WHAT ALL HAPPENED JANUARY TO DECEMBER 1997
Find out what all happened January to December 1997

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

The U.S. Supreme Court rules that the Communications Decency Act violates the First Amendment to the United States Constitution. (26. June 1997)

The death of Diana, Princess of Wales is announced by Buckingham Palace. (1. September 1997)

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

Hussein Farrah 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. (22. December 1997)

China resumes sovereignty over the city-state of Hong Kong, ending 156 years of British colonial rule. (1. July 1997)

The Sid El-Antri massacre (or Sidi Lamri) in Algeria kills 50-100 people. (24. December 1997)

Hong Kong begins to kill all the nation's 1.25 million chickens to stop the spread of a potentially deadly influenza strain. (29. December 1997)

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. (22. December 1997)

Queen Elizabeth II reopens the Globe Theatre in London. (12. June 1997)

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

The second largest cash robbery in U.S. history occurs at the Charlotte, North Carolina office of Loomis, Fargo and Company. A Federal Bureau of Investigation investigation eventually results in 24 convictions and the recovery of approximately 95% of the $17.3 million stolen cash. (4. October 1997)

In northwest Rwanda, Hutu militia members kill 3 Spanish aid workers, 3 soldiers and seriously wound one other. (18. January 1997)

The Phoenix lights are seen over Phoenix, Arizona by hundreds of people, and by millions on television. (13. March 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)

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)

China announces it will spend US$27.7 billion to fight erosion and pollution in the Yangtze and Yellow River valleys. (3. January 1997)

After a nationwide referendum, Scotland votes to establish a devolved parliament within the United Kingdom. (11. September 1997)

In Roslin, Scotland, scientists announce that an adult sheep named Dolly has been successfully cloned. (22. February 1997)

In the Indian state of Bihar, Ranvir Sena attacked the CPI(ML) Party Unity stronghold Lakshmanpur-Bathe, killing 63 lower caste people. (1. December 1997)