On this day — December 18

defeating title holders France 4–2 on penalties following a 3–3 draw after extra time.

derailed near DuPont, Washington, a city in United States near Olympia, Washington killing six people, and injuring 70 others.

the last deep coal mine in Great Britain, closes.

The death toll of all flooding is at least 118, with over 400,000 people displaced.

allegedly backed by neighbouring Sudan, launch an attack in Adré.

Then Governor of California Gray Davis announces that the state would face a record budget deficit of $35 billion, roughly double the figure reported during his reelection campaign one month earlier.

including ASTER, CERES, MISR, MODIS and MOPITT.

Cuando, Angola, killing 141 people.

the world's largest combat aircraft, largest supersonic aircraft and largest variable-sweep wing aircraft built.

Utah, killing all three crew members on board.

Madeira, Portugal, killing 36.

Soyuz 13, crewed by cosmonauts Valentin Lebedev and Pyotr Klimuk, is launched from Baikonur in the Soviet Union.