Important Events From This day in History – 30th December

Today in History

• 2011 Samoa and Tokelau skipped December 30

  To align their time zone with their major trading partners, Australia and New Zealand, the South Pacific Ocean Islands changed their time zone and moved west of the international dateline. As a result, they skipped December 30 and went straight from December 29 to December 31. Samoa made a similar shift east of the dateline 119 years ago to synchronize its time with the United States. Samoa now operates on West Samoa Time, which is 13 hours ahead of UTC.

• 2006 Saddam Hussein executed

  After being found guilty of crimes against humanity, Iraq’s deposed president was hanged. Hussein was Iraq’s fifth president, assuming power following a coup in 1968.

• 2004 Highest barometric pressure recorded

  The atmospheric pressure in Tosontsengel, Mongolia, rose to 846.5 hPa at 2 a.m. local time (adjusted for height above sea level).

• 1995 Lowest temperature ever recored in the UK

  Altnaharra, a small hamlet in northern Scotland, measured 27.2° C. (-16.96 degrees Fahrenheit). The temperature had previously reached this low in the UK on January 10, 1982, in Braemar, East Scotland.

• 1947 Last king of Romania steps down

  The Communist Party of Romania forced Michael I to abdicate. His first reign as a 6-year-old monarch began in 1927 and lasted only three years until 1930. In 1940, he was reinstalled.