2008 Review: December

RIA Novosti looks back at the main events of the outgoing year; below the month-by-month review of 2008 continues, with December:

December 1

* U.S. President-elect Barack Obama officially announces the members of his national security team, including Hillary Clinton as his secretary of state and Robert Gates, who will stay on as defense secretary

* North Korea brings into force restrictions on cross-border movement with the South and suspended the countries' rail link, in protest against Seoul's "hostile policies"

* Robert Dudley steps down on Monday as CEO of TNK-BP

December 2

* Russia and the European Union resume talks on a comprehensive cooperation treaty three months after they were suspended over the Georgia conflict

* A Russian naval task force from the Northern Fleet and the Venezuelan navy successfully conduct the VenRus-2008 joint exercises in the southern Caribbean

December 5

* Patriarch Alexy II, who led the Russian Orthodox Church for 18 years, dies at the age of 79 in his residency near Moscow 

* Russia and India sign an agreement during President Medvedev's visit to New Delhi to build an additional four reactors for the Kudankulam nuclear power plant and construct new nuclear plants in India

December 6

* Riots break out in Athens after a teenage boy was shot by the police

December 8

* Switzerland's Foreign Ministry officially agrees to represent Russia's interests in Georgia

December 13

* Russian student Ksenia Sukhinova is crowned as new Miss World at the 58^th international beauty  pageant in Johannesburg

December 16

* The UN Security Council adopts a resolution on the Middle East peace process for the first time in five years

* India freezes talks with Pakistan on the normalization of relations following bloody terrorist attack in Mumbai in November

* Three Ukrainian political groups sign a formal deal reestablishing their pro-Western "orange" coalition, but fail to secure a majority in parliament after a split in the pro-presidential bloc

December 19

* Three ships from Russia's Northern Fleet arrive in Havana Bay as part of the Russian Navy's first visit to Cuba since the Cold War

December 22

* The Paris Club of creditor nations cancels half of Iraq's $15.6 billion debt in the final stage of a four-year debt reduction program

December 28

* Medieval prince Alexander Nevsky is chosen Russia's symbol in a nationwide television vote, which also names Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin the third greatest historical figure

December 31

* Ukraine's Naftogaz said in a letter addressed to energy giant Gazprom  it could start confiscating Russian natural gas meant for European consumers after January 1 if no new contract is agreed for 2009

* At least seven Palestinians were killed as Israeli military aircraft and helicopters continued their attacks on Gaza for a fifth day bringing the death toll to 387, Palestinian health officials said