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China opens the world's longest high-speed rail route, which links Beijing and Guangzhou.
An oil pipeline in Lagos, Nigeria explodes, killing at least 260 people.
Orange Revolution: The final run-off election in Ukraine is held under heavy international scrutiny.
The 9.1-9.3 Mw Indian Ocean earthquake shakes northern Sumatra with a maximum Mercalli intensity of IX (Violent). One of the largest observed tsunamis follows, affecting the coastal areas of Thailand, India, Sri Lanka, the Maldives, Malaysia, Myanmar, Bangladesh, and Indonesia; death toll is between 230,000-280,000.
The 6.6 Mw Bam earthquake shakes southeastern Iran with a maximum Mercalli intensity of IX (Violent), leaving more than 26,000 dead and 30,000 injured.
The storm Lothar sweeps across Central Europe, killing 137 and causing US$1.3 billion in damage.
Iraq announces its intention to fire upon U.S. and British warplanes that patrol the northern and southern no-fly zones.
Four Armed Islamic Group hijackers seize control of Air France Flight 8969. When the plane lands at Marseille, a French Gendarmerie assault team boards the aircraft and kills the hijackers.
The Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union meets and formally dissolves the Soviet Union.
Tu-144, the world's first commercial supersonic aircraft, surpassing Mach 2, went into service.
Vietnam War: As part of Operation Linebacker II, 120 American B-52 Stratofortress bombers attacked Hanoi, including 78 launched from Andersen Air Force Base in Guam, the largest single combat launch in Strategic Air Command history.
The first Kwanzaa is celebrated by Maulana Karenga, the chair of Black Studies at California State University, Long Beach.
The Beatles' "I Want to Hold Your Hand" and "I Saw Her Standing There" are released in the United States, marking the beginning of Beatlemania on an international level.
Cardinal József Mindszenty is arrested in Hungary and accused of treason and conspiracy.
World War II: George S. Patton's Third Army breaks the encirclement of surrounded U.S. forces at Bastogne, Belgium.
World War II: German warship Scharnhorst is sunk off of Norway's North Cape after a battle against major Royal Navy forces.
U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt signs a bill establishing the fourth Thursday in November as Thanksgiving Day in the United States.
Babe Ruth of the Boston Red Sox is sold to the New York Yankees by owner Harry Frazee, allegedly establishing the Curse of the Bambino superstition.
Gilbert and Sullivan collaborate for the first time, on their lost opera, Thespis. It does modestly well, but the two would not collaborate again for four years.
The largest mass-hanging in U.S. history took place in Mankato, Minnesota, 38 Native Americans died.
Four nuns serving as volunteer nurses on board USS Red Rover are the first female nurses on a U.S. Navy hospital ship.
American Civil War: The Trent Affair: Confederate diplomatic envoys James Murray Mason and John Slidell are freed by the United States government, thus heading off a possible war between the United States and the United Kingdom.
The first ever inter-club English association football match takes place between Hallam and Sheffield football clubs in Sheffield.
Advocates of liberalism in Russia rise up against Czar Nicholas I but are suppressed in the Decembrist revolt in Saint Petersburg.
A theater fire in Richmond, Virginia kills the Governor of Virginia George William Smith and the president of the First National Bank of Virginia Abraham B. Venable.
Battles of Pultusk and Golymin: Russian forces hold French forces under Napoleon.
Henry Lee III's eulogy to George Washington in congress declares him as "first in war, first in peace and first in the hearts of his countrymen". (This is not to confused with Washington's funeral on December 18th.
Louis XVI of France gives his public assent to Civil Constitution of the Clergy during the French Revolution.
American Revolutionary War: In the Battle of Trenton, the Continental Army attacks and successfully defeats a garrison of Hessian forces .
The forces of the Catholic Monarchs, Ferdinand and Isabella, take control of Almería from the Nasrid ruler of Granada, Muhammad XIII.
Battle of Westbroek: Holland defeats troops of Utrecht.
Berengar I is elected as king of Italy by the lords of Lombardy. He is crowned with the Iron Crown of Lombardy at Pavia.[1]
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