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Major Events of December 2018: 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 2018 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.

history

Major Events of December 2018: Key Historical Moments from the Month

  • 01 Dec 2018 Death of President George H.W. Bush: Former U.S. President George H.W. Bush passed away after a long battle with Parkinson's disease, prompting national mourning and tributes from political leaders.
  • 02 Dec 2018 US-China Trade War Truce: At the G-20 meeting in Argentina, U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed to a temporary truce in their ongoing trade war.
  • 03 Dec 2018 George H. W. Bush State Funeral Preparations: Former U.S. President George H. W. Bush's body was transported via Special Air Mission from Houston to Washington, DC, landing at Joint Base Andrews. In honor of the late president, the United States Postal Service announced the suspension of mail deliveries, retail services, and administrative activities on December 5, as part of President Trump's declared national day of mourning.
  • 04 Dec 2018 UK Parliament Finds Government in Contempt over Brexit: In an unprecedented move, the UK House of Commons found the government in contempt of Parliament by a vote of 311 to 293, triggered by Prime Minister Theresa May's refusal to publish complete legal advice regarding the Brexit withdrawal plan.
  • 05 Dec 2018 George H. W. Bush State Funeral at National Cathedral: The state funeral for former President George H. W. Bush was held at the National Cathedral, attended by multiple former US presidents, international leaders including Angela Merkel and Prince Charles, marking a significant moment of national mourning.
  • 06 Dec 2018 French Yellow Vests Movement Escalates: The French police union Vigi called for an indefinite strike starting December 8, supporting anti-government protesters. Major landmarks like the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre were expected to close amid anticipated widespread demonstrations.
  • 07 Dec 2018 Charlottesville Car Attack Verdict: James Alex Fields was found guilty of first-degree murder for killing Heather Heyer during a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia in 2017.
  • 08 Dec 2018 French Protests Escalate: Massive protests erupted across France with approximately 125,000 demonstrators confronting 89,000 police officers. The protests resulted in 1,385 detentions, 135 injuries, and widespread use of pepper spray and tear gas.
  • 09 Dec 2018 Protests in Delhi for Hindi Temple Construction: Tens of thousands of protesters marched in Delhi, India, demanding the construction of a Hindi temple at a contentious religious site in Ayodhya.
  • 10 Dec 2018 Brexit Developments: The Court of Justice of the European Union ruled that an EU member state can unilaterally revoke Article 50. Simultaneously, Prime Minister Theresa May announced the postponement of the crucial Brexit withdrawal vote, signaling significant political uncertainty.
  • 11 Dec 2018 Arctic Experiencing Unprecedented Warmth: The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reported unprecedented Arctic warming directly linked to human-caused climate change.
  • 12 Dec 2018 Michael Cohen Sentenced to Prison for Illegal Payments: Michael Cohen, former personal lawyer to U.S. President Donald Trump, was sentenced to three years in prison for making illegal hush money payments to two women with whom Trump allegedly had affairs. He received a concurrent two-year sentence for making false statements to Congress regarding a potential Trump Tower sale in Russia.
  • 13 Dec 2018 UN-Brokered Ceasefire in Yemen: A significant diplomatic breakthrough occurred as the UN mediated a ceasefire in Al Hudaydah, Yemen. Both warring factions agreed to evacuate the port city within three weeks to facilitate humanitarian aid in the war-torn country.
  • 14 Dec 2018 Kosovo Votes to Create National Army: The Assembly of Kosovo voted to transform the Kosovo Security Force into a proper military, with eleven minority Serb deputies boycotting the vote. The United States supported the decision, while NATO and Serbia expressed disapproval.
  • 15 Dec 2018 UN Climate Change Conference Establishes Paris Agreement Rulebook: Representatives from 196 countries reached a landmark agreement on implementing and monitoring the Paris Climate Change Agreement, establishing comprehensive rules for global climate change mitigation efforts.
  • 16 Dec 2018 Sri Lankan Political Reinstatement: Ranil Wickremesinghe is sworn back into office two months after being removed by President Sirisena, highlighting political turbulence.
  • 17 Dec 2018 Poland Resolves Supreme Court Judge Dispute: Polish President Andrzej Duda signed a law reinstating Supreme Court judges who were previously forced to resign, effectively resolving a long-standing dispute with the European Union regarding judicial retirement ages.
  • 18 Dec 2018 U.S. Bans Bump Stocks: The U.S. Department of Justice issued a final regulation prohibiting bump stocks, semi-automatic rifle attachments that can increase firing rates to match automatic weapons. The ban, which became effective March 21, 2019, was largely influenced by the 2017 Las Vegas shooting, aiming to enhance public safety.
  • 19 Dec 2018 US Troop Withdrawal from Syria: The Pentagon officially began withdrawing U.S. military forces from Syria, marking a significant shift in American military strategy. A Pentagon spokesperson confirmed that coalition forces had successfully liberated territories previously held by the Islamic State (ISIL), though they emphasized that the military campaign against extremist groups is not yet fully complete.
  • 20 Dec 2018 After being on their way to the White House, Monica Carlson, Mayor of Skagway, Alaska, and her mother were struck by a bus in Washington, D.C.
  • 21 Dec 2018 James Mattis Resigns as Defense Secretary: Defense Secretary James Mattis announces his resignation, citing fundamental disagreements with President Trump's foreign policy, particularly regarding troop withdrawals and treatment of international allies.
  • 22 Dec 2018 Anak Krakatau Tsunami in Indonesia: A devastating tsunami triggered by the volcanic eruption of Anak Krakatau struck the coast of Indonesia's Sunda Strait, causing massive destruction and loss of life. The natural disaster resulted in at least 430 fatalities and nearly 1,000 injuries, highlighting the destructive power of volcanic activity and resulting tsunamis.
  • 23 Dec 2018 Mattis Resignation and US Government Partial Shutdown: In a significant political event, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis announced his resignation on December 21, 2018, citing disagreements with President Trump over troop withdrawal from Syria. President Trump subsequently announced that Mattis would be replaced by Patrick Shanahan on January 1, despite Mattis initially agreeing to work through February. Simultaneously, the US government entered a partial shutdown after Congress rejected President Trump's budget proposal for a border wall.
  • 24 Dec 2018 Sunda Strait Tsunami Devastates Indonesia: The Anak Krakatau volcano eruption triggered a devastating tsunami in the Sunda Strait, Indonesia. The disaster resulted in at least 429 deaths, 1,459 injuries, and 150 people missing, highlighting the destructive power of volcanic and seismic events.
  • 25 Dec 2018 Pope Francis's Compassionate Christmas Message: Pope Francis delivered a heartfelt Christmas message emphasizing global compassion, praying for protection of persecuted Christians, battered women, trafficked children, and calling for peace in conflict zones and dignity for refugees.
  • 26 Dec 2018 Martial Law Lifted in Ukraine: One month after an attack on three Ukrainian Navy vessels, martial law in Ukraine was lifted, signaling a potential de-escalation of tensions.
  • 27 Dec 2018 U.S. Government Shutdown Continues: The partial U.S. government shutdown entered its sixth day, with over 400,000 federal employees working without pay and 380,000 furloughed. President Trump remained firm in demanding $5 billion for border wall funding, indicating the shutdown could potentially extend into mid-January.
  • 28 Dec 2018 Leicester Shop Explosion Murder Conviction: Three men were convicted of murder for causing a fatal explosion in a Leicester shop in February 2018. The devastating blast killed five people and destroyed both the shop and the flat above it. The perpetrators were additionally found guilty of conspiring to commit insurance fraud with one of the victims.
  • 29 Dec 2018 Hodeida Port Control Dispute in Yemeni Civil War: In the ongoing Yemeni Civil War, Shiite rebels claimed to have transferred control of Hodeida port to local coast guard and officials, a claim immediately disputed by the Yemeni government.
  • 30 Dec 2018 2018 Bangladeshi General Elections: Bangladesh held parliamentary elections to select 299 members, marked by violent clashes that resulted in seventeen deaths. The Awami League, led by Sheikh Hasina, won the election, securing her third consecutive term as Prime Minister.
  • 31 Dec 2018 Bangladesh Election: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's ruling alliance secured a decisive victory in Bangladesh's national election, winning with a substantial majority and extending her leadership into a third term. The election was marred by violence, with at least 17 people losing their lives in election-related incidents.