December 15, 2008 (Monday)
- Montenegro presents its official application for European Union membership to current EU Council President Nicolas Sarkozy, hoping to win candidate status in 2009. (EU Observer)
- The House of Representatives of Thailand selects Abhisit Vejjajiva of the Democrat Party as the new Prime Minister. (New York Times) (BBC)
- President of Romania Traian Băsescu nominates Emil Boc, President of the Democratic Liberal Party, as Prime Minister. (Xinhua) (BBC)
- Hundreds of thousands of houses in Maine, Massachusetts, New York, and New Hampshire are left without electricity after an ice storm. (New York Times)
- Israel releases 224 captive Palestinians from prison. (Associated Press)
- Anthony Pellicano is sentenced to 15 years in jail for an illegal wiretapping operation. (Los Angeles Times)
- High tides cause flooding in Majuro, the capital of the Marshall Islands, requiring the evacuation of 300 people. (Radio New Zealand)