Saturday, April 19, 1997
Today's events
The Airline Quality Research Team holds a news conference in Washington, D.C., to announce the results of its seventh annual national Airline Quality Rating.
The "Voices of Chichen-Itza" concert to benefit Maya culture will be held in Chichen-Itza, Mexico.
General elections are being held in Bulgaria.
The 28th annual World Cow Chip Throwing Championship takes place in Beaver, Oklahoma.
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On the horizon
On Sunday, April 20, Bosnian President Alija Izetbegovic
visits Cairo, Egypt.
On Monday, April 21, Britain's Queen Elizabeth celebrates her
71st birthday.
On Tuesday, April 22, King Hussein of Jordan is scheduled to
visit Denmark.
On Wednesday, April 23, International Monetary Fund (IMF) World Bank holds its 1997 spring meeting in Washington.
On Thursday, April 24, Japanese Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto visits the U.S. for talks with President Clinton.
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On this day
In 1587, English admiral Sir Francis Drake entered Cadiz harbor and sank the Spanish fleet, an action he referred to "as singeing the king of Spain's beard."
In 1713, Holy Roman Emperor Charles VI issued the Pragmatic Sanction, giving women the rights of succession to Hapsburg possessions.
In 1775, the American War of Independence began with the defeat of the British under Thomas Gage at Lexington and Concord.
In 1824, English poet Lord Byron died of a fever while aiding Greek rebels fighting the Turks.
In 1839, the Treaty of London was signed, establishing recognition of the Kingdom of Belgium by all the states of Europe.
In 1850, the Clayton-Bulwer agreement was signed by which Britain and the U.S. agreed not to obtain exclusive control of a proposed Panama canal.
In 1853, Russia claimed protectorate over Turkey in a prelude to the Crimean War.
In 1906, Pierre Curie, French chemist and physicist, was run over and killed in Paris. Together with his wife, Marie, he had worked on magnetism and radioactivity.
In 1927, American actress Mae West was found guilty of indecent behavior in her Broadway production "Sex."
In 1933, President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued a proclamation removing the U.S. from the gold standard.
In 1943, Polish Jews rose up in the Warsaw ghetto in a failed
rebellion against the Nazis.
In 1956, Prince Rainier of Monaco married U.S. film actress Grace Kelly.
In 1960, a student uprising toppled the authoritarian government of South Korean President Syngman Rhee.
In 1966, an advance party of 4,500 Australian troops left Sydney to fight alongside U.S. troops in Vietnam.
In 1967, the unmanned U.S. spacecraft Surveyor 3 landed on the moon.
In 1971, Russia launched its space station Salyut into earth's orbit.
In 1989, Forty-seven crewmen died in an explosion on the U.S. battleship USS Iowa during Atlantic maneuvers.
In 1993, more than 80 Branch Davidians were killed when federal agents stormed their compound in Waco, Texas after a 51-day standoff.
In 1995, a huge car bomb tore apart a federal building in Oklahoma City, the death toll eventually reaching 168.
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Newslink
The Airline Quality Research Team releases its ranking of airline quality today. Airwise is a Web site that claims a similar goal. Visit their Airport and Air Travel Guide for information and tips on all phases of air travel, from the airport parking deck to 30,000 feet up.
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Holidays and more
Brunei Darussalam observes Hari Raya Haji.
Cuba celebrates the Victory at Gir-n.
Djibouti observes Aid-El-Adha.
Malaysia observes the Birthday of the Sultan.
Swaziland celebrates the King's Birthday.
Uruguay celebrates the Landing of the 33 Orientals.
Venezuela celebrates Constitution Day.
Actor Don Adams is 70.
Actor Tim Curry is 51.
Actress Elinor Donahue is 60.
Actor Dudley Moore is 62.
Actor Hugh O'Brian is 67.
Singer, songwriter Alan price is 55.
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Sources: Associated Press,
Chase's Calendar of Events 1997, J.P. Morgan
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