What Happened This Year 2016

Historical Events from This Year 2016

Politics & Government

Park Geun-hye Impeached in Political Scandal

December 9th, 2016 8 years ago

President Park Geun-hye of South Korea was impeached by the National Assembly following a major political scandal involving allegations of corruption and abuse of power. The scandal centered around Park's close confidante, Choi Soon-sil, who was accused of manipulating state affairs and colluding in the extortion of funds from businesses. The impeachment was the culmination of widespread protests and public discontent, leading lawmakers to call for accountability. The vote resulted in a significant political shift in South Korea's leadership landscape.

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Crime & Law

Explosions Outside Istanbul Stadium Cause Casualties

December 10th, 2016 8 years ago

Two powerful explosions occurred outside the Vodafone Park stadium in Istanbul, following a football match between Beşiktaş and Bursaspor. The blasts primarily targeted police forces stationed near the stadium. The incident resulted in the deaths of 38 individuals and left 166 others injured, leading to an extensive investigation and a national state of mourning. Authorities believed the attacks were carried out by militants, raising concerns about security in Turkey, particularly in urban areas. This violent episode marked one of the deadliest attacks in recent Turkish history.

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Crime & Law

Berlin Christmas Market Vehicular Attack

December 19th, 2016 8 years ago

A truck was driven into a crowded Christmas market in Berlin, Germany, resulting in the deaths of 12 people and injuring 56 others. The attack occurred during a festive event in Breitscheidplatz, a well-known square in the city. The assailant was identified as Anis Amri, an asylum seeker from Tunisia, who escaped after the incident. This attack highlighted vulnerabilities in security during public gatherings in urban areas.

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Politics & Government

Assassination of Russian Ambassador in Turkey

December 19th, 2016 8 years ago

Andrei Karlov, the Russian ambassador to Turkey, was shot and killed while delivering a speech at an art exhibition in Ankara. The assailant, Mevlüt Mert Altıntaş, a Turkish off-duty police officer, approached Karlov during the event and opened fire, resulting in his death. Altıntaş was subsequently shot and killed by security forces on the scene. The incident sparked a significant outcry and raised tensions between Turkey and Russia, which had been cooperating on several geopolitical issues before the assassination.

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Health & Medicine

VSV-EBOV Vaccine Shows High Effectiveness Against Ebola

December 22nd, 2016 8 years ago

A study demonstrated that the VSV-EBOV vaccine is 70-100% effective against the Ebola virus. Conducted in the Republic of Guinea during an outbreak, the research assessed the vaccine's ability to prevent the disease among individuals at risk. This marked a significant breakthrough in combatting the Ebola epidemic and provided the world with its first proven vaccine against the virus, offering hope for future outbreak responses.

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Accidents & Tragedies

Tu-154 Crash Claims Lives of Ensemble Members

December 25th, 2016 8 years ago

A Russian Defence Ministry Tupolev Tu-154 crashed into the Black Sea shortly after takeoff, resulting in the deaths of all 92 individuals on board. Among those lost were members of the Alexandrov Ensemble, the prestigious military choir. The flight, which was en route to Syria to support Russian troops for a New Year concert, tragically ended less than two minutes after departure from Sochi. Poor weather conditions and possible technical issues were considered contributing factors to the accident.

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