- October 16
- George Jo Hennard, age 35, kills 23 and himself and wounds 20 in Killeen, Texas. [1] [41]
- October 20
- In Northern India, a magnitude 6.8 earthquake occurs. Two events about 1.6 seconds apart. At least 2,000 people killed, more than 1,800 injured and 18,000 buildings destroyed. [53]
- The Harare Declaration lays down the membership criteria for the Commonwealth of Nations. [41]
- October 21
- The Oakland Hills firestorm in California kills 25 and destroys 3,469 homes and apartments. [1] [41]
- October 27
- The first free parliamentary elections are held in Poland. [41]
- Turkmenistan declares its independence from the Soviet Union. [41] [350.36] [1175.98]
- October 28
- In Russia, Boris Yeltsin announces the lifting of price controls. [46.268]
- October 30
- Mid East peace conference begins in Madrid, Spain. [1]
- November 4
- Mid East peace conference ends in Madrid, Spain. [1]
- November 6
- The KGB officially stops operations. [41]
vvv advertisement vvv
^^^ advertisement ^^^
- November 7
- The last oil well fire in Kuwait is put out. [41]
- The first report on carbon nanotubes is published by Sumio Iijima in the journal Nature. [41]
- November 14
- American and British authorities announce indictments against 2 Libyan intelligence officials, in connection with the downing of the Pan Am Flight 103. [41]
- Cambodian Prince Norodom Sihanouk returns to Phnom Penh after 13 years of exile. [41]
- November 18
- Shiite Muslim kidnappers in Lebanon set Anglican Church envoy Terry Waite free, after four years of captivity. American educator Thomas M. Sutherland is also released. [1] [41] [129]
- Serb troops take Vukovar after an 87-day siege and commit the worst massacre in Croatian history. [41]
- November 19
- Near the West Coast of Colombia, a magnitude 7.2 earthquake occurs. [53]
- November 21
- Macedonia declares independence. [1367.631]
- November 27
- The United Nations Security Council unanimously adopts a resolution opening the way to the establishment of peacekeeping operations in Yugoslavia. [41]
- November 28
- In northern Iran, a magnitude 5.6 earthquake occurs. [53]
- November 30
- 93 cars and 11 trucks in accident near San Francisco during a dust storm, 17 die. [1]
- December 1
- Colorado party wins Paraguay parliamentary election. [1]
- Nursultan Nazarbayev sworn in as President of Kazakhstan. [1]
- Ukrainians vote overwhelmingly for independence from the Soviet Union in a referendum. [1] [41]
- December 2
- Muslim Shiites release American held hostage in Lebanon (Joseph Cicippio). [1]
- Canada recognizes Ukrainian independence, the first western country to do so. [1438.11]
- In Romania, a magnitude 5.5 earthquake occurs. Some people injured, about 4,500 people homeless and more than 5,000 buildings damaged. [53]
- December 3
- Muslim Shiites release US hostage Alan Steen. [1]
- December 4
- Muslim Shiites in Lebanon release last US hostage Terry Anderson (held 6.5 years). [1] [41] [129]
- December 8
- A referendum on the constitution of Romania is accepted as valid. [41]
- Leaders of Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine meet and sign an agreement ending the Soviet Union and establishing the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), in the Belovezhskaya Pushcha Nature Reserve in Belarus. [1] [41]
- December 11
- At their meeting in Maastricht, the heads of government of the European Community agree to a common European currency with an independent central bank by 1999 at the latest. [37]
- December 12
- Maastricht Treaty signed to create a European Community. [1]
- The Russian SFSR ceases to be a part of the Soviet Union. [41]
- December 13
- North and South Korea sign an accord calling for reconciliation. [1]
- December 14
- Ferry boat Salem Express sinks in Red Sea, 476 killed. [1]
- December 15
- The Egyptian ferry Salem Express sinks in the Red Sea, killing more than 450. [41]
- December
- Pacific Rarities sells a US 1838 $10 gold coin, Proof-65, one of three known, for $1,025,000. [604.48]
- December 16
- United Nations reverses ruling that Zionism is racism by 111-25 (13 abstain) vote. [1]
- The Federal Republic of Germany recognizes Croatia and Slovenia (former parts of Yugoslavia). [37]
- December 17
- Patrick Manning becomes premier of Trinidad and Tobago. [1]
- December 19
- Boris Yeltsin takes control of Kremlin. [1]
- Paul Keating replaces Bob Hawke as the new prime minister of Australia. [1] [41]
- December 20
- A Missouri court passes the death sentence on Palestinian militant Zein Isa and his wife Maria for the honor killing of their daughter Palestina. [41]
- December 21
- 95 people share in Madrid, Spain $1.3 billion lottery (number47996). [1]
- Soviet Union formally dissolves; 11 of 12 republics sign treaty forming Commonwealth of Independent States. [1]
- December 22
- One month after Freddie Mercury's death, Queen's re-release of "Bohemian Rhapsody" returns to the top of the British singles charts, 16 years after the original version. [41]
- December 25
- Mikhail Gorbachev formally resigns as President of USSR. [1] [41] [1660.78]
- December 26
- Jack Ruby's gun (killed Lee Harvey Oswald) sells for US$220,000 in auction. [1]
- Militant Sikhs kill 55 and wound 70 in India. [1]
- The Supreme Soviet meets and formally dissolves the Soviet Union. [41]
- An independent Ukraine is declared. [285.783]
- December 27
- Near Arlanda in Sweden, SAS flight SK751 crashes and breaks into three pieces. Miraculously, there is no explosion, no fire, and no fatalities among the 129 aboard. [7]
- December 28
- Irene the Icon of the Greek Orthodox church returns after being stolen. [1]
- Ninibeth Beatriz Leal Jiminez, 20, of Venezuela, is crowned 41st Miss World. [1]
- Ted Turner is named Time magazine Man of the Year. [1]
- December 29
- Boeing 747-200F of China Airlines crashes into mountain at Taipei. [1]
- December 31
- CPN, Communist Party of Netherlands, last day of existance. [1]
- The Soviet Union officially ceases to exist. [1] [41]
|