Saturday, May 31, 1997
Today's events
Pope John Paul II begins a trip to his native Poland.
U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright is scheduled to visit Sarajevo for talks with political leaders.
The U.N.'s World Health Organization sponsors No-Tobacco Day.
With over 90 balloons participating, the annual Great Wisconsin Dells Balloon Rally opens in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin.
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On the horizon
On Sunday, June 1, the second round of French parliamentary elections is scheduled to begin.
On Monday, June 2, Canada is scheduled to hold its general elections.
On Tuesday, June 3, it will be the eighth anniversary of China's crackdown on dissidents in Tiananmen Square.
On Wednesday, June 4, the World Economic Forum issues its world competitiveness report in Zurich.
On Thursday, June 5, multi-party legislative elections are scheduled to be held in Algeria, the first since authorities annulled 1992's general election.
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On this day
In 1433, Pope Eugenius IV crowned Sigismund the Holy Roman Emperor.
In 1669, due to failing eyesight, the British admiralty official and diarist Samuel Pepys stopped writing his diary.
In 1793, in France, three days of insurrection and revolt began, leading to the fall of the Girondists from the Convention.
In 1821, the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary In Baltimore became the first catholic cathedral to be dedicated in the United States.
In 1859, Big Ben, the clock tower of the Houses of Parliament in London, began telling the time.
In 1902, the Treaty of Vereeniging was signed in Pretoria bringing an end to the Boer War. 5,774 British troops and at least 4,000 Boers were killed in action.
In 1910, the former British self-governing colonies of Natal, the Transvaal and Cape of Good Hope joined together and formed the Union of South Africa.
In 1911, in Belfast, the White Star liner the Titanic was launched as one of the largest vessels afloat. It sank on its maiden voyage in April 1912.
In 1961, South Africa proclaimed itself a republic and left the Commonwealth.
In 1962, Adolph Eichmann, who helped organize Nazi Germany's Holocaust murder of millions of Jews, was hanged in
Jerusalem.
In 1990, the smash NBC sitcom "Seinfeld" premiered.
In 1994, Bosnia's parliament elected Croat war veteran Kresimir Zubak as the first interim president of a new power-sharing Muslim-Croat federation.
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Newslink
The Pope is headed home for a visit to his native Poland. But the country has been through so many changes in the years since he took up residence in Rome that he may need a little help getting around. Poland Now! is one Web site ready to aid the Papal pilgrimage to the old home stead.
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Holidays and more
Brunei Darussalam celebrates the Anniversary of the Royal Brunei Malay Regiment.
Malaysia celebrates its Harvest Festival.
Actor Tom Berenger is 47.
Actor Clint Eastwood is 67.
Actress Sharon Gless is 54.
Football Hall of Famer Joe Namath is 54.
Singer Johnny Paycheck is 56.
Actress Brooke Shields is 32.
Actress Lea Thompson is 36.
Composer Peter Yarrow is 59.
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Sources: Associated Press,
Chase's Calendar of Events 1997, J.P. Morgan
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