In History, Today on December 31

The World Health Organization was alerted to several cases of pneumonia in Wuhan, China, which would later be identified as COVID-19, marking the beginning of the global pandemic.

Belgian police arrested multiple people and seized military uniforms and ISIS propaganda material as part of an anti-terror operation aimed at disrupting New Year's Eve attacks in Brussels.

The New Year's Eve celebrations in Shanghai, China, turned tragic when a stampede occurred, resulting in the deaths of 36 people and injuring 49 others.

The United Nations Security Council ended its peacekeeping mission in East Timor, known as the United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste (UNMIT), after the country achieved significant stability following its independence in 2002.

The United States formally ended its military mission in Iraq, marking the withdrawal of the last U.S. troops from the country after nearly nine years of conflict.

The Burj Khalifa, the tallest man-made structure in the world, was completed in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. It officially opened on January 4, 2010.

In the United States, the last day of the General Motors (GM) 2008 liquidation, as the automaker closed several of its factories and brands due to severe financial losses.

The official death toll from the Indian Ocean tsunami, which occurred on December 26, 2004, was reported to have surpassed 125,000 people across multiple countries, with Indonesia being the hardest hit.

The world prepared for potential Y2K computer problems as the date changed to the year 2000, with widespread fears of technological failures that largely did not materialize.

The Soviet Union was officially dissolved, marking the end of the Cold War and the beginning of a new era in Eastern Europe and Central Asia.

The AT&T Bell System was broken up by the U.S. government, leading to the creation of several independent companies and the end of its monopoly on telephone service.

Paul McCartney filed a lawsuit against the rest of The Beatles to legally dissolve the band's partnership. This came after internal disputes and a year of public tension following their break-up.

The Central African Federation, also known as the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, was officially dissolved, leading to the independence of its constituent countries.

The Marshall Plan, created to aid the recovery of European economies after the devastation of World War II, officially expired.

President Harry S. Truman officially proclaimed the end of hostilities in World War II, marking the formal conclusion of the war for the United States.

The chimes of Big Ben, the clock tower of the Palace of Westminster in London, were broadcast for the first time by the BBC to mark the new year.

The Manhattan Bridge, a suspension bridge connecting Manhattan and Brooklyn in New York City, officially opened to traffic.

The first New Year's Eve celebration was held in Times Square, New York City, marking the beginning of a long-standing tradition.

Thomas Edison demonstrated incandescent lighting to the public for the first time in Menlo Park, New Jersey, revolutionizing the use of electric light.

Queen Victoria chose Ottawa as the capital of Canada, a decision that helped unify the provinces of Canada.

The United States and Mexico signed the Gadsden Purchase agreement, whereby the US bought a strip of land along the southern boundaries of present-day Arizona and New Mexico.

The Battle of Quebec took place during the American Revolutionary War, where British forces successfully defended the city against an American attack.

Arthur Guinness signed a 9,000-year lease at St. James's Gate Brewery, Dublin, and began brewing Guinness beer.

The British East India Company was chartered by Queen Elizabeth I, marking the beginning of British trade and eventual colonial influence in India.

The first marriage by proxy of Katherine of Aragon and Prince Arthur of England took place. This was an essential step in securing the political alliance between England and Spain.

The death of John Wycliffe, an influential theologian and reformer, often referred to as the 'Morning Star of the Reformation'. Wycliffe was known for his criticism of the church's wealth and power, and for translating the Bible into English.

The Siege of Lisbon concluded in a decisive Christian victory during the Second Crusade, leading to the establishment of the Kingdom of Portugal as a recognized Christian kingdom, eventually contributing to the expansion over the Iberian Peninsula.

The Concordat of London was agreed upon, where Henry I of England and Anselm, Archbishop of Canterbury, reached an agreement to settle the Investiture Controversy in England, marked by a compromise that allowed bishops to perform homage for their temporalities but keeping investiture as a spiritual act.

Pope Sylvester II celebrated a mass in Rome, marking the end of the first millennium and the beginning of the second.

The Treaty of Meerssen was signed, dividing the Carolingian Empire among the sons of Louis the German and Charles the Bald, further fragmenting the empire and setting the stage for the future development of European states.

The Byzantine general Belisarius completed the conquest of Sicily, marking a significant step in Emperor Justinian I's campaign to reconquer the Western Roman Empire territories.

A coalition of Germanic tribes, including the Vandals, Alans, and Suebi, crossed the frozen Rhine River, entering the Roman Empire's territory, marking a significant moment in the decline of Roman control in Western Europe.