Unix Timestamp: 1103328000
Saturday, December 18. 2004, 12:00:00 AM UTC

The Philippines Red Cross estimates that the death toll from the floods caused by Tropical Storm Washi has risen to 521. //www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5g0oLVhVyed1nphyhheF7JP0vueQA?docId=d4ffeb4c724147f1a2a5fd08b65709b6 (AP via Google News)

Twitter, a popular micro-blogging service, temporarily goes offline after a group calling itself the Iranian Cyber Army manages to change its DNS records. //www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/185058/hackers_take_twitter_offline.html ("PC World") //edition.cnn.com/2009/TECH/12/18/twitter.hacked/ (CNN)

The International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda convicts Théoneste Bagosora and two other senior Rwandan army officers of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes and sentences them to life imprisonment.

The International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda finds Théoneste Bagosora guilty of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes and sentences him to life imprisonment. //www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSTRE4BH1QB20081218?feedType=RSSfeedName=worldNewsrpc=69 (Reuters)

The Soham Murder Trial ends at the Old Bailey in London, with Ian Huntley found guilty of two counts of murder. His girlfriend Maxine Carr is found guilty of perverting the course of justice.

An Indian court sentences three men to death for treason for their assistance in helping five gunmen prepare for the 2001 Indian Parliament attack, which killed nine people and triggered a tense standoff with nuclear rival Pakistan. Capital punishment in India is rare.

Two men, Ahmed Agiza and Muhammad al-Zery, are secretly deported to Egypt from Sweden after a request from the United States in what is believed to be a CIA-led operation. //www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A11976-2004Jul24.html (Washington Post)

NASA launches into orbit the Terra platform, carrying 5 Earth Observation instruments, including ASTER, CERES, MISR, MODIS and MOPITT.

James Cameron's "Titanic", the highest-grossing film of all time until his other film "Avatar", premieres in the US.

Janet Jagan the former wife of Cheddi Jagan took office in Guyana.

Myra Hindley loses her High Court appeal against the government's decision to keep her behind bars for the rest of her life.

The "loi Carrez", or Carrez law governing property transactions was enacted in France//www.lexinter.net/lois/loi_du_18_decembre_1996_(loi_carrez).htm Loi n°96-1107 du 18 décembre 1996

Omar Bongo is re-elected as President of Gabon in the country's first multipartyelections.

The United Nations General Assembly votes unanimously to appoint a UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.

The first corrected images from the Hubble Telescope are taken.

The South Korean presidential election is won by Kim Young-sam, the first non-military candidate elected since 1961.

Flight SATA 730, an international charter service from Zurich to Funchal Airport (Madeira), touches the sea in a landing attempt. Many of the 36 fatalities got trapped inside the sinking plane. 21 people survived with the help of rescue teams and by swimming to the shore.

WAVES disbanded women integrated into regular Navy.

Portugal's traditional naming conventions change such that children's surnames can come from either the mother or the father, not just from the father.

The Soviet National Anthem's lyrics are returned after a 24 year period, with Joseph Stalin's name omitted.

Chiara Lubich is awarded the Templeton Prize.

Mormon sex in chains case with the alleged abduction in England of a young Mormonmissionary.

Islamic Development Bank created as a specialized agency of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) (effective 12 August 1974).

"How the Grinch Stole Christmas", narrated by Boris Karloff, is shown for the first time on CBS, becoming an annual Christmas tradition.

Portuguese surrender Goa to India after 400 years of Portuguese rule.

India opens hostilities in its annexation of Portuguese India, the colonies of Goa, Damao and Diu.

Indonesian president Sukarno announces that he will take West Irian by force if necessary.

"The Bridge on the River Kwai" is released in the U.S. It goes on to win the Academy Award for Best Picture. Additional Oscars go to Alec Guinness (Best Actor) and David Lean (Best Director), among others. This is Lean's first Oscar for directing.

"To Tell the Truth" debuts on CBS-TV.

A low-key fascist conference is held in Moreaux.

Turkey converts to the Gregorian calendar, making 'tomorrow' January 1 1927

resident Woodrow Wilson marries Mrs Edith B Galt in Washington

Egypt becomes a British protectorate.

Piltdown Man, thought to be the fossilized skull of a hitherto unknown form of early human, presented to the Geological Society of London. It is revealed to be a hoax in 1953.

Opening of first exhibition by Der Blaue Reiter group of painters, in Munich.

Women in South Australia become the first in Australia to gain the right to vote and to be elected to Parliament.

"The Nutcracker" ballet with music by Tchaikovsky is premiered at the Imperial Mariinsky Theatre in St Petersburg, Russia.

Richard Wetherill and his brother-in-law discover the Indian ruins of Mesa Verde in southwestern Colorado.

In Sweden, the Riksdag of the Estates is replaced by an elected 2-chamber assembly, the Riksdag.

Cereal partners Nestle and General Mills are founded.

The College of Wooster was founded.//www.wooster.edu/About-Wooster/History-Traditions

Alfred Nobel invents dynamite in Germany.

Federalist revolts occur in Argentina.

The Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution (which completely and permanently abolishes slavery) is declared ratified by three-quarters of the states.

Punta Arenas, the first major settlement in the Strait of Magellan, is founded.

December 19 ndash War of 1812: British soldiers and native allies invade the United States and are successful in the Capture of Fort Niagara and attack Lewiston, New York.

In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania more than 4,000 die from yellow fever.

The Al Bu Falah move to Abu Dhabi.

The first year of regular production begins for the United States Mint and the half cent is minted for the first time.

The First Coalition against France is formed during the year by Great Britain, the Dutch Republic, Spain, Portugal, the Holy Roman Empire, Naples and Tuscany.

British troops invade the island of Saint-Domingue (now Haiti) to suppress a slave rebellion but are forced to withdraw by disease and the army of Toussaint Louverture.

French forces under Dugommier capture Toulon from royalists and British forces under Vice Admiral Lord Hood. The British fire the dockyards and take 16 ships, one of which, the "Lutine", becomes a famous treasure ship.

Niccolò Paganini debuts as a violin virtuoso at age 11.

In Britain, Thomas Clarkson and Granville Sharp found the "Society for the Abolition of the Slave Trade" with support from John Wesley, Josiah Wedgwood and others.

Caroline Herschel is granted an annual salary of £50 by King George III of Great Britain for acting as assistant to her brother William in astronomy.

New Jersey becomes the third U.S. state.

The elementSilicon is first identified by Antoine Lavoisier as a component of the Latin term "silex" or Flints (meaning Hard Rocks).

The North Carolina General Assembly incorporates Waynesborough and designates it the county seat for Wayne County, North Carolina.

Fall of Belgrade to the Austrians as the Ottoman Empire continues to lose ground in Europe.

Edward Lloyd opens the London coffee house that soon becomes a popular meeting place for shipowners, merchants, insurance brokers and underwriters. In time the business association they form will outgrow the coffee house premises and become Lloyd's of London.

William of Orange enters London.

The Austrians incite a rebellion against the Ottomans in Bulgaria.

Janez Vajkard Valvasor becomes a member of the Royal Society.

Francesco Morosini becomes Doge of Venice.

Antonio Verrio begins work on the Heaven Room at Burghley House.

The Ottoman Turks besiege Vienna.

Neuruppin becomes a Prussian garrison town.

Earliest known mention of the balalaika.

Mazarin becomes first adviser to French potentate Richelieu on the death of Leclerc du Tremblay.

A widely reported earthquake occurs in Leipzig, Germany (also dated December 22).A Basic European Earthquake Catalogue and a Database for the evaluation of long-term seismicity and seismic hazard (BEECD). URL: //emidius.mi.ingv.it/BEECD/app/app_E.pdf. (retrieved March 5, 2008).

The Turks finally break into Rhodes, but the Knights continue fierce resistance in the streets.

Portuguese merchants establish factories on the east coast of Africa.

Poland prohibits peasants from leaving their lands, establishing serfdom.

Christ's College, Cambridge, is founded.

Vasili III succeeds Ivan III as Grand Prince of Muscovy.

Judah Abravanel becomes personal physician to the viceroy of Naples.

King Alexander of Poland signs the "Nihil novi" Act, making Poland a Nobles' Democracy.

A Portuguese fleet attacks Kilwa and then Mombasa. The Portuguese then attempt to monopolize the trade in the east African ports, but are unable to maintain control (by the late 16th century, Swahili groups regain control of several ports from the Portuguese).

John IX van Horne, prince-bishop of Lièges, Belgium, is executed.

Portuguese reach the Comoros.

Battle of Achnashellach said to have taken place in Scotland.

Portuguese under Dom Lourenço d\\'Almeida reach Colombo, Sri Lanka and send envoys to King of Kotte.

Portuguese under Dom Lourenço d'Almeida reach Colombo, Sri Lanka and send envoys to King of Kotte.

1505 "or" 1506 - Portuguese explorer Gonçalo Álvares is the first to sight what will later be known as Gough Island in the South Atlantic.

Idiosa III of Chardonnay is murdered.

Bermuda is discovered by Spanish explorer Juan de Bermúdez.

Corpus Christi College is founded as a College of the University of Cambridge, by the Guilds of Corpus Christi and the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Suleyman Pasha, the son of the Ottoman bey crosses the Bosporus and seizes Çimpe Castle on the Gallipoli Peninsula, the first European territory held by the Ottoman Empire.Nicolle, David and Hook, Adam. "//www.google.com/books?hl=enlr=id=C9UVaLyo4UECoi=fndpg=PA8 Ottoman Fortifications 1300-1710." Osprey Publishing, 2010. Accessed 3 Sept 2011.

The Earldom of Kent becomes extinct.

Reginald de Cobham, 1st Baron Cobham becomes a Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter of England.

William de Ashlee becomes Rector of Maids Moreton, England.

The town of Biel/Bienne, Switzerland finalizes its alliance with the city of Bern.

Dragoş becomes voivode of Moldova.

Moroccan traveller Ibn Battuta reports the existence of the ngoni and balafon instruments at the court of Mansa Musa.

Pope Innocent VI succeeds Pope Clement VI as the 199th pope.

The Metropolitan of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, the Metropolitan of Halych, begins to relocate back to Kiev, after having moved to Halych in 1299. Thereafter, the Metropolitan will hold the title of Metropolitan of Kiev-Halych and All Rus.

After years of begging and being a Buddhist monk, the penniless Chinese peasant Zhu Yuanzhang joins the Red Turban Rebellion against the Mongol-led Yuan Dynasty of China he will later become the first emperor of the Ming Dynasty.

Lionel of Antwerp marries Elizabeth, daughter of William de Burgh, 3rd Earl of Ulster.

The second of the Statutes of Mortmain are passed under King Edward I of England, which prevents land from passing into possession of the church. The statute "Quia Emptores" is also passed, reforming the feudal system of land leases and allowing the sale of fee simple estates.

Construction on the Akershus Fortress of Oslo, Norway is begun.

Upon the death of Magnus III, he is succeeded by his 10-year-old son Birger as king of Sweden. Although Sweden is an elective monarchy at this time, Birger has been appointed heir to the throne already in 1284.

Construction of Llandaff Cathedral is completed in Cardiff, Wales, 170 years after it was begun.

King Denis of Portugal decrees that Portuguese be the official language of Portugal, replacing classical Latin in that capacity.

The MongolGolden Horde invades the Bessarabia region of Moldavia.

The Nakhi kingdom of the northern Himalayan foothills is annexed by the Yuan Dynasty.

Kublai Khan renames his empire Yuan (元 yuán), officially marking the start of the Yuan Dynasty of China.

The Seljuk Turks capture BaghdadAl-Malik al-Rahim is taken prisoner.