Turn December downtime into revenue - E&P Magazine
Media journalists' top stories of the year – and what it means for you in 2026 - Journalism UK
Ninth Circuit keeps block on DHS use of excessive force on journalists - Courthouse News Service
Saturday, December 20, 2025
Saturday Morning in the Blogosphere
Important Events From This day in History December 20th
1989 Panama -- Operation ( Just Cause )
1989 : President George Bush launches Operation Just Cause and has sent US forces into the Central American country of Panama in a bid to oust dictator Manuel Noriega
1957 U.S.A. -- Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley receives his draft notice for the United States Army .
1900 Turkey -- Women's Role In Turkey
Abdul Homid, leader of Turkey would have liked to see women in his country secluded, but they were getting less so. Turkish women were often more educated than the men and the best Turkish newspaper was edited by females, some of who are authors.
1929 Switzerland -- Banking Headquarters
A large Swiss palace, built in 1783 along the Louis XVI style, was to become the new quarters of the Bank of International Settlements. Bankers and officials decided on this location after a meeting in Baden-Baden. Find More What happened in 1929
1933 Greece -- Samuel Insull
1933 : Chicago business mogul, Samuel Insull was no longer welcome in Greece after January 31. Insull was a fugitive from U.S. justice. He was wanted on charges of embezzlement and his passport had been cancelled by Washington.
1945 Germany -- Nuremburg Trials
At Nuremburg, Nazi doctors and soldiers were charged with cruel and bizarre torture of concentration camp prisoners. Experiments such as shooting poison bullets through the prisoners' legs and oxygen deprivation of prisoners were only a few of the atrocities that were committed. Seven hundred and fifty thousand SS soldiers faced criminal charges for their participation in torturing victims.
1957 U.S.A. -- Rockets In Europe
1957 : The U.S. wanted defensive rockets placed in Europe by 1959 and it sought to surround the Soviet Union with missiles. Production of 1,500 missiles made cut backs in the military's home base operations. The U.S. had become nervous since the Soviet Union had placed two Sputniks in orbit.
1963 Germany -- Berlin Wall Opened For 1 Day Passes
The Berlin Wall is opened for the first time to West Berliners, who were allowed one-day visits to relatives in East Berlin for the holidays
1966 Thailand -- Female Writer
A tall Chinese female writer was thrown out of the press residence in Bangkok because of her sex. Su Yu-chen was a very popular writer in Taipei. She had covered the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo and the Asian Games in Bangkok, however, she was rebuffed because she was the only female writer among 400 male reporters.
1968 U.S.A. -- Zodiac Killer
1968 : The Zodiac killer's first attributable murders David Arthur Faraday, 17, and Betty Lou Jensen, 16 are found shot and killed in Benicia, California. The Zodiac killer taunted the police during his crimes by writing to newspapers with cryptograms and identifying himself as the Zodiac Killer. He claimed 37 murders but police files indicate 5 murders. Because of his taunts and having never been bought to justice his murders have been described as "The Perfect Crime"
1973 Spain -- Terrorists Kill Prime Minister
The Spanish Prime Minister, Admiral Luis Carrero Blanco, is killed in a terrorist car bomb attack in Madrid. The bomb was believed to have been planted by Basque nationalists
1978 Saudi Arabia -- Oil Price Increase
The word of the Saudi Arabian Oil Minister was questioned when the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries raised oil prices by 14.5% instead of the promised 5-10%. Stock markets were down and the government of Jimmy Carter was seen as ineffectual as the energy crisis escalated.
1979 England -- Right To Buy Council Houses
Mrs Thatcher's government will allow more than five million council house tenants in Britain the right to buy their home under new government proposals.
1987 Philippines -- Ferry Accident
The passenger ferry ( Dona Paz )collides with an oil tanker near Manila in the Philippines leaving 4,000 dead. The accident is blamed on overcrowding with the ferry carrying more than twice its stated capacity.
1987 West Germany -- US Dollar
The depreciation of the American dollar had made U.S. good like cars much more popular in West Germany and other nations. Helmut Becker, a German automobile salesman said that two years before he could not sell any U.S. cars, however this year he sold 115 and he expects that will double in 1988.
1990 Nigeria -- Lagos Worst City In The World
1990 : The Population Crisis Committee said that Lagos, Nigeria is the worst city in the world to live in, whereas the best cities to live in are Montreal, Melbourne, and Seattle-Tacoma. The best cities scored 100, but Lagos scored only 19. Half of Lago's homes are without water and electricity and only one person in 100 has a telephone. This city has a density of 5.8 persons per dwelling.
1995 England -- Charles and Diana Divorce
The Queen urges the Prince and Princess of Wales to seek "an early divorce".
1995 Bosnia -- Peacekeeping
U.S. Admiral Leighton Smith, commander of North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) assumes peacekeeping duties in Bosnia
1999 U.S.A. -- Vermont Gay Rights
The Vermont Supreme Court ruled that homosexual couples are entitled to the same benefits and protections in the State of Vermont as wedded couples of the opposite sex.
2005 U.S.A. -- Transit Strike New York
New York City transit workers began a strike that shut down subways and buses for three days affecting millions of commuters . This was the third strike against New York City's Transit Authority in 70 years the first two were in 1966 ( 12 days ) , 1980 ( 11 days ).
2006 Libya -- HIV
In Tripoli five Bulgarian nurses and one Palestinian physician were charged with knowingly giving 400 children the HIV virus. The accused were sentenced to death, despite substantial proof that the children already were infected with AIDS. Europe and the U.S. were angered at the verdict, but the people of Libya cheered.
2007 United States -- American World War I veteran
2007 : The oldest American World War I veteran has died in Ohio aged 109, leaving only two known U.S. soldiers from the conflict still alive. J. Russell Coffey died according to a nursing home in the town of North Baltimore, Ohio. Mr. Coffey enlisted in the army in October 1918, about a month before the Allies and Germany agreed a ceasefire, and did not see action. Harry Landis, 108, and Frank Buckles, 106, are the other surviving U.S. veterans. More than 4.7 million Americans enlisted in the military between 1917 and 1918.
2011 United States -- US Rated Most Charitable Country in 2011
The Charities Aid Foundation rated the United States as the world's most charitable country in 2011, up from fifth place in 2010. Runners-up included The Irish Republic, Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. The CAF stated that in 2011 people were more likely to donate charitable acts than money due to the global economic crisis.
2012 Rwanda -- Key Genocide Organizer Sentenced
2012 : Augustin Ngirabatware was sentenced to thirty-five years in prison by a UN war crimes court after being convicted of genocide.
2013 United States -- Judge Rules Utah Same-Sex Marriage Ban Unconstitutional
A US District Court judge ruled that Utah's 2004 ban on same-sex marriage was unconstitutional, stating that it was a violation of the fourteenth amendment to the US Constitution. Same-sex couples began getting married within hours of the decision.
Today in Labor History December 20th, 2025
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Filipino plantation workers
Delegates to the AFL convention in Salt Lake City endorse a constitutional amendment to give women the right to vote - 1899
The first group of 15 Filipino plantation workers recruited by the Hawaiian Sugar Planters Association arrive in Hawaii. By 1932 more than 100,000 Filipinos will be working in the fields - 1906
Thousands of workers began what was to be a 2-day strike of the New York City transit system over retirement, pension and wage issues. The strike violated the state’s Taylor Law; TWU Local 100 President Roger Toussaint was jailed for ten days and the union was fined $2.5 million - 2005
Thursday, December 18, 2025
Thursday Morning in the Blogosphere
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What if … PBS implodes? - E&P Magazine
The 2025 gift guide for journalists - Nieman Lab
What a year: special podcast episode with The Fix - Journalism UK
Changes to Pulitzer Prize Journalism categories - The Pulitzer Prizes
My favorite things: A curated guide to smart, stealable newsroom ideas - E&P Magazine
Important Events From This day in History December 18th
1966 U.S.A. -- How the Grinch Stole Christmas
1966 : The popular Dr. Seuss' book "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" is made into an animated television special and shown for first time on CBS. The narator is the well known Horror movie star Boris Karloff. "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" is one of those programs that when you see it on Television you just know Christmas is not far away.
1944 U.S.A. -- Executive Order 9066
1944 : The US Supreme Court upholds Executive Order 9066, the relocation of Japanese Americans . Approximately 120,000 Japanese Americans were effected by this ruling and were sent to War Relocation Centers in remote areas of the US
1912 Great Britain -- Piltdown Man
The so called Piltdown Man thought to be the missing evolutionary link between ape and man is discovered in the Piltdown gravel pit in Sussex, England, by amateur archaeologist Charles Dawson.
In 1953, at an international congress of paleontologists, the Piltdown Man was first openly called a fraud, and it has since been confirmed that it was indeed a fraud made up of skull parts from humans and an orangutan.
1914 Egypt -- Egypt under protection of the Crown
Great Britain placed Egypt under its protection of the Crown. The official Press Bureau read, "The suzerainty of Turkey over Egypt is thus terminated, and His Majesty's government will adopt all measures necessary for the defence of Egypt and the protection of its inhabitants and interests."
1927 Poland -- Pilsudski
A plan to kill Pilsudski, President of the Republic of Poland was uncovered by Warsaw police and a suspect was arrested.
1930 Spain -- Revolution
1930 : The Northwest costal provinces of Spain are quiet now after a revolt against the monarchy. Soldiers loyal to the crown subdued the rebels. However, a general labour strike occurred and street cars were manned by soldiers. Socialist and republican ring leaders fled.
1945 Canada -- Arctic Defence Systems
In light of nuclear threat Canada and the United States were planning military defence systems in the Arctic. An 81 day trip by 6 explorers was planned to obtain information. The Canadian government called it "Exercise Musk-Ox" and it was to take in an area of 3,100 miles through Arctic wasteland.
1950 Tibet -- Peoples Government Take Control
18th, 1950 : A Russian news source stated that a "peoples' government" has been established to govern the newly developed Tibet's Sikang province in southeast China.
1957 U.S.A. -- First Commercial Nuclear Power Plant
The US first large scale civilian atomic power plant at Shippingport, Pa., starts generating electricity for consumers in the Pittsburgh area
1969 South Korea -- Withdrawal of 50,000 Soldiers By US
Kang Sang Wook, a presidential spokesperson for South Korea, said that he had been consulted through diplomatic channels regarding President Nixon's withdrawal of 50,000 additional soldiers from Viet Nam. Korea had a significant number of troops in Vietnam.
1971 U.S.A. -- Capitol Reef National Park
The Capitol Reef National Park in Utah is established
1978 U.S.A. -- Cleveland bankruptcy
Cleveland was the first American city to face bankruptcy since the Depression in the 1930's. Half of the city's 10,000 employees were to be laid off and cuts were to be made among the firemen and police.
1984 U.S.A. -- Chevy Nova
The first new Chevy Nova is introduced as a joint venture between Toyota and General Motors, The original Chevy Nova was built from 1962 to 1979
1987 India -- Union Carbide
Union Carbide Corporation was ordered to pay out $270 million in temporary relief to Indian victims of the 1994 disastrous gas leak which took 2,000 lives. A complete settlement for the plaintiffs had not been finalized even three years later.
1987 U.S.A. -- Ivan F. Boesky
Ivan F. Boesky known as a "Corporate Raider" he was investigated by the Securities and Exchange Commission and was arrested was sentenced to three years in prison for plotting Wall Street's biggest insider trading scandal.
1989 England -- British Labour Party
The British Labour Party which for many years has been financed and controlled by the British trade unions has abandoned its policy on trade union closed shops in line with European legislation. Many of the MP's from the left of the party are accusing the decision as being a "sell-out" of socialism and a further move away from traditional Labour policies.
1994 Haiti -- American Troops
In Haiti American troops were keeping the peace after a sadistic military rule, but their stay was only temporary and Haitians worried about a return to violence and disorder once the soldiers left. "I'd like them to stay as long as possible," exclaimed Haitian vendor Enold Romelus.
1996 U.S.A. -- Ebonics
The Oakland, California school board passes a resolution officially declaring "Ebonics" a language or dialect
1999 U.S.A. -- Julia "Butterfly" Hill
Environmental activist Julia "Butterfly" Hill came down after spending two years living in a 180-foot-tall, 600-year-old California Redwood tree nicknamed ( LUNA )for 738 days between December 10th, 1997 to 18th, 1999. to prevent loggers of the Pacific Lumber Company from cutting it down. She agreed to vacate the tree when the Pacific Lumber Company agreed to preserve Luna and all trees within a 3-acre buffer zone.
2006 Chile -- Augusto Pinochet
The death of autocrat Augusto Pinochet evoked outpourings of grief and hatred among Chileans. Pinochet was accused of killings, torture, and the disappearance of his opponents. Some Chileans wept for joy, while others grieved his death.
2006 Iran -- Iranian elections
Partial results from the Iranian elections are suggesting a setback for President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. The elections were for the powerful clerical body, the Assembly of Experts, as well as for local government. With a turnout of sixty percent the winners appear to be the moderate conservatives, while reformists have made a better showing than the last three elections. Former President Akbar Rafsanjani sealed a landslide win for a seat on the Assembly of Experts. With most of the results in for the local elections it would seem that Ahmadinejad's allies have failed to win control of any council.
2009 Poland -- Auschwitz’s Arbeit Macht Frei is stolen
Thieves in Poland have stolen the infamous wrought iron sign that announced “work sets you free” over the main gate at Auschwitz. The sign saying “Arbeit macht frei” was erected by the Nazis soon after the old Auschwitz barracks were converted into a labour and extermination centre in 1940. It was used to suggest that hard work would allow inmates to walk free. As Auschwitz was turned into a major hub for the Holocaust and murdered over a million people the sign has come to represent a cynical commentary. 'It seems that a gang of perhaps three people unscrewed the sign between three o’clock and five o’clock on Friday morning,' said the Polish police. 'They must have used a ladder and had a car waiting for them.'
( The men who stole the sign are arrested the next day and the sign is found cut into three pieces, each containing one of the words Arbeit Macht Frei )
2011 Iraq -- Last US Troops Leave Iraq
2011 : The last US troops to leave Iraq entered Kuwait in a convoy of armored vehicles almost nine years after the initial invasion. A total of 157 US soldiers remained in Iraq for training purposes at the US embassy.
2012 Canada -- Syrup Thieves Arrested
Three people were arrested by police in Quebec for a multi-million dollar maple syrup theft. The thieves stole syrup as well as syrup-making equipment and police believe that five other suspects were involved and had not been caught yet.
2013 United States -- US Senate Passes Budget Deal
A two-year cross-party budget bill was passed by the US Senate after having been passed by the House in the previous week. The cooperation was rare between the two parties and temporarily halted the fiscal gridlock that had been plaguing the nation the entire year. Congress would still need to pass a spending bill in January in order to move forward.
Today in Labor History December 18th, 2025
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Mayflower docks at Plymouth Harbor
Following its ratification by the requisite three-quarters of the states earlier in the month, the 13th Amendment is formally adopted into the U.S. Constitution, ensuring that “neither slavery nor involuntary servitude… shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.” - 1865
General Motors announces it is closing 21 North American plants over the following four years and slashing tens of thousands of jobs - 1991
This week’s Labor History Today podcast: Paul Robeson and the 1948 Library of Congress cafeteria workers’ strike: With 95% of DC’s hotel and restaurant workers out of work because of the COVID-19 pandemic, we look back at the history of cafeteria workers’ struggle at the Library of Congress for a union and how singer and activist Paul Robeson supported their 1948 strike. Plus: AFSCME's Lillian Roberts tells how a showdown with NY Governor Nelson Rockefeller over the right of state workers to organize led to her being jailed for two weeks in December, 1968; Mark Bradley, author of Blood Runs Coal, about the brutal 1968 murder of Jock Yablonski and his family by United Mineworkers president Tony Boyle, and how it inspired a surge in union democracy; The Beginning of the End of Apartheid.
Tuesday, December 16, 2025
Tuesday Morning in the Blogosphere
Predicting 2026 local media advertising - E&P Magazine
You can’t grow what you don’t measure - E&P Magazine
The year ahead: Creators, technology, and the business of news - Journalism UK
Spokane newspaper reveals deadline for nonprofit switch - Seattle Times Free Press
PolitiFact’s editor explains the unconventional pick for the 2025 Lie of the Year - Poynter
Pierce County news site debuts, Meta starts paying for news and more - Seattle Times Free Press
Buying a bag of Dayton coffee will provide 20 meals for those with food insecurity - Dayton News
Important Events From This day in History December 16th
1979 U.S.A. -- Increases in Gas Prices
1979 : As OPEC has increased prices and oil production over the last 12 months the price of gas continues to increase sharply, mostly due to the ongoing crisis in Iran. In just 12 months the price of gas has risen from just 63 cents at the end of 1978 to over a $1.00 per gallon today. It should also be noted the US government had produced Gas coupons for rationing due to panic buying and ongoing concern over supplies but had not issued them . Find More What happened in 1979
1944 Belgium -- Battle of the Bulge
The Battle of the Bulge during World War II began as German forces launched a surprise counterattack against Allied forces at Ardennes Belgium . The Battle of the Bulge was the bloodiest of the battles that U.S. forces experienced in World War II with over 19,000 American soldiers killed
1773 United States -- Boston Tea Party
The Boston Tea Party was a culmination of protests against the Tea Act and about the extent of the British Parliament's authority over the British American colonies including new taxes, including one on tea, the colonists primary dispute was "no taxation without representation", the tea just offered a way to protest no representation for the colonies in the British Government. Following the decision of officials in Boston who refused to return three shiploads of taxed tea to Britain, a group of colonists boarded the ships and destroyed the tea by throwing it into Boston Harbor.
1955 England -- Heathrow Airport
1955 : The Queen has opened new buildings in the centre of London Airport ( renamed Heathrow Airport ) , part of a new complex designed to handle a growing number of air passengers. London Airport ( Heathrow ) was originally opened in 1946 but the new buildings were part of a planned extension Heathrow Airport now has four terminals with a fifth terminal under construction and is one of the world's busiest airports with over 65 million passengers per year.
1907 South Africa -- Ethiopian Movement
The British were very concerned about the Ethiopian movement in South Africa. This movement had as its slogan "South Africa for the blacks" and its aim was to abolish British rule. The most radical group of rebels was the Zulu tribe.
1910 UK -- Houndsditch Murders
A gang attempts to break into the rear of a jeweller's shop at 119 Houndsditch, during a police check the gang shot and killed Constable Choate and Sergeant Bentley, On January 2nd and 3rd the following year Police surround an area in Stepney and a gunfight leaves 2 of those responsible dead.
1916 Russia -- Rasputin
Rasputin, the monk who had wielded powerful influence over the Russian royal family, was murdered by a group of noblemen led by Prince Felix Yusupov and the Grand Duke Dmitri Pavlovich .
1920 China -- Severe Earthquake
1920 : An earthquake measuring 8.5 magnitude on the Richter scale hits the heavily populated of Gansu province of midwestern China, causing the deaths of an estimated 200,000 people.
1926 U.S.A. -- Calls to Bolster the Navy
1926 : Congress appealed to President Coolidge for money to bolster a weak and embarrassing American navy. They said that their navy was a third rate power and was behind France, Japan, and Great Britain.
1933 Germany -- Quits the League of Nations
Germany quit the League of Nations and Adolph Hitler was in power with his Nazi regime. Other European countries were nervous of Germany's intentions; however, they were relying on negotiations instead of war at that point. France was threatened by Germany, but generally felt secure behind her fortifications.
1940 England -- Aircraft Production
British factories could manufacture a plane in two hours, making a total of a dozen planes a day. Although Nazi bombing raids had damaged some of the plane factories Britain was still producing plenty of aircraft for the war effort. The majority of steel for the planes came from the United States.
1950 U.S.A. -- Communist Threat
1950 : President Truman proclaimed a state of emergency to combat the growth of communism and delegated many of his own war powers to Charles E. Wilson, the new Mobilization Director of the Economic Stabilization Agency . As part of the measures to fight communism new price controls are put in place and new war production targets are set.
1950 Italy -- US Ambassador
1950 : Italy had a new ambassador from the United States. He was J.D. Zellerbach and was president of the Crown-Zellerbach Corporation. During World War II Italy awarded him the Knightly Order of Merit of the Italian Republic for his mission in 1948-50.
1960 U.S.A. -- Plane Crash
A United Air Lines DC-8 and a TWA Super Constellation collide over New York City, killing 134 people
1967 Canada -- Call For Quebec to Separate
General de Gaulle in France was encouraging Quebec to separate from the rest of Canada. The Newport Daily News explained, "Whereas practically all educated French learned English as a matter of necessity, any number of leading British Canadians knew little or no French - Canadian culture was almost exclusively British and American, with hardly a dash of French."
1969 England -- Death Penalty Abolished
The British Parliament votes to abolish the death penalty in Great Britain, there had been a temporary ban on the death penalty since 1965.
1971 Pakistan -- Bangladesh
Two weeks after the Indian invasion of East Pakistan ( Now Bangladesh ) in support of the independence movement, 90,000 Pakistani troops surrender to Indian forces.
1977 England -- Picadily Line to Heathrow
The Queen opens the new underground link on the Picadily Line from central London to Heathrow's terminals which will run every 4 minutes and take 40 minutes and cost 80 pence one way. ( current price £3.80 )
1978 Japan -- Massive New Store
Brooks Bothers and Daido Worsted Mills, were merging to create a 4,000 square foot store in Japan. This was an unusual move since Japan usually did not allow foreign companies to have the controlling interest in a joint Japanese company. Brooks was the oldest textile and retail manufacturer in the U.S. and Daido was a Japanese company.
1985 U.S.A. -- Mafia Boss Shot
Paul Castellano the head of the Gambino crime family, then one of New York's largest Mafia families, is shot to death outside Sparks Steak House in Manhattan on the orders of John J. Gotti.
1989 China -- Sanctions Following Student Deaths
Sanctions were placed on China due to the death of student protesters and this was affecting Japan economically. Japan was the second largest investor in China. Since 1979 Japan loaned 770 billion yen to China and promised another 10 billion yen from 1990-1995. Japan did not resume trade with China, because the Japanese did not want to offend the United States.
1990 Haiti -- President
Jean-Bertrand Aristide was elected president of Haiti in the country's first democratic elections
1997 Mexico -- Border Control
1997 : President Bill Clinton and Mexican President Ernesto Zedillo joined forces to combat illegal immigration and drug smuggling along the 2,000 mile border between Mexico and the United States. President Clinton declared, "The United States and Mexico are working hard to forge a true partnership founded on mutual respect, a partnership as broad as our border is long."
1998 Iraq -- US Air strikes
President Bill Clinton orders a series of air strikes against Iraq by American and British forces in response to Saddam Hussein's continued defiance of UN weapons inspectors.
2000 U.S.A. -- Colin Powell
The next President of the United States George W. Bush announces his selection for secretary of state, Colin Powell who will be the first African-American Secretary Of State.
2004 England -- Anti Terrorism
The United Kingdoms high court makes a ruling to the government's anti terrorism policy that it can not detain foreign suspects indefinitely without trial.
2006 Iraq -- Study Group
The Iraq Study Group report which is 96 pages long had just been released on the Internet and in book form. The study's critics were busy quibbling over semantics and whether or not the U.S. administration's actions were right or wrong. In one paragraph it read, "Iraq is vital to regional and even global stability, and is critical to U.S. interests. It runs along the sectarian fault lines of Shia and Sunni Islam, and of Kurdish and Arab populations. It has the world's second-largest known oil reserves. It is now a base of operations for international terrorism, including al Qaeda."
2006 Iraq -- Turkish bombing of Kurdistan
Turkey's air strikes against Kurdish rebels in Iraq are said to have been approved in advance by the United States. The country's top general, Yasar Buyukanit, said that the U.S. opened northern Iraqi airspace for the operation, and jets targeted the Kurdish rebel P.K.K. in areas near around the border. The Turkish media says that up to fifty planes were used. Iraqi officials said the bombs hit ten villages, leaving one woman dead. The P.K.K. have reported seven deaths.
The United States has denied approving the Turkish attacks on P.K.K. targets in northern Iraq, which killed one woman. The Turkish army claims the U.S. provided intelligence and gave tacit approval by opening Iraqi airspace to Turkish jets. The U.S. has denied approving the Turkish attacks, and would only say it had been informed of the operation in advance. A U.S. embassy official in Iraq has told Reuters: "We have not approved any decision, it is not for us to approve. However, we were informed before the event."
2008 United States -- Governor Rod Blagojevich Impeachment
Illinois lawmakers have taken the first step towards impeaching Governor Rod Blagojevich by voting to begin an inquiry into the grounds for impeachment. If the inquiry determines that impeachment is warranted, the house will vote on whether to impeach him, and a trial in the state senate will follow. Blagojevich had been arrested the previous week for trying to sell the President-elect's Senate seat.
2009 Iran -- Iran test fires new missiles
2009 : Iran has successfully test-fired an improved version of one of their medium-range missiles. TV pictures have shown the launch of the Sajjil-2 rocket, which is said to have enough range to hit Israel or U.S. bases in the Gulf. Correspondents say it has been tested before, but it is likely to add to the increased speculation on Iran's nuclear ambitions. The West is speculating that Iran is trying to build nuclear weapons, a charge Iran denies, and the U.S. says the test has 'undermined Iran's claims of peaceful intentions.'
2009 European Union -- The Swiss minaret ban goes to court in Europe
An appeal against last month's decision by Swiss voters to ban minarets has been submitted to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg. The appeal has been lodged by an Algerian-born Muslim and a former spokesman for the Geneva Mosque. He wants the court to rule that the ban is incompatible with the European Convention on Human Rights. Some 57.5% of Swiss voters and twenty-two out of twenty-six cantons voted in favour of the ban.
2011 Syria -- Continued Anti-Government Unrest in Syria
Security forces reportedly opened fire on anti-government demonstrators across Syria. Protesters claim that several people were killed during the protests which took place after Friday prayers. An estimated 200,000 people joined marches in various cities throughout the country.
2011 Russia -- Russia Joins World Trade Organization
2011 : Russia officially joined the World Trade Organization after a ceremony in Switzerland commemorated the event. Russia spent nearly eighteen years negotiating its membership and finally gained membership after making a deal with Georgia who had been trying to block Russia's membership. Russia's membership was hailed as the last of the Group of 20 major economies to join the organization.
2013 Chile -- Bachelet Wins Election
Former Chilean President Michele Bachelet won the President election with sixty-two percent of the vote compared to rival candidate Evelyn Matthei's thirty-eight percent. Bachelet had been the president of Chile from 2006 to 2010 but by law could not run for a second consecutive term.
2014 Pakistani -- Peshawar school massacre
6 gunmen, wearing explosive belts entered the Peshawar Army Public School from the back through a cemetery adjacent to the school after having scaled the walls. They opened fire on school staff and children, killing 149 people including 132 schoolchildren, ranging between eight and eighteen years of age making it the world's fourth deadliest school massacre. The Terrorist Group Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed responsibility for the attack.
Today in Labor History December 16th, 2025
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The National Civic Federation is formed by business and labor leaders, most prominently AFL president Sam Gompers, as a vehicle to resolve conflicts between management and labor. Not all unionists agreed with the alliance. The group turned increasingly conservative and labor withdrew after Gompers’ 1924 death - 1900
New York City’s Majestic Theater becomes first in the U.S. to employ women ushers - 1902
The Bagel Bakers of America union is continuing a work slowdown at 32 of New York’s 34 bagel bakeries in a dispute over health and welfare fund payments and workplace sanitation, the New York Times reports. Coincidentally—or not—lox sales were down 30 percent to 50 percent as well. The effect on the cream cheese market was not reported - 1951
Four railway unions merge to become the United Transportation Union: Trainmen, Firemen & Enginemen, Switchmen, and Conductors and Brakemen - 1968
Eight female bank tellers in Willmar, Minn., begin the first strike against a bank in U.S. history. At issue: they were paid little more than half what male tellers were paid. The strike ended in moral victory but economic defeat two years later - 1977
(United Apart: Gender and the Rise of Craft Unionism: At the turn of the twentieth century, American factory workers were often segregated by sex—males did heavier, dirtier, and better paid, work while women might be employed in a separate area performing related, lighter work. Men might cut bolts of fabric, for example, while women stitched cuffs onto sleeves. How this division of labor played out when an occupational group comprised of one sex went on strike is the subject of this book.)
Saturday, December 13, 2025
Important Events From This day in History December 13th
1972 England -- Thalidomide
1972 : 300 British Thalidomide victims are being offered a compensation deal said to be worth £11.85 million over 10 years which is rejected by the victims. ( Eventually an agreement is reached providing £20.00 million.
Thalidomide became notorious in the mid 50's to early 60's when it was prescribed to pregnant women to ease morning sickness. and was marketed under the names Distaval, Talimol, Nibrol, Sedimide, Quietoplex, Contergan, Neurosedyn, and Softenon.
It was sold in 50 countries around the world and is blamed for causing approximately 10,000 children to be born with severe malformations.
Thalidomide is approved today for the treatment of Leprosy and Multiple Myeloma but strictly controlled in it's use. Find More What happened in 1972
1939 Gone With The Wind Premiers
Gone With The Wind Premiers in Atlanta, Georgia. The movie adapted from the novel by Margaret Mitchell published in 1936. The movie, starring Clark Gable, Vivien Leigh, Leslie Howard, Olivia de Havilland, and Hattie McDaniel set in the deep south tells a story of the Civil War and its aftermath from a white Southern viewpoint.
1903 Tibet -- British Control
Great Britain wanted to maintain dominance in Tibet to counteract the Soviet Union's control over Manchuria and other parts of Asia. Tibet would also act as a buffer between Soviet controlled zones and India.
1924 Great Britain -- France Wartime Debt
France's World War I wartime debt to Great Britain amounted to 623,000,000 pounds and the French also owed the United States 798,000,000 pounds. Although the British government was going to approach France about repaying its debts, the British public was skeptical that France would ever pay anything back.
1930 U.S.A. -- Depression and Typhoid
Charlotte Dynn died in Milwaukee of typhoid fever and her family couldn't afford to feed their five remaining children, let alone pay for her funeral. However, during the Christmas season the funeral director, the cemetery's executive, and a pastor all arranged a free funeral for Charlotte.
1937 China -- Rape of Nanking
Japanese forces capture the city of Nanking and Japanese General Matsui Iwane orders the city of Nanking to be destroyed. Japanese troops launched a campaign of atrocities against civilians. including the massacre of an estimated 200,000 and the rape and mutilation of at least 20,000 women and girls of all ages .
1944 France -- Allied Prisoners of War Freed
In Sarreguemines, France one thousand allied soldiers who had been German captives became free as the 39th division stormed their prison. The liberated group included Russian, Polish, Italian, Serbian, and Yugoslavian soldiers who smiled at their new liberty.
1950 U.S.A. -- James Dean
1950 : James Dean who is still unknown at that time appears in a Pepsi commercial, dancing with other teens around a jukebox 5 years before he becomes an icon for the teenage revolution in such films as Rebel Without a Cause
1959 Cyprus -- Archbishop Makarios
1959 : Archbishop Makarios is elected as the first President of the Republic of Cyprus in free elections winning with over 66% of the vote. His vice president is Dr Fazil Kutchuk a leading political figure from the Turkish community.
1966 Saudi Arabia -- King Saud
1966 : King Saud, previous king of Saudi Arabia was overthrown by his brother Fiesal. Saud was ailing and wanted to live in Egypt. Egypt's president, President Abdul Gamel Nasser, who King Saud is suspected of trying to assassinate, allowed the ailing former king to come to Egypt.
1972 China -- Schistosomiesis Epidemic
Near Shanghai in communist China there was an epidemic of schistosomiesis, so of course when two specialists in this illness came to visit from the U.S., they instantly became celebrities. Dr. H. F. Hsu and is wife Dr. S. Y .Li Hsu were medical doctors born in China who became Americans and had not been back to China for 23 years. They received a very friendly reception while sharing their medical knowledge.
1978 U.S.A. -- Susan B Anthony Dollar
1978 : The first Susan B. Anthony ( a key figure in the woman suffrage movement )dollar is minted but is not accepted by the public due to it's very similar appearance to the quarter.
1981 Poland -- Martial Law Imposed
Martial law and a state of emergency is imposed by Poland's military rulers. Leaders of the Solidarity trade union have been placed under arrest for inciting the unrest and the army are on the streets in a massive show of military strength imposing strict censorship and a curfew.
1988 Switzerland -- Yasser Arafat
Following the refusal of the US to grant Yasser Arafat a Visitors Visa the United Nations is convened in Geneva, Switzerland so that PLO chairman Yasser Arafat can address the U.N. General Assembly .
1989 Syria -- Release of Amed Jibril
President Hafez Assad, Syria's president got an order from U.S. President George Bush to expel Amed Jibril or face being cut off from American diplomacy. Jibril was suspected of blowing up Pan Am flight 103 and killing 259 people, most of who were American citizens.
1995 England -- Brixton Riots
Hundreds youths take to the streets at Brixton, in south London attacking police, ransacking shops and burning cars
1996 U.S.A. -- Kofi Annan
The U.N. Security Council chooses Kofi Annan of Ghana to be the United Nations seventh secretary-general.
1996 Ireland -- EU Finance Ministers
1996 : In Dublin, fifteen EU finance ministers debated for eleven hours about imposing fines on EU countries whose poor accounting practices jeopardized EU stability. The new common currency of the EU, the Euro, was to be launched in 1999.
2000 U.S.A. -- Texas 7 Escapees
Seven prisoners escape from the John Connally Unit maximum-security state prison near Kenedy, Texas, they were captured in January and due to them shooting and murdering a police officer during a crime receive the death sentence.
2001 India -- Parliament Attacked
Gunmen have broken through tight security to attack the parliament building in the Indian capital, New Delhi leaving At least 12 dead and 22 injured.
2001 U.S.A. -- Osama bin Laden Video
The Pentagon released a captured videotape of Osama bin Laden in which the al-Qaida leader said the deaths and destruction achieved by the September 11th attacks exceeded his ''most optimistic'' expectations.
2001 U.S.A. -- Pulls Out Of Anti Ballistic Missile Treaty
President George W. Bush served formal notice that the United States was pulling out of the More News and Events From 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty with Russia.
2002 European Union -- 10 New Members
Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia are accepted into the European Union and will become members from 1st May 2004.
2003 Iraq -- Saddam Hussein
Saddam Hussein is captured by U.S. forces at a farmhouse in Adwar, near his hometown of Tikrit.
2006 Iran -- Deny Holocaust
In Tehran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad spoke to a crowd of people who deny the Holocaust ever existed and asserted, 'The Zionist regime will be wiped out the same way the Soviet Union was, and humanity will achieve freedom.' Hostility over this meeting could have sanctions placed on Iran by the United States.
2006 Belgian -- TV prank
Belgians reacted badly to the news that their country had been split in two. It wasn't until later that they were told it was part of a spoof. The Belgian public television station R.T.B.F. ran the bogus report, which said that the Dutch-speaking half of the nation had declared its independence. R.T.B.F. said that the program was meant to stir up debate, and thousands of people made panicked calls. Politicians made a complaint to the station.
2006 United States -- The political manipulation of scientific work
Some ten thousand researchers have signed a statement protesting about political interference in their scientific work. The statement, which includes the backing of fifty-two Nobel Laureates, demands a restoration of scientific integrity in government policy-making and announcements. According to the American Union of Concerned Scientists, a lot of data is being misrepresented for political reasons. Al Gore’s lecture on Climate Change: The Role of Science and the Media in Policy Making took place on the same day, where he said that it was imperative that scientists tell the people what is happening to the world.
2007 U.S.A. -- Wall Street Journal
Rupert Murdoch buys Dow Jones & Co. which includes The Wall Street Journal for $5 billion-plus
2007 U.S.A. -- Mitchell Report
Mitchell Report to the Commissioner of Baseball of an Independent Investigation into the Illegal use of anabolic steroids and human growth hormone by Players in Major League Baseball is released which names 89 Major League Baseball players who are alleged to have used them.
2007 U.S.A. -- Democratic candidates debate in Johnston, Iowa
The Democratic candidates for the presidency have held their last debate before the nominating elections begin with the Iowa caucuses of January 3rd. Their discussion was more polite and genial than their previous encounters. The candidates outlined their positions on issues ranging from the economy to Iraq, trade, energy and human rights. Recent polls in Iowa have shown Barack Obama edging ahead of national frontrunner Hillary Clinton. The participants were: Joe Biden (DE), Hillary Clinton (NY), Barack Obama (IL), Christoper Dodd (CT) and John Edwards.
2007 EU -- Lisbon Treaty
E.U. leaders have signed a treaty in Lisbon that is expected to alter the way in which the 27-nation body operates. The treaty creates an E.U. president, as well as a more powerful foreign policy chief. The document, signed at a ceremony at the city's Jeronimos Monastery, also scraps veto powers in many policy areas. It has been signed as a replacement for the E.U. constitution, which was abandoned in the wake of French and Dutch opposition to it.
2007 Pakistan -- Musharaff takes control of Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal
2007 : Pervez Musharraf has put the country's nuclear weapons under the control of the president, rather than its prime minister. On issuing an ordinance the president must have it ratified by parliament within six months. This move comes amid concern abroad that the country's nuclear arsenal falling into the hands of Islamist extremists.
2009 England -- Buckingham Palace denies Prince William is taking on more duties
Buckingham Palace has that claims of Prince William taking over a substantial part of the Queen's duties are 'total and utter fabrication.' British Newspapers have reported that the Queen was passing on more tasks to her grandson. One newspaper has said that the monarch is cutting her workload owing to her age. A royal spokesman told the BBC that Prince William was gradually taking on more engagements but there were no plans to by-pass Prince Charles.
2011 Belgium -- Gunman Attacks Liege, Belgium Killing Four
2011 : A gunman fired on the center of Liege in Belgium and killed at least four people while injuring another 123. The man also threw grenades into the city center before he killed himself. The shooter was identified as Nordine Amrani, a 33 year old man who had previous firearms offences.
2012 United States -- TV Ads Volume Law
A law was implemented that would make it mandatory for television advertisements to be played at the same volume level as the main program. The FCC adopted the rules a year prior but allowed a one-year grace period to adjust.
2013 North Korea -- Top North Korean Official Executed
2013 : It was announced by the North Korean media that leader Kim Jong-un's uncle, Chang Song-thaek, was executed for "acts of treachery." It was reported that he confessed to trying to overthrow the government at a military trial and was then executed. Chang had reportedly been a close mentor to Kim Jong-un as he took power in 2011.
Today in Labor History December 13th, 2024
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Samuel Gompers
Death in San Antonio, Texas, of Samuel Gompers, president and founder of the American Federation of Labor - 1924
Major League Baseball’s Mitchell Report was released, identifying 85 names to differing degrees in connection with the alleged use of performance-enhancing drugs, and more events that happened on this day in history.
In 1918, President Woodrow Wilson, right, arrived in France, becoming the first chief executive to visit Europe while in office.
In 1977, Air Indiana Flight 216, a DC-3 carrying the University of Evansville basketball team on a flight to Nashville, crashed shortly after takeoff, killing all 29 people on board.
In 1981, authorities in Poland imposed martial law in a crackdown on the Solidarity labor movement. (Martial law formally ended in 1983.)
In 2000, Republican George W. Bush claimed the presidency a day after the U.S. Supreme Court shut down further recounts of disputed ballots in Florida; Democrat Al Gore conceded, delivering a call for national unity.
In 2002, Cardinal Bernard Law resigned as Boston archbishop because of the priest sex abuse scandal.
In 2003, Saddam Hussein was captured by U.S. forces while hiding in a hole under a farmhouse in Adwar, Iraq, near his hometown of Tikrit.
The House Judiciary Committee approved two articles of impeachment accusing President Donald Trump of abuse of power in his dealings with Ukraine and obstruction of Congress in the investigation that followed. 2020
Tuesday, December 09, 2025
Tuesday Morning in the Blogosphere
Predicting 2026 local media advertising - E&P Magazine
Forbes cuts dozens of contributing writers - Press Gazette
Important Events From This day in History December 9th
http://www.thepeoplehistory.com/december10th.html
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