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Major Events of November 2012: 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 November 2012 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.

history

Major Events of November 2012: Key Historical Moments from the Month

  • 01 Nov 2012 Astronomical Discovery of First Stars: Astronomers made a groundbreaking discovery by detecting high-energy radiation suggesting the existence of the universe's first stars, potentially existing 500 million years before the traditionally understood 'big bang'.
  • 02 Nov 2012 US Job Market Report: The U.S. Department of Labor reported 171,000 new jobs in October, though the unemployment rate slightly increased to 7.9%, indicating a complex economic landscape.
  • 03 Nov 2012 Obama Briefed on Hurricane Sandy Response: President Obama convened an emergency briefing at the National Response Coordination Center at FEMA headquarters to receive critical updates on the ongoing response to Hurricane Sandy, a devastating storm affecting the northeastern United States.
  • 04 Nov 2012 Iran Opens Naval Base at Strait of Hormuz: Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps inaugurated a new naval base near Bandar Lengeh, strategically positioned at the critical Strait of Hormuz, a key maritime chokepoint.
  • 05 Nov 2012 Syrian Civil War: Major Suicide Bombing in Damascus: A significant suicide bombing attack targeted Syrian military forces in Damascus, resulting in 50 military personnel killed. This was reported as the most serious attack against Bashar al-Assad's regime during the ongoing civil war.
  • 06 Nov 2012 Barack Obama Re-elected as U.S. President: President Barack Obama secured a second term by defeating Republican nominee Mitt Romney in both the electoral college (303 to 206) and popular vote (50% to 48%). His victory was largely attributed to winning crucial battleground states including Colorado, Iowa, Ohio, New Hampshire, Virginia, and Wisconsin.
  • 07 Nov 2012 Barack Obama Re-elected as President: President Obama won re-election by securing crucial swing states, defeating Mitt Romney in a decisive victory that highlighted economic recovery and national unity.
  • 08 Nov 2012 18th Communist Party Congress Opens in Beijing: The 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China commenced in Beijing, marking a significant leadership transition where current Paramount Leader Hu Jintao was expected to step down, making way for Xi Jinping.
  • 09 Nov 2012 CIA Director David Petraeus Resigns: CIA Director David Petraeus submitted his resignation to President Barack Obama, citing an extramarital affair, which led to a significant leadership change in the intelligence community.
  • 10 Nov 2012 Barack Obama Wins 2012 US Presidential Election: President Barack Obama secured victory in the 2012 United States presidential election by winning Florida's 29 electoral votes, bringing his total to 332 electoral votes—well above the 270 required to win. Simultaneously, Democrat Jay Inslee won the Washington state governorship.
  • 11 Nov 2012 Syrian Opposition Forms Coalition Against Assad: Syrian opposition groups convened in Qatar and signed a landmark agreement to create a unified coalition aimed at challenging President Bashar al-Assad's regime, marking a significant moment in the Syrian Civil War's diplomatic landscape.
  • 12 Nov 2012 Syrian Civil War Border Incident: On November 12, 2012, a second mortar shell was fired from Syria into the Golan Heights, targeting an Israeli military post. This followed a similar incident the previous day. The Israel Defence Forces responded by firing tanks at the source of the bombardment, successfully striking Syrian Army artillery units.
  • 13 Nov 2012 Syrian Civil War Developments: In a significant escalation of the Syrian conflict, three Syrian tanks entered the Golan Heights demilitarized zone, prompting Israel to file a formal complaint with the United Nations. Simultaneously, France and six other countries recognized the National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces as the legitimate representative of the Syrian people.
  • 14 Nov 2012 Savita Halappanavar Death Sparks Abortion Rights Debate: A tragic incident at University College Hospital Galway highlighted Ireland's restrictive abortion laws, where a pregnant woman died from septicaemia after being denied an abortion, sparking international outrage and protests about reproductive rights.
  • 15 Nov 2012 Xi Jinping Becomes General Secretary of Chinese Communist Party: Xi Jinping assumes leadership of the Chinese Communist Party, becoming the General Secretary and inaugurating a new seven-member Politburo Standing Committee, marking a significant transition of power in China.
  • 16 Nov 2012 Gaza Conflict Escalates: A brief cease-fire between Israel and Hamas quickly collapsed after Palestinian militants fired rockets, prompting Israeli air force retaliation. Egyptian Prime Minister Hesham Kandil's mediation attempt was unsuccessful, and Israel began mobilizing 16,000 reserve troops near Gaza.
  • 17 Nov 2012 Tragic Train-School Bus Collision in Egypt: A devastating train accident occurred near Manfalut, approximately 350 kilometers south of Cairo, when a train struck a school bus carrying 60 children. The horrific crash resulted in the deaths of at least 50 children and their driver. In the aftermath, Mohamed Rashad Al Matini, the Egyptian Minister of Transport, resigned, taking responsibility for the tragic incident.
  • 18 Nov 2012 Israel-Gaza Conflict Escalates: Israeli military operations in Gaza resulted in at least 10 Palestinian casualties, with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) targeting over 80 sites, including weapon smuggling tunnels and rocket launch locations. The conflict raised international concerns about civilian casualties and the use of human shields.
  • 19 Nov 2012 Obama's Historic Visit to Burma: President Barack Obama becomes the first sitting US President to visit Burma, meeting with President Thein Sein and opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, signaling improved diplomatic relations.
  • 20 Nov 2012 Hillary Clinton's Middle East Peace Mission: Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is dispatched to Israel, the West Bank, and Egypt to mediate tensions between Israel and Hamas-led Gaza Strip, attempting to broker a ceasefire and prevent further escalation of conflict.
  • 21 Nov 2012 Israel-Hamas Ceasefire Announced: At 7:00 PM local time, a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas was jointly announced by Egyptian Foreign Minister Mohamed Kamel Amr and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, ending several days of intense conflict.
  • 22 Nov 2012 Tel Aviv Bus Bombing Suspects Arrested: Shin Bet and Israeli police apprehended several suspects allegedly affiliated with Islamic Jihad and Hamas in connection with a bus bombing in Tel Aviv. The suspects were accused of planting and remotely detonating an explosive device via a cell phone.
  • 23 Nov 2012 Political Unrest in Egypt: Significant political tensions erupted in Egypt after President Mohamed Morsi issued a controversial decree expanding his presidential powers. The move sparked widespread protests both for and against his decision, with violence reported across the country.
  • 24 Nov 2012 Egypt Political Crisis Escalates: Following President Mohamed Morsi's controversial decree expanding his presidential powers, Egypt's top judges accused him of an 'unprecedented assault' on the judiciary. Massive rallies erupted in Cairo's Tahrir Square, with supporters and critics engaging in heated political demonstrations.
  • 25 Nov 2012 Deadly Garment Factory Explosion in Dhaka: A catastrophic explosion at a garment factory in Dhaka, Bangladesh, resulted in a tragic loss of 112 lives, highlighting serious industrial safety concerns in the region.
  • 26 Nov 2012 Syrian Civil War: Cluster Bomb Tragedy in Deir al-Asafir: A Syrian government aircraft dropped a cluster bomb on a village playground in Deir al-Asafir, resulting in the deaths of 10 children and injuring 15 others. This horrific incident highlights the brutal nature of the ongoing Syrian Civil War and its devastating impact on innocent civilians, particularly children.
  • 27 Nov 2012 Anti-Morsi Protests in Egypt: Tens of thousands of protesters gathered in Cairo's Tahrir Square to demonstrate against President Mohamed Morsi's recent decree granting himself expansive powers, signaling significant political tension.
  • 28 Nov 2012 Egyptian Protests Against Morsi's Power Grab: Egyptian police fired tear gas at protesters in Cairo's Tahrir Square as demonstrations spread nationwide against President Mohamed Morsi's controversial decree expanding his presidential powers. Three people were killed and at least 100 injured during the protests.
  • 29 Nov 2012 UN Grants Palestine Observer State Status: In a landmark diplomatic moment, the United Nations General Assembly voted to elevate Palestine's status from an observer entity to an observer state, with 138 votes in favor, signaling significant international recognition.
  • 30 Nov 2012 Palestinians Gain UN Observer State Status: The United Nations General Assembly granted Palestinians 'non-member observer state' status, marking a significant diplomatic milestone. Thousands celebrated in Ramallah, with the upgrade enabling potential membership in international agencies like the International Criminal Court. The move was opposed by only nine UN members, including the US and Israel.