Summary of the Day ✨ 1 December (01/12)
On this day, the iconic Arecibo Telescope collapsed while scientists were tracking asteroids, and the world began taking notice of a coronavirus outbreak in Wuhan that would soon become a global pandemic. Meanwhile, Arsenal Women made history with an 11-1 victory in the FA Women’s Super League, Finland’s Oulu Police revealed disturbing cases of child sexual exploitation, and the Alma-Ata Metro opened to serve commuters in Kazakhstan.
Historical Events 📜
- 2020: The Arecibo Telescope collapses.
- 2019: Arsenal Women 11–1 Bristol City Women breaks the record for most goals scored in a FA Women’s Super League match, with Vivianne Miedema involved in ten of the eleven Arsenal goals.
- 2019: The outbreak of coronavirus infection begins in Wuhan.
- 2018: The Oulu Police informed the public about the first offence of the much larger child sexual exploitation in Oulu, Finland.
- 2011: The Alma-Ata Metro was opened.
- 2009: The Treaty of Lisbon entered into force in the European Union.
- 2006: The law on same-sex marriage comes into force in South Africa, legalizing same-sex marriage for the first time on the African continent.
- 2005: As a result of the merger of the Perm Oblast and the Komi-Permyak Autonomous Okrug, a new subject of the Russian Federation, the Perm Krai, was created.
- 2001: The United Russia political party was founded.
- 2000: Vicente Fox Quesada is inaugurated as the president of Mexico, marking the first peaceful transfer of executive federal power to an opposing political party following a free and democratic election in Mexico’s history.
- 1997: In the Indian state of Bihar, Ranvir Sena attacks the CPI (ML) Party Unity stronghold Lakshmanpur-Bathe, killing 63 lower caste people.
- 1997: Fourteen-year-old Michael Carneal opens fire at a group of students in Heath High School in West Paducah, Kentucky, killing three and injuring five.
- 1991: Cold War: Ukrainian voters overwhelmingly approve a referendum for independence from the Soviet Union.
- 1990: Channel Tunnel sections started from the United Kingdom and France meet beneath the seabed.
- 1989: Philippine coup attempt: The right-wing military rebel Reform the Armed Forces Movement attempts to oust Philippine President Corazon Aquino in a failed bloody coup d’état.
Famous Births 👶
- 2003: Robert Irwin, Australian conservationist and television personality
- 2001: Carole Monnet, French tennis player
- 1999: Lloyd Pope, Australian cricketer
- 1999: Nico Schlotterbeck, German footballer
- 1997: Sada Williams, Barbadian sprinter
- 1997: Jung Chae-yeon, South Korean actress and singer
- 1995: Agnė Čepelytė, Lithuanian tennis player
- 1995: Jenna Fife, Scottish footballer
- 1995: James Wilson, English footballer
- 1994: Seedy Njie, English footballer
- 1993: Reena Pärnat, Estonian archer
- 1993: Beau Webster, Australian cricketer
- 1992: Masahudu Alhassan, Ghanaian footballer
- 1992: Javier Báez, Puerto Rican baseball player
- 1992: Linos Chrysikopoulos, Greek basketball player
Notable Deaths 🕊️
- 2024: Terry Griffiths, Welsh snooker player and coach (born 1947)
- 2024: Ian Redpath, Australian cricketer and coach (born 1941)
- 2023: Sandra Day O’Connor, first female U.S. Supreme Court Justice (1981–2006) (born 1930)
- 2022: Gaylord Perry, American baseball player and coach (born 1938)
- 2020: Arnie Robinson, American athlete (born 1948)
- 2019: Paula Tilbrook, English actress (born 1930)
- 2018: Vivian Lynn, New Zealand artist (born 1931)
- 2018: Ken Berry, American actor, dancer, and singer (born 1933)
- 2015: Rob Blokzijl, Dutch physicist and computer scientist (born 1943)
- 2015: Joseph Engelberger, American physicist and engineer (born 1925)
- 2015: Jim Loscutoff, American basketball player (born 1930)
- 2015: Trevor Obst, Australian footballer and coach (born 1940)
- 2014: Mario Abramovich, Argentinian violinist and composer (born 1926)
- 2014: Dimitrios Trichopoulos, Greek epidemiologist, oncologist, and academic (born 1938)
- 2014: Rocky Wood, New Zealand-Australian author (born 1959)
Holidays & Observances 🎉
- Battle of the Sinop Day (Russia)
- Christian feast day:
Alexander Briant - Christian feast day:
Ansanus - Christian feast day:
Blessed Bruna Pellesi - Christian feast day:
Castritian - Christian feast day:
Charles de Foucauld - Christian feast day:
Edmund Campion - Christian feast day:
Eligius - Christian feast day:
Evasius - Christian feast day:
Grwst - Christian feast day:
Nahum - Christian feast day:
Nicholas Ferrar (Episcopal Church) - Christian feast day:
Ralph Sherwin - Christian feast day:
Ursicinus of Brescia - Christian feast day:
December 1 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)