2014 Event The Spanish region of Catalonia holds a referendum on independence, despite the ruling by the Spanish court that the vote is unconstitutional; though the government did not interfere with the vote, it will not recognize the results 2014 Event Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro arrests more anti-government protestors and now holds 19 people suspected of attempting to undermine him 2013 Event Austria holds its legislative election 2013 Event Germany holds its federal election; Chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian Democratic Union party obtains the most votes since 1990 2013 Event The International Olympic Committee holds its 125th Session, and announces Tokyo, Japan won the bid for the 2020 Summer Olympics 2013 Event Venezuela holds a funeral for former President Hugo Chavez; following the funeral, they swear in Vice President Nicolas Maduro as Interim President 2013 Event Austria holds a national referendum on whether or not to retain its system of conscription for the army and social service for young men; they vote to keep military service compulsory 2013 Event County Wicklow, Ireland holds funeral services for Irish mountaineer, Ian McKeever, who was killed by lightning on Mount Kilimanjaro 2012 Event At St. Peter's Square in Vatican City, Rome, Pope Benedict XVI delivers the annual Christmas Message and holds traditional Mass at St. Peters Basilica 2012 Event Prime Minister Victor Ponta, of the Social Liberal Union, is nominated by Romanian President, Traian Basescu, to form a new government after Romania holds its parliamentary election later this December 2012 Event Japan holds it's general election, with Shinzo Abe, former Prime Minister and opposition Liberal Democratic Party leader, predicted as winner 2012 Event Belarus holds parliamentary elections; the opposition boycotts the vote, claiming it is undemocratic 2012 Event Angola holds Parliamentary elections 2012 Event London holds the opening ceremonies for the 2012 Summer Paralympics 2012 Event Jamaican runner Usain Bolt wins his third gold medal at the 2012 Summer Olympics, anchors the sprint relay team to a world record; Bolt is 25 years old and now holds six Olympic gold medals 2012 Event King Jong-un, son of King Jong-il, is announced the official Supreme Leader of North Korea; he also now holds the rank of Marshal in the Korean People's Army 2012 Event California's Senate holds a vote to approve the funding for a bullet train between Los Angeles and San Francisco 2012 Event Finland holds the first round of its Presidential election 2011 Event The Cote d'Ivoire holds Parliamentary elections 2011 Event Singapore holds a presidential election; voters head to the polls 2011 Event U.S. conductor Daniel Barenboim holds a 'Peace Concert' in the Gaza Strip; he is a supporter of Palestinian rights 2011 Event Nigeria holds a presidential election 2011 Event Kazakhstan holds a presidential election; President Nursultan Nazarbayev wins 95% of the vote 2010 Event Dubai holds the closing ceremonies for its 7th International Film Festival 2010 Event Germany holds its first pirate trial in 400 years, placing ten Somalia�s on trial for attacking a German ship 2009 Event Kosovo holds its first local election since declaring independence from Serbia 2008 Event Bhutan holds it's first public election 1995 Event New Jersey Devils Stanley Cup Victory Party, admidst rumours they were moving to Nashville, goalie Chris Terreri holds up "Nashville? NO WAY!" sign 1994 Event MPAA chief Jack Valenti holds meeting to determine new movie ratings 1993 Event Paraguay holds its 1st President and parliamentary elections in 50 years 1990 Event Gunman holds 33 people (killing 1) hostage in Berkeley California 1990 Event Radical Democratic Party holds 1st political meetings in Moscow 1990 Event Howard Stern holds a mock funeral for rival John DeBella 1989 Event Brazil holds 1st free presidential election in 29 years 1987 Event Howard Stern holds a free speech rally at Dag Hammarskjold Plaza New York City 1984 Event Nicaragua holds 1st free elections in 56 years; Sandinistas win 63% 1983 Event U.S. Football League holds its 1st player draft 1978 Event Major Indoor Soccer League holds its 1st draft 1977 Event Carter holds 1st news conference by U.S. President in Eastern Europe (Warsaw) 1976 Event Reverend Sun Myung Moon holds "God Bless America" convention 1969 Event U.S. government holds its 1st draft lottery since WW II 1967 Event University of Michigan holds 1st "Teach-in" after bombing of North Vietnam 1966 Event Houston Oilers holds Denver Broncos to no 1st downs winning 45-7 1965 Event Japanese community of San Francisco holds Masanori Murakami Day at Candlestick Park to honor 1st Japanese player to play in major leagues 1964 Event Congo rebel leader Christopher Gbenye holds 60 Americans/800 Belgians 1957 Event Mickey Stewart holds 7 cricket catches for Surrey vs. Northants 1949 Event Indian owner Bill Veeck holds funeral services to bury 1948 pennant 1946 Birthday Aleksandr Gorshlov, ice dancer, holds 6 titles 1946 Birthday Dudley Fishburn, born in England, British politician, journalist, Conservative Party, Member of Parliament of the United Kingdom, holds directorship for Altria Group 1946 Event United Nations Security Council holds its 1st meeting 1945 Event Potsdam Conference (FDR, Stalin, Churchill) holds 1st meeting 1937 Event All but one senior fouls out of a scrimmage game between seniors and sophomores, but he holds on to win the game 35-32 1925 Event NL holds Golden Jubilee Year meeting at same hotel where NL began 1923 Event KPD holds struggle day against fascism, in Germany 1920 Event League of Nations holds 1st meeting, in Geneva 1920 Event Royal Air Force holds an air display at Hendon, England 1918 Event American Jewish Congress holds its 1st meeting 1915 Event Southern Methodist University (Dallas Texas) holds its 1st class 1914 Event Vogue holds 1st model show ("Fashion Fete," New York City) 1911 Event British premier Asquith holds secret meeting about British strategy in case of war with Germany 1904 Event American Lung Association holds its 1st meeting 1900 Event Social Democrat Party of America (Debs' party) holds 1st convention 1898 Event Social Democracy of America party holds 1st national convention, Chic 1891 Event 52nd Congress (1st to appropriate $1 billion) holds 1st session 1889 Event Washington state constitutional convention holds 1st meeting 1889 Event Astronomical Society of Pacific holds 1st meeting in San Francisco 1877 Event Socialist Labor Party of North America holds 1st national convention 1871 Event San Francisco Art Association holds open reception at 430 Pine 1866 Event Jesse James holds up his 1st bank, Liberty, Missouri ($15,000) 1858 Event John Brown holds antislavery convention 1845 Event New York Yacht Club holds its 1st regatta 1836 Event Whig party holds its 1st national convention, Harrisburg, Pa 1836 Event Whig Party holds its 1st national convention (Albany New York) 1821 Event 1st U.S. pharmacy college holds 1st classes, Philadelphia 1800 Event 1st Swedenborgian temple in U.S. holds 1st service, Baltimore 1772 Event 1st Protestant church west of Penn (in Ohio) holds communion 1699 Event Massachusetts holds day of fasting for wrongly persecuting "witches" 1563 Event Council of Trent holds last session, after 18 years
