Euro currency introduced
The euro is introduced as an accounting currency in eleven European Union member states, marking a milestone in European integration.
Explore 265 historical moments from 1999 — 50 events, 215 birthdays, and 0 notable deaths.
The euro is introduced as an accounting currency in eleven European Union member states, marking a milestone in European integration.
In Little Saigon, California, protests began after the owner of a video rental store displayed an image of Ho Chi Minh.
Four plain-clothes New York City police officers shot and killed Amadou Diallo, an unarmed 23-year-old immigrant from Guinea, prompting outrage both in and outside the city.
The Philippine-flagged freighter New Carissa ran aground near Coos Bay, Oregon, causing one of the worst oil spills in the state's history.
Abdullah II became the reigning King of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. This followed the death of his father, King Hussein.
Abdullah Öcalan, a key figure in the Kurdistan Workers' Party, was apprehended by Turkish security forces in Nairobi, Kenya. His arrest marked a significant development in the conflict involving the PKK.
A jury began deliberations in the trial of Jack Kevorkian, who was charged with murder for his role in physician-assisted suicide. He was accused in the death of a terminally ill patient.
During the Kosovo War, Serbian police and special forces killed approximately 93 Kosovo Albanians in Izbica village.
A powerful earthquake struck the foothills of the Himalayas, killing at least 100 people.
Ibrahim Baré Maïnassara, President of Niger, was shot dead by soldiers in Niamey.
A severe hailstorm dropped approximately 500,000 tonnes of hailstones on Sydney and the east coast of New South Wales, causing significant damage.
Students Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold carried out a massacre at Columbine High School, resulting in 13 deaths before they committed suicide.
A 14-year-old former student opened fire at his high school in Taber, Alberta, Canada. This event resulted in one student fatality and marked Canada's first fatal school shooting in over two decades.
The Kargil War commenced when Indian forces discovered Pakistani infiltration in Kargil, Jammu and Kashmir.
The fastest winds on Earth were measured at 143.6 m/s (321 mph) in a tornado near Bridge Creek, Oklahoma.
During NATO's bombing of Yugoslavia, the United States mistakenly bombed the Chinese embassy in Belgrade.
Professional wrestler Owen Hart died during a World Wrestling Federation event after falling from the rafters onto the ring.
Manchester United won the UEFA Champions League final, becoming the first English football club to win three major championships in the same season.
President Olusegun Obasanjo took office as Nigeria's first elected and civilian head of state after 16 years of military dictatorship.
Charlotte Perrelli, representing Sweden, won the Eurovision Song Contest, the first edition not to feature an orchestra or live accompaniment.
On landing at Little Rock National Airport, American Airlines Flight 1420 overran the runway and crashed, resulting in 11 deaths.
The Kumanovo Agreement was signed, bringing an end to the Kosovo War the next day.
In the aftermath of the bombing of Yugoslavia and the Kosovo War, the NATO-led Kosovo Force entered Kosovo with a mandate to establish a secure environment.
Legislative powers in Scotland were first devolved from the Scottish Office in London to the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh.
The United States defeated China in the final match of the third FIFA Women's World Cup. The event set records for attendance and television ratings for women's sports.
In Tulia, Texas, 47 people were arrested for dealing cocaine. Years later, 35 of the 47 were pardoned by the Governor of Texas.
Ken Levine's System Shock 2 was released, later receiving critical acclaim and influencing subsequent first-person shooter game design.
A tornado struck downtown Salt Lake City, damaging 120 homes and injuring over 100 people.
The Act on National Flag and Anthem was adopted, formally establishing the Hinomaru and "Kimigayo" as the Japanese national flag and anthem.
The Parliament of Singapore relocated from the Old Parliament House to its current meeting place.
Three weeks after a major earthquake in Turkey, a second earthquake struck Athens. This led to "earthquake diplomacy" between Greece and Turkey.
The first banknotes of the Portrait Series of the Singapore dollar were introduced. They were issued by the Board of Commissioners of Currency.
A 7.7 Mw earthquake struck Jiji, Taiwan, killing 2,415 people and injuring more than 11,000 others. The earthquake caused about NT$300 billion (US$10 billion) in damage across the island.
Two trains collided head-on in Ladbroke Grove, London, killing 31 people and injuring 417. The incident severely damaged public confidence in the management and regulation of safety on Britain's privatised railway system.
The United Nations designates October 12, 1999 as the day the world population reaches six billion people.
Armed men led by Nairi Hunanyan carried out a mass shooting at the Armenian parliament. Prime Minister Vazgen Sargsyan, National Assembly speaker Karen Demirchyan, and six others were killed.
About 10,000 people died when the most intense tropical cyclone ever recorded in the North Indian Ocean made landfall in Odisha, India.
All 217 people on board EgyptAir Flight 990 perished when the aircraft crashed into the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Nantucket, Massachusetts.
German newspaper Der Spiegel published a report by the Federal Intelligence Service accusing figures in Liechtenstein of cooperating with organized crime.
The House of Lords Act was given royal assent, removing most hereditary peers from the British House of Lords.
Texas A&M University's annual Aggie Bonfire collapsed, killing 12 people and injuring 27 others. The university declared a hiatus on the 90-year-old event.
The Labour Party defeated the National Party in the New Zealand general election. Helen Clark became the country's first female prime minister to win office at an election.
Protests by anti-globalization activists against the World Trade Organization Ministerial Conference of 1999 in Seattle forced the cancellation of the opening ceremonies.
NASA lost contact with the Mars Polar Lander spacecraft just before it was scheduled to enter Mars' atmosphere. The lander subsequently disappeared, marking a significant loss in space exploration efforts.
The Recording Industry Association of America filed a lawsuit against the peer-to-peer file sharing network Napster. The lawsuit, filed on December 6, 1999, alleged that the service facilitated widespread copyright infringement.
Torrential rains caused flash floods in the Venezuelan state of Vargas, resulting in tens of thousands of deaths and the destruction of thousands of homes.
Portugal transferred the sovereignty over Macau to China on December 20, 1999. Portugal had administered Macau since the mid-16th century.
Jihadists linked to al-Qaeda hijacked Indian Airlines Flight 814 to force the release of Islamist figures held in prison in India.
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin became acting president upon President Boris Yeltsin's unexpected resignation.
In accordance with the Torrijos–Carter Treaties, Panama assumed full control of the Panama Canal Zone from the United States.
MJ Lenderman is an American singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist.
Thai actor and singer Metawin Opas-iamkajorn was born.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is a Canadian professional baseball player.
Chanel Harris-Tavita, a New Zealand-Samoan rugby league player, was born.
Alessandro Bastoni, an Italian footballer, was born on this date.
Sebastian Kris, Australian-New Zealand rugby league player, was born.
Son Chaeyoung, a South Korean rapper and singer-songwriter, was born.
Sabrina Carpenter, an American singer and actress, was born.
Technoblade, American YouTuber and streamer, was born. He died in 2022.
Dmytro Udovychenko, Ukrainian violinist, was born.
Choi Ye-won, a South Korean singer and actress, was born.
Czech tennis player Markéta Vondroušová was born on June 28, 1999.
Kang Hye-won is a South Korean actress and singer.
Claire Corlett, an American voice actress, was born.
Pop Smoke, an American rapper and singer, was born. He died in 2020.
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone is an American hurdler and sprinter.
Jaren Jackson Jr., an American professional basketball player, was born.
Putthipong Assaratanakul is a Thai actor and singer.
Leicester Fainga'anuku is a New Zealand rugby union player.
Ferdia Walsh-Peelo, an Irish actor and musician, was born on this date.
Bailee Madison, American-Canadian actress and singer, was born.
Choi Yoo-jung is a South Korean singer, dancer, rapper, and actress.
Pavol Regenda, a Slovak ice hockey player, was born on December 7, 1999.
No deaths recorded for 1999.
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