Summary of the Day ✨ 18 December (18/12)
On this day, Argentina triumphed in the FIFA World Cup final against France in a dramatic penalty shootout after a 3-3 draw, while simultaneously the US House impeached Donald Trump, and Malaysia began devastating floods that would kill at least 118 people. In other major developments, the last deep coal mine in Great Britain closed as an Amtrak train derailed in Washington state, killing six and injuring seventy others.
Historical Events 📜
- 2022: Argentina win the FIFA World Cup final, defeating title holders France 4–2 on penalties following a 3–3 draw after extra time.
- 2019: The United States House of Representatives impeaches Donald Trump for the first time.
- 2017: Amtrak Cascades passenger train 501, derailed near DuPont, Washington, a city in United States near Olympia, Washington killing six people, and injuring 70 others.
- 2015: Kellingley Colliery, the last deep coal mine in Great Britain, closes.
- 2006: The first of a series of floods strikes Malaysia. The death toll of all flooding is at least 118, with over 400,000 people displaced.
- 2006: United Arab Emirates holds its first-ever elections.
- 2005: The Chadian Civil War begins when rebel groups, allegedly backed by neighbouring Sudan, launch an attack in Adré.
- 2002: California gubernatorial recall: Then Governor of California Gray Davis announces that the state would face a record budget deficit of $35 billion, roughly double the figure reported during his reelection campaign one month earlier.
- 1999: NASA launches into orbit the Terra platform carrying five Earth Observation instruments, including ASTER, CERES, MISR, MODIS and MOPITT.
- 1995: A Lockheed L-188 Electra crashes in Jamba, Cuando, Angola, killing 141 people.
- 1981: First flight of the Russian heavy strategic bomber Tu-160, the world’s largest combat aircraft, largest supersonic aircraft and largest variable-sweep wing aircraft built.
- 1977: United Airlines Flight 2860 crashes near Kaysville, Utah, killing all three crew members on board.
- 1977: SA de Transport Aérien Flight 730 crashes near Madeira Airport in Funchal, Madeira, Portugal, killing 36.
- 1973: Soviet Soyuz Programme: Soyuz 13, crewed by cosmonauts Valentin Lebedev and Pyotr Klimuk, is launched from Baikonur in the Soviet Union.
- 1972: Vietnam War: President Richard Nixon announces that the United States will engage North Vietnam in Operation Linebacker II, a series of Christmas bombings, after peace talks collapsed with North Vietnam on the 13th.
Famous Births 👶
- 2002: Syd Hartha, Filipino singer-songwriter
- 2002: Giuliano Simeone, Argentine footballer
- 2001: Billie Eilish, American singer
- 2001: Jalen Johnson, American basketball player
- 2000: Jayden Daniels, American football player
- 2000: Korapat Kirdpan, Thai actor and singer
- 2000: Travon Walker, American football player
- 1997: Ronald Acuña Jr., Venezuelan baseball player
- 1997: Alex DeBrincat, American ice hockey player
- 1995: Barbora Krejčíková, Czech tennis player
- 1995: Lim Na-young, South Korean singer and actress
- 1994: Gerard Gumbau, Spanish footballer
- 1994: Natália Kelly, American-Austrian singer
- 1993: Byron Buxton, American baseball player
- 1993: Thomas Lam, Finnish footballer
Notable Deaths 🕊️
- 2025: Jim Hunt, American politician, 69th and 71st Governor of North Carolina (born 1937)
- 2025: Osman Hadi, Bangladeshi politician and activist (born 1993)
- 2024: Slim Dunlap, American singer-songwriter and guitarist (born 1951)
- 2024: John Marsden, Australian writer (born 1950)
- 2021: Sayaka Kanda, Japanese actress and singer (born 1986)
- 2020: Jerry Relph, American politician and member of the Minnesota Senate (born 1944)
- 2017: Kim Jong-hyun, South Korean singer (born 1990)
- 2016: Zsa Zsa Gabor, Hungarian-American actress and socialite (born 1917)
- 2015: Luc Brewaeys, Belgian pianist, composer, and conductor (born 1959)
- 2015: Helge Solum Larsen, Norwegian businessman and politician (born 1969)
- 2014: Donald J. Albosta, American soldier and politician (born 1925)
- 2014: Gideon Ben-Yisrael, Israeli soldier and politician (born 1923)
- 2014: Larry Henley, American singer-songwriter (born 1937)
- 2014: Virna Lisi, Italian actress (born 1936)
- 2014: Mandy Rice-Davies, English model and actress, central figure in the Profumo affair (born 1944)
Holidays & Observances 🎉
- Christian feast day:
Expectation of the Blessed Virgin Mary - Christian feast day:
Flannán - Christian feast day:
Gatianus of Tours - Christian feast day:
O Adonai - Christian feast day:
Sebastian (Eastern Orthodox Church) - Christian feast day:
Winibald - Christian feast day:
December 18 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) - International Migrants Day
- National Day (Qatar)
- Republic Day (Niger)
- UN Arabic Language Day (United Nations)