Events in History
- Dec 3 Devastating winter storms cause Chehalis River to flood many cities in Lewis County, Washington, closing 20-mile portion of Interstate 5 for several days, resulting in at least eight deaths and billions of dollars of damage
- Dec 5 Westroads Mall massacre: A gunman opens fire with a semi-automatic rifle at an Omaha, Nebraska mall, killing eight people before taking his own life.
- Dec 7 The Hebei Spirit oil spill began in South Korea after a crane barge being towed by tug collided with the very large crude carrier, Hebei Spirit.
- Dec 11 Two car bombs go off at the Constitutional Court building in Algiers and the United Nations office. An estimated 45 people are killed in the bombings.
- Dec 17 Republic of Lakotah asserts independence from the United States
- Dec 19 The Lakotah people, a Native American tribe, proclaim independence and withdraw all their treaties with the United States. Establish the Republic of Lakotah, as a separate country.
Elizabeth II Becomes Oldest Ever UK Monarch
Dec 20 Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II becomes the oldest ever monarch of the United Kingdom, surpassing Queen Victoria, who lived for 81 years, 7 months and 29 days.
Thieves Steal a Picasso
Dec 20 Painting "Portrait of Suzanne Bloch (1904)", by the Spanish artist Pablo Picasso, is stolen from the São Paulo Museum of Art, along with "O Lavrador de Café", by the major Brazilian modernist painter Candido Portinari
- Dec 20 Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque completed (begun 1994), becoming the largest mosque in Abu Dhabi
- Dec 21 The Schengen Agreement area increases to include 9 European Union member states; Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia on land and sea borders.
Benazir Bhutto Assassinated
Dec 27 Former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto is assassinated by a suicide bomber in Rawalpindi
- Dec 28 Nepal declared a federal democratic Republic by interim parliament, abolishing the monarchy.
- Dec 31 Bocaue Fire. Seven people injured when a fire razed several fireworks stores in the Municipality of Bocaue, Bulacan, Philippines.
- Dec 31 The Massive Big Dig construction project in Boston, Massachusetts ends.
Birthdays in History
- Dec 17 James Windsor, Viscount Severn, son of Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex
Deaths in History
- Dec 1 Elisabeth Eybers, South African poet (That Woman & Other Verses), dies at 92
- Dec 1 Sally L. Smith, American educator and founder (Lab School of Washington), dies at 78
- Dec 2 Thomas F. Torrance, Scottish Protestant theologist, dies at 94
- Dec 4 Chip Reese, American poker player (3 x World Series of Poker bracelets), dies from pneumonia at 56
- Dec 4 Norval Morrisseau, Canadian artist (b. 1932)
- Dec 8 Gerardo García Pimentel, Mexican journalist
- Dec 9 Thore Skogman, Swedish entertainer, dies at 76
- Dec 10 Aqsa Parvez, Canadian victim of an honor crime (b. 1991)
- Dec 11 Grace Paley, American poet, political activist and teacher (1970 Arts & Letters Award), dies of breast cancer at 84
- Dec 13 Mark Partridge, Rhodesian politician
- Dec 15 Julia Carson, American politician (Rep Indiana (D) 1997-2007), dies of lung cancer at 69 [1]
- Dec 18 Bill Strauss, American writer on generations, satirist, and founder of the Capitol Steps (b. 1947)
- Dec 18 Gerald Le Dain, Canadian Supreme Court judge (b. 1924)
- Dec 20 Nataline Sarkisyan, American leukemia patient dies after Cigna HealthCare denied coverage for a medically recommended liver transplant at 17
- Dec 21 Ken Hendricks, American businessman (b. 1941)
- Dec 22 Adrian Cristobal, Filipino writer (b. 1932)
- Dec 22 Julien Gracq [Louis Poirier], French writer (Andre Breton), dies at 97
- Dec 23 William Francis Ganong, American physiologist (b. 1924)
- Dec 24 Akbar Radi, Iranian dramatist and playwright (b. 1939)
- Dec 24 Nicholas Pumfrey, British judge (b. 1951)
- Dec 26 Andrew Grima, Italian-born British jeweller known for his modern designs, dies at 86
- Dec 26 John A. Garraty, American biographer (b. 1920)
Benazir Bhutto (1953-2007)
Dec 27 12th Prime Minister of Pakistan and 1st female leader of a Muslim nation, assassinated in Rawalpindi by a suicide bomber at 54
- Dec 27 Jaan Kross, Estonian writer (b. 1920)
- Dec 27 Pedro Gastão of Orléans-Braganza, grandson of Emperor Pedro I of Brazil and claimant to the throne of Brazil, dies at 94
- Dec 28 Aidin Nikkhah Bahrami, Iran national basketball team player (b. 1982)
- Dec 29 Kevin Greening, British radio presenter (b. 1962)
- Dec 31 Ettore Sottsass, Italian architect and designer (b. 1917)
- Dec 31 Michael Goldberg, American painter (b. 1924)
- Dec 31 Milton L. Klein, Canadian politician (b. 1910)
Authors
Civil Rights Activists
Inventors
Kings
Revolutionaries
Scientists