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Major Events of December 2017: 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 2017 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.

history

Major Events of December 2017: Key Historical Moments from the Month

  • 01 Dec 2017 Michael Flynn Pleads Guilty in Russia Investigation: Michael Flynn, former U.S. National Security Advisor to President Donald Trump, pleaded guilty to making a false statement to the FBI regarding his contacts with Russian officials. Flynn agreed to cooperate with Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation, signaling a potentially significant development in the probe into Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.
  • 02 Dec 2017 Voyager 1 Reactivates Backup Thrusters: NASA successfully fired Voyager 1's backup maneuvering thrusters after 37 years of inactivity, ensuring the spacecraft can maintain its communication antenna's orientation towards Earth and continue its historic interstellar mission.
  • 03 Dec 2017 Xi Jinping's Communist Party Dialogue: Xi Jinping concluded a significant two-day dialogue with 120 party leaders, announcing an ambitious international exchange program involving 15,000 foreign leader visits over the next five years.
  • 04 Dec 2017 Ali Abdullah Saleh Killed in Yemen: Former Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh was killed by Houthi forces during a roadside attack just outside Sana'a, escalating tensions in the ongoing Yemeni Civil War and Saudi Arabian-led intervention.
  • 05 Dec 2017 Diplomatic Tensions Over Jerusalem Embassy Move: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned U.S. President Donald Trump that Turkey could cut diplomatic ties with Israel if the United States unilaterally recognizes Jerusalem as Israel's capital, highlighting the complex geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.
  • 06 Dec 2017 US Recognizes Jerusalem as Israel's Capital: President Donald Trump officially announced the recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, a controversial decision that significantly impacted Middle Eastern geopolitics and sparked international debate.
  • 07 Dec 2017 National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day: President Donald J. Trump proclaimed December 7, 2017, as National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, honoring the 76th anniversary of the 1941 attack that claimed over 2,400 American lives and propelled the United States into World War II.
  • 08 Dec 2017 Brexit First Stage Agreement: The European Union and the United Kingdom reached a landmark agreement on the first stage of Brexit negotiations, critically addressing the complex issue of Ireland's border status.
  • 09 Dec 2017 Iraq Declares Victory Over Islamic State: Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi officially declares victory over the Islamic State, ending more than three years of intense conflict and marking a significant turning point in the region's stability.
  • 10 Dec 2017 ISIL Defeated in Iraq: The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) has been comprehensively defeated in Iraq, marking a significant milestone in the fight against the terrorist organization.
  • 11 Dec 2017 Trump's Space Policy Directive: President Donald Trump signed the "Space Policy Directive 1", establishing a foundation for future crewed missions to the Moon and maintaining NASA's long-term goal of landing humans on Mars.
  • 12 Dec 2017 Arctic Climate Change Report: The Arctic Report Card reveals dramatic changes, showing the largest drop in Arctic sea ice extent and ocean surface temperature in over 1,500 years, highlighting critical climate change impacts.
  • 13 Dec 2017 Theresa May Suffers Parliamentary Defeat on Brexit: UK Prime Minister Theresa May was defeated 309-305 in the House of Commons. MPs from both major parties approved an amendment to the Brexit bill that would require a preliminary parliamentary vote on the final deal.
  • 14 Dec 2017 Disney Acquires 21st Century Fox: The Walt Disney Company announced a landmark acquisition of 21st Century Fox, including the 20th Century Fox movie studio, for $52.4 billion. This massive media merger would significantly reshape the entertainment industry by consolidating two major entertainment conglomerates.
  • 15 Dec 2017 Australian Child Sexual Abuse Report: A comprehensive 17-volume report was published, concluding a five-year Royal Commission inquiry into child sexual abuse in Australian institutions. The report revealed systemic, widespread abuse, presenting 189 new recommendations (totaling 406) to address the pervasive issue.
  • 16 Dec 2017 US Government UFO Investigation Program Revealed: The Advanced Aviation Threat Identification Program (AATIP) was disclosed, revealing that the United States government had been investigating reports of unidentified flying objects (UFOs).
  • 17 Dec 2017 Jerusalem Embassy Controversy: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan pledged to open an embassy in East Jerusalem for Palestine, while 80,000 Muslims protested in Jakarta against the U.S. recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital.
  • 18 Dec 2017 Oldest Evidence of Life Discovered: Researchers from UCLA and University of Wisconsin-Madison reported finding microscopic fossils in Western Australia nearly 3.5 billion years old, representing the oldest and most direct evidence of life ever discovered.
  • 19 Dec 2017 International Pressure on North Korea: Canada and the United States announced the formation of an 18-member international group aimed at applying diplomatic pressure on North Korea regarding its nuclear program. The inaugural meeting was scheduled for January 16, 2018, in Vancouver.
  • 20 Dec 2017 United States Passes Tax Cuts and Jobs Act: The United States Senate and House of Representatives passed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, a significant tax reform legislation that was set to be signed by President Donald Trump. The act notably included the repeal of Obamacare's individual insurance mandate.
  • 21 Dec 2017 UN Resolution on Jerusalem: The United Nations General Assembly passed a non-binding resolution demanding the United States retract its recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital. The vote was 128 in favor, 9 against, with 35 abstentions, reflecting global diplomatic tensions over the status of Jerusalem.
  • 22 Dec 2017 UN Security Council Resolution Against North Korea: The United Nations Security Council unanimously approved Resolution 2397, imposing strict sanctions on North Korea to curb its nuclear and missile programs. The resolution significantly limits North Korea's oil imports and requires the repatriation of North Korean workers abroad.
  • 23 Dec 2017 Declassified Tiananmen Square Documents: Previously classified documents from the UK's Ambassador to China were released, revealing a potential death toll of 10,000 during the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests, providing new historical insights into this significant political event.
  • 24 Dec 2017 North Korea Condemns UN Sanctions: North Korea's foreign ministry officially denounced the United Nations' latest sanctions, characterizing them as an 'act of war' and a complete economic blockade, escalating tensions in international diplomacy.
  • 25 Dec 2017 Navalny Barred from Russian Presidential Election: The Russian Central Election Commission refused to register opposition leader Alexei Navalny in the 2018 presidential election, citing a previous embezzlement case. Navalny claimed the decision was politically motivated and called for a boycott of the election.
  • 26 Dec 2017 George Weah Elected President of Liberia: In a historic run-off election, former footballer George Weah was elected President of Liberia, winning 60% of the vote against incumbent vice-president Joseph Boakai, marking a significant transition in Liberian politics.
  • 27 Dec 2017 Saint Petersburg Supermarket Bombing: A terrorist attack occurred at the Perekrestok supermarket in Saint Petersburg, where a bomb explosion injured at least 10 people. ISIL-linked social media accounts claimed responsibility for the attack, which was immediately investigated by police as a terrorist incident.
  • 28 Dec 2017 George Weah Wins Liberian Presidential Election: In a decisive victory, former professional footballer George Weah was elected President of Liberia, defeating incumbent vice president Joseph Boakai with 61.5% of the votes in the runoff election.
  • 29 Dec 2017 2017 Iranian Protests: Anti-government protests continued for the second consecutive day, spreading across multiple cities in Iran. These demonstrations represented a significant moment of public dissent against the Iranian government, reflecting growing social and political tensions within the country.
  • 30 Dec 2017 Widespread Anti-Government Protests in Iran: Large-scale anti-government protests erupted across Iran, with demonstrations ranging from dozens to thousands of participants. Protesters voiced concerns about government corruption, rising prices, and declining living standards. While pro-government rallies were organized, international leaders like President Trump urged Tehran to respect citizens' rights.
  • 31 Dec 2017 UN Secretary General's Global Warning: UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres issued a critical 'red alert', warning about escalating global challenges including increasing conflicts, nuclear weapon concerns, growing inequality, rising nationalism, and xenophobia. He urged global unity to address these mounting international tensions.