WHAT ALL HAPPENED MARCH TO OCTOBER 1998
Find out what all happened March to October 1998

While en route from Adana to Ankara, a Turkish Airlines flight with a crew of 6 and 33 passengers is hijacked by a Kurdish militant who orders the pilot to fly to Switzerland. The plane instead lands in Ankara after the pilot tricked the hijacker into thinking that he is landing in the Bulgarian capital of Sofia to refuel. (29. October 1998)

Gay rights: Oncale v. Sundowner Offshore Services: The Supreme Court of the United States rules that federal laws banning on-the-job sexual harassment also apply when both parties are the same sex. (4. March 1998)

The European Central Bank is founded in Brussels in order to define and execute the European Union's monetary policy. (2. May 1998)

Roman Catholic sex abuse cases: The Diocese of Dallas agrees to pay $23.4 million to nine former altar boys who claimed they were sexually abused by Rudolph Kos, a former priest. (10. July 1998)

Compaq Computer pays $9 billion for Digital Equipment Corporation in the largest high-tech acquisition. (11. June 1998)

Iraq disarmament crisis begins: Iraq announces it would no longer cooperate with United Nations weapons inspectors. (31. October 1998)

Nuclear testing: Pakistan responds to a series of nuclear tests by India with five of its own codenamed Chagai-I, prompting the United States, Japan, and other nations to impose economic sanctions. Pakistan celebrates Youm-e-Takbir annually. (28. May 1998)

With the landmark merger of WorldCom and MCI Communications completed the day prior, the new MCI WorldCom opens its doors for business. (15. September 1998)

Telecommunications companies MCI Communications and WorldCom complete their $37 billion merger to form MCI WorldCom. (14. September 1998)

The Food and Drug Administration approves Viagra for use as a treatment for male impotence, the first pill to be approved for this condition in the United States. (27. March 1998)

The Second Congo War begins. (2. August 1998)

In Japan, the Akashi Kaikyō Bridge linking Awaji Island with Honshū and costing about $3.8 billion USD, opens to traffic, becoming the largest suspension bridge in the world. (5. April 1998)

A diplomatic conference adopts the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, establishing a permanent international court to prosecute individuals for genocide, Crimes against humanity, war crimes, and the crime of aggression. (17. July 1998)

Opening ceremony for the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Malaysia is the first Asian country to host the games. (11. September 1998)

Launch of Deep Space 1 comet/asteroid mission (24. October 1998)

Oued Bouaicha massacre in Algeria: 52 people are killed with axes and knives, 32 of them babies under the age of 2. (26. March 1998)

Jonesboro massacre: Mitchell Johnson and Andrew Golden, aged 11 and 13 respectively, fire upon teachers and students at Westside Middle School in Jonesboro, Arkansas; five people are killed and ten are wounded. (24. March 1998)

An Air China jetliner is hijacked by disgruntled pilot Yuan Bin and flown to Taiwan. (28. October 1998)

In Clinton v. City of New York, the United States Supreme Court decides that the Line Item Veto Act of 1996 is unconstitutional. (25. June 1998)

The United States embassy bombings in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania and Nairobi, Kenya kill approximately 212 people. (7. August 1998)