Today is Monday, December 19, the 353rd day of 2011. There are 12 days left in the year.

1788 ― Chinese troops occupy capital Thang Long Vietnam

1843 ― Charles Dickens publishes ``A Christmas Carol" in England

1941 ― Hitler takes complete command of German Army

1950 ― Tibet's Dalai Lama flees Chinese invasion

1965 ― French President De Gaulle re-elected (Mitterrand gets 45 percent)

1984 ― China People's Republic Premier Zhao Ziyang and Margaret Thatcher sign Hong Kong Treaty

1988 ― NASA unveils plans for lunar colony and manned missions to Mars

1989 ― Larry Bird (Celtics) begins NBA free throw streak of 71 games

1991 ― Boris Yeltsin takes control of Kremlin

1995 ― Queen Elizabeth asks Prince Charles and Diana to divorce