Historical Events
Flynn Pleads Guilty
Dec 1 President Trump’s former national security adviser Michael Flynn pleads guilty to lying to the F.B.I.
- Dec 2 Egyptian lawyer Nabih al-Wahsh sentenced to 3 years in prison for saying women wearing ripped jeans should be raped
- Dec 3 First pizza party in space held by astronauts of the International Space Station
- Dec 4 New York Giants fire head coach Ben McAdoo and manager Jerry Reese after a 2–10 start
- Dec 4 New York's Metropolitan Opera suspends conductor James Levine after allegations of sexual misconduct
- Dec 4 Thomas fire begins and spreads to city of Ventura, California
Trump Scales Back Parks
Dec 4 US President Donald Trump scales back Utah National Parks - Bears Ears National Monument (85%), Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument (50%)
- Dec 4 US Supreme Court allows President Trump's travel ban to come into effect for 6 mostly Muslim countries
- Dec 5 Artist Lubaina Himid wins Britain's Turner Prize, oldest person at 63 and first nonwhite woman
- Dec 5 Austrian courts rule in favour of same-sex marriage from 2019
- Dec 5 Democratic representative John Conyers resigns from US Congress after allegations of sexual harassment
- Dec 5 Netflix fires actor Danny Masterson from "The Ranch" after allegations of rape filed against him by 3 women
- Dec 5 Online store Amazon begins operations in Australia
- Dec 5 Russia is banned from the next Winter Olympics in South Korea over state-sponsored doping
- Dec 6 "Supermassive" most distant black hole discovery announced by astronomers in journal "Nature", 13 billion light-years away, 800 x bigger than the Sun
Andrej Babiš Sworn In
Dec 6 Andrej Babiš is sworn as Prime Minister of the Czech Republic
- Dec 6 Brazilian drug lord Rogério da Silva arrested in Rio
- Dec 6 Britain's top Brexit negotiator David Davis admits there has been "no systematic impact assessment" on effects of Brexit
- Dec 6 Skirball wildfire near Los Angeles closes the Interstate 405 as thousands forced to evacuate
- Dec 6 Starbucks opens its largest cafe in the world in Shanghai, 30,000 square-feet, 1/2 size of a football field
- Dec 6 Time Magazine names their Person of the Year "The Silence Breakers", people who came forward to report sexual misconduct
- Dec 6 US President Donald Trump officially recognizes Jerusalem as Israel's capital, announcing plans to move US embassy there
- Dec 7 Australia's parliament votes to legalize gay marriage
Ronaldo Wins 5th Award
Dec 7 Ballon d'Or: Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo wins his 5th award to equal Lionel Messi's record; 2nd consecutive win for Ronaldo
- Dec 7 Crumbling French château La Mothe-Chandeniers in Les Trois-Moutiers is bought by 9,000 people
- Dec 7 Former US gymnastics physician Larry Nasser is sentenced to 60 years on child pornography charges
- Dec 7 Mosconi Cup nine-ball pool, Las Vegas, Nevada: Europe scores 8th straight title with an 11-4 rout of US; MVP: Joshua Filler (Germany)
- Dec 7 Naples' pizza spinning given UNESCO intangible heritage status along with Germany's organ music, Kyrgystan's Kok boru, and India's Kumbh festival
- Dec 7 Pantone's 2018 Colour of the Year is Ultra Violet
- Dec 7 Unrest in West Bank and Gaza, schools closed and a general strike in response to America's recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital
- Dec 7 Virtual currency Bitcoin rises in value, passing $18,440 on some exchanges
Star Wars: The Last Jedi
Dec 9 "Star Wars: The Last Jedi" directed by Rian Johnson, starring Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega and Adam Driver premieres in Los Angeles
- Dec 9 83rd Heisman Trophy Award: Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma (QB)
Sports History
Dec 9 Brian Ortega defeats Cub Swanson at UFC Fight Night 123, earning Fight of the Night and Performance of the Night honors
- Dec 9 Funeral for French rock star Johnny Hallyday draws hundreds of thousands onto Paris streets
Victory Over Islamic State
Dec 9 Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi declares victory over the Islamic State in Iraq, ending more than 3 years of conflict
- Dec 9 Same-sex marriage is legalized in Australia after being signed into law by the Governor General
"The New Normal"
Dec 10 Governor of California Jerry Brown tours Southern Californian wildfires and declares them "the new normal"
- Dec 11 Attempted suicide terrorist bomb attack in New York wounds 3, bomb fails to fully detonate
- Dec 11 Landmark trial for Huntington's disease in London announces positive results - first time a drug has been able to slow an incurable brain disorder
- Dec 11 Rahul Gandhi, son of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, is elected leader of the Indian National Congress
- Dec 11 Saudi Arabia announces an end to its 35 year ban on cinemas
- Dec 11 Six wildfires in Southern California now cover area larger than New York City and Boston combined
- Dec 11 US Senator Kirsten Gillibrand calls for the resignation of President Donald Trump given 16 women have accused him of sexual harassment
- Dec 12 Australian shopping mall firm Westfield is bought by French property company Unibail-Rodamco for $15.7 billion
- Dec 12 Democrat Doug Jones defeats Republican Roy Moore for Alabama Senate seat in upset win marked by allegations of sexual misconduct against Moore
- Dec 13 Democratic Republic of Congo jails for life 11 militiamen for raping 40 children, including a local MP
- Dec 13 Online dictionary Merriam-Webster's most searched word of the year is Feminism
- Dec 13 Prehistoric bones of a penguin as tall as a human (1.77m) found on Otago beach, New Zealand, reported in "Nature Communications"
UK Government Loses Key Vote
Dec 13 Prime Minister Theresa May's UK Conservative government loses key vote in Parliament for an amendment to allow MPs to vote on Brexit
Hayek Accuses Weinstein
Dec 13 Salma Hayek accuses Harvey Weinstein of sexual harassment and threatening to kill her
- Dec 13 Scientists begin checking interstellar asteroid Oumuamua for signs of alien technology through radio signals (later studies conclude it a piece of sliced off planet)
- Dec 14 Australian government establishes a Royal Commission into Misconduct in the Banking, Superannuation and Financial Services Industry
- Dec 14 British surgeon Simon Bramhall admits to branding the liver of 2 patients with his initials
- Dec 14 Suicide bomber kills at least 18 police officers at a training centre parade in Mogadishu, Somalia, Islamic group al-Shabab claim responsibility
- Dec 14 The Walt Disney Company buys most of 21st Century Fox for $52.4 billion
- Dec 14 Train ploughs into a school bus cutting it in half, killing 4 children and injuring 20 near Perpignan, France
- Dec 14 US media regulator the Federal Communications Commission votes to end net neutrality
Hollywood Sexual Harassment Commission
Dec 15 Anita Hill is appointed to lead a Hollywood commission on sexual harassment, spearheaded by Kathleen Kennedy
- Dec 15 Pakistani teenager Ahed Tamimi filmed slapping Israeli officers during protest, arrested 4 days later
Star Wars: The Last Jedi
Dec 17 "Star Wars: The Last Jedi" takes more than $450m worldwide in its opening weekend, 2nd largest opening in North America ($220m)
Kaka Retires
Dec 17 Brazilian footballer and former AC Milan and Real Madrid player Kaka retires
- Dec 17 French sailor François Gabart sets round-the-world record for fastest solo navigation of the globe in 42 days 16 hours
Piñera Returns
Dec 17 Sebastián Piñera wins Chile's presidential election run-off, returning to office after 4 years
- Dec 17 Terrorist suicide attack on a Methodist church in Quetta, Pakistan kills nine
- Dec 18 Australia regains cricket's Ashes against England, winning by an innings to take 3 game lead at the WACA in Perth
Kurz's Coalition Government
Dec 18 Austria swears in new coalition government with Sebastian Kurz aged 31 of the People's Party made Chancellor
ANC Selects Ramaphosa
Dec 18 South Africa's ANC selects Cyril Ramaphosa as leader, to succeed President Jacob Zuma
- Dec 20 European Commission triggers first step of its article 7 procedure issuing Poland with formal warning of risk to voting rights
- Dec 20 US House and Senate pass $1.5 trillion tax and jobs bill, the biggest tax overhaul for decades
- Dec 21 UN General Assembly votes 128 to 9 to denounce US decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital
- Dec 22 UN Security Council votes 15 to 0 for additional sanctions on North Korea, including measures to slash the country's petrol imports by up to 90%
Manchester City's Record Streak
Dec 27 Raheem Sterling scores to give Manchester City 1-0 win over Newcastle United at St. James' Park; EPL record 18th consecutive win; streak ends with 0-0 draw at Crystal Palace 31/12
- Dec 28 Iranian woman Vida Mohaved arrested for protesting against policy of compulsory hijab, sparking other protests
- Dec 28 Protests in Mashhad, Iran against price rises and corruption
- Dec 30 84th Orange Bowl: #6 Wisconsin beats #11 Miami (Florida), 34-24
- Dec 31 Ban on ivory trade in China comes into effect
- Dec 31 Bus crash at Migaa near Molo, central Kenya, kills at least 30
- Dec 31 Cleveland Browns crash to a 28-24 loss to Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field to become only the 2nd team in NFL history to finish season with 0-16 record
Rajinikanth Entering Politics
Dec 31 Indian movie star Rajinikanth announces he is entering politics
Famous Deaths
- Dec 3 Ivan Chermayeff, British-born American graphic designer, dies at 85
- Dec 3 John B. Anderson, American politician and 1980 Republican presidential candidate, dies at 95
- Dec 3 Mike D. Stone, American recording engineer (Frank Zappa, Joe Walsh, Bee Gees, America), dies of lymphoma at 68
- Dec 4 Ali Abdullah Saleh, Yemeni politician and 1st President of Yemen (1990-2012), is killed during the Battle of Sana'a at 75
- Dec 4 Christine Keeler, British model and showgirl (Profumo affair), dies from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease at 75
- Dec 4 Mary Louise Hancock, American politician and activist, dies at 97
- Dec 4 Shashi Kapoor [Balbir Raj Kapoor], prominent Indian Bollywood actor (Deewar, The Deceivers, Shalimar, Heat & Dust), dies from a chest infection at 79
- Dec 5 Johnny Hallyday [Jean-Philippe Smet], French singer and actor known as the "Elvis Presley of France," dies from lung cancer at 74
- Dec 5 Michael I, King of Romania (1927-1930 and 1940-1947), dies from cancer at 96
- Dec 5 Surin Pitsuwan, Thai foreign minister and 12th Secretary General of ASEAN (2008-2012), dies from heart failure at 68
- Dec 6 Cy Young, American athlete and only US male to win gold in javelin throwing (1952 Olympics), dies of complications from dementia at 89
- Dec 6 William H. Gass, American novelist and philosopher (Omensetter's Luck), dies at 93
- Dec 7 James "Sunny" Murray, American jazz musician and drummer, dies at 81
- Dec 7 Peter Walwyn, British thoroughbred trainer (champion trainer 1974-75), dies at 84
- Dec 10 Zarley Zalapski, Canadian NHL defenseman, 1987-2000 (Pittsburgh Penguins; Calgary Flames, and 3 other teams), dies of a viral infection at 49
- Dec 11 Aline Griffith, American-born Spanish aristocrat, Countess of Romanones, spy and author, dies at 94
- Dec 11 Keith Chegwin, English television presenter and actor, dies at 60
- Dec 12 Pat DiNizio, American rock singer, songwriter and guitarist (The Smithereens - "Only A Memory"; "Blue Period"), dies from ill health at 62
- Dec 13 Bette Howland [Lee Sotonoff], American writer and literary critic (Blue in Chicago, The iron year), dies from multiple sclerosis and dementia at 80
- Dec 13 Tommy Nobis, American College Football HOF linebacker (Uni of Texas; #1 pick NFL Draft 1966 Atlanta Falcons; NFL Rookie of the Year 1966; First-team All-Pro 1967; 5× Pro Bowl), dies at 74
- Dec 13 Warrel Dane, American singer (Nevermore -"Enemies of Reality"), dies of a heart attack at 56
- Dec 14 Lones Wigger, American competitive rifle shooter (Olympic gold/silver-1964, 72), dies at 80
- Dec 14 Yú Guāngzhōng [Yu Kwang-chung], Taiwanese poet, essayist, and translator (Nostalgia), dies from respiratory failure at 89
- Dec 15 Don Hogan Charles, American photographer and first African-American photographer hired by The New York Times, dies at 79
- Dec 15 Heinz Wolff, German-born British scientist and TV/ radio presenter (BBC series "The Great Egg Race"), dies from heart failure at 89
- Dec 16 Keely Smith [Dorothy Keely], American jazz and pop singer (w/ husband Louis Prima -"That Old Black Magic"; "I Wish You Love"), dies from heart failure at 89 [1]
- Dec 17 Kevin Mahogany, American jazz vocalist ("Double Rainbow"; "Pride And Joy"), dies of diabetes complications at 59 [1] [2]
- Dec 17 Robert G Wilmers, American banker (M&T Bank), billionaire and philanthropist, dies at 83
- Dec 18 Jonghyun [Kim Jong-hyun], South Korean singer-songwriter, radio host, and author (SHINee), commits suicide at 27
- Dec 19 Clifford Irving, American novelist and investigative reporter (hoax autobiography of Howard Hughes), dies of pancreatic cancer at 87
- Dec 19 Leo "Bud" Welch, American gospel and Delta blues singer-songwriter and guitarist ("You Can't Hurry God"; "Cadillac Baby"), dies at 85
- Dec 19 Mamie "Peanut" Johnson, American baseball pitcher (1st female pitcher to play in the Negro Leagues), dies from heart complications at 82
- Dec 20 Bernard Francis Law, Disgraced American cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church (1982-2002), dies at 86
- Dec 21 Bruce McCandless II, American aviator, electrical engineer and astronaut who made the 1st untethered space walk (STS 41B, STS-31), dies at 80
- Dec 21 Richard "Dick" Enberg, American sportscaster (NBC, CBS, ESPN), dies of a heart attack at 82
- Dec 21 Roswell Rudd, American free-jazz trombonist (Archie Shepp) and avant-garde composer (New York Art Quartet), dies of prostate cancer at 82
- Dec 21 Wolfgang Ludewig, German composer, dies at 91
- Dec 23 Maurice Hayes, Irish politician (European Person of the Year 2003), dies at 90
- Dec 24 Heather Menzies-Urich, Canadian actress (The Sound of Music; Piranha), dies of cancer at 68
- Dec 25 Vladimir Shainsky, Soviet and Russian composer, dies at 92
- Dec 28 Recy Taylor, American sexual assault victim, dies at 97
- Dec 28 Rose Marie [Mazzetta], American actress, comedienne and singer (The Dick Van Dyke Show - "Sally"; The Doris Day Show), dies at 94
- Dec 28 Sue Grafton, American author of detective novels ("A" Is for Alibi), dies at 77
- Dec 29 Alfred Binns, West Indian cricket wicket-keeper (5 Tests, 17 dismissals; Jamaica), dies at 88
- Dec 29 John C. Portman Jr., American architect (Ivan Allen Award-1964), dies at 93
- Dec 29 Peggy Cummins [Augusta Fuller], Welsh-born Irish actress (Gun Crazy, Curse of the Demon), dies at 92
- Dec 31 Maurice Peress, American conductor (Kansas City Philharmonic, 1974-80), dies at 87
