On This Day: December 26th

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.