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Tuesday, August 5, 1997

  • Today's Events
  • On Horizon
  • On This Day
  • Newslink
  • Holidays & more
  • Almanac archive
  • "The stories are all true and fact-checked, but they make you say 'Oh, my God, I didn't know that was true.'"

    -- Rick Gibson, CEO of Enquirer Online publisher E-Ticket





    Today's events


  • Franjo Tudjman is scheduled to be sworn in as Croatian president for another five-year term.

  • Planned launch of the Soyuz spacecraft in Baikonur, Russia, with a crew to replace the one aboard the crippled Mir station.

  • Representatives from the United States, China, North Korea and South Korea are scheduled to meet in New York in talks which will focus on nuclear missile proliferation, among other topics.

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    On the horizon


  • On Wednesday, August 6, the Solomon Islands hold national elections.

  • On Thursday, August 7, "Achievements and perspectives of the Venezuelan Agenda," a conference, opens in Caracas.

  • On Friday, August 8, Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong delivers his National Day address to the people of Singapore.

  • On Saturday, August 9, the annual parade of the Apprentice Boys in Londonderry, Northern Ireland, is scheduled to take place. The parade celebrate the victory over Roman Catholics who besieged the city after 13 apprentice boys shut the gates on the advancing army of King James II.

  • On Sunday, August 10, hundreds of Rastas from around the world are expected at the 3rd annual Rastafari Gathering in Christiansted, St. Croix.

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    On this day


  • In 1305, Sir William Wallace, Scottish hero and champion of Scottish independence who beat Edward I at the battle of Stirling Bridge, was captured by the English and later executed as a traitor.

  • In 1529, the Treaty of Cambrai was signed by Francis I of France and Holy Roman Emperor Charles V. Francis renounced his claim to Italy and Charles renounced his claims to Burgundy.

  • In 1583, Sir Humphrey Gilbert founded the first English colony in North America at St. John's in Newfoundland.

  • In 1716, in a devastating defeat, Prince Eugene of Savoy with a force of 40,000 Austrians beat 150,000 Turks under Darnad Ali Pasha at the battle of Peterwardein. Over 30,000 Turks died.

  • In 1850, Australian Government Act granted representative governments to South Australia, Tasmania and Victoria.

  • In 1858, the first transatlantic cable was completed enabling telegraphic communication between United States and Britain. The service was ended on September 1 as the current was too weak.

  • In 1864, in Alabama, Union forces under Admiral David Farragut defeated the Confederates at Battle of Mobile Bay in the U.S. Civil War.

  • In 1884, cornerstone of the Statue of Liberty was laid on Bedloe's Island in New York harbor.

  • In 1914, Montenegro declared war against Austria-Hungary in World War One. Cuba, Uruguay, Mexico and Argentina all proclaimed their neutrality.

  • In 1914, the first electric traffic signals to control different streams of traffic were installed at Euclid Avenue and East 105th street in Cleveland, Ohio.

  • In 1915, Warsaw, evacuated by the Russians, was occupied by the Germans.

  • In 1940, Latvia was absorbed into the Soviet Union as the Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic.

  • In 1943, in World War II, British troops entered Catania and Paterno in Sicily.

  • In 1949, in Ecuador an area of some 1,500 square miles was struck by an earthquake measuring 6.75 on the Richter scale. Six thousand people were killed and about 100,000 people made homeless.

  • In 1953, "Operation Big Switch" -- the exchange of prisoners of war between the United Nations Command and the Chinese and North Koreans -- takes place at Panmunjom, Korea.

  • In 1960, Upper Volta gained independence from France.

  • In 1962, Nelson Mandela was arrested near Howick, Natal and charged with incitement, receiving a five-year sentence later in the year.

  • In 1962, Marilyn Monroe, U.S. film actress, died in Los Angeles aged 36. Famed for her roles in the films "Some Like it Hot" and "The Misfits."

  • In 1963, a Nuclear Test Ban Treaty was signed in Moscow by Russia, the United States and Britain.

  • In 1973, Arab terrorists open fire at Athens airport, killing three and injuring 55.

  • In 1974, U.S. President Nixon admitted he had withheld information about the Watergate break-in; he announced his resignation three days later.

  • In 1995, the United States and Vietnam declared an end to decades of enmity, formally established diplomatic ties and pledged a new era of cooperation.

  • In 1995, Croatian government forces seized the rebel Serb "capital" of Knin in a lightning assault designed to win back the breakaway region of Krajina after four years.

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    Newslink


    Thirty-five years ago today, the legendary Marilyn Monroe died in Los Angeles. Famed for her roles in the films "Some Like it Hot" and "The Misfits," her influence is still felt today. Click here to join in on a virtual memorial to the star.


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    Holidays and more


  • Today is a Festival Holiday in the British Virgin Islands.

  • It's Independence Day in Burkina Faso.

  • Today is a National Holiday in Croatia.

  • It's the San Salvador Feast in El Salvador.

  • Today is Public Holiday in Grenada.

  • It's Youth Day in Kiribati.

  • Today is Culturama in St. Kitts-Nevis.

  • Actress Loni Anderson is 51.

  • Former astronaut Neil Armstrong is 67.

  • Actress Josie Bissett is 27.

  • Basketball player Patrick Ewing is 35.

  • Actor John Saxon is 61.

  • Actor Jonathan Silverman is 31.

  • Actress Erika Slezak is 51.

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    Sources: Associated Press,
    Chase's Calendar of Events 1997, J.P. Morgan



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