2008⚡ Event
Mikheil Saakashvili Re-elected President of Georgia
Mikheil Saakashvili was decisively re-elected as President of Georgia in "the first genuinely competitive presidential election" in the country's history.
politics
What Happened in 2008?
Explore 67 historical moments from 2008 — 57 events, 10 birthdays, and 0 notable deaths.
Events in 2008(57)
2008⚡ Event
London low emission zone begins operation
The London low emission zone, charging certain diesel-powered commercial vehicles to enter Greater London, came into operation on February 4, 2008.
lawtechnology
2008⚡ Event
Super Tuesday tornado outbreak
Eighty-seven tornadoes occurred over the course of the Super Tuesday tornado outbreak across multiple U.S. states, causing 56 deaths and over $1 billion in damage.
disaster
2008⚡ Event
Namdaemun Gate Arson
The Namdaemun gate in Seoul, South Korea's first National Treasure, was severely damaged by arson on February 10, 2008.
disaster
2008⚡ Event
2008 East Timorese assassination attempts
Rebel East Timorese soldiers invaded the homes of President José Ramos-Horta and Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão, seriously wounding the former.
politics
2008⚡ Event
Northern Illinois University Shooting
A gunman opened fire into a crowded lecture hall at Northern Illinois University, killing five people and injuring twenty-one others.
disaster
2008⚡ Event
B-2 Spirit crash in Guam
A B-2 Spirit stealth bomber crashed on the runway shortly after takeoff from Andersen Air Force Base in Guam.
technologywardisaster
2008⚡ Event
Misha Defonseca admits Holocaust memoir forgery
Belgian author Misha Defonseca admitted that her bestselling memoir about surviving the Holocaust was in fact a literary forgery.
literaturelaw
2008⚡ Event
Eliot Spitzer prostitution scandal
The New York Times revealed that Eliot Spitzer, Governor of New York, had patronized a prostitution ring.
politicslaw
2008⚡ Event
GRB 080319B Observed
The gamma-ray burst GRB 080319B, the farthest object from Earth that was observable by the naked eye, was observed.
sciencespace
2008⚡ Event
Farthest Naked-Eye Event Observed
The gamma-ray burst GRB 080319B was observed, setting a record for the farthest event from Earth observable with the naked eye.
sciencespace
2008⚡ Event
Bhutan's first National Assembly election
The Bhutan Peace and Prosperity Party, led by Jigme Thinley, won 45 out of 47 seats in Bhutan's first National Assembly election on March 24, 2008.
politics
2008⚡ Event
Danica Patrick wins Indy Japan 300
American racing driver Danica Patrick won the Indy Japan 300, becoming the first woman to win an IndyCar auto race.
sportsentertainment
2008⚡ Event
Fernando Lugo elected President of Paraguay
Fernando Lugo was elected President of Paraguay, marking the first time in 61 years that a candidate not from the Colorado Party won the election.
politics
2008⚡ Event
Trump International Hotel and Tower Grand Opening
The Trump International Hotel and Tower in Chicago, then the world's tallest residential building, held its grand opening. The building stands 1,388 feet tall.
technologyeconomics
2008⚡ Event
Chaitén volcano eruption
The Chaitén volcano in Chile began to erupt on May 2, 2008. This was its first eruption since approximately 1640.
disasterscience
2008⚡ Event
Mark Saunders shot dead by police
British barrister Mark Saunders was shot dead by police after a five-hour siege at his home in Chelsea, London.
law
2008⚡ Event
Postville Immigration Raid
On May 12, 2008, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement conducted the largest-ever workplace raid in Postville, Iowa, arresting nearly 400 immigrants for identity theft and document fraud.
lawpolitics
2008⚡ Event
Jaipur bombings
Nine bombs exploded in Jaipur, India, killing 80 people and injuring over 200 others. The attacks were attributed to the Indian Mujahideen.
disasterlaw
2008⚡ Event
UEFA Cup Final violence
Violence erupted between football hooligans and police on the day of the UEFA Cup Final, resulting in 39 arrests and 39 injured officers.
sportslaw
2008⚡ Event
International Court of Justice ruling on Middle Rocks and Pedra Branca
The International Court of Justice awarded the Middle Rocks to Malaysia and Pedra Branca to Singapore, resolving a 29-year-old territorial dispute in the Singapore Strait.
lawpolitics
2008⚡ Event
Convention on Cluster Munitions Adopted
The Convention on Cluster Munitions was adopted, prohibiting the use, transfer, and stockpiling of cluster bombs.
lawwar
2008⚡ Event
Akihabara massacre
A man drove a truck into a crowd of pedestrians in Akihabara, Tokyo, and then stabbed at least 12 people, killing 7 and wounding 10.
disasterlaw
2008⚡ Event
U.S. airstrike in Afghanistan
A U.S. airstrike in Afghanistan reportedly resulted in the deaths of eleven paramilitary members of the Pakistani Frontier Corps and eight Taliban fighters.
warpolitics
2008⚡ Event
Sudan Airways Flight 109 crash
Sudan Airways Flight 109 crashed upon landing at Khartoum International Airport, killing 30 of the 214 occupants.
disastertechnology
2008⚡ Event
Canadian PM Apologizes to First Nations
Canadian prime minister Stephen Harper apologised to the First Nations for past governments' policies of forced assimilation.
politics
2008⚡ Event
Robert Mugabe re-elected President of Zimbabwe
Robert Mugabe was re-elected as President of Zimbabwe with an overwhelming majority after his opponent withdrew, citing violence against his party's supporters.
politics
2008⚡ Event
Ulaanbaatar Riots
Rioting erupted in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, over allegations of fraud surrounding the recent legislative election.
politics
2008⚡ Event
Jerusalem vehicular attack
An Arab man rammed a loader into traffic in Jerusalem, killing three people and injuring 40 others.
warpolitics
2008⚡ Event
Iran conducts Great Prophet III missile test
Believing Israel and the United States planned to attack its nuclear program, Iran conducted the Great Prophet III missile test and war games exercise.
politicswar
2008⚡ Event
Coati nicknamed Brazilian aardvark
An edit to the Wikipedia page of a coati nicknamed it the Brazilian aardvark, leading multiple news channels to follow the story.
2008⚡ Event
Chinese Milk Scandal
A tainted milk powder scandal broke in China, involving an estimated 300,000 victims, mostly infants. This resulted in 54,000 hospitalizations and six deaths due to kidney problems.
disastermedicine
2008⚡ Event
Mauritanian coup d'état
Mauritanian president Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdallahi was ousted from power by a group of high-ranking generals on August 6, 2008.
politicslaw
2008⚡ Event
Train derailment near Studénka
A EuroCity train traveling to Prague derailed after striking a fallen bridge section near Studénka station. The accident claimed 8 lives and injured 64.
disaster
2008⚡ Event
Michael Phelps' Record-Breaking Olympic Performance
Michael Phelps won his eighth gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics. This set the record for the most gold medals won by an athlete at a single Olympic Games.
sportsspace
2008⚡ Event
Pervez Musharraf resigns as Pakistani president
Pakistani president Pervez Musharraf resigned under pressure from a movement to impeach him.
politics
2008⚡ Event
Spanair Flight 5022 crash
Spanair Flight 5022 crashed shortly after takeoff from Madrid's Barajas Airport. The accident resulted in the deaths of 154 people.
disaster
2008⚡ Event
Russia Recognizes Abkhazia and South Ossetia Independence
After a ceasefire was reached in the Russo-Georgian War, Russia recognized the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
warpolitics
2008⚡ Event
Metrolink train collision
A Metrolink train collided head-on with a freight train in Los Angeles, California, resulting in 25 deaths and 135 injuries.
disasterlaw
2008⚡ Event
Delhi Bombings
Five bomb blasts took place in Delhi, India, killing at least 20 people as part of a series of attacks perpetrated by the Indian Mujahideen.
disasterpoliticslaw
2008⚡ Event
Lehman Brothers files for bankruptcy
The global financial services firm Lehman Brothers filed for bankruptcy, holding over $600 billion in assets. This was the largest such filing in U.S. history.
economicslaw
2008⚡ Event
Islamabad Marriott Hotel bombing
An explosive-laden truck detonated in front of the Marriott hotel in Islamabad, Pakistan, on September 20, 2008, killing 54 people and injuring 266 others.
disasterwar
2008⚡ Event
Kauhajoki School Shooting
A gunman shot and killed ten students at the Seinäjoki University of Applied Sciences in Finland. The perpetrator then committed suicide.
disaster
2008⚡ Event
Yves Rossy English Channel Flight
Swiss pilot and inventor Yves Rossy flew across the English Channel using a jet-powered wingpack.
technologyexploration
2008⚡ Event
Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008
The Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, establishing the Troubled Asset Relief Program, was enacted to provide a bailout of the U.S. financial system.
politicseconomicslaw
2008⚡ Event
MESSENGER discovers Rembrandt crater on Mercury
The MESSENGER probe discovered Mercury's Rembrandt crater, the second largest impact crater on the planet.
sciencespace
2008⚡ Event
2008 TC3 Asteroid Impact
2008 TC3 exploded above the Nubian Desert in Sudan, the first time an asteroid impact was predicted prior to atmospheric entry.
sciencespacedisaster
2008⚡ Event
Lewis Hamilton wins Formula One championship
Lewis Hamilton overtook Timo Glock in the final corners of the Brazilian Grand Prix to win the Formula One championship by one point.
sports
2008⚡ Event
Barack Obama elected President
Barack Obama became the first person of biracial or African-American descent to be elected President of the United States.
politics
2008⚡ Event
Maldives Presidential Succession
After 30 years in power, Maumoon Abdul Gayoom was succeeded by Mohamed Nasheed as president of the Maldives.
politics
2008⚡ Event
Mumbai Attacks
A coordinated group of shooting and bombing attacks across Mumbai began, ultimately killing 175 people and wounding more than 300 others.
lawwar
2008⚡ Event
Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich arrested
Rod Blagojevich, the governor of Illinois, was arrested on corruption charges, including for attempting to sell the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by president-elect Barack Obama.
politicslaw
2008⚡ Event
Bernie Madoff arrested for $64.8 billion Ponzi scheme
American stockbroker Bernie Madoff was arrested and charged with securities fraud. The charges related to a $64.8 billion Ponzi scheme, the largest in history.
economicslaw
2008⚡ Event
Muntadhar al-Zaidi throws shoes at George W. Bush
During a press conference in Baghdad, Iraqi journalist Muntadhar al-Zaidi threw his shoes at U.S. president George W. Bush and Iraqi prime minister Nouri al-Maliki, yelling "This is for the widows and orphans and all those killed in Iraq".
politicswar
2008⚡ Event
Kingston Fossil Plant Spill
On December 22, 2008, a dike ruptured at a coal-fired power plant in Kingston, Tennessee, releasing 1.1 billion gallons of coal fly ash slurry. This was the largest industrial spill in US history.
disaster
2008⚡ Event
Guinean coup d'état
The Guinean military engineered a coup d'état on 12-23-2008, announcing plans to rule for two years before new presidential elections.
politicswar
2008⚡ Event
Lord's Resistance Army Attacks
The Lord's Resistance Army, a Ugandan rebel group, began attacks on several villages in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, killing hundreds.
warpoliticsdisaster
Born in 2008(10)
2008🎂 Birth
Birth of Abby Ryder Fortson
Abby Ryder Fortson, an American actress, was born.
entertainmentarts
2008🎂 Birth
Lilliana Ketchman born
American dancer and YouTuber Lilliana Ketchman was born.
entertainment
2008🎂 Birth
Jackson Robert Scott
Jackson Robert Scott, American actor, was born on September 18, 2008.
entertainment
Deaths in 2008(0)
No deaths recorded for 2008.
Dates in 2008
January 5February 4February 5February 10February 11February 14February 23February 29March 10March 12March 14March 19March 24April 20April 21April 28May 2May 6May 12May 13May 14May 23May 30June 8June 10June 11June 23June 27July 1July 2July 9July 12July 15July 16August 5August 6August 8August 17August 18August 20August 26August 29September 12September 13September 15September 18September 20September 23September 26October 3October 6October 7November 2November 4November 11November 26December 5December 9December 11December 14December 22December 23December 24
Frequently Asked Questions
- What happened in 2008?
- 2008 saw 67 notable historical moments, including 57 events, 10 famous birthdays, and 0 notable deaths.
- What were the biggest events of 2008?
- Key events of 2008 include: Mikheil Saakashvili Re-elected President of Georgia, London low emission zone begins operation, Super Tuesday tornado outbreak.
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