Tuesday, April 8, 1997
Today's Events
A London court is expected to decide on extradition for
Roisin McAliskey, who is wanted by Germany for an IRA mortar
attack on a British army barracks last summer.
Israeli Foreign Minister David Levy is scheduled to visit
Turkey.
Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien is scheduled to meet
with U.S. President Bill Clinton to discuss bilateral and
international issues.
Bosnia central parliament's House of Representatives and
House of the People convene.
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On the horizon
On Thursday, April 10, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu holds talks with representatives of the European
Union at The Hague.
On Friday, April 11, the British garrison in Hong Kong closes
down HMS Tamar Hong Kong naval base on Stonecutters' Island,
a milestone in Britain's military withdrawal ahead of Hong
Kong's July 1 takeover by China.
On Saturday, April 12, Pope John Paul is scheduled to visit
Sarajevo.
On Sunday, April 13, parliamentary elections are scheduled to
kick off Mali's second national elections since advent of
democracy in 1992.
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On this day
In 217, Caracalla (Marcus Aurelius Antonius), Roman emperor
noted for his brutality, was assassinated as he launched a
second campaign against the Parthians.
In 1513, Florida was discovered and claimed for Spain by Juan
Ponce de Leon.
In 1838, Isambard Kingdom Brunel's 236-foot steamship Great
Western sailed from Bristol, England, on her maiden voyage.
It was the first to cross the Atlantic regularly.
In 1898, Lord Kitchener captured the Mahdi at Atbara River
after defeating his Sudanese army.
In 1904, the Anglo-French agreement known as the "Entente
Cordiale" was signed. It settled all global differences
between the two, including disputes over Newfoundland, West
Africa, Egypt and Morocco.
In 1908, Herbert Henry Asquith became British Liberal prime
minister following the resignation of Henry Campbell-
Bannerman due to ill-health.
In 1913, the opening of China's first parliament took place
in Peking (now Beijing).
In 1939, one day after invading Albania, Italian troops took
the capital Tirana and King Zog fled to Greece.
In 1946, the League of Nations began its final session in
Geneva after being replaced by the United Nations.
In 1953, in Kenya, Jomo Kenyatta was convicted of involvement
with the Mau Mau insurrection and was sentenced with five
others to seven years hard labor.
In 1977, Israeli Prime Minister Yitzak Rabin admitted he
violated the country's currency laws; he later resigned.
In 1985, Australian media magnate Rupert Murdoch bought 50
percent of the Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation.
In 1986, film actor Clint Eastwood was elected mayor of
Carmel, California.
In 1990, King Birendra of Nepal lifted a 30-year ban on
political parties.
In 1992, PLO leader Yasser Arafat survived a plane crash in
the Sahara desert; the plane's three crew members were
killed.
In 1992, after genetic fingerprinting tests, German and
Israeli authorities said they were certain that Josef Mengele
died in Brazil in 1979.
In 1993, the U.N. decided to continue with sanctions imposed
on Libya for failing to hand over the Lockerbie suspects.
In 1994, Japanese Prime Minister Morihiro Hosokawa resigned
over a loans scandal.
In 1994, South Africa's four key political leaders met at a
bush camp in lion country for a peace summit aimed at
stopping violence threatening free and fair elections.
In 1996, Yugoslavia and its former republic of Macedonia
signed a treaty to normalize relations.
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Newslink
Need a little culture in your life? Check out the newly re-
launched PBS Online. Click here.
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Holidays and more
Today is the Birthday of the Sultan in Malaysia.
Former first lady Betty Ford is 79.
Comedian Shecky Greene is 72.
Musician Julian Lennon is 34.
Actor Stuart Pankin is 51.
Actor John Schneider is 43.
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Sources: Associated Press,
Chase's Calendar of Events 1997, J.P. Morgan
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