German armies took Allied forces by surprise in the Ardennes, marking the beginning of the Battle of the Bulge.
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Vasco da Gama became the first European to sail along Africa's East Coast.
A five-day pollution red alert was declared in Beijing and 21 other Chinese cities.
The Great White Fleet began its worldwide navigation.
The mayor of Flint, Michigan, declared a state of emergency over contaminated water.
Virginia became the first state to ratify the Articles of Confederation.
