December 1999

December 1999 was the 12th month of that year. It began on a Wednesday and ended 31 days later on a Friday. It was the last month of the 1990s decade.

The following events also occurred during the month:

Current events of 2 December 1999 (1999-12-02) (Thursday) edit history watch The United Kingdom devolves political power in Northern Ireland to the Northern Ireland Executive. Current events of 3 December 1999 (1999-12-03) (Friday) edit history watch After rowing for 81 days and 2,962 nautical miles (5486 km), Tori Murden becomes the first woman to cross the Atlantic Ocean by rowboat alone when she reaches Guadeloupe from the Canary Islands NASA loses radio contact with the Mars Polar Lander moments before the spacecraft enters the Martian atmosphere. Current events of 12 December 1999 (1999-12-12) (Sunday) edit history watch President Lt. General Umar Hasan Ahmad al-Bashir of Sudan dismisses the National Assembly during an internal power struggle between him and speaker of the Parliament Hasan al-Turabi. Current events of 14 December 1999 (1999-12-14) (Tuesday) edit history watch Algerian Ahmed Ressam was arrested while crossing the United States-Canada border at Port Angeles, Washington when United States Customs found explosives in the trunk of his automobile. The arrest caused fears of a terrorist attack in the United States and was a major factor in the cancellation of a public New Year's celebration in Seattle. Ressam was later convicted in a plot to bomb Los Angeles International Airport on New Year's Eve. Current events of 15 December 1999 (1999-12-15) (Wednesday) edit history watch Torrential rains caused catastrophic floods and mudslides in the coastal regions of Venezuela, killing an estimated 25,000 people and leaving 100,000 others homeless. Current events of 17 December 1999 (1999-12-17) (Friday) edit history watch Iraq disarmament crisis: The United Nations Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (Unmovic) is created to replace UNSCOM. The U.N. Security council once again orders Iraq to allow inspections teams immediate and unconditional access to any weapons sites and facilities. Iraq rejects the resolution. Current events of 18 December 1999 (1999-12-18) (Saturday) edit history watch NASA launches into orbit the Terra platform carrying five Earth Observation instruments, including ASTER, CERES, MISR, MODIS and MOPITT. Current events of 20 December 1999 (1999-12-20) (Monday) edit history watch Macau is handed over to the People's Republic of China by Portugal. Vermont's Supreme Court orders the state to legalize same-sex unions. Current events of 21 December 1999 (1999-12-21) (Tuesday) edit history watch The Spanish Civil Guard intercepts near Calatayud (Zaragoza) a Madrid-bound van driven by ETA and loaded with 950 kg of explosives. The next day, another van loaded with 750 kg is found not far from there. The incident is known as "la caravana de la muerte" (the caravan of death). Shortly after 9/11, ETA confirmed their plan had been to blow down Torre Picasso Current events of 24 December 1999 (1999-12-24) (Friday) edit history watch Indian Airlines Flight 814, which was en route from Kathmandu, Nepal to Delhi, India was hijacked and taken to Kandahar, Afghanistan Current events of 29 December 1999 (1999-12-29) (Wednesday) edit history watch Former Beatle George Harrison is stabbed several times in the chest by Michael Anram, who had broken into his home. Harrison's wife wrestles the knife out the assailant's hand before the police arrives. The man apparently believed that Harrison was the devil. He was later charged with attempted murder Current events of 30 December 1999 (1999-12-30) (Thursday) edit history watch Sarah Knauss dies at the age of 119. She was an American supercentenarian considered the "world's oldest person" by Guinness World Records from April 16, 1998 until her death at age 119. Current events of 31 December 1999 (1999-12-31) (Friday) edit history watch Boris Yeltsin resigns as President of Russia, to be replaced by Vladimir Putin. Five hijackers, who had been holding 155 hostages on an Indian Airlines plane, leave the plane with two Islamic clerics that they had demanded be freed. Start of Millennium celebrations worldwide (technically the Millennium starts in 2001 not 2000). HM Queen Elizabeth II opens the Millennium Dome at Greenwich, London. Concerns of serious Y2K problems with computer systems. The Panama Canal Authority took over the administration of the Panama Canal as per the Torrijos-Carter Treaties. Sony removes support of all games on their PlayStation system. Godzilla 2000: Millennium is released in Japan

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References