated circuit.

1970 Springbok cricketer Graeme Pollock scores 274 runs against Australia in Durban.

1994 Twelve people – nine women and three children – are killed in a pre-dawn attack in Masunkazane, Richmond, Natal.

2017 Qatar Airways completes the longest commercial flight when a Boeing 777 lands in Auckland after a 16-hour flight from Doha.

2018 Brazilian jockey Jorge Ricardo equals the world record number of victories for a jockey – 12,844 – in Rio de Janeiro.

2019 Honeybees can add and subtract and understand the concept of zero, according to research from RMIT University in Australia.

2023 A series of earthquakes kills over 50,000 people in Türkiye and Syria.

2024 Swedish automaker Polestar introduces its Polestar 4 – the first mass-market car with no rear window, an electric SUV coupé with a rear-mounted camera instead.

2025 US President Donald Trump reiterates that Gaza could be developed into a “Riviera of the Middle East” by the US, with its population moved elsewhere.

DAILY NEWS