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Major Events of October 1996: Key Historical Moments from the Month

Each month is marked by defining moments that shape the course of history. Whether through political shifts, cultural movements, or world-changing events, these periods leave a lasting impression. Dive into the most important events from October 1996 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.

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Major Events of October 1996: Key Historical Moments from the Month

  • 01 Oct 1996 Middle East Peace Negotiations in Washington DC: A significant diplomatic meeting took place in Washington DC, where Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with US President Bill Clinton to discuss potential peace negotiations in the Middle East.
  • 02 Oct 1996 Aeroperú Flight 603 Tragedy: Aeroperú Flight 603, a Boeing 757, crashed into the Pacific Ocean shortly after takeoff from Lima Airport, resulting in the tragic loss of all 70 people on board. The crash was attributed to instrument failure, which led to a catastrophic loss of situational awareness for the flight crew.
  • 03 Oct 1996 Thunderdome Renamed Tropicana Field: The Thunderdome stadium in Tampa Bay, Florida was officially renamed Tropicana Field, marking a significant branding change for the venue. This stadium, home to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays (now Tampa Bay Rays) baseball team, would become a key landmark in the city's sports infrastructure.
  • 04 Oct 1996 Shahid Afridi scores century in 37 balls for Pakistan vs. Sri Lanka
  • 05 Oct 1996 Yao Wenyuan Released After Cultural Revolution Imprisonment: Yao Wenyuan, a prominent figure in the Chinese Cultural Revolution, is released from prison after serving 20 years, marking a significant moment in post-Cultural Revolution reconciliation.
  • 06 Oct 1996 Yasser Arafat Returns to Gaza for Peace Talks: Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat returned triumphantly to Gaza to engage in Middle East peace negotiations with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, signaling potential diplomatic progress.
  • 07 Oct 1996 1996 Presidential Debate: In the first televised presidential debate of the 1996 election cycle, incumbent President Bill Clinton demonstrated strong performance against his Republican challenger Bob Dole, significantly boosting his re-election campaign.
  • 08 Oct 1996 Yasser Arafat's Historic Visit to Israel: Palestinian President Yasser Arafat made a groundbreaking first public visit to Israel, meeting with Israeli President Ezer Weizman at his private residence. This diplomatic engagement represented a significant moment in the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations during the mid-1990s.
  • 09 Oct 1996 Uneventful Day in Global History: While no major global events were recorded on October 9, 1996, this does not diminish the potential significance of daily human activities and local occurrences happening around the world. Such days remind us that history is not always marked by dramatic moments, but also by the quiet progression of ordinary life.
  • 10 Oct 1996 Holocaust Museum Cornerstone Dedication: A pivotal moment in commemorating Holocaust history occurred with the cornerstone dedication of the Holocaust Museum in New York City. This event symbolizes the community's commitment to remembering the victims and educating future generations about this tragic period of human history.
  • 11 Oct 1996 Domestic Violence Offender Gun Ban Enacted: The Domestic Violence Offender Gun Ban, also known as the Lautenberg Amendment, was enacted in the United States. This significant legislation prohibited individuals convicted of domestic violence misdemeanors from purchasing or possessing firearms, aiming to reduce gun-related domestic violence.
  • 12 Oct 1996 New Zealand Adopts Mixed-Member Proportional Representation: New Zealand made a historic political transition by holding its first general election under the new mixed-member proportional representation system. This electoral reform allowed Jim Bolger's National Party to form a coalition government with Winston Peters's New Zealand First party, marking a significant shift in the country's democratic process.
  • 13 Oct 1996 Yankees Win 1996 American League Championship: The New York Yankees defeated the Baltimore Orioles 4 games to 1 in the American League Championship Series, advancing to the World Series and demonstrating their dominance in Major League Baseball that year.
  • 14 Oct 1996 Dow Jones Industrial Average Crosses 6,000 Milestone: On October 14, 1996, the Dow Jones Industrial Average achieved a historic financial milestone by closing above 6,000 points for the first time. The index gained 40.62 points to reach a closing value of 6,010.00, marking a significant moment in stock market history and reflecting the robust economic growth of the mid-1990s.
  • 15 Oct 1996 Belgian Labor Strikes Over Judicial Dismissal: On October 15, 1996, significant labor strikes erupted across multiple industries in Belgium, triggered by the controversial dismissal of magistrate Jean-Marc Connerotte by the Supreme Court. The strikes represented a widespread expression of professional and public dissatisfaction with the judicial system's internal procedures and perceived injustices.
  • 16 Oct 1996 Guatemala City Football Stadium Disaster: A tragic stadium crush occurred during a football match at Estadio Mateo Flores in Guatemala City, resulting in the deaths of 84 people and injuries to 180 others. The catastrophe was caused by severe overcrowding, with 47,000 fans attempting to enter a stadium with a 36,000-person capacity, leading to a fatal human stampede.
  • 17 Oct 1996 MLB National League Championship: The Atlanta Braves defeated the St. Louis Cardinals in a thrilling National League Championship Series, winning 4 games to 3 and advancing towards the World Series.
  • 19 Oct 1996 Atlanta Braves Historic World Series Victory: In a remarkable display of baseball dominance, the Atlanta Braves defeated the New York Yankees by a record-tying margin of 11 runs, winning the game 12-1 during the 1996 World Series. This game represented a significant moment in baseball history, showcasing the Braves' offensive prowess and ability to decisively outperform their opponents on the biggest stage.
  • 20 Oct 1996 Australian Gun Buyback Program Launched: Following the tragic Port Arthur Massacre, Prime Minister John Howard's government initiated a comprehensive national gun buy-back scheme. The program compulsorily acquired over 640,000 firearms, including newly prohibited semi-automatic rifles and shotguns, marking a significant moment in Australian gun control policy.
  • 21 Oct 1996 Uneventful Day in Global History: October 21, 1996, appears to be a relatively unremarkable day with no significant documented global events. While not every day produces major historical milestones, this date represents the routine passage of time in the mid-1990s.
  • 22 Oct 1996 Bernie Williams Sets Yankees Postseason Record: New York Yankees outfielder Bernie Williams made baseball history by hitting his record-tying 7th postseason home run. In the same game, the Yankees also tied the record for six consecutive postseason road wins, demonstrating their exceptional performance during the 1996 playoffs.
  • 23 Oct 1996 O.J. Simpson Civil Trial Opens: The civil trial of former American football player O.J. Simpson begins in Santa Monica, California, following his previous criminal trial. This civil case, brought by the families of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman, seeks monetary damages for the wrongful deaths of the victims.
  • 24 Oct 1996 Historic First Public Visit by Palestinian President to Israel: Palestinian President Yasser Arafat made his first public visit to Israel, meeting with Israeli President Ezer Weizman at his private residence. This diplomatic engagement was a significant moment in the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian peace process.
  • 25 Oct 1996 Frank Torre Receives Heart Transplant: Frank Torre, the brother of renowned baseball manager Joe Torre, underwent a successful heart transplant at a critical point in his medical journey. This significant personal health event highlighted the importance of organ donation and the potential for medical intervention to save lives. Joe Torre, who was managing the New York Yankees at the time, had been closely involved in supporting his brother through this challenging medical procedure.
  • 26 Oct 1996 Yankees Win 23rd World Series: The New York Yankees clinched their 23rd World Series championship by defeating the defending World Series champions Atlanta Braves 3-2 in Game 6. Reliever John Wetteland was named the Most Valuable Player of the series, marking the Yankees' first World Series victory since 1978.
  • 27 Oct 1996 The Beatles Release 'Anthology 3': Apple Records released 'Anthology 3', the final installment in a three-part series of rare Beatles recordings and outtakes. The double CD/triple LP compilation covers the band's creative period from 1968-1970. The album was commercially successful, topping the Billboard charts in the United States and reaching number 4 in the United Kingdom.
  • 28 Oct 1996 The Beatles Release 'Anthology 3': Apple Records releases 'Anthology 3', the final installment in a three-part series of rare Beatles recordings and outtakes. The double CD/triple LP compilation covers the band's tumultuous years from 1968 to 1970, capturing their final creative period. The album achieved significant commercial success, topping the Billboard charts in the United States and reaching number 4 in the United Kingdom.
  • 30 Oct 1996 Helmut Kohl Breaks German Chancellorship Record: On his 5,144th day in office, Helmut Kohl surpasses Konrad Adenauer's record as the longest-serving post-war chancellor of Germany, marking a significant milestone in modern German political history.
  • 31 Oct 1996 Bill Clinton Re-elected as US President: In the 1996 U.S. presidential election, Democratic incumbent Bill Clinton successfully defeats Republican challenger Bob Dole, securing his second consecutive term as President of the United States.