TUESDAY, Aug. 11, 2026

3114 B.C. - 3114-08-11 B.C.E marks the inception of the Mesoamerican Long Count calendar, utilized by various pre-Columbian civilizations in Mesoamerica, specifically the Maya.

In contrast, in 1945, the Allies refused Japan's proposal to surrender, insisting that Emperor Hirohito retain his position.

Fast forward to 1954, a formal peace treaty concluded a seven-year conflict between the French and the Communist Viet Minh in Indochina.

Twenty years later, in 1963, four members of the African National Congress (ANC) managed to escape from Pretoria Central Prison in South Africa.

Fast-forward to 1988, when Al-Qaeda was established during a meeting involving Osama Bin Laden, Ayman al-Zawahiri, and Dr. Fadl in Peshawar, Pakistan.

In 1998, Yasser Arafat, who was then the president of the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Palestinian National Authority, arrived in Cape Town. This visit marked his first state visit to South Africa, following an invitation from then-President Nelson Mandela.

In 2003, NATO assumed command of the peacekeeping force in Afghanistan, marking its first significant operation outside of Europe in its 54-year history.