1370 –Hundred Years' War: In two separate engagements in theBattle of Pontvallain(depicted), French forces wiped out an English army which had split up because of a dispute between the commanders.
2010 – The Japanese experimental spacecraftIKAROS flew by Venus at a distance of 80,800 km (50,200 mi), completing its planned mission to demonstratesolar-sail technology.
1890 – TheNew York World Building, the then-tallest building in the United States at a height of 110 meters, was completed in New York City.
1907 – During theBrown Dog affair, protesters marched through London and clashed with police officers inTrafalgar Square over the existence of a memorial for animals that had beenvivisected.
1992 –War in Abkhazia: A helicopter carrying evacuees was shot down during thesiege of Tkvarcheli, resulting in at least 52 deaths and catalysing more concerted Russian military intervention on behalf ofAbkhazia.
1888 – During a bout ofmental illness, Dutch painterVincent van Gogh(pictured) severed part of his left ear and gave it to a woman in a brothel inArles, France.
1979 – The Soviet government deployed troops in Afghanistan, starting theSoviet–Afghan War.
1994 –Air France Flight 8969 was hijacked by four terrorists and, after the execution of three passengers, were then overpowered by the FrenchGIGN inMarseille.
2004 –A major earthquake and tsunami devastated communities around the Indian Ocean, killing an estimated 227,898 people in 14 countries.
2015 –A violent tornado moves through several suburbs ofDallas, Texas, killing ten and injuring almost 500 others. It was the deadliest tornado to ever hit Texas during the month of December.
1916 – Up to 1,000 lumber workersinitiated a labor strike against the Virginia and Rainy Lake Lumber Company in Minnesota, United States, which lasted over a month.
1925 – The Tokyo Grand Sumo Association becomes theAll Japan Sumo Association at the instigation of Prince-RegentHirohito, laying the foundations for the world's sole professionalsumo association.
2009 – Tibetan dissident filmmakerDhondup Wangchen was imprisoned for subversion by Chinese authorities after a secret trial.
2014 –Indonesia AirAsia Flight 8501 crashed into theJava Sea after the pilots mishandled a non-critical error in the cockpit, which resulted in all 162 people on board being killed.
1983 – Two Australian biologists published an article titled "A Synopsis of the ClassReptilia in Australia", initiating theWells and Wellington affair.
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