HISTORY
On this day December 9-15, 2018
December 9, 2018 - December 15, 2018 - Graphics show birthdays and anniversaries for each day of the week. This week features the skeleton of a human ancestor that lived around 3.6 million years old, the Spanish-American War, the admission of China to the World Trade Organisation, the first elections in Saudi Arabia allowing women to take office, the destruction of the world’s coral reefs, the prophet Nostredame and the Leaning Tower of Pisa
December 9, 1998: The oldest complete skeleton of a human ancestor yet identified, estimated to be around 3.6 million years old, was found in a cave in South Africa
December 10, 1898: The Spanish-American War ended. The Treaty of Paris guaranteed Cuba’s independence and ceded Guam, Puerto Rico and the Philippines to the U.S.
December 11, 2001: China was finally admitted to the World Trade Organisation over 15 years after its first application, opening up its market of almost 1.3bn consumers
December 12, 2015: Saudi Arabia held its first municipal elections in which women were allowed to vote and stand for office, with 20 female candidates elected
December 13, 2000: Maritime experts predicted that up to 70% of the world’s coral reefs could be destroyed by 2050 due to global warming, pollution, fishing and coastal development
December 14, 1503: French astrologer and prophet Michel de Nostredame, also known as Nostradamus, was born. He published his celebrated book of prophecies, Centuries, in 1555
December 15, 2001: The Leaning Tower of Pisa reopened to visitors after 11 years of delicate engineering work to reduce its tilt and prevent it from toppling over