Major Events of December 2019: 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 2019 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.

Major Events of December 2019: Key Historical Moments from the Month

01 Dec 2019 COVID-19 Outbreak Begins in Wuhan: The first documented outbreak of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) was identified in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, marking the beginning of a global pandemic that would dramatically reshape world health and society.
02 Dec 2019 Maltese Prime Minister Resigns Over Journalist Murder: Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat announced his resignation amid mounting pressure related to the unresolved 2017 car bombing that killed anti-corruption journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia. His departure highlighted the ongoing challenges of press freedom and political accountability.
03 Dec 2019 Trump Impeachment Inquiry Report Released: The U.S. House Intelligence Committee released a comprehensive 300-page report on the impeachment inquiry, asserting 'overwhelming' evidence of misconduct and obstruction of Congress by President Donald Trump. The report was subsequently forwarded to the House Judiciary Committee for further review.
04 Dec 2019 Deadly Refugee Boat Disaster off Mauritania Coast: A devastating maritime tragedy occurred near Nouadhibou, Mauritania, when a refugee boat capsized, resulting in one of the most significant maritime disasters of 2019. The vessel, which departed from The Gambia on November 27, 2019, and was en route to the Canary Islands, suffered a critical failure while attempting to obtain fuel and food. The incident claimed 58 lives and left numerous survivors in urgent need of medical treatment.
05 Dec 2019 Saudi Aramco's Record-Breaking IPO: Saudi state-owned oil company Saudi Aramco successfully completed its initial public offering (IPO), raising an unprecedented $25.6 billion. This landmark financial event positioned the company as the world's most valuable, with a market capitalization of $1.7 trillion, signaling a major milestone in global energy markets.
06 Dec 2019 Uneventful Day in Global History: On December 6, 2019, no significant global events were documented. While this might appear unremarkable, such days are a reminder that not every moment in history is marked by dramatic occurrences. Daily life continued across the world, with millions of people going about their routines, working, studying, and interacting in countless ordinary yet meaningful ways.
07 Dec 2019 Taliban-US Peace Negotiations Restart: The Taliban officially announced the resumption of peace negotiations with the United States, continuing discussions from where they were paused in September. This development signaled potential progress towards resolving long-standing conflicts in Afghanistan.
08 Dec 2019 First Confirmed COVID-19 Case in Wuhan, China: On December 8, 2019, the first confirmed case of the novel coronavirus (later named COVID-19) was reported in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China. This patient would later be identified as a potential early marker of the global pandemic that would dramatically reshape world health and society in the following months.
09 Dec 2019 Washington Post Reveals Afghanistan War Deception: The Washington Post published raw interviews and documents exposing how senior U.S. administration officials systematically misled the public about the true state of the War in Afghanistan, revealing a significant gap between official narratives and ground realities.
10 Dec 2019 Iranian Military Base Expansion in Syria: Satellite imagery revealed the construction of an extensive tunnel system at the Imam Ali military base in eastern Syria, controlled by Iranian forces. Western intelligence agencies believe these tunnels are being developed to store and potentially launch missiles, indicating ongoing Iranian military infrastructure development in the region.
11 Dec 2019 Earliest Known Figurative Artwork Discovered: Archaeologists reported the discovery of a 43,900-year-old figurative artwork in a cave in Sulawesi, Indonesia. The artwork features part-human and part-animal figures, providing unprecedented insights into early human artistic expression and symbolic thinking.
12 Dec 2019 Evo Morales Seeks Asylum in Argentina: Evo Morales, the former President of Bolivia who was forced to resign amid political unrest, was granted asylum in Argentina. This marked a significant moment in the political transition and regional diplomatic relations in South America.
13 Dec 2019 Trump Impeachment Proceedings Move Forward: On December 13, 2019, the House Judiciary Committee voted along party lines to advance two articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump. The committee's decision set the stage for a full House vote on December 18, marking a significant moment in U.S. political history.
14 Dec 2019 Joe Burrow Wins Heisman Trophy: Joe Burrow, quarterback for Louisiana State University, wins the 85th Heisman Trophy Award with an unprecedented 90.7% of first-place votes, setting a new record for the most dominant victory in the award's history.
15 Dec 2019 UN Climate Talks Conclude in Madrid: The longest United Nations climate conference in history concluded in Madrid with a compromise agreement primarily focused on carbon emissions. Other critical environmental targets were deferred for a year, reflecting the ongoing challenges in global climate negotiations and the complexity of achieving international environmental consensus.
16 Dec 2019 Mariah Carey's Christmas Hit Tops Charts After 25 Years: Mariah Carey's iconic holiday single 'All I Want for Christmas Is You' finally reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart on December 16, 2019, an impressive 25 years after its original release in 1994. This remarkable achievement highlights the song's enduring popularity and status as a modern Christmas classic, demonstrating its timeless appeal across multiple generations of music listeners.
17 Dec 2019 Australia Experiences Record-Breaking Extreme Heat: Australia recorded its hottest day ever, with an average national temperature of 40.9°C. The remote outback town of Oodnadatta experienced an extreme peak temperature of 47°C (116.6°F), underscoring the severe climate challenges facing the continent and providing stark evidence of escalating global warming trends.
18 Dec 2019 Impeachment of Donald Trump: On December 18, 2019, the United States House of Representatives voted largely along party lines to impeach President Donald Trump for two articles of impeachment: abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. This historic event made Trump the third American president to be impeached by the House, following Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton. The impeachment proceedings would subsequently move to the Senate for a final verdict on potential removal from office.
19 Dec 2019 Nationwide Protests Against Citizenship Amendment Act in India: Large-scale demonstrations erupted across India protesting the controversial Citizenship (Amendment) Act of 2019. The protests were marked by significant civil unrest, with arrests, internet shutdowns, and violent clashes in cities like Mangalore and Lucknow, resulting in three fatalities.
20 Dec 2019 ICC Launches Investigation into Palestinian Territories: International Criminal Court Chief Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda announced a full investigation into alleged war crimes in Palestinian territories, signaling a significant legal and diplomatic development in the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
21 Dec 2019 UK House of Commons Approves Brexit Bill: The United Kingdom's House of Commons decisively voted 358 to 234 in favor of Prime Minister Boris Johnson's Brexit legislation, representing a crucial milestone in Britain's planned departure from the European Union. This parliamentary vote signaled a clear path toward completing the complex Brexit process.
22 Dec 2019 Michael Thomas Sets NFL Single-Season Reception Record: In a remarkable performance during the 2019 NFL season, New Orleans Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas broke the long-standing record for most receptions in a single season. During a game against the Tennessee Titans, which the Saints won 38-28, Thomas secured his 144th catch, surpassing the previous record of 143 catches held by Marvin Harrison for 17 years. This achievement highlighted Thomas's exceptional skill, consistency, and importance to the Saints' offensive strategy.
23 Dec 2019 Hong Kong Protesters Plan Christmas Week Demonstrations: Pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong prepared for a series of demonstrations during Christmas week, following recent confrontations with local law enforcement. These planned rallies represented continued resistance against perceived governmental restrictions on civil liberties and democratic processes.
24 Dec 2019 Syrian Army Advances in Idlib Offensive: The Syrian Army continued its offensive in southern Idlib Governorate, advancing towards the rebel-held city of Ma'arrat al-Nu'man. The military operation resulted in the capture of several towns and villages, including Jarjnaz and Sarman, and triggered the displacement of approximately 30,000 civilians.
25 Dec 2019 Global Christmas Celebration: Christmas Day commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, a significant religious and cultural holiday celebrated worldwide. Historically traced back to 221 CE when Sextus Julius Africanus first identified December 25th as Jesus' birthdate, the holiday represents a pivotal moment in Christian tradition and has evolved into a global cultural phenomenon.
26 Dec 2019 Turkey Announces Military Support for Libya: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan officially announced a significant military intervention, declaring the deployment of Turkish troops to Libya. The troops were to support the internationally-recognized Government of National Accord in Tripoli, which had formally requested military assistance, marking a notable geopolitical development in the region.
27 Dec 2019 Tragic Bek Air Flight 2100 Crash in Kazakhstan: On December 27, 2019, Bek Air Flight 2100 experienced a catastrophic crash shortly after takeoff from Almaty International Airport in Kazakhstan. The aircraft failed to gain sufficient altitude and crashed, resulting in the tragic loss of 13 lives. The incident highlighted significant aviation safety concerns in the region and prompted immediate investigations into the cause of the crash.
28 Dec 2019 Terrorist Attack in Mogadishu: The terrorist group al-Shabaab conducted a devastating truck bombing in Mogadishu, Somalia, resulting in at least 84 fatalities and over 150 injuries, highlighting ongoing regional security challenges.
29 Dec 2019 J.K. Rowling Sparks Controversy with Maya Forstater Support: In late December 2019, renowned Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling became embroiled in a significant public controversy after publicly supporting Maya Forstater, a researcher who was dismissed from her position due to her statements about transgender identity. Forstater had expressed views that were considered transphobic by many, arguing that biological sex is immutable. Rowling's support of Forstater triggered widespread criticism from LGBTQ+ activists, fans, and social justice advocates, who accused her of promoting harmful rhetoric against transgender individuals. This incident marked a pivotal moment in Rowling's public persona, transforming her from a beloved children's author to a polarizing figure in discussions about gender identity and transgender rights.
30 Dec 2019 First Documented COVID-19 Case in Wuhan: The earliest traceable patient, a 55-year-old man, develops symptoms of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in Wuhan, China, marking the initial documented case of what would become a global pandemic.
31 Dec 2019 First Official Report of COVID-19 Outbreak: The World Health Organization (WHO) was officially informed of a cluster of pneumonia cases with an unknown cause in Wuhan, China. This initial report would later be recognized as the first documented evidence of the COVID-19 pandemic, which would dramatically reshape global health and society in the following months.