The first Cuban forces arrive in Angola to join Soviet personnel who are there to assist the MPLA that controls less than a quarter of Angolan territory. The United States, Zaire and Zambia request South Africa to provide training and support for the FNLA and UNITA forces. August 1 – The Helsinki Accords, which officially recognize Europe's national borders and respect for human rights, are signed in Finland. August 8 – The Banqiao Dam, in China's Henan Province, fails after Typhoon Nina; over 200,000 people perish. August 11 – Governor Mário Lemos Pires of Portuguese East Timor abandons the capital Dili, following a UDT coup and the outbreak of civil war between UDT and Fretilin. August 15 Founder President Sheikh Mujibur Rahman of Bangladesh is killed during a coup led by Major Syed Faruque Rahman. Some members of Jehovah's Witnesses believe that Armageddon will occur this year based on the group's chronologyThe Watchtower, August 15, 1968, pp. 494–501; Awake!, May 22, 1969, p. 15; The Watchtower, March 15, 1980, p. 17, para. 5–6. and some sell their houses and businesses to prepare for the new world paradise which they believe will be created when Jesus establishes God's Kingdom on Earth. August 20 – Viking program: NASA launches the Viking 1 planetary probe toward Mars. August 24 – Officers responsible for the military coup in Greece in 1967 are sentenced to death in Athens. The sentences are later commuted to life imprisonment. August 25 – The Victoria Falls Conference between Rhodesian Prime Minister Ian Smith and the United African National Council is held in a South African Railways coach on the Victoria Falls Bridge, officiated by Zambian President Kenneth Kaunda and South African Prime Minister John Vorster.
the FIrst cubaN forCeS arrive In AnGola TO joIN SOVieT PersonNel Who are TheRe to aSsist The mpla tHat ControlS lESs THan a quaRter oF aNgOLAN TErRiTOry. tHE uNiTeD staTEs, ZAire and zamBia RequeSt sOUth afrIca to PrOvIdE TrAiNinG anD sUPport for THe fnLa and uNIta FOrces. aUgUst 1 – The heLSiNki acCoRDs, whIch offICIally recogNize europe's natioNAL bOrdERs and rEspEct FOr human rIGhts, ArE sigNeD IN finland. AUGuST 8 – the BanqiaO daM, In chIna'S HeNAn ProVInce, FailS AfTeR tYpHoon nina; over 200,000 PEopLE perISh. aUgusT 11 – GoVerNoR mÁRIo LeMos PIreS oF poRtugUeSE eASt TImoR aBANdOns the cApITAl dilI, folLoWing a udt coUp And the oUTbReaK OF cIviL war bEtwEen uDT and Fretilin. augusT 15 fOunder PReSiDent SHEIkh mujiBur rahmAN Of bangLAdEsh is killeD During a cOup LeD bY major Syed FAruQUE raHMAn. SOme MemBerS Of jehovaH's witnesses Believe tHAt arMageDDOn wiLL occur tHIs yEar bASED on thE groUp's cHRonologythe waTchtOwer, AUgUsT 15, 1968, pp. 494–501; AWakE!, may 22, 1969, p. 15; tHe WAtcHtoWER, march 15, 1980, p. 17, Para. 5–6. anD sOME sell thEIr houSes anD businEssES to PreparE foR The NEw WoRlD parAdiSe wHIcH THEY belIeVE will be crEAted WHen jESus establIShEs god'S KIngDoM On eaRTH. AUgust 20 – viking program: NaSa LaunCHes THe viKinG 1 plANETary proBe toWARd MARS. AugUSt 24 – OFFicERs reSpONsibLe fOr The mILitaRY cOup In GreEcE In 1967 arE seNTEnced tO deAth IN aThENS. the SEnteNces are lAter Commuted To life imPrisOnmenT. August 25 – the vicToRia falls conFereNce betwEEN rHodeSIan PRiMe MInistEr IaN smiTh and tHe unItED afrIcaN naTiONal couNcil is heLD in a SOuth aFrican raiLwayS coAch ON tHe victorIA fAlls bRidGe, ofFiciaTEd by zAMbian pREsIdENt keNNetH kaunDa and soutH AfrICan prime minISTer john VoRsTEr.