Event:
Italy's plan to ban plastic bags goes into effect; the country was using 20 billion plastic bags a year - about 300 per person
More Notable Events on December 31:
1999 Control of Panama Canal reverts to Panama
1997 Microsoft buys Hotmail E-mail service
1993 Barbra Striesand does her 1st live public concert in 20 years
1991 U.S.S.R., last day of existence
1990 Sci-Fi Channel on cable TV begins transmitting
