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1999
• On 4 January, the United States agrees to ease trade restrictions on Fidel Castro's Cuba. On 7 February, after a reign of 46 years, King Hussein of Jordan dies of cancer. He is succeeded by his son King Abdullah. • On 12 February, the US Senate acquits President Bill Clinton of charges that he committed perjury and obstruction of justice to hide sexual indiscretions with one-time White House intern Monica Lewinsky. • On 24 March, Nato launches air strikes on Serbia to end attacks against ethnic Albanians in Kosovo. • On 20 April in the United States, two students shoot 15 dead and wound 23 at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado, before committing suicide themselves. • On 16 June, Nelson Mandela retires as president of South Africa, and is succeeded by Thabo Mbeki. • On 30 August, in a United Nations-sponsored referendum, the people of East Timor vote to be independent of Indonesia, which has occupied the country illegally since 1975. The vote triggers an international crisis when pro-Indonesian forces retaliate by wreaking havoc on the new nation. About 80% of the territory is destroyed, 1,000 people are killed and 250,000 are forcibly evacuated to Indonesia. • For the second time in a decade, Russia launches a major offensive against separatist guerillas in Chechenya. • On 12 October, a military coup led by General Pervez Musharraf overthrows Pakistan's government. • In Seattle in November, the World Trade Organisation (WTO) conference is disrupted by violent anti-globalisation protesters. • On 31 December, Russian president Boris Yeltsin resigns, naming as his successor the prime minister Vladimir Putin. • On 21 March, Bertrand Piccard (Switzerland) and Brian Jones (UK) complete – in 20 days – the first non-stop balloon flight around world. • At the Academy Awards on 22 March, the British film Shakespeare in Love wins the best picture Oscar. |
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