December 1988

Friday 02:

Benazir Bhutto is sworn in as Prime Minister of Pakistan, becoming the first woman to head the government of an Islam-dominated state.

Wednesday 07:

1988 Yasser Arafat recognizes the right of Israel to exist.

Tuesday 20:

The United Nations Convention Against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances is signed at Vienna.

Wednesday 21:

A terrorist bomb explodes and crashes Pan Am flight 103 a Boeing 747, over Lockerbie, Scotland killing 270, including 11 on the ground

Thursday 22:

Chico Mendes, a Brazilian rubber tapper, unionist and environmental activist, was assassinated.

Monday 26:

Start of the Nanjing Anti-African protests

Saturday 31:

Mario Lemieux of the Pittsburgh Penguins becomes the first player in National Hockey League history to score one goal of each type in a single hockey game: a even-strength goal, a power-play goal, a short-handed goal, a penalty shot, and an empty-net goal.