Oct 1998 A Lignes Aeriennes Congolaises Boeing 727 is shot down by rebels in Kindu, Democratic Republic of the Congo, killing 41 people. Aug 17 Monica Lewinsky scandal: US President Bill Clinton admits in taped testimony he had an "improper physical relationship" with the intern and on the same day admits before the nation he "misled people" about the relationship

Aug 1998 The United States tells the Democratic Republic of the Congo's neighbours to not get involved with the rebellion in the east of the country. (BBC) May 1998 Astronaut Buzz Aldrin and Buzz Lightyear attend the re-opening of the Moonliner attraction in Disneyland, California. The original Moonliner was removed in 1966. May 1998 India carries out two nuclear tests at Pokhran, following the three conducted on May 11. The United States and Japan impose economic sanctions on India.May 1998 US President Bill Clinton signs Public Law 105-176 authorizing the US Mint to move certain emblems from the reverse to the obverse of coins, to leave more room for State quarter dollar designs. Apr 1998 The Yugoslav Army ambushes a group of Kosovo Liberation Army fighters attempting to smuggle weapons from Albania into Kosovo, killing 19. Jun 1998 Paul Reitsma resigns his seat in the British Columbia legislature; the first elected politician in the British Commonwealth to be removed from office by legally-binding petition.

Sep 1998 Bosnian general election, 1998: Votes in Bosnia and Herzegovina go to the polls for a general election. Tensions between the United States, Great Britain, and Iraq continued throughout the 1990’s after the end of the first Gulf War. In December of 1998, the United States and the United Kingdom engaged in a brief aerial bombing campaign of Iraq called Operation Desert Fox. The U.S. and Britain accused Iraq of failing to cooperate with weapons inspectors, and their four-day bombing campaign caused serious damage to Iraqi infrastructure, aimed at degrading Iraq’s weapon of mass destruction capabilities. The bombing certainly threw Iraqi forces off balance, but the operation incurred some serious criticism within the West.

About the 1998 Calendar

May 1998 Nuclear testing: Pakistan responds to a series of nuclear tests by India with five of its own, prompting the United States, Japan, and other nations to impose economic sanctions. http://www.calendar-uk.co.uk/holiday/summer-bank-holiday/8-31-1998/ 1998-8-31 August 31 Summer Bank Holiday

May 1998 The first euro coins are minted in Pessac, France. Because the final specifications for the coins were not finished in 1998, they will have to be melted and minted again in 1999. Jul 1998 The United States Navy commissions the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman and puts her into service. Mar 1998 Jonesboro massacre: Mitchell Johnson and Andrew Golden, aged 11 and 13 respectively, fire upon teachers and students at Westside Middle School in Jonesboro, Arkansas; five people are killed and ten are wounded. Dec 1998 Leaders of the Khmer Rouge apologize for the 1970s genocide in Cambodia that claimed over 1 million lives.Dec 16 Iraq disarmament crisis: Operation Desert Fox - the United States and United Kingdom bomb targets in Iraq Jun 1998 A jury in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, convicts 17-year-old Luke Woodham of killing two students and wounding 7 others at Pearl High School. Sep 1998 With the landmark merger of WorldCom and MCI Communications completed the day prior, the new MCI WorldCom opens its doors for business. Apr 1998 Citicorp and Travelers Group announce plans to merge, creating the largest financial-services conglomerate in the world, Citigroup.

Oct 1998 The House of Representatives authorizes an impeachment inquiry into President Bill Clinton. May 1998 First Global Street Party, with events in Czech Republic, Netherlands, Finland, Germany, USA, Australia, Canada, Switzerland, England. Total of 30 Reclaim The Streets events are held in 20 countries, on sections of public roads, by hundreds or thousands of people. Aug 1998 E.G. Marshall, American actor (The Defenders, Nixon, Absolute Power), dies at age 88 (born 1910). Jan 1998 President Clinton says I want to say one thing to the American people I did not have sexual relations with that woman, Miss Lewinsky Some experts wondered if the operation was enough to accomplish its aims and others accused President Bill Clinton of using the operation to distract America from his impeachment. The Drudge Report broke news of Clinton’s affair with Monica Lewinsky in January of 1998 and the scandal lasted throughout the year, eventually resulting in the House of Representatives bringing forward articles of impeachment for Clinton to the Senate in December. Clinton was the second American president to be impeached in U.S. history, with Andrew Johnson being the first.Sep 1998 Second Congo War:: The Democratic Republic of the Congo says that the rebels are surrounded by forces loyal to President Laurent Kabila in the west. (BBC)The rebels gain control over Goma, Kabila's home area. (BBC) Jul 1998 The Disney Cruise Line launches its first cruise ship, the Disney Magic, from Port Canaveral, Florida. Omagh Bombing Aug 15 Omagh Bombing in Northern Ireland, the worst terrorist incident of The Troubles, kills 29 people and injures about 220 Aug 1998 Monica Lewinsky scandal: US President Bill Clinton admits in taped testimony that he had an ''improper physical relationship'' with White House intern Monica Lewinsky. On the same day he admits before the nation that he ''misled people'' about the relationship.