1952⚡ Event
Great Smog of London begins
The "Great Smog of London" began and lasted for five days. It caused 12,000 deaths and led to the Clean Air Act 1956.
disasterlawmedicine
This Week in History: Week 49
December 2 – December 8
Over 110 historical moments took place during these 7 days of the calendar year. Explore our curated digest of the most world-changing events, iconic births, and notable deaths.
Explore the Full Daily Timelines
Major Events (December 2 – December 8)(20)
1956⚡ Event
Rosa Parks arrested
Rosa Parks was arrested for refusing to give up her seat to a white passenger on a bus in Montgomery, Alabama.
politicslaw
1958⚡ Event
Preston Bypass opens
Britain's first motorway, the Preston Bypass, opened to the public.
technologylaw
1965⚡ Event
Glasnost meeting in Moscow
The "glasnost meeting" took place in Moscow, becoming the first demonstration in the Soviet Union after World War II. It marked the beginning of the civil rights movement in the country.
politics
1972⚡ Event
Gough Whitlam becomes Prime Minister of Australia
Gough Whitlam took office as the 21st Prime Minister of Australia, forming a duumvirate with his deputy Lance Barnard. This ended 23 years of Liberal–Country Party government.
politics
1980⚡ Event
Led Zeppelin disbands
The English rock group Led Zeppelin officially disbanded. The band was a prominent force in rock music.
musicentertainment
1986⚡ Event
MV Amazon Venture oil spill
The MV Amazon Venture oil tanker began leaking while at the port of Savannah. This resulted in an oil spill of approximately 500,000 US gallons.
disastereconomics
1988⚡ Event
Benazir Bhutto Becomes Prime Minister of Pakistan
Benazir Bhutto took office as Prime Minister of Pakistan. She became the first woman to head the government of a Muslim-majority state.
politics
1989⚡ Event
Malayan Communist Party Peace Accord
The Malayan Communist Party and the Malaysian government signed a peace accord. This agreement ended a 21-year communist insurgency.
politicswar
1990⚡ Event
Mary Robinson becomes first female President of Ireland
Mary Robinson was inaugurated as the first female president of Ireland. Her election marked a significant milestone in the country's political history.
politics
1992⚡ Event
US troops deployed to Somalia
U.S. president George H. W. Bush ordered American troops into Somalia to help provide humanitarian aid and restore order. This occurred during the ongoing Somali Civil War.
warpoliticsexploration
1994⚡ Event
Sony releases PlayStation
Sony launched the PlayStation, a groundbreaking entertainment platform. It became the first console to achieve 100 million unit sales worldwide.
technologyentertainment
1999⚡ Event
Mars Polar Lander lost by NASA
NASA lost contact with the Mars Polar Lander spacecraft just before it was scheduled to enter Mars' atmosphere. The lander subsequently disappeared, marking a significant loss in space exploration efforts.
sciencespace
2001⚡ Event
Enron Files for Bankruptcy
The Texas-based energy firm Enron filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, less than two months after disclosing accounting violations. This evaporated nearly $11 billion in shareholder wealth.
economicslaw
2006⚡ Event
Jena Six incident
Six black teenagers assaulted a white student in Jena, Louisiana. The subsequent court cases became a cause célèbre for perceived racial injustice in the United States.
lawpolitics
2009⚡ Event
Mogadishu suicide bombing kills 25
A suicide bombing in Mogadishu, Somalia, resulted in the deaths of 25 people. Among the victims were three ministers of the Transitional Federal Government.
politicswar
2012⚡ Event
"Il Canto degli Italiani" becomes Italy's national anthem
"Il Canto degli Italiani" officially became the national anthem of Italy. It was provisionally chosen 66 years prior following the birth of the Italian Republic.
politicsmusic
2015⚡ Event
San Bernardino Mass Shooting
A married couple carried out a mass shooting at a Christmas party in San Bernardino, California. They died in a shootout with police after fleeing the scene.
disaster
2016⚡ Event
Oakland Warehouse Fire
Thirty-six people died in a fire at an illegally converted warehouse in Oakland, California. This was the deadliest U.S. building fire since 2003.
disaster
2024⚡ Event
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declares martial law
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law. The circumstances and implications of this declaration are significant for the nation's political landscape.
politics
Famous Birthdays This Week(15)
1994🎂 Birth
Jake T. Austin
Jake T. Austin, an American actor, was born. He is known for his roles in popular television shows and films.
entertainment
1994🎂 Birth
Lil Baby
Lil Baby, an American rapper, was born. He has become a prominent figure in contemporary hip-hop music.
musicentertainment
1994🎂 Birth
Solomone Kata
Solomone Kata, a New Zealand rugby league player, was born. He has represented his country in international competitions.
sports
1995🎂 Birth
Julius Honka
Julius Honka, a Finnish ice hockey player, was born. He has had a notable career in professional ice hockey.
sports
1995🎂 Birth
Angèle
Angèle, a Belgian singer, was born. She has gained international recognition for her music.
musicentertainment
Notable Deaths This Week(15)
2014🕊️ Death
Herman Badillo
Herman Badillo, a Puerto Rican-American lawyer and politician, has died. He was born in 1929.
politicslaw
2015🕊️ Death
Gladstone Anderson
Gladstone Anderson, a Jamaican singer and pianist, has died. He was born in 1934.
musicentertainment
2015🕊️ Death
Scott Weiland
Scott Weiland, an American singer-songwriter, has died. He was born in 1967.
musicentertainment
2019🕊️ Death
Ragnar Ulstein
Ragnar Ulstein, a Norwegian journalist and war historian, has died. He was born in 1920.
warliterature
2024🕊️ Death
Mohamed Ali Yusuf
Mohamed Ali Yusuf, a Somali politician, has died. He was born in 1944.
politics
Trending Topics This Week
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