On this day in ...... 1898 (110 years ago), President William McKinley signed Congress' Joint Resolution No. 55, also known as the Newlands Resolution, by which the United States annexed the Republic of Hawaii; the island chain at left thus became the U.S. Territory of Hawaii.
... 2003 (5 years ago), Bujumbura, the capital of Burundi, sustained "the fiercest attack" in 3 months by rebels of its 2d "largest Hutu rebel group -- the Forces for National Liberation." The assault was part of a civil war that already had claimed 300,000 lives. In May 2007, the Burundi government agreed to set up a truth commission and tribunal for trial of persons charged with crimes during that war. (map & flag credit)
