Bernard Madoff arrested. Popularly known as Bernie Madoff, the founder and chairman of Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities LLC, was arrested and subsequently convicted of fraud. The Ponzi scheme he was involved in was the biggest such fraud in the history of the United States.

Kyoto Protocol adopted. The Protocol is a part of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, an international treaty that calls for the restriction of greenhouse gasses by the signatories. The United States signed the treaty but did not ratify it.

UNICEF established. The United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund, a U.N. affiliate organization that works for the welfare of children around the world, was founded on this day.

U.S. declares war on Germany and Italy. The U.S. responded to Italy and Germany's declaration of war, by declaring war on the two countries.

King Edward VIII abdicates from the British throne. King Edward VIII abdicated from the British throne to marry American Wallis Warfield Simpson.