2018 Sunda Strait tsunami
2018
A tsunami caused by an eruption of Anak Krakatau in Indonesia kills at least 430 people and injures almost a thousand more..
December-22
Historical Events on December 22
December
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2018–2019 United States federal government shutdown
The 2018–2019 United States federal government shutdown, the second-longest shutdown of the U.S. federal government in history, begins.
2018
United Nations Security Council Resolution 2397
United Nations Security Council Resolution 2397 against North Korea is unanimously approved.
2017
RVSV-ZEBOV vaccine
A study finds the VSV-EBOV vaccine against the Ebola virus between 70 and 100% effective, making it the first proven vaccine against the disease.
2016
Bashir Ahmad Bilour
Bashir Ahmad Bilour of Awami National Party and eight others are killed in a Pakistan Taliban bomber suicide attack in Dhaki Nalbandi area near Qissa Khwani Bazaar.
2012
Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act of 2010
2010
The repeal of the Don't ask, don't tell policy, the 17-year-old policy banning homosexuals serving openly in the United States military, is signed into law by President Barack Obama..
Kingston Fossil Plant coal fly ash slurry spill
An ash dike ruptures at a solid waste containment area for a Tennessee Valley Authority coal-fired power plant in Roane County, Tennessee, releasing 4.2 million m3 (1.1 billion US gal) of coal fly ash slurry in the largest industrial spill in U.S. history.
2008
Burhanuddin Rabbani
Burhanuddin Rabbani, political leader of the Northern Alliance, hands over power in Islamic State of Afghanistan to the interim government headed by President Hamid Karzai.
2001
Richard Reid
Richard Reid attempts to destroy a passenger airliner by igniting explosives hidden in his shoes aboard American Airlines Flight 63.
2001
London Stansted Airport
Just after taking off from London Stansted Airport, Korean Air Cargo Flight 8509 crashes into Hatfield Forest near Great Hallingbury, killing all four people on board.
1999
Acteal massacre
1997
Acteal massacre: Attendees at a prayer meeting of Roman Catholic activists for indigenous causes in the small village of Acteal in the Mexican state of Chiapas are massacred by paramilitary forces..
Somali Civil War
Somali Civil War: Hussein Farrah Aidid relinquishes the disputed title of President of Somalia by signing the Cairo Declaration, in Cairo, Egypt. It is the first major step towards reconciliation in Somalia since 1991.
1997
Airborne Express Flight 827
Airborne Express Flight 827 crashes in Narrows, Virginia, killing all six people on board.
1996
Tripoli International Airport
During approach to Tripoli International Airport, a Boeing 727 operating as Libyan Arab Airlines Flight 1103 collides in mid-air with a Libyan Air Force Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23, killing 157 people.
1992
Lech Wałęsa
Lech Wałęsa is elected President of Poland.
1990
Marshall Islands
1990
Final independence of Marshall Islands and Federated States of Micronesia after termination of trusteeship..
Romanian revolution
Romanian Revolution: Communist President of Romania Nicolae Ceaușescu is overthrown by Ion Iliescu after days of bloody confrontations. The deposed dictator and his wife Elena flee Bucharest in a helicopter as protesters erupt in cheers.
1989
German reunification
German reunification: Berlin's Brandenburg Gate re-opens after nearly 30 years, effectively ending the division of East and West Germany.
1989
Zimbabwe
In Zimbabwe, the political parties ZANU and ZAPU reach an agreement that ends the violence in the Matabeleland region known as the Gukurahundi.
1987
1984 New York City Subway shooting
"Subway vigilante" Bernhard Goetz shoots four would-be muggers on a 2 express train in Manhattan section of New York, United States.
1984
11th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party
1978
The pivotal Third Plenum of the 11th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party is held in Beijing, with Deng Xiaoping reversing Mao-era policies to pursue a program for Chinese economic reform..
Gerald Ford
U.S. President Gerald Ford creates the Strategic Petroleum Reserve in response to the 1970s energy crisis.
1975
Grande Comore
Grande Comore, Anjouan and Mohéli vote to become the independent nation of Comoros. Mayotte remains under French administration.
1974
Edward Heath
The house of former British Prime Minister Edward Heath is attacked by members of the Provisional IRA.
1974
Royal Air Maroc
A Royal Air Maroc Sud Aviation Caravelle crashes near Tangier-Boukhalef Airport in Tangier, Morocco, killing 106.
1973
Médecins Sans Frontières
1971
The international aid organization Doctors Without Borders is founded by Bernard Kouchner and a group of journalists in Paris, France..
Cultural Revolution
Cultural Revolution: People's Daily posted the instructions of Mao Zedong that "The intellectual youth must go to the country, and will be educated from living in rural poverty."
1968
Speed limit
In the United Kingdom, a 70 miles per hour (110 km/h) speed limit is applied to all rural roads including motorways for the first time.
1965
Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird
The first test flight of the SR-71 (Blackbird) takes place at Air Force Plant 42 in Palmdale, California, United States.
1964
Cruise ship
The cruise ship Lakonia burns 290 kilometres (180 mi) north of Madeira, Portugal with the loss of 128 lives.
1963
Sjafruddin Prawiranegara
1948
Sjafruddin Prawiranegara established the Emergency Government of the Republic of Indonesia (Pemerintah Darurat Republik Indonesia, PDRI) in West Sumatra..
Harry S. Truman
U.S. President Harry S. Truman issues an executive order giving World War II refugees precedence in visa applications under U.S. immigration quotas.
1945
Battle of the Bulge
World War II: Battle of the Bulge: German troops demand the surrender of United States troops at Bastogne, Belgium, prompting the famous one word reply by General Anthony McAuliffe: "Nuts!"
1944
People's Army of Vietnam
World War II: The People's Army of Vietnam is formed to resist Japanese occupation of Indochina, now Vietnam.
1944
Adolf Hitler
World War II: Adolf Hitler signs the order to develop the V-2 rocket as a weapon.
1942
Himarë
1940
World War II: Himara is captured by the Greek army..
Islam in India
Indian Muslims observe a "Day of Deliverance" to celebrate the resignations of members of the Indian National Congress over their not having been consulted over the decision to enter World War II with the United Kingdom.
1939
Lincoln Tunnel
The Lincoln Tunnel opens to traffic in New York City.
1937
Visva-Bharati University
Opening of Visva-Bharati College, also known as Santiniketan College, now Visva Bharati University, India.
1921
GOELRO
The GOELRO economic development plan is adopted by the 8th Congress of Soviets of the Russian SFSR.
1920
1906 Manasi earthquake
1906
An Mw 7.9 earthquake strikes Xinjiang, China, killing at least 280..
Dreyfus affair
The Dreyfus affair begins in France, when Alfred Dreyfus is wrongly convicted of treason.
1894
323 Brucia
Asteroid 323 Brucia becomes the first asteroid discovered using photography.
1891
Cornwallis Valley Railway
Cornwallis Valley Railway begins operation between Kentville and Kingsport, Nova Scotia.
1890
Christmas Meeting of 1888
The Christmas Meeting of 1888, considered to be the official start of the Faroese independence movement.
1888
Itō Hirobumi
1885
Itō Hirobumi, a samurai, becomes the first Prime Minister of Japan..
American Civil War
American Civil War: Savannah, Georgia, falls to the Union's Army of the Tennessee, and General Sherman tells President Abraham Lincoln: "I beg to present you as a Christmas gift the city of Savannah".
1864
Roorkee
India's first freight train is operated in Roorkee, to transport material for the construction of the Ganges Canal.
1851
Library of Congress
The Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., burns.
1851
Ludwig van Beethoven
Ludwig van Beethoven conducts and performs in concert at the Theater an der Wien, Vienna, with the premiere of his Fifth Symphony, Sixth Symphony, Fourth Piano Concerto and Choral Fantasy.
1808
Embargo Act of 1807
1807
The Embargo Act, forbidding trade with all foreign countries, is passed by the U.S. Congress at the urging of President Thomas Jefferson..
Izmail
The Turkish fortress of Izmail is stormed and captured by Alexander Suvorov and his Russian armies.
1790
Quang Trung
Nguyễn Huệ proclaims himself Emperor Quang Trung, in effect abolishing on his own the Lê dynasty.
1788
Sino-Burmese War
Sino-Burmese War: The war ends with the Qing dynasty withdrawing from Burma forever.
1769
Catholic Monarchs of Spain
The forces of the Catholic Monarchs, Ferdinand and Isabella, take control of Almería from the Nasrid ruler of Granada, Muhammad XIII.
1489
Pope Honorius III
1216
Pope Honorius III approves the Dominican Order through the papal bull of confirmation Religiosam vitam..
Henry I of England
Three weeks after the death of King Henry I of England, Stephen of Blois claims the throne and is privately crowned King of England, beginning the English Anarchy.
1135
Luoyang
Luoyang, eastern capital of the Tang dynasty, is captured by rebel leader Huang Chao during the reign of Emperor Xizong.
880
856 Damghan earthquake
Damghan earthquake: An earthquake near the Persian city of Damghan kills an estimated 200,000 people, the sixth deadliest earthquake in recorded history.
856
Pope Innocent I
Pope Innocent I is elected, the only pope to succeed his father in the office.
401
AD 69
69
Vespasian is proclaimed Emperor of Rome; his predecessor, Vitellius, attempts to abdicate but is captured and killed at the Gemonian stairs..