Sunday, August 10, 1997
Today's events
The Fiftieth Edinburgh International Festival opens in Scotland.
Hundreds of Rastas from around the world are expected at the 3rd annual Rastafari Gathering in Christiansted, St. Croix.
U.S. National Security Adviser Sandy Berger visits China.
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On the horizon
On Monday, August 11, Elvis Week is scheduled to begin in
Memphis, Tennessee.
On Tuesday, August 12, United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan is scheduled to visit Finland to meet President Martti Ahtisaari, Prime Minister Paavo Lipponen and Foreign Minister Tarja Halonen.
On Wednesday, August 13, the crayfish season opens in Sweden, annually the second Wednesday in August.
On Thursday, August 14, the parliaments of India and Pakistan meet in their respective capitals to mark the 50th anniversary of independence from British colonial rule.
On Friday, August 15, the Japanese government holds a memorial service to mark the 52nd anniversary of the end of World War II.
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On this day
In 955, King Otto I of Germany defeated the Magyars (Hungarians) at the Battle of Lechfeld, ending a threatened Magyar invasion.
In 1557, the French army lost over 14,000 men when they tried
to block a Spanish army under Count Egmont at the Battle of
Saint Quentin in the Spanish-French Wars. The Spaniards lost
just 50.
In 1627, France's Cardinal Richelieu began the siege of the
Huguenot fortress at La Rochelle with royal troops. The fortress finally fell 14 months later in October 1628.
In 1675, the foundation stone of the Royal Observatory was
laid at Greenwich in south London by order of King Charles II, to improve knowledge of the positions of stars and thus aid navigation. John Flamsteed became the first Astronomer Royal.
In 1792, King Louis XVI of France was arrested after a mob
stormed the Tuileries in Paris and massacred the Swiss Guard,
and the monarchy was suspended.
In 1821, the state of Missouri was admitted to the Union as
the 24th of the United States.
In 1846, the Smithsonian Institution was established in Washington as a center for scientific research
from funds left at the bequest of British scientist James
Smithson.
In 1885, the first commercially operated electrical streetcar
began operation in Baltimore.
In 1895, the first Promenade concert under conductor Henry
Wood took place at Queen's Hall in London. He remained in sole charge of the "Proms," the annual British classical music festival, until 1940.
In 1904, the Russian Fleet took heavy losses when the Japanese fleet blocked them as they were trying to escape from Port Arthur in the battle of the Yellow Sea, part of the
Russian-Japanese War.
In 1913, the Treaty of Bucharest was signed between Bulgaria
and the Balkan allies Greece, Serbia, Montenegro and Romania,
ending the second Balkan war.
In 1920, the Treaty of Sevres was signed between Turkey and
the Allied powers after World War One, relieving Turkey of much of the land ruled by the Ottoman Empire.
In 1944, after three weeks of fighting, U.S. forces finally
overran Pati Point and recaptured Guam from the Japanese in
World War II.
In 1964, Pope Paul VI issued his first encyclical, "Ecclesiam
Suam," which stated his willingness to mediate in international disputes.
In 1966, Orbiter 1 was launched from Cape Kennedy and became
the first spacecraft to transmit Lunar photographs of possible landing sites. It crashed into the far side of the moon on October 29.
In 1995, former army buddies Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols were indicted for the devastating Oklahoma City bombing on April 19 that killed 168 people.
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Newslink
Holidays and more
Ecuador celebrates National Independence Day.
Musician Ian Anderson is 50.
Actress Rosanna Arquette is 38.
Singer Jimmy Dean is 69.
Singer Eddie Fisher is 69.
Actress Rhonda Fleming is 74.
Fashion designer Betsy Johnson is 55.
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Sources: Associated Press,
Chase's Calendar of Events 1997, J.P. Morgan
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