Historical timeline for December 10

A widespread, deadly, and violent tornado outbreak slams the Central, Midwestern, and Southern regions of the United States. Eighty-nine people are killed by the tornadoes, with most of the fatalities occurring in Kentucky, where a single tornado kills 57 people, and injures hundreds of others. Another tornado in Edwardsville, Illinois strikes an Amazon warehouse, killing six workers.

The Ostrava hospital attack in the Czech Republic results in eight deaths, including the perpetrator.

ISIL is defeated in Iraq.

Two explosions outside a football stadium in Istanbul, Turkey, kill 38 people and injure 166 others.

Rojava conflict: The Syrian Democratic Council is established in Dêrik, forming the political wing of the Syrian Democratic Forces in northeast Syria.

Palestinian minister Ziad Abu Ein is killed after the suppression of a demonstration by Israeli forces in the village (Turmus'ayya) in Ramallah.

Sosoliso Airlines Flight 1145 crashes at Port Harcourt International Airport in Nigeria, killing 108 people.

Helen Clark is sworn in as Prime Minister of New Zealand, the second woman to hold the post and the first following an election.

The new Constitution of South Africa is promulgated by Nelson Mandela.

The Israeli army withdraws from Nablus pursuant to the terms of Oslo Accord.

Rwandan genocide: Maurice Baril, military advisor to the U.N. Secretary-General and head of the Military Division of the Department of Peacekeeping Operations, recommends that UNAMIR stand down.

The last shift leaves Wearmouth Colliery in Sunderland. The closure of the 156-year-old pit marks the end of the old County Durham coalfield, which had been in operation since the Middle Ages.

Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan establishes the Marriage Fund in the United Arab Emirates in response to rising wedding prices.

The Nagorno-Karabakh independence referendum is held, with 99.98% voting in favor of independence.

Nursultan Nazarbayev is sworn in as the 1st President of Kazakhstan.

The Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic is renamed into the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Mongolian Revolution: At the country's first open pro-democracy public demonstration, Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj announces the establishment of the Mongolian Democratic Union.

United Nations General Assembly recognizes the Convention against Torture.

Democracy is restored in Argentina with the inauguration of President Raúl Alfonsín.

Kaohsiung Incident: Taiwanese pro-democracy demonstrations are suppressed by the KMT dictatorship, and organizers are arrested.