| Year
| Event Description
| Class
| Action |
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U.S. marines seize the center of the holy Iraqi city of Najaf in a major assault on against the Mehdi Army of Muslim Shia cleric Moqtada al-Sadr. |
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Israel's largest newspaper, Yedioth Ahronoth, reveals that the next test of the Arrow II, a $2.2 billion project partly funded by the United States, will take place in California. The Arrow II passed its first live test in July by downing a Scud missile off the coast of California. |
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In New York the price of a barrel of US light crude rose 33 cents to $45.13, while in London, Brent crude climbed 50 cents to $42.07. The fresh highs come after militiamen loyal to Moqtada Sadr threatening new attacks on Iraqi oil facilities. |
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Iraq postpones implementing counterfeiting charges against Ahmed Chalabi, former Pentagon Ally and leader of the Iraqi National Congress, who has just returned to Baghdad to face the accusations. This implies that Iraqi police have no immediate plans to arrest him. |
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California's Supreme Court annulls more than 4,000 gay marriages in San Francisco. The court rules that the city acted improperly in granting the marriage licenses earlier this year in defiance of state law. |
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Arjan Erkel, direcotr of MSF's Northern Caucasus mission, is kidnapped in the Russian republic of Dagestan and held hostage until April 11, 2004. |
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During a training exercise, the Russian submarine K-141 Kursk sinks in the Barents Sea. On June 19, 2002 Russian Industry, Science and Technology Minister Ilya Klebanov announced that the loss of the Kursk came from a explosion in the forward torpedo room. |
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Bank of America agrees to acquire Security Pacific, surpassing the Chemical/Manufacturers Hanover merger as the largest in the banking industry. |
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Ed Meese serves his last day as Attorney General. He is replaced by former Pennsylvania governor Richard Thornburgh. |
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Japan Airlines flight 123, a Boeing 747 jumbo jet, crashes into Mount Ogura, Japan killing 520. It is the world's worst single-plane air disaster. |
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The last remnants of military political power are removed from Portugal's constitution. |
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IBM introduces its version of a Personal Computer, the PC. It uses Intel and Microsoft technology. |
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The Soviet Union detonates its first hydrogen bomb. |
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Joe Kennedy Jr. dies on a secret mission flying over the English Channel. The Naval Cross will be awarded posthumously. |
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The Dow Jones Industrial Average falls 8.22 points, eliminating hopes that the Depression is drawing to a close. |
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Britain declares war on Austria-Hungary. |
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The United States annexes Hawaii. |
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Forces under Edward Balliol decisively defeat the Scots under the Earl of Mar in the Battle of Battle of Dupplin Moor |
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Crusaders defeat the Saracens in Battle of Ascalon during the First Crusade. |
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August 12