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Saturday, March 2, 1997

  • Today's Events
  • On Horizon
  • On This Day
  • Newslink
  • Holidays & more
  • Almanac archive
  • "It's horrible. The whole downtown is gone,"

    -- Arkadelphia resident Jeremy Cox on devastating tornadoes.





    Today's Events


  • Irish President Mary Robinson arrives in Kigali, Rwanda, where she will address a pan-African conference on peace, gender and development.

  • Anti-nuclear demonstrators walk along railway lines to protest transportation of nuclear waste in Guenzburg, Germany.

  • Britain's Prince Philip visits Hungary.

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    On the horizon


  • On Monday, March 3, Russian President Boris Yeltsin meets with European Union leaders to discuss mutual relations and security issues.

  • On Tuesday, March 4, German Foreign Minister Klaus Kinkel begins a visit to the Middle East that includes Jordan, Israel and regions governed by the Palestinian Authority.

  • Wednesday, March 5, is the first meeting of a nine-member international historians' panel named by the Swiss government in December to investigate neutral Switzerland's financial role in World War II, including the flow of Nazi loot and Jewish assets into Swiss banks.

  • On Thursday, March 6, Russian President Boris Yeltsin is due to address both houses of the Russian parliament.

  • On Friday, March 7, the International Olympic Committee is scheduled to present the five finalist cities bidding for the 2004 Olympic Games.

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    On this day


  • In 1801, the War of the Oranges between Spain and Portugal began. French troops fought alongside the Spanish after Portugal refused Napoleon's demand to cede much of the country to him.

  • In 1882, an unsuccessful attempt to assassinate Queen Victoria at Windsor was made by Roderick Maclean. He was later declared insane. . In 1917, Tsar Nicholas II of Russia abdicated and a provisional government under Georgy Lvov was formed.

  • In 1943, the Battle of the Bismark Sea began. Twelve Japanese ships carrying reinforcements to New Guinea were sunk by Allied planes, killing nearly 4,000.

  • In 1946, Ho Chi Minh was elected president of North Vietnam.

  • In 1949, Captain James Gallagher completed the first non-stop round the world flight. He completed the 37,742 Km (23,452 mile) flight in 94 hours 1 minute.

  • In 1956, Morocco's independence was recognized by France.

  • In 1958, Dr. Vivian Fuchs completed the first crossing of Antarctica by land.

  • In 1962, in Burma, the army led by Ne Win seized power in a coup, ousting U Nu. On this day in 1974 military rule ended, a new constitution took effect and Ne Win became president.

  • In 1969, the first of two prototype Concordes made its maiden flight from Toulouse.

  • In 1970, a new constitution came into effect in Rhodesia turning the country into a republic.

  • In 1972, U.S. spacecraft Pioneer 10 was launched. It passed close by Jupiter and Neptune before leaving the solar system. It is now more than six billion miles from Earth.

  • In 1981, Al-Zulfiqar terrorists hijacked a Pakistani airliner with 148 passengers on board. All hostages were released on March 15 after Pakistan freed 55 political prisoners.

  • In 1986, Queen Elizabeth signed the Australia bill, formally severing the last constitutional ties with Britain.

  • In 1989, the first Vietnamese boat people to volunteer to return home left Hong Kong.

  • In 1990, in South Africa, Nelson Mandela was elected deputy president of the African National Congress.

  • In 1995, seven-times Italian prime minister Giulio Andreotti was ordered to stand trial on charges of having been a member of the Mafia.

  • In 1996, Paul Keating's Labor Party suffered a massive defeat in Australian elections, ending 13 years of rule.

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    Newslink


    Yesterday we gave you the history; today we're giving you the race! Check out all the action in the 1997 Iditarod dogsled race .


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    Holidays and more


  • Today, Ethiopia celebrates the Victory of Adwa.

  • It's the Declaration of Establishment of Authority of People day in Libya today.

  • Today is Peasants Day in Union of Myanmar.

  • It's Texas Independence Day in the United States.

  • Singer Jon Bon Jovi is 35.

  • Actor John Cullum is 67.

  • Former Soviet political leader Mikhail Gorbachev is 66.

  • Author John Irving is 55.

  • Musician Eddie Money is 48.

  • Author Tom Wolfe is 66.

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    Sources: Reuters,
    Chase's Calendar of Events 1997, J.P. Morgan



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