Tukuk-OS📅 December 31
18 events · 12 births · 12 deaths
Advertisement
What happened on December 31? Below are the notable events chosen by Wikipedia’s editors for this date, followed by celebrated births, deaths and the observances recognised around the world.
Events
- 2006 — War in Somalia: Transitional Federal Government forces attacked the last stronghold of the Islamic Courts Union in the town of Jilib.
War in Somalia (2006–2009)Transitional Federal Government of SomaliaBattle of Jilib
- 2004 — Taipei 101 (pictured) in Taipei, Taiwan, opened to the public as the world's tallest building.
- 1999 — Russian prime minister Vladimir Putin became acting president upon President Boris Yeltsin's unexpected resignation.
- 1999 — In accordance with the Torrijos–Carter Treaties, Panama assumed full control of the Panama Canal Zone from the United States.
- 1998 — The European Exchange Rate Mechanism froze the exchange rates of the legacy currencies in the eurozone, establishing the value of the euro.
- 1993 — Brandon Teena, an American trans man, was raped and murdered in Humboldt, Nebraska; his death led to increased lobbying for hate crime laws in the United States.
- 1986 — Three disgruntled employees set fire to the Dupont Plaza Hotel in San Juan, Puerto Rico, killing more than 90 people and injuring 140 others, making it the second-deadliest hotel fire in American history.
Dupont Plaza Hotel arsonSan Juan, Puerto RicoList of hotel fires in the United States
- 1983 — Two Australian biologists published an article titled "A Synopsis of the Class Reptilia in Australia", initiating the Wells and Wellington affair.
- 1972 — Puerto Rican baseball player Roberto Clemente (pictured) died in a plane crash en route to deliver aid to victims of that year's Nicaragua earthquake.
Roberto Clemente1972 Puerto Rico DC-7 crash1972 Nicaragua earthquake
- 1965 — Central African military officers led by Jean-Bédel Bokassa began a coup d'état against the government of President David Dacko.
- 1961 — RTÉ, Ireland's first television network, began broadcasting.
- 1950 — Korean War: North Korean troops attacked United Nations forces in the first of two battles at Wonju.
Korean WarUnited Nations CommandFirst and second battles of Wonju
- 1909 — The Manhattan Bridge, connecting Lower Manhattan to Downtown Brooklyn and considered to be the forerunner of modern suspension bridges, opened to traffic.
- 1907 — New York City held its first annual ball drop event in Times Square as part of New Year's Eve celebrations.
- 1862 — The Battle of Stones River in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, began with an engagement in which both sides would suffer their highest casualty rates in the American Civil War.
Battle of Stones RiverMurfreesboro, TennesseeAmerican Civil War
- 1857 — Queen Victoria announced the choice of Ottawa , then a small logging town, to be the capital of the British colony of Canada.
- 1775 — American Revolutionary War: At the Battle of Quebec, British forces repulsed an attempt by the Continental Army to capture Quebec City and enlist French Canadian support.
American Revolutionary WarBattle of Quebec (1775)Continental Army
- 1759 — Arthur Guinness signed a 9,000-year lease at £45 per annum to the St. James's Gate Brewery in Dublin and began brewing Guinness.
Births
- 2002 — Ryan Flamingo, Dutch footballer
- 2002 — Sophia Laforteza, Filipino-American singer
- 2002 — Joe Scally, American soccer player
- 2001 — Katie Volynets, American tennis player
- 2000 — Alycia Parks, American tennis player
- 1999 — Calvin Bassey, Italian-Nigerian footballer
- 1999 — Leif Davis, English footballer
- 1997 — Ludovic Blas, French footballer
- 1997 — Cameron Carter-Vickers, English-American soccer player
- 1997 — Bright Osayi-Samuel, Nigerian footballer
- 1996 — J. J. Arcega-Whiteside, Spanish-American football player
- 1995 — Gabby Douglas, American gymnast
Deaths
- 2024 — Arnold Rüütel, Estonian politician, 3rd President of Estonia (born 1928)
- 2024 — Johnnie Walker, British radio DJ (born 1945)
- 2023 — Cale Yarborough, American Hall of Fame racing driver and founder of Cale Yarborough Motorsports, NASCAR Cup Series champion (1976, 1977, 1978) (born 1939)
Cale YarboroughInternational Motorsports Hall of FameCale Yarborough Motorsports
- 2022 — Pope Benedict XVI, German Roman Catholic cardinal and theologian, pope (2005–2013) and archbishop of Munich and Freising (1977–1982) (born 1927)
- 2022 — Barry Lane, English golfer (born 1960)
- 2021 — Betty White, American actress, comedian and producer (born 1922)
- 2018 — Kader Khan, Indian actor (born 1937)
- 2016 — William Christopher, American actor (born 1932)
- 2015 — Natalie Cole, American singer-songwriter and actress (born 1950)
- 2015 — Wayne Rogers, American actor and investor (born 1933)
- 2014 — Edward Herrmann, American actor (born 1943)
- 2014 — Abdullah Hussain, Malaysian author (born 1920)
Observances & holidays
- Christian feast day: Pope Sylvester I (Catholic Church)
- Christian feast day: December 31 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)
- International Solidarity Day of Azerbaijanis (Azerbaijan)
- New Year's Eve (International observance), and its related observances: First Night (United States)
- New Year's Eve (International observance), and its related observances: Last Day of the Year or Bisperás ng Bagong Taón, special holiday between Rizal Day and New Year's Day (Philippines)
- New Year's Eve (International observance), and its related observances: Novy God Eve (Russia)
- New Year's Eve (International observance), and its related observances: Ōmisoka (Japan)
- New Year's Eve (International observance), and its related observances: The first day of Hogmanay or "Auld Year's Night" (Scotland)
- The seventh of the Twelve Days of Christmas (Western Christianity)
- The sixth and penultimate day of Kwanzaa (United States)
Advertisement
Advertisement