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17 August – George Orwell's political allegory Animal Farm is published.
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February 27 – The Italian government asks for help to keep the Leaning Tower of Pisa from toppling over.
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June 30 – Canada introduces a one-dollar coin, nicknamed the "Loonie".
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15 May – Richey Edwards of Manic Street Preachers carves the words "4 Real" into his arm with a razor blade during an interview with NME journalist Steve Lamacq, after Lamacq questions the band's authenticity. The incident results in Edwards requiring 18 stitches.
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April 20 – The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert, held at Wembley Stadium, London, is televised live to over one billion people and raises millions of dollars for AIDS research.
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July – The 1997 Central European flood occurs across Poland, Germany, and the Czech Republic.
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