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Major Events of December 2002: Key Historical Moments from the Month

Each month is marked by defining moments that shape the course of history. Whether through political shifts, cultural movements, or world-changing events, these periods leave a lasting impression. Dive into the most important events from December 2002 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.

history

Major Events of December 2002: Key Historical Moments from the Month

  • 02 Dec 2002 Groundbreaking Medical Achievement: First Successful Craniopagus Twin Separation: In a landmark medical procedure, surgeons in Dallas, Texas successfully performed the first complete surgical separation of conjoined twins connected at the head (craniopagus twins). This complex operation represented a significant milestone in pediatric neurosurgery, demonstrating unprecedented surgical skill and medical innovation.
  • 03 Dec 2002 Terrorist Attack in Grozny, Chechnya: Chechen rebels conducted a devastating suicide attack by detonating two car bombs at the headquarters of Chechnya's Russian-backed government in Grozny. The attack resulted in the tragic loss of more than 80 lives, highlighting the ongoing conflict in the region.
  • 04 Dec 2002 Total Solar Eclipse of December 2002: A total solar eclipse occurred on December 4, 2002, spanning a path from Africa to Australia. This astronomical event featured a solar eclipse with a magnitude of 1.0244, visible from multiple continents and observable from space. During a total solar eclipse, the Moon completely covers the Sun's disk, temporarily casting a shadow on Earth and creating a rare celestial spectacle.
  • 05 Dec 2002 Burundi Peace Agreement: A significant peace milestone was achieved when President Pierre Buyoya and Pierre Nkurunziza, leader of the Hutu insurgent Forces for the Defense of Democracy (FDD), signed a ceasefire agreement in Arusha, Tanzania, aimed at ending a nine-year civil conflict.
  • 06 Dec 2002 Israeli Military Operation in Gaza Strip: Israeli troops, supported by tanks and helicopter gunships, launched an invasion of the Bureij refugee Camp in the Gaza Strip. The military operation resulted in a violent gunbattle that led to 10 reported deaths, according to Palestinian witnesses and medical personnel. This incident further escalated the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
  • 07 Dec 2002 Iraq Submits Controversial Weapons Declaration to UN: As required by a recently passed UN resolution, Iraq filed a comprehensive 12,000-page weapons declaration with the UN Security Council. Despite being intended as a complete disclosure, the document was deemed incomplete and unsatisfactory by Security Council members and weapons inspectors, heightening tensions in the lead-up to potential military intervention.
  • 08 Dec 2002 United Airlines Flight 553 Tragedy: United Airlines Flight 553, a Boeing 737, crashes after aborting its landing attempt at Chicago Midway International Airport, resulting in a fatal accident that claims 45 lives and raises questions about aviation safety protocols.
  • 09 Dec 2002 Jerusalem Captured During World War I: Field Marshal Allenby captured Jerusalem during World War I, a significant military and geopolitical moment with long-lasting implications for the region's history.
  • 10 Dec 2002 Breakthrough in Schizophrenia Prediction: A groundbreaking study led by University of Melbourne's Christos Pantelis suggested the potential use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to predict the onset of schizophrenia, offering hope for early intervention and preventative treatment of major psychotic episodes.
  • 11 Dec 2002 Ariane 5 ESC-A Rocket Launch Failure: The first flight of the Ariane 5 ESC-A variant experienced a catastrophic failure, crashing shortly after liftoff from the Kourou Space Center in French Guiana. This incident represented a significant setback for the European Space Agency's rocket program.
  • 12 Dec 2002 Batang Kali Massacre: Controversial War Crime Allegation: During the Malayan Emergency, members of the British Scots Guards were accused of committing a serious war crime. The alleged incident involved the killing of 24 unarmed civilians and burning down a village, raising significant questions about military conduct and potential human rights violations during colonial conflicts.
  • 13 Dec 2002 European Union Enlargement Announcement: The European Union officially announced a historic expansion, inviting ten Central and Eastern European countries to join the union on May 1, 2004. This landmark decision included Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia, marking a significant moment of post-Cold War integration.
  • 15 Dec 2002 The Capital Center, formerly the US Airways Arena, has been demolished.
  • 16 Dec 2002 Biljana Plavisic Pleads Guilty to Crimes Against Humanity: Former Bosnian Serb President Biljana Plavisic pleaded guilty to one count of crimes against humanity at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia in The Hague. Her plea acknowledged her role in the atrocities committed against Bosnian Muslims during the brutal 1992-1995 Bosnian War, marking a significant moment in international criminal justice.
  • 17 Dec 2002 Second Congo War Peace Accord: On December 17, 2002, a landmark peace agreement was signed by Congolese parties during the Inter Congolese Dialogue, marking a critical turning point in the devastating Second Congo War. The accord established a comprehensive roadmap for transitional governance and committed to holding legislative and presidential elections within two years, offering hope for democratic resolution after years of conflict.
  • 18 Dec 2002 Indian Court Sentences Men for Parliament Attack: Three Indian men were sentenced to death for their involvement in preparing the 2001 Indian Parliament terrorist attack, which resulted in nine fatalities and escalated tensions with Pakistan. Notably, capital punishment is rare in India.
  • 19 Dec 2002 Mother Teresa Beatification Process: Pope John Paul II authorizes the first miracle required for Mother Teresa's beatification, recognizing her extraordinary humanitarian work and dedication to serving the poorest of the poor.
  • 20 Dec 2002 Small Interfering RNAs Breakthrough: Science magazine highlighted the discovery and potential treatment applications of small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) as the top scientific story of the year, noting their promising potential in treating complex diseases like HIV and cancer.
  • 21 Dec 2002 Landmark DNA Exoneration Case: Larry Mayes was released from prison after serving 21 years for a rape he consistently maintained he did not commit. His case marked a significant milestone as the 100th instance of a wrongful conviction being overturned through DNA testing, highlighting the critical role of forensic science in the justice system.
  • 22 Dec 2002 North Korea Removes Nuclear Monitoring Devices: North Korea declared its intention to physically remove UN monitoring devices from the Yongbyon nuclear reactor, escalating international tensions. The country acknowledged its weapons of mass destruction program, claiming it was a response to perceived 'imperialist threats'.
  • 23 Dec 2002 First Human AIDS Vaccine Trial Completed: Scientists at VaxGen Inc. in California completed the first comprehensive human trial for an AIDS vaccine, a groundbreaking $200 million research effort spanning over a decade. The Food and Drug Administration granted the vaccine 'fast-track' status, potentially accelerating its path to public availability if proven effective.
  • 24 Dec 2002 Sun Microsystems Wins Antitrust Case Against Microsoft: A federal judge ruled in favor of Sun Microsystems, ordering Microsoft to distribute Sun's Java programming language within its Windows operating system, marking a significant moment in the tech industry's antitrust battles.
  • 25 Dec 2002 First Woman in NCAA Division 1 Football: Katie Hnida made groundbreaking history as the first female participant in an NCAA Division 1 football game while playing as a kicker for the University of New Mexico. During the Las Vegas Bowl match on December 25, 2002, she attempted a kick, marking a significant milestone for women in collegiate sports. Her participation challenged long-standing gender barriers in American football and represented a pivotal moment for gender equality in athletics.
  • 26 Dec 2002 North Korea Reactivates Nuclear Reactor: North Korea removes United Nations seals from a plutonium-producing nuclear power plant near Pyongyang, reactivating the facility. U.S. officials believe this reactor is capable of producing plutonium for two atomic bombs. The George W. Bush Administration has labeled North Korea as part of the 'axis of evil'.
  • 27 Dec 2002 North Korea Expels UN Weapons Inspectors: In a provocative move, North Korea expelled UN weapons inspectors and announced plans to reactivate its dormant nuclear fuel processing laboratory. This action heightened international tensions and raised serious concerns about the country's nuclear weapons program and potential proliferation risks.
  • 29 Dec 2002 Kenya's Historic Multi-Party Election: In a landmark democratic moment, Kenya's National Rainbow Coalition (NARC) won a decisive victory, ending 40 years of single-party rule and 24 years of Daniel arap Moi's presidency. Mwai Kibaki secured over 30% more votes than the ruling KANU candidate.
  • 30 Dec 2002 Global HIV Prevalence Report: The United Nations Population Division released a report estimating that approximately 40 million people worldwide were living with HIV, underscoring the global health challenge of the HIV/AIDS pandemic.
  • 31 Dec 2002 North Korea Expels Nuclear Inspectors: North Korea officially expelled United Nations nuclear inspectors, escalating international tensions surrounding its nuclear program and raising significant concerns about potential nuclear proliferation.