On this day
Revisit the news, notable people, and historical moments connected to this date.
In 1997, the world population was approximately 5,924,787,816 people[†]
1997Jacques Cousteau, French oceanographer and explorer (born 1910)[†]
Jacques-Yves Cousteau, was a French naval officer, oceanographer, filmmaker and author. He co-invented the first successful open-circuit self-contained underwater breathing apparatus (SCUBA), called the Aqua-Lung, which assisted him in producing some of the first underwater documentaries.
1997An uncrewed Progress spacecraft collides with the Russian space station Mir.[†]
Progress M-34 was a Russian uncrewed cargo spacecraft which was launched in 1997 to resupply the Mir space station, and which subsequently collided with Mir during a docking attempt, resulting in significant damage to the space station.
1997The National Hockey League approved expansion franchises for Nashville (1998), Atlanta (1999), Columbus (2000), and Minneapolis-Saint Paul (2000).[†]
The National Hockey League is a professional ice hockey league in North America composed of 32 teams – 25 in the United States and 7 in Canada. The NHL is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Canada and is considered the premier professional ice hockey league in the world. The Stanley Cup, the oldest professional sports trophy in North America, is awarded annually to the league playoff champion at the end of each season. The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) views the Stanley Cup as one of the "most important championships available to the sport". The NHL is headquartered in Midtown Manhattan.
Former Sayreville, NJ, Postmaster Sergio Hernandez admits in court to stealing more than $70,000 from US Postal Service from 1993 to 1996 by submitting fake invoices (New Jersey Daily Briefing) (S)
Article in series, Waiting for China, notes that many journalists and writers in Hong Kong are concerned about possible confrontation with Communist hard-liners when China regains control of British colony; says they preparing for confrontation that will determine Hong Kong's future and its role as information hub for all of Asia; photos (M)
Dow Jones industrial average soars 153.80 points, 2.02 percent gain, to 7,758.06, on New York Stock Exchange trading volume of 554.1 million shares; graph; table (M)
Article, in occasional series on lobbying, notes that lobbyists for television broadcasting industry have managed to work two provisions into Senate and House budget bills that would allow broadcasters to evade most significant commitments they made for coming transition to digital broadcasting; Federal regulators lent each of nation's 1,600 TV stations second channel for transition; Federal Communications Commission, at urging of White House, passed rule calling for return of channels in 2006; one provision in budget bills would enable broadcasters to keep channels for indefinite period; other could delay introduction of digital high-definition television broadcasts far beyond Government-set deadlines (M)
New Jersey teen-ager Melissa Drexler, who gave birth in bathroom stall at her senior prom and left newborn baby in knotted plastic bag, is formally accused of murder (New Jersey Daily Briefing) (S)
Seven months after New York State Gov George Pataki proposed most sweeping overhaul ever of state's welfare system, plan faces almost certain rejection in Legislature, with opposition building not only among Democrats in Assembly but also among many of his Republican allies in Senate (M)
Bill to give state greater control of Camden's finances has been stalled by legislators who represent city and will not be taken up until after summer recess (New Jersey Daily Briefing) (S)
Profile of Conservation Corp of Africa, which runs 22 small, isolated and expensive lodges scattered over Africa aimed at European and American tourists visiting to see animals in wild; company, in forefront of eco-tourism, strives to build ties with local residents and aid local economies; Africa, while promoting eco-tourism, is still struggling to build tourism into major economic force; map; photos (M)
Wachovia to Buy Bank In Virginia for $2.3 Billion Wachovia, a bank company based in Winston-Salem, N.C., and Atlanta, agreed to buy Central Fidelity Banks of Richmond for $2.3 billion in a tax-free exchange of stock. Two weeks ago, Wachovia agreed to buy Jefferson Bankshares of Charlottesville, Va., for $542 million in stock. The two deals will give Wachovia a leading presence in Virginia, with nearly $10 billion in deposits. $(Page D2.$)
Mayor Sharpe James of Newark will lead 'unity conference' in attempt to ease tensions arising from recent fatal shooting by Police Officer Robert Leaks Jr of Danette Daniels during drug arrest (New Jersey Daily Briefing) (S)
Lower Camden County Region Board of Education votes to impose dress code on its entire staff, requiring men to wear jackets, ties or sweaters and women to wear skirts, dresses or pants suits (New Jersey Daily Briefing) (S)
Rolf Ekeus, United Nations arms control expert who has directed disarming of Iraq since 1991, says Iraqi scientists are still under orders to keep nation ready to make lethal chemical weapons at short notice, even if existing stocks are destroyed; says Iraqis have refused to cooperate in good faith, and have turned to Eastern Europe and Asia in search of prohibited equipment; Ekeus, who is leaving UN to become Sweden's Ambassador to US, will be succeeded as executive chairman of UN Special Commission by Richard Butler, Australian arms control expert (M)