It’s been a while since 2008, so we no longer remember the exact events of that year. What events can we still remember in ten years’ time and place in this year? What were the most important events of 2008 in news, sports, economics and death? 2008 was mainly dominated by the crises. First of all, there was the very high oil price, followed by rising food prices. Several banks were bought out by governments to stabilize the economy. 2008 was also the year of the European Championship and the Summer Games in Beijing. Politically, there were some surprising shifts in Zimbabwe, Bhutan, Nepal and the US.
This overview mentions the most important and famous people who died this year; of course this is not complete.
- January
- February
- March
- April
- May
- June
- July
- August
- September
- October
- November
- December
January
The year starts with two countries using the euro: Malta and Cyprus. A day later there is more news from the financial side: for the first time the price of a barrel of oil rises above the magical limit of 100 dollars. The stock markets collapsed on January 21 after concerns about the American housing crisis. Samak Sundaravej will become Thailand’s new president on January 29 after elections that followed the 2006 coup.
Dead
- 11: New Zealand mountaineer Edmund Hillary (88) was known as the first man to reach the summit of Mount Everest in 1953.
- 22: Australian actor Heath Ledger dies of an overdose at the age of 28.
- 27: Former President of Indonesia Suharto (86).
February
Peter R. De Vries identifies Joran van der Sloot as the perpetrator in the disappearance of Natalee Holloway in Aruba. Although Joran denied all involvement a few weeks earlier, in a broadcast on February 3 he showed images with the hidden camera in which Joran told more about the case.
On the 13th Prime Minister Kevin Rudd of Australia formally apologizes to the Aboriginal people. On February 22, Northern Rock will become the first national bank in Europe to come under state control. On February 24, Raul Castro will replace his brother Fidel as leader of Cuba. A day later, Lee Myung-Bak becomes president of South Korea.
Dead
- 7: Dutch singer Benny Neyman (56) dies of cancer.
- 15: Adventurer and businessman Steve Fossett (63) is officially declared dead after going missing on September 3, 2007.
March
Russia will elect its president on March 2. Vladmir Putin is succeeded by Dmitry Medvedev with 70% despite complaints about the lack of free voting.
Tibetan monks start street protests on March 10, which in the following days culminate in violence against Han Chinese in Tibet and other regions with many Tibetans. The Chinese government is responding as usual with repression and excluding journalists.
On March 20, Belgium will finally have a government. After an embarrassing nine months of negotiations, there is a result: CD&V/cdH, Open VLD/MR and PS led by Yves Leterme. The first ever elections will take place in Bhutan on March 24.
After a lot of fuss, Geert Wilders finally launches his film Fitna on March 27 . No channel wanted to broadcast the film under the conditions that Wilders had, so it appears on the internet on the website LiveLeak. There was fear in advance of strong reactions in the Muslim world, but these have not materialized. After all the fuss, the actual film is an anti-climax.
Dead
- 19: Literary great Hugo Claus (78) commits euthanasia after suffering from Alzheimer’s for two years.
April
The passing of the Olympic Flame does not always have the results desired by China. Routes are shortened for safety reasons and there are many protests. The chaotic relay in Paris leads to the Chinese boycotting the French store Carrefour.
PSV will become national champions on April 20 and Feyenoord will win the cup a week later.
The world will be shocked by two things on April 27. First of all, there is an attempt by the Taliban on the life of Afghan President Hamid Karzai. In addition, an incest case in Austria surfaces. Joseph Fritzl kept his daughter Elisabeth in a cellar for 24 years and fathered seven children with her. One child died, three remained in the cellar and the other three were taken into the family with an excuse: they were said to belong to Elisabeth, who had run away when she was 18. In reality, she lived in the basement from then on. The case came to light after daughter Kerstin’s hospitalization.
Dead
- 5: Actor and gun activist Charlton Heston (84)
- 6: Jeu Sprengers (69), former chairman of the KNVB
May
On May 3, Myanmar is hit by a devastating Cyclone Nargis. The closed country only allows aid in small quantities and there is a lot of uncertainty about the situation. According to estimates, more than 130,000 people will die.
The price of a barrel of oil rises above $125 on May 9. The increase continues and on May 22 a barrel is $ 135.
On May 12, a devastating earthquake hits Sichuan province in southwestern China. The quake has a magnitude of 7.9 on the Richter scale and kills more than 60,000 people. The Chinese government responds quickly and many volunteers flock to the area. Later, stories emerge of non-compliance with building codes. Schools in particular have collapsed, while surrounding buildings remain standing. Angry parents are quickly appeased.
FK Zenit Saint Petersburg wins the UEFA Cup on May 14 and a week later Manchester United wins the Champions League on penalties.
Nepal abolishes the monarchy and becomes a republic on May 28.
Dead
- 1: Writer JJ Voskuil (81)
- 26: Director, actor and producer Sydney Pollack (73)
June
The European Football Championship is held in Austria and Switzerland. The Netherlands performed beautifully in the group stage, but failed against Russia in the quarter-finals. On June 29, Spain wins the tournament against Germany 1-0.
Robert Mugabe remains president of Zimbabwe after controversial elections there. His opponent, Morgan Tsvangirai, temporarily fled to the Dutch embassy with complaints of intimidation and violence. He is forced to withdraw and Mugabe wins on June 27. This is also the day that Bill Gates resigns as CEO of Microsoft.
After a fierce battle for the Democratic nomination, Hillary Clinton will throw in the towel on June 7. Newcomer Barack Obama is heading for a historic nomination as the first black candidate. This will officially become a reality during the Democratic convention in August. On June 22, the
Princess of the Stars capsized in the Philippines. Typhoon Nargis is the culprit, but the angry relatives blame the shipping company that allowed the ship to leave.
Dead
- 1: Fashion designer Yves Saint-Laurent (71)
July
The controversial smoking ban for catering establishments will come into effect on July 1. Although the initiative has the support of smokers and non-smokers, pub owners (especially small bars) are anything but happy. They fear sharp declines in turnover. Some come up with creative solutions to circumvent the ban (such as setting up a religious community), but the Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority blows their whistle back.
Oil prices continue to rise through the summer months, peaking at $147 per barrel on July 11. The rising prices are the result of the weakened dollar, political unrest in oil countries, tensions between America and Iran and general economic malaise.
On July 21, war criminal Radovan Karadić is arrested and on the 26th Carlos Sastre wins the Tour de France.
Dead
- 20: Skater Piet Keijzer (81)
- 28: Adrianus van der Vaart (106), oldest man in the Netherlands
August
On August 7, war breaks out between Russia and Georgia. The Russians invade the province of South Ossetia with tanks. An armistice is signed six days later, but the troops do not leave immediately. On the 26th, Russia recognizes Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent countries.
The number eight has a special meaning in China, so the very first Olympic Games in the country will start on August 8, 2008 at eight o’clock. In the three weeks of top sport that follow, there are the usual successes: seven times Dutch gold, Michael Phelps with eight times gold and Hussein Bolt from Jamaica breaks both the world record for 100 meters sprint with 9.69 and the record for the 200 meters with 19. ,30. The scandals are not lacking. The gymnastics event draws attention because of the very young-looking Chinese participants, especially when an American gymnast with the same number of points has to make do with a silver medal in a bizarre tie-break procedure. IOC research shows that He Kexin is really 16, although the proof (a birth certificate) of course comes from the Chinese government. The impossibility to protest in the three protest zones that have been set up and the obstructed internet access are also typical of the communist country.
September
On September 11, the 9/11 commemorations take place and Mugabe and Tsvangirai reach agreement in Zimbabwe. They share power as president and prime minister respectively.
The price of oil falls below 100 dollars per barrel on September 15, the lowest price in six months. Prices will mainly continue to show a downward trend in the following months.
It doesn’t stop with news from China; this time about melamine in milk, which will be released for the first time on September 16. More than 60,000 children become ill and there are four deaths. The melamine is harmful, especially to children, and is mixed in by some companies to disguise the fact that the milk has been diluted with water. Export products such as sweets and yoghurt are also suspected.
Anti-government protests in Thailand worsen. The demonstrators believe that President Samat is too closely linked to the deposed Thaksin. They occupy government buildings and occasionally even airports. Things get out of hand for a while, but the court can depose Samat on a technical point: he played a chef in a TV show and Thai presidents are not allowed to have a part-time job.
Fortis is partly bought by the governments of the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg. Lehman Brothers in the US goes bankrupt on the 15th and the government there gives $85 million in AIG for 80% of the shares the next day. Washington Mutual goes into supervision on the 25th. Four days later, the US House of Representatives rejects the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act with which the government would pump 700 billion into the economy. The Dow Jones falls more than 777 points in one day.
Dead
- 26: Actor Paul Newman (83)
October
The financial crisis has reached a temporary low point. On October 3, the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act is passed, but on the 6th the Dow Jones falls below 10,000 points for the first time in three years. Three Icelandic banks are in dire straits, just like the rest of the Icelandic economy. Iceland relies mainly on America and feels the blow the hardest. It makes Icelanders seriously consider the possibility of joining the EU and the euro. Several Dutch banks receive capital injections. There is general concern as the stock markets continue to fall, even though there are gains towards the end of the month. On the positive side, the stronger dollar also means oil prices will drop drastically to around $65 per barrel.
Dead
- 11: Jörg Haider (57) dies after a car accident in which he was driving drunk. Austria has mixed feelings about the right-wing extremist politician.
- 11: Presenter Ernst-Paul Hasselbach (43) dies when his car goes off the road in Norway.
November
The election for the 44th US president is a hot contest and the results will be announced on November 4. Barack Obama wins the most electoral votes and about 52% of the ,popular vote, (all votes combined). This makes him the first black president of the United States, a historic event. People all over the world are happy that eight years of Bush/Republicans are coming to an end and expectations are high.
On November 11, the RMS Queen Elizabeth 2, or the QE2, will start its final voyage from Southhampton to Dubai where the ship will become a floating hotel.
The political crisis in Thailand continues. Protesters occupied Suvarnabhumi Airport on November 25 and a day later Don Muang followed in Bangkok, trapping tens of thousands of tourists.
The world is shocked by bloody attacks in Mumbai, India, which mainly target non-Muslims. The attacks began on November 26 and continued until the 29th. The Deccan Mujahedeen entered the city by boat , occupied hotels and took tourists hostage. Targets included several hotels, a Jewish center, a train station, a hospital, a restaurant and a police station. Approximately 175 people were killed and 245 were injured.
Dead
- 7: Wik Jongsma (65), known for his role as Govert Harmsen in Goede Tijden, Slecht Tijden, dies of colon cancer.
- 10: South African freedom singer Miriam Makeba (76) dies after a heart attack. Her most famous song was ,Pata Pata,.
December
In Thailand, the occupation of airports will end on December 3 after the Supreme Court dissolves the leading party PPP (People’s Power Party) over election fraud. The stranded tourists are gradually flying home. The new Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva will take office on December 15. But there are immediate struggles with pro-PPP demonstrators.
Inflation in Zimbabwe is reaching unprecedented levels (231 million percent) and the government announces a $200 million bill. Later, President Mugabe denies the obvious cholera epidemic and opponents of his regime are threatened or even kidnapped.
On December 6, riots break out in Greece. The reason is the death of a fifteen-year-old boy who was shot dead by the police. The shooter has been punished and the Minister of the Interior has resigned over the matter. There were demonstrations, riots, fires and occupations in twenty-five cities. On December 11, police stations were occupied in Athens, but most of the violence ended a day later. According to reports, left-wing radical anarchists are stirring up the riots.
On December 15, the Netherlands Antilles will be dissolved as a country. Curaçao and Sint Maarten will then obtain a separate status , which means that they are an independent country. Bonaire, Saba and Sint Eustachius will become special municipalities of the Netherlands and will introduce the euro.
The Belgian federal government will fall on December 19 after just under nine months. The formation had also broken records, 194 days, this time in the time it took to form a government. On July 14, 2008, Leterme had already offered his resignation, but this was rejected. This time it was accepted after it became clear that Leterme had influenced the judiciary in a case about the government takeover of Fortis (and the immediately subsequent sale to BNP Paribas). Three days later, Belgian King Albert II accepted the resignation.
On December 27, Israel launches a new air offensive in the Gaza Strip, killing 220 people. The attacks come in response to rocket attacks claimed by Hamas. Once again a year has passed without a peaceful solution in that part of the world.
Nearly 60 people are killed and nearly 200 injured during a New Year’s celebration at Santika nightclub in Bangkok in a fire believed to have been caused by fireworks.
The year 2008 lasts one second longer due to the addition of a leap second (23:59:60) on December 31. This was last needed in 2005.
Dead
- 13: Horst Tappert (85) known from the German police series Derrick that ran for 25 years.
- 19: Mark Felt (95), better known as Deep Throat, was the informant for Washington Post journalists Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein during the Watergate scandal that ultimately led to the resignation of President Nixon.