The year 1999 was notable for many significant events across various fields:
- Global and Political Events: The Euro was introduced on January 1, marking a major step in European economic integration. President Bill Clinton's impeachment trial began in January and he was acquitted by the Senate in February. Boris Yeltsin resigned as President of Russia on December 31, with Vladimir Putin becoming acting President. The Kosovo conflict saw violence, and NATO began aerial bombing over Yugoslavia. East Timor voted for independence in a referendum in August
- Science and Technology: NASA launched the Mars Polar Lander in January and lost contact with it in December. The Terra satellite was launched by NASA in December. Infosys became the first Indian company listed on NASDAQ in March. The Melissa computer virus spread globally in March. Jack Ma founded Alibaba in April
- Culture and Entertainment: Popular TV shows such as The Sopranos and Family Guy debuted. Eminem released The Slim Shady LP in February. The film The Matrix premiered in March, and Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban was published in July. Woodstock 99 music festival took place in July
- Sports: Michael Jordan announced his second retirement in January. Serena Williams won her first Grand Slam title at the US Open in September. Lance Armstrong won his first Tour de France in July
- Disasters: Earthquakes struck Colombia, Turkey, Athens, and Taiwan, causing thousands of deaths and injuries. A hailstorm in Sydney caused $1.7 billion in damage. Several plane crashes and bombings also occurred
- Other notable events: The Y2K scare was a major concern leading up to the year 2000. The Petronas Towers, the world's tallest building at the time, opened in Kuala Lumpur in August
This overview highlights 1999 as a year of political change, technological advances, cultural milestones, and significant global events
