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Earthquakes characterised this month with the largest the 8.2 earthquake struck the Irian Jaya (Papua) region of Indonesia, triggering a massive tsunami.
The first genetically modified, or GM, food went on sale in British supermarkets and The ‘Irish Troubles’ resumed as a bomb exploded in Docklands area of London, ending the 17-month ceasefire.
Some famous and significant people died this month; W.R. Lee, a distinguished language teacher, Bob Shaw, a prominent Irish science fiction writer, Jeffrey Kindersley a pioneering British test pilot, John Aymer Dalrymple, 13th Earl of Stair and Toru Takemitsu, a renowned Japanese composer.
Elsewhere, NASA successfully launched the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) on this day to conduct comprehensive scientific studies of the sun.
Soyuz TM-23 launched from Baikonur Cosmodrome with the cosmonauts for Mir Principle Expedition 21 and successfully returned later.
Space shuttle Columbia 19 (STS 75) launches into orbit but a catastrophe took place during the launching of the Chinese Long March 3B (Chang Zheng 3B) rocket with much loss of civilian life and property.
A tragic maritime accident occurred when a wooden ferry capsized while entering the port of Cádiz in the Philippines, with loss of 54 lives.
Birgenair Flight 301, into the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of the Dominican Republic, with the loss of all 189 passengers and crew.
Also a devastating train collision occurred near Baltimore, Maryland, resulting in 11 fatalities.
In further acts of violence, Brothers to the Rescue planes were shot down by Cuban fighter jets and a tragic terrorist attack occurred in Israel, where two suicide bombings resulted in 25 fatalities and 80 injuries.
The Nepalese People's War officially commenced. Better news as The Bosnian government officially declares the end of the Siege of Sarajevo.
René Préval became President of Haiti, the first peaceful transfer of power since their independence in 1804.
First appearance of Pokémon in the role-playing video game "Pocket Monsters Red and Green" for Game Boy in Japan.
In sport Garry Kasparov defeats chess-playing computer Deep Blue 4-2 and there were many achievements in cricket throughout the world as Gary Kirsten scores 188* for South Africa v UAE but Rajindra Dhanraj takes 16-167 in match Trinidad v Leeward Islands
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