Historical Events in October 1998

Event of interestEvent of Interest

Oct 1 Vladimir Putin became a permanent member of the Security Council of the Russian Federation.

Russian President Vladimir Putin
Russian President
Vladimir Putin
  • Oct 7 Matthew Shepard, a gay student at the University of Wyoming, is found tied to a fence after being savagely beaten by two young adults in Laramie, Wyoming.
  • Oct 8 Oslo Gardermoen airport opening after the close down of Fornebu.

Nobel prizeNobel Prize

Oct 8 José Saramago is the first person from Portugal to be awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature

Novelist José Saramago
Novelist
José Saramago
  • Oct 11 A Congo Airlines Boeing 727 is shot down by rebels in Kindu, Democratic Republic of the Congo, killing 40 people.
  • Oct 13 MLB American League Championship: New York Yankees beat Cleveland Indians, 4 games to 2
  • Oct 14 NY Islanders beat Tampa Bay, 7-1, to end 11 game winless streak
  • Oct 14 Eric Robert Rudolph is charged with 6 bombings including the 1996 Centennial Olympic Park bombing in Atlanta, Georgia.
  • Oct 14 MLB National League Championship: San Diego Padres beat Atlanta Braves, 4 games to 2

MurderMurder of Interest

Oct 16 Former Chilean dictator General Augusto Pinochet is arrested in London on a Spanish warrant requesting his extradition on murder charges

General and Dictator Augusto Pinochet
General and Dictator
Augusto Pinochet
  • Oct 17 At Jesse, in the Niger Delta, Nigeria, a petroleum pipeline explodes killing about 1200 villagers, some of whom are scavenging gasoline.
  • Oct 19 The Earth Liberation Front sets fire to Vail Mountain ski resort in Colorado, causing $12 million in damage

Event of interestEvent of Interest

Oct 20 Comedian Richard Pryor is awarded the 1st ever Mark Twain Prize for American Humour

Comedian and Actor Richard Pryor
Comedian and Actor
Richard Pryor
  • Oct 21 MLB World Series: New York Yankees defeat San Diego Padres to win 4-0

AgreementAgreement of Interest

Oct 23 Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian Chairman Yasser Arafat reach a "land for peace" agreement.

Palestinian Leader Yasser Arafat
Palestinian Leader
Yasser Arafat
Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu
Prime Minister of Israel
Benjamin Netanyahu
  • Oct 24 Launch of Deep Space 1 on comet and asteroid mission

Electoral defeatElection of Interest

Oct 27 Helmut Kohl resigns as Chancellor of Germany after 16 years, following a landslide defeat in elections

German Chancellor Helmut Kohl
German Chancellor
Helmut Kohl
  • Oct 28 An Air China (Mainland China) jetliner is hijacked by disgruntled pilot Yuan Bin and flown to Taiwan.
  • Oct 29 Apartheid: In South Africa, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission presents its report, which condemns both sides for committing atrocities.
  • Oct 29 En route Adana to Ankara, Turkish Airlines flight with crew of 6 and 33 passengers hijacked by Kurdish militant, orders pilot fly to Switzerland. Pilot lands in Ankara tricking hijacker he was landing in Sofia to refuel.
  • Oct 29 Hurricane Mitch, the second deadliest Atlantic hurricane in history, made landfall in Honduras.

InventionScientific Discovery

Oct 29 Space Shuttle Discovery blasts off on STS-95 with 77-year old John Glenn on board, making him the oldest person to go into space.

Astronaut and Politician John Glenn
Astronaut and Politician
John Glenn
  • Oct 29 ATSC HDTV broadcasting in the United States is inaugurated with the launch of STS-95 space shuttle mission.
  • Oct 31 Iraq disarmament crisis begins: Iraq announces it would no longer cooperate with United Nations weapons inspectors.