Summary of the Day ✨ 22 December (22/12)
A devastating tsunami triggered by Anak Krakatau’s eruption killed over 430 people in Indonesia, while the second-longest U.S. government shutdown in history began as the UN unanimously approved new sanctions against North Korea and researchers confirmed the first effective vaccine against the Ebola virus.
Historical Events 📜
- 2018: A tsunami caused by an eruption of Anak Krakatau in Indonesia kills at least 430 people and injures almost a thousand more.
- 2018: The 2018–2019 United States federal government shutdown, the second-longest shutdown of the U.S. federal government in history, begins.
- 2017: United Nations Security Council Resolution 2397 against North Korea is unanimously approved.
- 2016: A study finds the VSV-EBOV vaccine against the Ebola virus between 70 and 100% effective, making it the first proven vaccine against the disease.
- 2012: Bashir Ahmad Bilour of Awami National Party and eight others are killed in a Pakistan Taliban bomber suicide attack in Dhaki Nalbandi area near Qissa Khwani Bazaar.
- 2010: The repeal of the Don’t ask, don’t tell policy, the 17-year-old policy banning homosexuals serving openly in the United States military, is signed into law by President Barack Obama.
- 2008: An ash dike ruptures at a solid waste containment area for a Tennessee Valley Authority coal-fired power plant in Roane County, Tennessee, releasing 4.2 million m3 (1.1 billion US gal) of coal fly ash slurry in the largest industrial spill in U.S. history.
- 2001: Burhanuddin Rabbani, political leader of the Northern Alliance, hands over power in Islamic State of Afghanistan to the interim government headed by President Hamid Karzai.
- 2001: Richard Reid attempts to destroy a passenger airliner by igniting explosives hidden in his shoes aboard American Airlines Flight 63.
- 1999: Just after taking off from London Stansted Airport, Korean Air Cargo Flight 8509 crashes into Hatfield Forest near Great Hallingbury, killing all four people on board.
- 1997: Acteal massacre: Attendees at a prayer meeting of Roman Catholic activists for indigenous causes in the small village of Acteal in the Mexican state of Chiapas are massacred by paramilitary forces.
- 1997: Somali Civil War: Hussein Farrah Aidid relinquishes the disputed title of President of Somalia by signing the Cairo Declaration, in Cairo, Egypt. It is the first major step towards reconciliation in Somalia since 1991.
- 1996: Airborne Express Flight 827 crashes in Narrows, Virginia, killing all six people on board.
- 1992: During approach to Tripoli International Airport, a Boeing 727 operating as Libyan Arab Airlines Flight 1103 collides in mid-air with a Libyan Air Force Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23, killing 157 people.
- 1990: Lech Wałęsa is elected President of Poland.
Famous Births 👶
- 2006: Callan McKenna, Scottish footballer
- 2003: Joe Anders, American-British actor
- 2002: David Datro Fofana, Ivorian footballer
- 2001: Camila Osorio, Colombian tennis player
- 2001: Jack Draper, British tennis player
- 2000: Joshua Bassett, American actor and singer
- 1998: G Hannelius, American actress and singer
- 1998: Latto, American rapper and singer
- 1998: Casper Ruud, Norwegian tennis player
- 1994: Rúben Lameiras, Portuguese footballer
- 1993: Sergi Darder, Spanish footballer
- 1993: Raphaël Guerreiro, Portuguese footballer
- 1993: Meghan Trainor, American singer-songwriter and producer
- 1992: Michaela Hončová, Slovak tennis player
- 1992: Nick Johnson, American basketball player
Notable Deaths 🕊️
- 2025: Chris Rea, English singer-songwriter (born 1951)
- 2023: Leon Coates, English composer (born 1937)
- 2019: Ram Dass, American spiritual teacher and author (born 1931)
- 2018: Paddy Ashdown, British politician (born 1941)
- 2018: Simcha Rotem, last survivor of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising (born 1924)
- 2018: Herman Sikumbang, Indonesian guitarist (born 1982); casualty during 2018 Sunda Strait tsunami
- 2017: Gonzalo Morales Sáurez, Costa Rican painter (born 1945)
- 2016: Chad Robinson, Australian rugby league player (born 1980)
- 2015: Peter Lundblad, Swedish singer-songwriter (born 1950)
- 2015: Freda Meissner-Blau, Australian activist and politician (born 1927)
- 2014: John Robert Beyster, American physicist and academic (born 1924)
- 2014: Christine Cavanaugh, American actress (born 1963)
- 2014: Joe Cocker, English singer-songwriter (born 1944)
- 2014: Bernard Stone, American lawyer and politician (born 1927)
- 2013: Diomedes Díaz, Colombian singer-songwriter (born 1956)
Holidays & Observances 🎉
- Dongzhi Festival
- Armed Forces Day (Vietnam)
- Christian feast day:
Anastasia of Sirmium (Orthodox Church) - Christian feast day:
Eimhin - Christian feast day:
Ernan, Son of Eogan - Christian feast day:
Frances Xavier Cabrini (outside US) - Christian feast day:
Hunger - Christian feast day:
O Rex - Christian feast day:
Henry Budd (Episcopal Church (USA)) - Christian feast day:
Lottie Moon (Episcopal Church (USA)) - Christian feast day:
December 22 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) - Mother’s Day (Indonesia)
- National Mathematics Day (India)
- Teachers’ Day (Cuba)
- Unity Day (Zimbabwe)