2008: The Year That Was

2008: The Year That Was

A little reminiscence before we completely leave 2008 behind. (Most of what's written here are in the CNN video, so you can look up "CNN's 2008 Moments in History" for the complete version.)

JANUARY
--- The US primaries began, with democratic candidates Hilary Clinton and Barack Obama at the top of headlines.
--- Gaza residents fled to Egypt to avoid the turmoil.
---January 2008 saw a lot of deaths, including those of former Indonesian President Suharto, Mt. Everest climber Sir Hillary and Hollywood star Heath Ledger.

FEBRUARY
--- Parliamentary elections were held in Pakistan.
--- Cuban President Fidel Castro stepped down.
--- Kosovo declared independence from Serbia.
--- UK's Prince Harry was withdrawn from Afghanistan.
--- French President Nicolas Sarkozy married model-turned-popstar Carla Bruni.

MARCH
--- Dmitry Medvedev was elected as Russia's president.
--- John McCain won the Republican nomination for the US presidential race.
--- Barack Obama finally responded to the Reverend Wright controversy.
--- Presidential elections were held in Zimbabwe.
--- China cracked down on Tibetan protesters.
--- The Olympic Torch was lit for its journey around the world.
--- The British Pig Industry slipped into crisis.

APRIL
--- Some countries protested the Olympic Torch relay (they were against China).
--- An Austrian man was accused of imprisoning his daughter for 23 years (I believe someone made a movie out of this). He was sentenced to more than 23 years in prison.
--- Barack Obama cut ties with Reverend Wright.
--- Historic elections were held in Nepal.
--- The Irish Prime Minister (whose name escapes me) announced his resignation.
--- Belusconi became Italy's Prime Minister for the third time.
--- Global riots began because of the rising food prices.

MAY
--- Mogave's election as Zimbabwe's president sparked uncertainty.
--- Russia swore in a new president (I can't remember either) and a new prime minister (Putin).
--- Cyclone Nargis devastated Myanmar.
--- An earthquake that registered 7.9 on the Richter Scale killed thousands in China. (Sharon Stone called it "China's Karma" and sparked a lot of negative criticism.)

JUNE
--- Barack Obama won the democratic nomination for presidency.
--- Zimbabwe's opposition leader dropped out of run-off because of Mogave's threats.
--- Israel and Hamas began the truce in Gaza
--- North Korea destroyed their nuclear cooling tower.
--- Yves St. Laurent (YSL) died at 73.
--- Bill Gates ended his day-to-day work in Microsoft.

JULY
--- Hostages were freed in Colombia.
--- Serbian leader Radovan Karadzic was arrested.
--- The Sudanese president was (finally!) charged with genocide.
--- Iran tested their missiles (presumably bound for Israel).
--- Oil prices peaked at 147 dollars per barrel.
--- Zimbabwe introduced the "One hundred billion dollar" banknote.
--- NELSON MANDELA celebrated his 90th birthday.
--- Angelina Jolie gave birth to twins.
--- Chess-boxing was introduced to the world. (Yes, chess AND boxing. Not while, though. It was simultaneously done, at 3 or 4 minutes each.)

AUGUST
--- Russian author Alexander Solzhenitsyn died at 89.
--- Russia invaded Georgia.
--- (8/8/08) The Olympic Games opened in Beijing. (And Michael Phelps won everything.)
--- Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf resigned.
--- US Democratic National Convention began.

SEPTEMBER
--- US Republican National Convention began. (Sarah Palin was declared McCain's VP candidate, hahaha.)
--- Asif Ali Zardari was elected Pakistani president.
--- Power-sharing deal was reached in Zimbabwe.
--- South African President Thabo Mbeki stepped down.
--- Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert stepped down.
--- North Korea's Kim Jong Il's health began to be questioned.
--- The Melamine scandal began with the death of several children in China.
--- Actor Paul Newman died at 89.
--- First US presidential debate!!!
--- US economic turmoil began (Lehman Brothers, etc).

OCTOBER
--- Global economic turmoil.
--- Final US presidential debate.
--- Political deadlock in Zimbabwe.
--- Fighting displaced thousands in Congo.
--- Former Finnish President Martti Ahtisaari won the Nobel Peace Prize.
--- O.J. Simpson was deemed guilty of kidnapping and robbery (no, not the murder part) and was sentenced to 18 years in prison.
--- Madonna and Guy Ritchie filed for divorce.

NOVEMBER
--- Barack Obama was elected US president.
--- Iraq approved the timeline for US troop withdrawal.
--- Pirates target ships off the Somali coast.
--- Protesters shut down the Bangkok Airport until their Prime Minister stepped down.
--- Terror attacks in Mumbai!
--- MICHAEL CRICHTON died of cancer. (And SciFi fans were devastated, cough cough.)

DECEMBER
--- Oh never mind, it's still fresh in our heads anyway.

WHAT'S UP FOR 2009
--- Cholera crisis in Zimbabwe.
--- Putin's role in a re-emergent Russia.
--- US troop drawdown in Iraq.
--- Transition of power in the US.
--- Continued global economic crisis (and a lot less optimism, it looks like).

Here's to a New Year. Have a good one folks.