| 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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| 1997-01-18
In north west Rwanda, Hutu militia members kill 3 Spanish aid workers, 3 soldiers and seriously wound one other.
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| 1997-07-08
NATO invites the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Poland to join the alliance in 1999.
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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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| 1997-02-28
The North Hollywood shootout takes place.
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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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| 1997-12-29
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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| 1997-07-10
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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| 1997-11-17
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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| 1997-01-03
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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| 1997-12-16
Dennō Senshi Porygon an episode of Pokémon, is aired in Japan, inducing seizures in hundreds of Japanese children.
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| 1997-06-30
The United Kingdom transfers sovereignty over Hong Kong to the People's Republic of China.
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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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| 1997-02-04
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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| 1997-03-09
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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| 1997-07-23
Digital Equipment Company files antitrust charges against chipmaker Intel.
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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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| 1997-03-22
The Comet Hale-Bopp has its closest approach to Earth.
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| 1997-02-23
A small fire occurs in the Russian Space station, Mir.
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| 1997-04-22
The Japanese embassy hostage crisis ends in Lima, Peru.
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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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| 1997-03-21
In a Tel Aviv, Israel coffee shop, a suicide bomber kills 3 and injures 49.
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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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| 1997-11-16
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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| 1997-12-03
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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| 1997-07-17
The F.W. Woolworth Company closes after 117 years in business.
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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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| 1997-11-10
WorldCom and MCI Communications announce a $37 billion merger (the largest merger in US history at the time).
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| 1997-08-20
Souhane massacre in Algeria; over 60 people are killed and 15 kidnapped.
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| 1997-09-27
Communications are suddenly lost with the Mars Pathfinder space probe.
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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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| 1997-12-15
A chartered Tupolev TU-154 from Tajikistan crashes in the desert near Sharja, United Arab Emirates airport killing 85.
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| 1997-01-23
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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| 1997-08-03
Oued El-Had and Mezouara massacre in Algeria; 40-76 villagers killed.
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| 1997-08-26
Beni-Ali massacre in Algeria; 60-100 people killed.
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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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| 1997-06-13
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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| 1997-09-26
A Garuda Indonesia Airbus A-300 crashes near Medan, Indonesia, airport, killing 234.
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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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| 1997-12-24
The Sid El-Antri massacre (or Sidi Lamri) in Algeria kills 50-100 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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| 1997-10-25
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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| 1997-06-12
Queen Elizabeth II reopens the Globe Theatre in London.
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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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| 1997-08-06
Korean Air Flight 801, a Boeing 747-300, crashes into the jungle on Guam on approach to airport, killing 228.
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| 1997-12-18
HTML 4.0 is published by the World Wide Web Consortium.
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| 1997-09-19
Guelb El-Kebir massacre in Algeria; 53 killed.
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| 1997-11-09
Montreal Screwjob
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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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| 1997-05-06
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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| 1997-09-03
A Vietnam Airlines Tupolev TU-134 crashes on approach into Phnom Penh airport, killing 64.
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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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| 1997-12-11
The Kyoto Protocol opens for signature.
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| 1997-10-12
Sidi Daoud massacre in Algeria; 43 killed at a fake roadblock.
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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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| 1997-04-13
Tiger Woods becomes the youngest golfer to win The Masters Tournament.
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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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| 1997-12-06
A Russian Antonov An-124 transport cargo plane crashes into an apartment complex near Irkutsk, Siberia, killing 67.
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| 1997-02-05
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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| 1997-06-13
Uphaar cinema fire, in New Delhi, India, killed 59 people, and over 100 people injured.
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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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| 1997-09-18
Voters in Wales vote yes (50.3%) on a referendum on Welsh autonomy.
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| 1997-04-01
Comet Hale-Bopp is seen passing over perihelion.
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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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| 1997-12-22
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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| 1997-12-19
SilkAir Flight 185 crashes into the Musi River, near Palembang in Indonesia, killing 104.
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| 1997-07-27
Si Zerrouk massacre in Algeria; about 50 people killed.
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| 1997-07-22
The second Blue Water Bridge opens between Port Huron, Michigan and Sarnia, Ontario.
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| 1997-07-01
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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| 1997-07-15
In Miami, Florida, serial killer Andrew Phillip Cunanan guns down Gianni Versace outside his home.
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| 1997-10-15
The Cassini probe launches from Cape Canaveral on its way to Saturn.
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| 1997-10-02
European Union: The Amsterdam Treaty is signed.
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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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| 1997-06-16
The Dairat Labguer massacre in Algeria; 50 people are killed.
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| 1997-12-27
Protestant paramilitary leader Billy Wright is assassinated in Northern Ireland.
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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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| 1997-01-23
Madeleine Albright becomes the first woman to serve as United States Secretary of State.
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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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| 1997-10-10
An Austral Airlines DC-9-32 crashes and explodes near Nuevo Berlin, Uruguay, killing 74.
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| 1997-01-01
Ghanaian diplomat Kofi Annan is appointed Secretary General of the United Nations.
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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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| 1997-10-04
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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| 1997-06-25
The Soufrière Hills volcano in Montserrat erupts resulting in the death of 19 people.
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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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| 1997-05-11
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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| 1997-11-03
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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| 1997-07-28
Guatemala becomes a member of the Berne Convention copyright treaty.
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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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| 1997-04-29
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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| 1997-01-21
Newt Gingrich becomes the first leader of the United States House of Representatives to be internally disciplined for ethical misconduct.
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| 1997-10-27
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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| 1997-05-17
Troops of Laurent Kabila march into Kinshasa. Zaire is officially renamed Democratic Republic of the Congo.
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| 1997-11-27
Twenty-five are killed in the second Souhane massacre in Algeria.
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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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| 1997-06-28
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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| 1997-12-30
In the worst incident in Algeria's insurgency, the Wilaya of Relizane massacres, 400 people from four villages are killed.
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| 1997-08-31
Diana, Princess of Wales, her companion Dodi Al-Fayed and driver Henri Paul die in a car crash in Paris.
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| 1997-10-28
Emperor Nerva is forced by the Praetorian Guard, to adopt general Marcus Ulpius Trajanus as his heir and successor.
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| 1997-04-23
Omaria massacre in Algeria: 42 villagers are killed.
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| 1997-02-28
A postmodern coup takes places in Turkey.
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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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| 1997-03-03
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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| 1997-02-22
In Roslin, Scotland, scientists announce that an adult sheep named Dolly had been successfully cloned.
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| 1997-01-01
The Republic of Zaïre officially joins the World Trade Organization, as Zaïre.
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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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| 1997-12-24
The Dominican Republic becomes a member of the Berne Convention copyright treaty.
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| 1997-06-25
An unmanned Progress spacecraft collides with the Russian space station Mir.
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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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| 1997-07-30
Eighteen lives are lost in the Thredbo Landslide in New South Wales, Australia.
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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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| 1997-03-04
U.S. President Bill Clinton bans federally funded human cloning research.
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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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| 1997-03-13
India's Missionaries of Charity chooses Sister Nirmala to succeed Mother Teresa as its leader.
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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
After at first contesting the results, Serbian President Slobodan Milošević recognizes opposition victories in the November 1996 elections.
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| 1997-04-22
Haouch Khemisti massacre in Algeria – 93 villagers killed.
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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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