Tuesday, August 26, 1997
Today's events
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The National Organization for Women is scheduled to mark
Women's Equality Day.
President Mandela is expected to meet with Sudanese rebel
leader John Garang in preparation for a broader meeting aimed
at resolving the civil war in Sudan.
The Fourth Environmental Northern Seas Conference and
Exhibition is scheduled in Stavanger, Norway.
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On the horizon
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On Wednesday, August 27, the annual Venice Film Festival
opens in Italy.
On Thursday, August 28, Mafest 97, an international film
festival of tourism, ecology and sports opens in Palic,
Serbia with 65 films from 28 countries.
On Friday, August 29, the "Air-guitar" world championships
take place in Oulu, Finland.
On Monday, August 30, Bonhams is scheduled to hold an auction
of Elvis Presley memorabilia to mark the 20th anniversary of
his death. The action includes two stage suits expected to
fetch $150,000.
On Tuesday, August 31, Jerry Lewis is scheduled to hold the
annual Muscular Dystrophy telethon.
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On this day
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In 1346, a small English army of 10,000 under Edward III
defeated Philip VI's superior French forces in the battle of
Crecy. It was the first battle at which the English used only
infantry and longbowmen.
In 1541, Suleiman I of Turkey captured Buda and annexed
Hungary after his dispute with Archduke Ferdinand over claims
to the kingdom.
In 1813, after an initial victory, the French under Marshal
Macdonald were beaten by the Prussians under General Bluecher
at the battle of Katzbach.
In 1858, the Treaty of Edo was signed which provided for the
opening up of Japan to British trade and set up British
residency.
In 1883, a massive eruption of a volcano on the island of
Krakatoa in the Sundra Strait between Java and Sumatra began.
The two-day eruption and associated tidal waves killed some
36,000 people and destroyed two-thirds of the island.
In 1896, Armenian revolutionaries attacked the Ottoman Bank
in Constantinople, provoking a three-day battle in which at
least 6,000 Armenians died.
In 1914, in World War I, the Russians under Renenkampf and
Samsonov were heavily out-maneuvered by the Germans under
Hindenburg and Ludendorff at the battle of Tannenberg. Over
30,000 Russians were killed.
In 1920, the 19th Amendment to the American Constitution was
ratified, giving women the vote.
In 1944, in World War II, Bulgaria announced that it had
withdrawn from the war and that German troops were to be
disarmed.
In 1976, Prince Bernhard, husband of Queen Juliana of the
Netherlands, agreed to resign his positions with the Dutch
armed forces and industry following severe criticism of his
behavior by a commission of inquiry into a Lockheed bribery
scandal.
In 1978, Cardinal Albino Luciani of Venice was elected as
Pope John Paul I. He served only 33 days before dying of a
heart attack on Sept. 28.
In 1978, Sigmund Jahn became the first German in space when
he blasted off aboard Russia's Soyuz 31.
In 1982, the Argentine government lifted a ban on political
parties.
In 1993, Russian President Boris Yeltsin signed a friendship
treaty with the Czech Republic after condemning the 1968
Soviet-led invasion of Czechoslovakia.
In 1996, a South Korean court sentenced former president Chun
Doo Hwan to death on charges of masterminding a 1979 coup and
his presidential successor, Roh Tae-woo, was sentenced to 22
1/2 years in prison for playing a supporting role.
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Newslink
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Are you really going to eat that? With all the talk about E.
coli and salmonella in the news, it may be in your best
interests to check out the National Food Safety
Database.
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Holidays and more
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Today is Heroes Day in Namibia.
Journalist Ben Bradlee is 76.
Actor Macaulay Culkin is 17.
Actor Ronny Graham is 78.
Musician Branford Marsalis is 37.
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Sources: Associated Press,
Chase's Calendar of Events 1997, J.P. Morgan
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