In History, Today on December 13

Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google, testified before the U.S. House Judiciary Committee amid concerns about privacy and data security.

The Walt Disney Company announced its intention to acquire 21st Century Fox for $52.4 billion, a deal that would significantly reshape the media landscape.

The Paris Agreement was adopted by consensus at the 21st Conference of the Parties of the UNFCCC in Paris, France, aiming to combat climate change and accelerate actions and investments needed for a sustainable low carbon future.

Lima Climate Change Conference concluded, resulting in the Lima Call for Climate Action, which laid the groundwork for the Paris Agreement.

A bus accident killed 11 children and 4 adults in the Francisco Morazán department of Honduras.

The United States formally ended its military mission in Iraq with a ceremony in Baghdad, marking the conclusion of nearly nine years of military operations in the country.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued an emergency order against the city of San Juan, Texas, due to contamination detected in the public water system, affecting nearly 12,000 residents.

The Treaty of Lisbon was signed by the European Union member states, aiming to streamline EU institutions and increase efficiency. It came into force on December 1, 2009.

The Baiji oil refinery in Iraq was attacked by insurgents, causing significant damage and highlighting the ongoing instability in the region during the Iraq War.

Former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein was captured by U.S. forces in Operation Red Dawn near his hometown of Tikrit, Iraq.

The Indian Parliament attack occurred when five armed terrorists stormed the Parliament House in New Delhi, India, leading to a gun battle that resulted in the deaths of six police officers, a civilian, and the five terrorists.

Al Gore conceded the U.S. presidential election to George W. Bush following a Supreme Court decision.

Kofi Annan from Ghana is appointed as the Secretary-General of the United Nations, becoming the first black African to head the organization. He takes office on January 1, 1997, serving two terms.

Martial law is declared in Poland to crush the Solidarity movement.

Malta becomes a republic within the Commonwealth of Nations.

Eugene Cernan and Harrison Schmitt, astronauts of Apollo 17, became the last humans to walk on the Moon. Apollo 17 was the final mission of NASA's Apollo program.

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame announces its first inductees, including artists like Elvis Presley, Fats Domino, Ray Charles, and Chuck Berry. The Hall of Fame was established to recognize the contributions of those who have most influenced the development of rock and roll.

The Knesset voted to move the capital of Israel to Jerusalem.

The Nazi government in Germany initiates the Decree for 'Combating the Gypsy Plague' as part of its racial purity policies, exacerbating persecution of Romani people.

The Nanking Massacre begins as Japanese troops capture Nanjing, China.

President Woodrow Wilson arrives in France to participate in the World War I peace negotiations and the Versailles Treaty discussions.

The Washington Monument was completed in Washington D.C., becoming the tallest structure in the world at the time. The monument, an iconic obelisk, honors George Washington, the first President of the United States.

The Battle of Fredericksburg took place during the American Civil War. General Robert E. Lee's Confederate Army achieved a significant victory against the Union Army led by Major General Ambrose Burnside.

The discovery of the element Lanthanum is announced by Swedish chemist Carl Gustaf Mosander. He discovered it by isolating it from impure cerium nitrate.

Dartmouth College is chartered by King George III of Great Britain on land provided by Royal Governor John Wentworth.

Abel Tasman becomes the first European to sight New Zealand.

The Massachusetts Bay Colony organizes three militia regiments to defend the colony against the Pequot Indians, which is considered the founding of the National Guard of the United States.

Sir Francis Drake sets sail from Plymouth, England, on his voyage around the world.

The Council of Trent, an ecumenical council of the Roman Catholic Church, began in Trento, Italy. It was one of the Church's most important councils, prompted by the Protestant Reformation, and it played a crucial role in the Counter-Reformation.

Pope Celestine V abdicates the papacy after only five months in office. He was one of the very few popes to resign willingly, overwhelmed by the burdens of the papal office.

The death of Frederick II marks a turning point in the Holy Roman Empire. Frederick II, a member of the Hohenstaufen dynasty, was one of the most powerful and ambitious Holy Roman Emperors. His death led to a period of instability and decline for the empire.

The Battle of the Holme took place between the forces of the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of Wessex and East Anglia against the Danelaw Vikings. The battle was part of the ongoing conflicts between the Anglo-Saxons and the Vikings during this period.