WHAT ALL HAPPENED FEBRUARY TO DECEMBER 1997
Find out what all happened February to December 1997

The Kyoto Protocol opens for signature. (11. December 1997)

The Chemical Weapons Convention of 1993 enters into force, outlawing the production, stockpiling and use of chemical weapons by its signatories. (29. April 1997)

Troops of Laurent Kabila march into Kinshasa. Zaire is officially renamed Democratic Republic of the Congo. (17. May 1997)

The so-called Big Three banks in Switzerland announce the creation of a $71 million fund to aid Holocaust survivors and their families. (5. February 1997)

Tara Lipinski, age 14 years and 10 months, becomes the youngest champion women's World Figure Skating Champion. (22. March 1997)

After nearly 18 years of incarceration, the People's Republic of China releases Wei Jingsheng, a pro-democracy dissident, from jail for medical reasons. (16. November 1997)

In Luxor, Egypt, 62 people are killed by six Islamic militants outside the Temple of Hatshepsut, known as Luxor massacre (The police then kill the assailants). (17. November 1997)

The United Kingdom transfers sovereignty over Hong Kong to the People's Republic of China. (30. June 1997)

Ramzi Yousef is found guilty of masterminding the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. (12. November 1997)

Funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales takes place in London. Well over a million people lined the streets and 2.5 billion watched around the world on television. (6. September 1997)

At least 98 villagers are killed by the Armed Islamic Group of Algeria GIA in the Rais massacre, Algeria. (29. August 1997)

Miguel Ángel Blanco, a member of Partido Popular (Spain), is kidnapped in the Basque city of Ermua by ETA members, sparking widespread protests. (10. July 1997)

Holyfield–Tyson II – Mike Tyson is disqualified in the 3rd round for biting a piece off Evander Holyfield's ear. (28. June 1997)

The Soufrière Hills volcano on the island of Montserrat explodes, creating a small tsunami offshore. (26. December 1997)

Twenty-five are killed in the second Souhane massacre in Algeria. (27. November 1997)

The second Blue Water Bridge opens between Port Huron, Michigan and Sarnia, Ontario. (22. July 1997)

The Japanese embassy hostage crisis ends in Lima, Peru. (22. April 1997)

The Bank of England is given independence from political control, the most significant change in the bank's 300-year history. (6. May 1997)

Tajikistan Airlines Flight 3183 crashes in the desert near Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, killing 85. (15. December 1997)

Anton Lavey, founder of the Church of Satan, dies in San Francisco of pulmonary edema (29. October 1997)