Portal:Current events/December 1999

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December 1999 was the twelfth and final month of that common year. The month, which began on a Wednesday, ended on a Friday after 31 days. It was the last month of the 1990s decade.

Portal:Current events

This is an archived version of Wikipedia's Current events Portal from December 1999.

December 2, 1999 (1999-12-02) (Thursday) The United Kingdom devolves political power in Northern Ireland to the Northern Ireland Executive. December 3, 1999 (1999-12-03) (Friday) After rowing for 81 days and 2,962 nautical miles (5486 km), Tori Murden becomes the first woman to cross the Atlantic Ocean by rowboat alone when she reaches Guadeloupe from the Canary Islands NASA loses radio contact with the Mars Polar Lander moments before the spacecraft enters the Martian atmosphere. Worcester Cold Storage and Warehouse fire - A massive fire occurs at an abandoned cold storage and warehouse facility in Worcester, Massachusetts, killing six firefighters. December 12, 1999 (1999-12-12) (Sunday) President Lt. General Umar Hasan Ahmad al-Bashir of Sudan dismisses the National Assembly during an internal power struggle between him and speaker of the Parliament Hasan al-Turabi. December 14, 1999 (1999-12-14) (Tuesday) Algerian Ahmed Ressam was arrested while crossing the Canada–United States border at Port Angeles, Washington when United States Customs found explosives in the trunk of his automobile. The arrest caused fears of a terrorist attack in the United States and was a major factor in the cancellation of a public New Year's celebration in Seattle. Ressam was later convicted in a plot to bomb Los Angeles International Airport on New Year's Eve. December 15, 1999 (1999-12-15) (Wednesday) Torrential rains caused catastrophic floods and mudslides in the coastal regions of Venezuela, killing an estimated 25,000 people and leaving 100,000 others homeless. The MRT-3 Metrostar Express line in Manila, Philippines is inaugurated between North Ave. and Taft Ave. December 17, 1999 (1999-12-17) (Friday) Iraq disarmament crisis: The United Nations Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (Unmovic) is created to replace UNSCOM. The U.N. Security council once again orders Iraq to allow inspections teams immediate and unconditional access to any weapons sites and facilities. Iraq rejects the resolution. December 18, 1999 (1999-12-18) (Saturday) NASA launches into orbit the Terra platform carrying five Earth Observation instruments, including ASTER, CERES, MISR, MODIS and MOPITT. December 20, 1999 (1999-12-20) (Monday) Macau is handed over to the People's Republic of China by Portugal. Vermont's Supreme Court orders the state to legalize same-sex unions. December 21, 1999 (1999-12-21) (Tuesday) The Spanish Civil Guard intercepts near Calatayud (Zaragoza) a Madrid-bound van driven by ETA and loaded with 950 kg of explosives. The next day, another van loaded with 750 kg is found not far from there. The incident is known as "la caravana de la muerte" (the caravan of death). Shortly after 9/11, ETA confirmed their plan had been to blow down Torre Picasso December 24, 1999 (1999-12-24) (Friday) Indian Airlines Flight 814, which was en route from Kathmandu, Nepal to Delhi, India was hijacked and taken to Kandahar, Afghanistan December 29, 1999 (1999-12-29) (Wednesday) Former Beatle George Harrison is stabbed several times in the chest by Michael Anram, who had broken into his home. Harrison's wife wrestles the knife out the assailant's hand before the police arrives. The man apparently believed that Harrison was the devil. He was later charged with attempted murder December 30, 1999 (1999-12-30) (Thursday) Sarah Knauss dies at the age of 119. She was an American supercentenarian considered the "world's oldest person" by Guinness World Records from April 16, 1998 until her death at age 119. Bosnian authorities declare the northeast towns of Bosnia and Herzegovina a disaster zone due to severe flooding caused by melting snow. (BBC) December 31, 1999 (1999-12-31) (Friday) Boris Yeltsin resigns as President of Russia, to be replaced by Vladimir Putin. Five hijackers, who had been holding 155 hostages on an Indian Airlines Flight 814 aeroplane, leave the aircraft with two Islamic clerics that they had demanded be freed. Popular Culture started celebrating the new Millennium and Century celebrations worldwide. It was also the last day of the 1990s decade. HM Queen Elizabeth II opens the Millennium Dome at Greenwich, London. Concerns of serious Y2K problems with computer systems. The Panama Canal Authority took over the administration of the Panama Canal as per the Torrijos–Carter Treaties. Sony removes support of all games on their PlayStation video game console.

December 1999 S M T W T F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Deaths 31: Richard "Hock" Walsh