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August 31
1997: Princess Diana dies in Paris crash
[ 2007-08-31 08:49 ]

August 31
Michael Jackson has denied the allegations
1997: Princess Diana dies in Paris crash

England have

Diana, Princess of Wales, has died after a car crash in Paris.

She was taken to hospital in the early hours of Sunday morning where surgeons tried for two hours to save her life but she died at 0300 BST.

In a statement Buckingham Palace said the Queen and the Prince of Wales were "deeply shocked and distressed".

Prince Charles broke the news of their mother's death to Princes William and Harry at Balmoral Castle in Scotland where the royal family had been spending the summer.

The accident happened after the princess left the Ritz Hotel in the French capital with her companion, Dodi Al Fayed - son of Harrods owner, Mohammed Al Fayed.

Dodi Al Fayed and the vehicle's driver were also killed in the collision in a tunnel under the Place de l'Alma in the centre of the city.

The princess' Mercedes car was apparently being pursued at high speed by photographers on motorbikes when it hit a pillar and smashed into a wall.

Mr Al Fayed and the chauffeur died at the scene but the princess and her bodyguard were cut from the wreckage and rushed to hospital.

The French authorities have begun a criminal investigation and are questioning seven photographers.

Tributes to the princess have been pouring in from around the world.

Speaking from his home in South Africa, the princess' brother, Lord Charles Spencer, said his sister had been "unique".

While it was not the time for recriminations there was no doubt the press had played a part in her death, the earl added.

Hundreds of mourners have gathered at the princess' London home, Kensington Palace and many have laid flowers at the gates.  

August 31
Kuala Lumpur was the scene for Malay's independence celebrations

1957: Malaya celebrates independence

Artificially 1969: FilmTheTheAA .  The Federation of Malaya is now independent. The handover of power from Britain took place at midnight.

Thousands of young members of the Malay, Chinese and Indian parties, which form the government, stood in darkness for two minutes at midnight to mark the official handover.

As the new flag of independence was raised they called "Merdeka" (freedom) seven times.

Tunku Abdul Rahman, the prime minister-elect, who led the negotiations with the British for handover of power, was hailed as the Father of Independence.

Malaya will stay in the Commonwealth - and, as midnight approached, prime ministers of the member countries sent messages recorded in five continents.

The British Prime Minister Harold Macmillan said he hoped 31 August would long be remembered as a great and happy day in the continuing development of Malaya and the Commonwealth of Nations.

In his speech delivered at midnight, Tunku Abdul Rahman said it was the greatest moment in the life of the Malayan people. A new star had risen in the eastern sky - a star of freedom for yet another Asian people.

The new prime minister was educated at two British schools and graduated from Cambridge in 1925. Soon after World War II he went back to Britain to study law.

On his return to Malaya in 1949 he found a country eager for independence but also struggling with communist extremism.

He founded the Alliance Party in 1952 which brought together the ethnic Malay, Chinese and Indians. The party won the 1955 general election with an overwhelming majority.

The Tunku became Chief Minister and ended the state of emergency - introduced after a wave of attacks carried out by mainly Chinese communists on mine-owners and plantations - and granted an amnesty to communist terrorists.

Last year he led the negotiations with the British which paved the way for independence.

The new Malayan head of state, Tuanku Abdul Rahman, will be officially installed on 2 September. He was chosen from among the rulers of Malay's nine hereditary states.

He will hold the post of head of state for five years when his successor will be elected.

The installation ceremony will be witnessed by the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester who are flying in to represent the Queen. 

Vocabulary:
 

chauffeur: one employed to drive a private automobile(法语)司机

tribute: a declaration, or other acknowledgment of gratitude, respect, or admiration(颂词)

recrimination:mutual accusations(揭丑;反责)

hereditary: descending from an ancestor to a legal heir; passing down by inheritance(世袭的)

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