2008

2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Anno Domini (or common era), in accordance to the Gregorian calendar.

2008 has been designated as:

• International Year of Languages;^[1]
  • International Year of Planet Earth;^[2]
    • International Year of the Potato;^[3]
      • International Year of Sanitation;^[4]
        • European Year of Intercultural Dialogue;^[5]
          • Year of the Frog, as declared by the international conservation initiative Amphibian Ark.^[6];

            In Chinese astrology, most of 2008, starting with February 7 will overlap with the Year of the Rat (dates before February 7 are Year of the Pig). The next Year of the Rat will be in 2020.

            Contents 1 Events 1.1 January 1.2 February 1.3 March 2 Predicted and scheduled events 2.1 March 2.2 April 2.3 May 2.4 June 2.5 July 2.6 August 2.7 September 2.8 October 2.9 November 2.10 December 2.11 Unknown dates 2.12 Ongoing events 3 Deaths 3.1 January 3.2 February 3.3 March 4 Major religious holidays 5 2008 in fiction 5.1 Books 5.2 Computer and video games 5.3 Film 5.4 Television 6 References 7 External links

            Events

            January

            January 2008
            Mo	Tu	We	Th	Fr	Sa	Su
            	1	2	3	4	5	6
            7	8	9	10	11	12	13
            14	15	16	17	18	19	20
            21	22	23	24	25	26	27
            28	29	30	31

            • January 1 - Smoking banned in all public places (including bars and restaurants) in Portugal, France and the state of Illinois in the United States.
            • January 1 - Cyprus, Malta, and Akrotiri and Dhekelia adopt the euro.^[7][8]
              • January 1 - Slovenia takes over the presidency of European Union as the first of new member states.^[9]
                • January 1 - The Venezuelan bolívar, as a result of a government decree issued on March 7, 2007, is revalued at a ratio of 1 to 1000 and renamed the Bolívar fuerte (ISO 4217 code: VEF).
                • January 2 - The price of petroleum hits US$100 per barrel.
                • January 2 - Malaysian Health Minister Chua Soi Lek resigns after admitting to being filmed by CCTV cameras in a hotel room having sex with a female friend.
                • January 3 - A car bomb detonates, killing at least 4 people and injuring 68, in Diyarbakır, Turkey. Police blame Kurdish rebels.
                • January 4 - An unforecasted blizzard creates havoc across eastern Northern Ireland, with falls of 8 inches in one hour.
                • January 4 - Though uncommon, light snow falls in the Mexican states of Oaxaca and Querétaro following the previous fall in Veracruz near Xalapa, where the lowest temperatures since the 1950s have been measured (34°F).
                • January 4 - The 30th Dakar Rally is cancelled due to international political tension and the murder of four French tourists on December 24, 2007.
                • January 8 - An attempted assassination of Maldivian president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom is thwarted because a Boy Scout grabbed the attacker's knife. The Boy Scout was injured, but after a scuffle ensued police arrested the attacker.
                • January 12 - The Kuomintang-led Pan-Blue Coalition wins the legislative elections in Taiwan with over 70% of the votes.
                • January 12 - A Macedonian Army Mil Mi-17 helicopter crashes in thick fog southeast of Skopje, killing all 11 military personnel on board.^[10]
                  • January 13 - Two Australians arrived in New Plymouth, New Zealand by kayak and became the first people in history to paddle from Australia to New Zealand.
                  • January 13 - Katsuaki Watanabe, President and CEO of Toyota, announced that they will deliver a significant fleet of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), powered by lithium-ion batteries, by 2010.
                  Image:MESSENGER Assembly.jpg

                  MESSENGER assembly at Astrotech.
                  • January 14 - At 19:04:39 UTC, the MESSENGER space probe was at its closest approach during its first flyby of the planet Mercury.^[11]
                    • January 15 - Federal Court of Australia orders a Japanese whaling company to stop research whaling within their Exclusive Economic Zone.
                    • January 16 - The South Korean Presidential Transition Team announces a plan to merge the Unification Ministry, which works toward unification with North Korea, with the Foreign Ministry, but does not follow through on the idea.^[12]
                      • January 17 - British Airways Flight 38 Boeing 777 landed short of runway at London Heathrow Airport, damaged wings and engines, injured 19 among the 152 people on board.^[13]
                        • January 20 - Presidential election in Serbia.
                        • January 20 - Legislative elections in Cuba.
                        • January 21 - Stock markets around the world plunge amid growing fears of a U.S. recession, fueled by the 2007 subprime mortgage financial crisis.
                        • January 21 - The first National Fetish Day is held in the United Kingdom, promoting the rights of the BDSM community.
                        • January 22 - Russia stages the largest naval exercise since the fall of the Soviet Union in the Bay of Biscay, amid deteriorating relations with the West. The Russian aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov, along with 11 support vessels and 47 long-range bomber aircraft, practised strike tactics off the coast of France and Spain, and test-launched nuclear-capable missiles on foreign waters.
                        • January 22 - Ben Bernanke lowers the U.S. federal fund rate by .75 point to 3.50%. The discount rate was brought to 4%.
                        • January 23 - Polish Air Force CASA C-295 crashed during approach to the 12th Air Base near Mirosławiec. All 20 personnel on board died.
                        • January 23 - Thousands of Palestinians flee into Egypt, as the border wall with Gaza in Rafah is blown up by militants.
                        • January 24 - A peace deal ends the Kivu conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
                        • January 24 - Peter Hain resigned as British Wales Secretary, British Work and Pensions Secretary after the Electoral Commission referred the failure to report donations to the Metropolitan Police. Prime Minister Gordon Brown called a quick cabinet reshuffle.
                        

                        

                        Flag of Iraq.
                        • January 24 - Iraqi Parliament adopts a new flag of Iraq, removing three stars associated with the Baath Party; a permanent design is expected within the next year.
                        • January 24 - Prime Minister of Italy Romano Prodi resigned his post, after he lost the vote of confidence in the Senate.
                        • January 25 - Building of the new Liverpool Arena completed.^[14]
                          • January 25 - China's worst snowstorm since 1954 kills 133, delays traffic, and causes massive power outages in central and southern parts of the country.^[15]
                            • January 26 - Global Call for Action to raise awareness and advance the movement for a more equal and just world as part of the World Social Forum held in Davos, Switzerland.^[16]
                              • January 27 - Novak Djokovic and Maria Sharapova won 2008 Australian Open in Melbourne, Australia.
                              • January 29 - Iran's judiciary sentences to prison 54 Bahai religion followers for charity work.^[17][18]
                                • January 30 - King Bhumibol Adulyadej formally swears in Samak Sundaravej as the new Prime Minister of Thailand.
                                • January 30 - The Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare warns that traces of pesticides in Chinese dumplings and other products manufactured in Hebei Province, China have caused mass food poisoning.^[19]

                                  February

                                  February 2008
                                  Mo	Tu	We	Th	Fr	Sa	Su
                                  				1	2	3
                                  4	5	6	7	8	9	10
                                  11	12	13	14	15	16	17
                                  18	19	20	21	22	23	24
                                  25	26	27	28	29

                                  • February 1 - Microsoft offers $44.6 billion to buy Yahoo!.^[20][21]
                                    • February 2 - Rebels attacked the capital of Chad, N'Djamena.
                                    • February 2 - French president Nicolas Sarkozy married Carla Bruni.^[22]
                                      • February 3 - Boris Tadić is re-elected in the second round of the Serbian presidential elections.
                                      • February 3 - The New York Giants defeat the New England Patriots, 17-14, in Super Bowl XLII.
                                      • February 4 - Iran opens its first space center and launches a rocket to space.^[23]
                                        • February 4 - A Palestinian suicide bomber kills one and wounds thirteen in a Dimona, Israel shopping center.^[24]
                                          • February 4 - LDS Church First Presidency reorganization announced. President Thomas S. Monson and his counselors, Henry B. Eyring and Dieter F. Uchtdorf, were sustained by the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles the previous day.
                                          Image:Image-Super Duper Tuesday 2008.svg

                                          Primaries and caucuses in U.S. presidential election are held in 24 states.
                                          • February 5 - Super Tuesday, massive multi-state primary in U.S. presidential election, with primaries and caucuses in 24 states, is held.
                                          • February 5 - U.S. stock market indices plunge more than 3% after a report showed signs of economic recession in the service-sector. The S&P 500 fell 3.2%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 370 points.
                                          • February 7 - Space Shuttle Atlantis launches on mission STS-122 to deliver the European-built Columbus science laboratory to the International Space Station.
                                          • February 7 - General election called for Belize's 31 House seats; a referendum to be held simultaneously to determine whether the upper house should be elected.
                                          • February 9 - Camden Market area in London, United Kingdom is devastated by fire, causing evacuations in nearby houses and flats.
                                          • February 10 - Wooden part of Namdaemun, a 600-year-old historic gate located in Seoul, South Korea, was arsoned.^[25]
                                            • February 10 - An oil platform in the North Sea is evacuated by helicopter and plane after an apparent security threat.^[26]
                                              • February 10 - Worldwide protests against alleged corruption in the Church of Scientology by the internet group 'Anonymous' as part of 'Project Chanology'.
                                              • February 11 - Complete Smoking ban including nightclubs, pubs, and bars, takes in effect in Thailand.^[27]
                                                Image:Spielberg99.jpg

                                                Steven Spielberg
                                                • February 11 - President of East Timor José Ramos-Horta is seriously wounded in an attack on his home by rebel soldiers. Rebel leader Alfredo Reinado is killed by Ramos-Horta's security guards during the attack.^[28]
                                                  • February 12 - PDVSA, a state oil company in Venezuela, has suspended sales of crude oil to Exxon Mobil, in response to a legal challenge by them.^[29]
                                                    • February 12 - Steven Spielberg announced that he would no longer act as artistic director for opening and closing ceremonies of the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing because the Chinese government hasn't done enough to help end ethnic conflict in Darfur.^[30]
                                                      • February 12 - Bridgestone, under investigation for an alleged price-fixing cartel, uncovered improper payments of at least 150 million yen to foreign governments and withdrew from the marine hose business.^[31]
                                                        • February 13 - Prime Minister Kevin Rudd of Australia delivers a formal apology to the Stolen Generations.^[32]
                                                          • February 13 - Prime Minister of Malaysia Abdullah Ahmad Badawi dissolved Malaysian parliament. General Election will follow on March 8.^[33]
                                                            • February 14 - Steven Kazmierczak shoots dead five students and injures another 18 at Northern Illinois University.
                                                            • February 15 - Václav Klaus is re-elected as the President of the Czech Republic.
                                                            Image:Flag of Kosovo.svg

                                                            Flag of Kosovo
                                                            • February 16 - Making his first trip to Africa since 2003, U.S. President George W. Bush arrives in Benin, with stops in Tanzania, Rwanda, Ghana, and Liberia coming in the days ahead.
                                                            • February 17 - Suicide bombing by Taliban member killed up to 80 in Kandahar, Afghanistan^[34]
                                                              • February 17 - Kosovo formally declares independence from Serbia, despite opposition from Serbia, Russia, China, Spain, Romania, and other nations. However Belgium, Croatia, France, Germany, Italy, U.K., and U.S. have officially expressed support after an emergency meeting of United Nations Security Council.^[35]
                                                                • February 17 - Presidential election in Cyprus.
                                                                • February 18 - Athens is left paralysed after being hit by its worst snowstorms in more than 50 years.
                                                                • February 18 - The British government decided to introduce emergency legislation to temporarily nationalize Northern Rock, the fifth largest mortgage bank in UK, due to NR's financial crisis.^[36]
                                                                  • February 18 - General election is held in Pakistan, delayed from January 8 due to riots in the wake of the assassination of Benazir Bhutto. Opposition parties, including Bhutto's, take more than half of the seats, while President Pervez Musharraf's party suffers a huge defeat.^[37]
                                                                    • February 19 - Fidel Castro announces his resignation as President of Cuba, to be effective on February 24.
                                                                    • February 19 - Toshiba announced its withdrawal from the HD DVD manufacturing business.^[38]
                                                                      • February 19 - Crude oil closes above $100 USD per barrel for the first time ever, settling at $100.01.
                                                                      • February 19 - Presidential election in Armenia.
                                                                      • February 20 - United States Navy destroyed a spy satellite with toxic fuel by shooting it down with a missile launched from USS Lake Erie in the Pacific ocean.^[39]
                                                                        • February 20 - Total lunar eclipse - North and South America, Europe, Africa, and Western Asia.
                                                                        • February 21 - Hundreds of thousands of Serbs take to the streets in Belgrade to protest against Kosovo's declaration of independence and the partial international recognition of it.
                                                                        • February 21 - Official launch of International Year of Languages on International Mother Language Day at UNESCO.^[40]
                                                                          • February 22 – The Australian Parliament descends into chaos with opposition frontbenchers ejected, question time suspended and speakers unable to control the house. A cardboard cut-out of the Prime Minister is brought into the parliament by opposition members angry about sitting time on a Friday.^[41]
                                                                            Image:Raul Castro y Hugo Chavez.jpg

                                                                            Hugo Chávez and Raúl Castro (right)
                                                                            • February 22 - No survivors are found after a rescue helicopter discovers the wreckage of Santa Barbara Flight 518 just northeast of Mérida, Venezuela. The commercial plane had 46 people on board, including crew.
                                                                            • February 22 - Japanese businessman Kazuyoshi Miura is arrested in Saipan, a U.S. territory, on suspicion of the 1981 murder of his wife in Los Angeles.^[42]
                                                                              • February 23 - A B-2 Spirit crashed shortly after takeoff from Andersen Air Force Base in Guam. Both pilots ejected from the plane before it crashed.
                                                                              • February 24 - Dimitris Christofias is elected President of Cyprus after the second round of voting in the country's presidential election.
                                                                              • February 24 - Raúl Castro is unanimously elected as President of Cuba by the National Assembly.
                                                                              • February 24 - The 80th Academy Awards, hosted by Jon Stewart, are held at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, California^[43], with No Country for Old Men winning Best Picture.^[44]
                                                                                • February 25 - Lee Myung-bak starts his five-year term as the 17th President of South Korea.
                                                                                • February 26 - The New York Philharmonic Orchestra performs in North Korea.^[45]
                                                                                  • February 27 - Earthquake hits Lincolnshire, United Kingdom registering a reading between 4.7 and 5.4 on the Richter Scale.
                                                                                  • February 27 - Jemaah Islamiyah leader Mas Selamat Kastari escapes from a detention center in Singapore.^[46]
                                                                                    • February 28 - Former Prime Minister of Thailand Thaksin Shinawatra is arrested on corruption charges upon returning to Thailand after months of exile.^[47]

                                                                                      March

                                                                                      March 2008
                                                                                      Mo	Tu	We	Th	Fr	Sa	Su
                                                                                      					1	2
                                                                                      3	4	5	6	7	8	9
                                                                                      10	11	12	13	14	15	16
                                                                                      17	18	19	20	21	22	23
                                                                                      24	25	26	27	28	29	30
                                                                                      31

                                                                                      • March 1 - Singapore Flyer, the world's tallest ferris wheel, opens to the public.
                                                                                      • March 1 - In Gaza Strip at least 52 Palestinians and two Israeli soldiers are killed in the most intense Israeli air strikes since 2005.
                                                                                      • March 1 - AOL ends support for Netscape Navigator.
                                                                                      • March 2 - 2008 Russian presidential election: Dmitry Medvedev is elected President of Russia with about 70% of the vote. He is scheduled to succeed Vladimir Putin in May.^[48]
                                                                                        • March 2 - 2008 Andean diplomatic crisis: Venezuela and Ecuador move troops to the Colombian border following a Colombian raid against FARC guerrillas inside Ecuador's national territory in which senior commander Raúl Reyes was killed.
                                                                                        • March 3 - U.S.-based Sea Shepherd conservation group injures four Japanese whalers near Antarctica by throwing bottles of butyric acid at their vessel.^[49]
                                                                                          • March 6 - No one is injured when a small bomb explodes at an unoccupied U.S. military recruiting station in Times Square, New York City.
                                                                                          • March 6 - Eight Israeli civilians are killed and nine wounded when a Palestinian attacker opens fire at a Jewish seminary in Jerusalem.
                                                                                          • March 6 - The United States Department of Defense banned Google from taking street-level photographs of US Military installations.^[50]
                                                                                            • March 8 - General election in Malaysia: First time since the 1969 elections that the Barisan Nasional coalition fails to win a two-thirds supermajority in the Dewan Rakyat.
                                                                                            • March 8 - General election in Malta.
                                                                                            • March 9 - Medical and higher education fees referendum in Hungary.
                                                                                            • March 9 - General election in Spain: The governing PSOE led by Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero is re-elected with the most seats in the Congress of Deputies.
                                                                                            • March 9 - First European Space Agency Automated Transfer Vehicle, a cargo spacecraft for the International Space Station, launches from Guiana Space Centre in French Guiana.
                                                                                            • March 10 - A heatwave in the southern states of Australia breaks a 70-year record with 10 consecutive days above 35 degrees in Adelaide.
                                                                                            • March 12 - The British Budget was unveiled by Alistair Darling as his first in the position of Chancellor of the Exchequer.
                                                                                            • March 12 - New York Governor Eliot Spitzer announces his resignation days after being linked to a high-priced prostitution ring.
                                                                                            • March 14 - A heatwave in the southern states of Australia continues for it's 12th consecutive day.

                                                                                            Predicted and scheduled events

                                                                                            Image:Gnome globe current event.svg

                                                                                            This article or section contains information about scheduled or expected future events. It may contain tentative information; the content may change as the event approaches and more information becomes available.

                                                                                            March

                                                                                            • March - The Apple iPhone is expected to be released in Canada on Rogers Wireless service provider.
                                                                                            • March 14 - Iranian legislative election, 2008.
                                                                                            • March 15 - Second set of international protests against the Church of Scientology as part of Project Chanology.
                                                                                            • March 15 - Nickelodeon Universe theme park set to open at Mall of America.^[51]
                                                                                              • March 22 - Republic of China presidential election to be held in Taiwan.^[52]
                                                                                                • March 24 - Bhutan holds its first ever general elections.
                                                                                                • March 29 - Zimbabwe presidential election.^[53]
                                                                                                  • March 30 - Smoking will be banned in all public places (including bars and restaurants) in the Isle of Man.^[54]

                                                                                                    April

                                                                                                    • April 2-April 4 - The 20th NATO summit will be held in Bucharest, Romania. It is expected that Albania, Croatia, and the Republic of Macedonia will be invited to join NATO following the summit.
                                                                                                    • April 6 - Presidential election in Montenegro.
                                                                                                    • April 6 - The Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007 comes into force in the UK.^[55]
                                                                                                      • April 13 - Elections in Italy. A new parliament is going to be elected after President Giorgio Napolitano dissolved the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate. Administrative elections in Italy.
                                                                                                      • April 20 - Elections in Paraguay.

                                                                                                      May

                                                                                                      • May - The Large Hadron Collider (located at CERN, near Geneva, Switzerland) is to begin operation; it will be the world’s largest particle physics laboratory.
                                                                                                      • May 1 - Local elections, for 143 English councils and all Welsh councils, to take place in the United Kingdom.
                                                                                                      • May 1 - Elections for the London Mayor and London Assembly to take place.
                                                                                                      • May 1 - Entry into force of the London Agreement, aimed at reducing the translation costs associated with European patents.
                                                                                                      • May 8 - Israel will celebrate its 60th Independence Day in the Yom Ha'atzmaut celebration.
                                                                                                      • May 11 - Local and parliamentary elections in Serbia.
                                                                                                      • May 14 - The UEFA Cup Final to be held at the City of Manchester Stadium in Manchester, United Kingdom.
                                                                                                      • May 16 - Dominican Republic presidential elections.
                                                                                                      • May 16 - V Summit of the European Union-Latin America and the Caribbean Leaders in Lima, Peru.
                                                                                                      • May 16 - Launch of the The Gamma-ray Large Area Space Telescope Space Telescope, or GLAST.
                                                                                                      • May 21 - The UEFA Champions League Final to be held at Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow.
                                                                                                      • May 24 - The Eurovision Song Contest 2008 Final will take place in Belgrade, Serbia, following semi-finals on May 20 and 22.^[56]
                                                                                                        • May 25 - NASA's Phoenix spacecraft will land on Mars.
                                                                                                        • May 25 - The 92nd edition of the Indianapolis 500 will be run at Indianapolis Motor Speedway as the main race of the IndyCar Series.
                                                                                                        • May 25 - STS-124, Space Shuttle Discovery will be launched at 7:26 EST/ 6:26 CT

                                                                                                        June

                                                                                                        • June 1 - First round of local elections in Romania.
                                                                                                        • June 1 - Landmark Broadway musical Rent will end its run after 12 years and more than 4,300 shows.
                                                                                                        • June 6–June 8 - Rock am Ring and Rock im Park rock festival(s) in Germany.
                                                                                                        • June 7–June 29 - Switzerland and Austria host the UEFA Euro 2008 tournament.^[57]
                                                                                                          • June 14 - Expo 2008 scheduled to begin in Zaragoza, Spain.

                                                                                                          July

                                                                                                          • July 1 - Smoking will be banned in all public places (including bars and restaurants) in the Netherlands.^{[citation needed]}
                                                                                                          • July 7–July 9 - 34th G8 summit will be held in Tōyako, Hokkaidō in Japan.
                                                                                                          • July 8–July 20 - World Gliding Championships will be held in Rieti, Italy.^[58]
                                                                                                            • July 15–July 20 - World Youth Day will take place in Sydney, Australia, the largest youth gathering in the Southern Hemisphere with the visit of Pope Benedict XVI.^[59]
                                                                                                              • July 30–August 5 - The XXII World Congress of Philosophy will take place in Seoul, the capital of South Korea.
                                                                                                              • July 31 - After three decades as the Chairman of Microsoft Corporation, Bill Gates will step down from daily duties.^[60]

                                                                                                                August

                                                                                                                Image:Beijing 2008 Tiananmen Square1.jpg

                                                                                                                The 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijng
                                                                                                                • August 1 - Beijing South railway station, the largest passenger station in Asia, will reopen following a reconstruction project.^[61]
                                                                                                                  • August 1 - Total solar eclipse visible from northern Canada (Nunavut), northern part of Russia, western Mongolia, and China; and seen as partial elsewhere in North America, Europe and Asia.
                                                                                                                  • August 2–August 9 - The National Eisteddfod of Wales will be held in Cardiff, South Wales.^[62]
                                                                                                                    • August 2–August 16 - World Gliding Championships will be held in Lüsse, Germany.^[63]
                                                                                                                      • August 6–August 10 - Denvention 3, the 66th World Science Fiction Convention, will be held in Denver, Colorado.^[64]
                                                                                                                        • August 8–August 24 - The 2008 Summer Olympics will take place in Beijing, China.
                                                                                                                        • August 11 - Elections to be held in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao: Regional Governor, Regional Vice Governor and Members of the Regional Legislative Assembly following Republic Act No. 9333.
                                                                                                                        • August 14 - 2008 Formula Zero Championship begins in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.^[65]
                                                                                                                          • August 25—August 28 - Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado for U.S. presidential election.
                                                                                                                          • August 28 - Scheduled date for STS-125, Space Shuttle Atlantis beginning of the final maintenance mission to Hubble Space Telescope.^[66]

                                                                                                                            September

                                                                                                                            • September 1 to September 4 - Republican National Convention in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota for U.S. presidential election.
                                                                                                                            • September 27 - The Australian Football League Grand Final will be played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

                                                                                                                            October

                                                                                                                            • October 30-November 16 - The inaugural FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup will be held in New Zealand.^[67]
                                                                                                                              • October 16 - STS 126, Space Shuttle Endeavour will be lauched and it will deliver equipment and supplies io the International Space Station

                                                                                                                              November

                                                                                                                              • November 2 - The 2008 Formula 1 World Championship will end at São Paulo, Brazil.
                                                                                                                              • November 4 - Presidential election slated in the United States to elect the 44th President of the United States. There will also be Congressional Elections for the House of Representatives and 1/3rd of the Senators.
                                                                                                                              • November 4 - Gubernatorial election slated in Puerto Rico to elect the Governor of the island.
                                                                                                                              • November 15 - New Zealand will hold a general election on or before this date.
                                                                                                                              • November 20 - December 7 - 2008 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup to be held in Chile.^[68]
                                                                                                                                • November 22 - APEC Peru 2008 Summit in Lima.
                                                                                                                                • November 25 - Greenland holds election for increased autonomy from Denmark.
                                                                                                                                • November 28 - Legislative election in Romania.

                                                                                                                                December

                                                                                                                                • December 4 - STS-119, Space Shuttle Discovery will bring the Integrated Truss Segment to the International Space Station
                                                                                                                                • December 15 - The Netherlands Antilles will be formally abolished.^[69]
                                                                                                                                  • December - Presidential and Parliamentary elections in Ghana.
                                                                                                                                  • December 24 - The New I-35W Mississippi River bridge in Minneapolis will be completed after the bridge collapsed in August of 2007.
                                                                                                                                  • December 30 - The Burj Dubai, the world's tallest building, will be completed.

                                                                                                                                  Unknown dates

                                                                                                                                  • The United Nations is to review drug policies around the world.^[70][71]
                                                                                                                                    • The United Kingdom will complete a five-year process to cease analog television broadcasts region-by-region, starting with Border.^[72] This process has already begun.
                                                                                                                                      • New China Central Television headquarters buildings open.
                                                                                                                                      • The "Simón Bolívar" Satellite, a result of an agreement between Venezuela and China, will be launched this year.^[73]

                                                                                                                                        Ongoing events

                                                                                                                                        • Iraq War
                                                                                                                                        • War in Afghanistan
                                                                                                                                        • Conflict in Darfur
                                                                                                                                        • Israeli-Palestinian conflict
                                                                                                                                        • 6th Round of the Belgian State Reform

                                                                                                                                        Deaths

                                                                                                                                        Main article: Deaths in 2008

                                                                                                                                        2008 in other calendars

                                                                                                                                        Gregorian calendar	2008 MMVIII
                                                                                                                                        Ab urbe condita	2761
                                                                                                                                        Armenian calendar	1457 ԹՎ ՌՆԾԷ
                                                                                                                                        Bahá'í calendar	164 – 165
                                                                                                                                        Berber calendar	2958
                                                                                                                                        Buddhist calendar	2552
                                                                                                                                        Burmese calendar	1370
                                                                                                                                        Chinese calendar	4644/4704-11-23 (丁亥年十一月廿三日) — to — 4645/4705-12-5 (戊子年十二月初五日)
                                                                                                                                        Coptic calendar	1724 – 1725
                                                                                                                                        Ethiopian calendar	2000 – 2001
                                                                                                                                        Hebrew calendar	5768 – 5769
                                                                                                                                        Hindu calendars
                                                                                                                                        - Vikram Samvat	2063 – 2064
                                                                                                                                        - Shaka Samvat	1930 – 1931
                                                                                                                                        - Kali Yuga	5109 – 5110
                                                                                                                                        Holocene calendar	12008
                                                                                                                                        Iranian calendar	1386 – 1387
                                                                                                                                        Islamic calendar	1428 – 1430
                                                                                                                                        Japanese calendar	Heisei 20 (平成20年)
                                                                                                                                        - Imperial Year	Kōki 2668 (皇紀2668年)
                                                                                                                                        Korean calendar	4341
                                                                                                                                        Thai solar calendar	2551
                                                                                                                                        Unix time	1199145600 – 1230767999
                                                                                                                                        v • d • e

                                                                                                                                        January

                                                                                                                                        • January 1 - Salvatore Bonanno, American mobster (b. 1932)
                                                                                                                                        • January 1 - Peter Caffrey, Irish actor (b. 1949)
                                                                                                                                        • January 1 - Erich Kästner, German veteran of World War I (b. 1900)
                                                                                                                                        • January 1 - Thiyagarajah Maheswaran, Sri Lankan Tamil politician (b. 1960)
                                                                                                                                        • January 2 - Galyani Vadhana, Thai princess (b. 1923)
                                                                                                                                        • January 3 - Aleksandr Abdulov, Russian actor (b. 1953)
                                                                                                                                        • January 3 - Yo-Sam Choi, Korean boxer (b. 1972)
                                                                                                                                        • January 3 - Werner Dollinger, German politician (b. 1918)
                                                                                                                                        • January 5 - Raymond Forni, French politician (b. 1941)
                                                                                                                                        • January 5 - Clinton Grybas, Australian sports commentator (b. 1975)
                                                                                                                                        • January 6 - Fr. John O'Brien, Irish priest and musician (b. 1931)
                                                                                                                                        • January 7 - Edward "Buddy" LeRoux, American businessman (b. 1930)
                                                                                                                                        • January 7 - Philip Agee, American spy (b. 1935)
                                                                                                                                        • January 8 - Moshe Levi, Israeli military commander (b. 1936)
                                                                                                                                        • January 9 - John Harvey-Jones, English businessman (b. 1924)
                                                                                                                                        • January 10 - Christopher Bowman, American figure skater (b. 1967)
                                                                                                                                        • January 10 - Andrés Henestrosa, Mexican writer and politician (b. 1906)
                                                                                                                                        • January 10 - Maila Nurmi, Finnish-American actress and television personality (b. 1921)
                                                                                                                                        • January 11 - Edmund Hillary, New Zealand mountaineer, explorer, and philanthropist (b. 1919)
                                                                                                                                        • January 11 - Carl Karcher, American businessman (b. 1917)
                                                                                                                                        • January 12 - Adriano González León, Venezuelan poet and writer (b. 1931)
                                                                                                                                        • January 13 - Johnny Podres, American baseball player (b. 1932)
                                                                                                                                        • January 15 - Brad Renfro, American actor (b. 1982)
                                                                                                                                        • January 15 - Jason MacIntyre, Scottish racing cyclist (b. 1973)
                                                                                                                                        • January 16 - Nikola Kljusev, Macedonian prime minister (b. 1927)
                                                                                                                                        • January 17 - Bobby Fischer, American-Icelandic chess grandmaster (b. 1943)
                                                                                                                                        • January 17 - Ernie Holmes, American football player (b. 1948)
                                                                                                                                        • January 17 - Allan Melvin, American actor (b. 1922)
                                                                                                                                        • January 18 - Georgia Frontiere, American businesswoman (b. 1927)
                                                                                                                                        • January 18 - Lois Nettleton, American actress (b. 1927)
                                                                                                                                        • January 19 - Don Wittman, Canadian sportscaster (b. 1936)
                                                                                                                                        • January 19 - Suzanne Pleshette, American actress (b. 1937)
                                                                                                                                        • January 19 - Frances Lewine, American journalist (b. 1921)
                                                                                                                                        • January 19 - Morris Maddocks, English Anglican priest (b.1928)
                                                                                                                                        • January 20 - Louis de Cazenave, French veteran of World War I (b. 1897)
                                                                                                                                        • January 22 - Heath Ledger, Australian actor (b. 1979)
                                                                                                                                        • January 23 - Andrzej Andrzejewski, Polish brigadier general (b. 1961)
                                                                                                                                        • January 24 - Randy Salerno, American news anchor (b. 1963)
                                                                                                                                        • January 27 - Anna Loginova, Russian bodyguard and model (b. 1979)
                                                                                                                                        • January 27 - Gordon B. Hinckley, American Mormon leader (b. 1910)
                                                                                                                                        • January 27 - Suharto, 2nd President of Indonesia (b. 1921)
                                                                                                                                        • January 28 - Christodoulos, Archbishop of Athens (b. 1939)
                                                                                                                                        • January 29 - Margaret Truman, American writer (b. 1924)
                                                                                                                                        • January 30 - Jeremy Beadle, English television presenter (b. 1948)

                                                                                                                                        February

                                                                                                                                        • February 1 - Beto Carrero, Brazilian businessman (b. 1937)
                                                                                                                                        • February 1 - Shell Kepler, American actress (b. 1958)
                                                                                                                                        • February 2 - Earl Butz, American government official (b. 1909)
                                                                                                                                        • February 2 - Barry Morse, Canadian actor (b. 1918)
                                                                                                                                        • February 3 - Sheldon Brown, American bicycle mechanic (b. 1944)
                                                                                                                                        • February 4 - Harry Richard Landis, American World War I veteran (b. 1899)
                                                                                                                                        • February 5 - Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, Indian spiritual leader (b. 1917)
                                                                                                                                        • February 6 - John McWethy, American print and television journalist (b. 1947)
                                                                                                                                        • February 7 - Tamara Desni, German-born English actress (b. 1913)
                                                                                                                                        • February 7 - Hoang Minh Chinh, Vietnamese politician and dissident (b. 1922)
                                                                                                                                        • February 7 - Guy Severin, Russian academician and engineer (b. 1926)
                                                                                                                                        • February 8 - Chua Ek Kay, Singaporean painter (b. 1947)
                                                                                                                                        • February 8 - Phyllis Whitney, American mystery writer (b. 1903)
                                                                                                                                        • February 9 - Jazeh Tabatabai, Iranian artist and writer (b. 1931)
                                                                                                                                        • February 9 - Trichen Jurme Kunzang Wangyal, Tibetan spiritual leader (b. 1930)
                                                                                                                                        • February 10 - Ron Leavitt, American television producer (b. 1947)
                                                                                                                                        • February 10 - Roy Scheider, American actor (b. 1932)
                                                                                                                                        • February 11 - Alfredo Reinado, East Timorese rebel (b. 1967)
                                                                                                                                        • February 11 - Tom Lantos, American politician (b. 1928)
                                                                                                                                        • February 12 - Imad Mugniyah, Lebanese militant (b. 1962)
                                                                                                                                        • February 12 - Badri Patarkatsishvili, Georgian businessman and politician (b. 1955)
                                                                                                                                        • February 13 - Kon Ichikawa, Japanese film director (b. 1915)
                                                                                                                                        • February 13 - Henri Salvador, French singer (b. 1917)
                                                                                                                                        • February 15 - Steve Fossett, American adventurer (b. 1944)
                                                                                                                                        • February 18 - Alain Robbe-Grillet, French writer (b. 1922)
                                                                                                                                        • February 18 - Mihaela Mitrache, Romanian actress (b. 1955)
                                                                                                                                        • February 19 - Natalia Bessmertnova, Russian ballerina (b. 1941)
                                                                                                                                        • February 19 - Lydia Shum, Hong Kong comedian and actress (b. 1945)
                                                                                                                                        • February 21 - Ben Chapman, american actor (b. 1928)
                                                                                                                                        • February 23 - Janez Drnovšek, 2nd President and 2nd Prime Minister of Slovenia (b. 1950)
                                                                                                                                        • February 23 - Denis Lazure, Canadian politician (b. 1925)
                                                                                                                                        • February 26 - Buddy Miles, American drummer (b. 1947)
                                                                                                                                        • February 26 - Dan Shomron, Israeli military leader (b. 1937)
                                                                                                                                        • February 27 - William F. Buckley, Jr., American author and conservative commentator (b. 1925)
                                                                                                                                        • February 27 - Myron Cope, American sportscaster (b. 1929)
                                                                                                                                        • February 27 - Sujatha, Tamil writer (b. 1935)
                                                                                                                                        • February 27 - Boyd Coddington, American car-builder (b. 1944)
                                                                                                                                        • February 28 - Joseph M. Juran, American engineer and philanthropist (b. 1904)
                                                                                                                                        • February 28 - Philip Rabinowitz, South African sprinter (b. 1904)
                                                                                                                                        • February 28 - Mike Smith, English singer (b. 1943)

                                                                                                                                        March

                                                                                                                                        • March 1 - Raúl Reyes, Colombian guerrilla (b. 1948)
                                                                                                                                        • March 2 - Sofiko Chiaureli, Georgian actress (b. 1937)
                                                                                                                                        • March 2 - Jeff Healey, Canadian guitarist (b. 1966)
                                                                                                                                        • March 3 - Giuseppe Di Stefano, Italian operatic tenor (b. 1921)
                                                                                                                                        • March 3 - Iván Ríos, Colombian guerrilla (b. 1961)
                                                                                                                                        • March 4 - Gary Gygax, American writer and game designer (b. 1938)
                                                                                                                                        • March 4 - Elena Nathanael, Greek film actress (b. 1941)
                                                                                                                                        • March 5 - Joseph Weizenbaum, German-American author and computer scientist (b. 1923)
                                                                                                                                        • March 6 - Gustaw Holoubek, Polish actor and director (b. 1923)
                                                                                                                                        • March 7 - Isaías Carrasco, Basque politician (b. 1964)
                                                                                                                                        • March 7 - Francis Pym, British politician (b. 1922)
                                                                                                                                        • March 8 - Carol Barnes, English newsreader (b. 1944)
                                                                                                                                        • March 12 - Lazare Ponticelli, last French veteran of World War I (b. 1897)
                                                                                                                                        • March 12 - Erwin Geschonneck, German actor (b. 1906)
                                                                                                                                        • March 12 - Howard Metzenbaum, American politician (b. 1917)

                                                                                                                                        Major religious holidays

                                                                                                                                        • January 7 - Christmas in Eastern Christianity
                                                                                                                                        • January 10 - New Year by Lunar calendar, celebrated by Muslims
                                                                                                                                        • February 5 - Carnival (Shrove Tuesday)
                                                                                                                                        • February 6 - Ash Wednesday, observance of Lent begins
                                                                                                                                        • February 7 - Chinese New Year (also Lunar New Year / Spring Festival)
                                                                                                                                        • March 1 - Saint David's Day, National holiday of Wales
                                                                                                                                        • March 15 - St. Patrick's Day, celebrated in Ireland, the United States, and most of the English speaking world. (Held on March 15 instead of the usual 17th to avoid the second day in Holy Week.^[74]) Unless changes are made as to when Easter can be observed, this particular March 17th will be the last one to fall within Holy Week until 2160.^[75]
                                                                                                                                          • March 20 - March Equinox, also known as Ostara
                                                                                                                                          • March 20 - Purim
                                                                                                                                          • March 21 - Nowruz (Iranian new year holiday)
                                                                                                                                          • March 23 - Easter Sunday, the earliest Easter has fallen since 1913
                                                                                                                                          • March 25 - Holi
                                                                                                                                          • April 20 - Passover
                                                                                                                                          • April 23 - St. George's Day
                                                                                                                                          • April 27 - Pascha in Eastern Christianity
                                                                                                                                          • May 1 - Ascension of Jesus in Western Christianity
                                                                                                                                          • May 1 - Beltane, a Cross-quarter day
                                                                                                                                          • May 20 - Vesak in Buddhism
                                                                                                                                          • June 5 - Ascension of Jesus in Eastern Christianity
                                                                                                                                          • June 9 - Shavuot
                                                                                                                                          • June 15 - Pentecost in Eastern Christianity
                                                                                                                                          • June 20 - June Solstice, also known as Midsummer or Litha
                                                                                                                                          • June 22 - All Saints' Day in Eastern Christianity
                                                                                                                                          • August 1 - Lammas, a Cross-quarter day
                                                                                                                                          • August 15 - Assumption of Mary
                                                                                                                                          • September 1 - New Liturgical Year in Eastern Christianity
                                                                                                                                          • September 22 - September Equinox, also known as Mabon (falls on September 23 for eastern Asian countries due to time differences)
                                                                                                                                          • September 30 - Rosh Hashana
                                                                                                                                          • October 2 - Eid ul-Fitr
                                                                                                                                          • October 9 - Yom Kippur
                                                                                                                                          • October 28 - Diwali
                                                                                                                                          • November 1 - Samhain, a Cross-quarter day and Neopagan new year
                                                                                                                                          • November 30 - St. Andrew's Day, Scottish national day
                                                                                                                                          • December 8 - Immaculate Conception
                                                                                                                                          • December 8 - Eid ul-Adha
                                                                                                                                          • December 21 - Hanukkah begins at sundown
                                                                                                                                          • December 21 - December Solstice, also known as Yule
                                                                                                                                          • December 25 - Christmas in Western Christianity

                                                                                                                                          2008 in fiction

                                                                                                                                          Books

                                                                                                                                          • Isaac Asimov's 1955 short story Franchise takes place in 2008, the premise being that the U.S. president will be selected by a computer program looking for the "most representative citizen".
                                                                                                                                          • John Barnes, Mother of Storms (1995) begins with a 2008 UN resolution barring any nation from acquiring nuclear weapons after June 1, 2008, subject to penalty of preemptive strike.
                                                                                                                                          • Gregory Benford's books The Jupiter War and The Threads of Time are set in 2008.
                                                                                                                                          • The Galactic Milieu Series by Julian May features Earth's first contact with an alien race on June 20, 2008.
                                                                                                                                          • In Francis Anderson's 1992 book "Future Undetermined" the UN bans civilians from owning handguns on March 29.
                                                                                                                                          • Ian McDonald's "Chaga Saga" (Evolution's Shore and Kirinya) begins with the March 13, 2008 impact arrival of the plant form Chaga from outer space.
                                                                                                                                          • Alan E. Nourse's 1957 book Rocket to Limbo begins with the March 3, 2008 launch of the starship Argonaut on a centuries-long trip to Alpha Centauri.
                                                                                                                                          • The Mote in God's Eye (1974) by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle postulates that faster-than-light travel is perfected in 2008.
                                                                                                                                          • The Next War, a controversial 1996 novel about the post-Soviet era, co-authored by former U.S. Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger, looks at a possible 2008 nuclear confrontation between the United States and Russia.

                                                                                                                                          Computer and video games

                                                                                                                                          Set in 2008:

                                                                                                                                          • Ghost Recon (2001): Russia attempts to reunite the Soviet Union and invades several Eastern European countries. The UN intervenes with peacekeeping forces.
                                                                                                                                          • Splinter Cell series: Sam Fisher goes undercover.
                                                                                                                                          • Twisted Metal 3 (1998)
                                                                                                                                          • Shattered Union (2005): U.S. President David Jefferson Adams is elected in a sham election, and becomes the most unpopular president in U.S. history.
                                                                                                                                          • Resident Evil 5 (2009)
                                                                                                                                          • Mega Man (1987)

                                                                                                                                          Film

                                                                                                                                          • Jason X (Friday the 13th series, 2002): Mass murderer Jason Voorhees is captured for the 2nd time and sentenced to death. Though the US government is unsure how to execute him, an electric chair, a gas chamber, a firing squad, and hanging are all tried - none of which work.
                                                                                                                                          • The Lake House (2006): The ending takes place on Valentine's Day, 2008.
                                                                                                                                          • 5 Centimetres Per Second (2007): The final act takes place in Tokyo during 2008.
                                                                                                                                          • Set in 2008:
                                                                                                                                            • Silent Running (1971)
                                                                                                                                            • Southland Tales (2007)
                                                                                                                                            • The Manchurian Candidate (2004)

                                                                                                                                          Television

                                                                                                                                          • Dawson's Creek (2003 series finale): The characters meet once again. Dawson is creator of a television series, The Creek, based on his life.
                                                                                                                                          • The 2007 series of Doctor Who Present time (such as Smith and Jones) is primarily set in 2008.
                                                                                                                                          • The Future Boy Conan anime is set to begin in July 2008 with a devastating war resulting in the five continents sinking deep below the sea.
                                                                                                                                          • Doraemon: According to the original manga story, a time machine will be invented in 2008.
                                                                                                                                          • Heroes: According to the episode Out of Time, the Shanti virus wipes out about 93% of the world's population, from a break out in March of 2008. Peter Petrelli accidentally teleports himself and Caitlin to sometime around June 14, 2008, when any survivors in New York City are forcibly evacuated.

                                                                                                                                          v • d • e List of events by month
                                                                                                                                          2008: January · February · March · April · May · June · July · August · September · October · November · December
                                                                                                                                          2007: January · February · March · April · May · June · July · August · September · October · November · December
                                                                                                                                          2006: January · February · March · April · May · June · July · August · September · October · November · December
                                                                                                                                          2005: January · February · March · April · May · June · July · August · September · October · November · December
                                                                                                                                          2004: January · February · March · April · May · June · July · August · September · October · November · December
                                                                                                                                          2003: January · February · March · April · May · June · July · August · September · October · November · December
                                                                                                                                          2002: January · February · March · April · May · June · July · August · September · October · November · December
                                                                                                                                          2001: January · February · March · April · May · June · July · August · September · October · November · December
                                                                                                                                          2000: January · February · March · April · May · June · July · August · September · October · November · December
                                                                                                                                          1999: January · February · March · April · May · June · July · August · September · October · November · December
                                                                                                                                          1998: January · February · March · April · May · June · July · August · September · October · November · December

                                                                                                                                          References

                                                                                                                                          1. ^ U.N. General Assembly, Department of Public Information, "General Assembly Proclaims 2008 International Year of Languages, in Effort to Promote Unity in Diversity, Global Understanding" GA/10592
                                                                                                                                          2. ^ International Year of Planet Earth
                                                                                                                                          3. ^ International Year of the Potato 2008.
                                                                                                                                          4. ^ International Year of Sanitation.
                                                                                                                                          5. ^ European Year of Intercultural Dialogue website
                                                                                                                                          6. ^ Year of the Frog.
                                                                                                                                          7. ^ Cyprus and Malta set to join eurozone in 2008, EurActiv
                                                                                                                                          8. ^ Akrotiri and Dhekelia adopt the euro, EUbusiness
                                                                                                                                          9. ^ Slovenian EU presidency
                                                                                                                                          10. ^ http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5hEKv9MBw55ELwc9LGYFjDD_itvfw
                                                                                                                                          11. ^ Mercury Flyby 1. The MESSENGER website. Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory. Retrieved on 2008-01-12.
                                                                                                                                          12. ^ http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2008/02/116_18645.html
                                                                                                                                          13. ^ http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5iEcRUUK8oqjE-rvRWKq9-XRS6z3wD8U8FLLO0
                                                                                                                                          14. ^ http://www.marketingservicestalk.com/news/bal/bal100.html
                                                                                                                                          15. ^ http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aYjkVz76Icsk&refer=home
                                                                                                                                          16. ^ http://wsf2008.net/eng/home
                                                                                                                                          17. ^ Iran sentences Bahai religious followers for 'anti-regime propaganda', Yahoo News
                                                                                                                                          18. ^ Iran sentences Bahais for 'anti-regime propaganda', Aljazeera
                                                                                                                                          19. ^ http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/nearly-500-japan-claim-china-made/story.aspx?guid=%7B5175A5B7-0D1B-4D57-8268-052AFCC44675%7D
                                                                                                                                          20. ^ http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/business/business-yahoo-microsoft-takeover.html
                                                                                                                                          21. ^ http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080201/ap_on_hi_te/microsoft_yahoo;_ylt=Aj86m3fjmUOG95uCDpZtX6qs0NUE
                                                                                                                                          22. ^ AFP Announcement
                                                                                                                                          23. ^ Iran Opens Space Center, Launches Rocket, Associated Press
                                                                                                                                          24. ^ Dimona bombing: Suicide attack in Israel first in a year, Yahoo News via Associated Press
                                                                                                                                          25. ^ http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSSEO27238420080211
                                                                                                                                          26. ^ BBC
                                                                                                                                          27. ^ http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?newsid=1150251
                                                                                                                                          28. ^ Gunmen attack Timor leader Ramos-Horta, The Sydney Morning Herald, February 11, 2008.
                                                                                                                                          29. ^ http://www.reuters.com/article/companyNews/idUSSP10958920080213
                                                                                                                                          30. ^ http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5jApfZXOIFLFJglTtB4gZVJr1fXKg
                                                                                                                                          31. ^ http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601101&sid=aGoTPCIp_S0c&refer=japan
                                                                                                                                          32. ^ "Rudd says sorry", Dylan Welch, Sydney Morning Herald, February 13, 2008
                                                                                                                                          33. ^ http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5ixXpE3pWHF0m-a8iWcv55g2_XHXwD8UPTE9O0
                                                                                                                                          34. ^ http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5iKEIeybKvU7Vo42SLz_ZF4WjZsQg
                                                                                                                                          35. ^ http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=anGy1wIN83Sg&refer=home
                                                                                                                                          36. ^ http://www.reuters.com/article/businessNews/idUSL1832258520080218
                                                                                                                                          37. ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/7254124.stm
                                                                                                                                          38. ^ http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5i3LIL6dBGDGSJKaC2z7Z0mnBrZow
                                                                                                                                          39. ^ http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5gXfTZB0a8NU_H4vSMdlS6YxBeTow
                                                                                                                                          40. ^ UNESCO, "Launching of the International Year of Languages in the framework of the International Mother Language Day"
                                                                                                                                          41. ^ Report in Sydney Morning Herald
                                                                                                                                          42. ^ http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5jzx9wWQIwg0Ul3-f_CNzUWnrKTmg
                                                                                                                                          43. ^ 80th Annual Academy Awards: General Timeline. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Retrieved on 2007-03-22.
                                                                                                                                          44. ^ http://www.oscars.org/80academyawards/nominees/index.html
                                                                                                                                          45. ^ http://uk.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUKSEO3031620080226
                                                                                                                                          46. ^ Qaeda Suspect Escapes. Retrieved on 2008-02-28.
                                                                                                                                          47. ^ http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5iGyl8id3WaUZT4V3dWbNkTxKe42QD8V372VG0
                                                                                                                                          48. ^ Russia’s Presidential Election Set for March, 2008. mosnews.com (December 14, 2006).
                                                                                                                                          49. ^ http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601080&sid=ae22sMBhdoVA&refer=asia
                                                                                                                                          50. ^ http://www.latimes.com/technology/la-fi-google7mar07,1,6259319.story
                                                                                                                                          51. ^ http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/prnewswire/NYTU08829012008-1.htm
                                                                                                                                          52. ^ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republic_of_China_presidential_election,_2008
                                                                                                                                          53. ^ Election Date Finally Fixed As March 29, 2008.
                                                                                                                                          54. ^ http://www.gov.im/dlge/enviro/food/smoking_ban.xml
                                                                                                                                          55. ^ Understanding the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007 (pdf). Ministry of Justice. Retrieved on 2007-10-17.
                                                                                                                                          56. ^ Reference Group concludes Belgrade visit. Eurovision.TV. Retrieved on 2007-11-13.
                                                                                                                                          57. ^ http://www.uefa.com/competitions/euro/index.html retrieved 22 August 2007
                                                                                                                                          58. ^ http://www.wgcrieti.it
                                                                                                                                          59. ^ http://www.wyd2008.org/index.php/en
                                                                                                                                          60. ^ http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2006/jun06/06-15CorpNewsPR.mspx
                                                                                                                                          61. ^ http://en.beijing2008.cn/news/olympiccities/beijing/reconstruction/s214239670/n214238138.shtml
                                                                                                                                          62. ^ http://www.eisteddfod.org.uk/english/content.php?nID=27
                                                                                                                                          63. ^ http://www.wgc2008.org
                                                                                                                                          64. ^ http://www.denvention.org/
                                                                                                                                          65. ^ http://www.formulazero.nl/
                                                                                                                                          66. ^ http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/hst_sm4/index.html
                                                                                                                                          67. ^ FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup New Zealand 2008. FIFA. Retrieved on 2007-10-26.
                                                                                                                                          68. ^ FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup Chile 2008. FIFA. Retrieved on 2007-11-26.
                                                                                                                                          69. ^ Staff reporter. "Agreement on division of Netherlands Antilles" (HTML), Government.nl, 2007-02-13. Retrieved on 2007-02-24. (english) 
                                                                                                                                          70. ^ http://www.un.org/ga/president/57/pages/speeches/statement030408-Vienna-Narcotics.htm
                                                                                                                                          71. ^ http://www.drug-policy.org/modules/countdown_2008
                                                                                                                                          72. ^ http://www.digitaluk.co.uk/en/when.html
                                                                                                                                          73. ^ The Year of the Chinese Satellite in Venezuela
                                                                                                                                          74. ^ "St Patrick's 'day' moved to 15th", ireland.com Online, Irish Times Trust, 2007-07-18. Retrieved on 2007-07-21. 
                                                                                                                                          75. ^ Nevans-Pederson, Mary (2008-03-13). No St. Pat's Day Mass allowed in Holy Week (English). Dubuque Telegraph Herald. Woodward Communications, Inc.. Retrieved on 2008-03-13.

                                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                          

                                                                                                                                          External links

                                                                                                                                          • 2008 Calendar at Internet Accuracy Projectaf:2008

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