2000': World News (mostly in the UK)- Politics, important world events, natural disasters and technology related

World News in the Year 2000

Technology Related

The Tate Modern art gallery in London opened by the queen on May 11th 2000. ‘The world's largest modern art gallery is housed in a conversion of the former power station on Bankside which cost £134m and took four years to reconstruct.’

‘The use of mobile phones continues to grow in the year 2000 as mobile phones move from the perceived "Yuppie Device" to an essential consumer product.’

On the 13^th of January 2000, the chairman of Microsoft, Bill Gates promotes company president Steve Ballmer to the position, as he steps aside as chief executive. This was to make time for his day-to-day activities concerning the $38 million Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Important World Events

The world celebrates the new Millennium, where billions of people around the world have ‘welcomed it with some of the most spectacular celebrations even seen.’

The Millennium Dome, now referred to as the 02 Arena, was ‘originally used to house the Millennium Experience, a major exhibition celebrating the beginning of the third millennium.’ It was located in Greenwich Peninsula in London and ‘the exhibition opened to the public on 1 January 2000 and ran until 31 December 2000.’

‘The new Millennium Bridge across the Thames was open on June 10^th 2000 and was the closed after only 2 days on June 12^th 2000 due to safety fears for modifications’; the bridge felt wobbly when people walked across it.

The closing ceremony of the XXVII Olympics took place on the 1^st of October 2000 in Sydney, Australia.

Natural Disasters/Nature related issues

The UK fuel protests take place, with refineries blockaded, and supply to the country's network of petrol stations halted

On the 18^th of January 2000 at around 9:48am the Tagish Lake Meteorite crashed onto earth ‘landing between the Yukon Territory and British Columbia in a remote vacation village.’

'The UK is hit by one of the worst snowstorms in the last 50 years bringing public transport to a halt.'

Political Events

‘In Zimbabwe, Parliament opens its new session and seats opposition members for the first time in a decade.’- this occurred on July the 20^th 2000.

‘3^rd April 2000 – The Immigration and Asylum Act means that all asylum seekers in England and Wales will now receive vouchers to cover the cost of food and clothes.’

'Ken Livingstone is elected as London's first elected mayor on may the 4^th 2000'

Text and Image reference:

http://www.historyorb.com/events/date/2000

http://guardianlv.com/2013/10/bill-gates-ousted-as-microsoft-chairman/

http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/january/1/newsid_2478000/2478173.stm

http://www.thepeoplehistory.com/2000.html

http://www.princeton.edu/~achaney/tmve/wiki100k/docs/Millennium_Dome.html

http://www.astrobio.net/exclusive/206/the-tagish-lake-meteorite-

http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/may/8/newsid_2519000/2519069.stm

http://www.webdesigntalks.com/steve-ballmer-step-downs-as-microsoft-ceo/

http://www.e-architect.co.uk/images/jpgs/london/london_building_aw050507_064.jpg

http://www.pinknews.co.uk/images/2012/02/kenlivingstone.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/09/Fireworks,_Sydney_Harbour_Bridge,_2000_Summer_Olympics_closing_ceremony.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/10/£10s_going_into_a_petrol_tank.jpg