The year 2008 (MMVIII) of the Gregorian Calendar began on a Tuesday and ended on a Wednesday. During the year, Barack Obama defeats John McCain to become the 44th President of the USA and the first African-American in the role. The “Credit Crunch” – collapse of the U.S. subprime mortgage financial crisis begins to take a grip around the world. Casualties include Lehman Brothers, USA and Northern Rock (UK). In October, President George W Bush announces an emergency financial stimulus of $700 Billion to aid ailing financial institutions. Russia lends 4 Billion Euros to Iceland. Hungary receives $25 Billion aid from International Banking Organisations. The price of petroleum rises dramatically exceeding $100 per barrel for the first time ever, food and fuel prices rise rapidly around the world. Many allied troops are killed in peace-keeping duties in Afghanistan and Iraq during the year.
Kosovo formally declares its independence from Serbia, Fidel Castro resigns as president of Cuba, Radovan Karadzic is arrested after a 12 year manhunt following war crimes committed during the Yugoslavian civil war. In excess of 133,000 are killed in Myanmar by Cyclone Nargis, Dmitry Medvedev becomes the new President of Russia; he replaces Vladimir Putin. Over 69,000 are killed in China by the Wenchuan earthquake. Bill Gates steps down as Chairman of Microsoft to concentrate on his philanthropic works; Delta Air Lines merges with Northwest Airlines, forming the world's largest commercial carrier.
The Olympics takes place in Beijing, China from 8th – 24th August. Michael Phelps breaks a new single Olympic record, winning 8 Gold Medals, Usain Bolt, Jamaica wins 3 Gold Medals and breaks 3 world records in the 100 Metres, 200 Metres and 4 X 100M relay. Pirates start to board ships and take hostages off the coast of Somalia. The Large Hadron Collider is switched on for the first time, amongst much concern around the world that this could create a black hole. An extra leap second was added to the end of the year.
February 2008
- February 17: Kosovo declares independance from Serbia
- February 24: Fidel Castro resigns as President of Cuba, his brother Raúl Castro is named as his successor.
May 2008
- May 24: An earthquake struck Sichuan Providence of China Killing more than 69,000 people
July 2008
- July 11: July 11: The cost of a barrel of oil reached $147.27, a historical record.
August 2008
- August 17: Michael Phelps wins his eighth gold medal at the 2008 Bejing Olympics, one more than previous record holder Mark Spitz
September 2008
- September 10: The proton beam at CERN, near [[Geneva] is activated, despite public concerns of creating a black hole.
November 2008
November 4: The United States elects Barack Obama as president, making him the first U.S. African-American president in history.
Famous Births
Famous Deaths
- Jan. 22: Heath Ledger - The Dark Knight
- Feb. 10: Roy Scheider - Jaws
- Mar. 19: Arthur C. Clarke - Author
- Apr. 05: Charlton Heston - Planet of the Apes
- Jul. 07: Dorian Leigh - Supermodel
- Jul. 12: Tony Snow - Fox News Channel
- Jul. 16: Jo Stafford - Musicians
- Aug. 09: Bernie Mac - Oceans 11
- Sept. 26: Paul Newman - Slapshot
- Nov. 04: Michael Crichton - Author
Chart Toppers
- Jan. 05: Flo Rida - Low
- Mar. 15: Usher - Love in This Club
- Apr. 5: Leona Lewis - Bleeding Love
- Apr. 12: Mariah Carey - Touch My Body
- Apr. 26: Leona Lewis - Bleeding Love
- May 3: Lil Wayne - Lollipop
- May 10: Leona Lewis - Bleeding Love
- May 24: Rihanna - Take a Bow
- May 31: Lil Wayne - Lollipop
- Jun. 28: Coldplay - Viva la Vida
- Jul. 05: Katy Perry - I Kissed a Girl
- Aug. 23: Rihanna - Disturbia
- Sep. 06: T.I. - Whatever You Like
- Sep. 27: Pink - So What
- Oct. 04: T.I. - Whatever You Like
- Oct. 18: T.I. - Live Your Life
- Oct. 25: Britney Spears - Womanizer
- Nov. 01: Whatever You Like
- Nov. 15: Live Your Life
- Dec. 13: Beyonce - Single Ladies
Top Box Office Movies
- The Dark Knight
- Iron Man 2008
- Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
- Hancock
- WALL E
- Kung Fu Panda
- Madagascar Escape 2 Africa
- Quantum of Solace
- Horton Hears a Who http://www.imdb.com/Sections/Years/2008/
80th Academy Awards
Presented on: February 22, 2009
- Best Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
- Best Actor: Sean Penn for Milk
- Best Actress: Kate Winslet for The Reader
- Best Director: Danny Boyle for Slumdog Millionaire
- Best Documentary: Magnolia Pictures - Man on Wire http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/award_show/
Championship Teams
- Stanley Cup - NHL: Detroit Red Wings
- World Series - MLB: Philadelphia Phillies
- Super Bowl - NFL: New York Giants
- NBA Finals - NBA: Boston Celtics
Top Athletes
- NHL MVP: Alexander Ovechkin, Washington Capitals
- NFL MVP: Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts
- NBA MVP: Kobe Bryant, LA Lakers
- MLB AL MVP: Dustin Pedroia, Boston Red Sox
- MLB NL MVP: Albert Pujols, St. Louis Cardinals
Nobel Laureates
- Peace:: Martti Ahtisaari
- Physics: Yoichiro Nambu, Makoto Kobayashi, Toshihide Maskawa
- Chemistry: Osamu Shimomura, Martin Chalfie, Roger Y. Tsien
- Medicine: Harald zur Hausen, Francoise Barre Sinoussi, Luc Montagnier
- Literature: Jean-Marie Gustave Le Clezio
- Economics: Paul Krugman http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/lists/2008.html
References
Fast Facts
-
Fact:
-
Fact:
-
Fact:
-
Fact:
-
Fact:
-
Fact:
-
Fact:
-
Fact:
-
Fact:
-
Fact:
-
Fact:
