8 – An ebola outbreak is confirmed in Gabon. December 11 – China joins the World Trade Organization. December 13 2001 Indian Parliament attack: Nine people and five terrorists are killed in a terrorist attack in New Delhi, leading to the 2001–2002 India–Pakistan standoff. U.S. President George W. Bush announces the American withdrawal from the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty. Sirajuddin of Perlis becomes the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, the constitutional monarch and head of state of Malaysia. December 15 – The Leaning Tower of Pisa is reopened to the public after 12 years of reconstruction. December 17 – Battle of Tora Bora: American forces take Tora Bora, a cave complex and the headquarters of Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan. Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden escapes during the battle and goes into hiding. December 19 – A record-high barometric pressure of 1085.6 hPa (32.06 inHg) is recorded at Tosontsengel, Zavkhan, Mongolia. December 21 – President Fernando de la Rúa of Argentina resigns in response to the riots against Argentina's economic crisis. December 22 Battle of Amami-Ōshima: A Japan Coast Guard ship and an armed North Korean vessel engage in conflict near the Japanese island of Amami Ōshima, in the East China Sea. The encounter ends in the sinking of the North Korean vessel that is later determined to have been a spy craft by the Japanese authorities. Burhanuddin Rabbani, political leader of the Northern Alliance, hands over power in Afghanistan to the interim government headed by President Hamid Karzai. December 24 – The Constitution of the Comoros is amended, creating a federal government with a rotating presidency and granting increased autonomy to the three island administrations. December 25 – Ketanggungan Barat railway collision: A trail collision at Ketanggungan Barat railway station kills 42 people in Indonesia. December 27 China is granted permanent normal trade status with the United States. Tropical Storm Vamei forms within 1.5 degrees of the equator. No other tropical cyclone in recorded history has come as close to the equator. December 29 – Mesa Redonda fire: A fire occurs in a shopping center in Lima, Peru, following a fireworks accident, killing at least 291 people. Births January–April January 1 – Angourie Rice, Australian actress January 3 – Deni Avdija, Israeli basketball player January 5 – Mykhailo Mudryk, Ukrainian footballer January 9 Eric García, Spanish footballer Rodrygo, Brazilian footballer January 15 Alexandra Agiurgiuculese, Romanian-Italian rhythmic gymnast Charline Schwarz, German archer January 17