- January 11
- In Michoacan, Mexico, a magnitude 7.1 earthquake occurs. One person killed and extensive damage in the Arteaga area, Michoacan. [53]
- January 15
- Space Shuttle Atlantis docks with Mir Space Station. [1]
- January 16
- Microsoft ships Microsoft Office 97 application suite for Windows. It includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, and Outlook. Standard version price is US$499; upgrade price is US$209. Professional version price is US$599; upgrade price is US$309. [4]
- January 18
- In northwest Rwanda, Hutu militia members kill three Spanish aid workers, three soldiers and seriously wound another. [18]
- Boerge Ousland of Norway becomes the first person to cross Antarctica alone and unaided. [5]
- January 19
- Yasser Arafat returns to Hebron after more than 30 years, and joins celebrations over the handover of the last Israeli-controlled West Bank city. [18]
- January 20
- Bill Clinton starts his second term as President of the United States. [18]
- January 21
- In Southern Xinjiang, China, a magnitude 5.9 earthquake occurs. At least 12 people killed, 40 injured, and 2,500 families homeless; about 31,000 homes destroyed or damaged. [53]
- January 24
- PepsiCo announces it is making a "total disengagement" from Burma. [287.403]
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- January 27
- It is revealed that French museums had nearly 2,000 pieces of art that were stolen by Germans. [18]
- January 31
- Square releases the Final Fantasy VII video game for the PlayStation in Japan. (Two million copies sell in the first three-day weekend. Total worldwide sales over its lifetime: 8.6 million.) [9]
- February 4
- On their way to Lebanon, two Israeli troop-transport helicopters collide, killing 73. [1] [18]
- After at first contesting the results, Serbian President Slobodan MiloÜevic recognizes opposition victories in the November 1996 elections. [18]
- In Northeastern Iran, a magnitude 6.5 earthquake occurs. At least 88 people killed, nearly 2,000 injured, 16,500 houses destroyed or damaged. [53]
- February 5
- The so-called "Big Three" banks in Switzerland announce the creation of a US$71 million fund to aid Holocaust survivors and their families. [1] [18]
- Morgan Stanley and Dean Witter investment banks announce a US$10 billion merger. [18]
- February 10
- Comet Shoemaker-Holt 2 Closest Approach to Earth (1.9245 AU). [1]
- Australian newspapers publish stories that the government of Papua New Guinea has brought mercenaries onto Bougainville Island. [18]
- February 13
- Tune-up and repair work on the Hubble Space Telescope is started by astronauts from Space Shuttle Discovery. [1] [18]
- The Washington Post reports that U.S. Justice Department investigators found evidence the Chinese Embassy in Washington, DC may have coordinated financial contributions to the Democratic party in violation of U.S. law. [18]
- The Dow Jones Industrial Average closes above 7,000 for the first time, gaining 60.81 to 7,022.44. [18]
- February 19
- The last of the People's Republic of China's major revolutionaries, Deng Xiaoping, dies at age 92 (this is followed by weeks of mourning). [1] [18]
- February 22
- In Roslin, Scotland, scientists announce that an adult sheep named Dolly had been successfully cloned, and was born in July 1996. [5] [18] (February 23 [1])
- February 23
- A large fire occurs in the Russian space station Mir. [18]
- February 24
- Deng Xiaoping, leader of China, cremated (died February 19th). [1]
- South Africa announces it is constructing largest modern day blimp. [1]
- February 26
- Geddy Lee, Neil Peart, and Alex Lifeson of Canadian music group Rush become the first rock musicians to be inducted into the Order of Canada. [457]
- February 27
- In Pakistan, a magnitude 7.1 earthquake occurs. At least 60 people killed, hundreds injured, more than 500 houses damaged or destroyed, thousands homeless. [1] [53]
- February 28
- FBI agent Earl Pitts pleads guilty to selling secrets to Russia. [1]
- In Northwestern Iran, a magnitude 6.1 earthquake occurs. At least 965 people killed, 2,600 injured, 36,000 homeless, 12,000 houses damaged or destroyed. Severe damage to roads, electrical power lines, communications and water distribution systems. [53]
- Turkey's military forces Prime Minister Necmettin Erbakan and his Welfare Party out of power. [1134.122]
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