Born in 1997 - Zodiac Signs, Personality and Horoscopes

1997 Tropical Ephemeris

What happened in January 1997

• January 1, 1997: \"The Emergency Alert System is introduced in the United States.\"
• January 11, 1997: \"Turkey threatens Cyprus on account of a deal to buy Russian S-300 missiles, prompting the Cypriot Missile Crisis.\"
• January 17, 1997: \"A Delta II rocket carrying a military GPS payload explodes, shortly after liftoff from Cape Canaveral.\"
• January 18, 1997: \"In northwest Rwanda, Hutu militia members kill 6 Spanish aid workers and three soldiers, and seriously wound another.\"
• January 19, 1997: \"Yasser Arafat returns to Hebron after more than 30 years, and joins celebrations over the handover of the last Israeli-controlled West Bank city.\"
• January 20, 1997: \"Bill Clinton is sworn in for a second term as President of the United States.\"
• January 23, 1997: \"Madeleine Albright becomes the first female Secretary of State of the United States, after confirmation by the United States Senate.\"
• February 4, 1997: Two Israeli troop-transport helicopters collided mid-air while en route to Lebanon, resulting in the tragic loss of all 73 individuals on board.
• February 10, 1997: Australian newspapers revealed the 'Sandline affair', alleging that the Papua New Guinea government hired mercenaries to quell an uprising on Bougainville Island.
• February 13, 1997: STS-82 mission: Astronauts aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery initiated crucial maintenance and repair work on the Hubble Space Telescope, extending its operational lifespan.
• February 28, 1997: In the North Hollywood shootout, two heavily armed robbers engaged in a prolonged gun battle with police officers and civilians, injuring 20 individuals. This incident sparked debates about appropriate police firepower in similar future situations.
• March 4, 1997: U.S. President Bill Clinton banned federal funding for any research on human cloning, sparking a debate on the ethics of genetic engineering and the potential risks and benefits of cloning.
• March 7, 1997: In Sri Lanka, the Tamil Tigers, a militant separatist group, overran a military base and killed over 100 Sri Lankan troops, escalating the ongoing civil war and raising concerns about human rights violations and political instability in the region.
• March 13, 1997: India's Missionaries of Charity, a Catholic religious order founded by Mother Teresa, chose Sister Nirmala as its new leader, succeeding Mother Teresa, who had passed away in 1997. This marked a significant transition for the organization, which had gained international recognition for its humanitarian work.
• March 14, 1997: A study of gender reassignment of a boy who lost his penis to a botched circumcision was refuted by a follow-up study. The initial study had suggested that gender was determined by nurture, but the patient, David Reimer, later returned to his original gender, challenging this hypothesis and highlighting the complex interplay of biological and social factors in gender identity.
• March 16, 1997: The Sandline affair, a political scandal in Papua New Guinea, unfolded as soldiers of commander Jerry Singirok arrested Tim Spicer and his mercenaries of the Sandline International, a private military company hired by the Papua New Guinea government to quell a separatist rebellion on Bougainville Island. The incident raised questions about the role of mercenaries in international conflicts and the ethics of using private military companies.
• March 18, 1997: The tail of a Russian An-24 charter plane broke off while en route to Turkey, causing the plane to crash and killing all 50 people on board. The incident led to the grounding of all An-24 aircraft, a Soviet-era passenger plane, raising concerns about the safety of the aging fleet and prompting investigations into the cause of the accident.
• March 21, 1997: In Zaire, Étienne Tshisekedi was appointed prime minister and immediately ejected supporters of Mobutu Sese Seko, the long-time president, from his cabinet. This marked a significant political shift in Zaire, as Tshisekedi sought to distance himself from Mobutu's authoritarian rule and address the country's economic and political challenges.
• March 22, 1997: The Comet Hale–Bopp, a bright comet visible from Earth, made its closest approach to Earth, captivating astronomers and skywatchers worldwide. The comet's appearance provided valuable insights into the composition and behavior of comets and offered a rare opportunity to study a celestial object up close.
• March 24, 1997: The 69th Academy Awards ceremony, hosted by Billy Crystal, took place at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, honoring outstanding achievements in film. The English Patient won Best Picture, and the event marked the launch of the DVD format in the United States, revolutionizing home entertainment and paving the way for digital distribution of movies.
• March 26, 1997: Julius Chan resigned as prime minister of Papua New Guinea, effectively ending the Sandline affair, a political scandal involving the hiring of mercenaries to quell a separatist rebellion on Bougainville Island. Chan's resignation helped resolve the crisis and facilitated negotiations between the government and the rebels, leading to a peace agreement and the eventual end of the conflict.
• April 3, 1997: 52 of the 53 inhabitants of Thalit, Algeria, are killed by guerrillas in the Thalit massacre.
• April 14, 1997: A fire breaks out in a pilgrim camp near Mecca, Saudi Arabia, killing 343 people.
• April 18, 1997: The Red River of the North floods Grand Forks, North Dakota, and East Grand Forks, Minnesota, causing $2 billion in damage.
• April 21, 1997: The first space burial occurs as a Pegasus rocket carries the remains of 24 people into Earth orbit.
• April 22, 1997: 93 villagers are killed in the Haouch Khemisti massacre in Algeria.
• April 23, 1997: 42 villagers are killed in the Omaria massacre in Algeria.
• April 29, 1997: The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) is established, and the Chemical Weapons Convention enters into force.
• May 1, 1997: Tony Blair becomes Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, marking the Labour Party's return to government after 18 years.
• May 3, 1997: Katrina and the Waves win the Eurovision Song Contest for the United Kingdom with their song "Love Shine a Light".
• May 9, 1997: The first genetically modified three-parent baby is born, marking a significant milestone in reproductive technology.
• May 10, 1997: A 7.3 magnitude earthquake strikes eastern Iran, resulting in over 1,500 deaths and 2,300 injuries.
• May 11, 1997: IBM's Deep Blue defeats Garry Kasparov in a chess match, becoming the first computer to beat a reigning World Chess Champion.
• May 12, 1997: The Russian–Chechen Peace Treaty is signed, aiming to end the ongoing conflict in the region.
• May 15, 1997: President Bill Clinton delivers a speech at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., honoring Hmong and other "Secret War" veterans.
• May 16, 1997: President Mobutu Sese Seko is forced into exile from Zaire, marking the end of his 32-year rule.
• May 17, 1997: Troops led by Laurent Kabila enter Kinshasa, the capital of Zaire, signaling the impending fall of Mobutu Sese Seko's regime.
• May 23, 1997: Mohammad Khatami is elected as the President of Iran, becoming the first Reformist president in the country's history.
• May 25, 1997: A military coup in Sierra Leone ousts President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah and installs Major Johnny Paul Koroma as the new leader.
• May 27, 1997: A devastating tornado strikes Jarrell, Texas, causing significant damage and resulting in 27 fatalities.
• May 31, 1997: The Confederation Bridge, spanning 13 kilometers, opens between Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick, Canada, becoming the world's longest bridge over ice-covered waters.
• June 1, 1997: Socialist Party-led coalition won second-round in French legislative elections, beginning third Cohabitation (1997–2002).
• June 2, 1997: Timothy McVeigh convicted of 15 counts of murder and conspiracy for 1995 Oklahoma City bombing.
• June 10, 1997: Khmer Rouge leader Pol Pot orders killing of defense chief Son Sen and 11 family members, then flees stronghold.
• June 11, 1997: UK House of Commons votes for total ban on handguns.
• June 13, 1997: Timothy McVeigh sentenced to death for role in 1995 Oklahoma City bombing.
• June 16, 1997: About 50 people killed in Daïat Labguer (M'sila) massacre in Algeria.
• June 21, 1997: Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) plays first game in Los Angeles.
• June 25, 1997: Massive eruption of Soufrière Hills volcano on Montserrat leads to evacuation and abandonment of capital, Plymouth.
• June 26, 1997: Bertie Ahern appointed 10th Taoiseach of Ireland and Mary Harney appointed 16th and first female Tánaiste after parties win 1997 General Election.
• July 1, 1997: The 1997 Central European flood, affecting Poland, Germany, and the Czech Republic, resulted in significant loss of life and property.
• July 2, 1997: The Bank of Thailand's decision to float the baht triggered the Asian financial crisis, leading to economic instability in the region.
• July 4, 1997: NASA's Pathfinder space probe successfully landed on Mars, marking a milestone in space exploration.
• July 5, 1997: Hun Sen of the Cambodian People's Party overthrew Norodom Ranariddh in a coup, consolidating his power in Cambodia.
• July 8, 1997: NATO's invitation to the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Poland to join the alliance in 1999 signified the expansion of NATO and the changing geopolitical landscape in Europe.
• July 10, 1997: Scientists' DNA analysis findings from a Neanderthal skeleton supported the out of Africa theory of human evolution, providing insights into our evolutionary history.
• July 11, 1997: Thailand's worst hotel fire in Pattaya resulted in the tragic loss of 90 lives.
• July 13, 1997: The remains of Che Guevara and his comrades, executed in Bolivia in 1967, were returned to Cuba for burial, honoring their revolutionary legacy.
• July 15, 1997: Spree killer Andrew Cunanan murdered fashion designer Gianni Versace outside his Miami Beach residence, shocking the world.
• July 17, 1997: The F. W. Woolworth Company, a retail giant with a 117-year history, closed its doors, marking the end of an era in American retail.
• July 25, 1997: K. R. Narayanan became India's 10th president and the first member of the Dalit caste to hold this office, representing a significant step towards social equality.
• July 27, 1997: The Si Zerrouk massacre in Algeria resulted in the tragic loss of approximately 50 lives, highlighting the ongoing violence and instability in the region.
• July 30, 1997: The Thredbo landslide in Australia claimed the lives of 18 people, emphasizing the importance of disaster preparedness and safety measures in mountainous regions.
• August 1, 1997: Boeing and McDonnell Douglas merged, creating the world's largest aerospace company.
• August 3, 1997: Between 40 and 76 villagers were killed in the Oued El-Had and Mezouara massacre in Algeria, part of the Algerian Civil War.
• August 4, 1997: Jeanne Calment, the verified oldest person to have ever lived, died at 122 years and 164 days.
• August 6, 1997: Korean Air Flight 801 crash-landed west of Guam International Airport, resulting in the deaths of 228 people.
• August 13, 1997: Trey Parker and Matt Stone's South Park aired its first episode on Comedy Central; it became one of the most infamous and celebrated sitcoms ever made.
• August 20, 1997: More than 60 were killed and 15 kidnapped in the Souhane massacre in Algeria, part of the Algerian Civil War.
• August 26, 1997: 60–100 were killed in the Beni Ali massacre in Algeria, part of the Algerian Civil War.
• August 29, 1997: Over 98 (and possibly up to 400) were killed in the Rais massacre in Algeria, part of the Algerian Civil War.
• August 31, 1997: Diana, Princess of Wales, died in a car accident in Paris. Her death sparked an outpouring of grief and mourning worldwide.
• September 1, 1997: Dublin Regulation on treatment of asylum applications under EU law comes into force, establishing criteria for determining which EU country is responsible for processing an asylum application.
• September 5, 1997: Beni Messous massacre in Algeria kills over 87 people, highlighting the ongoing violence during the Algerian Civil War.
• September 6, 1997: Funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales, held at Westminster Abbey, attracting worldwide attention and mourning.
• September 11, 1997: Scotland votes in favor of a devolved Parliament, leading to the formation of the Scottish Parliament in 1999.
• September 15, 1997: Norwegian parliamentary election held, shaping the political landscape of Norway.
• September 17, 1997: Iraq disarmament crisis: UNSCOM inspectors witness Iraqi guards tampering with evidence, escalating tensions.
• September 18, 1997: Al-Qaeda carries out a terrorist attack in Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina, demonstrating the group's reach and global threat.
• September 19, 1997: Guelb El-Kebir massacre in Algeria kills 53 people, underscoring the ongoing violence and instability in the country.
• September 21, 1997: The Islamic Salvation Army, armed wing of the Islamic Salvation Front, declares a unilateral ceasefire in Algeria, offering a potential path toward peace.
• September 25, 1997: Iraq disarmament crisis: UNSCOM inspector catches Iraqi men sneaking out evidence related to prohibited bacteria and chemicals, further straining relations.
• September 26, 1997: Garuda Indonesia Flight 152 crashes in Indonesia due to poor visibility caused by haze, resulting in the deadliest aviation accident in Indonesian history.
• October 2, 1997: British scientists Moira Bruce and John Collinge, with their colleagues, independently show that the new variant form of the Creutzfeldt\u2013Jakob disease is the same disease as Bovine spongiform encephalopathy.
• October 3, 1997: The President of Paraguay, Juan Carlos Wasmosy, orders the arrest of political opponent Lino Oviedo.
• October 4, 1997: Loomis Fargo Bank Robbery: The second largest cash robbery in U.S. history ($17.3\u00a0million, mostly in small bills) occurs at the Charlotte, North Carolina, office of Wells Fargo. An FBI investigation eventually results in 24 convictions and the recovery of approximately 95% of the stolen cash.
• October 10, 1997: Uruguay's worst air disaster occurs when Austral L\u00edneas A\u00e9reas Flight 2553 crashes near Nuevo Berl\u00edn, killing all 74 on board.
• October 12, 1997: Sidi Daoud massacre: 43 are killed at a false roadblock in Algeria.
• October 15, 1997: Andy Green sets the first supersonic land speed record for the ThrustSSC team, led by Richard Noble of the UK. ThrustSSC goes through the flying mile course at Black Rock Desert, Nevada at an average speed of 1,227.985\u00a0km/h (763.035\u00a0mph).
• October 16, 1997: The first color photograph appears on the front page of The New York Times.
• October 17, 1997: The remains of Che Guevara are laid to rest with full military honours in a specially built mausoleum in the city of Santa Clara, Cuba, where he had won the decisive battle of the Cuban Revolution 39 years before.
• October 22, 1997: Danish escaped criminal Steen Christensen robs the Hotel Palace in Helsinki, Finland, killing two police officers while evading capture.
• October 29, 1997: Iraq disarmament crisis: Iraq says it will begin shooting down Lockheed U-2 surveillance planes being used by UNSCOM inspectors.
• November 11, 1997: WorldCom and MCI Communications merged to form MCI WorldCom, the largest merger in U.S. history, valued at US$37 billion. It aimed to create a global telecommunications giant.
• November 12, 1997: Mary McAleese became the eighth President of Ireland, succeeding Mary Robinson. This marked the first time in the world that one woman succeeded another as an elected head of state.
• November 13, 1997: Ramzi Yousef was found guilty of masterminding the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. His conviction brought justice for the victims and highlighted the need for enhanced security measures against terrorism.
• November 17, 1997: In Luxor, Egypt, 62 people were killed by 6 Islamic militants outside the Temple of Hatshepsut. This tragic event underscored the ongoing threat of terrorism and the need for international cooperation to combat it.
• November 19, 1997: Bobbi McCaughey gave birth to septuplets in Des Moines, Iowa, marking the second known case where all seven babies were born alive and the first in which all survived infancy. This remarkable event captured global attention and highlighted the advancements in medical care.
• November 27, 1997: NASA launched the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission, marking the start of the satellite component of the Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System. This mission aimed to improve our understanding of the Earth's climate and weather patterns.
• December 1, 1997: In Bihar, India, Ranvir Sena attacks CPI(ML) stronghold Lakshmanpur-Bathe, killing 63 lower caste people.
• December 3, 1997: In Ottawa, Canada, 121 countries sign a treaty to prohibit anti-personnel land mines, but several nations, including the US, China, Russia, and South Korea, do not.
• December 10, 1997: Kazakhstan's capital is moved from Almaty to Astana.
• December 11, 1997: The Kyoto Protocol on climate change is adopted by a UN committee.
• December 16, 1997: Over 700 children in Japan suffer epileptic attacks after watching a Pokémon anime episode.
• December 19, 1997: Janet Jagan becomes President of Guyana, succeeding her late husband Cheddi Jagan.
• December 21, 1997: Brazil defeats Australia 6-0 in the Confederations Cup final.
• December 24, 1997: 50-100 villagers are killed in the Sid El-Antri massacre in Algeria.
• December 27, 1997: Ulster loyalist paramilitary leader Billy Wright is assassinated in Northern Ireland's Long Kesh prison.
• December 29, 1997: Hong Kong begins culling 1.25 million chickens to prevent the spread of a potentially deadly influenza strain.
• December 30, 1997: In Algeria's worst insurgency incident, 400 people are killed in four villages in the Wilaya of Relizane.