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Major Events of December 2022: 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 2022 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.

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Major Events of December 2022: Key Historical Moments from the Month

  • 01 Dec 2022 U.S. Supports Ukraine with Air Defense Systems: The United States signed a new contract with Raytheon Missiles and Defense to send six air defense missile systems to Ukraine, further supporting the country's defense against Russian invasion.
  • 02 Dec 2022 Biden Hosts French President Macron in First State Visit: President Biden welcomed French President Emmanuel Macron to the White House for the administration's inaugural state visit, engaging in discussions about economic policy and coordinating international pressure on Russia regarding the Ukraine conflict.
  • 03 Dec 2022 Letter Bomb Attacks in Spain: A series of coordinated letter bomb attacks targeted high-profile Spanish government locations, including Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez's office, the Ministry of Defence, and the Torrejón Air Base. A sixth letter bomb was intercepted at the U.S. Embassy in Madrid, raising significant security concerns.
  • 04 Dec 2022 Iranian Protesters Call for Three-Day Strike: Iranian protesters organized a planned three-day strike in anticipation of President Ebrahim Raisi's visit to Tehran, continuing the widespread demonstrations that had been challenging the Iranian government's policies and demanding significant social and political reforms.
  • 05 Dec 2022 World's Largest Radio Telescope Construction Begins: Construction commenced on the Square Kilometre Array (SKA), the world's most extensive radio telescope, spanning sites in South Africa and Australia. With a massive collection area of nearly 500,000 square meters, the telescope aims to test Einstein's theories and potentially detect signs of extraterrestrial life.
  • 06 Dec 2022 Trump Organization Convicted of Tax Fraud: In a significant legal development, the Trump Organization was found guilty of tax fraud by a New York jury. The verdict marked a major legal setback for former President Donald Trump's business empire, highlighting systematic financial misconduct within the organization's corporate structure.
  • 07 Dec 2022 Drone Strikes Target Russian Military Sites: Unattributed drone attacks struck military targets inside Russia, located several hundred miles from the Ukrainian border, for a second consecutive day, with Ukraine maintaining strategic ambiguity about its involvement.
  • 08 Dec 2022 Trevor Noah Concludes Tenure at 'The Daily Show': Trevor Noah hosted his final episode of 'The Daily Show', marking the end of his seven-year run as host of the popular satirical news program. During his tenure, Noah became known for his sharp political commentary, witty humor, and insightful perspectives on current events, following in the footsteps of predecessor Jon Stewart. His departure represented a significant moment in late-night television, as he had been a prominent voice in political satire and comedy news.
  • 09 Dec 2022 Russo-Ukrainian War: Nuclear Plant Staff Abduction and Bakhmut Conflict: On December 9, 2022, two significant events occurred in the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian War. Russian soldiers allegedly abducted and beat two senior staff members from the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, raising international concerns about the safety of critical infrastructure. Simultaneously, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Russia of systematically destroying the front-line city of Bakhmut after weeks of intense shelling.
  • 10 Dec 2022 Russian Forces Devastate Bakhmut in Ukraine: Russian military forces have reportedly 'destroyed' the strategic eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut, according to President Volodymyr Zelensky. The ongoing assault is part of a broader campaign of missile and rocket attacks across multiple Ukrainian regions, intensifying the conflict.
  • 11 Dec 2022 Afghanistan-Pakistan Border Conflict: On December 11, 2022, a violent border skirmish erupted between Taliban forces and Pakistani soldiers near the Chaman border crossing. The dispute originated from disagreements over new checkpoint construction. The confrontation resulted in six Pakistani civilians and one Taliban fighter killed, with additional casualties including seventeen Pakistani civilians, ten Taliban fighters, and three Afghan civilians injured.
  • 12 Dec 2022 Putin Hints at Potential Nuclear Doctrine Change: Russian President Vladimir Putin raised global tensions by suggesting Russia might modify its nuclear doctrine to allow for a preemptive first strike, citing U.S. policy as justification and potentially escalating international nuclear rhetoric.
  • 13 Dec 2022 First US Presidential European Visit: President Woodrow Wilson made history by becoming the first sitting US President to visit European countries, arriving in France to participate in the pivotal Versailles Conference following World War I.
  • 14 Dec 2022 Iran Expelled from UN Women's Commission: Iran was expelled from the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women due to the government's role in Mahsa Amini's death and the violent suppression of women's rights protests, marking a significant international condemnation.
  • 15 Dec 2022 Russian Forces Shell Kherson, Cutting Power: Russian military forces continued their assault on Ukraine by shelling Kherson, resulting in two civilian deaths and completely disrupting the city's power infrastructure, further demonstrating the ongoing humanitarian crisis of the invasion.
  • 16 Dec 2022 Massive Russian Missile Strikes on Ukraine: During the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian War, Russian forces launched a substantial missile attack across Ukraine, targeting critical infrastructure. The barrage involved at least 76 missiles, causing extensive damage to nine power stations and resulting in at least three civilian fatalities, with numerous additional civilians injured.
  • 17 Dec 2022 Tunisia's Parliamentary Election: Tunisians participated in an election for the Assembly of the Representatives of the People, with opposition parties calling for a boycott, reflecting the complex political landscape.
  • 18 Dec 2022 Argentina Wins 2022 FIFA World Cup in Thrilling Final Against France: In a dramatic and historic match, Argentina defeated France in the 2022 FIFA World Cup Final, securing their third World Cup title. The match was an intense, nail-biting encounter that went to penalties after a 3-3 draw in regular and extra time, with Lionel Messi leading his team to a memorable victory.
  • 19 Dec 2022 Jan. 6 Committee Recommends Criminal Charges Against Trump: The U.S. House Select Committee investigating the January 6, 2021 Capitol insurrection voted to refer criminal charges to the Department of Justice against former President Donald Trump. The referral stems from Trump's alleged attempts to overturn the 2020 presidential election results and his role in inciting the violent attack on the U.S. Capitol, representing an unprecedented moment in American political history.
  • 20 Dec 2022 Taliban Bans Women's University Education in Afghanistan: In a significant setback for women's rights, the Taliban's Ministry of Higher Education issued a decree immediately banning women from accessing university education. This action represents a severe restriction on female educational opportunities and further marginalizes women in Afghan society.
  • 21 Dec 2022 Ukrainian President Zelensky's Historic Washington DC Visit: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made a significant diplomatic trip to Washington, DC during the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian War. During this crucial visit, he met with US President Joe Biden at the White House to discuss continued military and financial support for Ukraine's defense against Russian invasion. Zelensky also delivered a powerful address to a joint session of Congress, appealing for continued American assistance and highlighting Ukraine's struggle for sovereignty.
  • 22 Dec 2022 Ukrainian President Zelensky's Historic White House Visit: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made a significant diplomatic visit to the White House, meeting with President Biden to discuss ongoing support for Ukraine's defense against Russian invasion. During the visit, Zelensky personally thanked the United States for its substantial military and humanitarian aid. In a powerful address to a joint session of Congress, he passionately appealed for continued assistance in Ukraine's struggle. The U.S. responded by announcing a $1.85 billion military aid package, which notably included the first-ever transfer of a Patriot missile defense system, symbolizing a major commitment to Ukraine's defense capabilities.
  • 23 Dec 2022 Catastrophic Winter Storm Across United States: A severe winter storm struck the United States on December 23, 2022, affecting approximately 200 million people—roughly two-thirds of the nation's population. The extreme weather event prompted New York to issue a travel ban due to dangerously low temperatures. The storm caused widespread power outages, leaving 1.5 million households without electricity, and tragically resulted in at least 28 fatalities, making it one of the most significant meteorological disasters of the year.
  • 24 Dec 2022 Russian Forces Shell Kherson, Causing Civilian Casualties: During the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian War, Russian military forces launched a shell attack on the city of Kherson, resulting in the deaths of at least ten civilians and causing injuries to 58 others. This incident highlights the continued civilian suffering in the conflict zone.
  • 25 Dec 2022 Former Maldives President Sentenced: A court in the Maldives sentenced former president Abdulla Yameen to 11 years in prison on money laundering and bribery charges, marking a significant moment in the country's political and judicial history.
  • 26 Dec 2022 Indian Ocean Tsunami of 2004: On December 26, 2004, a catastrophic 9.0 magnitude underwater earthquake struck off the coast of Sumatra, Indonesia, triggering one of the deadliest tsunamis in recorded history. The massive seismic event generated tsunami waves traveling at speeds up to 500 miles per hour, devastating coastal regions across multiple countries in the Indian Ocean. The tsunami devastated Sri Lanka, India, Thailand, Indonesia, the Maldives, and Malaysia, resulting in an estimated 225,000 fatalities and causing widespread destruction of infrastructure, communities, and ecosystems.
  • 27 Dec 2022 Deadly Winter Storms Cause Widespread Fatalities Across United States: Severe winter storms resulted in a tragic loss of life, with over 60 people confirmed dead nationwide. Experts anticipate the death toll may rise as search-and-rescue operations continue, underscoring the extreme weather's devastating impact.
  • 28 Dec 2022 Deadly Casino Hotel Fire in Poipet, Cambodia: A catastrophic fire erupted at a casino hotel complex in Poipet, a border town between Cambodia and Thailand, resulting in a tragic loss of life. At least 27 people were killed and dozens more were injured in the devastating incident. The fire highlighted significant safety concerns in the region's gambling establishments, particularly those located in areas with potentially inadequate emergency infrastructure.
  • 29 Dec 2022 Russian Missile Strikes on Ukrainian Infrastructure: On December 29, 2022, Russia conducted a widespread series of drone and cruise missile attacks targeting critical Ukrainian infrastructure. The strikes impacted multiple major cities including Kyiv, Kharkiv, Odesa, Lviv, and Zhytomyr, resulting in at least three people being injured. These attacks were part of the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine, aimed at disrupting civilian and military infrastructure.
  • 30 Dec 2022 University of Idaho Murder Suspect Arrested and Myanmar Political Sentencing: Two significant legal events: Bryan Christopher Kohberger was arrested for the mass stabbing of four University of Idaho students, and a Myanmar court sentenced ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi to an additional seven years in prison, bringing her total imprisonment to 33 years.
  • 31 Dec 2022 S&P 500 Experiences Worst Annual Performance Since 2008: The S&P 500 index closed the year with a substantial 19.4% annual loss, reflecting the most challenging financial year for the stock market since the 2008 global financial crisis.