Christmas is celebrated every year on 25th December.

It is mainly the festival of

Christians. But in today’s time, the festival of Christmas has surpassed the
religious boundaries and become a symbol of the holistic culture. The winters in
December carry a festive feeling.

Usually, the celebration begins much before the main day and continues for
around 2 weeks after that. Men and women celebrate Christmas to honor the
birth of Jesus Christ. Religious people go to church and light the candles to pray
to their God, Jesus Christ.

A festival that is equally loved and cherished by adults and kids. People also
bring a Christmas tree to their homes and decorate it with colorful balls, ribbons,
and red socks. Market shops and showrooms display a theme of glittering red
and white colors to set up the Christmas mood.

On Christmas night, folks enjoy a big feast and share gifts with each other.
Homemade traditional plum cakes, cupcakes, and muffins are the special treats
on Christmas. Kids are showered with lots of presents and new dresses. They
also get to meet the ‘Santa Claus’, dressed in a fluffy red and white costume,
who greets them with hugs and gifts.

Christmas is a festival of joy. It is about sharing and helping others. On this day,
people remember Jesus Christ and his lessons of life. The festival definitely
teaches us to practice kindness and love toward each other and help those who
have less than us.

Christmas is the season of joy, peace, and happiness. It is the special season set
aside to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. Though this was its original purpose,
the celebration of Christmas has grown to become a symbolic time for living in
peace and love.

Christmas is essentially a reminder of why we should stick to the deepest parts of

our humanity. That is, through celebration, we are reminded that we should
share, give to the less privileged, spend time with loved ones and have a positive
outlook about life in general.
Origin of Christmas:
Many people assume Christmas is strictly a Christian celebration and they would
be right if modern evidence is to be considered. However, with regards to its
origin, this notion cannot be farther from the truth. In actual sense, Christmas
originated a few decades after the birth of Jesus in the old Roman Empire.

Christmas emanated as the Pagan celebration of the concept known as

Saturnalia. This celebration was aimed at celebrating the return of the sun and
the end of winter. The celebration is usually a weeklong affair and is marked by
lawless activity and a system of penal exemption from lawless acts such as
housing breaking.

In the 4th century, Christians adapted the last day of Saturnalia to be the
celebration of Christmas. The aim was to get the pagans to associate this period
with positive things. Consequently, lots of pagans converted to Christianity on the
promise that they could still celebrate their tradition in this day. Whether Jesus
was actually born on the 25 of December is not substantiated by historical
evidence.

Essay on Christmas
How many times have you thought as a child that tonight the Santa Claus will
come and give gifts to you? Many times you may actually receive them although
they are presents from your family. Such is the craze of Santa Claus and the
gifts, Christmas trees associated with the festival of Christmas. It is a festival
which attracts people of all faith towards it. Being one of those festivals which is
widely celebrated all over the world, it is important for us to know about this
festival we call Christmas. It does have a history to it along with some marked
traditions which go along with it. In order to make students aware of all this, we
have come up with long essays for students which shall enlighten them more
about this festival.

Christmas is celebrated every year on 25th December. It is mainly the festival of

Christians. But in today’s time, the festival of Christmas has surpassed the
religious boundaries and become a symbol of the holistic culture. The winters in
December carry a festive feeling.
Usually, the celebration begins much before the main day and continues for
around 2 weeks after that. Men and women celebrate Christmas to honor the
birth of Jesus Christ. Religious people go to church and light the candles to pray
to their God, Jesus Christ.

A festival that is equally loved and cherished by adults and kids. People also
bring a Christmas tree to their homes and decorate it with colorful balls, ribbons,
and red socks. Market shops and showrooms display a theme of glittering red
and white colors to set up the Christmas mood.

On Christmas night, folks enjoy a big feast and share gifts with each other.
Homemade traditional plum cakes, cupcakes, and muffins are the special treats
on Christmas. Kids are showered with lots of presents and new dresses. They
also get to meet the ‘Santa Claus’, dressed in a fluffy red and white costume,
who greets them with hugs and gifts.

Christmas is a festival of joy. It is about sharing and helping others. On this day,
people remember Jesus Christ and his lessons of life. The festival definitely
teaches us to practice kindness and love toward each other and help those who
have less than us.
Introduction:
Christmas is the season of joy, peace, and happiness. It is the special season set
aside to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. Though this was its original purpose,
the celebration of Christmas has grown to become a symbolic time for living in
peace and love.

Christmas is essentially a reminder of why we should stick to the deepest parts of

our humanity. That is, through celebration, we are reminded that we should
share, give to the less privileged, spend time with loved ones and have a positive
outlook about life in general.

Origin of Christmas:
Many people assume Christmas is strictly a Christian celebration and they would
be right if modern evidence is to be considered. However, with regards to its
origin, this notion cannot be farther from the truth. In actual sense, Christmas
originated a few decades after the birth of Jesus in the old Roman Empire.

Christmas emanated as the Pagan celebration of the concept known as

Saturnalia. This celebration was aimed at celebrating the return of the sun and
the end of winter. The celebration is usually a weeklong affair and is marked by
lawless activity and a system of penal exemption from lawless acts such as
housing breaking.

In the 4th century, Christians adapted the last day of Saturnalia to be the
celebration of Christmas. The aim was to get the pagans to associate this period
with positive things. Consequently, lots of pagans converted to Christianity on the
promise that they could still celebrate their tradition in this day. Whether Jesus
was actually born on the 25 of December is not substantiated by historical
evidence.
Importance of Christmas:
Why do we celebrate Christmas? Why do we go the extra mile to celebrate, give
and create an atmosphere of merriment? The answers to these questions are
numerous but we would mention a few.

1. Christmas reminds us of the importance of giving and sharing with friends and
family.
2. Christmas shows the importance of joy and happiness.

3. Through Christmas, we know that Jesus birth is the beginning of great things
in the world.

4. It is also an opportunity to correct actions we aren’t proud of in our lives.

5. It is generally an opportunity to think about nature and the reason for our
existence.

Conclusion:
Whether you’re Christian or not, Christmas is an opportunity for you to put your
biases and ill thought behind in the celebration of a great cause.

Christmas is a well-known Christian holiday set in December, celebrated the

world over and famed for its decorations and Santa Clause. Christmas is
celebrated on the 25th of December, on the occasion of the birth of Jesus Christ.
One can write for ages about the many wonders that Christmas inspires in
people. This holiday is also famous for the different customs that are associated
with it and even though Christmas is celebrated in all Christian countries there
are differences in the way each nation commemorates this date.
Christmas Traditions:
One of the more famous symbols of this holiday is the Christmas tree. Most
people do not think about it and just maintain that this custom has been around
for ages, while in fact, it is in use for the past 150 years. The idea originated in
Germany and later on, it was spread to the rest of the western world by Queen
Victoria and Prince Albert. This event was meant for the entire family to enjoy a
day before the 25th of December.
The famous Santa Clause celebrated in many movies and made famous by
Coca-Cola commercials is actually Saint Nicholas and he is traditionally
celebrated on the 6th of December. The Santa goes around town and checks if all
the children were good and if they were, he left them a present, but if a child
misbehaved often the Krampus would come to punish them by leaving a whip for
the parents. This myth was taken on by the movie industry and transformed into
the white beard and red-coated child hero of today.
Traditionally Christmas is celebrated by a Church mass in the morning and then
by a family meal later on in the day. That is if you are a religious person,
otherwise, most people have some sort of Christmas dinner where they sing the
appropriate songs and drink special drinks, somewhere its egg- nock and in other
places its sweetened cooked red wine. Whatever the tradition the point of the
holiday is to spend some quality time with your loved ones eating and resting.

Modern Christmas:
Christmas is also famous as the time of the year when we give gifts to each other
and appropriately this is also the time when companies try to sell everything they
can. Marketing experts know how to use the traditional symbols of Christmas to
make you want to buy something that you do not actually need. Not to mention
that every gift that Santa brings has to be bought somewhere and every child
wants a visit from their favorite imagined gift giver. The consumer society has
transformed this holiday and made it part of its cosmology, the basic elements
are still here but everything is set around decoration, gifts, and movies.

Whatever the backdrop of the holiday it still remains one of the coziest times of
the year, at least form me. Spending time at home with the people we love,
embraced, watching movies and surrounded by flickering lights is the image I
have in my head when I think about Christmas. This is also an image that brings
warmth to my heart.

Christmas is a Christian holiday that is celebrated all over the world on

December 25th. Christmas is the time of the year when people commemorate the
birth of Jesus Christ. It is a cultural festivity that brings families together in a
celebratory mood. Every Christian loves Christmas because it is full of joy, full of
gifts, family gets together and beautiful Christmas carols are sang all over.
Preparations for Christmas:
Christmas is a cultural festivity that entails a lot of preparations. It is a public
holiday and so people get a Christmas break to celebrate it. Preparations for
Christmas start early for most people so that celebrations begin on the eve of
Christmas. Preparations for Christmas involves a lot of activities.

Plans on who you are spending the Christmas together must be made before any
preparations begin because you want to be considerate on their preferences and
way of doing things. Shopping for Christmas is done as art of the preparations
and people usually buy decorations, food and gifts mostly for children in the
family and friends. Some families shop for matching Christmas outfits for
everyone.

The common preparations include decorations of the place with Christmas trees,
lighting. Before decorations begin, the house must be deep cleaned. The
Christmas tree brings the Christmas spirit in homes because it is all glittery and
shiny with all the decorations. Presents are placed under the Christmas tree in
wrapped gift boxes and are not to be opened till Christmas day.

Churches and Sunday schools make their own preparations for Christmas
through practicing songs and skits to be performed on Christmas day. The songs
and skits are usually about the stories of the birth of Jesus Christ from the Bible.
The church is also decorated for the special event. Thorough cleaning of the
churches is also done to usher in Christmas.

Travel plans are also made for families and friend who would lie to spend their
Christmas holiday in a nice place. People usually spend a lot on Christmas and
so saving money for these plans should be the earliest preparation among all
these.

As tradition for most families across the world, turkey is the common meal.
Turkey orders have to be made early to avoid missing on the traditional
Christmas meal. Christmas cards are also written to friends and family to wish
them a happy holiday and to show love.

What happens on Christmas Eve?

Activities done on the Christmas Eve are still preparations. Christmas dinner is
prepared, the tables are set, and gifts that had not been wrapped are wrapped
and placed under the Christmas tree. Families come together in a Christmas
spirit and share in the spirit of Christmas and the excitement for the day that is to
come.

What happens on Christmas day?

The activities on Christmas day are usually few because everything was
prepared in advance. The day begins with a countdown at 11:59 pm at night
whereby people shout in celebration when it gets to 12:00 midnight. Christmas
carols are played on radios and televisions to mark the day. Most families start
by going to church where performances and songs are done. Then later, they
join their families to exchange gifts and celebrate with food and music.
Happiness during Christmas is like no other.

During exchange of gifts, children believe that they are from Santa Claus. Santa
Claus or Father Christmas is a figure originating from the western Christian
culture who is believed to bring gifts to disciplined children during Christmas.
Children tend to behave well as they anticipate gifts from Santa.

In conclusion, Christmas is basically the best time of the year for both children
and adults.
 SPORTMANSHIP

Children get lessons in sportsmanship from athletes on TV.

However, a lot of the time it's not good sportsmanship. Therefore,
someone has to teach them what good sportsmanship really is -
playing by the rules, respecting your opponents and the officials
and putting hard work over winning.

Good sportsmanship should first be taught by parents. If a child is

pushed by a parent to win at all cost, chances are that
sportsmanship may get lost along the way. Parents should be good
role models for kids. They should always show good sportsmanship
themselves. Kids learn from what they see.

Children should be taught good sportsmanship, starting at a very

young age. Being considerate, showing respect and playing fair can
be taught early in life. If this is done, being a good sport should
become natural for them. Also, when these kids get on the playing
field or ball court, good sportsmanship should come easier for
them. They can be good examples for others to follow.


If parents will take that first step in teaching their kids to always
play by the rules - don't talk trash or tease opponents; admit when
you make a mistake, don't make excuses or blame others; always
try your hardest even if you are getting beat; don't argue with calls
by officials; don't show off, and have fun - good sportsmanship can
be saved.

I have always been taught good sportsmanship and the importance

it plays in my life and the outcome of the sports I play. That's why
I think sportsmanship plays a vital role in sports.
Sportsmanship is very important when you play sports and are
involved in other activities. When you have sportsmanship, you
have better games. You don't get angry when calls don't go your
way. Also, you get along better with everyone, including your
opponents. When you use good sportsmanship you have a chance
at better teamwork and a good attitude. Using sportsmanship helps
the team work together as one on and off the courts. You also gain
a better perspective of things, and you feel good for playing fair. So
it's important to have sportsmanship.

Good sportsmanship comes from players who are determined to

give it 100 percent all the time. You gain sportsmanship by playing
fair and controlling your actions. Sportsmanship can take you high
in life. People who have good sportsmanship have better games.
Sportsmanship can do a lot for your future. You can be recognized
for all sorts of things, such as awards, spots on your team, and
maybe if you're lucky, you could even get a scholarship. So having
good sportsmanship can help you in the long run.

There is also bad sportsmanship. Unfortunately, this route is taken

far too often. It's easier to be a bad sport. Bad sportsmanship is
shown when you down another player, hurt someone on purpose
or throw a fit because things don't go your way. Bad sportsmanship
comes from not having the desire to give it whatever it takes. I think
when you have bad sportsmanship you are upset or want to take
the easy road. People who have bad sportsmanship on the courts
are going to have bad attitudes off the courts. So bad
sportsmanship can ruin things for you now and in the long run.

So next time you hear it's good to show sportsmanship you will
understand why. Also remember "Dare to play fair!" It will help you
go far in life and in everything you do. Also, having good
sportsmanship will help you succeed in life.
2.
Sportsmanship means not only taking part in sports and playing the game in conformity with
the rules prescribed, but also playing the game of the life in accordance with the spirit imbibed
on the playing fields. A true sportsman observes all those rules in life which he has been
taught to observe in games. One who has achieved skill or proficiency in games but has not
learned to apply the principles of sports to life in general does not deserve to be true a
sportsman. On the contrary, a man who gives evidence of possessing a strong spirit in the
wider sphere of life but has not attained excellence in games is still a sportsman. Usually
those who play games develop into true sportsman because their character is molded by the
training they are gone on the field.

Fair play, respect for discipline, recognition of the need for team work and cheerfulness even
in the event of defeat are thus the dominant marks of a sportsman. It is evident that
sportsmanship is something worthy of admirations. It is conducive to human happiness and
welfare.

Sportsmanship implies first fair play. In games if any player plays foul, the side to which he
belongs is penalized. Similarly in bigger game of life one should always be fair in one’s dealing
with others.

Fairness, honesty, integrity, openness of heart and frankness - these are the qualities that a
sportsman should display in life. One should not practice deceptions, should not bluff, should
not cheat others and should indulge in diplomacy or humbleness. A sportsman never takes
undue advantage of the weakness of his adversary nor does he hit below the bet.

Next, sportsmanship implies obedience to the leader. In games the players have to obey their
captain and yield to him on points on which they are in disargreemt with him. They should
repose the fullest confidence in their captains. In life too, a sportsman yields to his superior
even if he does not agree with him. Respect for discipline is an essential part of sportsmanship.

Team spirit is also an important element of sportsmanship. In gams the various players must
cooperate with one another if they wish to win a match. Without mutual cooperation, success
is impossible. Similarly in whatever sphere of life one maybe, one must aid and be aided by
one’s friends if one is a true sportsman. Sportsmanship consists in working in full harmony
with others.

In cooperation indeed lies strength. Wherever a common aid binds a number of people
together, they must display their sportsmanship by working harmoniously without frictions or
mutual jealousy. Finally, the sprite of sportsmanship demands cheerfulness even in the face
of a defeat.
When two players play a tennis match, the loser does not cherish any grudge against the
winner. In fact the loser congratulates his successor and shakes hands with him.
 Topics in the news

SMS Scharnhorst, c. 1908

 In New Zealand, the Whakaari/White Island volcano erupts, killing at least five people and
injuring many others.
 A factory fire in Delhi, India, kills at least forty-three people and injures more than fifty others.
 In India, the four suspects in the Hyderabad gang rape case are shot dead by the police.
 The wreck of the cruiser SMS Scharnhorst (pictured), which sank during the Battle of the
Falkland Islands in December 1914, is discovered.
Ongoing:
 Hong Kong protests
 Maltese protests
 Samoan measles outbreak
 Trump impeachment inquiry
Recent deaths:
 Juice Wrld
 Ron Saunders
 Berkley Bedell
 Ji Zhe
 Chen Xingbi
 Tetsu Nakamura
 Nominate an article
December 10, 2019 (Tuesday)
edithistorywatch
December 9, 2019 (Monday)
edithistorywatch
Armed conflicts and attacks

 Syrian Civil War

o The Russian Ministry of Defence says its forces have entered Raqqa. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
 War in Afghanistan (2001–present)
o The Washington Post publishes raw interviews and notes taken for the Special Inspector
General for Afghanistan Reconstruction's "lessons learned" initiative. The difference with the
previously published reports reveals that senior U.S. administration officials misled the
public by painting "a rosier picture of the state of the war than they knew to be true". (The
Hill)
Disasters and accidents

 2019 Whakaari/White Island eruption

o New Zealand's Whakaari / White Island stratovolcano erupts with reports of at least five
fatalities and a number of people injured or missing. Around 50 people, mostly tourists, were
 believed to be on the island at the time of eruption, according to Prime Minister Jacinda
Ardern. (CNN)
International relations

 War in Donbass, Normandy Format, Russia–Ukraine relations

o Volodymyr Zelensky, Vladimir Putin, Emmanuel Macron and Angela Merkel meet
in Paris for Ukraine peace talks. It is the first time Putin and Zelensky meet and the first such
four-way leaders' meeting since 2016. (Reuters)
o Following a breakthrough in talks, Russia and Ukraine agree to implement a ceasefire in
the Donbass by the end of 2019. (BBC)
Law and crime

 British serial rapist Joseph McCann receives 33 life sentences, having been convicted on Friday
at London's Old Bailey of "37 charges of rape, sexual assault, kidnap and false imprisonment,"
his victims ranging from 11 to 71 years old. (Sky)
Science and technology

 The European Space Agency awards the first contract to clean up space debris, in a plan to
remove a single piece of debris from orbit in 2025. (The Guardian)
Sports

 The 2019 Lou Marsh Award for best Canadian athlete is granted by unanimous vote to tennis
player Bianca Andreescu. (The Star)
 Doping in Russia
o The World Anti-Doping Agency bans Russia from competing in all major international
sporting events, such as the 2020 Summer Olympics, 2022 Winter Olympics and the 2022
FIFA World Cup, for the next four years. Russian athletes that want to compete can only do
so as part of a “neutral team”. Russia has three weeks to appeal the decision at the Court of
Arbitration for Sport. (CNN)
December 8, 2019 (Sunday)
edithistorywatch
Armed conflicts and attacks

 Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen, Yemeni Crisis (2011–present)

o Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok says the government has reduced the number
of Sudanese Armed Forces troops in Yemen from 15,000 to 5,000, saying the conflict "can
no longer be solved militarily". (Reuters)
Disasters and accidents

 2019 Delhi factory fire

o Forty-three workers are killed in a fire in a factory in Delhi, India. (BBC)
Law and crime

 Women's rights in Saudi Arabia

o The Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs of Saudi Arabia announces that gender-
segregated entrances are no longer mandatory for restaurants. This change is not
considered compulsory however, and there are no announcements for similar changes to
other public institutions. (Al Jazeera)
Politics and elections
 2019 Hong Kong protests
o After a massive march in the city, Civil Human Rights Front leader and Rainbow of Hong
Kong activist Jimmy Sham says "it is the last chance for Carrie Lam to listen to the
people". (Economic Times India)
 2019 Sammarinese general election
o Citizens of San Marino are called to the polls in the first round to elect the 60 members of
the Grand and General Council. (Il Resto del Carlino)
 Politics of Finland
o The Social Democratic Party of Finland selects Minister of Transport and
Communications Sanna Marin for Prime Minister, following the resignation of Antti Rinne. If
confirmed, she will become Finland's youngest ever Prime Minister and the world's youngest
serving Prime Minister at age 34. (Reuters)
 2019 Lebanese protests
o Businessman Samir Khatib withdraws his candidacy for the Prime Minister position after
failing to secure enough votes from the Sunni Muslim bloc last week. This leaves the
ousted Saad Hariri as the only potential candidate. Massive protests are formed outside
the Parliament building in response to Hariri’s possible return. (Al Jazeera)
December 7, 2019 (Saturday)
edithistorywatch
Armed conflicts and attacks

 2019 Iraqi protests

o A drone attacks the home of prominent Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, leaving no casualties
and causing minimal damage. The attack follows yesterday's incident in Baghdad when
multiple protesters were fired upon and killed. (Reuters)
 Afghan peace process
o The Taliban announce that the peace talks with the United States resumed "from where they
stopped" in September. (CNN)
Disasters and accidents

 2018–19 Southern Africa drought

o An unprecedented drought in Zimbabwe, considered the worst in a century, causes
the Victoria Falls waterfall on the Zambezi river to nearly stop flowing. (The Guardian)
 A woman is killed and 18 other people injured when a bus crashes with a truck
in Milan, Italy. (Ansa)
International relations

 Iran–United States relations

o In an act of cooperation that is rare in recent years, Iran releases Princeton PhD
candidate Wang Xiyue while the United States releases stem cell researcher Massoud
Soleimani in a prisoner exchange. Both U.S. President Donald Trump and Iranian Foreign
Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif thank the Swiss government for facilitating the
swap. (Reuters)
Law and crime

 Rohingya genocide
o Myanmar's Aung San Suu Kyi travels to The Hague where she is expected to
face genocide charges against her government for the alleged crimes committed against
the Rohingya Muslim minority, in what is described as one of the most-high profile
international legal cases in a generation. (The Telegraph)
 Two indigenous leaders from the Guajajara tribe are shot dead in a drive-by shooting on a
federal highway in Brazil's Maranhão state. (The Guardian)
December 6, 2019 (Friday)
edithistorywatch
Armed conflicts and attacks

 2019 Iraqi protests

o Gunmen in vehicles open fire on protesters in Baghdad, killing over 19 and injuring around
70 others. Three of the dead were Iraqi police. The victims were either stabbed or
shot. (AP) (Telegraph) (Al Jazeera)
 2019 Kenya bus shooting
o At least ten people – including seven police officers – are killed when gunmen ambush a bus
in Kotulo, Kenya. Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the attack. (Reuters) (Al Jazeera)
 Naval Air Station Pensacola shooting
o A shooter kills three people and injures eight more at Naval Air Station
Pensacola, Florida, United States, before being shot and killed by police. (Pensacola News
Journal)
 Allied Democratic Forces insurgency
o Islamists kill 17 civilians in two attacks in eastern Democratic Republic of the
Congo. (Reuters)
Disasters and accidents

 A collision between a U.S. Navy boat and a U.S. Coast Guard boat in Kodiak, Alaska's Womens
Bay injures nine, one critically. (Stars & Stripes)
 A gas explosion and consecutive fire in an apartment building in Prešov, Slovakia killed at least
seven people and injured dozens. (Deutsche Welle) (The New York Times)
Law and crime

 2019 Samoa measles outbreak

o Samoan Police arrest Edwin Tamasese, an anti-vaccination campaigner, for incitement
against a government order. (ABC Australia)
 The United States District Court for the Central District of California rejects a US$190
million defamation suit against entrepreneur Elon Musk by Tham Luang cave rescuer Vernon
Unsworth. The lawsuit, considered to be the first major suit by a private individual over
comments made on Twitter, was filed over Musk's insulting Tweets after Unsworth criticized his
role in the rescue. (Reuters)
December 5, 2019 (Thursday)
edithistorywatch
Business and economy

 Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei sues the U.S. Federal Communications

Commission over the latter's ban on carriers from using money from the Universal Service
Fund to buy equipment from Huawei and ZTE. (Tech Crunch)
Disasters and accidents

 Three Minnesota National Guard members are killed when a Sikorsky UH-60 Black
Hawk helicopter crashes near St. Cloud. (AOL News)
International relations
 Bosnia and Herzegovina takes full control of the country's airspace for the first time since the
end of the Bosnian War. Bosnia's air space had been controlled by NATO between 1995 and
2003, following which it was controlled jointly by Serbia and Croatia until this
announcement. (Reuters)
Law and crime

 Indonesian police arrest more than 34 people over "charges of treason" for attempting to raise
the outlawed Morning Star flag, which represents the independence movement of West Papua
Province. (RNZ)
 Accounting fraud
o The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission charges Neil Cole, former CEO of Iconix
Brand Group, with accounting fraud. (Reuters)
Politics and elections

 Impeachment inquiry against Donald Trump

o U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announces the U.S. House of Representatives will begin
to draft articles of impeachment against U.S. President Donald Trump before
the Christmas recess. (The New York Times)

 2019 French Pension Reform Plan Strike

o A national strike begins in France over President Emmanuel Macron's pension reform
plan. (NPR)
December 4, 2019 (Wednesday)
edithistorywatch
Armed conflicts and attacks

 War in Afghanistan (2001–present)

o Japanese doctor Tetsu Nakamura and five Afghans are killed in Jalalabad, Nangarhar
Province, Afghanistan when militants open fire on their car while they were travelling to
monitor a project. (BBC) (Euronews)
 Syrian Civil War, Iran–Israel proxy conflict
o An Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps weapons depot in Abu Kamal District, Deir
ez-Zor Governorate, Syria, is hit by an airstrike. Arab media say Israel is behind the attack.
The United States denies any involvement. (Ynet) (Haaretz)
 In Madrid, Spain, a man throws a hand grenade at a migrant unaccompanied minor centre,
although it did not explode. (The Guardian)
 Eighteen Indian sailors are abducted near the Nigerian coast. (The Hindu)
Arts and culture

 Gadhimai festival
o Thousands of animals are sacrificed by beheading at the Hindu Gadhimai Temple in
southern Nepal. (Reuters)
Disasters and accidents

 A boat carrying refugees capsized near Nouadhibou, off the coast of Mauritania, in one of the
deadliest maritime disasters this year, leaving 58 people dead and many more who tried to swim
to shore in need of treatment. The boat had departed The Gambia on 27 November 2019. It was
heading towards the Canary Islands when it approached the Mauritanian coast to get fuel and
food. The boat had been carrying between 150–180 people when it capsized, most of them
aged between 20 and 30. (The Guardian)
 A gas explosion in Szczyrk, Poland causes a three-story building to collapse and kills 8
people (tvn24.pl)
Health and environment

 2019 Samoa measles outbreak

o Amid the imposed curfew, the Samoan government asks unvaccinated families to display a
red flag or red cloth in front of their homes to warn others and to aid mass vaccination efforts
as the death toll hits 60 and confirmed cases surpass 4,000. (Deutsche Welle)
International relations

 Japan–United States relations

o The National Diet of Japan ratifies a United States–Japan trade deal. Under the deal, Japan
will reduce its tariffs on U.S. beef and pork; in return, Japan will receive reductions in tariffs
on certain manufactured goods. (Financial Times)
 Iran–United States relations, Iran and weapons of mass destruction
o The Pentagon says the United States Navy's USS Forrest Sherman (DDG-98) intercepted a
vessel in the Arabian Sea last month and seized advanced missile parts that were
of Iranian origin. The crew were handed over to the Yemen Coast Guard, while the missile
parts are in the possession of the United States military. (Reuters)
Law and crime

 Crime in Hawaii
o The U.S. military says a sailor shot and killed two people at Joint Base Pearl Harbor–
Hickam, Hawaii, before killing himself. (UPI)
Politics and elections

 Impeachment inquiry against Donald Trump

o The U.S. House Judiciary Committee begins its hearings into the impeachment inquiry
of U.S. President Donald Trump. (The New York Times)

 Nunes v. CNN
o U.S. Rep. Devin Nunes files a US$435 million defamation lawsuit against CNN. (USA
Today)