What happened in December 1994?
The top front-page story of each day in December 1994, as it was reported at the time. Click a date to see that day’s full front page and the matching birthday books.
- Dec 1💰 Arafat Receives $200 Million – Donor nations and agencies agreed to inject over $200 million into Gaza to support Yasir Arafat's emergency financing needs.
- Dec 2🌍 U.N. AIDS Program Boost – 42 countries pledged support for a new U.N. program to combat AIDS, aiming to enhance prevention and fight discrimination against victims.
- Dec 3🔬 G.M. Electric Car Batteries – General Motors and a battery technology firm announced plans for commercial-scale production of electric car batteries next year.
- Dec 4🔬 Swedes Clinch Davis Cup – Sweden secured its fifth Davis Cup by defeating Russia in a thrilling doubles match, taking an unbeatable 3-0 lead in the series.
- Dec 5🧬 Obesity Gene Discovery – Scientists identified a genetic flaw linked to obesity in mice, sparking hope for future drug treatments for weight loss in humans.
- Dec 6🕊️ Nuclear Arms Treaty Effective – Clinton and Yeltsin exchanged documents to enact the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, aimed at reducing nuclear arsenals.
- Dec 7🔭 Hubble Peers Universe – The Hubble Space Telescope captures images of primeval galaxies, revealing the universe's rapid growth just after the Big Bang.
- Dec 8🏰 Oil Under Windsor Castle? – Queen Elizabeth II permits drilling to explore potential oil reserves beneath Windsor Castle.
- Dec 9🧪 Brain Tumor Treatment Success – An experimental therapy has halted the growth of an inoperable brain tumor in a Long Island woman, raising hopes for effective treatment.
- Dec 10⚖️ Supreme Court Case – The Supreme Court agreed to hear a crucial case on race in redistricting, addressing Louisiana's controversial congressional districting plan.
- Dec 11🌍 Free-Trade Zone Created – President Clinton and 33 leaders agree to establish a free-trade zone in the Americas, aiming for a treaty by 2005.
- Dec 12🌍 Free Trade Area Declared – The U.S., Canada, and 32 Latin American countries announced plans to create a free-trade area by 2006, boosting economies across the hemisphere.
- Dec 13🔬 Gene Therapy Breakthrough – Dr. Jeffrey Isner and Dr. Robert Schainfeld attempted the first gene therapy for vascular disease, potentially revolutionizing treatment.
- Dec 14🏭 Fertilizer Plant Explosion – An explosion at a fertilizer plant killed four workers and injured at least 15, releasing a large cloud of ammonia gas.
- Dec 15🔬 Blood-Testing Merger – National Health Laboratories and Roche Biomedical Laboratories announced a $1.79 billion merger to create the largest blood-testing company.
- Dec 16🦕 Prehistoric Footprints Saved – A plan was announced to preserve ancient footprints in Tanzania, dating back 3.5 million years, showcasing early human ancestors' movements.
- Dec 17📈 Dow Up 41.72 – Stock traders bid up prices during the heaviest trading day since the 1987 crash, ignoring signs of an overheating economy.
- Dec 18🏛️ New Park Named – A 3.5-acre segment of land in Battery Park City has been named Robert F. Wagner Jr. Park, honoring the former mayor.
- Dec 19🏆 Els Wins Final Tournament – Ernie Els wraps up a productive year with a convincing 6-stroke victory in the final tournament, solidifying his status as a top golfer.
- Dec 20🔬 Major Gas Discovery – Chevron announces a significant natural gas discovery off Australia's northwest coast, potentially enhancing nearby gas fields.
- Dec 21📈 Nike Earnings Surge – Nike Inc. shares rose 8.5% after reporting a 62% increase in earnings, marking its first earnings rise in six quarters.
- Dec 22🔬 New Element Detected – German physicists created and identified three atoms of a new element, marking a significant achievement in nuclear physics.
- Dec 23🏭 Boeing Jetliner Orders – German companies Air Berlin and Lufthansa order eight Boeing jetliners in a deal worth up to $692 million, boosting the aviation industry.
- Dec 24🏅 Olympic Coin Deal – The U.S. Mint signed a million-dollar deal with China Gold Coin Inc. to promote U.S. Olympic coins, potentially leading to limited availability.
- Dec 25🏛️ New Brussels Terminal – Brussels Airport opens a new terminal, doubling its capacity to 21 million passengers annually, enhancing international travel options.
- Dec 26🕊️ Zail Singh Passes Away – Zail Singh, India's first Sikh President, died at 78 after a car accident, marking the end of an era for Indian politics.
- Dec 27🏞️ Stone Age Art Gallery Found – A prehistoric art gallery discovered along the Coa River in Portugal raises excitement and concerns over potential flooding from a dam.
- Dec 28🌍 Rabin Visits Oman – Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin visits Oman, marking the first trip by an Israeli leader to the Persian Gulf, aiming to strengthen ties with Arab nations.
- Dec 29🎈 Balloon Crew Ready – A crew prepares to launch the Earthwinds Hilton balloon, aiming for the first nonstop circumnavigation of the globe in a balloon.
- Dec 30🔬 Tumor Shrinkage Breakthrough – Researchers in California discovered a method to shrink tumors with a single injection of proteins in animal experiments.
- Dec 31👑 Queen's Honors List – Queen Elizabeth II recognized 1,200 Britons, including musician Eric Clapton, in her New Year's Honors List.
Happy Birthday! 1994 – The Year in Headlines
The whole of 1994 in real headlines. See the 1994 book →
Born in December? Pick the day
Every birthday in December has its own On This Day in Headlines book: