Forward Planner: News Anniversaries for the next 6 months

Here's the Expertsources list of some future UK news anniversaries which may spark
ideas for follow-ups & features. It's as accurate as we can make it, but clearly doesn't
include everything or cater for all tastes - two impossible tasks!

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Select Month:- Dec 2025  Jan 2026  Feb 2026  Mar 2026  Apr 2026  May 2026

December 2025

2 Years (2023)
Dec 22: 2023 Israel–Hamas war: The death toll in Gaza is reported to have passed 20,000, almost 1 percent of its population and surpassing the casualties in the 1948 Arab–Israeli War.
Dec 29: Russian invasion of Ukraine: Russia launches the largest wave of drones and missiles on Ukrainian cities since the start of the war in a overnight assault, killing at least 39 people and injuring at least 160 others. Ukraine launches a drone assault the following day, killing at least 21 people, including three children, and injuring 110 others, including 17 children.

5 Years (2020)
Dec 01: COVID-19 pandemic: Pfizer and BioNTech announced an Emergency Use Authorization application to the European Medicines Agency.
Dec 02: COVID-19 pandemic: The United Kingdom approves Pfizer-BioNTech's BNT162b2 vaccine, being the first country in the world to do so.
Dec 03: The UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs votes to remove cannabis from a list of dangerous drugs.
Dec 04: COVID-19 pandemic: The number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 passes 65 million worldwide, with the global death toll exceeding 1.5 million. Figures reflect that, in the last week, over 10,000 people worldwide have died on average every day, with one death every nine seconds.
Dec 04: WHO says COVID-19 had caused more deaths in 2020 than tuberculosis in 2019, as well as four times the number of deaths than malaria.
Dec 05: COVID-19 pandemic: Russia begins mass vaccination against COVID-19 with the Sputnik V candidate.
Dec 08: Nepal and China officially agree on Mount Everest's actual height, which is 8,848.86m.
Dec 10: COVID-19 pandemic: The United States and Saudi Arabia approve tozinameran for emergency use, while Argentina approves Sputnik V.
Dec 10: Death - Dame Barbara Windsor, DBE (born Barbara Ann Deeks; 6 August 1937 – 10 December 2020) was an English actress, known for her appearances in the Carry On films and for playing Peggy Mitchell in the BBC One soap opera EastEnders.
Dec 11: The European Union agrees to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 55% over the next decade.
Dec 20: COVID-19 pandemic: A highly infectious new strain of SARS-CoV-2 spreading in Europe and Australia provokes international border closures.
Dec 21: A great conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn occurs, the closest conjunction between the two planets since 1623.
Dec 24: The United Kingdom and the European Union agree to a comprehensive free trade agreement prior to the end of the transition period.
Dec 24: Death - Ivry Gitlis (25 August 1922 – 24 December 2020) was an Israeli virtuoso violinist and UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador. He performed with the world's top orchestras, including the London Philharmonic, New York Philharmonic, Berlin Philharmonic, Vienna Philharmonic, Philadelphia Orchestra, and Israel Philharmonic Orchestra.
Dec 26: Death - George Blake (11 November 1922 – 26 December 2020), British spy and double agent.
Dec 27: COVID-19 pandemic: The number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 passes 80 million worldwide.
Dec 31: BREXIT - The transition period following the United Kingdom's exit from the European Union on 31 January 2020 expires.

10 Years (2015)
Dec 01: German car firm Volkswagen US sales down over 20% after emissions scandal.
Dec 02: UK Parliament votes 397-223 in favour of joining air strikes against terrorists in Syria.
Dec 02: UK Parlt votes 397-223 in favour of joining air strikes against terrorists in Syria.
Dec 02: US:14 die in mass shooting, California by man & woman in 20s. Both shot by police.
Dec 02: US:14 killed in mass shooting,California by man & woman in 20s. Both shot by police.
Dec 03: 2 FIFA Vice Presidents arrested at Swiss hotel on bribery allegations.
Dec 03: BBC creative director Alan Yentob resigns over 'Kids Company' charity controversy.
Dec 03: Death of British actor Anthony Valentine, aged 76 (TV series 'Colditz', 'Raffles').
Dec 03: Olympic athlete Oscar Pistorius found guilty of murder by South African appeal court.
Dec 03: RAF Tornado jets carry out air strikes in Syria following Parliamentary vote earlier.
Dec 06: UK: Storm 'Desmond' causes severe disruption & flooding in Cumbria.
Dec 09: US clothing billionaire Douglas Tompkins (North Face) dies in kayak accident in Chile.
Dec 12: Paris Summit: 195 countries approve COP21 deal on curbing climate change.
Dec 14: UK: Radio DJ Neil Fox cleared of sexually abusing fans and colleagues.
Dec 14: World film premiere of latest 'Star Wars' film: The Force Awakens in Los Angeles.
Dec 15: Kazakhstan launch of British astronaut Tim Peake to International Space Station.
Dec 16: UK: MPs vote to allow fracking for shale gas 1,200m below national parks.
Dec 16: UK: Stuart Hall (85) released from jail after serving half of sentence for sexual abuse.
Dec 17: UK: Chelsea FC sack Portuguese manager Jose Mourinho.
Dec 19: Death of ex footballer, manager & sport broadcaster Jimmy Hill aged 87.
Dec 19: Death of German conductor Kurt Masur aged 88
Dec 19: Death of Lord Grevile Janner aged 87.
Dec 21: Sepp Blatter (FIFA) & Michel Platini (UEFA) banned from football for 8 years.

15 Years (2010)
Dec 15: Death of American film director Blake Edwards aged 88.
Dec 24: British author Elizabeth Beresford, creator of 'The Wombles', dies aged 84.

20 Years (2005)
Dec 05: UK: Civil Partnership Act comes into effect.
Dec 06: UK: David Cameron elected Conservative Party Leader
Dec 10: British Writer Harold Pinter wins Nobel Prize for Literature.
Dec 10: Death of American comedian Richard Pryor, aged 65.
Dec 11: Buncefield oil storage explosion & fire, Hertfordshire.
Dec 15: Sir Trevor McDonald broadcasts his final ITN news bulletin.
Dec 26: Death of Australian media tycoon Kerry Packer aged 68.

25 Years (2000)
Dec 12: Death US actor, sculptor, furniture craftsman & stuntman George Montgomery aged 84.
Dec 12: US Supreme Court cancels Presidential Election recount in Florida.
Dec 15: Final closure of Chernobyl Nuclear Power plant.
Dec 18: Death of English singer & songwriter Kirsty MacColl.
Dec 22: US Singer Madonna marries British filmmaker Guy Ritchie in Scotland.
Dec 23: Death of Danish-born comedian & pianist Victor Borge.
Dec 26: Death of American actor Jason Robards.
Dec 31: Closure of the Millennium Dome, London after New Millennium Show.

30 Years (1995)
Dec 02: UK: 'Rogue Trader' Nick Leeson jailed for 6 years for fraud (Barings Bank).
Dec 02: UK: 'Rogue Trader' Nick Leeson jailed for 6 years for fraud.
Dec 08: UK: Head Teacher Philip Lawrence stabbed to death outside his school in London.
Dec 13: Outbreak of rioting in Brixton, South London after death of 26 yr old Wayne Douglas.
Dec 14: Bosnia, Serbia & Croatia sign Dayton Peace Accord in Paris.
Dec 25: Death of American singer, actor & entertainer Dean Martin aged 78.
Dec 25: Death US singer, actor & entertainer Dean Martin, 78 (('Memories Are Made of This')..

35 Years (1990)
Dec 01: Channel Tunnel: British & French tunnellers meet underneath English Channel.
Dec 02: 1st election in re-unified Germany elects Helmut Kohl as Chancellor.
Dec 06: Iraq: President Saddam Hussein releases western hostages.
Dec 10: Iraq frees 100 hostages held for over 4 months in Baghdad

40 Years (1985)
Dec 27: American naturalist & gorilla expert Dian Fossey murdered in Rwanda.
Dec 27: Terrorist gun attacks at Rome & Vienna airports. 18 killed.
Dec 31: US singer Ricky Nelson dies in plane crash, Texas aged 45.

45 Years (1980)
Dec 03: Death of Sir Oswald Mosley aged 84. Founder of British Union of Fascists.
Dec 08: Former Beatle John Lennon shot and killed outside New York apartment aged 40.

50 Years (1975)
Dec 06: Start of 6-day Balcombe Street Seige, London as IRA gunmen hold hostages.
Dec 12: End of Balcombe Street Seige, London as 4 IRA gunmen surrender.

55 Years (1970)
Dec 15: Birth of Italian jockey Frankie Detori.
Dec 26: British Olympic runner Lillian Board dies of cancer aged 22.

60 Years (1965)
Dec 03: UK: Beatles release latest album 'Rubber Soul'.
Dec 08: Race Relations Act comes into force in UK.
Dec 27: Collapse of Britain's 1st North Sea drilling rig. 13 killed.

70 Years (1955)
Dec 07: UK: Resignation of Labour Party leader Clement Atlee.
Dec 14: UK: Labour Party elects Hugh Gaitskell as new leader.
Dec 16: UK: Queen Elizabeth II opens London Airport's new Central Terminal.

85 Years (1940)
Dec 01: Birth of US actor & comedian Richard Pryor, Illinois.

120 Years (1905)
Dec 31: Birth London-born US singwriter Jule Styne ('Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend').

160 Years (1865)
Dec 12: Birth of Finnish composer & violinist Jean Sibelius.

250 Years (1775)
Dec 16: Birth of English novelist Jane Austen ('Pride and Prejudice', 'Mansfield Park').

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