In History, Today on December 30

The World Health Organization was alerted to several cases of pneumonia in Wuhan, China, which would later be identified as the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), leading to a global pandemic.

The United States and NATO formally end their combat mission in Afghanistan, transitioning to a support role for Afghan security forces.

A suicide bombing at the Volgograd railway station in Russia killed at least 18 people and injured dozens. The attack was part of a series of bombings in the city, raising security concerns ahead of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.

The Samoan government officially changed the country's time zone by skipping December 30, 2011, to align its calendar with its main trading partners, Australia and New Zealand. This change was intended to improve economic relations and streamline business operations.

Former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein was executed by hanging after being convicted of crimes against humanity by the Iraqi Special Tribunal. His execution marked the end of a significant chapter in Iraq's post-invasion history.

A fire at the República Cromañón nightclub in Buenos Aires, Argentina, killed 194 people and injured over 1,400. The tragedy occurred during a rock concert when a flare ignited the foam ceiling, leading to a deadly blaze.

In the Indian state of Assam, a passenger train was bombed by Bodo separatists, resulting in the deaths of 26 people.

Israel and the Vatican established diplomatic relations, marking a significant step in the improvement of Jewish-Catholic relations following centuries of tension.

King Michael I of Romania was forced to abdicate the throne by the Communist Party of Romania, marking the end of the Romanian monarchy and the establishment of a communist regime.

Astronomer Edwin Hubble announced the existence of galaxies beyond the Milky Way, fundamentally changing the understanding of the universe and establishing the field of extragalactic astronomy.

The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) was officially established, uniting Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, and the Transcaucasian Federation (comprising Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia) into a single federal state.

A fire at the Iroquois Theatre in Chicago resulted in the deaths of at least 602 people, making it the deadliest single-building fire in U.S. history at the time.

The Gadsden Purchase was finalized, in which the United States agreed to pay Mexico $10 million for a 29,670 square mile region of present-day southern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico. This purchase facilitated the construction of a southern transcontinental railroad.

The Battle of Wakefield took place during the Wars of the Roses, a series of civil wars for control of the throne of England. Richard, Duke of York, was killed in this battle, which was a significant victory for the Lancastrians.

The Byzantine general Belisarius defeats the Vandals, led by King Gelimer, at the Battle of Tricamarum, effectively ending the Vandal Kingdom in North Africa.