Thursday, April 17, 1997
Today's Events
A march by Brazil's landless movement is due to arrive in
Brasilia after a two-month walk across the country. The walk
commemorates the first anniversary of
massacre of 19 landless peasants by military police.
Russian President Boris Yeltsin is scheduled to visit Germany
for talks with German Chancellor Helmut Kohl.
The British Royal Yacht Brittania is scheduled to visit
Singapore.
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On the horizon
On Friday, April 18, NATO Secretary-General Javier Solana
visits Sarajevo.
On Saturday, April 19, the "Voices of Chichen-Itza" concert
to benefit Maya culture will be held in Chichen-Itza, Mexico.
On Sunday, April 20, Bosnian President Alija Izetbegovic
visits Cairo, Egypt.
On Monday, April 21, Britain's Queen Elizabeth celebrates her
71st birthday.
On Tuesday, April 22, King Hussein of Jordan is scheduled to
visit Denmark.
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On this day
In 1194, the second coronation of King Richard I of England
took place upon his return from the third crusade.
In 1421, the sea broke through the dikes at Dort, in the
Netherlands, drowning more than 100,000 people.
In 1492, Christopher Columbus received a commission from the
Spanish monarchy to explore the western ocean.
In 1521, Martin Luther was excommunicated by the Diet of
Worms.
In 1895, the Treaty of Shimonoseki was signed, whereby China
and Japan recognized the independence of Korea, and Formosa
was
ceded to Japan by China.
In 1941, the Yugoslav government surrendered to the Germans
in
Belgrade.
In 1944, in Italy, Marshal Pietro Badoglio's entire cabinet
resigned and he was invited to form a new government.
In 1946, the last French troops left Syria.
In 1957, Archbishop Makarios of Cyprus arrived back in Athens
after his 13-month exile in the Seychelles.
In 1960, U.S. rock star Eddie Cochran died in a car crash
while on tour with Gene Vincent in Britain.
In 1961, an attempt to invade Cuba by U.S.-backed Cuban
exiles
failed at the Bay of Pigs.
In 1969, Alexander Dubcek resigned as Czechoslovak Communist
party leader and was replaced by Gustav Husak.
In 1969, Sirhan B. Sirhan was found guilty of the first
degree
murder of Robert F. Kennedy who was shot while campaigning in
California in June 1968.
In 1970, the U.S. spacecraft Apollo 13 splashed down after
its
near disastrous trip to the moon.
In 1975, Khmer Rouge guerrillas seized Phnom Penh and began a
reign of terror in which more than one million people died.
In 1977, women voted in Liechtenstein for the first time.
In 1981, Polish farmers won the legal right to form a trade
union.
In 1984, British policewoman Yvonne Fletcher was shot dead
when a gunman opened fire from inside the Libyan embassy in
London.
In 1984, U.S. Army General Mark Clark died. He led the Allied
forces during the successful Italian campaign against the
Axis
powers in World War II.
In 1985, Lebanese Prime Minister Rashid Karami resigned in
protest over Druze militia attacks in West Beirut. He stayed
on
in a caretaker capacity.
In 1986, British journalist John McCarthy was kidnapped in
Beirut.
In 1989, the Polish trade union Solidarity was legalized
after
a seven-year ban.
In 1993, Turgut Ozal, president of Turkey from 1989, died of
a
heart attack.
In 1996, police gunned down 19 landless peasants in one of
Brazil's bloodiest massacres.
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Newslink
You've seen the Masters, now watch the Seniors. The 58th PGA
Seniors' Championship, the oldest major championship in
senior golf, begins today. Check out all the action, by
clicking here.
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Holidays and more
Today is Shabdrung Kuchoey in Bhutan.
It's Courban Bairam is Egypt.
Today is Liberation Day in Iraq.
It's Ram Nawami in Nepal.
Today is Evacuation Day in Syria.
It's New Year Day in the Union of Myanmar.
Director Lindsay Anderson is 74.
Actor Sean Bean is 39.
Dancer Anna Marie Holmes is 54.
Actress Olivia Hussey is 46.
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Sources: Associated Press,
Chase's Calendar of Events 1997, J.P. Morgan
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