Historical timeline for December 26

Israel recognises Somaliland as an independent state, becoming the first country to do so.

Three people are killed when a 14-year-old opens fire on civilians at a Texaco convenience store in Garland, Texas.

A violent EF-4 tornado hits Garland, Texas, killing nine and injuring almost 500 others.

An Irkut-Avia Antonov An-12 crashes on approach to Irkutsk Northwest Airport, killing all nine people on board.

China opens the world's longest high-speed rail route, which links Beijing and Guangzhou.

Two earthquakes in Hengchun, Taiwan measuring 7.0 and 6.9 on the moment magnitude scale kill two and disrupt telecommunications across Asia.

The 9.1–9.3 Mw Indian Ocean earthquake shakes northern Sumatra with a maximum Mercalli intensity of IX (Violent). One of the largest observed tsunamis, it affected coastal and partially mainland areas of Thailand, India, Sri Lanka, the Maldives, Malaysia, Myanmar, Bangladesh, and Indonesia; death toll is estimated at 227,898.

Orange Revolution: The final run-off election in Ukraine is held under heavy international scrutiny.

The 6.6 Mw Bam earthquake shakes southeastern Iran with a maximum Mercalli intensity of IX (Violent), leaving more than 26,000 dead and 30,000 injured.

The storm Lothar sweeps across Central Europe, killing 137 and causing US$1.3 billion in damage.

Iraq announces its intention to fire upon U.S. and British warplanes that patrol the northern and southern no-fly zones.

Four Armed Islamic Group hijackers seize control of Air France Flight 8969. When the plane lands at Marseille, a French Gendarmerie assault team boards the aircraft and kills the hijackers.

Kuban Airlines Flight 5719 crashes during a go-around at Gyumri Shirak International Airport, killing 35 of the 36 people on board.

The Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union meets and formally dissolves the Soviet Union, ending the Cold War.

United Express Flight 2415 crashes on approach to the Tri-Cities Airport in Pasco, Washington, killing all six people on board.

Witnesses report the first of several sightings of unexplained lights near RAF Woodbridge, in Rendlesham Forest, Suffolk, England, United Kingdom, an incident called "Britain's Roswell".

The inaugural Paris-Dakar Rally begins.

Tu-144, the world's first commercial supersonic aircraft, surpassing Mach 2, goes into service.

Vietnam War: As part of Operation Linebacker II, 120 American B-52 Stratofortress bombers attacked Hanoi, including 78 launched from Andersen Air Force Base in Guam, the largest single combat launch in Strategic Air Command history.

Pan Am Flight 799 crashes during takeoff from Elmendorf Air Force Base, killing three.