What Events Happened in 2008
- Cyprus and
Malta adopt the Euro joining 13 other European countries using the
single currency
- The ethnic violence in Kenya continues to
worsen following the Election.
- The truce between the Sri Lankan government
and Tamil Tiger rebels has ended following continued violence
- Following the murder of Ms. Bhutto
Pakistan Elections have been postponed to 18th February. A long period
of political unrest follows her death.
- Property prices continue to fall on
both sides of the Atlantic in Europe and America causing hardship to
many homeowners, and problems for the financial institutions.
- The Tata Group introduces the Nano
at the New Delhi car show its ultra-cheap car in India costing 100,000
rupees the equivalent of $2,500
- Bank of America, is to take over the
country's biggest mortgage lender, Countrywide Financial which was rumored
to be close to bankruptcy in a $4bn (£2.04bn) deal.
- Citigroup, the nations largest
bank, joins a number of other high profile financial institutions and
reported a fourth-quarter loss of $9.83 billion caused by the sub prime
mortgage problems
- The Fed announced a series of interest
rate cuts with federal funds target rate falling to 2.25%
- President Bush and House leaders agree to
a $150 billion stimulus package, including rebates for most tax
filers of up to $600 for individuals, $1,200 for couples and, for families,
an additional $300 a child.
- The US government gives the OK to the
production and marketing of foods derived from cloned animals
- The US government auctions off radio
spectrum licenses that will provide the growth for the next generation
of wireless broadband devices. Verizon Wireless wins the lion's share
of the spectrum during the auction.
- Internet access is disrupted in large
parts of the Middle East and India which suffered up to 60% disruption
due to breaks in submarine cable systems in the Mediterranean.
- Estimates are coming out which put the cost
so far for the war in Iraq at close to $3 trillion
- Severe thunderstorms with tornados
sweep through Tennessee, Arkansas, Kentucky and Alabama.
- General Motors Corp. reports the largest
ever recorded loss for a maker of $38.7 billion loss for 2007
- Fidel Castro steps down as president
of Cuba after almost 50 years in power
- UK experiences largest earthquake (5.2)
in 25 years
- Following a leak by the press Prince Harry
is on his way back to the UK from Afghanistan
- Suicide Bomber Kills 40 during a gathering
of tribal elders and local officials in north-west Pakistan
- Governments around the world face the continuing
problems of increased oil prices causing inflation and unemployment
increasing.
- Shuttle Endeavour goes for a 16 day
mission to the International Space Station.
- A tropical cyclone devastates parts
of the Irrawaddy region of Burma / Myanmar leaving over 50,000 dead.
- An Earthquake measuring 7.8 strikes near Chengdu,
Sichuan's provincial capital leaving an estimated 60,000 dead and
up to 5 million homeless.
- Olympic Torch Relay begins from Olympia,
Greece, promoting the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The relay is marred by
protests over Chinese treatment of protesters in Tibet.
- The centre-left Patriotic Alliance for
Change wins Paraguay's presidential election
Popular Culture 2008
- Writers strike against Hollywood studios,
networks and production companies demanding a percentage of revenue
instead of a fixed fee for Internet content. The strike lasted for nearly
3 months and a compromise agreement is reached. The strike meant many
popular TV programmes were affected including talk shows.
Technology 2008
- Sonys Blu-ray HD format now has about
70 percent of the new high-definition market and is expected to win
over the rival format, HD DVD.
- Apple sells the new ultra-thin MacBook Air
notebook that is less than an inch thick and turns on the moment it's
opened.
- Microsoft attempts to buy Yahoo for $44.6bn
- Europe's space laboratory, Columbus, docks
with the International Space Station,
- Honda begins selling it's zero-emission, hydrogen
fuel-cell powered vehicle The Honda FCX Clarity.
- US Missile Strikes a US Spy Satellite Falling
From Its Orbit proving it's missile defense system works.
- Chumby released a tiny computer enclosed
in a stuffed leather pillow with a 6-inch LCD touch-sensitive screen
which shows pictures, news headlines, games, incoming e-mail from the
Internet.
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