2 December 1684

Thirty-six people died when a fire broke out at an illegally converted warehouse in Oakland, California, the deadliest U.S. building fire since 2003.

In San Bernardino, California, a married couple carried out a mass shooting at a Christmas party before fleeing and dying in a shootout with police.

Less than two months after disclosing accounting violations, the Texas-based energy firm Enron filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, evaporating nearly $11 billion in shareholder wealth.

The Malayan Communist Party and the Malaysian government signed a peace accord to end a 21-year communist insurgency.

Benazir Bhutto (pictured) took office as Prime Minister of Pakistan, becoming the first woman to head the government of a Muslim-majority state.

Returning from a fact-finding mission, U.S. senator Mike Mansfield became the first American official to comment adversely on the progress of the Vietnam War.

Cuban Revolution: The yacht Granma, carrying Fidel Castro, Che Guevara and 80 other members of the 26th of July Movement, reached the shores of Cuba.

The United States Senate voted of 67 to 22 to approve a resolution condemning Senator Joseph McCarthy who continued to serve in the Senate until his death two and a half years later.

Korean War: UN forces began a retreat from North Korea following defeat at the Battle of the Ch'ongch'on River.

World War II: The Luftwaffe conducted a surprise air raid on Allied ships in Bari, Italy, sinking twenty-eight vessels and releasing one ship's secret cargo of mustard gas.

Manhattan Project scientists led by Enrico Fermi initiated the first self-sustaining chain reaction in the experimental nuclear reactor Chicago Pile-1.

The Ford Motor Company introduced the second version of the Model A (pictured), its first new model in 18 years.

Ukrainian Bolsheviks led by Mykhailo Polonsky attempted to assassinate Nestor Makhno, as part of the Polonsky conspiracy.

Philippine–American War: A 60-man Filipino rearguard was defeated at the Battle of Tirad Pass, but delayed the American advance long enough to ensure President Emilio Aguinaldo's escape.

U.S. president James Monroe issued the Monroe Doctrine, a proclamation of opposition to European colonialism in the New World.

Cannabis is removed from the list of most dangerous drugs of the international drug control treaty by the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs.

Thirty-six people die in a fire at a converted Oakland, California, warehouse serving as an artist collective.

Enron files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

The United Kingdom devolves political power in Northern Ireland to the Northern Ireland Executive following the Good Friday Agreement.

Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar is shot and killed by police in Medellín.

Space Shuttle program: STS-61: NASA launches the Space Shuttle Endeavour on a mission to repair the Hubble Space Telescope.

Space Shuttle Discovery is launched on STS-53 for the United States Department of Defense.

Canada and Poland become the first nations to recognize the independence of Ukraine from the Soviet Union.

Space Shuttle Columbia is launched on STS-35, carrying the ASTRO-1 spacelab observatory.