1998: The News.

Posted bygraemelawrencePosted inUncategorized

January:

  • Ramzi Yousef is sentenced to life in prison for the 1993 World Trade Center bombing
  • The Drudge Report breaks the story about US President Bill Clinton’s alleged affair with Monica Lewinsky

February:

  • The 1998 Winter Olympics are held in Nagano, Japan; Germany win the most gold (12) and overall medals (29)
  • Andrew Wakefield publishes a study in The Lancet alleging a link between MMR vaccine and autism, fuelling the anti-vaccination movement. The study was later retracted in 2010 due to extensive data manipulation

March:

  • Titanic becomes the first film to gross $1 billion globally. Later in March, at the 70th Academy Awards, it wins 11 Oscars including Best Picture
  • Construction begins on the Millenium Dome

April:

  • The Belfast Agreement is signed between the Irish and British governments and most Northern Irish political parties

May:

  • First euro coins are minted, however they have to melted and minted again in 1999
  • Final episode of Seinfeld airs
  • The Eurovision Song Contest is held in Birmingham; Israeli transgender woman Dana International is the first openly transgender performer in the competition, she eventually wins for her song “Diva”
  • Arsenal win the FA Premier League in Arsene Wenger’s first full season in charge, in doing so Wenger became the first manager from outside of Britain to win a league title in England

June:

  • The 1998 FIFA World Cup begins in France
  • Microsoft release Windows 98
  • The DVD format is released onto the UK market for the first time

July:

  • Crime and Disorder Act receives Royal Ascent; it introduces ASBOs and formally abolishes capital punishment for treason and piracy
  • France beat defending champions Brazil 3-0 in the FIFA World Cup Final

August:

  • The Second Congo War begins; 5.4 million people die before it ends in 2003 making it the the bloodiest war since World War II
  • The United States embassies in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania and Nairobi, Kenya are bombed, killing 224; they are linked to Osama Bin Laden, bringing him to the attention of the United States for the first time
  • The first Google Doodle appears, honouring Burning Man
  • A cat bomb explodes in Omagh, County Tyrone killing 29, making it the worst terrorist atrocity of the Troubles in Northern Ireland. It was planted by the Real Irish Republican Army

September:

  • The Real IRA announce a ceasefire
  • Geri Halliwell’s Union Jack dress is sold at Sotheby’s for £41,320

October:

  • Matthew Shepard, a gay University of Wyoming student, is beaten and left for dead in Laromie, Wyoming. Subsequent media coverage followed by his death in hospital a week later starts an international debate on homophobia

November:

  • Human Rights Act receives Royal Ascent

December:

  • The US House of Representatives forwards articles of impeachment against President Clinton, making him the second president to be impeached in US history

Other:

  • Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets is published
  • Cher’s “Believe” is the best-selling single of the year
  • Armageddon makes $553,709,788 worldwide, making it the highest grossing film of the year

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