| 1997-04-29
The Chemical Weapons Convention of 1993 enters into force, outlawing the production, stockpiling and use of chemical weapons by its signatories.
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| 1997-04-19
The Red River Flood of 1997 overwhelms the city of Grand Forks, North Dakota. Fire breaks out and spreads in downtown Grand Forks, but high water levels hamper efforts to reach the fire, leading to the destruction of 11 buildings.
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| 1997-12-18
HTML 4.0 is published by the World Wide Web Consortium.
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| 1997-09-06
Diana, Princess of Wales is laid to rest in front of a television audience of more than 2.5 billion.
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| 1997-03-09
Comet Hale-Bopp: Observers in China, Mongolia and eastern Siberia are treated to a rare double feature as an eclipse permits Hale-Bopp to be seen during the day.
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| 1997-10-02
European Union: The Amsterdam Treaty is signed.
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| 1997-06-16
The Dairat Labguer massacre in Algeria; 50 people are killed.
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| 1997-12-06
A Russian Antonov An-124 transport cargo plane crashes into an apartment complex near Irkutsk, Siberia, killing 67.
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| 1997-10-04
The second largest cash robbery in U.S. history occurs at the Charlotte, North Carolina office of Loomis, Fargo and Company. An FBI investigation eventually results in 24 convictions and the recovery of approximately 95% of the $17.3 million in cash which had been taken.
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| 1997-05-11
IBM Deep Blue, a chess-playing supercomputer, defeats Garry Kasparov in the last game of the rematch, becoming the first computer to beat a world-champion chess player in a classic match format.
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| 1997-08-31
Diana, Princess of Wales, her companion Dodi Al-Fayed and driver Henri Paul die in a car crash in Paris.
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| 1997-04-22
Haouch Khemisti massacre in Algeria – 93 villagers killed.
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| 1997-07-10
In London scientists report the findings of the DNA analysis of a Neanderthal skeleton which support the "out of Africa theory" of human evolution placing an "African Eve" at 100,000 to 200,000 years ago.
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| 1997-01-01
The Republic of Zaïre officially joins the World Trade Organization, as Zaïre.
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| 1997-01-19
Yasser Arafat returns to Hebron after more than 30 years and joins celebrations over the handover of the last Israeli-controlled West Bank city.
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| 1997-05-17
Troops of Laurent Kabila march into Kinshasa. Zaire is officially renamed Democratic Republic of the Congo.
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| 1997-06-13
A jury sentences Timothy McVeigh to death for his part in the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing.
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| 1997-02-22
In Roslin, Scotland, scientists announce that an adult sheep named Dolly had been successfully cloned.
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| 1997-11-27
Twenty-five are killed in the second Souhane massacre in Algeria.
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| 1997-03-18
The tail of a Russian Antonov An-24 charter plane breaks off while en-route to Turkey causing the plane to crash and killing all 50 on board and leading to the grounding of all An-24s.
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| 1997-12-15
The Treaty of Bangkok is signed allowing the transformation of Southeast Asia into a Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone.
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| 1997-04-03
The Thalit massacre begins in Algeria; all but 1 of the 53 inhabitants of Thalit are killed by guerrillas.
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| 1997-07-15
In Miami, Florida, serial killer Andrew Phillip Cunanan guns down Gianni Versace outside his home.
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| 1997-12-24
The Dominican Republic becomes a member of the Berne Convention copyright treaty.
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| 1997-07-17
The F.W. Woolworth Company closes after 117 years in business.
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| 1997-12-15
A chartered Tupolev TU-154 from Tajikistan crashes in the desert near Sharja, United Arab Emirates airport killing 85.
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| 1997-04-01
Comet Hale-Bopp is seen passing over perihelion.
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| 1997-11-09
Montreal Screwjob
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| 1997-06-10
Before fleeing his northern stronghold, Khmer Rouge leader Pol Pot orders the killing of his defense chief Son Sen and 11 of Sen's family members.
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| 1997-12-26
The Soufriere Hills volcano on the island of Montserrat explodes, creating a small tsunami offshore.
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| 1997-06-25
The Soufrière Hills volcano in Montserrat erupts resulting in the death of 19 people.
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| 1997-12-16
Dennō Senshi Porygon an episode of Pokémon, is aired in Japan, inducing seizures in hundreds of Japanese children.
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| 1997-11-12
Ramzi Yousef is found guilty of masterminding the 1993 World Trade Center bombing.
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| 1997-02-04
En route to Lebanon, two Israeli Sikorsky CH-53 troop-transport helicopters collide in mid-air over northern Galilee, Israel killing 73.
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| 1997-05-15
The United States government acknowledges the existence of the "Secret War" in Laos and dedicates the Laos Memorial in honor of Hmong and other "Secret War" veterans.
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| 1997-10-10
An Austral Airlines DC-9-32 crashes and explodes near Nuevo Berlin, Uruguay, killing 74.
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| 1997-12-22
Acteal massacre: Attendees at a prayer meeting of Roman Catholic activists for indigenous causes in the small village of Acteal in the Mexican state of Chiapas are massacred by paramilitary forces.
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| 1997-11-17
In Luxor, Egypt, 62 people are killed by 6 Islamic militants outside the Temple of Hatshepsut, known as Luxor massacre (The police then kill the assailants).
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| 1997-05-27
The U.S. Supreme Court rules that Paula Jones can pursue her sexual harassment lawsuit against President Bill Clinton while he is in office.
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| 1997-12-03
In Ottawa, Canada, representatives from 121 countries sign The Ottawa treaty prohibiting manufacture and deployment of anti-personnel landmines. The United States, People's Republic of China, and Russia do not sign the treaty, however.
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| 1997-04-13
Tiger Woods becomes the youngest golfer to win The Masters Tournament.
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| 1997-06-12
Queen Elizabeth II reopens the Globe Theatre in London.
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| 1997-01-18
In north west Rwanda, Hutu militia members kill 3 Spanish aid workers, 3 soldiers and seriously wound one other.
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| 1997-03-04
U.S. President Bill Clinton bans federally funded human cloning research.
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| 1997-02-12
Hwang Jang-yop, secretary in the Workers' Party of Korea and a prime architect of North Korea's Juche doctrine, defects at the South Korean embassy in Beijing along with his aide, Kim Dok-hong.
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| 1997-04-22
The Japanese embassy hostage crisis ends in Lima, Peru.
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| 1997-09-27
Communications are suddenly lost with the Mars Pathfinder space probe.
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| 1997-10-28
Emperor Nerva is forced by the Praetorian Guard, to adopt general Marcus Ulpius Trajanus as his heir and successor.
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| 1997-01-17
A Delta 2 carrying a GPS2R satellite explodes 13 seconds after launch, dropping 250 tons of burning rocket remains around the launch pad.
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| 1997-01-23
Antonis Daglis, a 23-year-old Greek truck driver is sentenced to thirteen consecutive life sentences, plus 25 years for the serial slayings of three women and the attempted murder of six others.
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| 1997-11-16
After nearly 18 years of incarceration, the People's Republic of China releases Wei Jingsheng, a pro-democracy dissident, from jail for medical reasons.
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| 1997-01-03
The People's Republic of China announces it will spend $27.7 billion USD to fight erosion and pollution in the Yangtze and Yellow river valleys.
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| 1997-10-27
October 27, 1997 mini-crash: Stock markets around the world crash because of fears of a global economic meltdown. The Dow Jones Industrial Average plummets 554.26 points to 7,161.15. For the first time, the New York Stock Exchange activates its "circuit breakers" twice during the day eventually making the controversial move of closing the Exchange early.
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| 1997-10-15
The Cassini probe launches from Cape Canaveral on its way to Saturn.
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| 1997-09-03
A Vietnam Airlines Tupolev TU-134 crashes on approach into Phnom Penh airport, killing 64.
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| 1997-09-18
United States media magnate Ted Turner donates USD $1 billion to the United Nations.
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| 1997-03-22
The Comet Hale-Bopp has its closest approach to Earth.
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| 1997-03-21
In a Tel Aviv, Israel coffee shop, a suicide bomber kills 3 and injures 49.
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| 1997-07-21
The fully restored USS Constitution (aka Old Ironsides) celebrates her 200th birthday by setting sail for the first time in 116 years.
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| 1997-02-28
A postmodern coup takes places in Turkey.
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| 1997-08-29
At least 98 villagers are killed by the Armed Islamic Group of Algeria GIA in the Rais massacre, Algeria.
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| 1997-05-08
A China Southern Airlines Boeing 737 crashes on approach into Shenzhen's Huangtian Airport, killing 35 people.
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| 1997-05-25
A military coup in Sierra Leone replaces President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah with Major Johnny Paul Koromah.
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| 1997-08-03
Oued El-Had and Mezouara massacre in Algeria; 40-76 villagers killed.
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| 1997-06-26
The U.S. Supreme Court rules that the Communications Decency Act violates the First Amendment to the United States Constitution.
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| 1997-01-01
Ghanaian diplomat Kofi Annan is appointed Secretary General of the United Nations.
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| 1997-06-02
In Denver, Colorado, Timothy McVeigh is convicted on 15 counts of murder and conspiracy for his role in the 1995 bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
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| 1997-06-13
American fugitive Ira Einhorn is arrested in France for the murder of Holly Maddux after 16 years on the run, though he would not return for another four years.
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| 1997-09-19
Guelb El-Kebir massacre in Algeria; 53 killed.
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| 1997-06-25
An unmanned Progress spacecraft collides with the Russian space station Mir.
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| 1997-07-08
NATO invites the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Poland to join the alliance in 1999.
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| 1997-06-13
Uphaar cinema fire, in New Delhi, India, killed 59 people, and over 100 people injured.
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| 1997-02-23
A small fire occurs in the Russian Space station, Mir.
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| 1997-04-23
Omaria massacre in Algeria: 42 villagers are killed.
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| 1997-07-30
Eighteen lives are lost in the Thredbo Landslide in New South Wales, Australia.
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| 1997-08-25
Egon Krenz, the former East German leader, is convicted of a shoot-to-kill policy at the Berlin Wall.
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| 1997-01-21
Newt Gingrich becomes the first leader of the United States House of Representatives to be internally disciplined for ethical misconduct.
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| 1997-01-18
Boerge Ousland of Norway becomes the first person to cross Antarctica alone and unaided.
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| 1997-10-31
19-year-old British au pair Louise Woodward, convicted by a Cambridge, Massachusetts, jury of second-degree murder the day before, is sentenced to life in prison.
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| 1997-07-22
The second Blue Water Bridge opens between Port Huron, Michigan and Sarnia, Ontario.
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| 1997-02-28
The North Hollywood shootout takes place.
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| 1997-08-26
Beni-Ali massacre in Algeria; 60-100 people killed.
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| 1997-10-12
Sidi Daoud massacre in Algeria; 43 killed at a fake roadblock.
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| 1997-10-15
The first supersonic land speed record is set by Andy Green in ThrustSSC (United Kingdom), exactly 50 years and 1 day after Chuck Yeager first broke the sound barrier in the Earth's atmosphere.
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| 1997-07-27
Si Zerrouk massacre in Algeria; about 50 people killed.
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| 1997-12-27
Protestant paramilitary leader Billy Wright is assassinated in Northern Ireland.
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| 1997-12-22
Hussein Aidid relinquishes the disputed title of President of Somalia by signing the Cairo Declaration, in Cairo, Egypt. It is the first major step towards reconciliation in Somalia since 1991.
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| 1997-07-28
Guatemala becomes a member of the Berne Convention copyright treaty.
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| 1997-03-22
Tara Lipinski, age 14 years and 10 months, becomes the youngest champion women's World Figure Skating Champion.
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| 1997-12-17
The United Kingdom commences its Firearms (Amendment) (No. 2) Act 1997, which extends the state's gun ban to include all handguns -- with the exception of antique and show weapons.
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| 1997-05-22
Kelly Flinn, US Air Force's first female bomber pilot certified for combat, accepts a general discharge in order to avoid a court martial.
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| 1997-03-13
The Phoenix lights are seen over Phoenix, Arizona by hundreds of people, and by millions on television.
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| 1997-12-30
In the worst incident in Algeria's insurgency, the Wilaya of Relizane massacres, 400 people from four villages are killed.
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| 1997-09-26
An earthquake strikes the Italian regions of Umbria and the Marche, causing part of the Basilica of St. Francis at Assisi to collapse.
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| 1997-08-20
Souhane massacre in Algeria; over 60 people are killed and 15 kidnapped.
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| 1997-08-06
Korean Air Flight 801, a Boeing 747-300, crashes into the jungle on Guam on approach to airport, killing 228.
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| 1997-01-23
Madeleine Albright becomes the first woman to serve as United States Secretary of State.
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| 1997-07-01
The People's Republic of China resumes sovereignty over the city-state of Hong Kong, ending 156 years of British colonial rule.
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| 1997-12-19
SilkAir Flight 185 crashes into the Musi River, near Palembang in Indonesia, killing 104.
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| 1997-05-06
The Bank of England is given independence from political control, the most significant change in the bank's 300-year history.
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| 1997-12-24
The Sid El-Antri massacre (or Sidi Lamri) in Algeria kills 50-100 people.
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| 1997-07-04
NASA's Pathfinder space probe lands on the surface of Mars.
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| 1997-07-10
Partido Popular (Spain) member Miguel Ángel Blanco is kidnapped in the Basque city of Ermua by ETA members, sparking widespread protests.
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| 1997-12-29
Hong Kong begins to kill all the nation's 1.25 million chickens to stop the spread of a potentially deadly influenza strain.
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| 1997-09-26
A Garuda Indonesia Airbus A-300 crashes near Medan, Indonesia, airport, killing 234.
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| 1997-06-28
Mike Tyson vs Evander Holyfield II – Tyson is disqualified in the 3rd round for biting a piece off Holyfield's ear.
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| 1997-02-11
Space Shuttle Discovery is launched on a mission to service the Hubble Space Telescope.
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| 1997-10-25
After a brief civil war which has driven President Pascal Lissouba out of Brazzaville, Denis Sassou-Nguesso proclaims himself the President of the Republic of the Congo.
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| 1997-03-13
India's Missionaries of Charity chooses Sister Nirmala to succeed Mother Teresa as its leader.
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| 1997-06-30
The United Kingdom transfers sovereignty over Hong Kong to the People's Republic of China.
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| 1997-11-03
The United States of America imposes economic sanctions against Sudan in response to its human rights abuses of its own citizens and its material and political assistance to Islamic extremist groups across the Middle East and Eastern Africa.
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| 1997-07-23
Digital Equipment Company files antitrust charges against chipmaker Intel.
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| 1997-03-03
The tallest free-standing structure in the Southern Hemisphere, Sky Tower in downtown Auckland, New Zealand, opens after two-and-a-half years of construction.
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| 1997-12-11
The Kyoto Protocol opens for signature.
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| 1997-02-04
After at first contesting the results, Serbian President Slobodan Milošević recognizes opposition victories in the November 1996 elections.
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| 1997-11-10
WorldCom and MCI Communications announce a $37 billion merger (the largest merger in US history at the time).
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| 1997-09-18
Voters in Wales vote yes (50.3%) on a referendum on Welsh autonomy.
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| 1997-02-05
The so-called Big Three banks in Switzerland announce the creation of a $71 million fund to aid Holocaust survivors and their families.
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