Unix Timestamp: 598752000
Thursday, December 22. 1988, 12:00:00 AM UTC

The Russian Mafia begins to expand with the decay of the Soviet Union.

Zebra mussels are found in the Great lakes.

Brazilian union and environmental activist Chico Mendes is assassinated.

TAT-8, the first transatlantic telephone cable to use optical fibers, is completed.

The U.S. Drought of 1988 causes big crop damage in many states, impacts many portions of the United States and causes around $60 billion in damage. Multiple regions suffer in the conditions. Heat waves cause 4,800 to 17,000 excess deaths while scorching many areas of the United States during 1988.