2014 Event Pope Francis gives his annual Christmas address from the Vatican, praying for groups that included refugees and exiles, persecuted Christian communities, and workers fighting the Ebola epidemic 2014 Event The cabinet of Israel approves a bill stating that the nation is both a democratic state and the Jewish homeland; the bill is meant to address political pressure from groups that deny or ignore Israel�s Jewish identity 2014 Event United Nation member states agree to a resolution aiming to prevent their citizens from joining or supporting militant groups, particularly the Islamic State, in Iraq and Syria 2014 Event 705 military troops will be sent to Iraq by the U.S. to assist in planning assistance to groups affected by the advance of Islamist State militants; President Barack Obama states that the troops will not be involved in combat 2014 Event The U.S. government will recognize and provide finances to the new Palestinian government, formed by a coalition of Islamist groups Fatah and Hamas; the U.S. considers Hamas a terrorist group, but officials plan to monitor the new government's actions to ensure neutrality and commitment to achieving peace with Israel 2014 Event Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel's Prime Minister, advises other nations to be cautious in recognizing the new Palestinian government, formed by agreement between Islamist rival groups Fatah and Hamas; Hamas plans to maintain its anti-Zionist stance 2014 Event Businessman Petro Poroshenko wins the Ukraine's presidential election; election turnout was strong despite the nation's internal conflicts with separatist groups, who kept many voting locations closed in the eastern part of the country 2014 Event U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry criticizes Nigerian President, Goodluck Jonathan, for legislation he signed last week to ban same-sex marriage and criminalize gay rights groups and their activities; the law includes penalties of up to 14 years imprisonment 2013 Event Canada's Security Intelligence Service believes the presence of Al-Qaeda affiliated groups in the country may lead to possible attacks 2010 Event U.S. diplomatic cables released by WikiLeaks reveal a cable from Hillary Clinton accusing Saudi Arabia's rich of being the largest source of funding for Sunni terrorist groups 2010 Event In Cambodia's capital, Phnom Penh, the government dismisses criticism from rights groups and opens a 'protest park' 2010 Event Indonesian rights groups applaud the end of a Suharto-era law that bans books deemed 'offensive' or a 'threat to public order' 2010 Event Rival clashes between nomadic groups in the Darfur region of Sudan kills at least 48 people 2009 Event Peace talks witht he Tuareg rebel groups in north Niger are held by the President of Niger, Tandja Mamadou 1973 Event Women's tennis groups end disputes over sanctioning tournaments 1962 Event 5 research groups announce simultaneously discovery of anti-matter 1950 Event South African parliament accept "Groups Area Act" 1920 Birthday Anthony Tuke, CEO, Savoy Hotel Groups 1842 Birthday Marius Sophus Lie, Norwegian mathematician, continous groups 1787 Event Jews are granted permission in Budapest Hungary to pray in groups
