February 1998 News and Events

Updated July 10, 2020 | Infoplease Staff

1998 News Month-By-Month

World

Albright Scolds Middle East Leaders (Feb. 1): Secretary of State rebukes Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian leader Yasir Arafat over delay in peace negotiations.
Palestinians March in Support of Iraq (Feb. 7): Several hundred demonstrate in Bethlehem's main road.
Debate on Judaism Intense in Israel (Feb. 9): Chief Rabbinate rules out any cooperation with non-Orthodox branches on conversions and religious rites.
Yeltsin Visits Pope at Vatican (Feb. 10): Russian leader and John Paul II exchange gifts cordially.
Cuba Responds to Pope's Appeal (Feb. 12): Havana announces it will free more than 200 prisoners held on political and other charges, in answer to appeal by John Paul II during his Jan. trip to Cuba.
Sinn Fein Expelled From Peace Talks (Feb. 20): Irish and British governments take temporary measures against political wing of Irish Republican Army.
Pope Honors 20 New Cardinals (Feb. 21): Two Americans are among prelates elevated in outdoor ceremony at Vatican, marked by pageantry and tradition.
Iraq Reported to Agree to Lift Arms Inspection Ban (Feb. 22): U.N. reveals agreement with President Saddam Hussein to permit access to presidential properties. (Feb 25): Clinton seeks British, French, and Russian support for Security Council resolution warning against violation of pact.
P. W. Botha Pleads Not Guilty to Contempt (Feb. 23): Former South African president denies charges. Accuses Truth and Reconciliation Commission of breaking agreement to let him testify in writing.
Israeli Intelligence Chief Resigns (Feb. 24): Danny Yatom, head of the Israeli intelligence agency the Mossad, resigns under heavy agency pressure to accept responsibility for bungled attack on a top Palestinian militant in Jordan in 1997.
Senate G.O.P. Leader Opposes Iraq Deal (Feb. 25): Trent Lott accuses Administration of abdicating foreign policy to Kofi Annan, U.N. Secretary General.
Swiss Confirm Capture of Israeli Agents (Feb. 26): Acknowledge that five agents of the Mossad were trapped while trying to bug house in Bern thought by some to be Iranian diplomatic base.

Nation

F.D.A. Revises Rules on Financial Disclosure (Feb. 2): Requires physicians who try out new drugs and medical devices to reveal whether they received stock or other financial support from manufacturers.
F.A.A. Warned on Computer Updating (Feb. 3): General Accounting Office finds aviation safety could be imperiled by agency's inability to remove “Year 2000” bugs from hundreds of critical computer systems before turn of the century.
First Balanced Budget in 30 Years (Feb. 3): President holds out possibility of surplus after five years of steady economic growth and cautious spending.
Clinton Friend Surrenders in Campaign Finance Inquiry (Feb. 3): Yah Lin Trie, Democratic fund-raiser, returns after fleeing U.S. when finance scandals broke out.
National Airport Named for Reagan (Feb. 4): Congress votes to honor former President for 87th birthday by renaming Washington National Airport.
Clinton Secretary Reported to Aid Inquiry (Feb. 5): Lawyers say Betty Currie gave evidence to special prosecutor about President's relationship with intern.
“China Area” Linked to Campaign Donations (Feb. 10): Republican investigation finds illegal gifts to Democrats were linked to “greater China area” but cannot establish a role for Beijing Government.
New Surgeon General Confirmed (Feb. 10): Senate approves Dr. David Satcher, first in three years to fill post marked by disputes over abortion and family values.
Reno Asks Naming of Counsel for Babbitt Inquiry (Feb. 11): Attorney General calls on judicial panel to appoint special prosecutor to investigate role of Interior Secretary in rejection of Indian casino project.
Senate Rejects Ban on Human Cloning (Feb. 11): Defeats Republican measure that aroused concerns over effect of bill on scientific research.
Line-Item Veto Ruled Unconstitutional (Feb. 12): U.S. judge rebuffs Clinton and G.O.P. in Congress over measure to allow veto of individual items in a bill.
Secret Service Subpoenaed in Intern Inquiry (Feb. 21): Members summoned by investigators of President Clinton's relationship with former White House employee. Action seen as preparing way for new confrontation with Whitewater independent counsel.
Executive Privilege Reported Invoked by Clinton (Feb. 24): Lawyers say President seeks to shield top assistants from testifying before grand jury about White House discussions on Monica Lewinsky inquiry.
Senate Blocks Campaign Spending Reform (Feb. 26): Delays revision for at least a year in face of Republican filibuster, after yearlong investigation of abuses in 1996 election. Close vote results in continued debate.

Business/Science/Society

El Niño Storm Ravages California (Feb. 3, et seq.): Thousands flee driving rain and hurricane-force winds in one of state's biggest storms on record.
Texas Execution Ends Controversy (Feb. 3): State puts to death its first woman to be executed since Civil War. Karla Faye Tucker, 38, killed two people with a pick ax 15 years earlier.
U.S. Plane Cuts Ski Cable in Italy; 20 Killed (Feb. 3): Low-flying Marine Corps craft on training flight over Dolomite mountains sends car plunging 260 feet.
Auto Makers Compromise on Emissions (Feb. 4): General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler agree to produce cleaner cars than government standards require.
Thousands Dead in Afghanistan Quake (Feb. 4, et seq.): Thousands more reported homeless and injured in remote northeastern area. New tremors destroy villages and split mountain roads, hindering relief.
Winter Olympic Games Open in Japan (Feb. 7): Final games of 20th century begin in Nagano with celebration of traditional Japanese culture.
Judge Backs Disabled Golfer on Cart (Feb. 11): Casey Martin wins suit under Americans With Disabilities Act for right to transportation in professional tournaments.
Suspect Named in Abortion Clinic Bombing (Feb. 14): After unsuccessful two-week hunt for suspect, Federal authorities accuse 31-year-old North Carolina fugitive in Birmingham attack fatal to off-duty police officer.
Taiwan Air Crash Kills More Than 200 (Feb. 16): Casualties include Taiwan's Central Bank governor as China Airlines plane bursts into flames while trying to land in fog at Chiang Kai-shek International Airport.
Former Naval Academy Midshipman Guilty in Killing (Feb. 17): Texas court orders life sentence for Diane Zamora, 20, in murder of girl who had sex with Zamora's boyfriend.
Julian Bond to Head N.A.A.C.P. (Feb. 21): Veteran champion of civil rights elected by narrow margin.
Cigarette Maker Altered Nicotine Content (Feb. 22): Industry documents suggest that R. J. Reynolds, one of largest producers, altered content in apparent belief that it increased effect on smokers.
Florida Tornadoes Kill at Least 38 (Feb. 23): Spread wide devastation across central area of state.
Megan's Laws Allowed to Stand (Feb. 23): Justices reject constitutional challenges to statutes in New York and New Jersey providing for communities to be notified of presence of paroled sex offenders.