December 12, 2003
* A plot by militants linked to
Al Qaeda to blow up the
United Kingdom embassy in
Yemen is foiled. [
1]
*
Germany announces plans to commemorate
gay victims of the
Nazi Holocaust, with a monument to be erected in central
Berlin. [
2]
* Queen
Elizabeth II has a benign non-
cancerous growth removed from her face.
Buckingham Palace confirms the removed growths will be subject to further tests but denies there are any cancer fears surrounding the 77 year old
sovereign. She also underwent a knee operation. [
3]
*
Canada's
BC Ferry system returns to normal operations after the company and its union agree to commit to
binding arbitration. [
4]
*A
European Union defence policy is agreed upon by
Britain,
France and
Germany at the beginning of an EU summit in
Brussels where the member countries will discuss a forthcoming
constitution for the EU. Defence policy: [
5]; EU constitution: [
6].
*
Paul Martin, Jr. is appointed
Canada's 21st
Prime Minister, and takes his oath of office along with his
cabinet. Notable Ministers include
Deputy Prime Minister Anne McLellan in
Domestic Security,
Ralph Goodale in
Finance,
Pierre Pettigrew in
Health and
Intergovernmental Affairs,
Lucienne Robillard in
Industry,
Irwin Cotler in
Justice,
Bill Graham in
Foreign Affairs and
David Pratt in
Defence. [
7]
*In
Haiti the biggest anti-government demonstrations in a decade take place, calling for the removal of
President Aristide; after nightfall, squadrons of armed Aristide supporters take to the streets in response. [
8] [
9]
*
Mick Jagger is knighted. [
10]
*According to a poll published in the
Israeli daily
Maariv, half of Israelis distrust their Prime Minister
Ariel Sharon. [
11]
* In the central province Bie,
Angola, a
land mine explodes and kills 6 Angolan staff of the international humanitarian organization, CARE. [
12]
