Major Events of December 2010: 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 2010 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.
Major Events of December 2010: Key Historical Moments from the Month
- 01 Dec 2010 Opposition Resigns from Egyptian Parliamentary Elections: After the ruling National Democratic Party won 97% of the seats, the opposition Muslim Brotherhood and Wafd parties resigned from the Egyptian parliamentary elections, signaling deep political tensions.
- 02 Dec 2010 WikiLeaks United States Diplomatic Cables Leak: WikiLeaks released a massive trove of confidential US diplomatic cables, revealing sensitive diplomatic communications and causing significant international diplomatic tension. The leak exposed numerous confidential discussions and diplomatic strategies of the United States government.
- 03 Dec 2010 United States Diplomatic Cables Leak: A massive leak of confidential U.S. diplomatic communications revealed sensitive information about international relations, diplomatic negotiations, and geopolitical insights through WikiLeaks.
- 04 Dec 2010 United States Diplomatic Cables Leak: A massive leak of confidential U.S. diplomatic cables by WikiLeaks, revealing sensitive diplomatic communications and international relations insights.
- 05 Dec 2010 United States Diplomatic Cables Leak: WikiLeaks releases a massive trove of confidential U.S. diplomatic cables, revealing sensitive diplomatic communications and causing significant international controversy.
- 06 Dec 2010 WikiLeaks Diplomatic Cables Leak: The United States diplomatic cables leak, orchestrated by WikiLeaks, revealed sensitive diplomatic communications that exposed global geopolitical tensions and diplomatic relationships.
- 07 Dec 2010 WikiLeaks Founder Julian Assange Arrested: Julian Assange, founder of WikiLeaks, was arrested in London amid escalating tensions over the organization's controversial document releases, sparking global debate about transparency and government secrecy.
- 08 Dec 2010 SpaceX First Private Spacecraft Launch and Recovery: SpaceX successfully launches, orbits, and recovers the Falcon 9 and Dragon spacecraft, marking a historic milestone for private space exploration.
- 09 Dec 2010 United States Diplomatic Cables Leak: A massive leak of confidential U.S. diplomatic communications by WikiLeaks, revealing sensitive diplomatic correspondence and geopolitical insights from around the world.
- 10 Dec 2010 United States Diplomatic Cables Leak: WikiLeaks releases sensitive US diplomatic cables, causing significant international diplomatic tension and revealing confidential government communications.
- 11 Dec 2010 United States Diplomatic Cables Leak: A massive leak of confidential U.S. diplomatic communications by WikiLeaks, revealing sensitive diplomatic correspondence and potentially compromising international relations.
- 12 Dec 2010 Julian Assange Legal Challenges: Julian Assange's lawyer warns that potential American spying charges are imminent, despite no clear criminal charges. Assange is reportedly being held in isolation with limited legal access.
- 13 Dec 2010 Bernie Sanders' Landmark Senate Speech on Tax Inequality: U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders delivers an extraordinary 8.5-hour speech denouncing tax cuts for the wealthy, highlighting growing income inequality and warning about the potential transformation of the United States into a 'banana republic'.
- 14 Dec 2010 As it announces that it will try to end the long-running communist rebellion within three years, the Philippine government also says that it will resume peace talks with rebels.
- 15 Dec 2010 Don't Ask Don't Tell Repeal: The United States House of Representatives voted to repeal the controversial 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' policy, which had previously prohibited openly gay individuals from serving in the military. This landmark decision represented a significant step towards LGBTQ+ rights and military inclusivity.
- 16 Dec 2010 Mohamed Bouazizi's Self-Immolation Sparks Tunisian Revolution: Mohamed Bouazizi's dramatic act of self-immolation in Tunisia triggered a significant political uprising known as the Tunisian Revolution, which subsequently catalyzed widespread protests across the Middle East during 2010-2011.
- 17 Dec 2010 Mohamed Bouazizi's Self-Immolation Sparks Arab Spring: Mohamed Bouazizi, a 26-year-old Tunisian street vendor, set himself on fire in a profound act of protest against government corruption, economic hardship, and police harassment. His desperate act became a pivotal moment in modern Middle Eastern history, catalyzing the Tunisian Revolution and subsequently inspiring widespread pro-democracy uprisings across the Arab world known as the Arab Spring.
- 18 Dec 2010 Tunisian Revolution Begins: Widespread protests against the Tunisian government erupted, marking the start of the 2010-2011 Arab Spring protests in the Middle East and North Africa. These demonstrations would ultimately lead to the overthrow of President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali and inspire similar movements across the region.
- 19 Dec 2010 WikiLeaks Founder Julian Assange Controversy: Julian Assange expressed anger over The Guardian publishing incriminating police documents about alleged sexual assault accusations from two Swedish women. The newspaper had also previously used Assange as a source for hundreds of leaked US Embassy cables.
- 20 Dec 2010 Taliban Suicide Attacks in Kabul: Two suicide attacks in Kabul result in the deaths of 13 Afghan soldiers, demonstrating the ongoing insurgency and security challenges in Afghanistan.
- 21 Dec 2010 2010 United States Census Results: The US Census Bureau released initial 2010 Census data, revealing a total population of 308,745,538 as of April 1, 2010. Nevada remained the fastest-growing state, while Michigan was the only state to lose population.
- 22 Dec 2010 Repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell Policy: President Barack Obama signed the Don't Ask and Don't Tell Repeal Act 2010 into law, ending a 17-year policy that discriminated against openly gay personnel in the United States military. This historic legislation effectively terminated the practice that had resulted in the firing of more than 13,000 Americans based on their sexual orientation.
- 23 Dec 2010 Greek Parliament Approves Austerity Measures: The Greek Parliament passed drastic budget cuts amid significant public dissent and protests, reflecting the ongoing economic challenges and social tensions in the country during the European debt crisis.
- 24 Dec 2010 UN Intervention in Cote d'Ivoire Political Crisis: The United Nations General Assembly unanimously appointed Alassane Ouattara, the opposition candidate, as President of Cote d'Ivoire, signaling international support for a peaceful political transition.
- 25 Dec 2010 Vietnam's Economic Challenges: Credit rating agencies downgrade Vietnam's economic standing due to rising inflation, trade deficit, and the default of state-owned shipbuilder Vinashin on an international loan
- 26 Dec 2010 United States Diplomatic Cables Leak: WikiLeaks releases confidential US diplomatic cables, revealing sensitive diplomatic communications and causing significant international diplomatic tensions.
- 27 Dec 2010 Ivory Coast Political Crisis Escalates: Alassane Ouattara, the internationally recognized winner of the Ivorian presidential election, called for a general strike to pressure Laurent Gbagbo to relinquish power amid a contentious political standoff.
- 28 Dec 2010 Tunisian Protests Escalate: Tunisian President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali addressed nationwide protests over unemployment and living standards, warning of 'firm punishment' during a national television broadcast, marking a critical moment in the Arab Spring.
- 29 Dec 2010 Tunisian Protests Escalate: Tunisian President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali threatens 'firm' punishment against protesters demonstrating against unemployment and poor living conditions, signaling rising social tensions.
- 30 Dec 2010 China's Internet Population Milestone: China's internet population reaches 450 million users, signaling massive digital growth.
- 31 Dec 2010 Tunisian Protester Dies During Demonstrations: A Tunisian protester succumbed to injuries sustained during demonstrations against poor living conditions and high unemployment, which would later become part of the broader Arab Spring movement.