Other Notable Events, December 5

In 2002, U.S. Sen. Strom Thurmond, R-S.C., celebrated his 100th birthday on Capitol Hill. Thurmond, who retired the following year, had served the Senate since 1954, making him both the longest-serving and oldest member of Congress. He died June 27, 2003.

In 2007, a man opened fire in a popular Omaha mall, killing eight and wounding five others before turning the gun on himself.

In 2008, about 533,000 non-farm U.S. jobs were lost in November, the highest number since 1974, the Labor Department said. The unemployment rate increased 0.2 of a percentage point to 6.7 percent.

In 2009, an explosion and blaze ignited by fireworks killed 107 people and injured 130 others at a Russian nightclub in the Urals. The owner and the manager were charged with causing deaths by breaching fire safety regulations.

Also in 2009, American exchange student Amanda Knox of Seattle was convicted by an Italian jury of killing former roommate Meredith Kercher of England during what prosecutors called a sexual game that turned deadly. She was sentenced to 26 years in prison but was freed two years later when an appeals court overturned her conviction.

In 2010, the head of Iran's atomic agency says the country was converting its own yellow cake uranium, which, he said, means its nuclear program has become self-sufficient.

In sports, Russia and Qatar were chosen first-time hosts for the World Cup soccer tournament in 2018 and 2022, respectively.

In 2011, tension rose in Egypt as the first parliamentary election since the ouster of President Hosni Mubarak resulted in a runoff. The ruling military council and the Muslim Brotherhood party, which led after the first round of a three-stage runoff, meanwhile accused each other of plotting a dictatorship.

Also in 2011, officials in Paris said talks between German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy, involving bailout money and perhaps budgetary policy, could lead to a $2.7 trillion eurozone rescue package.