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Queen Elizabeth II becomes the oldest ever monarch of the UK

Queen Elizabeth is Britain's oldest monarch overtook a record set by her great-great-grandmother, Queen Victoria, and experts of the British monarchy expect her to be on the throne for some time to come. No special events were planned to mark the occasion, the Queen was working as normal.

Mexico's "tequila crises" begins

The Mexican peso crisis was sparked by the Mexican government's sudden devaluation of the peso against the U.S. dollar. It was one of the 1st international financial crisis started by capital flight. Foreign investors, who anticipated further currency devaluations began rapidly withdrawing capital from Mexican investments.

United States invasion of Panama starts

The military incursion into Panama began in December, at 1:00 a.m. local time. The operation involved 27,684 U.S. troops and over 300 aircraft. During the invasion, de facto Panamanian leader, general, and dictator Manuel Noriega was deposed, president-elect Guillermo Endara swore into office, and the Panamanian Defense Force dissolved.

Berlin Wall is first opened

West Berliners initially could not visit East Berlin or East Germany at all – all crossing points were closed to them between August to December. In 1963, negotiations between East and West resulted in a limited possibility for visits during the Christmas season that year. Similar, very limited arrangements were made in 1964, 1965 and 1966.

Cardiff is proclaimed the capital city of Wales, United Kingdom

Cardiff was made a city in 1905 and proclaimed the capital of Wales in 1955. Since the 1980s, Cardiff has seen significant development. A new waterfront area at Cardiff Bay contains the Senedd building, home to the Welsh Assembly and the Wales Millennium Centre arts complex.

South Carolina becomes the first state to attempt to secede

South Carolina became the first state to declare its secession from the Union, with the Declaration of the Immediate Causes Which Induce and Justify the Secession of South Carolina from the Federal Union and later joined with the other southern states in the Confederacy.

Anniversaries of the (in)famous