Major Events of December 2014: 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 2014 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.
Major Events of December 2014: Key Historical Moments from the Month
- 01 Dec 2014 Donald Tusk, former prime minister of Poland, becomes the second permanent President of the European Union.
- 02 Dec 2014 Sony Pictures Entertainment Cyber Attack: The FBI launched an investigation into massive hacking attacks on Sony Pictures, with initial suspicions pointing to North Korean involvement, marking a significant moment in international cyber warfare.
- 03 Dec 2014 NATO Foreign Ministers Discuss Ukraine and ISIS: NATO members' foreign ministers convene in Belgium for a critical summit addressing the 2014 pro-Russian unrest in Ukraine and the escalating Islamic State insurgency in Iraq and the Levant.
- 04 Dec 2014 Eric Garner Protests in New York City: Widespread protests erupted in New York City after a grand jury decided not to indict any police officers involved in the death of Eric Garner, sparking national discussions about police accountability and racial justice.
- 05 Dec 2014 NASA's Orion Spacecraft First Flight Test: NASA successfully conducted the Exploration Flight Test-1 (EFT-1), launching the Orion spacecraft, marking a significant milestone in space exploration and potential future deep space missions.
- 06 Dec 2014 Ferguson Protests Continue: Demonstrations over the deaths of Michael Brown and Eric Garner continued in multiple major U.S. cities, including New York, Boston, Chicago, and Washington, D.C., with protesters staging 'die-ins'.
- 07 Dec 2014 Saudi Arabia Arrests 135 Suspected Terrorists: Saudi Interior Ministry arrested 135 individuals on terrorist offenses, with many suspected of having connections to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).
- 08 Dec 2014 U.S. Concludes Combat Mission in Afghanistan: The United States and NATO formally conclude their combat mission in Afghanistan, marking the end of a prolonged military engagement, with a ceremonial flag-lowering at the International Security Assistance Force Joint Command.
- 09 Dec 2014 CIA Torture Report Released: The Democrat-controlled Senate Intelligence Committee released a critical report on Bush-era CIA interrogation methods, prompting the Obama Administration to place US embassies worldwide on high alert.
- 10 Dec 2014 Human Rights Day and Nobel Peace Prize Ceremony: On Human Rights Day, Amnesty International highlighted ongoing torture issues globally. Malala Yousafzai and Kailash Satyarthi received their Nobel Peace Prizes in Oslo for their work in children's rights. Former Polish President Aleksander Kwasniewski also admitted authorizing a CIA interrogation site.
- 11 Dec 2014 Global Jihadist Attack Mortality Report: A joint study by King's College London and BBC World Service revealed that jihadist attacks in November 2014 resulted in over 5,000 deaths, underscoring the global scale of terrorist violence.
- 12 Dec 2014 Sony Pictures Entertainment Hack Disrupts Production: Following a massive computer hack, Sony Pictures Entertainment was forced to shut down production on several sets due to computer network problems affecting employee pay disbursement.
- 13 Dec 2014 Civil Rights Protest in Washington D.C.: Thousands of protesters marched in Washington, D.C., demanding an end to police brutality and racial injustice following recent killings of unarmed black men by police officers, highlighting ongoing civil rights tensions in the United States.
- 14 Dec 2014 Hong Kong Protests Conclude: After ten weeks of sustained demonstrations, police cleared the main protest area in Hong Kong. The protests, considered the largest since the 1989 Tiananmen Square demonstrations, challenged the Chinese government without securing significant concessions.
- 15 Dec 2014 2014 Sydney Hostage Crisis: Gunman Man Haron Monis took 18 hostages inside the Lindt Chocolate Cafe in Martin Place, Sydney, holding them for 16 hours. The crisis ended tragically when police raided the cafe, resulting in the death of Monis and two hostages.
- 16 Dec 2014 Peshawar School Massacre: On December 16, 2014, Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan militants launched a horrific attack on the Army Public School in Peshawar, Pakistan. The terrorist assault resulted in the tragic deaths of 150 people, with 132 of the victims being innocent schoolchildren. The attack was one of the deadliest terrorist incidents in Pakistan's history, shocking the nation and the international community.
- 17 Dec 2014 US-Cuba Diplomatic Relations Restored: After a 55-year diplomatic freeze, the United States and Cuba officially re-established diplomatic relations. This historic reconciliation marks the end of Cold War tensions, with plans to open a new American Embassy in Havana and begin negotiations to lift the long-standing economic embargo.
- 18 Dec 2014 EU Sanctions Against Crimea: The European Union imposed comprehensive sanctions against Russia-occupied Crimea, including prohibitions on investments, tourism, and oil exploration activities, in response to the 2014 pro-Russian unrests in Ukraine.
- 19 Dec 2014 US Sanctions on Crimea: President Barack Obama imposed additional economic sanctions against Russian-controlled Crimea through an executive order, prohibiting the export of US goods and services to the region.
- 20 Dec 2014 NYPD Officers Murdered in Brooklyn: Ismaaiyl Brinsley killed two New York Police Department officers, Wenjian Liu and Rafael Ramos, in an execution-style shooting in Brooklyn. The incident was allegedly motivated by revenge for the deaths of Eric Garner and Michael Brown. Brinsley subsequently committed suicide in a subway station.
- 21 Dec 2014 Tunisia Elects Secularist President: Beji Caid Essebsi of the Nidaa Tounes Party won Tunisia's presidential election, representing a significant moment in the country's post-Arab Spring democratic transition.
- 22 Dec 2014 2014 Peshawar School Massacre: A devastating terrorist attack occurred at the Army Public School in Peshawar, North-West Pakistan, resulting in the tragic deaths of 151 people, predominantly innocent schoolchildren. This horrific event shocked the world and marked a significant moment in Pakistan's fight against terrorism.
- 23 Dec 2014 Ukraine's NATO Accession Potential: The Ukrainian Parliament voted to remove restrictions on military alliances, paving the way for potential NATO membership and signaling a significant geopolitical shift in response to regional tensions.
- 24 Dec 2014 Royal Jordanian Air Force Warplane Incident: A Royal Jordanian Air Force warplane was shot down near Ar-Raqqah in northern Syria, with its pilot captured by Islamic State militants, demonstrating the intense conflict in the Syrian theater.
- 25 Dec 2014 Protests Over Police Killing: Demonstrations continued in the United States following the police killing of an armed black man, reflecting ongoing tensions around racial justice and law enforcement.
- 26 Dec 2014 Indian Ocean Tsunami Commemoration: Countries around the Indian Ocean solemnly commemorated the tenth anniversary of the devastating 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami and earthquake, remembering the massive loss of life and reflecting on disaster preparedness.
- 27 Dec 2014 Japan Launches Economic Stimulus Package: Japan approved a $29 million fiscal stimulus package aimed at economic recovery. The funds were designated to support small businesses, stimulate local economic activity, and strengthen areas impacted by natural disasters.
- 28 Dec 2014 AirAsia Flight 8501 Tragic Crash: Indonesia AirAsia Flight 8501 crashes into the Karimata Strait while en route from Surabaya to Singapore during severe thunderstorm conditions, resulting in the tragic loss of all 162 passengers and crew members.
- 29 Dec 2014 Guinea Declared Ebola-Free: The World Health Organization officially declares Guinea free of Ebola, marking the end of a devastating outbreak that began approximately two years earlier in western Africa.
- 30 Dec 2014 Iraqi Insurgency: Dhuluiya Recaptured: Iraqi government forces and allied Shia militia successfully retook the town of Dhuluiya in Saladin Province, north of Baghdad, from the Islamic State of Iraq.
- 31 Dec 2014 Italian Coast Guard Rescues Refugees: The Italian coast guard successfully boarded and regained control of a cargo ship abandoned by human traffickers, rescuing nearly 1,000 people, mostly Syrian refugees, highlighting the ongoing refugee crisis.